The Chester Theatre Group presented the comedy The Cocktail Hour by A. R. Gurney on Friday and Saturday at 8 pm November 5 to the 19 and Sunday at 2 pm, November 13 and 20, 2011, at the Black River Playhouse, located at the corner of Grove Street and Maple Avenue in Chester, NJ.  READ THE PRESS REVIEW

Winner of the Lucille Lortel Award as Best Off-Broadway Play. A long-run New York success, this witty, perceptive play blends mordant humor with moments of affecting poignancy. “THE COCKTAIL HOUR is as funny and moving as The Dining Room…it could be the best play he has done so far.” —The New Yorker.

“It makes for a deliciously funny and also occasionally touching evening, as Gurney’s family sit around raking over old coals and settling old scores with a quite new and beguiling freshness.” —NY Post. “The lines in the play crackle and pop with an electricity all their own.” — Drama-Logue.…”when I watch Gurney at his best, as he is here, I laugh through the tears.” —NY Daily News.

The Cocktail Hour was directed by Cindy Alexander (Annandale). The cast included: Michael Foley (Andover) , Penny Hoadley (Brookside), AnnDonne Pepito (Somerset), and Steve Catron (Mendham).

The time is the mid ’70s, the place a city in upstate New York. John, a playwright, returns to his family’s house, bringing with him a new play which he has written about them. His purpose is to obtain their permission to proceed with production, but his wealthy, very proper parents are cautious from the outset. For them the theatre is personified by the gracious, comforting era of the Lunts and Ina Claire, and they are disturbed by the bluntness of modern plays. And there is also John’s sister, Nina, to contend with, although her reservations have to do with the fact that John has given her character such a minor role. Their confrontation takes place during the ritual of the cocktail hour, and as the martinis flow so do the recriminations and revelations, both funny and poignant. In the end it is evident that what John has written is closer to the truth than his family has heretofore been willing to admit, and that beneath their WASP reserve his parents and siblings are as beset with uncertainties and frustrations as their presumed “inferiors.” But while they seem shackled by the past, and tantalized disappointments and, with unfailing warmth and humor, converting pained resignation into cautious but hopeful anticipation.

Tickets  $18 ($16 for Seniors/Students). Reservations call 908-879-7304.       VIEW SCENES FROM THE COCKTAIL HOUR BELOW

The evening will feature the comedic stylings and wry observation of Katherine Brower, Dan Hoffman, Fred Holzapfel, Julie McCormick,Karen Muha, Peggy Robinson, and Phil Sweet.

The suggested donation is $15.

Call the theatre at 908.879.7304 for reservations.

Join a comedy workshop!

Next 8-week session begins May 14!

Information on our CLASSES page.

For further information and registration call 908-892-5458 or go to www.humorinthemidst.com

8 weeks. Saturday mornings 9:30 to 12 noon.

Just $195.

DISCOUNT! Mention Chester Theatre Group and receive a 10% discount!

***

The comedy workshops are brought to you by Chester Theatre Group and Humor in the Midst. Taught by Kate Lyn Reiter, and MFA Yale School of Drama graduate with 12 years experience as a comedienne in NYC.

Can a play about stamp collecting be called a comedic drama? Yes, especially when the taut script is MAURITIUS by Theresa Rebeck. Mix Ms. Rebeck’s gripping tale with the talents of veteran director, Jay Mills and a cast of five stellar performers and what you get is an evening of intrigue, drama and a few laughs. Stamp collecting may be thought of as the quiet pursuit of dedicated older and younger enthusiasts but when the stamps in question wield the power to create epic sibling rivalry and can drive grown men to the brink of moral bankruptcy, well it isn’t as genteel as one might imagine. Stir in some questionable characters on the con and the plot thickens.

