Nov. 5 - Rider Theater Opens Fall Season With Musical Chairs
If you find going to a theater to watch an audience watch a play an interesting twist, you'll find more than just that when Rider University opens its main stage season with Musical Chairs.
Written by playwrights Barry Berg, Ken Donnelly and Tom Savage, Rider's adaptation will run November 12, 13, 19, 20 in the Fine Arts Center's Yvonne Theater on its Lawrenceville campus. The curtain rises at 8 p.m.
The setting: the early '80s in an off-Broadway theater in the heart of the Village. For the performances, Rider's stage will resemble a church converted into a theater. The plot unfolds as an audience watches a fictitious play known as Forest of Shadows. "Critics are panning the play and a couple is bickering in the audience as a movie star walks into the theater," said play director Miriam Mills, assistant professor of fine arts.
"The show is lively, heartwarming and has extraordinary music. The dancing will wow the real audience. There will be jazz routines that include tap dancing, a male kick line, and great singing. It has been so much fun working with such a gifted cast of student actors from Rider's Lawrenceville and Westminster campuses. I know that this will be an enjoyable, entertaining evening filled with laughter and good spirit."
A total of 26 student actors will perform. Making their Rider stage debuts will be acting scholars Cristina Faruggia, a freshman fine arts major, who will portray Blue Suit; and Kevin Feehery, a freshman fine arts major as Tuxedo. Other cast members are Kerry Bower, a sophomore fine arts major/dance minor as Matty; Justin T. Beazer, a senior fine arts major/dance minor and acting scholar as Chorus #1 member; Gina Maria Cicchino, a junior fine arts major/dance minor as Roberta; Tanya Cruz, a sophomore music theater major at Westminster Choir College (WCC) as Lillian; Ed Egan, a sophomore fine arts major and acting scholar as Joe Preston; Nicole Farina, a senior English/secondary education major as Val; Joe Ferrara, a senior fine arts major as Chorus #6 member; Elizabeth Fine, a freshman fine arts major as stagemanager and Sally; Judah Frank, a freshman fine arts major as Brad.
Also, acting scholar Kim Hausler, a junior fine arts major/dance and Spanish minor as Janet; Danny Lane, a sophomore fine arts major and acting scholar as Brown Suit; Kaitlin Manca, a sophomore music theater major/dance minor at WCC as a chorus member; Rachel Messler, a junior journalism and fine arts major and acting scholar as Miranda; Lizabeth Molloy, a freshman music education major at WCC as Chorus #22 member; Jennifer Pagano, a senior fine arts/communication major/dance minor as Chorus #2 member; Danny Prather, a senior fine arts major/communication minor as Harold; Joe Sabatino, a freshman fine arts major as Gary; Bjorn Stowers, a sophomore fine arts major as Chorus #15 member; Amy Toporek, a junior communication major/fine arts minor as Millie; and David Yashin, a freshman fine arts major/dance minor as Boyfriend.
Accompanying Rider students in the cast will be students from Howell High School's performing arts program: Jessica Totaro as Dancer #1; Cassandra Wolff as Dancer #2; Justine Capria as Dancer #3 and Amanda McGrath as Dancer #4.
Tickets are $10 for the general public, and $5 for students, faculty and staff. There is a preview performance on Thursday, November 11 at 7 p.m. Tickets for that performance are $4 at the door. For more information, call (609) 896-5303.
