2020 Virtual Curtain Call Journal

PRESENTS A Virtual Event Celebrating New Jersey's Professional Theatres!

CURTAIN CALL November 16, 2020 at 7:00 PM

Honoring

Mills + Schnoering Architects and the Stage Managers of our member theatres!

Proceeds from this event will support our Reopening Campaign, providing a wide range of services and resources to help ensure each of our member theatres can open safely.

Congratulations to all of tonight’s honorees!

Your dedication, talent and skill make theatre in New Jersey shine!

With love from Ruth and Arthur Fost

New Jersey Theatre Alliance was founded In 1981 by five professional theatres on the belief that the theatre community is stronger united, not divided, and that one theatre's success is a success for all. Today we serve 20 Equity Producing Theatres and 12 Associate Producing Theatres, representing 16 of the state's 21 counties, and Bucks County, PA. Members include large and small theatres, each a fully-functioning business with paid administrative and artistic staff. These theatres support the economic development of the state, contribute to their communities with arts education opportunities, and offer theatre that inspires, challenges, and entertains close to one million theatre-goers annually.

The mission of New Jersey Theatre Alliance is to unite, promote, strengthen, and cultivate New Jersey's professional theatres. We advance the theatre community by developing innovative, collaborative, and engaging programs and services for member theatres and their diverse audiences.

Cornerstones of the Alliances's public programs include:

The Stages Festival Is a statewide spring festival of free and low-cost theatre events that takes place In March, April, and May. The Alliance directs funding to events that allow our member theatres to take artistic risks, reach underserved audiences, and deepen community partnerships.

The Cultural Access Network Project is a program of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Alliance, which assists theatres and the state's cultural community in making their programs and facilities accessible to seniors and people with disabilities.

BENEFIT COMMITTEE Connie Alexis–Laona Larry Capo Janet Dickson Donald Ehman Ruth Fost Maureen Heffernan Linda Kinsey Suzanne Klar, Esq. Barbara Melone Cheryl Mintz Julie Ellen Prusinowski Steve Runk Kayla Kim Votapek Monica Weeks

New Jersey Theatre Alliance is a statewide nonprofit service organization dedicated to uniting, promoting, strengthening, and cultivating professional theatre.

Proceeds from this event will support our Reopening Campaign, providing a wide range of services and resources to help ensure each of our member theatres can open safely.

Dear Friends,

Welcome to Curtain Call 2020!

We are grateful to be able to come together virtually to celebrate the excellence and diversity of New Jersey’s professional theatre community.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for our field. From the moment that the severity of the public health crisis came to light, our theatres showed courage and leadership by putting the safety of their communities first. The financial repercussions of extended closures cannot be overstated. But despite this existential hardship, the incredible theatre community of New Jersey has come together to offer innovative virtual programs, safe outdoor performances, and a robust upcoming season of digital and live events. Theatre is at its core about connection, and we are extremely proud of the way that New Jersey’s theatres have offered opportunities for people to come together through the power of the arts.

The year 2020 marks two important anniversaries for the theatre field. It is the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a landmark piece of legislation increasing access for individuals with disabilities in all sectors, including arts and culture. 2020 is also “The Year of the Stage Manager,” the 100th anniversary of the first stage management contract with Actors Equity Association. Our Star Award Honoree, Mills + Schnoering Architects, and our Award of Excellence honorees, the Stage Managers of our member theatres, were selected with these two milestones in mind, and we are thrilled to celebrate them this evening.

We offer our sincere appreciation to this year’s Curtain Call Committee for their time, creativity, and generosity in making tonight possible.

Thank you for joining us tonight. Your support will help ensure that our theatres can reopen safely when the time comes. It has been a great privilege of the Alliance to serve our member theatres during these trying times. There is much more to be done, but we remain optimistic and hopeful about the future of our field. We can’t wait to gather with you in person once again when the curtains rise. In the meantime, enjoy this evening, and don’t miss the Zoom after-party to connect and celebrate with your colleagues!

