2020 - 2021 Season
Due to the pandemic, all planned productions will be rescheduled to a future season.
Until then, please join us for a monthly program of live performances via Zoom...
All the World's a Virtual Stage
Submissions for original or published performance pieces are still being accepted for this season. Contact us for information.
OCTOBER
PROGRAM
Emcee: Beth Seales Hanson
(with help from Zoë, Violet, and Leo Hanson)
The Tell-Tale Heart
By Edgar Allen Poe
Directed by Carol Cornicelli
Killer: Robert S. Webb & Mathew Schwartz
Police Officer 1/Old Man: Alan Foster
Police Officer 2: Suz Stone
The Monkey’s Paw
By W. W. Jacobs
Directed by Sharon Quinn
Narrator: Laurellie Jacobs Martinez
Mr. White: Mentha Marley
Mrs. White: Sharon Quinn
Herbert White: Skyler Martinez
Sergeant-Major Morris: Kirk Woodward
Lawyer: Norman Metz
The Night Wind
By Eugene Field
Directed by Carol Cornicelli
Sharmeen Azmudeh (with Marilyn and Merlin)
The Cask of Amontillado
By Edgar Allen Poe
Directed by Sharon Quinn
Montressor: Ron Richardson
Fortunado: Norman Metz
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (excerpt)
By Washington Irving
Directed by Carol Cornicelli
Narrator 1: Melyssa Searcy
Narrator 2: Sandra Eismann
Ichabod Crane: Jeff Taylor
Jon Mortonson’s Funeral
By Ambrose Bierce
Directed by Carol Cornicelli
Friend 1: Judi Gajary
Friend 2: John Mendlovitz
Minister: Alan Foster
Widow: Suz Stone
Family at the Funeral: the Schwartz family, the Searcy family
DiIRECTORS
Carol Cornicelli is an actress/singer/dancer who has also directed, choreographed, written, and designed for The Strollers and currently serves on their Board of Directors. Thanks to all for joining us on our Virtual Adventure!
Sharon Quinn holds a M.A. in Theater from Montclair State University and is a three-time recipient of grants from NEH for the study of George Bernard Shaw. Most recently, Sharon directed An Enemy of the People for The Strollers. As an actress, favorite roles include Amanda (The Glass Menagerie), Penny (You Can’t Take It With You), and Ofelia (Anna in the Tropics). She has also written and directed four original children’s plays. By day, Sharon is an attorney practicing in Maplewood.
ACTORS
Sharmeen Azmudeh has always loved theatre and the arts. In her younger days, she participated in plays, musicals, and choirs as well as helping out backstage. Now, after a very long break, she is excited to make her debut with The Strollers -- and show off the talents of her two lovely parrots, Marilyn Monroe and Merlin.
Sandra Eismann is very happy to be part of The Strollers Virtual Stage productions. Though semi-retirement has been spent reading -- for the now tragically silenced ESES of N.J. and still for the Reading Buddies program out of MetroWest -- she appeared on the stage in such roles as Aunt Penniman (The Heiress) and Psychiatrist (The Sweetest Swing in Baseball).
Alan Foster has been involved with The Strollers as a director, stage manager, and actor, and he now sits on the board of trustees. He has directed a number of plays, both here and in his native California.
Judi Gajary has been a member of The Strollers since 1984. She has acted in many productions over the years and has held every position on The Board of Trustees, including President three different times. In addition, she has done makeup, costumes and lighting, and has been a producer, stage manager, and set designer.
Beth Seales Hanson is loving her second life on The Strollers stage! Her debut was alongside her two daughters in the children’s production The Day the Rainbow Broke Up, in which she played Butterfly. She then appeared in Fiddler on the Roof and How the World Got Wisdom. She now serves on the board of trustees. Beth is absurdly grateful for her family of very good sports!
Mentha Marley has acted in and directed many Strollers productions. As a director, some favorites include Follies, Marvin’s Room, and The Cemetery. He appeared onstage in The Shadow Box, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Urinetown, Arms and the Man, and The Boys Next Door.
Laurellie Jacobs Martinez has an MA in Educational Theatre from NYU and is a professional sign language interpreter. She joined The Strollers to help with A Midsummer Night’s Dream and then appeared on stage in Fiddler on the Roof. She and husband, Carlos, live in Maplewood with their children, Maya and Skyler. Laurellie has been known to terrify cub scouts (and their parents) with her telling of The Monkey’s Paw around the campfire.
