One of Donna’s signature contributions to  Acworth  is  the  annual Halloween pageant that has been performed in the field behind Bret and Mary Lord’s house for the past five years. Donna not only writes and directs the Halloween plays but also makes the costumes.

The title of Donna’s 2007 Halloween play was "Terms of Enchantment". Some popular characters that appear in Donna’s Halloween performances each year include the Almighty Gourd, originally played by Ken Grant and most recently by Victor Brandt, Joe Ouellette as Sir Joust Alot and John Luther as Merlin the Enchanter. Other characters such as Donald Grump the troll (played by Ken Grant now that he has relinquished the Almight Gourd role), river wraiths, scarecrows, druids, witches and crypt dwellers are played by a cast of local volunteers.

Donna finds creative inspiration for her  plays  through  music,  nature and history. She chooses an unusual and eclectic mix of music for her Halloween plays. Donna explained that she often gets ideas for characters or scenes in her productions by listening to music. She also enjoys reading about ancient cultures and finds inspiration in historic literature.

Three years ago during Old Home Day weekend the Acworth Players performed a three-act play titled "Liberty" written by Donna. The play was about relationships that develop in small towns and the dynamics created by vastly different personalities. Donna was also one of the actors in the play.

After Friday Night Supper during Old Home Day weekend in 2007 Donna’s humorous one-act play about fundraising in small towns, "An Old Dog’s New Tricks", was performed. This play was also part of a benefit performance in August 2006 at the Claremont Opera House. All proceeds from both performances went to the Acworth Meetinghouse Restoration Fund.

Scenes  are  played  out   in  various  locations  on  Lord’s  property:  in  the  barn,  field  and  by Cold River. Spectators carry flashlights as they are directed from one place to the next to watch the eerie and humorous drama unfold as druids and scarecrows dance in the field, Merlin casts spells and river wraiths appear out of shrubbery along the river bank, while Donald Grump the troll guards the wooden bridge that spans the river.

The annual Halloween pageant is free, open to the public and has become a seasonal favorite for children and adults in Acworth.

Donna was born in Keene and raised in Swanzey, NH.  When she was in her twenties  Donna moved to Utah for about eight years where she attended Snow College and studied set design and costume design for theater. When she was in college she also wrote her first play.

A New Hampshire girl at heart, after less than a decade out west Donna returned to New England and lived in Walpole with her first husband, Derrick. Donna became involved with the Walpole Players, acting in their annual productions. She also wrote Halloween plays that were performed outdoors in Swanzey, precursor to her Acworth Halloween productions.

When she’s not working on a new play or frantically making costumes for one of her productions Donna can be seen working at the register in the South Acworth Village Store.

Acworth’s rich texture of varied personalities is enhanced by Donna Wentworth who selflessly shares her talents with the community, offering her own special brand of lighthearted small town entertainment.

"Liberty" written by Donna and  performed by  the Acworth Players in 2005 ~ click to enlarge 

Pictures of Donna from past shows in Swanzey and Walpole  

Donna working in the Village Store