Moving forward!

My apologies that is has been so long.

I've since graduated from Rowan and now I'm working for The NEWS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

Writing and blogging everyday!

But I've broken my silence because of a recent unfortunate happening in Millville.

As many of you know, the Levoy Theater on the 100 block of High Street collapsed, sending years of hard work from a dedicated team into a pile of rubble.

But they're going to continue building. A week later, crews went back to the theater and began taking construction measures for safety.

Here is an excerpt from the story I wrote yesterday:

Beginning Monday morning into Tuesday, a crane was brought back to the theater to remove two bar joists and an I-beam that could have caused further damage.

“Right now, we’re making safety moves,” said Phillip Van Embden, one of the directors of the Levoy Theater. “The pieces that were removed were a safety concern.”

 The operation taken this week was completely successful and the board is waiting for OSHA and the inspectors to finish their investigations before they move back into the site and resume their construction.



It was sad to see the theater shell go to rubble, but it's exciting to hear that they will continue to work on the project.


"All we've really lost is time," said board chairwoman Lauren Van Embden. 


This is a good sign. We will see this theater back in no time. 


Here is a photographic timeline of what has happened:

Levoy Theater facade under construction

Theater facade after collapse on Jan. 3, 2011. The building to the right will be demolished in the coming weeks.
from NJ.COM

Workers of Garton Rigging in Vineland remove pieces of the roof decking to get to the beams that need removing Monday.

Materials are removed from the remaining two-thirds of the theater structure for safety measures.

Proposed rendering of the finished theater exterior

Exterior of the Levoy in 1930 - notice the similarity to the new one in the marquee.

Proposed interior rendering of the Levoy Theater

Interior of the Levoy Theater as of 1927. This picture was taken from the stage.

Interior of the Levoy just before demolition began
from PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY

Shama shama elma commama!

STAGE LEFT

Neil Simon's

BAREFOOT IN THE PARK

Opening tonight!

Paul Bratter: Matt Reher
Corie Bratter: Laurie Halloran
Victor Velasco: Pat DeFusco
Ethel Banks: Elaine Fydrych
Phone repair man: Troy Cooper
Delivery man: Dick Guzinya

Directed by: Ed Santiago
Asst. Dir: Deb Kelley

Comedy by Neil Simon. Presented this ONE WEEK only. Preview night (Wednesday), tickets are only $10.00 (half price). This is an "Industry Night". Bring your headshots, resumes and business cards. There will be directors and producers in the building from Stage Left, The Sketch Club and other area theatres. It's a great night to market, mingle and see a great show for only $10.00. Tickets Thursday through Sunday are $20.00.

Also, Thursday the 21st we are offering "dinner and a show". Dinner at 6pm at Gia Nina's Italian Restaraunt in Woodbury. Soup/Salad, soft drinks and choice of 3 entrees (Baked Ziti, Chicken Parm or Fish). Tix price is just $30 for the dinner and the show! This option is available by going to our site.

All shows at The Sketch Club of Woodbury, NJ. 433 Glover St, Woodbury, NJ 08033
You can purchase tix at www.stageleftco.com

Call 215-205-0192 or email ecorsi@stageleftco.com for info.

When every leaf's a flower.

I don't know about you, but I had no desire to put away my summer decorations. Where did it go?! I'm sure you're feeling the same way. But what better motivation to welcome the Fall by going to see a great show during South Jersey Rialto's Fall Line-Up.

OPENING: (break legs tonight players!)

LOVE LETTERS - Off Broad Street Players (Bridgeton) - STARRING John Muller & Beverly Beardsley. Oct. 1 & 2 at 8 p.m. and 3 at 3 p.m. Bridgeton High School Auditorium. Tickets $13/$11

TITANIC - The Landis Theater (Vineland) - Oct. 1, 2, 8, 9 at 8 p.m. 3 & 10 at 2 p.m. Tickets $20/$25

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR - Sketch Club Players (Woodbury) - Oct. 1 - 17. Fridays & Sats at 8 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets $17/$15

CLOSING:

LAST RITES - South Camden Theater Company (Camden, 4th & Jasper) - FINAL WEEK - Oct 1 & 2 at 8 p.m. 3 at 1:30 p.m. $15 General Admission.

LOST IN YONKERS - Broadway Theater (Pitman) - FINAL WEEK - October 1 & 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets $25 General Admission.

BILOXI BLUES - Haddonfield Plays & Players - FINAL WEEK - October 1 & 2 at 8 p.m. - Tickets $20. (Special* October 1st - $10)

PLAYING:

TWELVE ANGRY MEN - Ritz Theatre Co. - Playing through October 23. Tickets $20 - $30. Fridays & Sats 8 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m.

