Catherine's Cache

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

2011-06-14T10:26:00.000-07:00

Derek Mazukiewicz, Katie McGillick, Elaine D'Addezio, Eryn LeCroy and Douglas McLaughlin in the handbag discovery scene from Turning Leaf Theater Company's 2010 production of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST.

Douglas McLaughlin and Catherine Rowe as John Worthington and Lady Bracknell in Turning Leaf Theater Company's 2010 production of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST by Oscar Wilde.

UPCOMING SHOW NOTICE

2011-06-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

TURNING LEAF THEATER COMPANY is proud to present
THE GLASS MENAGERIE by Tennessee Williams

Directed by Rob Pherson
Lighting Design by Elyse Halloran

Featuring:
Catherine Rowe
Quinn Shephard
Noah Stanzione
Jonathan Wierzbicki

Performances July 29-August 7, 2011
Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00
Sundays at 2:00

Circle Players
416 Victoria Avenue
Piscataway, NJ

Ticket information pending

Scene from PRIDE & PREJUDICE

2009-03-19T10:41:00.001-07:00

Eryn LeCroy as Elizabeth, Caitlin Blauvelt as Charlotte, Naphtali Brooks as Colonel Fitzwilliam, Catherine Rowe as Lady Catherine, William Prochazka as Darcy and Matthew Donahue as Mr. Collins

PRIDE & PREJUDICE

2009-03-19T10:29:00.000-07:00

Villagers Theatre, 415 Demott Lane, Somerset, NJ

proudly presents a main stage production of

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

By Jon Jory
Adapted from the novel by Jane Austen

Fridays: March 6, 13, 20 at 8:00 PM
Saturdays: March 7, 14, 21 at 8:00 PM
Sundays: March 8, 15, 22 at 2:00 PM

Our story's heroine is Elizabeth Bennet, a 20-year-old who realizes how pride can stop people seeing the truth of a situation, and get in the way of their achieving happiness. Jane Austen, who was only 21 when she started writing the book, was critical of the gender injustices present in 19th-century English society. Dubbed as the first psychological novel by some for its depth of characterisation, Pride And Prejudice has it all – love triangles, class divide, vanity, snobbery. And the dashing Mr Darcy!

CAST

Mary- Anna Paone
Lydia- Bryana Cruz
Lady Catherine- Catherine Rowe
Elizabeth- Eryn LeCroy
Mr. Lucas/Mr. Gardiner- Joe Rodriquez
Miss Bingley- Kristen Kohaut
Mrs. Bennet- Lori Dahlberg
Mr. Bennet- Jon Heron
Mr. Collins- Matt Donohue
Jane- Tess Ammerman
Kitty- Tobi Sigona
Mr. Bingley- Tom Smith
Darcy- Will Prochazka
Charlotte- Caitlin Blauvelt
Mrs. Gardiner- Jackie Masters
Wickham- Derek Mazukiewicz
Denny / Soldier/Fitzwilliam- Naphtali Brooks

PRODUCTION STAFF
Producer- Jeff Dworkin
Director- Ana Kalet
Stage Manager- Jordan Mento
Choreographer- Jillian Kimberlin
Set Design- Jeff Dworkin, Guy Suabedissen
Lighting Design- Mitch Ruff

St. Teresa Benedicta a Cruce

2008-03-17T15:18:00.000-07:00

FAVOR at Villagers Theatre

2008-03-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

Villagers Theatre
415 Demott Lane
Somerset, NJ 08875

THE BLACK BOX SERIES PROUDLY PRESENTS

THE WORLD PREMIERE OF

FAVOR

by D. Ferrara

Edith Stein's journey from Jewish professor to Catholic saint

Directed by Catherine Rowe Pherson
Assistant Directed by Rob Pherson
Produced by Roz Wroblewski
Lighting Design by Elyse Halloran
Stage Manager Melissa Leshchanka

CAST
Neil Fasolino as Phillip McConnaghie
Cody Dalton as Edith Stein
Tom Stevenson as Cardinal Ricondardi/Father Mantacle
Mike Levine as Cardinal Bernelli/Edmund Husserl
Ruth Neaveill as Rachel Rosenthal
Lona Alpert as Mathilde Messcheph
James Boyd as Brunhill/Gabriel/Reinach/Weiners

PERFORMANCE DATES
February 29 thru March 15, 2008
Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM
Sunday, March 9 at 2:00 PM
TICKETS
$12.00 per person
Call (732) 873-2710 for information or
Reserve Tickets at http://www.villagerstheatre.com

2006-12-29T12:03:00.000-08:00

Villagers Theatre

415 Demott Lane

Somerset, NJ 08875

New Playwrights Series 2007

JOEY’S LAST MEAL by Henry Meyerson of Hoboken, NJ

February 5 at 8:00 p.m.

