There is a sense of closeness amongst everyone in the theater that is immediately recognizable once you are there. The mood is very family oriented, and despite the feeling of urgency and excitement, all the actors seem to remain very organized and composed, even joking with one another.

The preparation that the actors and actresses invest into the production would give any nearby onlookers a much better appreciation of how hard they work, and how much it means to them. Everyone gives 110 percent in all of there rehearsal performances, really showing how much pride they take in their craft.

It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play opens this week (Dec.15,16,17,18,) and by the looks of things behind the scenes, the finished product is going to be a “Wonderful” experience for anyone looking to get some of that warm holiday cheer just before Christmas.

Guest blogger Ray Ruiz, Center Players board member and superb tech coordinator has this to say about his recent theatrical experience:

This past weekend was the closing weekend for the CP’s production of “THE PASSIONS OF DRACULA”. I did not realize what a difference 4 to 6 feet could make. I have been doing Sound and Lights for CP’s for the past 3 1/2 years. I am usually focused on the script and looking ahead for my cues. I did not realize how much I miss.

Why do I say this? This past Saturday and Sunday, I was given the opportunity to sit in the audience. Just 4 – 6 feet closer than the tech room. Wow!! What a difference. The acting on stage was superb. I was able to see all the little things the actors do on stage that I missed when my head was buried in script. Kudos, to Colleen and Lou for their direction, Mark for his Tech designing, Anthony for his production and overall contribution, and of course the cast and crew for the wonderful performances that occurred on the CP’s stage over the past 4 weeks. I am honored to be a part of this.

Dan Ayckroyd and "Dracula" Toast to Success

During a rare daytime appearance, Dracula came to Sam’s club of Freehold to share a Bloody Mary with Dan Aykroyd, internationally known movie celebrity. Dracula was able to attend the bottle signing event to launch Crystal Head Vodka, a new product introduced by Aykroyd, through the protection of Sam’s Club’s powerful  Thirteen Thousand Sun Screen, available to vampires only.

Both Dracula and Dan Aykroyd were on their very best behavior and there was no biting or fighting despite the press of many bodies in the crowd to get closer to catch a glimpse of the handsome duo. Dracula was delighted to find out that Dan had an appreciation of the supernatural and the role he played in the film Ghost Busters was based on a great respect of the occult.

The cast and crew members of the Passion of Dracula took advantage of the long lines of people waiting for Dan’s autograph on their Crystal Head skull bottle and passed out hundreds of season brochures for Center Players. So many people were excited to find out there was an award winning residential theater in the town of Freehold and spoke of coming to our next performance and the year’s offerings. 

Dracula, Center Players, and friends of Dracula are extremely grateful for the warm generosity of Dan Aykroyd and Isaac Kask, Sam’s Club’s store manager for their warm generosity of inviting Dracula to be part of this celebrity event.

Dracula was tired but happy when he flew away from Sam’s. He did need a nap in his coffin before performing in the afternoon matinee!

The Latino Film Festival, a three-day film fest, will be hosted by Center Players for the second year. It will be held at the Center Playhouse on South Street from September 30 through October 2.  The festivities coincide with Hispanic Heritage Month which runs from September 15 through October 15.

The film festival is just one of the events planned for The Latino Festival of Monmouth County, which will celebrate its 7^th anniversary on October 1 in downtown Freehold with seven hours of live entertainment in the Hall of Records Parking lot. In an effort to accommodate the growing attendance the festival will extend across Lafayette Street. The downtown festival will begin at 11 a.m. and conclude at 7 p.m.  The rain date is Sunday, October 2.  A full schedule of performers will be released in the next week.

“This is an opportunity to celebrate the diverse cultures of the fastest growing community in the United States,” said Angel Matos, chair of the Latino Festival of Monmouth County. “Every year the festival gets bigger and better. It has gone from being a small community event to a regional festival drawing people from across a wide area.”

The film festival will kick off on Friday, September 30 with a movie from Peru entitled Altiplano, about a woman who loses her husband and sets off on a journey of personal discovery. There will be films from Mexico, Peru, Cuba and Bolivia featured at the film fest.

