On Golden Pond
A Beloved American Classic Brings Warmth and Reflection to Catskill
Catskill, NY — As autumn settles over the Hudson Valley, Bridge Street Theatre closes its fearless and bold 2025 season with one of the most beloved plays in modern American theatre: “On Golden Pond” by Ernest Thompson. Performances run November 13 through November 23 on BST’s intimate “Priscilla” Mainstage at 44 West Bridge Street, Catskill. Showtimes are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2:00 pm, plus a special 2:00 pm matinee on Saturday, November 22.
Ernest Thompson’s contemporary American classic is a heartwarming and poignant work of a family struggling with age, rage, regret, love withheld, love unspoken, disappointment and ultimately (if they’re lucky) forgiveness, acceptance, and renewal.
For decades, Norman and Ethel Thayer have spent their summers in a rustic lakeside family cabin in Maine. But this year is different. While Ethel remains a warm, ever-optimistic companion, Norman has started experiencing frightening lapses of memory. Things take an unexpected turn when their estranged daughter, Chelsea, arrives with her new fiancé and his teenage son in tow. Long-standing tensions between Norman and Chelsea rise to the surface, forcing them to confront past wounds and to attempt some kind of reconciliation before it’s too late.
Suffused with humor and deep emotional resonance, “On Golden Pond” is a touching meditation on family bonds, second chances, and the enduring power of love.
This production, directed by BST Co-Founder John Sowle, invites audiences to experience the play’s tenderness and humor up close in the theatre’s intimate setting—an ideal environment for this story about memory, connection, and renewal.
Behind the Production:
The cast features Steven Patterson as Norman Thayer Jr. and Lora Lee Ecobelli* as Ethel Thayer, with Caitlin McColl* (Chelsea), Zach Gibson (Bill Ray), Nico Ager (Charlie Martin), and Brody Shaver (Billy Ray). Set and sound design are by Carmen Borgia, lighting by Jo Averill-Snell, costumes by Michelle Rogers, and stage management by Hannarose Manning.
(*Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.)
Performer Bios:
Steven Patterson (Norman) has appeared Off-Broadway and at regional theatres nationwide. A BST co-founder, he has starred in many productions, including in “The Lion in Winter,” “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” “Sympathetic Magic,” and “Polishing Shakespeare.”
Lora Lee Ecobelli* (Ethel) returns to BST following “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Leading Ladies,” and “The Subject Was Roses.” Her career includes Broadway (“A Christmas Carol” with Eli Wallach), Off-Broadway classics, and numerous regional productions. She is Artistic Director of Blue Horse Repertory Company and a member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA.
Caitlin McColl* (Chelsea) makes her Bridge Street debut. A Catskills resident with an MFA in Classical Acting from The Shakespeare Theatre Company at George Washington University, she is founder of the Lexington Film Festival and curator of the Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Independent Film Series.
Nico Ager (Charlie) returns to BST after “Sympathetic Magic.” He has performed nationally in Michigan, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, and serves as Vice President of the BST Board of Directors.
Brody Shaver (Billy Ray) is a young performer making his Bridge Street debut. He has appeared in over 20 productions across the Capital Region and studies voice, piano, and dance.
Zach Gibson (Bill Ray) is a Muslim actor and director based in the Hudson Valley. He has worked with Shadowland Stages, Catskill Mountain Shakespeare, and Columbia County Players, where he serves as Casting Director. He holds a B.A. in Performance from SUNY New Paltz.
Performance Details
Bridge Street Theatre presents
ON GOLDEN POND by Ernest Thompson
Directed by John Sowle
November 13 – 23, 2025
Thurs–Sat @ 7:30 pm • Sun @ 2 pm • Extra Sat Matinee Nov 22 @ 2 pm
Bridge Street Theatre’s “Priscilla” Mainstage, 44 West Bridge Street, Catskill, NY
Tickets: $30 Adults | $16 Students, bridgest.org/on-golden-pond
Events at Bridge Street Theatre are supported in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and Legislature of the State of New York and by public funds from the Greene County Legislature through the Greene County Cultural Fund, administered by CREATE Council on the Arts. Bridge Street Theatre’s 2025 Season is dedicated to the memory of Mary E. Barrett and made possible through the generous support of Mary E. Barrett and Edwina Thorn.