On death row, a prisoner’s refusal to eat his last meal leads to madcap patter, a beating and surprising relationship revelations.

POSTED UP by Steven A. Shapiro of South Amboy, NJ

February 12 at 8:00 p.m.

A basketball star sentenced to community service in a dialysis center learns a thing or two from the elderly patients.

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME by Lia Romeo of New Brunswick, NJ

February 19 at 8:00 p.m.

In this cynical adult romance, a divorced novelist agrees to marry a jilted heiress, which leads to entanglements with her mother, her ersatz fiancé and his ex-wife.

NECESSARY GEOGRAPHY by Robin Rice Lichtig of West Milford, NJ

February 26 at 8:00 p.m.

The early life of Marjory Stoneman Douglas (20th century environmentalist) is plagued by a manic-depressive mother, eccentric grandparents and aunt, and the call of the Native American spirit of the Everglades.

FREE ADMISSION

2006-10-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

Off-Broadstreet Dessert Theatre

5 S. Greenwood Avenue

Hopewell, NJ 08525

(609) 466-2766

Presents

GREETINGS

by Tom Dudzick

Directed by Bob Thick

CAST

Geoffrey Barber

Laura Chaneski

Doug Kline

Matt Lafargue

Catherine Rowe

Treat yourself (and your friends, family, colleagues) to scrumptious desserts

and a delightful holiday comedy with a warm-hearted spiritual message

Performances November 3 through December 16

Friday and Saturday nights, dessert at 7:00, curtain at 8:00

Sunday afternoons, dessert at 1:30, curtain at 2:30

Prices (which include dessert & coffee, the show and NJ sales tax)

$25.50 Fridays and Sundays

$27.25 Saturdays

$23.75 for Senior Citizens on Sundays

Headshot by Kevin Hersh

2006-09-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

2006-09-18T12:16:00.000-07:00

Aaron Wexler, Brian Bara, George Hartpence and Catherine Rowe

AN INSPECTOR CALLS

AN INSPECTOR CALLS

2006-09-15T10:27:00.000-07:00

SHAKESPEARE ’70, INC.

In association with

The College of New Jersey

Presents

J.B. Priestley’s haunting thriller

AN INSPECTOR CALLS

Directed by Carol Thompson

Performances September 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 & 30, 2006 at 8 pm

Matinee Performance September 24, 2006 at 2 pm

At the Don Evans Black Box Theater, Kendall Hall

The College of New Jersey

Route 31, Trenton, NJ

Tickets $6 (Students), $10 (Seniors & Faculty) & $12 (Adults)

No credit cards accepted

For information visit www.shakespeare70.org

Or call (609) 882-5979

CAST IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Edna, the Maid – Susan Blair

Arthur Birling – Brian Bara

Sheila Birling – Cat Miller

Gerald Croft - Glenn Calhoun

Sybil Birling – Catherine Rowe

Eric Birling – Aaron Wexler

Inspector Goole – George Hartpence

Marguerite Wurtz, Tracey Fama, Catherine Rowe in AND MISS REARDON DRINKS A LITTLE

2006-06-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

AND MISS REARDON DRINKS A LITTLE

2006-06-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

The Black Box Series

Villagers Theatre

proudly presents

AND MISS REARDON DRINKS A LITTLE

by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright

Paul Zindel

Director - Jonathan Wierzbicki of Flemington

Producer - Tina Lee of Somerset

Stage Manager - Stephanie Simons Neal of Fanwood

After the death of her mother and an unfortunate encounter with a stray cat in Italy, Anna Reardon (Tracey Fama of South Bound Brook) suffers an embarrassing breakdown at her teaching job. Her sisters, who also work in the school system, have differing reactions to this development. Catherine Reardon (Marguerite Wurtz of New Providence), the middle sister, crawls further into her liquor bottle. The oldest sister - and the only one to have married and escaped their girlhood home - Ceil Adams (Catherine Rowe of Somerset) decides to take steps to have Anna put away. As the sisters are battling it out, they are interrupted by neighbors Bob and Fleur Stein (David Neal of Fanwood and Alison Byrne of Metuchen). The Steins have come ostensibly to give Anna a Get Well gift, but they have other, hidden agendas. The pathos and drama of AND MISS REARDON DRINKS A LITTLE is relieved by the sardonic, twisted humor of the emotionally crippled sisters.