“Once again, we want to thank our partners at the Center Playhouse for working with us to make this film festival possible, said Ann Bagchi, chair of the Latino Film Festival.  “The films themselves are beautiful and thought-provoking, but in addition each movie is followed by a discussion period touching on the issues raised by the performances. The festival has always been about breaking down barriers and fostering a cultural exchange.”

The Latino Festival of Monmouth County was founded in 2005. It was first held at the Park Avenue School in Freehold. It moved to downtown Freehold in 2008 and now draws thousands of people. It is still one of the few Latino cultural events offered in Western Monmouth County.

Michelle Catania

Freehold, New Jersey, August 16, 2011—The Michelle Catania Children’s Theater Program and Center Players Inc. today announced the winners of the 2011/2012 Michelle Catania Children’s Theater Program Scholarship. The scholarship was established to honor the legacy of Michelle Catania, who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2010 after a valiant 10-year fight. In an effort to preserve her memory and true spirit, many loving family members and friends established the Michelle Catania Children’s Theater Program, in partnership with the Center Players, her local community theater in Freehold, NJ. The program provides children’s theater programming in addition to awarding one $500 scholarship each year in each of the states she called home, Florida and New Jersey. To qualify for the scholarship, a member of the applicant’s immediate family must have had a serious bout with cancer. This year’s scholarships were awarded to Kamaria Baysmore, who will be attending Kean University in Union, NJ, and Katie Grey Coleman, who will be attending the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

“We commend the dedication, achievement and contributions of these young, talented women in both academics and community service,” said Maggie Gunther, Administrator of the Michelle Catania Children’s Theater Program. “These scholarships pay tribute to Michelle’s enduring legacy. The scholarship recipients are fine students who excelled in school and community service while dealing with cancer in their family life.”

“We are thrilled to award these scholarships to Kamaria and Katie,” said Bernice Garfield-Szita, President of Center Players. “By supporting the next generation of academically successful students involved in theater and community service, we pay tribute to Michelle and her vision of young adults involved in the arts.”

For the 2011-2012 academic year, the program received numerous applications from students planning to attend many different colleges and universities in both Florida and New Jersey. Selection criteria includes academic performance, letters of recommendation, an essay about how cancer affected the student’s life, and qualifying letters from the student’s parent or guardian . More information about the Michelle Catania Children’s Theater Program Scholarship can be found at http://michellecatania.wordpress.com/scholarship-Program/.

About the Michelle Catania Children’s Theater Program

Michelle Catania enriched so many lives. A group of family and friends created a legacy befitting her name: The Michelle Catania Children’s Theater Program, a theater arts program for children and teens in partnership with Center Players, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit resident community theater company in Freehold, NJ, whose stage has become a second home to Michelle. The mission of the Michelle Catania Children’s Theater Program is to provide opportunities for children and adults to become involved in the community through theater arts that entertain, educate and provide opportunities for scholarships for higher education. For more information, visit http://michellecatania.wordpress.com/.

About Center Players, Inc.

Center Players, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The mission of Center Players, Inc. shall be to bring enrichment through the performing arts to the diverse community it serves. To achieve this goal, the organization will conduct activities and programs to educate and entertain its patrons, and provide actors, directors and other creative people the opportunity to pursue their craft. For more information on Center Players, Inc, visit www.centerplayers.org and their blog at http://centerplayers.wordpress.com/.

Center Players presents Sylvia July 22-August 21

Opening Night Fundraiser to Benefit Rose’s Fund and MCSPCA

Photo by Mark Lamhut

Freehold, New Jersey, July 11, 2011— Animal lovers rejoice! Center Players presents Sylvia, a howlingly funny adult comedy about a love triangle between a middle-aged man, the dog he adopts and his surprised and perplexed wife. The production includes an opening night fundraiser to benefit two worthy animal loving organizations: Rose’s Fund for Animals and the Monmouth County SPCA.

