Luck be a Lady TONIGHT!!!!

For those that aren't aware, most theaters in South Jersey have announced their 2010 seasons already, however, the Off Broad Street Players have not, based on their move to the Levoy Theatre.

Prior to tonight's performance of OKLAHOMA at Bridgeton High School, Artistic Director Walter A. Webster will announce the next season. Be sure to see this great musical and get the latest scoop! Tickets to OKLAHOMA are $15 for adults and $13 for students/seniors. The show stars Don Fransko, Kaitlyn Cox, Andrew Jarema, Stephanie Bello, Luis Maravi, and Kim Hitchner.

If you're feeling lucky, check out GUYS & DOLLS Veteran's Memorial Intermediate School (in Vineland NJ) at 7pm, with additional performances this Saturday at 7pm and this Sunday at 2pm. The show is directed by Mark Melamed, produced by THE GABRIEL PROJECT, and stars recent Perry Award winner Bryan Mead as Benny Southstreet. The show also stars Carrie Cohen, Deena Parr, Paul Bossi, Sr., Carl Dolente, and Russell Chappius.

Many a new show will catch our eye!

(Don Fransko - Curley, and Katie Cox - Laurey, pose as the stars of OBSP's OKLAHOMA)

South Jersey is brimming with exciting shows opening all over the place! Get ready for a night on the town as our South Jersey theatres take you out of the rainy weather and into fun new world, starting with a place where the sun shines and the cows all moo in the clover -

OKLAHOMA - Off Broad Street Players - November 13, 14, 20, 21 at 8pm, Nov. 15 & 22 at 3pm. Tickets are $15 for Adults and $13 for Students and Seniors. All performances at Bridgeton High School.

GROUCHO: A LIFE IN REVUE - The Collaborative Act Studio. Starring Ted Winocek III as Grouch Marx. Nov 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28 at 8pm. Nov. 15 & 21 at 2pm. Ticket are $19 for Adults and $16 for senior citizens.

THE FULL MONTY - The Ritz Theatre Co. - Nov 4 & 18 at 7:30pm. Nov 6, 7, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21 at 8pm. Nov. 8 & 15 at 2pm. Tickets range from $20 - $30 general admission.

PETER PAN - Broadway Theatre of Pitman - November 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 at 8pm. Nov 8, 15, 22 at 2pm. All tickets are $25 general admission.

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On a side note -

I apologize that I have been lax in getting up new posts. I am working on moving "The South Jersey Rialto" to an actual web host. As you know, "sjrialto.org" is an easier way to get to this site, but it doesn't give me many more options. Give me some feedback!

VOTE and VIEW!

VOTE NOW for Mark Melamed as The View's Ultimate volunteer. Click here to vote:

 http://www.theviewultimatevolunteercontest.com/home/vote.php

VOTING IS ONLY OPEN UNTIL October 11, 2009. Each e-mail address given will be allowed one vote per day.

Mark Melamed, a Vineland school teacher and founder of THE GABRIEL PROJECT has been nominated on The View's Ultimate Volunteer Contest. The winner of the contest receives a paid vacation to Honolulu, a stay at a luxury resort, and $10,000 towards their volunteer charity.

THE GABRIEL PROJECT was founded in 1990 by Mr. Melamed and his sixth grade class. Their mission was to raise funds to help bring aiding children from third-world areas in Africa to the United States for heart surgery. Since 1990, THE GABRIEL PROJECT has helped over 13 children in getting professional care, as well as providing food for needy families during the holidays, and providing care for two families with children suffering from Spina Bifida and Leukemia. 

THE GABRIEL PROJECT also sponsors two full-scale charity musicals per year. This fall, the group will be presenting Guys & Dolls. 

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MARK MELAMED - Mark Melamed has devoted the last 20 years to The Gabriel Project. This has saved the lives of many children from third world counties by bringing them to the US for surgery not available in their own country. Mark works countless hours, fundraising, organizing events, directing musical theatical performances, reaching out to the community and the media to help pay for these life-saving surgeries. He has also developed a relationship with doctors to help take their skills and technologies to some of these countries. Mark is a teacher at Vineland, N.J. and encourages his students to assist him in these humanitarian efforts. This year, the Gabriel Project hopes to bring 4 children from the Dominic Republic here for medical treatment. 

