Chester Theatre Group

The Chester Theatre Group of the Black River Playhouse will be presenting its November 2010 production of SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS by Richard Alfieri. This warm and endearing show, directed by Roseann Ruggiero and produced by Penny Hoadley, features CTG veteran Eileen Waite of Randolph as Lily Harrison and CTG newcomer Matt Cotton as Michael Minetti. The play runs Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm beginning November 19th thru December 5th with 2 Sunday matinees at 2 pm on November 28 and December 5. Tickets are $18, student and senior discount tickets at Friday and Sunday performances are $16. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 908-879-7304.

SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS is a touching and human comedy about what happens when an antagonistic relationship blossoms into an intimate friendship as two characters from very different backgrounds reveal their secrets, fears, and joys while dancing the Swing, Tango, Waltz, Foxtrot, Cha-Cha, and Contemporary Dance.  A comedy with music and dance, the play also addresses the serious issues of ageism and intolerance.

Since its Los Angeles premiere and Broadway opening, SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS has been translated into 12 languages and has traversed the globe with productions in over 20 countries. With over 50 productions and two national tours in Germany alone, the play has established itself as an international hit and one of the most produced plays in the world.

The Chester Theatre Group of the Black River Playhouse will be presenting its November 2010 production of SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS by Richard Alfieri. This warm and endearing show, directed by Roseann Ruggiero and produced by Penny Hoadley, features CTG veteran Eileen Waite of Randolph as Lily Harrison and CTG newcomer Matt Cotton as Michael Minetti. The play runs Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm beginning November 19th thru December 5th with 2 Sunday matinees at 2 pm on November 28 and December 5. Tickets are $18, student and senior discount tickets at Friday and Sunday performances are $16. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 908-879-7304.

SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS is a touching and human comedy about what happens when an antagonistic relationship blossoms into an intimate friendship as two characters from very different backgrounds reveal their secrets, fears, and joys while dancing the Swing, Tango, Waltz, Foxtrot, Cha-Cha, and Contemporary Dance.  A comedy with music and dance, the play also addresses the serious issues of ageism and intolerance.

Since its Los Angeles premiere and Broadway opening, SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS has been translated into 12 languages and has traversed the globe with productions in over 20 countries. With over 50 productions and two national tours in Germany alone, the play has established itself as an international hit and one of the most produced plays in the world.

The Chester Theatre Group of the Black River Playhouse will be holding auditions for their late fall production of SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS by Richard Alfieri. This warm and endearing show is to be directed by Roseann Ruggiero and produced by Penny Hoadley.

Auditions will be held on Sunday, 9/26/10, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, 9/28/10, from 7:00-9:30 p.m. at the theater which is located on the corners of Grove Street and Maple Avenue in Chester, NJ.  All readings will be from the script.  Since the show does involve light ballroom dancing, there will be a dance portion of the audition, so please be prepared to move.

Performances will begin on Friday, 11/19/10 and run Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. through Sunday, 12/5/10

Character Breakdown

Lilly Harrison – (range/late 50s to early 70s) – Conservative, attractive, minister’s wife, intelligent and cultured, retiree now living in St. Petersberg Beach, Florida.

Michael Minetti – (range/late 30s – late 50s) – Acerbic, attractive, rapier-witted, excitable, ex-broadway chorus boy now teaching ballroom dancing in Florida.

About The Play

Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks is a touching and human comedy about  happens when an antagonistic relationship blossoms into an intimate friendship as the two characters from very different backgrounds reveal their secrets, fears, and joys while dancing the Swing, Tango, Waltz, Foxtrot, Cha-Cha, and Contemporary Dance. A comedy with music and dance, the play also addresses the serious issues of ageism and intolerance.

Since its Los Angeles premiere and Broadway opening, Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks has been translated into 12 languages and has traversed the globe with productions in over 20 countries. With over 50 productions and two national tours in Germany alone, the play has established itself as an international hit and one of the most produced plays in the world.

We’re very excited to announce our 2010-2011 season.

Mainstage Productions

Fiction

by Steven Dietz, Directed by Jeff Knapp

Auditions: Aug 8 and 10, 2010
Performances: Oct 8-23, 2010

Linda and Michael are successful writers, a happily married couple who thrive on the give and take of their unusually honest and candid relationship. But when they decide to share their diaries with one another, the boundaries between past, present, fact, fiction, trust and betrayal begin to break down.  No life, as it turns out, is an open book.

Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks

by Richard Alfieri, Directed by Roseann Ruggiero

Auditions: September 26 & 28, 2010
Performances: Nov 19 – Dec 5, 2010

When a formidable retiree hires an acerbic dance instructor, antagonism and mistrust give way to civility, compatability, compassion and loyalty as they swing, tango, foxtrot and cha-cha together.

Urinetown

Music by Mark Hollmann, Lyrcs by Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis, Book by Greg Kotis; Directed by Clifford Parrish

Auditions: December 5 & 8, 2010
Performances: Feb 25-Mar 20, 2011

Don’t let the title keep you away from this hilatious musical comedy that satirizes the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement and municipal politics (just to name a few!) The unconventional plotline may surprise you, but the singing, dancing,  jokes and pokes will have you laughing in the aisles and humming the whole ride home!

Mauritius

by Theresa Rebek, Directed by JayMills

Auditions: March 6 & 8, 2011
Performances: May 6-21, 2011

After their mother’s death, two estranged helf-sisters discover a book of rare stamps that may include the holy grail of stamp collecting.  Philately proves to be more intriguing and far riskier than one might thing, as high-stakes collectors enter their world intent on making the rare find their own.

Grey Gardens

Music by Scott Frankel, Lyrics by Michael Korie, Book by Doug Wright; Directed by Mark Happel & Jeffrey Fiorello

Auditions: February 2011
Performances: July 1-24, 2011

The cult-classic turned smash Broadway musical recounts the story of the Bouvier Beales, the eccentric aunt and cousin of Jackie Kennedy Onassis — oncebrght names on the social register who became East Hampton’s most notorious recluses.

Special Events

Comedy Workshop

Saturday mornings TBA, 9:30 AM – Noon

Kate Lyn Reiter brings back her Comedy Workshoip for Adults and the Comically Curious for a series of Saturdays.

An Evening of One-Acts

Performances: September 24-26, 2010

The Chester Theatre Group is proud to present two one-act comedies on September 24, 25 and 26 at the Black River Playhouse. 

Christopher Durang’s THE ACTOR’S NIGHTMARE, directed by Stephen Catron, will be familar to anyone who’s involved in theatre — you know the dream:  you find yourself on-stage, ready to perform, only you don’t know what the play is – you’ve never rehearsed  - you don’t know the plot, let alone the lines!   George finds himself on stage, uncertain of where he is or how he got there – suddenly he’s thrust on stage, it’s Hamlet?!? – a glamorous actress appears to be doing Private Lives by Noel Coward?!?  Beckett’s Endgame? A Man For All Seasons?!? This hilarious spoof is a classic!

Next up is Jonathan Rand’s CHECK, PLEASE, directed by Jeff Jackson. Dating can be hard. Especially when your date happens to be a schizophrenic, a bigamist, or a mime. CHECK, PLEASE follows a series of blind dinner dates that couldn’t get any worse—until they do. Could there possibly be a light at the end of the tunnel?