Chester Theatre Group

The CHESTER THEATRE GROUP in residence at the BLACK RIVER PLAYHOUSE will present the American Premiereof Improbable Fiction, a comedy by Alan Ayckbourn.

Improbable Fiction will be directed by Michael T. Mooney (of Mount Olive) and produced by Penny Hoadley (of Brookside).

Starring David Neal (of Fanwood), Elizabeth Urcinoli (of Hackettstown), Bob Sackstein (of Chester), Julianne DiPietro-Renshaw (of Maplewood), Cody Dalton (of Montclair), Maria Brodeur (of Rockaway), and Eric Rolland (of Freehold).

Fridays & Saturdays, May 1 through 16 at 8pm and Sunday, May 17 at 2pm. For reservations and information: 908.879.7304 General Admission $18, Students & Seniors $16. All performances at the Black River Playhouse, corner of Grove and Maple, Chester, New Jersey.

Six aspiring authors meet on a winter’s evening to discuss their work. Among them are writers of historical romances and children’s literature who are finding it difficult to start writing, and a crime writer who can’t stop! A creator extremely complicated science fiction, a librettist without a musical partner and the Writer’s Circle chairman, who produces instruction booklets, make up the team.

The chairman, Arnold, attempts to get the rest of the group out of a rut by suggesting that they collaborate on a piece of writing, an idea that is received without enthusiasm. However, as Arnold is clearing up after the meeting, there is a clap of thunder, a black-out – and the story that would have resulted from the collaboration takes place before his very eyes.

FACTS ABOUT IMPROBABLE FICTION:

1. This is the American Premiere of the play.
2. The title is a quote from Shakespeare’s *Twelfth Night.*
3. It was originally produced in 2005 in Scarborough, England, directed by the author. A short tour of the provinces followed, but the play did not go to the West End.
4. It is Ayckbourn’s 69th play (of the current 72 he has written). His 73rd will premiere later this year in Scarborough.
5. The play is being presented here in the round, just as it was originally staged by Ayckbourn.
6. 2009 marks Ayckbourn’s 70th birthday and his 50th year of writing plays.
7. Ayckbourn is currently represented on Broadway by the Old Vic revival of THE NORMAN CONQUESTS trilogy at Circle-in-the-Square
8. The cast of this production have (all but one) appeared in many other Ayckbourn plays.
9. Chester Theatre Group has presented 4 American Premieres of Alan Ayckbourn plays and 15 other productions of his work, including two productions of the full NORMAN CONQUESTS trilogy.
10. Director Michael Mooney studied theatre in the round with Ayckbourn in England and is founder of the 4A’s – Alan Ayckbourn Aficionados of America

Chester Theatre Group is proud to present RABBIT HOLE by David Lindsay-Abaire. The play is being performed on the following dates and times:

March 6th and 7th at 8PM; March 13th and 14th at 8PM; March 20th and 21st at 8PM. There will be a Sunday afternoon matinee at 2PM on March 15th.

All performances are $18.00. Seniors and students $16.00.

The play is directed by Jay Mills.

The cast is as follows:

• Becca – Sky Spiegel of Morristown
• Howie – Tom Morrissey of Rockaway
• Izzy – Vicky Reed of Hackettstown
• Nat – Alice Regan Moynahan of Lake Hopatcong
• Jason – William Sandoval of Budd Lake

David Lindsay-Abaire has crafted a drama that’s not just a departure but a revelation – an intensely emotional examination of grief, laced with wit, insightfulness, compassion and searing honesty - Variety

With RABBIT HOLE, David Lindsay-Abaire has crafted the most serious, simply told work of his career – a painstakingly beautiful, dramatically resourceful, exquisitely human new play – Backstage

The Chester Theatre Group at the Black River Playhouse will present HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS – a Holiday Musical Revue

The sounds of Broadway and Traditional Holiday themed music will fill the air when the nine person cast brings sounds of the season to the Chester Theatre Group’s black-box stage on December 5/6/7.  Representing composers from Irving Berlin to Joni Mitchell and including most of the carols you’ve been singing since you were a child, this holiday treat has musical direction and arrangements by James Horan of Morristown and stage direction by Mary Saarmann of Byram.

The cast features veteran CTG performers Michael Foley of Hopatcong, Ellen Fraker-Glasscock of Chester, Roseann Ruggiero of Ledgewood and Jonathan Wentz of Whippany.  HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS also marks the CTG debut of newcomers Zachary Catron of Mendham, Zita Geoffroy-Heinz of Bridgewater, Tracey Lynne Haskell of Garwood, Jennifer Sammartino of Secaucus and Rich Stanton of Denville.