Skyler Martinez is excited to take part in his first Strollers endeavor. He is a senior at Columbia High School. Skyler has performed in the CHS Parnassian Society production of Fabulation and the last three years of the CHS musical. He loves a good socially distanced frisbee toss when he isn’t learning virtually.
John Mendlovitz is a veteran Stroller and current trustee. His many credits include lighting designer, scenic designer, set builder, technical director, and actor. He has appeared on stage in The Unexpected Guest, And Then There Were None, The Sweetest Swing in Baseball, The Philadelphia Story, and a couple of musicals.If John did not have theater, he would go completely mad.
Norman Metz has been involved in community theater for 30 years — acting, building sets, tech crew, stage managing, directing, and producing. As a Stroller, his favorite roles include Cladwell B. Caldwell (Urinetown), Treasurer Cooley (Anyone Can Whistle), Sam (The Cemetery Club), and featured performer in the musical revue COLE. Norman is also a founding member of The Loose Canons, a musical group that performs around the state. In his spare time, Norman practices dentistry in Millburn.
Ron Richardson is a veteran of New Jersey stages, featured in productions for many area companies. Some notable roles with The Strollers include Peter Stockmann (An Enemy of the People), Albert/Kevin (Clybourne Park), and Lt. Col. Nathan R. Jessep (A Few Good Men).
Mathew Schwartz rediscovered his acting bug as Bottom in The Strollers’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Since then, he has appeared in The Game’s Afoot and Fiddler on the Roof. Matt is a financial editor and lives in Maplewood with his wife, Ronni, and their two daughters, Abigail and Allison -- who join Matt as funeral guests in this show!
Melyssa Searcy is a NJ native who has been performing since she was 14. She is excited to continue her theatre endeavors even during this pandemic. She made her Strollers debut as Fruma-Sarah (Fiddler on the Roof) and then was a featured soloist in Working, A Musical and a caterpillar in the children’s show How the World Got Wisdom.
Suz Stone has been acting since 1991, is a founding member of two improv groups, and does voice over work. She last performed with The Strollers as Margie (Good People). Other favorite roles are Karen (Plaza Suite), Monica (The Bad Seed), and a featured actor in The Vagina Monologues. Suz dedicates her performance to all the folks who, like her, love a bit of scary.
Jeff Taylor is happy to be gracing The Strollers’ stage again, this time virtually! Jeff has appeared in several Strollers shows over the years, most recently as William Gillette (The Game’s Afoot). Favorite roles include Michael (God of Carnage), Gary (The Sweetest Swing in Baseball), and Lenny (Rumors). Thanks to everyone who makes and supports art for art’s sake.
Robert Sebastian Webb is making his premiere on The Stroller’s (virtual) stage and he couldn’t be more excited. Having honed his virtual performance chops with NY based theater groups in Socially Distant Shakespeare and Naked Angles: Tuesday’s @9, he looks forward to working alongside fellow New Jersey thespians. Favorite roles include Stephano (The Tempest), Paroles (All’s Well That Ends Well), and Lee (True West). Visit his website for more: http://bit.ly/2k39nTA
Kirk Woodward is making his Strollers debut, but he has acted for the Attic Ensemble, Pushcart Players, and the Theater League of Clifton. He recently directed Spoon River Anthology for the UCC Players. He performs with the Mental Health Players and is musical director of the Foggy Minded Boys and the Foggettes, who provide free entertainment for not-for-profit organizations.
SEPTEMBER
Watch the performance now on YouTube!
The Murder of Crows
Directed by Carol Cornicelli
Ginny Crooks (Mrs. Wilkins)
Melyssa Searcy (Debra)
Mathew Schwartz (Greg)
The Meadow
Directed by Alan Foster
Lisa Barnett (Mrs. Page)
Shiva Kiani (Miss Harris)
The Deal
Directed by Alan Foster
Vinnette Richardson (Vivian Howard)
Ron Richardson (Arthur Nelligan)
Dewey or Don’t We?
Directed by Carol Cornicelli
Betty Slevin (Helen)
Gene Ciccone (Oliver)
PLAYWRIGHTS
Nancy Halper is an editor and ESL teacher who has written several short plays, including “The Murder of Crows,” “Dewey or Don't We?,” and “The Truth About the Lemmings.” She and her husband live in Summit, New Jersey, and have four grown children.
Ryan Kaminski is a playwright from Flemington, New Jersey. His work has been featured in one-act festivals, playwriting festivals, and podcasts. Learn more via his New Play Exchange profile: https://newplayexchange.org/users/34918/ryan-kaminski