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Community Corner

19th Annual JERSEY VOICES One-Act Festival

The Chatham Community Players (CCP) will host its 19th annual Jersey Voices One-Act Festival with four performances between July 26 and August 3.  This year’s production will include six original short plays written by New Jersey playwrights.


From the moment the festival concludes in August, playwrights from all around New Jersey begin to send Chatham Community Players their works. With over 70 playwrights having seen their original one-acts produced on the Chatham stage, audiences have been able to see over 100 plays over 19 years. “I can't believe that this is our nineteenth season of producing original works by New Jersey authors.  We are very pleased to have 4 veteran directors returning and 2 new directors. As it has been over the past few years, the talent pool continues to increase. We welcome you to join us as we explore the joys of live, original theatre in The Chatham Playhouse, said Artistic Director, Bob Lukasik.  The plays this year run the gamut from comedy to heart gripping drama and the themes cover many aspects of life such as loss, fear and unconditional love.  Jersey Voices has provided a venue for New Jersey playwrights to showcase their work since 1995.  "I’m constantly amazed and excited by the creativity, the resilience, the persistence of the Playwrights of New Jersey whose plays we get to present every summer”, said Producer Bob Denmark.


Performance dates are Friday and Saturday evenings, July 26, 27 and August 2 and 3.  All performances begin at 8 p.m. at the Chatham Playhouse 23 North Passaic Ave Chatham, NJ.  Tickets are $15 for adults (19 and older) and $10 for youth (18 and under).  To access the theater’s online ticketing service, simply go to ccp.ticketleap.com.  For more information, call the box office at (973) 635-7363 or go to www.chathamplayers.org.  It is highly recommended that tickets be purchased in advance.  Patrons with special needs requiring seating accommodations should contact the Playhouse at least 24 hours prior to the performance. Without prior notice, accommodations cannot be guaranteed.

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Each of the following pieces will be performed each night of the festival:


• Most Beautiful Rock by Eric Alter of West Orange - The Story of War told and heard by people who aren't quite ready to hear it and are surprised by how it ultimately resolves. This production features Cara Heary of Summit, Jon Beeler of Cedar Grove, Jeff Maschi of Milltown, Jim Clancy of Basking Ridge and Lewis T. Decker of Millington,.  Directed by Joann Scanlon of Chatham.

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• One Woman's Onions by Mark McCarthy from Union City - Two modern suburban sisters with separate lives dance around their differences, but finally come to the fact that they love and care for each other and will find a place of common thought. This production features Tara Cioletti of Wayne and Alexandra Landau of Florham Park. Directed by Arnold Buchiane of Summit.


• Fool Me Twice by Jerrod Bogard of New York, NY - Being Royalty is really just a business... This production features Miriam Salerno of Millburn, Jeff Foote of Denville and Jim Clancy of Basking Ridge.  Directed by Paul Bettys of Denville.


• Aquasize by Loretta Napolitano of Denville- A group of Senior Citizens adjust to their ages and the reality while trying to get their exercise in. This production features Ellen Fraker-Glasscock of Chester, Geraldine Baillod of Rockaway, Melissa Lowver of Summit, Gwyn E. Nielsen of Scotch Plains, Art Seif of Berkeley Heights and Dickson Lane of West Orange. Directed by Steve Catron of Mendham.


• The 5564 to Toronto by Karen Howes of Madison - The impossible to believe happens in a near empty bus terminal at 4:00 in the morning. This production features Chip Prestera of Stirling and Anna McCabe of Morristown. Directed by Ron Mulligan of Bloomfield.


• Keli Richards by Omar Kozarsky from Mahwah - Love is blind and love endures. Unrequited love, though, is still tough to live with.  This production features Julie Anne Nolan of Little Falls, Scott Tyler of Morristown and Lewis T. Decker of Millington. Directed by Megan Ferentinos of Cranford.

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