Elaine Wallace of Flemington appears as the landlady, Mrs. Pentrano, and John McDonough of Flemington plays the role of the Delivery Man. Director Wierzbicki is staging this production fully in the round in Villagers’ newly refurbished Black Box. This will help bring the audience into intimate contact with the lives of the Reardon sisters.

AND MISS REARDON DRINKS A LITTLE opens on July 7th and runs through July 22nd, 2006 in the Black Box at Villagers Theatre, located in the Franklin Township Municipal Complex at 415 Demott Lane in Somerset, NJ. Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m. There will be one Sunday matinee on July 16 at 2 p.m. All tickets are $12.00. Reservations can be made by calling the box office at (732) 873-2710. Directions and further information about this and future productions at the theater can be found on the website at www.villagerstheatre.com .

2006-04-19T10:53:00.000-07:00

Circle Players

416 Victoria Avenue

Piscataway, NJ 08854

Proudly Presents

THE COCKTAIL HOUR
by A.R. Gurney

April 21 through May 7, 2006

Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m.

April 30 and May 7 at 3:00 p.m.

A playwright returns to the home of his wealthy, very proper parents to get their permission to produce a play he has written about them. The confrontation takes place during the ritual of the cocktail hour, and, as the martinis flow, so do the recriminations and revelations. The parents are disturbed and offended by the way they are portrayed; the sister objects to the minor role assigned to her character. THE COCKTAIL HOUR is a funny and poignant drama.

Director: John Correll/Winfield

Producer: David Benson/New Brunswick

Cast: Stan Kaplan/Westfield, Jean Kuras/Glen Ridge, David Neal/Fanwood, Catherine Rowe/Somerset

Opening night, please join us for a wine and cheese reception after the performance. For reservations, phone 732-968-7555 or visit our website: www.circleplayers.com

2006-03-01T17:00:00.000-08:00

THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH

A comedy by Thornton Wilder

Directed by Jon Heron - Produced by Joyce Porter

Stage Managed by Stephanie Simons Neal

This hilarious, award-winning play premiered as America entered World War Two. With great humor, it tells a very old story: how humanity survives despite the incredibly foolish things it does. The story follows Mr. (Art Hickey) and Mrs. Antrobus (Catherine Rowe), their children (Al Contursi and Liz Levin), and their maid (Lynn Langone) as they deal with the Ice Age, the Flood, a devastating war, all while inventing the alphabet, the wheel, and the singing telegram. It's a play full of hope and laughter. Additional cast members for the Circle production include Pat Carpenter, Christie Leigh Carver, Ithamar Francois, Pearl Gannett, David Neal, Rob Pherson and Keri-Lynn Sirkin.

WHEN:
March 3 - 19, 2006
Friday: Mar. 3, 10, and 17, 2006 at 8:00 pm - $15
Saturday: Mar. 4, 11, and 18, 2006 at 8:00 pm - $15
Sunday: Mar. 12 and 19, 2006 at 3:00 pm - $12

WHERE:
Circle Players
416 Victoria Avenue Piscataway, NJ 08854

HOW TO ORDER TICKETS:
You can order tickets either by phone or by email
By Phone
1. Call the box office at (732) 968-7555
2. Listen to the options.
3. Leave your name, number of tickets you want, date of performance, and phone number where you can be reached.
By Email
Go to the Circle Players website http://www.circleplayers.com/ and select Ticket Orders from the menu. Follow the instructions.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

2006-02-10T13:31:00.000-08:00

A non-theatre moment...snapshot of me, captured by the carriage driver and guide who took a group of us on a tour of Charleston, SC in September.

2006-02-10T13:23:00.000-08:00

THE VILLAGERS THEATRE
415 Demott Lane - Somerset, NJ 08875

Proudly presents the second staged reading of

The New Playwrights Series 2006

Monday, February 13 at 8:00 p.m.

FREE ADMISSION

THE BOOKSTORE

by John Watts of Newark, NJ

Directed by Annette Fielder

This full-length romance in one act tells the story of Paul, absorbed in his books, and Julie, who insulates herself in a world of movie fantasies. Can they build a bridge between their two reclusive lives? Their friends and family try to help things along.

CAST

Paul - David Eppley

Julie - Debbie Barr

George - Howard Fischer

Mrs. G - Marie Fiorello

Mrs. Thompson - Judith Ferszt

2006-02-03T14:20:00.000-08:00

THE VILLAGERS THEATRE

415 Demott Lane - Somerset, NJ 08875

Proudly presents the first staged reading of

The New Playwrights Series 2006

on Monday, February 6 at 8:00 p.m.