"All I feel is lousy..."

ORDINARY PEOPLE 

Keeping emotions bottled up until they explode is the American Way, isn't it? Especially if you're a teenager, live in an affluent suburb and are deathly afraid of what other people might think. That's the simple premise behind "Ordinary People," a not-so-simple drama about a family that suffers through multiple traumas without knowing how to talk it out. Hollywood made an Oscar-winning movie out of the book, but the stage adaptation by Nancy Pahl Gilsenen is just as compelling.

The cast includes Andrew Jarema, of Pittsgrove, as Conrad Jarrett; John Muller, of Pittsgrove, as Cal Jarrett; Ellen Mather, of Bridgeton, as Beth Jarrett; Justin Peterson, of Pittsgrove, as Joe Lazenby; Jim Cook Jr., of Woodstown, as Stillman; Elizabeth Maxwell, of Bridgeton, as Jeannine Pratt; Stephanie Bello, of Elmer, as Karen Aldrich; Luis Maravi, of Bridgeton, as Doctor Berger; and Tracy Treadway, of Vineland, as Salan.

Tickets for the production are $13 for adults and $11 for students (up to grade 12) and seniors (age 60 and above). Tickets are available for purchase by phone 451-5437, as well as at the following locations: Brenner's Brew, 21 E. Commerce St., Bridgeton, and The Canvas Bag located at 46 E. Commerce St., Bridgeton. This production, in part, is sponsored by the New Jersey Council on the Arts, a partner agency with the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Cultural and Heritage Commission.

For more information, please call (856) 451-5437.

Autumn on the Rialto...

ORDINARY PEOPLE - Off Broad Street Players - Oct. 2 & 3 at 8pm. Oct 4 at 3pm. Tickets are $13 for Adults and $11 for Students / Senior Citizens. All performances at Bridgeton High School. Call (856) 451-5437 for more info.

FOREVER PLAID - Sketch Club Players - Oct. 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 at 8pm. Oct. 4 & 11 at 2pm. Tickets are $17 general admission.

THE MOUSETRAP - Cumberland Players - Oct. 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 at 8pm. Oct 11 at 2pm. Tickets are $13 general admission. Senior Citizen discount at $6 on Sunday, Oct. 12.

Neil Simon's PROPOSALS - Ritz Theatre Co. - Oct. 2, 3, 7, 9 at 8pm. Oct. 4 at 2pm. Tickets range from $20 - $30.

PLAY ON! - Haddonfield Plays & Players - Oct. 2, 3, 9, 10 at 8pm. Oct. 4 at 2pm. Tickets are $19 general admission

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - Broadway Theatre (Pitman, NJ) - Oct. 2, 3, 9, 10 at 8pm. Oct 4 at 2pm. Tickets are $25 general admission. 

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*Congrats to South Jersey's Bryan Mead for winning the NJACT Perry Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical in A CHORUS LINE at The Road Company (Williamstown, NJ). The NJACT is a volunteer organization recognizing and supporting community theaters in New Jersey and also hosted the 35th annual Perry Awards - recognizing the best in NJ Community Theatre. 

BREAKING NEWS: Levoy support abounds!

(rendering of the 2010 Levoy Theatre facade)

The Millville City Commission approved eleventh-hour funding for the historic Levoy Theatre, Tuesday night at 7pm at the Millville City Commission meeting held at Millville City Hall.

The City Commission voted tonight to provide $375,000 from the Revenue Allocation District, as well as $300,000 forgivable loan from the Grow Millville Fund, to the Levoy Theatre Preservation Society for renovation efforts with a goal of opening in 2010.

The vote was approved 4-1. Commissioners Joe Derella, Dale Finch, and Jim Quinn as well as Mayor Tim Shannon, all in favor respectively. Commissioner Dave Vanaman was the only to dissent.

"We need a hub for downtown Millville," Commissioner Dale Finch stated, "and the hub is the Levoy Theatre."

