Steve Magowan (Pozzo),
Jason Phelps (Vladamir), John Pacht (Lucky), Don Smith (Estragon)

Waiting for Godot

Waiting for Godot was first presented as En Attendant Godot at the Théâtre de Babylone, 38 Boulevard Raspail, Paris, France, in January 1953. The play was directed by Roger Blin, who played Pozzo.

It was written in Paris between October 1948 and January 1949. It was the first play ever written in French in common, colloquial language, as opposed to the stylized eloquent parlance of the Comédie-Française, which was considered scandalous at the time. It was infamously the first play ever staged wherein "nothing happens" which, at the time of its premiere, was met with both critical praise and public outrage.

Jason Phelps is Vladimir (Didi)

Jason Phelps

is Vladimir (Didi)

Jason has been performing for over twenty years for theatre, television, radio, and film. He has performed in New York City, Columbus, Cincinnati, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Austin, Houston, Seattle, and Boston. He was the co-founder of the critically acclaimed Frontera/Hyde Park Theatre in Austin, Texas, where he performed for ten years. He has been awarded five Austin Theatre Critics Table Awards. One of the most memorable experiences for him was the opportunity to play Prior Walter in Angels in America as well as the chance to work with some of the country's finest playwrights and directors. He has also worked extensively with his wife Margery Segal and her dance company MS/Nerve. Together they have collaborated on more than ten performance pieces. He is a Lake Champlain Waldorf School grade school teacher. He lives with his wife in East Charlotte with their young son.

Don Smith is Estragon

Donald N. Smith

is Estragon (Gogo)

Don is an international business consultant currently residing in Middlebury. Last June, on a business trip to China, he received an e-mail from Ken Peck asking if he'd be interested in performing in Waiting for Godot. The rest, as they say, is history. In the past, Don has played the roles of Simon in Tom Stoppard's The Real Inspector Hound, Tony in West Side Story, Lysander in Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream and the Prince in The Princess and the Pea. But all of this was a long, long time ago. Don and his wife Kate, who works at the Lake Champlain Waldorf School kindergarten aftercare program, have two sons at Waldorf, one in the middle school and one in high school.

Steve Magowan is Pozzo

Steve Magowan

is Pozzo

Steve has been engaged in theatrical productions since around June of 2006 when Director Kenneth Peck first discussed Godot with him. Since then he has mostly waxed between excited and terrified at the prospect of appearing on stage with such talented co-performers. Steve's love of theater, however, extends back many years and he has seen many fine performances by actors including Donal McCann, Blair Brown, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Sinise and others. He is hoping that he will channel a small amount of their talent. Steve has written a theatrical version of The Odyssey for young people and co-wrote with his wife, Emily, a musical, Reverend John Williams and the Unredeemed Captive also for young people. Steve and Emily are currently working on a new musical about the Revolutionary War for older children. Away from the theater, Steve is a partner at the law firm of Gravel & Shea, where he practices employee benefits, estate planning, corporate law, probate and trust law, and taxation. He lives in South Burlington with his wife and two children; his son a graduate of the Waldorf grade school and his daughter attending the middle school. He is currently president of the LCWS Board of Trustees.

John Pacht is Lucky

John Pacht

is Lucky

John began his acting career in the fifth grade with his unforgettable portrayals of both Paul Bunyon and Casey at the bat. He can still see a tear in Miss Rickless's eye as Casey swung and missed that third strike. John continued acting in high school, college and beyond. Mr. Snow in Carousel, Uncle Ernie in Tommy, and El Gallo in The Fantastics were among his favorite roles. He was a founding member of the Backyard Players of Hinesburg where he created the immortal role of Shmelmo the Wizard. He is best remembered at the Lake Champlain Waldorf School for his performance as The Young Girl in Eurythmy and Nothingness. When not on stage, John is a partner with the law firm Hoff Curtis in Burlington, where he practices criminal defense and family and civil litigation. He lives in Hinesburg with his wife Andrea, a Waldorf administrator, and three children, two of whom are graduates of the Waldorf grade school. His younger daughter is currently in the middle school.

Malcolm Smith is The Boy

Malcolm Smith

is The Boy

Malcolm commutes every day from his family's home in Middlebury to the Waldorf middle school in Shelburne. When neither in school nor on the stage, he can be found practicing guitar. His previous roles of note have been a Giant in The Theft of Thor's Hammer and a Gorgon in Perseus. A recognized comedian among his classmates, Malcolm created the original character of Big Tony, a comic Godfather last fall, making fun of both movie and TV mobsters and hip hop "gangstas". Waiting For Godot is his first adult production. He is the grandson of Vcevold Strekalovsky, who did rehearsal sketches and watercolors for our production.