OPEN CASTING CALL "A Christmas Carol"

THE OFF BROAD STREET PLAYERS

Charles Dickens'

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Adapted for the stage by Jim Cook Jr.

August 30 & September 1

Doors open at 7 p.m. 

Headshots and Resumes accepted at door.

Looking for Actors, Singers Musicians ages 7 - 70. (snapshot photos may be substituted for headshots if you dont have professionals)  

Requirements:  

Actors- will do readings from the script, please bring a headshot/snapshot and resume.  

Singers - prepare 32 or more bars of any broadway-style song, headshots/snapshot and resume  

Musicians - any solo audition song, one per instrument. No headshots required.

FOR MORE INFO call Jim Cook Jr at (856) 275-4240

Performances - November 12 - 21, Fri & Sats at 8 p.m. Suns at 3 p.m.

Tix $15/13

Special Family Performance November 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Collaborative Act Studio and Wioncek are puttin' on the ritz!

(Wioncek in the TCAS South Jersey Tour of "Groucho: A Life in Revue")

The Ritz Theatre Company recently announced that Producing Artistic Director, Ted Wioncek III and his critically acclaimed theatre company, The Collaborative Act Studio (TCAS), will join forces with The Ritz Theatre in Haddon Township, NJ.  Ted will become the Associate Producing Artistic Director of The Ritz Theatre and TCAS will play a vital role in its effort to provide daring and edgy works in addition to The Ritz Theatre’s theatrical landscape. 

“We are very proud to be able to give The Collaborative Act Studio a new home and I am sure our association with TCAS will enrich our organization and give us new and exciting offerings to pass on to our patrons and audiences. We are all looking forward to the synergy this partnership will create." said Bruce A. Curless, Producing Artistic Director of The Ritz Theatre.

The group will be transferring their production of  GROUCHO: A LIFE IN REVUE to the Ritz Theater Co.  on August 20 & 21 at 8 p.m. and Aug. 22 at 2 p.m. 

Founded in 2007, by Ted Wioncek III, TCAS burst onto the Southern New Jersey theatre scene with its critically acclaimed production of William Inge’s Splendor in the Grass. The Collaborative Act Studio has since taken several of their productions on tour throughout the tri-state area, including The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) & GROUCHO: A Life In Revue. TCAS was recently honored with a New Jersey Association of Community Theatre (NJACT) Perry Award.  TCAS was nominated for a total of eight Perry Awards.

Wioncek was recently profiled in a “People to Watch” interview in SJ Magazine. Ted, a member of Actor’s Equity Association, is currently performing in Burt & Me at Act II Playhouse and Beauty and the Beast at Storybook Musical Theatre. Ted has performed at many area professional theatres including The Walnut Street Theatre, The Wilma Theatre, Act II Playhouse, and The Montgomery Theatre.

And the livin' ain't easyyyyy

Check out the new up and comings on the Rialto this month!

First and foremost to our friends on the South Jersey Rialto who need it the most!

COME TOGETHER: A TRIBUTE TO THE ROAD COMPANY - The Road Company. July 29, 30, and 31 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are by donation of $18 for Adults and $15 for Students/Seniors. Group rates available. (Personal Note: I suggest everyone go to see this, it is a revue of past pieces by the Grand Theater that tragically lost their beautiful historic performance space last May. They are also preparing a special fund called "MAKE IT GRAND AGAIN" as a rebuild. PLEASE GIVE ANYTHING YOU CAN by clicking HERE.)

THE DOLL: A RAGGEDY MUSICAL - Sketch Club Players. July 9, 10, 16, 17 at 8 p.m. 11 & 18 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $17 General Admission.

ANNIE - Cumberland Players. July 15, 16, 17, 23, 24 at 8 p.m. 11th at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15.

THE JUNGLE BOOK - Oakwood Summer Theater. July 21, 22, 23 at 10 a.m. 22 & 23 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 general admission.

THE PRODUCERS - The Ritz Theater Co. - July 16 - August 7. Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights, with matinees on Sunday. Tickets are $20 - $30 admission.

GREASE - Haddonfield Plays & Players.(*OPENING NIGHT*: July 15 at 7:30 p.m.) July 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31, Aug. 6 & 7 at 8p.m. July 18, 25, & Aug 1 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $19 general admission.

JOSEPH..DREAMCOAT - Broadway Theater (of Pitman). July 16 - Aug. 7. Ticket are $25 general admission. 

13 (by Jason Robert Brown) - Broadway Bound Players. July 29, 30, 31 at 7:30 p.m.

Sad day

This is so sad....

The Grand Theater in Williamstown collapses. They put on some amazing pieces of theater, thank god no one was hurt, and I trust they will keep the company going despite the theater damage.
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7442409