FREE ADMISSION

OH MARTHA!

by Grace Wessbecher of Morris Plains, NJ

Directed by Catherine Rowe Pherson

This full-length comedy in 2 acts is about the coming-of-age of Anthony Buonaratti, an Italian-American boy growing up in New Jersey just before the Millenium. The play takes place in memory and explores many aspects of human love. The setting is a small bungalow on Lake Hopatcong, NJ and its environs.

CAST

Anthony Buonaratti – Derek Mazukiewicz

Dom – Anthony Cipriano

Gloria - Marie Fiorello

Louie - Sal Ricci

Lucy - Marie Comerford

Poppi – Howard Fischer

Quaquahela – Jeff Dworkin

Keli – Debbie Barr

Andrea – Janet Swaim

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

2005-10-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

Circle Players proudly presents our second production in our 53rd season

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
the original romantic comedy

by William Shakespeare of Stratford-on-Avon

Directed by Rob Pherson of Somerset

Produced by Carole McGee of Westfield

Poor Kate (Patti Murtha of South River) is too outspoken to attract a man. Poor Bianca (Jennifer Wewers-Sharp of Glen Gardner) can't get married until after her shrewish sister Kate finds a husband. Poor Baptista (Catherine Rowe of Somerset) has to provide for two daughters, and she apparently needs a husband of her own. Neighbor Gremio (Jon Heron of New Brunswick) is worthy, but a bit long in the tooth for his desired object, Bianca. Hortensio (Al Contursi of Middlesex) also wants Bianca, even though he's being stalked by a wealthy widow (Carla Phoenix of North Plainfield). Lucentio (Greg DePetro of East Brunswick) was sent to town to attend university, accompanied by his servants Tranio (David Neal of Fanwood) and Biondella (Ana Kalet of Franklin Park). Now Lucentio, too, has fallen under Bianca's spell.

Then the answer to everyone's prayer arrives in the person of loose cannon Petruchio (Paul Salvatoriello of South Orange). He's willing to brave a hundred shrews for a fat dowry, and his trusty servant Grumio (Scott Shappell of Parsippany) will go along with whatever scheme he hatches to achieve his object. Soon the air is thick with plots and masquerades, including one that involves a Pedant (Martin Brilliant of Holmdell) impersonating Lucentio's father Vincentio. Then the real Vincentio (Joseph Porter of Piscataway) arrives on the scene, plots unravel and knots get tied, but who tames who in the end?

Circle Players is located at 416 Victoria Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854. Show dates are November 4 to November 20, 2005, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. and November 13 and 20, Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $15.00 on Fridays and Saturdays, $12.00 on Sundays, $1 off any performances for Seniors and Students. Sorry, no credit cards accepted. For reservations and information call 732-968-7555.

DISASTER RELIEF FUNDRAISER

2005-10-14T12:24:00.000-07:00

The victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita continue to need help in rebuilding their lives after the devastations on the Gulf Coast. One of the most efficient ways to help them is to contribute to the American Red Cross. Each year, the American Red Cross responds immediately to more than 70,000 disasters, including house or apartment fires (the majority of disaster responses), hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents, explosions, and other natural and man-made disasters.

To raise money for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, there will be a special presentation of the Villagers New Playwrights Series of staged readings on Monday evening, October 31. The program will begin at 8:00 p.m. in the Zaidi (Black Box) Theatre. The minimum suggested donation is $20. All monies raised by the reading will be donated to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and matched through Johnson & Johnson.

The first play on the program is COPIOUS TEARS by M. Lennon Perricone of North Brunswick. Mr. Perricone will direct the reading of his play. Sally O’Neil of Brookside and Catherine Rowe of Somerset will be reading roles written especially for them. COPIOUS TEARS is a thoughtful examination of American attitudes toward the death penalty, funneled through the experiences of two women whose lives are touched by violent tragedy. Mr. Perricone is planning to submit his play to the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. According to the Festival website, “If we have to shine flashlights at the stage, the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival will take place as scheduled March 29-April 2 in the French Quarter.”

The second short play of the evening is GROUP by Audra Lord of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Audra lived in New Jersey and was active in community theatres here prior to moving to the Detroit area. GROUP is a comedy revolving around three women who gather in an unused classroom for a women’s support group meeting. The reading will be directed by Catherine Rowe Pherson, producer of the annual Villagers New Playwrights Series. Liz Mahon of Union Beach, Leigh Mann of Matawan and Sara Peters of New Brunswick will play the women of the GROUP.

The Villagers Theatre is located at 415 DeMott Lane, in the Franklin Township Municipal Complex in Somerset, New Jersey. Directions to the theatre can be obtained by calling 732-873-2710, or by visiting the Villagers’ website www.villagerstheatre.com.