Sylvia was written by A.R. Gurney, author of Love Letters, and starred Sarah Jessica Parker in the title role during its Broadway run in 1995. The play offers audiences an intriguing plot: Greg is frustrated by his job and in the midst of a mid-life crisis. After an altercation with his boss, Greg visits the park and finds an abandoned dog wearing a name tag with just her name, Sylvia. He brings the dog home, much to the chagrin of his successful wife Kate, who is at the peak of her career and enjoying their empty nest now that the kids have moved out. Kate is not happy about bringing a dog into their apartment and begins to feel left out and jealous of Greg’s relationship with the new resident in her home.

Sylvia was directed by Carla Zackson Heller, who recently starred as Mrs. Almond in Center Players’ May production of The Heiress. The production stars Caitlin Martin of Leonardo as Sylvia, Tim Kelsey of Neptune as Greg, Lorin Ottone of Freehold and Lori Anne Casciano of Atlantic Highlands sharing the role of Kate, and Aaron Ratzan of Matawan as Trinity.

Sylvia opens at Center Playhouse on Thursday, July 21^st with a fundraiser, “A Paws for Resuce,” for Rose’s Fund for Animals and the Monmouth County SPCA. Tickets for the fundraiser are $40 each; a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales goes to both worthy organizations. The event begins at 6PM and includes a reception and a light summer buffet before the show, which begins at 7:30PM.

Rose’s Fund subsidizes veterinary bills for animal owners who are financially unable to pay the animal hospital to treat their beloved pet. The fund also assists good Samaritans trying to medically save the life of an animal but do not have the financial means to do so. The Monmouth County SPCA is dedicated to enforcing animal cruelty laws; providing a safe haven to homeless, abused and abandoned pets while they await adoption; reducing pet over-population through spay/neutering; and cultivating their humane treatment through education and service.

Sylvia runs for five weekends, from Friday, July 22^nd until Sunday, June 5^th. Please call 732-462-9093 for information about tickets and our dining packages with several fine restaurants within walking distance of our theater.

Shot over a period of three months, the video was created with Panasonic AG-HDM40P, Canon 40D and Canon G5 cameras and produced with Adobe Production Premium CS4 software.

I know you’ll enjoy this video as much as I did. Here it is…

The cast of The Heiress receive direction from Bernice Garfield-Szita on the set.

How do you transform a 14 x18 foot stage into the parlor of a mansion on Washington Square in 1850, inhabited by elegantly dressed characters from a bygone era on a shoe string budget? It was accomplished through a great deal of artistic creativity and generous friends of the theater. The beautifully appointed stage set, props and costumes of the heiress were gathered from many different sources. The director, Bernice Garfield-Szita, created the stage design concept and costume plot and then proceeded to gather wonderfully talented artisans to help her make the designs a reality.

The stage construction was accomplished by a hard working team led by Lou Palermo and assisted by Anthony Greco and others. They spent many hours re-configuring the small stage area to accommodate the lovely period furniture and props loaned to the theater by two local  antique dealers, Gregory S. Goldman of Antiques and Fine Art of Freehold and Stillwell House Antiques of Manalapan. Additional pieces came from the private collection of the director gathered from many sources such as garage sales, thrift stores and family treasures. The attractive custom drapes were once a part of Center Player’s volunteer Fran Lehrfeld’s home, now recycled to the set of the Heiress.

The women’s costumes were imaginatively sewn and re-constructed by the talented hands of Lisa Chatenka, Anna Kofman (a very creative teen) and Lorraine Kofman. The material they had to work with were old prom dresses, bridesmaid’s gowns, fabrics and trims from yard sales and the personal wardrobe pieces of cast members. Jill Zaitchick gathered her costume from her own collection of Victorian style dresses and accessories.  The elegant men’s suits and tuxedos for the run of the show were provided by the Dante/Zeller of Freehold for a tiny sum. This was done in the height of prom and wedding season! The handsome silk top hats were on loan from the Atlas Pythagoras Masonic Lodge #10.

Center Players does not rent or pay for full sets and costumes made by professionals; all is created by devoted volunteers and kind friends of the arts. We are proud of our shoe string budget accomplishments. We are a community of people who love theater within our community!

