BACKSTAGE
With the Chatham Community Players
June 2002

Annual Meeting Held May 15
The meeting highlight was the presentation of the Dawley Award to Bill Burress for long-continuing outstanding service to the Chatham Community Players. His smiling and efficient presence has been a staple feature of our performances as he sees to "Front of House." Bill has participated in other ways over the years, and he has earned this honor. In a surprise twist, the Awards Committee unanimously agreed that only one person merited the Shipler Award for outstanding contribution in a single season, but that person could not receive the award because she had won it a few years back! So, therefore, no Shipler Award was presented this year. But we all honor Maybelle Cowan for her outstanding effort in many different capacities throughout the season: in committees, backstage, and helping wherever needed - a multitalented and much-valued member!

Another highlight of the evening was the exciting presentation by our high school interns, titled "Inside the Interns' Studio," with Julie Langer, Caitlin Podiak, Matt Colabraro, and Tiffany Wilshaw, and an intern from last year, Anne Walbridge. They presented a series of sketches by playwrights and then came up with some dazzling presentations. The sketches were directed by Steve Ruskin and produced by Kathy Ruskin; stage manager was Tiffany Wilshaw, with lighting by Sara Copp and sound by Steve Ruskin. Present for the performance was Laura Russo, drama teacher at Chatham High School, who was thanked for her continued involvement with our joint Intern Program.

Concerning business of the organization, members elected Maybelle Cowan, Bob Denmark, and Lee Nordholm to the Nominating Committee. According to our by-laws, the Trustees will appoint the other three members.

Here and There
Cristy Chory, Chris Frascella, and Amanda Johnson, all last seen in this past year's ...Carol, were recently in a "Rising Star" nominated production of Jekyll & Hyde at Watchung Hills Regional High School.

Several of our past performers will be seen in upcoming shows at Plays in the Park in Edison, NJ: Art Neill (The Desperate Hours) will be directing Titanic with the following actors: Paul Rivers (...Carol, Blood Brothers) as Barrett; Patrick Andrae (A Little Night Music) will be Ismay; and Bill Corson (Joseph..., West Side Story) will be playing the role of Andrews. Voltaire Balderama (...Carol) will be in the Park's Jekyll & Hyde as Simon Stride; and Susie Paplow (Dames at Sea, ...Carol, Pure as the Driven Snow) will be playing the role of Polly in their production of Crazy For You.

Gina Priano-Keyser, who played Sylvia in Sylvia, Curley's wife in Of Mice and Men, and the title role in Snow White at the Chatham Playhouse, has been accepted into Lincoln Center's prestigious Director's Lab program this summer, one of about 100 from 600 applicants. Learn more about it at www.lct.org/dirlab.html

Performing outside the Chatham Playhouse? Let us know!

Special Thanks to Joe Elefante, musical director of Blood Brothers, and his great team of Don Pfleger, trumpet; Mike Brown, sax; Laurence Ross, bass; and Joe DeVico, drums. Their music was an important part of the success of Blood Brothers, and they were a joyful presence at the cast party!

Read our previous Newsletters:
April 2002
January 2002
November 2001
September 2001