Saturday, May 30, 2009

AN EVENING OF BROADWAY MAGIC!!!


Make plans to attend!

Not to be missed! Nick Saverine returns for a benefit performance. Saturday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m. All tickets $15. An extremely talented group of singers and performers will perform choral, solo, duet and small group numbers from a wide variety of Broadway musicals for this fabulous event. The last Broadway Benefit was a real treat, make sure you're there for this one!

Nicholas F. Saverine -- A graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA and Wichita State University, Nick has performed in Austria, Germany and on Broadway in both Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera and in the original European Dance of the Vampires directed by Roman Polanski.

Other tours include Les Miserables, A Christmas Carol, The Student Prince, Pirates of Penzance, and Caroline, Or Change. Most recent regional productions include Footloose, Man of La Mancha, Children of Eden, The Most Happy Fella, The Will Rogers Follies, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Secret Garden, The Baker’s Wife, Annie, and Annie Warbucks.

OBSP Solos include: Domonic Barnes, Kaitlin & Lee Cox, Richard Curcio, Kaitlyn Davis, Joe Dugan, Chelsea Feltman, Donna Harrington, Andrew Jarema, Jennifer & Mark Leigh, Joyce Massey, Jody Meyers, John Muller, Matt O'Neill, Lauren VanEmden, Lauren Wood

Monday, May 11, 2009

And there's NO cure like TRAVEL!!!

The South Jersey Rialto is bursting at the seams with this spring's plays and musicals. Most of them are playing their FINAL PERFORMANCES this weekend. Exceptions on The Ritz Theatre Co. (closing the 24th of May) and The Off Broad Street Players performing ONLY this weekend!


MOON OVER BUFFALO - Off Broad Street Players. 11 N. West Avenue. Bridgeton, NJ. 08302. Directed by John Muller. Friday May 15 & Saturday May 16 @ 8pm. Sunday May 17 @ 3pm. Tickets are $13 for Adults, $11 for Students/Seniors. For more info, call (856) 451-5437 or visit obsponline.org FINAL PERFORMANCE: May 17th @ 3pm

2009 ARTS ALLIANCE CABARET: "FAMILY" - Salem County Arts Alliance. YMCA 204 Shell Rd. Carneys Point, NJ. (856) 299-7434. Tickets are $10 and includes drinks and desserts. TWO PERFORMANCES ONLY! Friday May 15th @ 7:30pm; Sunday May 17th @ 3pm. Starring Salem County natives: Mary Gismonde, Lauren Gambino, Shannon Sheridan, Marie McClintock, Debbie Callahan, Anthony Sinigaglio, Steve Meridian, Paul Kranz, John Fecateau, and Jim Hutchison. SIDE NOTE: I'm from Salem County and have worked with the majority of these performers, I urge you to support their art! Check them out on Facebook!

LAUGH LINES - Actors Core Theatre (at Sketch Club Players). 443 Glover St. Woodbury, NJ. Friday May 15 & Saturday May 16 @ 8pm. Tickets are $18 or call (856) 848-8089. This play is produced by the Actors Core Theatre during the off-season of the Sketch Club Players. FINAL PERFORMANCE: May 16th @8pm

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - The Road Company. 405 S. Main St. Williamstown, NJ. 08094. Friday May 15 & Saturday May 16 @ 8pm. Tickets are $18 Adults, $15 Students/Seniors. (856) 728-2120. FINAL PERFORMANCE: May 16th 8pm. 

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S MUSICAL - The Ritz Theatre Co. A musicalized version of the William Shakespeare classic play. 915 White Horse Pike Arts District Haddon Twp, NJ 08107. Fridays and Saturdays @ 8pm Sundays at 2pm performances until May 24th. Tickets are $20-$30 plus servicing charge. (856) 858-5230. 