With gratitude,

JOHN WOOTEN

Chair, Board of Trustees

LARRY CAPO

President, Board of Trustees

JOHN McEWEN Executive Director

EVENING PROGRAM OPENING

Testimonials from Representatives of Member Theatres

WELCOME REMARKS John McEwen, Executive Director, New Jersey Theatre Alliance John Wooten, Producing Artistic Director, Premiere Stages at Kean University and Chairman, New Jersey Theatre Alliance

PERFORMANCE by Kathryn Allison Introduction by Patrick Parker, Associate Artistic Director, Paper Mill Playhouse

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE to STAGE MANAGERS - Part I Presented by Laura Ekstrand, Artistic Director, Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre and Trustee, New Jersey Theatre Alliance Brian Crowe, Director of Education, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

PERFORMANCE by Jen Msumba Introduction by Christine Bruno, Disability Inclusion Consultant, Advocate and Actor

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE to STAGE MANAGERS –Part II STAR AWARD PRESENTATION to MILLS + SCHNOERING ARCHITECTS Introduction by Larry Capo, President, New Jersey Theatre Alliance

CLOSING REMARKS & RAFFLE John McEwen, Executive Director, New Jersey Theatre Alliance Sign-Interpreter: Justine Rivera Captioning: Lauren Schechter, TotalCaption

ALISON & CHERYL A well-deserved recognition.

Love and admiration, Emily Mann and Gary Mailman

SPONSORS PRODUCING SPONSORS Carolyn Ferolito Mills + Schnoering Architects DIRECTOR SPONSOR Ruth and Arthur Fost LEADING PLAYER SPONSORS City National Bank Stages Consultants SPECIAL THANKS The staff at Enlow Hall at Kean University Jessie Medofer, Joe Camilli, and Michael Arp of Bright AV Dave Tavani, Video and Photography

Crossroads Theatre Company congratulates honoree

Brian Westmoreland on this well–deserved honor.

The Board of Trustees of New Jersey Theatre Alliance Congratulate our fellow trustee

MICHAEL SCHNOERING, FAIA and all partners and staff of

MILLS + SCHNOERING ARCHITECTS Your leadership is inspiring!

BOARD OF TRUSTEES John Wooten, Chair Chair Larry Capo, President President Michael Hurst, Vice ViceChair Chair Seth Geldzahler, Treasurer Treasurer Laura Ekstrand, Secretary Secretary Connie Alexis-Laona Neha Bhalani, Esq. Joseph Benincasa Etta Denk Ruth Fost Laura J. Hay Carol Herbert Marshall Jones, III Linda Kinsey Suzanne Klar, Esq. Mindy Richardson Michael Schnoering, FAIA Gayle Stahlhuth Michael Stotts

STAFF DeontĂŠ Griffin-Quick Manager of Programs and Services Lauren Mancuso Digital Communications and Marketing Specialist John McEwen Executive Director

Erica Nagel

Deputy Director

Beth Prevor

Cultural Access Coordinator

With warm wishes and sincere congratulations to

Mills + Schnoering Architects

and everyone being honored tonight.

WITH LOVE, CAROLYN FEROLITO

MEET OUR STAR AWARD RECIPIENT MILLS + SCHNOERING ARCHITECTS

Mills + Schnoering Mills Schnoering Architects, Architects, LLC LLC (M+Sa) is a full-service architecture firm based in Princeton, NJ. The design, rehabilitation, and restoration of theaters is a core practice area of our firm. Our regional and national theater expertise includes project planning, budgeting, and fundraising support, program development, design, preservation, project management, and construction administration. M+Sa works with theater operators, arts administrators, and accessibility advocates to sensitively plan and design projects that enhance performance venues and support the art created within. M+Sa is committed to creating safe, secure, and fully accessible designs, and to social, economic, and ecological sustainability. We are proud members of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance's Cultural Access Network Project, and we are honored to receive the 2020 Star Award!