The revue will end with audience participation Christmas caroling, so make your reservations and come join the fun.

Admission is $20 and $18 for Students and Seniors (cash or check only — no credit cards). For Reservations call the box office at 908-879-7304.  Reservations will be held at the theater until 15 minutes before curtain.

Evening performances on Friday, 12/5 and Saturday 12/6 start at 8:00pm and there is a Sunday matinee on 12/7 which begins at 2:00pm. Due to the nature of our theater-in-the-round setting, latecomers may or may not be seated at the discretion of the house manager.

The theatre is located at the corners of Grove and Maple Streets in Chester, NJ.

On Golden Pond by by Ernest Thompson will be presented by the Chester Theatre Group at the Black River Playhouse on October 31, 2008; weekends through November 15, 2008. Scott Hart directs.

On Golden Pond, a gentle, wry comedy of American life and ways, takes place one summer, when retired professor Norman Thayer and his wife Ethel arrive at their New England cottage on Golden Pond, just as they have done for nearly 50 years. The Thayer’s daughter Chelsea arrives at the cottage with her fiance Bill Ray and Billy, his 13 year-old son from a previous marriage.

Chelsea and Bill plan for Billy to stay at Golden Pond while they head for a summer in Europe. The brusque, hypochondriac Norman and the irritating Billy are soon at odds – much the same as father and daughter have always been. But despite his summer peace being shattered, the two come to a better understanding of one another over the time they are together, while Chelsea also tries to come to terms with his mortality. Time, they know, is now against them, but the years have been good and perhaps another summer on Golden Pond still awaits.

Although originally a very successful play on Broadway, it is more famous as the film in which Henry Fonda, then 75, took his final bow. His performance, along with his co-star Katherine Hepburn won wide critical acclaim, resulting in them both picking up Oscars for Best Actor and Actress.

A story filled with poignancy, warm humor, and wonderfully created characters, we’re proud to present On Golden Pond in its original stage setting.

On Golden Pond features the talents of:

• Rich Maloy as Norman Thayer Jr.
• Eileen Waite as Ethel Thayer
• Bob Scarpone as Charlie the mailman
• Maria Brodeur as Chelsea
• Don Gehan as Bill Ray Sr.
• Noah Befeler as Billy Ray Jr.

Performances are scheduled: 10/31, 11/1, 11/7, 11/8, 11/14 and 11/15 at 8:00 p.m.
11/2 and 11/9 at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets are $18.00 for all performances. The Chester Theatre Group offers student and senior citizen (65+) tickets of $16.00 with I.D. at all performances. Only cash or checks accepted, NO CREDIT CARDS. Our box office opens at 7:30 p.m. for evening performances which begin at 8:00 p.m. and at 1:30 p.m. for matinees which begin at 2:00 p.m. Due to the nature of our theater in the round, latecomers will be seated at the discretion of our house manager.

Reservations can be made by calling our box office at 908-879-7304.

by Your Favorite Composers!

July 18-20, 2008

A special event directed by Clifford Parrish

Back by audience demand, SONGS OF A SUMMER NIGHT 2008 will be presented at the Black River Playhouse on Maple Street in Chester for 3 performances over one weekend only – Friday and Saturday, July 18th and 19th at 8pm with a Sunday matinee performance on July 20th at 2pm. Accompanied by a simple combo and under the musical direction of Clifford Parrish, a rich chorus of 25 singers will perform both standard and contemporary show tunes chorally and individually in a concert format. The program includes the works of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Schwartz, among others.

The Black River Singers are: Geraldine Baillod, Kathryn Cordellia Davis, D’Angelique Dopson, Jeff Dopson, Marguerite Durant, Michael Foley, Beth Gleason, Mark Happel, Lamont Hill, Peg Hill, Robert Jacobson, Julie Madison Jacoby, Gloria Lamoureux, Phil Lamoureux, Jodi Maloy, Rich Maloy, Claudia Metz, Chris Mortenson, Kelly Myer, Alice Regan Moynahan, Roseann Ruggiero, Stuart Scheer, David Villepique, and Roxanna Wagner.

Joining Clifford on piano are Tim Metz on bass and Dan Halpern on percussion.

Tickets are $15.00 and reservations are highly suggested. To make a reservation phone 908-879-7304. Reservations will NOT be taken via our website.