Cat Delaney

A Degree of University for Esmerelda!

cat — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:19:39 +0000

The University Players, University of Windsor, in Windsor, Ontario, will be staging Welfarewell as part of their 2012-2013 season, a collection of comedies. The play runs November 22-25, Nov. 28-December 2, 2012. For all of Essie’s fans in southwestern Ontario and Michigan, this is a great location!

Welfarewell Closes with a Bang in Richmond Hill

cat — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:34:17 +0000

The 20-show run of Welfarewell at The Curtain Club Theatre in Richmond Hill, Ontario (just north of Toronto) enjoyed an inspired cast, full houses and standing ovations! Thanks to dear friends, actor Geoff Kolomayz, and artist Ted Nasmith, for taking in the show and cheering on the efforts of Esmerelda!

Esmerelda Heads to University!

cat — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:31:47 +0000

The drama students at the University of Windsor, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, under the guidance of Esther Van Eek will be staging Welfarewell this fall, likely in November. Fans of Esmerelda in the Detroit area can just hop across the bridge or through the tunnel and spend an evening with Essie and her jailbirds, rich with laughter and life lessons.

Welfarewell heads west

cat — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:29:12 +0000

Esmerelda and the girls will be on stage at the Odyssey Dinner Theatre in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan this upcoming spring.

Directed by Layla Shuparski, the show will run in April and May 2012.

Welfarewell to be translated into German

cat — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:36:04 +0000

Director of the May 2011 production of Welfarewell in Austria, Michale Darmanin, and his University of Salzburg colleague, Andreas Schachermayr, are set to translate Welfarewell into German. Darmanin’s troupe, The English Drama Group, are staging Welfarewell in its original English form in Salzburg and Vienna. Mr. Darmanin has received numerous inquiries from German-language theatre groups interested in performing Welfarewell in German.

Cat Delaney will actively seek a suitable publisher for the German language edition of Welfarewell. Plans are also underway for the play to also be translated into French and Italian. Any theater companies interested in versions of the play other than English should contact Cat directly through email.

Welfarewell: the movie

cat — Mon, 02 May 2011 20:33:41 +0000

Esmerelda’s name will be up in lights. Cat is pleased to announce that Big Nickel Motion Picture Factory has optioned the screenplay rights to Welfarewell. Plans are underway to secure top talent to direct and act in the film. Right now this is under development and we’ll keep you posted on progress, including who will play the roles.

Cat would like to thank the producers, Christine Grossutti Sola and Richard Watson, who saw the great potential in the story of Welfarewell and fell in love with Esmerelda and the other characters. Cat is looking forward to working with them to make Welfarewell come alive on the screen.

Ever seen a Cat sip champagne? I used a glass not a bowl!

Standing Ovation to…

cat — Sun, 01 May 2011 20:24:40 +0000

the cast and crew at West Mifflin High School in Pennsylvania for their outstanding efforts in staging Welfarewell. They had an 18-year-old actress, Becky, playing 80-year-old Esmerelda!

Cat is very proud of the cast, only 5 of whom had ever been on stage before. A round of Catnip for everyone!

Esmerelda Quipp – Rebecca Mamaeff

H.B. (Honey Bunch Hackett) – Heaven Bobo

Val – Carrie Gleason

Penelope Farthingale – Theresa Sherlock

Dottie Ramsbottom – Autumn Melvin-Britton

Alfred David – D.J. Burroughs

Jennifer Doer – Maura McGuire

Gladys Symmington-Bukovitch – Eboni Bowers

Judge Julius – Janell Prysock

Mildred McGonigle – Autumn Melvin-Britton

Landlord – Mario Harden

Bank Teller #1 – Omari Kirkland

Bank Teller #2 – Claudia Erb

Bank Teller #3 – Bryan Merritt

Bank Customer – Mario Harden

Court Room Observers – Omari Kirkland, Claudia Erb, Eboni Bowers, Bryan Merrit

Bailiff – Mario Harden

Chef – Mario Harden

A very special thanks to teacher/director Melissa Prutz for her dedication.

Welfarewell is faring well!

cat — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:46:30 +0000

Because sales for the published version (Samuel French, Inc., 2010) of Cat’s award-winning stage play, Welfarewell, are going so well, there will certainly be live productions in the next few months and years. Cat is looking forward to attending premieres galore! The play is a two-act social satire, featuring an 80-year-old retired stage actor, Esmerelda Quipp, who just can’t make ends meet. But she’s crafty, and relies upon years of life experiences to guide her to resolution. With the help of a collection of curious characters (including a judge, a couple of hookers and a murderess), Esmerelda overcomes her plight. Not since Steel Magnolias has there been a play of such warmth and humour with a largely female cast. Watch for updates on this site as we post news about upcoming productions of this funny, endearing play.