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

2005-08-13T14:46:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Wierzbicki & Catherine Rowe
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
The Ledge Theatre, August 19-21, 2005

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

2005-08-13T14:36:00.000-07:00

PRIZE-WINNING PLAY PRESENTED AT SOMERSET THEATER AUGUST 19 - 21

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE gives local actors powerhouse showcase

Tennessee Williams' enduring drama, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, will be presented at the Villagers Black Box Theatre in Somerset, August 19 through 21, 2005. An American classic, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE debuted on the Broadway stage in the 1947 Tony Award-winning production, and later came to moviegoers in the 1951 film. Both productions introduced a then unknown Marlon Brando.

Arguably Williams' most well known play, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE is set in the late 1940s New Orleans French Quarter and tells the feverish story of the pathetic mental and emotional demise of a determined, yet fragile, repressed and delicate Southern lady born to a once-wealthy family ofMississippi planters. Her impoverished, tragic downfall is at the hands of savage, brutal forces in modern society.

The play, produced by the New Jersey-based The Ledge Theatre, features a cast of well-known local actors whose "day jobs" are varied and range from editor to medical doctor to physical therapist. The cast includes: Catherine Rowe of New Brunswick as Blanche DuBois, Jonathan Wierzbicki of Flemington as Stanley Kowalski, Sara Peters of New Brunswick as Stella, David Thomas Hampson of Metuchen as Mitch, Cody Dalton of Montclair as Eunice, Rich Klein of Piscataway as Steve, Voltaire Balderrama of South Orange as Pablo, and Tim Regan of Carteret as the young collecter. Phillip Sprayberry of Clifton will direct the production.

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE will be presented at 8 p.m. on August 19 and 20; 2 p.m. on August 21. Admission is $15 standard; $12 senior citizens and students with valid IDs. General Admission tickets may be purchased at the door. For directions, please call the Villagers Theatre Box Office at 732.873.2210 or visit www. villagerstheatre.com.

EXHIBIT THIS!

2005-07-01T10:47:00.000-07:00

Culture and comedy combine in the World Premiere of

EXHIBIT THIS!

A new play by New Jersey playwright Luigi Jannuzzi

Directed by Michael Gallagher

This is a contemporary play (actually a series of skits and monologues) set in The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. You may think you've been to a museum, but you've never seen one like this. Exercise your intellect while having your funny bone tickled by a talented ensemble cast.

Community Arts Partnership at the Peddie School in Hightstown, NJ is proud to announce the revival of its community theater program with this intimate production. The Mariboe Gallery in the lobby of the Swig Arts Center of the Peddie Schoolas will be used as the backdrop for this "Museum Piece."

Performances at 8 p.m. on July 8, 9, 15 and 16, and 2 p.m. matinees on July 10 and 17. Seating is very limited, so make your reservations far ahead of time by calling the box office at (609) 490-7550. Tickets are $10.

The cast includes Bruce Clough, James Caran, Judith Ferszt, Candace Gallagher, Edgard Garcia, Todd Gregoire (Perry Award Winner), Laura Jackson, Dennis Jaybendy, Bonnie Powell, Shan Raju, Catherine Rowe and Tom Stevenson.

84 CHARING CROSS ROAD

2005-03-17T07:40:00.000-08:00

In 1949, Helene Hanff, a single woman paying her rent on an apartment in a New York brownstone by proofreading and writing the occasional television script, comes across an ad in the Saturday Review of Literature. Prompted by the ad, she sends off a letter to Marks & Co., antiquarian booksellers at 84 Charing Cross Road in London, asking if they can provide inexpensive copies of any of a long list of books she wants to own. Frank Doel replies on behalf of Marks & Co., enclosing a very proper note along with the Robert Louis Stevenson. Thus begins a 20-year correspondence that ranges over such diverse subjects as war-time rationing, the sermons of John Donne, how to make Yorkshire Pudding, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. If you've got a passion for literature or a soft spot for merrie olde England, if you're a sucker for a hopeless romance, this play will be just your cup of tea.

84 CHARING CROSS ROAD will be performed at the Off-Broadstreet Dessert Theatre, 5 S. Greenwood Avenue, Hopewell, NJ 08525. The cast includes Catherine Rowe as Helene Hanff and Tom Stevenson as Frank Doel, with John Anastasio, Lauren Brader and Jennifer East as the denizens of the bookshop. Performance dates are April 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and May 1, 6 and 7, 2005. Doors open at 7:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, 1:30 on Sundays for dessert and coffee. Performances begin at 8:00 (Fridays & Saturdays) and 2:30 (Sundays). The ticket price ($23.75 Fridays & Sundays, $25.25 Saturdays) includes the gourmet dessert and coffee, plus the performance. There is a special senior rate of $22.00 for Sunday matinees only. Reservations and additional information can be obtained by calling the Off-Broadstreet Theatre box office at 609-466-2766.

