Chester Theatre Group

Kate Lyn Reiter, veteran comedienne and dramatist returns with her popular comedy workshop to the Black River Playhouse for 6 weeks, Saturdays, November 14 through December 19.

Ms. Reiter’s popular comedy workshops have been presented in past years in connection with Hackettstown’s Centenary Stage Company and at Chester Theatre Group’s Black River Playhouse. The workshops provide a relaxed and judgment-free environment for regular folk to explore their funny bones! Students learn how to find their unique voice, find the funny in everyday life, and shape their experiences into laugh-riots! Read more »

Someone will be right with you…

Adam Bock’s office comedy, The Receptionist opens at the Black River Playhouse on Friday, November 20, 2009.

To let Samuel French summarize: “At the start of a typical day in the Northeast Office, Beverly deals effortlessly with ringing phones and her colleague’s romantic troubles. But the appearance of a charming rep from the Central Office disrupts the friendly routine. And as the true nature of the company’s business becomes apparent, The Receptionist raises disquieting, provocative questions about the consequences of complicity with evil.”

The show is directed by Jeff Knapp and features Carla Kendall as Beverly, The Receptionist; Rachel Dunwoody as Lorraine; Stephen Catron as Mr. Raymond and Don Pflaster as Mr. Dart.

The show runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm through December 5th with a Sunday matinee performance on November 29 at 2pm. Opening night, November 20, is sold out. Tickets are available for all other performances. The show runs approx 80 minutes and is presented without intermission.

Tickets are $18 at the door (cash or check only) and may be reserved by calling the box office at 908.879.7304.

About the play:

“A deceptively complex work that intends to reinvent the concept of the office comedy, The Receptionist plays with the idea of who knows how much and how good a thing that ultimately is.” – Tom Avila, Metro Weekly

“The genially mundane goings-on in this blandly average workplace are throw into macabre relief when … a single, jarring line of dialogue sets the calm surface of the play rippling with creepy currents.” – Charles Isherwood, New York Times

On Sunday, November 8th at 3pm, Chester Theatre Group in residence at Black River Playhouse in Chester, New Jersey, concludes it’s 2009 “Unheard Ayckbourn” reading series with MAN OF THE MOMENT, Alan Ayckbourn’s 1988 comedy about the price of fame in a media driven society.   The reading is presented by the 4A’s (Alan Ayckbourn Aficionados of America) as part of their year-long celebration of Ayckbourn’s 50th year of playwriting.  Previous readings in the series included SUGAR DADDIES, WILDEST DREAMS and GAMEPLAN as well as a “50/50: Ayckbourn & CTG” – a special retrospective of the dozen Ayckbourn plays presented by the Chester Theatre Group, which also marked its 50th anniversary this season.  

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Word from the box office — tickets are still available for SATURDAY’s performances of The Hound of the Baskervilles; Friday’s performance is SOLD OUT and they’re not suggesting you get on the wait list.  (They’re that full.)

Get your name in for Saturday before it’s too late! Call 908.879.7304