City National proudly supports the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

MEET OUR HONOREES AWARD OF EXCELLENCE STAGE MANAGERS

Celebrating 25 Years of Outstanding AEA Stage Management and Mentoring the Next Generation at McCarter Theatre Annette Adamska ~ Narda Alcorn ~ Ashby Baldock ~ Carmelita Becnel Monique Bernier ~ Kari B. Berntson ~ David Blackwell ~ Briana Boche Daryn Brown ~ Anthony Bullock ~ Matt Bur ~ Cynthia Cahill ~ Denise Cardarelli Sandra Carlson ~ Vanessa Coakley ~ Rich Costabile ~ Victoria Epstein Emma Ettinger ~ Andy Feigin ~ Amy Fisk ~ Samantha Flint ~ Christine Freeburg Marion Friedman Young ~ Al Gaillard ~ Sarah Geis ~ Kelly Genovese Sara Gmitter ~ Samantha Greene ~ Mary Sue Gregson ~ Kurt Hall ~ Ali Hassman Diane Healy ~ Becca Hernan ~ Julie Rae Herskovitz ~ Marjorie Horne ~ Alyssa Howard Sarah Hughes ~ Tom Humes ~ Mary Hungerford ~ Lisa Iacucci ~ Dan Karlin Stephen Kaus ~ Eileen Kelly ~ Hope Rose Kelly ~ Heather Klein ~ Alexandra Kostis Jody Kuh ~ Lauren Kurinskas ~ William Lang ~ Alexandra La Torre ~ Joe Lumia Lori Lundquist ~ Liz Malta ~ James McDermott ~ Jessie Medofer ~ Paul Douglas Michnewicz Rachel Miller Davis ~ Kyla Marie Mostello ~ Kathleen Munroe ~ Julie Novacek Godsoe Emma Olson ~ Tyler Osgood ~ Kasey Ostopchuck ~ Jonathan Phillips ~ Rachel Piero Dave Polato ~ Kimberly Pretz ~ Marguerite Price ~ Marcy Victoria Reed ~ Carolyn Reich Emma Reichard ~ Jillian Resnick ~ Mindy Richardson ~ Joshua Schnetzer ~ Joseph Smelser Valerie Stedman ~ Michael Suenkel ~ Robert Sutherland-Cohen ~ Katy Svec Christine Terchek ~ Michele Traub ~ Christa van Baale ~ Hethyr Verhoef Christine Whalen ~ Emily Wharton ~ Alexis Wilner ~ Hannah Woodward

It Has Been a Fulfilling Journey, Cheryl Mintz ~ Resident Production Stage Manager Alison Cote ~ Production Stage Manager

ACCESSIBLE ACCOMODATIONS

BRIAN, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS AWARD ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS! Love, Martina and Lamonte Westmoreland

PERFORMERS

NJTA MEMBER THEATRES EQUITY PRODUCING MEMBERS

American Theater Group Business: (732) 238-9982 americantheatergroup.org

Bucks County Playhouse 70 S. Main Street New Hope, PA 18938 Box Office: 215-862-2121 bcptheater.org

Cape May Stage

Robert Shackleton Playhouse Corner of Bank & Lafayette Streets Cape May, NJ 08204 Box Office: (609) 770-8311 capemaystage.org

Centenary Stage Company

The David and Carol Lackland Center

715 Grand Avenue Hackettstown, NJ 07840 Box Office: (908) 979-0900 centenarystageco.org

Crossroads Theatre Company 11 Livingston Avenue New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Box Office: (732) 545-8100 crossroadstheatrecompany.org

Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre Oakes Center 120 Morris Avenue Summit, NJ 07901 Business: (908) 514-9654 Box Office: (800) 838-3006 dreamcatcherrep.org

Eagle Theatre

208 Vine Street Hammonton, NJ 08037 Mailing address: PO Box 388 Hammonton, NJ 08037 Box Office: (609) 704-5012 theeagletheatre.com

East Lynne Theater Company 500 Hughes Street Cape May, NJ 08204 Box Office: (609) 884-5898 eastlynnetheater.org

George Street Playhouse 11 Livingston Avenue New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Business: (732) 846-2895 Box Office: (732) 246-7717 gsponline.org

The Growing Stage: The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey

Historic Palace Theatre Route 183, 7 Ledgewood Avenue Netcong, NJ 07857 Box Office: (973) 347-4946 growingstage.com

Luna Stage Company

555 Valley Road West Orange, NJ 07052 Box Office: (973) 395-5551 lunastage.org

McCarter Theatre Center 91 University Place Princeton, NJ 08540 Business: (609) 258-6500 Box Office: (609) 258-2787 mccarter.org

