Welcome to Our Home on the Web

We are a community theater, based in Chester, New Jersey, active since 1958. Our theatre is dedicated to providing quality entertainment to the community. We produce four to five plays per season.

The Chester Theatre Group (CTG) occupies a very special place in the history of our community. The CTG has been a vital, creative connection for area residents looking to showcase their talents. The efforts of these talented individuals, whose artistic dreams have come true on our stage, comprise the proud legacy of the Chester Theatre Group.

On Golden Pond Auditions - Aug 19 and Aug 24

The Chester Theatre group will be holding auditions for their Fall 2008 production of ON GOLDEN POND by Ernest Thompson on Tuesday evening, August 19^th at 7:30pm and on Sunday afternoon, August 24^th at 2:00pm at the Black River Playhouse on the corner of Grove and Maple Streets in Chester NJ. Readings, for director Scott Hart (Perry Award winner for Blood Brothers), will be from the script. If callbacks are necessary a date will be determined.

Cast breakdowns this way...

CTG Enjoys 17 Perry Nominations!

1776, The Clean House and The Baker’s Wife Garner Nods

CTG has been honored with 17 nominations by the New Jersey Association of Community Theatres for their work in the 2007-2008 New Jersey Community Theatre season.

The nominations are:

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN/MUSICAL

• Ellen Fraker Glasscock, 1776
• Ellen Fraker Glasscock, The Baker's Wife

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN/MUSICAL

• Penny Hoadley, The Baker's Wife

OUTSTANDING PROPERTIES

• Roxanna Wagner, 1776

OUTSTANDING STAGE MANAGEMENT

• Peg Hill and Geraldine Baillod, The Baker's Wife

OUTSTANDING SCENIC DESIGN/MUSICAL

• Scott Hart, The Baker's Wife

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTION

• Clifford Parrish, 1776
• Clifford Parrish, The Baker's Wife

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL

• Scott Hart, The Baker's Wife

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL

• Ellen Fraker Glasscock, The Baker's Wife

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY

• Lois Sharrot, A Clean House

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

• Robert Jacobson, 1776
• Greg Moran, The Baker's Wife

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

• Marguerite Durant, The Baker's Wife

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

• Lynn Hart, The Baker's Wife

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

• Don Gehan, 1776

The awards will be presented at the annual Perry Awards Dinner in September, 2008

A full list of the nominees can be found at the NJACT site.

Peg and Lamont Hill: We Salute You!

Longtime supporters feted at Gala

Long time volunteers, Lamont and Peg Hill, were saluted at CTG's Gala held at the theatre the night of June 28.

Friends old and new gathered under cover of a fund-raising Gala, and it wasn't until the show started that Peg and Lamont were told this party was in their honor. Turntables were turned, and the Hills took their place at 1:00, and enjoyed the songs and merriment from seasons past.

Pictures from the evening can be found here.

Our 2007-2008 Season

We're Celebrating 40 Years at the Black River Playhouse!

This season we'll be presenting Sarah Ruhl's A Clean House, Wendy Wasserstein's The Sisters Rosensweig and The Baker's Wife, a musical with book by Joseph Stein, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. In addition to our mainstage offerings, we're also offering a number of workshop productions along the way.

Details of the Chester Theatre Group's 2007-2008 season (mainstage and workshops) can be found here.

About the Black River Playhouse

The Black River Playhouse has been the home of the Chester Theatre Group since November 1965. Located at Grove Street in Chester Borough, it is a 104 seat theater-in-the-round which possesses a charming intimacy actively involving audiences and actors alike. When purchased in '65, the theatre was then serving as the Chester Borough Hall. Prior to that, the 140 year old structure had been a country church. The purchase took place at a public auction at which time CTG paid $6,000 for the building. These funds were raised primarily through private donations to the group. Other contributions in terms of materials and manpower enabled CTG to convert the structure to a workable theatre. The original seats were purchased from the New York World's Fair. The audience is arranged in three elevated rows on all four sides providing an all around excellent view of the 14' x 20' stage. The physical plant also includes a small lobby, dressing rooms, a control booth and two large storage sheds.

Memberships

The Chester Theatre Group is a proud member of the TriCounty Community Theatre Association.