Eleanor Wraps 4th Season of Table Readings at the Palace

Eleanor by Mark St. Germain, directed by Maureen Hamill and featuring Marilyn Olsen at Eleanor Roosevelt is the final presentation in season 4 of the Table Reading Series at the Palace Theater, Waterbury, CT.

A huge shout out to the sponsors of the series, Tim and MaryEllen Roure (Rourke Insurance) who make these readings possible. The enhanced readings are presented as a tool for the playwrights and for Gracewell Productions to get an idea of where a play is in its development by presenting it in fron of a live audience. After the reading, the audience is invited to give feedback to the playwright and creative team. These presentations are by invite only (and usually sell out). If you would like to be added to the invite list,us the contact form and send yur email address.

Stay tuned for updates about Season 5 of the Table Reading Series and for other series and events in the works.

Marilyn Olsen (Eleanor) is honored to bring to life such an icon as Eleanor Roosevelt. A veteran of many Connecticut stages, she was last seen as Dee Dee in The Prom at Ridgefield Theatre Barn. Other favorite roles include Norma Desmond, Sunset Boulevard; Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney Todd; Diana, Next to Normal; Madam Rose, Gypsy; The Lecturer, Reefer Madness; Donna, Mamma Mia; Blanche, Streetcar Named Desire; The Witch, Into The Woods; Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret; Mme Thenardier, Les Miserables; and Maria Callas, Master Class.

By day, Marilyn is a physician associate in Waterbury. Special thanks go to Maureen Hamill and Lauren Yarger, who made this day possible. Thanks also to husband John and her two favorite productions, Philip and Ellie, for supporting her creative side.

Maureen Hamill (Director) is the artistic director of the Fairfield Theater Company. She also is a renowned Cabaret singer, Director and Producer. he is the founder and artistic director of Hamill Productions, which stages complete productions for corporations and events throughout the country. 

She is a partner in Happy Trials LLC, the producers of the upcoming Broadway show, Roy Rogers, written by Oscar /Tony winner Marshall Brickman and Oscar/Grammy winner TBone Burnett.

Maureen has been a guest soloist with the Bridgeport Symphony, Florida A & M Concert band and The New Haven Symphony. She has sung the National Anthem at Madison Square Garden, Shea Stadium and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL.

Maureen has performed her one-woman cabaret show for The American Red Cross, The Winter Equestrian Festival, Westport Country Playhouse, Downtown Cabaret Theater, The Intrepid Air Museum, The Klein Memorial as well at the Fairfield Theatre Company with a sold-out run at the iconic Tavern on the Green in New York.

Maureen has shared the stage in concert with Tony winners James Naughton and Christine Ebersole. She is a member of Actors Equity Association and the CT Chapter of the League of Professional Theatre Women (Steering Committee Member).

Mark St. Germain (Playwright) has written the plays Freud’s Last Session (Off Broadway Alliance Award), Camping With Henry And Tom (Outer Critics Circle Award and Lucille Lortel Award) Forgiving Typhoid Mary, (Time Magazine’s “Year’s Ten Best”) and Becoming Dr. Ruth, the story of Dr. Ruth Westheimer. He’s written Eleanor, starring Harriet Harris and Relativity, starring Mike Nussbaum, as well as the plays Best Of Enemies, Ears On A Beatle, Scott And Hem and Out Of Gas On Lover’s Leap. His most recent play is The Happiest Man On Earth which premiered at Barrington Stage Company with Kenneth Tigar in the role as Eddie Jaku, later at the Contemporary American Theatre and a London production.  

With Randy Courts, he has written the musicals The Gifts Of The Magi, Johnny Pye And The Foolkiller and Jack’s Holiday. Mark’s musical, Stand By Your Man, The Tammy Wynette Story, was created for Nashville’s Ryman Theater. With John Markus he wrote the comedy with music, The Fabulous Lipitones and with Josh Bergasse co-created the dance musical, A Crossing. Great Barrington Public Theater premiered his plays Dad and Public Speaking 101. In the summer of 2025 his play Magdalene will co-premiere at CATF and the Chester Theatre Company. Grant, An Evening With The General will premiere at the Great Barrington Public Theater. 

Mark wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of Freud’s Last Session which stars Anthony Hopkins and Matthew Goode. He co-wrote the screenplay for Carroll Ballard’s Warner Brothers film, “Duma.” He directed and produced the documentary, “My Dog, An Unconditional Love Story,” featuring Richard Gere, and Glenn Close among others. Television credits include “The Cosby Show” and for Dick Wolf’s “Crime And Punishment.”

His books include the comedic memoir “Walking Evil” and the thriller, “The Mirror Man.”

He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Writer’s Guild East and an associate artist at the Barrington Stage Company.  Barrington Stage named their second stage “The St. Germain Stage.”