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CONTACT:
Mary Beth Zeman, 973-720-2444
zemanm@wpunj.edu


February 5, 2007

 

WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY PREMIERES NEW PLAY, “END OF THE WORLD BUTTON,” FROM FEBRUARY 23 TO MARCH 3 IN HUNZIKER BLACK BOX THEATRE

William Paterson University in Wayne will present a production of “End of the World Button” a new absurdist comedy by West Orange playwright S.W. Senek, from February 23 to March 3 in the Hunziker Black Box Theatre on campus.

As the grand prize winner in the University’s New Jersey Playwright’s Competition, Senek was awarded a fully staged production of his play. The competition’s judges consisted of William Paterson faculty and staff and members of the local theatre community.

The cast is comprised of eight William Paterson University students: CC Cummings of Morristown; Brett Druck of South Orange; Hilary Goldman of Princeton; Fred Henry of South Amboy; Christina Hoffman of Edison; Erik Phelan of Stony Point, N.Y.; Lindsay Tierstein of Pine Hill; and Michael Turner of Pompton Lakes. Raechel Heffers, of North Arlington, a William Paterson alumna, also appears. The production is directed by Ed Matthews, a professional staff member in William Paterson’s University Performing Arts.

“End of the World Button” is an absurdist comedy that centers around Harry, a playwright with a serious case of writer’s block, and a raft of interesting characters who enter his life: a wife addicted to plastic surgery, his meddling circus clown parents, a paranoid agent and a Mafioso producer, to name a few. There’s only one place of refuge—a secret underground military base where the “End of the World” button is housed. As problems escalate, he ponders the unthinkable and pushes the button. The final 24 hours before doomsday brings his life into unusual perspective.

Senek’s play “12 Rounds” was produced in New York City and was nominated for the 2005 New York IT awards for best original short script and subsequently published in two publications. His play “Fool Circle” received a staged reading at 12 Miles West Theatre in Bloomfield in 2004 and a developmental workshop production at the Trilogy Theatre, New York. Senek’s plays have received readings and productions from Florida to Alaska. Senek is employed in the publications department at Dramatists Play Service, Inc., a major theatrical licensing firm in New York City. He holds a B.F.A. in theatre from Youngstown State University and is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, Inc.

Show times for “End of the World Button” are 8 p.m. on February 23, 24 and 28 and March 1, 2 and 3; 6 p.m. on February 25, and 12:30 p.m. on March 1. Tickets are $11, $8 for students, senior citizens and the William Paterson community. For directions or to purchase tickets, please call the Shea Center Box Office at 973-720-2371.

 

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