BOOK CLUB reading 3/2/2005

2005-02-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

Due to inclement weather, the final staged reading for the Villagers New Playwrights Series 2005 has been rescheduled from Monday evening, February 28 to Wednesday evening, March 2 at 8:00 p.m.

BOOK CLUB, by Vicki Koestler of Alexandria, VA, is an inventively madcap, 2-act comedy about the members of a book club who discover a cask of pirate treasure behind the refrigerator in the high school teacher's lounge during a tornado. In addition to the locals, there is a strange woman of indeterminate European heritage who conducts seances and a lonely refrigerator repair woman with a handy tool bag. It's all good for a laugh to chase away those winter blues.

Directed by Annette Fielder with technical assistance from Marie Fiorello.

CAST
Mr. Oshansky – Howard Fischer
Dave – David Eppley
Carrie – Kim Ann Whalen
Peg – Carole Mancini
Leora – Hilde Steinberg
Ugrit – Alison Byrne
Angela – Alison Quairoli

The reading will be held in the Black Box at Villagers Theatre, 415 Demott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873. There is no charge for admission, and the audience is encouraged to remain after the reading for a discussion with the playwright.

VILLAGERS NEW PLAYWRIGHTS SERIES 2/21/2005

2005-02-16T09:34:00.000-08:00

On Monday evening, February 21 at 8:00 PM, the Villagers Theatre will present the third in the New Playwrights Series 2005 staged readings. This will be a presentation of two shorter plays by New Jersey resident playwrights.

WE LOVE YOU KATHERINE by Bonnie Rozanski of Lawrenceville, NJ
One-act courtroom drama about a celebrity shoplifting case that examines the line between compulsion and volition. Directed by Bill Seesselberg
CAST
Ray Fiorelli - Russ Weiss
Justine Landesberg - Carole Mancini
Tyler Lawrence/Mark Dolham - Patrick Lithgow
Katherine Barrington - Virginia Kaminitzer
John Barrington - Howard Fischer
Sharon Taylor - Kim Ann Whalen
Alex Wolf - Liam DeMasi
Judge - Lee Benson
Clerk - Bill Seesselberg

LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE by CJ Nolan of Atlantic Highlands, NJ
One-act drama exploring the life of film actress and political activist Jean Seberg, who died in Paris under mysterious circumstances on September 8, 1979. Directed by Hilde Steinberg
CAST
Young Jean - Mallory Pherson
Jean - Catherine Rowe
Various Male Voices - Howard Fischer

Performances will be in the Black Box at Villagers Theatre, 415 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873. There is no charge for admission. Playwrights, students and devotees of the theatre are especially encouraged to attend and join in discussions with the playwrights after each reading.

ROEBLING - Villagers New Playwrights Series

2005-02-10T11:27:00.000-08:00

ROEBLING will be the second staged reading in the Villagers New Playwrights Series 2005. This exciting play relates the story of the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, with all its attendant tragedies and triumphs. Playwright Mark Violi from Hamilton Square, NJ sets his play primarily in New York in 1869, the first year of construction. The reading is directed by Catherine Rowe Pherson.

CAST:

John Roebling - Russ Weiss
Charles Martin - Jim Morgan
Haldis Dickey - Howard Fischer
Nathaniel Dickey - David Eppley
Horatio Allen - Keith Sampino
E.F. Farrington - Lee Benson
Washington Roebling - John O'Brien
Emily Roebling - Joy Salerno
Dr. Andrew Smith - Jon Heron
Mary Martin/Woman - Carole Mancini
Members of the East River Bridge Commission - Jon Heron, Russ Weiss, Carole Mancini
Narrator - Catherine Rowe

Performance at 2:00 PM on Sunday, February 13, 2005, at the Villagers Theatre, 415 Demott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08875. There is no admission fee for this event, and the audience is encouraged to remain after the reading for a discussion with the playwright.

2005-02-03T10:29:00.000-08:00

The Villagers New Playwrights Series 2005 is pleased to present THE ST. ANDREWS STORY by Tariq Hamami of Howell, NJ. THE ST. ANDREWS STORY is a full-length drama about a man reared by his mother in isolation, exposed to the outside world only through literary fiction. After his mother dies, the young man comes to NYC to live. Can such an innocent man even survive in the big city, let alone make a difference? The play explores themes of love and goodness, loss and redemption.

