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.
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
DIRECTORS
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!
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.
ACTORS
Lisa Barnett is thrilled to be a part of the inaugural Virtual Stage performance. She last appeared with The Strollers in The Game’s Afoot (Inspector), also directed by Alan Foster. Lisa has worked with many area theaters including Chatham Players, InterAct Productions, Nutley Little Theatre, Chester Theatre Group, and Cranford Dramatic Club. Lisa lives in South Orange with her husband, kids, and two crazy dogs.
Gene Ciccone has been a Stroller for over 25 years, serving on the board and appearing in numerous productions. He is very pleased to be performing again with his "home" theater company. Two of his favorite roles are Lawrence (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and Otto Frank (The Diary of Anne Frank).
Ginny S. Crooks was seen last November as the Waitress, among other roles, in Working, A Musical with The Strollers. Other favorite roles include Amanda (The Glass Menagerie), Linda Loman (Death of a Salesman), Vivian Bearing (Wit), and Lisa the Homeless Lady (A New Brain). She has a degree in Drama from Catholic University, and interned at The Barter Theatre in Virginia and CSC Rep in NYC.
Shiva Kiani is super excited to be a part of this virtual production with The Strollers, her first NJ theatre house. Some of her favorite productions include The Crucible, Proof, A Shayna Maidel, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, and The House of Yes, Shiva lives in NYC and you can keep tabs on her cheese boards and actorly stuff on Instagram: @shivajkiani.
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).
Vinnette Richardson is a proud Maplwoodian, mother of two, and grandmother of two. She last appeared with The Strollers in the role of Lion in the children’s theater production of The Day the Rainbow Broke Up.
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. Most recently, she was a caterpillar in the children’s show How the World Got Wisdom.
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 and two daughters.
Betty Slevin has been a proud member of The Strollers since 1987, serving on the board and performing in shows. Now living in PA, she is thrilled for the opportunity to perform again in the group’s first Virtual Stage show with her husband, on and off Zoom, Gene Ciccone. Favorite roles include Drood (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), The Baker's Wife (Into the Woods), and Desiree (A Little Night Music).