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT - Haddonfield Plays & Players. 957 E. Atlantic Ave. Haddonfield, NJ. 08033 All tickets are $19. May 15 @ 8pm May 16 @ 8pm. (856) 429-8139 FINAL PERFORMANCE: May 16th @ 8pm

OKLAHOMA - The Broadway Theatre (Pitman, NJ). 43 S. Broadway. Pitman, NJ 08071. Tickets are $25. May 15 & 16 @ 8pm (856) 384-8381. FINAL PERFORMANCE: May 16th @ 8pm.

ALSO--- I am going on a study abroad trip through Rowan U. to St. John International University in TORINO, ITALY!!!!! I am so excited about this study trip. I have never been overseas and I'm leaving this coming Monday, May 18th at 4pm from Philly flying straight into Milan. I'm nervous as all hell, but I doubt I've actually realized I'm going on this trip. Therefore, THE SOUTH JERSEY RIALTO may or may not be taking a six-week break (depending on if I'm able to post or retrieve PR from local theatre and have the time to post while in Italia) So, if you don't see anything until the last week in June, you'll know why.
Thanks and Ciao!!!
-Jim

p.s. I promise to be back in time for mainstage summer musical updates in SJ. I even had an early audition for Thoroughly Modern Millie @ OBSP tonight. We'll see what happens!

"And there's no cure like travel
To help you unravel
The worries of living today.
When the poor brain is cracking
There's nothing like packing
A suitcase and sailing away.
Take a run 'round Vienna,
Granada, Ravenna, Sienna
And then a-'round Rome.
Have as high time, a low time,
And in no time
You'll be singing "Home, Sweet Home"

Thursday, May 7, 2009

FUTURE OF THIS BLOG

This blog began as an assignment for my Online Journalism I class.
It's since began developing into a compendium of theatre events in South Jersey.
It has been a joy being the author.
This post is the FINAL assignment for every student in the class called "Future of this blog"
Will it end?

The answer is: as long as the theatre in South Jersey is alive, I will stay with this.
I actually just had a very brief conversation with a professional actress from Philadelphia, Alana Gerlach, who also is my adjunct acting instructor at Rowan. I asked her if she aspired to work in New York City. She said that she didn't, that she'd rather teach and keep acting in Philadelphia.

"I'd rather be a big fish in a small pond," she remarked.

And isn't that the epitome of every brilliant actor, actress, director, stage manager, designer, musician, and stage hand on the South Jersey Rialto? We are all big fish in this small pond.

So, this is my last post while under the jurisdiction of Rowan University. After this post, it's only because I love the theatre, sometimes more than myself. Honestly.

But before I take the next step, I have to acknowledge those deserving:
Mark Berkey-Gerard, Professor of Online Journalism. (made sure this blog is what it is)
Off Broad Street Players, my "home" theatre, (gave me many resources to do this)
Cast of All Shook Up, (for providing me my first topics, and feeding me my favorite addiction: performing.)
Cast of Moon Over Buffalo (for allowing me to attend their rehearsal and take video)
Lauren Van Embden, Chairwoman of the Levoy Theatre. (for exclusive interviews)
Bentley, Josie, and Elsie (for graciously appearing in my out-takes video)

See you on the boards!

"Life is a holiday.
I'm talking June through May.
A nightly sell out show,
and baby I'm front row.
Bye-Bye to lonely nights.
Only nights when the two of us can coo.
Skies are sunny and clear,
Long as I'm here with you."
-Thoroughly Modern Millie

(I hope you like the quote above...
could it be a hint at something?
...my lips are sealed...)

-Jim Cook Jr.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

FINAL REHEARSALS: Moon Over Buffalo

The Off Broad Street Players Theatre Company is kick-starting it's final rehearsals for their upcoming comedy Moon Over Buffalo. The production is set to begin performances the weekend of May 15th.

Written by Ken Ludwig, the comedy follows two traveling actors, George and Charlotte Hay, performing “Private Lives” and “Cyrano De Bergerac” in a repertory theatre in Buffalo, NY. George receives a phone call from Hollywood director Frank Capra to inform the casts that he will be attending their matinee and is searching for replacements to star in his upcoming movie “The Scarlet Pimpernel.”