Mindy Gollin directs this staged reading with the following cast:
Young Pure/Narrator - Jake Shatsky
Mother - Carole Mancini
Pure - Patrick Lithgow
Rebecca - Jaime Kimberlin
Lenore - Lori Dahlberg
Lucida - Robin Shatsky
Narrator/Thug #2/Police Officer - David Eppley
Mr. Drewsdale/Thug #3 - Howard Fischer
Sir/Thug #1/Police Officer #2 - Lee Benson

Please join us at The Villagers Theatre, 415 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08875 at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, February 7. The performance is FREE, and the audience is invited to remain after the reading to talk with the playwright. No reservations are required. Visit the Villagers website at www.villagerstheatre.com for directions to the theatre.

2005-01-17T11:08:00.000-08:00

Mindy Gollin, Lori Dahlberg, me, Jeff Dworkin and JC Gibriano (in the rear) at the NJACT banquet, September 2004. I was nominated for the Lead Actress in a Play Award for Hannah in ARCADIA at Playhouse 22, and for Production of a Play for PROOF at Villagers.
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A BEDFULL OF FOREIGNERS

2004-12-08T10:23:00.000-08:00

The Off-Broadstreet Theatre, 5 South Greenwood Avenue in Hopewell, NJ, will present A BEDFULL OF FOREIGNERS by Dave Freeman. A travelling British couple find themselves sharing their French hotel room with a British business man, his German wife and his French mistress. Adding to the confusion are the hotel proprietor, in Renaissance costume for a local festival, and the porter, who may once have been in the Foreign Legion (or maybe he herded reindeer in Lapland). Bob Thick directs this madcap and tastefully titillating farce.

THE CAST

Stanley - Gary Van Lieu
Brenda - Lauren Brader
Claude - Tom Stevenson
Helga - Catherine Rowe
Simone - Diana D'Ascoli
Heinz - Philip Katz
Karak - Bob Thick

Performance dates are December 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 31, 2004 and January 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21 and 22, 2005. Doors open at 7:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, 1:30 on Sundays for dessert and coffee. Performances begin at 8:00 (Fridays & Saturdays) and 2:30 (Sundays). The ticket price ($23.75 Fridays & Sundays, $25.25 Saturdays) includes the gourmet dessert and coffee, plus the performance. There is a special senior rate of $22.00 for Sunday matinees only. Reservations and additional information can be obtained by calling the Off-Broadstreet Theatre box office at 609-466-2766.

2004-12-06T07:04:00.000-08:00

ID Card Photos are scary
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I KNOCK AT THE DOOR

2004-12-03T11:26:00.000-08:00

ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2004

Tonight at 8, Circle Players in Piscataway presents a staged reading of I KNOCK AT THE DOOR by Sean O'Casey as part of the Classic Play Reading Series. I KNOCK AT THE DOOR is an autobiographical play, covering the childhood years of Sean O'Casey, the Irish playwright who wrote THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS and JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK. In addition to the disadvantage of extreme poverty, the child O'Casey struggled with the excruciating pain and disabling effects of cataracts.

Rob Pherson directs this staged reading, which will be performed by Ellen Cusick, James Grausam, Mike Oravec, Catherine Rowe, Mark Szabo and Gordon Weiner.

Circle Players is located at 416 Victoria Avenue in Piscataway. There is a $5 admission charge for the Classic Play Reading Series.

NO MANSFIELD SLOCUM

2004-11-10T09:31:00.000-08:00

A staged reading of a new play by M. Lennon Perricone, NO MANSFIELD SLOCUM, will be performed at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 14, 2004. The reading is being hosted by the East Brunswick Community Players at Playhouse 22, 210 Dunhams Corner Road, East Brunswick, NJ 08816. No admission will be charged.

The reading is being directed by the playwright, with the following cast:

Audrey Estella - Catherine Rowe
Beverly Chambers - Leigh Mann
Elizabeth Carlton - Sally O'Neil
Evangela Rice - Luanna Jones
Governor Blasdell - Deb Gulbin
Judith Spode - Karen Root
Mayor Prescott - Sharon Saks

Synopsis of the play:
When a bitter personal conflict leads to a careless accusation, five very powerful and accomplished women are drawn into tragic events that will forever change the course of their lives.

2004-11-09T07:18:00.000-08:00

Glamorous ice skating accident
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Villagers New Playwrights Series

2004-10-18T13:07:00.000-07:00

The Villagers Theatre in Somerset, NJ is accepting submissions for the 2005 New Playwrights Series of original plays. Selected plays will be presented as staged readings in the Zaidi Black Box Theatre on Monday evenings in February 2005. The playwrights are requested to attend the readings to participate in discussions with the audience.