Center Players presents The Heiress April 29-June 5

Production showcases extravagant period costumes and antiques onstage

Freehold, New Jersey, April 10, 2011— Center Players tackles a production that is rarely performed in community theaters. The Heiress is often performed on professional stages because the play is richly written and contains an intriguing plot that captivates audiences. However, the play takes place in the1850s and most community or regional theaters do not have the resources such as period costumes, furniture and props, needed to effectively depict an affluent New York home in the Victorian era.

The Heiress, written by Augustus and Ruth Goetz, was loosely based on the Henry James novel Washington Square. A psychological drama of romance and betrayal on multiple levels, it was first produced on Broadway in 1947. Olivia de Havilland won an Oscar for her portrayal of Catherine in the 1949 film of the same name. The play tells the story of Catherine Sloper, a wealthy, shy and socially backward young woman who falls in love with a charming and worldly suitor, Morris Townsend. Catherine’s aunt encourages the match but her father, Dr. Austin Sloper believes that Morris may have ulterior motives in pursuing his daughter.

The play’s director, Bernice Garfield-Szita, fell in love with the movie at a young age and has been planning this production for many years. A collector of antiques, Ms. Garfield-Szita is incorporating some of her collection to be used as props and furnishings in the play. Over the last decade, Center Players has also amassed a collection of costumes that will be modified to emulate Victorian dress. “We could not have produced The Heiress in the early days of Center Players,” remarks Ms. Garfield-Szita. “We had to wait until the theater was well-established and had developed enough stage materials and costumes to do justice to this beautifully written period piece.”

Center Players’ production of The Heiress stars Lauren Valasa of Middletown as Catherine Sloper, Bill Lee of Belford as Dr. Austin Sloper, Anthony Greco as Morris Townsend, and Jill Zaitchick of Colts Neck as Mrs. Penniman. The stellar cast is rounded out with Carla Zackson-Heller (Union Beach) as Mrs. Almond, Sami DeSocio (Holmdel) as Maria, Annie Flanagan (Sayreville) as Mrs. Montgomery, Yvette Cataneo (Freehold) as Marian Almond and Zach Berman (Eatontown) as Arthur Townsend.

The Heiress opens at Center Playhouse on Friday, April 29^th and runs for five weekends until Sunday, June 5th, with the exception of May 13-15. Please call 732-462-9093 for information about tickets and our dining packages with several fine restaurants within walking distance of our theater.

A few weeks ago, guest blogger Grace Toy reviewed the last play reading, Babel Tower by Alexis Kozak. Below is her review. Thank you, Grace!

It is a classic American tale that one has to leave one’s community in order to find and/or retain one’s self. Our most recent play reading, Babel Tower by Alexis Kozak addressed this vital question of self versus community when it comes to identity.

The emotional showdown between William, the Mayor, and his father, the Professor, is one of the most heartbreaking scenes of the reading. When William tells him that he is leaving town with Hattie after a lifetime of being witness and victim of the Mayor’s power struggles with the town for the tower to be built (including his own mother), one cannot help but be moved when his own father denounces and ultimately disowns William for not living up to his expectations.

Sometimes, of course, we should leave our physical homes to find and assert our own identity, but I was troubled that there seemed to be such a radical choice — does one have to lose all that one has known and loved — no matter how troubled — in order for to be fulfilled? Does one have to literally kill himself Jack in order to leave Black Kettle, a place of limited possibilities and ever-presence of oil rigs and stench of cow manure, to find one’s dreams and still have community?

The fault seems not to be in that Jack, Hattie, William and the Professor dare to dream for themselves; it is that they don’t dream big enough. Their vision seems to be obscured by their being in spiritual and psychological bondage to not being able to see and “own” what Black Kettle and their loved ones mean to them. In their myopia, the audience is left by the end with the sad, matter-of-fact Narrator’s emotionless telling of what happened in Black Kettle.

I hope to see that in future work, Alexis Kozak would be able to re-envision both self and community, where they can be integrated with each other, for that is where true redemption lies. In the end, we know that you can take the person out of Black Kettle, but you can’t take Black Kettle out of the person.