26th Annual Jersey Voices Festival – Starting August 27th
Evening of one-act plays enables writers to showcase original scripts while allowing directors and actors to experiment with new roles
The Chatham Community Players (CCP) will host its 26th annual Jersey Voices One-Act Festival with five virtually streamed performances between August 27 and August 30. This year’s production will include six original short plays written by New Jersey playwrights.
We welcome you to join us as we explore the joys of (almost) live, original theater in The Chatham Playhouse, where Jersey Voices has provided a venue for New Jersey playwrights to showcase their work since 1995. There’s a risk in coming to see any author’s new work, whether you’ve heard of them before or not. It’s brave and courageous, and we’re grateful our audience trusts us enough to share the experience. Jersey Voices has presented the work of more than 85 authors in their 26 years.
“One of my favorite things about live theater is never knowing exactly what will happen each night, but knowing the production team and cast around you are ready and will make it all work. Who knew that this year, that flexibility and “make it work” attitude would be more imperative than ever!” says producer Jessica Phelan. “We began reading scripts in January, coming to our final 12 in mid-March. At that point we had no idea if Jersey Voices would happen at all. Luckily we had a phenomenal group of directors and actors who were ready to rise to the challenge, go with the flow, and make this happen anyway we could.”
This year, casting was left to the discretion of the directors, in lieu of the traditional audition process, to help maintain social distancing. Rehearsals were conducted throughout the summer both virtually and in mutually agreed upon (by the cast and director) spaces where social distancing was possible. Following cast and production team’s comfort levels, this year we will be presenting pre-recorded versions of all pieces, ranging from socially distant readings, to an “on location” outdoor performance, to fully staged pieces in the theatre with no audience present.
Performance dates are August 27, 28, 29 at 8 p.m., August 30 at 2 p.m., and a special “Pop-Up Video” performance, where the pieces will be shown with fun facts and cast/crew insights popping up on screen throughout, on August 30 at 7 p.m. Performances will be streamed via Zoom. Suggested donation is $5 per viewer. To register in advance and receive the link to the live stream, go to their website – www.chathamplayers.org. Special cast/playwrights Talk Back will follow the Thursday and Friday performances.
Each of the following pieces will be performed each night of the festival:
“A Man Walks Into a Bar” by Nathan Christopher, directed by Kevern Cameron
Starring: Dale Monroe and Spy Spiegel Monroe
Why, she asks herself, is she still working behind this bar anyway, in this nothing-to-see-here town midway between two better places? And then a man walks in.
“Date With Death” by Steven Hayet, directed by Lynn Polan
Starring: Ali Archetti, Crystal Ann Bennett, and Ross Pohling
Dating is hell. Rather than deal with the awkwardness of turning someone down, Angela takes a different route.
“Free Range Cows” by Lynn A. Langone, directed by Joann Lopresti Scanlon
Starring: Barb Haag and Anna McCabe
Mom and daughter head out on a road trip, bonding through long stretches of the USA and the music they listen to along the way.
“Never Will I Ever” by K.F. Lerner, directed by Elissa Strell
Starring: Liza Harris and Jason Kruk
A newly “empty nested” husband and wife look middle age in the face with sadness, with joy and without blinking.
“Onward” by Lauri MacMillan, directed by Wendy Schibener
Starring: Bridget Burke-Weiss, John A.C. Kennedy, Julie Anne Nolan, and Glen D. Post
Two families, created through divorce, come together to celebrate the achievement of their son and reflect on their journey “onward.”
“Amnesty Week” by Loretta Bolger Wish, directed by Christopher C. Gibbs
Starring: Lisa Barnett and Terri Sturtevant
In a library, two women discuss the mystery and the magic of falling in love…with a book.
About the Chatham Playhouse
The Chatham Community Players has been entertaining residents of Morris County and the surrounding area since 1922. The organization’s mission is to produce high-quality theater for a diverse audience, while elevating its standard of excellence and providing a creative outlet with educational opportunities and outreach programs. For more information, including details of CCP’s upcoming 2020-2021 season, visit www.chathamplayers.org. Funding has been made possible in part by Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