John Muller directs the second show in the 12th season for the Off Broad Street Players. This, however, is not his first run-in with a Ken Ludwig comedy. Muller has also directed the opera farce Lend Me a Tenor during the spring of 2006 with OBSP. His directorial expertise is vital in the final days of rehearsals. 

"It is crunch week. Monday, Tuesday will be tech rehearsals, in the true sense of the word," explained Muller to the cast before beginning the their rehearsal Monday night. Muller was referring to the following week in which the entire show comes together before opening night. He also explained that the final pieces of the set would be assembled on the stage.

For each show, performers rehearse in a separate performance space. OBSP currently rehearses in the Trinity United Methodist Church basement space, before moving to the Robert L. Sharp auditorium at Bridgeton High School. Once settled the final week of rehearsals ("tech week") begin, actors are able to work with staircases, doorways, and props. Also, blocking (the actor's movements) are finalized during the tech week. 

"We're gonna work with all these pieces," Muller said, "And while we're doing that, we'll be working with the lighting and we'll be working with the sound," Muller instructed to the cast.

The production stars Thurman Hogan and Beverly Beardsley as George and Charlotte respectively. During the early rehearsal process, Hogan and Beardsley were instructed in basic fencing for their scenes in "Cyrano de Bergerac"


The production also stars Lauren Van Embden (Millville) as Rosalind, the daughter of George and Charlotte, Kim Hitchner (Bridgeton) as the grandmother Ethel, Tracy Treadway (Vineland) as Richard, and Meghan Kleefeld (Vineland) as the young Eileen trapped in a brief affair with George.

Andrew Jarema, 19, of Pittsgrove, plays Paul, Rosalind's former lover whom she resists for the majority of the show.


"Paul is willing to do anything to suck up to George," Jarema said. "He's rough and ready on the outside, but a nervous wreck on the inside."



Zach Ott, 15, of Upper Deerfield, plays Rosalind's fiancee, Howard, a young man always in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"He's [Howard] this semi-nerdy weatherman whose engaged to Roz," said Ott. "He gets mistaken as Frank Capra, as Eileen's brother, and gets himself stuck in a bunch of other problems."


The rehearsals have proved the work of a strong cast and talented production team. Cast members are excited for their opening night, May 15th, 8pm, at Bridgeton High School. 

"Our cast works extremely well together," said Ott, "They're all really great. Working with John has been fantastic. Everything he does is very professional."

"Our rehearsals are very structured," Jarema said. "Everything is always completed exactly as planned. The whole cast is very enthusiastic about giving their best performance and putting our best show out there."

Additional performances will take place May 16th at 8pm and May 17th at 3pm. Tickets are $13 for Adults and $11 for Students/Seniors. All Bridgeton High School students with I.D. are eligible for a Student Rush discount ticket at the box office prior to each night's performance.

For more information please call (856) 451-5437 or contact by e-mail at press@obsponline.org. More information is readily available on their website.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Habaneras on the Rialto

CARMEN is finishing its run tonight at 8pm and 2pm tomorrrow. Be sure to dress classy for a night at the opera!

Pfleeger Concert Hall
Rowan University
Tickets are $10 adults $5 students, seniors, and staff

Free admission for all RU students with ID

Suddenly See More...

Just got a few messages on facebook about some upcoming shows on the SJR...

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - premiering tonight at 8pm at The Road Company. Tickets can be purchased online at roadcompany.com or at the door. Stars Lani Cole Compagno, whom I've had the pleasure of perdorming with before, she has a brilliant talent on the stage!

HANSEL & GRETEL - premiering tonight at 7pm at the Little Theater on Sherman Ave in Vineland, Nj. Tickets are $6. Visit cumberlandplayers.com for more info. This is part of their childrens theatre series so feel free ro bring the entire family!