Scripts must be original, unpublished works. We welcome all comedies, dramas and farces of professional quality. There is no limit on cast size, although smaller casts (under 8 characters) are preferred. We also prefer shows designed to be performed on one set, with an eye toward future community theatre productions. One-act plays and shorter scripts will be considered, in addition to full-length scripts. There are no restrictions for content or language, as this series is presented for an adult audience. Musical plays will not be considered.

The goal of the Villagers New Playwrights Series is to provide playwrights with an opportunity to glimpse the performance potential of their works in progress. Additional goals are to provide alternative performance opportunities for our local actors and directors and to expose our local audiences to new works. All submissions will be considered for their potential to fulfill these goals. Due to the fact that Villagers programs are supported, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council of the Arts/ Department of State (a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and administered by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission through the State/County Partnership Local Arts Program), preference will be given to New Jersey resident playwrights.

Please submit original scripts to Catherine Rowe Pherson, c/o The Villagers Theatre, PO Box 6175, 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08875. The deadline for submissions is October 31, 2004. Playwrights who wish their scripts returned should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with their submissions. Playwrights whose work is not chosen will be notified of the final selections only if they provide an SASE.

Any questions may be directed via e-mail to catherine@villagerstheatre.com

THE LITTLE FOXES

2004-10-09T07:32:00.000-07:00

Westfield Community Players
proudly presents

THE LITTLE FOXES
by Lillian Hellman

Directed by
JOANN SCANLON

Featuring
PAUL BETTYS - FRED CUOZZO - JAMES GRANT
MEGAN GUINAN - TOM HODGE - DAVID HOFFMAN
NENA SMITH JENKINS - LYNN LANGONE
CATHERINE ROWE - MARK SZABO

Performance Dates:
October 9, 16, 17, 22, 23, 29 & 30, 2004
8:00 PM

Tickets $15.00

For Reservations call 908-232-1221

Westfield Community Players
1000 North Avenue West
Westfield, NJ

'ART'

2004-10-08T07:42:00.000-07:00

How much would you pay for an all-white painting? That’s the question explored in 'ART' by Yasmina Reza (English translation by Christopher Hampton). 'ART' is the first production of the season in the critically acclaimed Black Box Series at Villagers Theatre, a nonprofit center for the performing and cultural arts. The production will be directed by Rob Pherson of Somerset, who studied theatre at the University of Arizona. His wife, Catherine Rowe Pherson, will take the reins of producer.

The original French production of 'ART' won the Moliere Award for Best Play, Best Production and Best Author. It concerns Serge (Tom Stevenson of Princeton), who spends a fortune on an all-white painting, thus provoking a quarrel with his best friend, Marc (Jeff Maschi of Highland Park), who is outraged by this act of extravagance. A third man, Ivan (Danny Siegel of Princeton), attempts unsuccessfully to placate both sides. The play offers a profoundly funny look at friendship, rivalry and the nature of art. Jack Kroll of Newsweek said "It's an actor's dream, a nonstop cross-fire of crackling language, serious issues of life and art expressed in outbursts that sound like Don Rickles with a degree from the Sorbonne."

The Villagers Theatre is located at 415 DeMott Lane in Somerset, NJ 08873. Performances of 'ART' will be at 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, October 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23. There will be one Sunday matinee at 2:00 on October 17. All general admission tickets are $12. For reservations and directions to the theatre call the box office at 732-873-2710. Further information about the Villagers Theatre is available on our website at www.villagerstheatre.com

This program is made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council of the Arts/ Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and administered by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission through the State/County Partnership Local Arts Program.

THE LARAMIE PROJECT

2004-09-10T09:10:00.000-07:00

Circle Players
416 Victoria Avenue, Piscataway
732-968-7555

proudly presents

THE LARAMIE PROJECT
by Moises Kaufman

Directed by
Jon Heron

Starring
GERRY APPEL ~ TRACEY FAMA ~ REBECCA HESS
ROBIN JOYCE ~ SCOTT KUTCHER ~ DAVID NEAL
MIKE ORAVEC ~ CATHERINE ROWE

September 10th* through October 2nd
(No perf 9/24-26)
Fri/Sat at 8pm -- $15
Sun at 3pm -- $12
Senior/Student $1 discount
*Champagne party following opening night -- Sept 10th

Tickets and info:
Call 732-968-7555
Reservations are strongly suggested.
For more info, visit us on the net at http://www.circleplayers.com/