Bringing this film-noir like story to life are returning CTG stage veterans, Jill Bormann of Morristown (previously seen in PROOF) as Jackie, Carol Holland of Long Valley (most recently seen in FICTION) as Mary and Steven Nitka of Long Valley (hysterical in CTGs April 16th special event THE 10 COMMANDMENTS) as Phillip. Rounding out the cast and making their debut performances with CTG are David Romankow of Gillette as Dennis and George LaVigne of Hackettstown as Sterling.

Tickets are $18.00 with a Senior (65+)/Student (with School ID) discount ticket of $16.00 at all performances. Reservations can be made by calling the box office at 908-879-7304.

There are only 7 performances so make your reservations now for this show which the press called “well-made”, “engrossing” and “emotionally fraught”.

CTG is proud to present (again), for one night only (again), a reading of The Ten Commandments, a comedy by Gary Hill and Perry Kroeger, based loosely (again) on the Cecil B. DeMille movie of the same name.

In the cast (again playing over 40 parts among them) are Barbara Haag, Steve Graham, Maggie Graham, Lori Lawrence, Stephen L. Fredericks, Danny Campos, Mark Happel, Steve Nitka, Perry Kroeger and Bob Jacobson as Moses.

The fun starts at 8:00 on April 16, 2011, and reservations are recommended by calling 908.879.7304.

The play was originally done in New York at LaMama in 1995.

Join a comedy workshop!

Next 8-week session begins March 19!

Information on our CLASSES page.

For further information and registration call 908-892-5458 or go to www.humorinthemidst.com

8 weeks. Saturday mornings 9:30 to 12 noon.

Just $195.

DISCOUNT! Mention Chester Theatre Group and receive a 10% discount!

***

The comedy workshops are brought to you by Chester Theatre Group and Humor in the Midst. Taught by Kate Lyn Reiter, and MFA Yale School of Drama graduate with 12 years experience as a comedienne in NYC.

Additional session held May 14.

We are particularly pleased to provide the Black River Playhouse as a venue at this level of development for “Nightmare Alley” in order that the author may further hone his work.

The four performance dates are; Friday March 25 at 8pm, Saturday March 26 at 2pm and 8pm, Sunday March 27 at 2pm.  Admission: $10 Reservations: 908-879-7304. The Black River Playhouse is located at the corner of Maple and Grove in Chester, New Jersey.

Based on the darkly evocative 1946 William Lindsay Gresham novel of the same name, which became the subsequent cult-classic film noir, Nightmare Alley, staring Tyrone Power and Joan Blondell,  the musical now has book, music and lyrics by noted performer and writer Jonathan Brielle. It received its world premiere at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles with Gil Cates as director last April and is now in further development prior to opening in New York.

“When I first read the novel, I was so struck It by the question of how someone becomes part of a carnival side show that I felt compelled to put the story to music,” said creator Jonathan Brielle. “After working closely with the Gresham estate, we are close to raising the big top and watching these fantastic characters come to life in all their revelry and tragedy.”

Jonathan Brielle moved from TriBeCa, in Manhattan, five years ago, and now works in his state of the art studios in the former Farmersville Schoolhouse, in Califon New Jersey. Brielle looks forward to working closer to home now after being the composer in residence at the Circle Rep Company in New York for many years.

Whether on Broadway teaching his songs to the legendary Jessica Tandy in Foxfire; writing the musical themes for Ford Motors; writing music and lyrics for Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus, producing the music for “Rugrats Live,” presenting his new musical about James Joyce in Dublin; or creating one of the longest running spectaculars in Las Vegas at the legendary Stardust Hotel, Jonathan has spent his life pursuing his passion in music. He is formerly the National Projects Director of the Songwriters Guild of America and currently serves as an Executive Board Member of the Johnny Mercer Foundation, dedicated to supporting the discipline of songwriting in the tradition of the Great American Songbook.

You can find snippets of the score and production stills at BrielleMusic.com: http://www.briellemusic.com/music/nightmare.html

Nightmare Alley Facebook Page

Friday and Saturdays at 8pm: Feb 25 – Mar 19, Sundays at 2pm: Mar 13 & 20, 2011.