New Jersey Repertory Company

179 Broadway Long Branch, NJ 07740 Box Office: (732) 229-3166 njrep.org

Paper Mill Playhouse

22 Brookside Drive Millburn, NJ 07041 Business: (973) 379-3636 Box Office: (973) 376-4343 papermill.org

Passage Theatre Company

Mill Hill Playhouse 205 East Front Street at the corner of Montgomery Trenton, NJ 08611 Box Office: (609) 392-0766 e-mail: info@passagetheatre.org passagetheatre.org

Premiere Stages

Kean University 1000 Morris Avenue Union, NJ 07083 Business: (908) 737-4092 Box Office: (908) 737-7469 kean.edu/premierestages

Pushcart Players

261 Bloomfield Avenue, Suite A Verona, NJ 07044 Business: (973) 857-1115 pushcartplayers.org

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, Drew University 36 Madison Avenue at Lancaster Road Madison, NJ 07940 Business: (973) 845-6723 Box Office: (973) 408-5600 shakespearenj.org

Surflight Theatre

201 Engleside Ave Beach Haven, NJ 08008 Business: (609) 492-9477 Box Office: (609) 492-9477 surflight.org

Two River Theater

21 Bridge Avenue Red Bank, NJ 07701 Box Office: (732) 345-1400 tworivertheater.org

NJTA MEMBER THEATRES ASSOCIATE EQUITY MEMBERS

Alliance Repertory Theatre MONDO 426 Springfield Ave. Summit, NJ 07901 (908) 472-1502 AllianceRep.org

Art House Productions

262 17th Street Jersey City, NJ 07310 (201) 918-6019 arthouseproductions.org

Axelrod Performing Arts Center 100 Grant Ave Deal Park, NJ 07723 (732) 531-9106 axelrodartscenter.com

The Company Theatre Group, Inc. 20 Mallard Drive Englewood, NJ 07631 (201) 408-5816 theatrecompany.biz

Skyline Theatre Company

The Fair Lawn Community Center 10-10 20th Street Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 Mailing address: 12-45 River Road # 121 Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 (800) 474-1299 skylinetheatrecompany.org

South Camden Theatre Company

400 Jasper Street Camden, NJ 08104 Box Office: (866) 811-4111 Business Office: 856) 409-0365 southcamdentheatre.org

Speranza Theatre Company

35 Journal Square, Ste. #461 Jersey City, NJ 07306 Phone: (201) 503-6194 speranzatheatrecompany.com

The Theater Project

80 Hauxhurt Avenue Weehawken, NJ 07086 Mailing Address: 54 Stirling Avenue Weehawken, NJ 07086 (201) 472-5123 hudsontheatreworks.com

at The Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts 10 Durand Road Maplewood, NJ 07040 Mailing address: PO Box 101 Union, NJ 07083 (973) 763-4029 theTheaterProject.org

Jersey City Theatre Center

Women’s Theater Company

Hudson Theatre Works

339 - 345 Newark Avenue Jersey City, NJ 07302 (201) 795-5386

Mile Square Theatre

1400 Clinton Street Hoboken, NJ 07030 (201) 683-7014 milesquaretheatre.org

The Parsippany Playhouse 1130 Knoll Road Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034 Mailing address: PO Box 5924 Parsippany, NJ 07054 (973) 316-3033 womenstheater.org

Kean offers multiple degrees in theatre ranging from the broad Bachelor of Arts to the focused BFA in Performance or Design and Tech.

Home to resident professional company Premiere Stages, the conservatory offers opportunities galore, including a main stage season, second stage, cabarets, director's workshops, play readings, master classes, internships with Premiere, and we are only 3 train stops from NYC!

We would like to congratulate the 8 amazing stage managers known as the “SWAT Team” of the Shakespeare Theatre of NJ for their well-earned Award of Excellence: Denise Cardarelli Alison Cote Katie Galaro Josiane Lemieux Jones Jackie Mariani Amanda “Bertie” Michaels Kathy Snyder Christine Whalen It’s hard to find the words that express accurately enough the amount of love and respect so many people have for you.

