{"id":2360549,"date":"2026-04-06T09:12:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T09:12:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2360549"},"modified":"2026-04-06T09:12:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T09:12:11","slug":"watermelon-alligator-brings-inclusive-theatre-to-fairhaven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/watermelon-alligator-brings-inclusive-theatre-to-fairhaven\/","title":{"rendered":"Watermelon Alligator brings inclusive theatre to Fairhaven"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">FAIRHAVEN \u2013 The theater scene in Fairhaven is about to get more exciting with the arrival of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watermelonalligator\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Watermelon Alligator;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Watermelon Alligator&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Watermelon Alligator<\/a>, an innovative and inclusive theater company that has traveled around the United States for over 15 years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Founded by Garrett Olson and Jess Wilson, the company has set up a new residency at The Shepherd Center.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cSomeone who was on the board at The Shepherd Center came and saw a performance we did in Little Compton and was really excited,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The initial plan is for Watermelon Alligator to do what they do best, offer classes, outreach, performances and more all under The Shepherd Center\u2019s roof.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><span class=\"exclude-from-newsgate\"><strong>More: <\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/lifestyle\/articles\/bedford-areas-top-spot-easter-080320788.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:New Bedford area's top spot for an Easter meal? Here's readers' top pick;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;New Bedford area's top spot for an Easter meal? Here's readers' top pick&quot;}\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">New Bedford area&#8217;s top spot for an Easter meal? Here&#8217;s readers&#8217; top pick<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThey said, we\u2019ve been looking for a theater department, and you come all in one package, and we would love to do that,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Already the company has two classes scheduled, a production of \u201c110 Stories\u201d in the works and a \u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d set for the winter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe\u2019re looking at bringing some full productions as well,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Watermelon Alligator Theatre Company co-founders Garrett Olson and Jess Wilson.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">Educating companies around the United States<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The company\u2019s journey began back in 2008 as a passion project.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe\u2019ve been in 27 states in the last three years, we speak at conferences, we work with other performing arts organizations to help them learn how to be more inclusive,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Their classes teach production companies how to rethink their processes and to be more accessible from the performing side.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cMany Performing Arts places are accessible as an audience member, but not so much for performers,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Watermelon Alligator mission is about putting inclusion and accessibility at the forefront.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe really try and make the performing arts as accessible as possible, because so many people are interested in learning,\u201d Olson said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">According to Olson, The Shepherd Center offers something Watermelon Alligator rarely gets: a true home base.\u00a0 \u201cThe wonderful thing about The Shepherd Center is where we can actually call it a home,\u201d Olson said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Watermelon Alligator moves into The Shepherd Center in Fairhaven.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"639\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/FAr5OHA324UJPGNvc1IXEA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYzOTtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/southcoasttoday_com_articles_964\/a87d69d77463d91ac8727c34031f8da6\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Watermelon Alligator moves into The Shepherd Center in Fairhaven.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><span class=\"exclude-from-newsgate\"><strong>More: <\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/lifestyle\/articles\/want-learn-mah-jongg-bedford-090642632.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Want to learn mah jongg? New Bedford class offered;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Want to learn mah jongg? New Bedford class offered&quot;}\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">Want to learn mah jongg? New Bedford class offered<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Olson said when traveling around the area, rehearsal space can become a challenge, as well as technical equipment, technical space. He said one of the reasons they named it The Shepherd Center was because they\u2019re hoping to shepherd people into the arts, not just exposing them to performances.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIt\u2019s about shepherding all of those people who have a passion to want to be in the arts, be it behind the scenes, be it a performer, an usher,\u201d Olson said.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">The story behind the name Watermelon Alligator<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">For a company with roots across southern New England as well as the Marion Art Center and the Zeiterion, establishing a residency in Fairhaven is part of a broader strategy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The quirky name, Watermelon Alligator, also has a story all its own.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIt definitely is the number one question that we get asked,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cWe saw a lot of really talented people getting left behind because they didn\u2019t fit the traditional Hollywood mold.