Chatham Playhouse to host 13th Annual Jersey Voices Festival Starting July 27th.
Image from 2006 JV FestivalThe Chatham Community Players will host its 13th annual Jersey Voices One-Act Festival with five performances between July 27 and August 4. This year’s production will include six short plays written by New Jersey playwrights, as well as one dance piece.
Jersey Voices has provided a venue for New Jersey playwrights to showcase their work since 1995. This year’s selection committee received 92 scripts from more than 50 playwrights across the state.
Performance Schedule and Information
Purchase Tickets Online!
It is highly recommended that tickets be purchased in advance. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.
Performance dates are Friday and Saturday evenings, July 27 and 28, and August 3 and 4. There is one Thursday performance on August 2. All performances begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for youth. They can be ordered by visiting our ticketing partner, TicketLeap. For more information, call the box office at (973) 635-7363.
"This is the thirteenth annual Jersey Voices. Many would be superstitious about that, but we're not for two reasons,” said producer Bob Denmark. “First, over the past twelve years, we have been fortunate enough to have vigorous support from all of our community constituencies: playwrights, directors, actors, crew, and audience members. Their combined enthusiasm has given vibrancy, momentum and meaning to Jersey Voices. Second, the only "spirit" we fear offending is that of Major Herbert Dawley, the founder of CCP, who always insisted that we try harder to do better. Invariably, when things begin to go wrong around here, we find that we have offended "Maje" by not trying hard enough. So, we'll all work hard to make this the most enjoyable Jersey Voices yet, whether it's the 13th or the 30th.
Three of this year's plays were written by playwrights whose works have been featured in Jersey Voices before (Eric Alter, Steve Ruskin, and Donald Earle Howes). The other four pieces were written by newcomers to Jersey Voices (Parker Godwin, John Allison, Barbara Ruban, and Robert Scott Sullivan).
Each of the following pieces will be performed each night of the festival:
- Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye by Parker Godwin of Chatham
What's more important then a friend asking a friend for help? This show features Tricia Beyer of Boonton, Tom Wardach of Pittstown, Stacey Simon of Berkley Heights, Cy Friedman of Morristown, David Hoffman of Montclair, and Paul Bettys of Parsippany.
Maybelle Cowan-Lincoln of Morris Plains directs.
- The Chair by John Allison of Ewing
An author struggles with the reality that he must let go of his work. David Hoffman of Montclair plays the author and Katie Parziale of Chatham plays the stage manager.
Kate Daly of West Orange directs.
- Speed Dating by Barbara Ruban of Springfield
You don't know what you have until you lose it. This production features Renee Francischetti, Tom Wardach of Pittstown, and Mike King of New Providence.
Arnold Buchaine of Summit directs.
- Waiting by Eric Alter of West Orange
Often the worst is not knowing. This show features Diane Gilch of Martinsville, Brian Carroll of Union, Joshua Dick of Chatham, Lex Ackerman of Westfield, and Nicholas Pasquali of Hopatcong.
Mark Phelan of Parsippany directs.
- Love In Vein by Steve Ruskin of Chatham
A romantic, fine dining experience takes a twist. Julie Jin of Maplewood and Mike King of New Providence play the daters, while Jim Clancy of Bernardsville plays the waiter.
Joann Scanlon of Chatham directs.
- Destinations by Robert Scott Sullivan of Dover
Relationships can take both parallel and divergent paths. This production features Rebecca Holmes of Madison, Katie Van Rensalier of Maywood, Dan Salvatore of Woodbridge, and Chris Klinger of Madison.
Tom Blewitt of Hopatcong directs.
- Grand Changement by Donald Earle Howes of Chatham
“If your time to you is worth savin,' then you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone.” Matt Burns of Randolph, Erin Honcharuk of Springfield, Ballet Tanzerin of Brooklyn, Heather Rich of Bayonne and Erika Sullivan of Gillette are a part of this piece conceived by Donald Earle Howes of Chatham.
Mail your submissions for next years festival to:
P.O. Box 234
Chatham, NJ 07928
Include a SASE for return of materials only
For more information, call 973-635-7363 or email jerseyvoices@chathamplayers.org