Our 2006-2007 Season

THE DARK LADY OF THE SONNETS
HOW HE LIED TO HER HUSBAND

by George Bernard Shaw

September 2006 Workshop

directed by Tom Murray / produced by Roxanna Wagner

The Chester Theatre Group of the Black River Playhouse is pleased to present a special workshop event: an evening of one-act comedies by George Bernard Shaw on Friday and Saturdays, September 8,9,15 and 16th at 8.00pm.

THE DARK LADY OF THE SONNETS is set on a terrace of Queen Elizabeth's Palace at Whitehall. A young William Shakespeare has planned a tryst with a lady of the court and is taken by surprise when he encounters a sleep-walking queen. In HOW HE LIED TO HER HUSBAND, a flighty young bride and her secret suitor must decide how to handle their affair, given the fact that her husband has likely found them out. All performances will be held at the historic Black River Playhouse on Grove Street in the Borough of Chester.

Directed by Tom Murray of Chester, the cast features Harry Laverty of Chester, Robert Longstreet of Bridgewater, Chris Mortenson of Oldwick, Hope Stevenson of Chester and Roxanna Wagner of Mendham. Tickets are $8. for General Admission (please note, no discounts apply). Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling the Box Office at 908.879.7304.

Funding for the Chester Theatre Group is made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State through the State Council's Block Grant Program, which is administered in Morris County by the Arts Council of the Morris Area.

Performances: September 8,9,15 & 16

MUSIC FROM A SPARKLING PLANET

by Douglas Carter Beane

Opens October 6, 2006

directed by Jeff Knapp / produced by Ellen Fraker Glasscock

Three thirty-something guys who'd rather debate TV trivia than deal with the mess of their personal lives are the protagonists in Douglas Carter Beane's dramedy. The desire to reclaim their youth takes them on a quest to find Tamara Tomorrow, the host of a local Philly TV show they adored as kids.

Performances: October 6, 7, 13, 14, 21, 22, 27, 28

The Players:

THE REAL THING

by Tom Stoppard

Opens December 1, 2006.

directed by Mary Saarman / produced by Penny Hoadley & Michelle Yampolski

The winner of seven Tony Awards, including best play, The Real Thing is about passion between a man and a woman and passion of that man for language. It is a play that reminds you of why you go to the theatre, why you fall in love…and why, just sometimes, it is all worth the effort.

Performances: December 1, 2, 8, 10 (Matinee at 2 PM), 15 and 16

The Players:

ILLYRIA

book, music, and lyrics by Peter Mills
adapted by Peter Mills and Cara Reichel
from Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT

Opens March 2, 2007

directed by Clifford Parrish / produced by Cindy Alexander

“This high-spirited, utterly engaging musical adaptation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is an intergenerational winner that deserves an unequivocal thumbs-up. Peter Mills and Cara Reichel, who adapted the show, have managed to do the near impossible. They have taken Shakespeare's comic masterpiece, kept its Elizabethan spirit, voice and wit, yet created a new, accessible work that brashly and, at times, poignantly speaks to contemporary musical theater." —The New York Times

Performances: March 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23 and 24 at 8:00 PM (Sunday shows begin at 2:00 PM).

The Players:

THE NORMAN CONQUESTS

by Alan Ayckbourn

May 2007

directed by Michael T. Mooney / produced by Penny Hoadley

Three inter-connected plays set in the garden, living room and dining room of a house over one weekend. This landmark 1973 comic trilogy will be performed in it's entirety! Each of the plays can be enjoyed on their own and in any order but be sure to catch all three for maximum fun!

Performances: May 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 & 27

Details on the show

The Players:

- PLUS -

We're celebrating the culmination of our successful Air Conditioning Fundraising Drive by responding to audience demand for a revival of the CTG hit musical

"1776"

by Peter Stone (Book) and Sherman Edwards (Music and Lyrics)

Directed by Mark Happel and Cliff Parrish; Musical Directed by Cliff Parrish

Performances:
FRIDAY & SATURDAY EVENINGS @ 8pm: June 29, 30, July 6,7,13,14,20,21
SUNDAY MATINEES @ 2pm: July 1,8,15

Special Performance on TUESDAY, July 3 @ 8pm

Cast