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October 8, 2007
WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY’S NEW JERSEY PLAYWRIGHTS COMPETITION STAGES READINGS FOR THREE FINALISTS OCTOBER 30, 31 AND NOVEMBER 1
William Paterson University in Wayne will present a series of staged readings featuring the original works of the three finalists in the University-sponsored Fourth Annual New Jersey Playwrights Competition. “Red State/Blue State” by Gregory Jones of Cranford, “The Home Front” by J.C. Svec of Clark, and “Margot The Musical: The Diary of the Other Young Girl,” with book and lyrics by Lori Mooney of Bronx, N.Y. and Diana Rissetto of Wayside, and music by Cooper Cerulo and Michael Sangiovanni, will be presented October 30, 31 and November 1, respectively, in Shea 101 on campus.
The three New Jersey playwrights were selected as finalists from more than 50 entries and were chosen by a committee of readers chosen from the local theatre community and William Paterson faculty and staff. The winner of the competition will receive a fully staged production of his or her work, opening April 9, 2008.
Gregory Jones is an actor and playwright. His works include “Galileo,” which was selected to open Octoberfest 2006 at Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City, and “Men With Clubs,” which was produced in London by the North American Actors Association as part of its 2006 New Play Competition and selected by the Penobscot Theatre Company of Maine for its 2007 New Play Festival.
J.C. Svec has written numerous one-act and full-length plays, four screenplays, and collaborated on a number of other screenplays. His writing has won awards at the Houston Worldfest in 2001 and 2006, in addition to Videographer and Communicator Awards. He has twice won awards at the New Voice Play Festival, in 2007 for his one-act “Fall Guys,” and in 2006 for his play “The Guy.” Svec’s one-act, “Peggy and Bill,” received Honorable Mention in First Stages-L.A.’s 10th Annual One-Act Contest. He currently teaches at the Montclair Kimberley Academy in Montclair.
Lori Mooney began her career as a news team member and writer for Teen People magazine. She has worked at several talent agencies, most currently at N.S. Bienstock, which represents Dan Rather and Anderson Cooper, and she has been very involved in the theater community, doing surveys for Live Broadway and working for an Off-Broadway improv show. Diana Rissetto works with the Actors’ Equity Association in New York City. She has been published in Teen People magazine and was featured on Access Hollywood as “the Teen Who Touched Frank Sinatra’s Heart.”
The three casts are comprised of William Paterson University students: Drew Cyburt of Hillsborough; Samantha DeSocio of Holmdel; Brett Druck of South Orange; Tanya Galido of Elizabeth; Hilary Goldman of Princeton; Fred Henry of South Amboy; Christina Hoffman of Edison; Lucas Hopper of Hurley, N.Y.; Pedro Jimenez of Hoboken; Eric Phelan of Stony Point, N.Y.; Emily Polhamus of Glassboro; Rachael Scarpa of Stanhope; Darren Scott of XXX; Michael Turner of Pompton Lakes; Casey Walker of Rockaway; and Belinda Winters-Rosen of Kinnelon.
“Red State/Blue State” is directed by Phillip Sprayberry of Clifton, William Paterson University media relations coordinator; “The Home Front” is directed by Ron Mulligan of Bloomfield; and “Margot The Musical: The Diary of the Other Young Girl” is directed by Rebecca Strum of Ridgewood. William Paterson staff members Ed Matthews and Shari Selke will produce the series.
Show times for each of the three presentations are 8 p.m. The show will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the playwright and cast. Admission is free. For directions or information, please call the Shea Center Box Office at 973-720-2371.
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