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">She said they took the phrase \u201cwatermelon alligator,\u201d which is a silent mouthing exercise for extras in the background of a scene and turned it into their mission.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe took this phrase that was never meant to be said out loud, made it the name of the company, so that we\u2019re always reminded why we\u2019re doing what we\u2019re doing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"The cast of 'A Christmas Carol' performs their radio play at The Shepherd Center.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/_3C_kndtVXp3Y.5wrmXobw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyMDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/southcoasttoday_com_articles_964\/41b67b8c1fa1271861fa45a6a225af16\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>The cast of &#8216;A Christmas Carol&#8217; performs their radio play at The Shepherd Center.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><span class=\"exclude-from-newsgate\"><strong>More: <\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/drawing-room-close-7-years-080355133.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:The Drawing Room to close after 7 years in New Bedford. Here's why;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;The Drawing Room to close after 7 years in New Bedford. Here's why&quot;}\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">The Drawing Room to close after 7 years in New Bedford. Here&#8217;s why<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Although Watermelon Alligator is a closed repertory company, with 22 to 26 active members, there are plans to open up more opportunities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cOur ultimate goal is to find all of those people who are passionate, get them in, do some training, get them familiar with the space and ultimately have auditions for the community to come in and act with the Gators,\u2019 Olson said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThat\u2019ll allow all those people coming in to take classes, to be able to really decide what it is they want to do in the theater.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">Empowering their audience to be involved<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">However, for both Olson and Wilson, it\u2019s more than just putting on a show; it\u2019s how they choose to tell the story, and how it shouldn\u2019t be limited by anybody else\u2019s perceptions of what a storyteller should be.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe hope people leave our shows learning something, but also having a good time and feeling fully included,\u201d said Wilson.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"WatermelonAlligator Theatre Company co-founders Garrett Olson and Jess Wilson.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/stHEQZmkAKorsgmnAwtpwA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyMDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/southcoasttoday_com_articles_964\/e5a30534cd4151c16087c4c3b48158be\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>WatermelonAlligator Theatre Company co-founders Garrett Olson and Jess Wilson.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cFor most of our theater productions, we hope that they\u2019re still thinking about a show the next day, a week later and processing it and talking about it with other people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Olson said that he wants anybody interested in the arts to want to get involved such as with classes or even being on stage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe\u2019ve had the privilege of working with people that have said to us they\u2019ve never had a shot, or never felt confident enough to want to audition, to want to be involved,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI want people to leave our shows with a sense of personal empowerment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">S<em>tandard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on Instagram:<\/em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/official_seth_chitwood\/?hl=en\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:\u00a0@Official_Seth_Chitwood;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;&amp;nbsp&quot;}\" class=\"link \">\u00a0@Official_Seth_Chitwood<\/a>.\u00a0<em>Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southcoasttoday.com\/story\/entertainment\/2026\/04\/06\/watermelon-alligator-shepherd-centers-newest-acting-company\/89434563007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Watermelon Alligator: Shepherd Center's newest acting company;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Watermelon Alligator&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Watermelon Alligator: Shepherd Center&#8217;s newest acting company<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FAIRHAVEN \u2013 The theater scene in Fairhaven is about to get more exciting with the arrival of Watermelon Alligator, an innovative and inclusive theater company that has traveled around the United States for over 15 years. Founded by Garrett Olson and Jess Wilson, the company has set up a new residency at The Shepherd Center. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2360550,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[458433,458435,458431,458432,311798,387009,458434],"class_list":["post-2360549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-alligator","tag-fairhaven","tag-garrett-olson","tag-jess-wilson","tag-new-bedford","tag-theater-company","tag-watermelon"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Watermelon-Alligator-brings-inclusive-theatre-to-Fairhaven.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2360549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2360549"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2360549\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2360551,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2360549\/revisions\/2360551"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2360550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2360549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2360549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2360549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}