BUT WE'LL TRY...

The SWAT Team is:

"FIERCE" You bring a passion to the rehearsal room that lets us know we’re protected, you have our backs, and that you’re just as much a part of the creative process as everyone else in the room.

You lead with fierceness from prep week to closing night.

The SWAT Team is:

“KIND” AND “FUNNY” You bring levity to the room when it is sorely needed. Your kindness and humor, whether it’s during the silliness of a comedy or the emotional vulnerability of a drama, is welcomed more than you could know.

You make everyone feel special.

You make us feel like a family—a slightly crazy family perhaps, but a family nonetheless!

The SWAT Team is:

“RESOURCEFUL” Whether you’re trying to set up the next day’s rehearsal schedule, trying to fix a prop that some actor just broke(!), or perhaps a late-night, last-minute put-in rehearsal to replace an actor who got injured earlier that day, you always seem to have it all figured out.

As the joke goes: “How many stage managers does it take to screw in a ligh—” “Done.”

The SWAT Team is:

“LOVED” You are loved by so many people.

The names below represent a small fraction of actors, designers, directors, crew, family and friends that would like to say “thanks, and thanks and ever thanks” to you incredible women!

CONGRATULATIONS! Matthew Adelson, Michael Stewart Allen, Mallory Anderson, Ryan Angel, Anonymous, Heather Arney, Aurea, Jim and Jeanne Barrett, Steve & Sarah Beckel, Noah Befeler, The Bender Family, Cameron Berner, Kari Berntson, Samantha Blain, Sophia Blum, Luthien Brackett, Jamie Brink, Lauren Bryden, Sophia Bushong Nelson, Hannah Cabell, Charlie Calvert, Saluda Camp, The David Cardarelli Family, Connor Carew, Clark Carmichael, Celeste Ciulla, Alix Claps, Devin Conway, Nick Cordileone, Brian Costello, Jordan, Nisi & Owen Coughtry, Laura Chrismon, Christian Conn, Brian Crowe, Eric Davidson, Jennie Davies, Maxon Davis, Greg Derelian, Rich Dionne, Joe and Jamie Discher, Nick Downham, James Earley, Aidan Eastwood, Rick Engler, Rebecca Feely, Gabe Fuentes, Claire Gajary, Eileen Glenn, Christina Gould, Ian Gould, Latiana "LT" Gourzong, Jenna Gregson, Brent Harris, Sue Hawley, Eric Hoffmann, Sean Hudock, Andrew Hungerford, Wood Huntley, Greg Jackson, Louisa Johnson, Debbie Lee Jones, Gwendolyn, Elliot, & Josiane's husband, Nathan Kaufman, Bethany Kay, Liz Kent, Jackson Knight Pierce, Benjamin Kramer, Katie Langham, Jordan Laroya & Maria Tholl, Meri Larsen, Anastasia Le Gendre, Jay Leibowitz & Anna T Bergman, Austin Lucas, David & Monette Macdonald, Victoria Mack, Allison Mackie, Mike Magliocca & Amaia Arana, Joe & Patricia Mancuso, Susan Maris, Janice McCrostie, Quentin McCuiston, Courtney McGowan, Heather McLeod, Nick Meittinis, Amy Metroka, Paul Molnar, Andrea Morales, Jessica Ires Morris, Paul Mullins and Philip Goodwin, Paul Niebanck, Ned Noyes, Mandy Olsen, Christopher Payseur, Tina Pearl and Andy Pat, Blake Pfeil, Colleen Piquette, Rachel Pollard, Sarah Quigley, Fiona Robberson, Tom Robenolt, Brandt Roberts, Mike Sickles, Lindsay Smiling, Meg Smith, Rick Sordelet, Teresa Stephenson, Claire B. Taylor, Emily Anne Tkaczibson, Patrick Toon, Katie Van Rensalier, Tommy Walters & Avery Brunkus, Veronica Watt, Matt Weisgable, Alison Weller, Jonathan & Janine Wentz, Doug West & Suzanne Houston, Norma Whalen, Terry Whalen & Kelly Cooper, Steve Wilson & Nicole Johndrow, Andrea Young, Joelle Zazz