Levoy Board Chairwoman Lauren Van Embden, 29, Millville, was represented through a letter (she was fufilling a prior commitment made last May) where she called the theatre's history a "tale as old as time," referencing the Disney musical "Beauty and the Beast."

And she is quite right. The Levoy Theatre opened on High St. in Millville on January 9, 1908 with a small theatre on the bottom floor and a dance studio on the second. It was opened by Mr. William "Pop" Somers, one of the early designers of the Ferris Wheel. Tickets were only a nickel for one and a quarter for six, according to the Levoy website.

The late Joseph Pierce Jr. (1975-2000), Levoy historian, original Chairman, and Founder of LTPS, was represented through a letter from his father Joseph Pierce Sr. recalling the passion his son had for the project and goals he set forth to the City of Millville.

Both letters were read by Amanda Page, Vice President of the LTPS, whom also voiced her own support for the project, as seen through her 12+ years on the Board.

Commissioner Jim Quinn, former Mayor of Millville, pointed attention to the UEZ (Urban Enterprise Zone) monies granted to the city. Urban Enterprise Zone refers to the areas in New Jersey that are given an opportunity to pay 3.25% sales tax instead of the regular 7%, with the State of NJ granting the other 3.25% back to the city for usage in loans and project developments.

"What a great way to use the [UEZ] monies for the downtown," Commissioner Quinn said, referring to it's allocation to the Levoy Theatre. "Absolutely no property tax will be put into the Levoy," he said.

Commissioner Quinn also recognized the Off Broad Street Players Theatre Company, currently of Bridgeton, relocating to the Levoy in Millville upon it's opening.

"We're lucky to have a group like the Off Broad Street Players that has been giving phenomenal performances during our downtown activities," Quinn said.

Concerning the economic status of the City and county, Commissioner Dale Finch noted the importance of a project like the Levoy Theatre restoration, to boost the job market.

"Everyone is looking for work," Finch said, "and the Levoy will be opening immediate construction opportunities."

Mayor Tim Shannon provided reports of surveys with conservative data from over the past 12 years. Shannon also casted his support for the project.

"We will be the shining star in performing arts," the Mayor said, "I can't wait to buy my first tux for the opening!"

More information regarding the Levoy Theatre can be found on their website LEVOY.ORG. More information regarding the Levoy's resident theatre company: The Off Broad Street Players, can be found on their website at OBSPONLINE.ORG

Be sure to stop by the Levoy Theatre this Third Friday (Sept. 18) for a special performance by the Off Broad Street Players, and make sure to watch out for the Levoy's newest fundraiser (HINT: bring crayons...)

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Levoy support does not only appear in Millville and Cumberland County.

THINK ABROAD!

Here are a few pictures of Levoy Theatre support around the world!

(Levoy support is shown through the purple eco-friendly shopping bag taken around the globe. GO GREEN! and purchase a Levoy shopping bag today here!)

COZUMEL, MEXICO

MILAN, ITALY.

Levoy shopping bags have also seen their way to Turin, Verona, Venice, Lago di Garda, (in Italy) as well as Germany. Please send me your pictures with the Levoy shopping bag wherever you find yourself in the world!

Thanks!

-Jim Cook Jr.

ATTN: Rowan Students who love Musical Theatre!!!!

ROWAN MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY is hosting it's first meeting of the Fall 2009 Semester on THURSDAY, Sept. 10th at 12:30. Those interested should congregate in the Wilson Hall Lobby on the Rowan Campus. 

"If you want to be involved in musical theatre on campus, this is your ticket!" said Vice President (of RUMTC), Anthony Sinigaglio, of Penns Grove, NJ,  sent out a general message on Sept. 1st to all members of the Facebook Group RUMTC. 

"Please also bring your thinking caps because we want your ideas on a number of things," the message read.

The RUMTC will be presenting YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN this October 9th and 10th at the Boyd Recital Hall in Wilson Hall at Rowan University and stars Brandon Marraffa as Charlie Brown and Sinigaglio as Linus.

The company is also planning a Cabaret evening around November or December, and a Mainstage spring musical: GODSPELL in 2010.