“Don’t let the title scare you off, If you love musical theater and off-beat humor, this show will make you laugh until you … er, laugh your head off!”

It is about a town facing a water shortage where the government has banned private toiletries and the citizens must use pay-to-pee toilets regulated by a monopolistic company, the Urine Good Company, which charges exorbitant prices.Do the citizens rebel? You betcha! It not only pokes fun at local government, but, also the Broadway musical itself as a form.

The show played on Broadway for 2 and a half years (965 performances)  and won two Tony’s (Best Musical Score and Best Book).

The production staff includes:

• Director: Clifford Parrish
• Choreographer: Megan Ferentinos
• Stage Manager: Ellen Fraker-Glasscock
• Set Design: Steve Catron

Making up the cast are:

• Officer Lockstock: Scott Hart
• Penelope Pennywise: Melissa Loderstedt
• Bobby Strong: Brian Hall
• Little Sally: Elaine White
• Cladwell B. Cladwell: Michael Foley
• Hope Cladwell: Jill Cappucino
• Ma Strong: Martha Riley
• Soupy Sue: Christina Pirog
• Becky Two Shoes: Ericka Traugh
• Mrs. Millenium: Roxanna Wagner
• Barrell: Brian Vetter
• Hot Blades: Billy Brisley
• McQueen: Tom Schopper
• Mr. Fipp: Bob Longstreet
• Tiny Tom: Tariq Aly
• Robby: Chris Mortensen

Tickets are $24. Seniors (over 65) & Students (under 18): $22.  Reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling the box office at 908-879-7304.

SPECIAL PROJECT: Since Urinetown is a musical comedy satirizing a country in which the shortage of water requires everyone to “pay to pee” – the cast and crew of Urinetown have developed a special humanitarian project dubbed Pennies for Potties. Named by cast member Roxanna Wagner, who is heading up the effort, P4P is collecting money to to the international non-profit organization, Foundation for Peace, based in Ironia, NJ.

The Foundation for Peace has provided much needed emergency care to many materially impoverished countries. They are currently working tirelessly in Haiti by building schools, providing medical care and most importantly, building water filter and purification systems and latrines to stem the outbreak of cholera. Coin drops will be placed at the public rest rooms in the theatre through the run of the show. It takes $400 to build a latrine and the Urinetown folks are hoping to collect enough money to build two latrines.

For more information about Foundation for Peace, go to http://www.foundationforpeace.org/

The Pulitzer Prize-nominated play, follows the “near misses” of a relationship through a lifetime of letters between a man and a woman, will feature Pat Sheffield and Robert Sackstein, both CTG veterans. Their friendship unfolds from what is written — and what is left unwritten — in 50 years of letters, from summer camps and boarding schools through college, war, career and relationships.

The review of the Broadway production in TIME called the play “an exquisite jewel of a play….one of the four or five best American plays of the 80′s.”

“Love Letters” was first produced at the Long Wharf Theatre in 1988.  Over the years it has starred such luminaries as John Rubenstein, Stockard Channing, Kathleen Turner, Christopher Walken, Swoosie Kurtz, Richard Thomas, Elaine Stritch, Cliff Robertson, Colleen Dewhurst, Jason Robards, Robert Wagner and many others.

All seats are $10.00, Reservations recommended: 908-879-7304. The Black River Playhouse is located at the corner of Maple and Grove in Chester, New Jersey.

Start the New Year with Laughter!

Join a comedy workshop!

Next 8-week session begins January 22.

Information on our CLASSES page.

For further information and registration call 908-892-5458 or go to www.humorinthemidst.com

8 weeks. Saturday mornings 9:30 to 12 noon.

Just $195.

DISCOUNT! Mention Chester Theatre Group and receive a 10% discount!

***

The comedy workshops are brought to you by Chester Theatre Group and Humor in the Midst. Taught by Kate Lyn Reiter, and MFA Yale School of Drama graduate with 12 years experience as a comedienne in NYC.

Additional sessions will March 19, and May 14.