A.R. Gurney’s "Love Letters" is the initial offering of Teaneck New Theatre’s 23rd season. Directed by Beatriz Esteban-Messina, the TNT production will be staged at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Teaneck from February 6-February 15. St. Mark’s is located at 118 Chadwick Road, one block from Cedar Lane, near Holy Name Hospital. Show times are 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 3:00 p.m. on Sundays.
A witty and poignant theatre piece, A. R. Gurney’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated "Love Letters" tells the tale of the enduring friendship between Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III, both born to upper class families. Their letters range from children’s party thank-you notes to correspondence exchanged through such life-changing events as careers, romantic relationships and personal crises. For Andy, success comes easily; for Melissa, existence is a struggle. As the years go by, two things remain constant for Andy and Melissa: their letters and their love for one another.
The production is double-cast. Onstage February 6,7 and 8 are Rebecca Lopkin of Teaneck and Jason Rivera, a resident of West New York. Rebecca, making her TNT acting debut, has been seen elsewhere as Yente in "Fiddler on the Roof," Sunny Freitag in "Last Night of Ballyhoo" and Kathy in "The Pajama Game." Jason, also making his TNT debut, previously appeared with the University of Hartford as Malvolio in "Twelfth Night," Tilden in "Buried Child," Andrei in "The Three Sisters" and Reverend Hale in "The Crucible."
Taking the stage February 13, 14 and 15 will be Barbara Liebgott of New Milford and Teaneck resident Ed Gross. Barbara has appeared in TNT productions of "Plaza Suite," "Crimes of the Heart," "Night Watch" and "Romantic Comedy," and with the Community Theater at Tenafly as Maggie in "Jake’s Women." Ed has been seen in TNT presentations of "Plaza Suite," "Ten Little Indians" and "Laughter on the 23rd Floor," and heard on WFDU-fm in TNT’s radio re-creations of episodes of "Suspense" and "The Great Gildersleeve."
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, there will be musical interludes by soprano Diana Gross of Teaneck. Diana also lent her singing voice to the TNT production of "The Diary of Adam and Eve plus music," and her speaking voice to TNT radio presentations of episodes of "Suspense" and "The Great Gildersleeve."
Director Beatriz Esteban-Messina previously directed "The Diary of Adam and Eve" for TNT, and has been onstage in TNT stagings of "War of the Worlds," "Moon Over Buffalo" and "Lend Me a Tenor."
Pianist Janet Secor of Maywood is accompanist. Teaneck resident Carol Campione serves as producer. Eva Piccioni, also of Teaneck, is stage manager.
Barbara Liebgott and Ed Gross
Read what the Record has to say: 
John van Druten’s “Bell, Book and Candle” will be presented by Teaneck New Theatre (TNT) as the second presentation of its 23rd season. Leonia resident Peter Colletto directs. The romantic comedy takes the stage May 8-17 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church at 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 3:00 p.m. on Sundays. St. Mark’s is at 118 Chadwick Road in Teaneck, one block from Cedar Lane, near Holy Name Hospital.
“Bell, Book and Candle” is a delightful, witty comedy about the travails of Gillian Holroyd, a captivating young New Yorker who uses special methods to enchant. She is, in fact, a witch. Gillian unleashes her powers on Shep Henderson, an attractive bachelor living upstairs. Not only does she find him appealing, she’s also determined to stop his marriage to her old rival. Attempting to help (or hinder) this endeavor are Gillian’s charming younger brother Nicky, a mischievous warlock; her unconventional aunt Queenie, a not-very-competent witch; and Sidney Redlitch, an inebriated writer. Witches can’t cry or blush, but can they fall in love? And if they can, do they lose their powers? Gillian’s hope is that her wiles as a witch, or as a woman, will overcome such obstacles.
Unsuspecting Shep is played by West New York resident Jason Rivera, who recently appeared in TNT’s production of “Love Letters.” Stage credits elsewhere include Malvolio in “Twelfth Night,” Tilden in “Buried Child,” and Andrei in “The Three Sisters.”
Unpredictable Nicky is Jamian Nace, a resident of Little Ferry. Recent roles include Duke Orsino in “Twelfth Night” and Tom in “The Glass Menagerie.” Jamian, who’s also a playwright, will have a staged reading of his play “Alice and the Angels” in June.
Impulsive Queenie is Carol Campione of Teaneck. Previous TNT roles include Kate in ”All My Sons,” Helga in “Night Watch,” Miriam in “Beau Jest,” and Veta Simmons in “Harvey.” Appearances elsewhere: Kate in “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and Lily in “Ah, Wilderness.”
Intoxicated author Sidney Redlitch is Maplewood resident Allen Roberts, who has appeared with Genesis Theatre in Paterson as the Crisco Oil patron in “The Ritz,” and as a comic waiter and Richard Nixon in “Scapino.” Allen has also performed at “StandUp NY.”
Director Peter Colletto has been active in community, educational and professional theatre for over 30 years. Recent directing credits include “Lend Me a Tenor,” “Fuddy Meers,” “The Odd Couple” and “Table Manners,” all for The Bergen County Players.
Maywood resident Neil Kahn and Paterson resident Andy Rodriguez co-produce “Bell, Book and Candle,” which is staged managed by Eva Piccioni of Teaneck.
Tickets for "Bell, Book and Candle" are $12; $10 for students and seniors; and $8 for theatre parties of 10 or more. Audience members who bring a non-perishable food item (not exceeding its expiration date) as a donation to St. Mark’s food basket will receive a $1.00 reduction in the price of their ticket.
For reservations and information, call TNT at (201) 692-0200 or click here
for credit card ticket purchases through Theatermania (212 352-3101 or 1-866 811-4111).
Coming next from TNT: "Jerry’s Girls," a musical revue featuring the hit songs of Broadway composer/lyricist Jerry Herman, at The Hackensack Cultural Arts Center in August.
Teaneck New Theatre (TNT), in association with The Hackensack Cultural Arts Center (HCAC), presents “Jerry’s Girls” the third production of its 23rd season. Marilyn Schilkie of Teaneck directs the musical revue featuring the songs of Broadway composer/lyricist Jerry Herman. Passaic resident Stephen Banyra serves as musical director and Carrie Nagy of Clifton is choreographer. “Jerry’s Girls” takes to the boards from August 7-16 at HCAC, 39 Broadway, Hackensack. Show times are 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3:00 p.m. on Sundays.
Jerry Herman won a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre this past June, and has also been honored with Tonys for Hello, Dolly! and La Cage Aux Folles. The Broadway production of “Jerry’s Girls”, conceived by Larry Alford, Wayne Cilento and Jerry Herman, was cited by The New York Times as “a brilliantly lively and scintillating evening of cabaret.” Herman’s musical theatre output also includes “Mame,” “Milk and Honey,” “Mack and Mabel,” and “A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine.”
Among the highlights of “Jerry’s Girls” are the musical numbers “We Need A Little Christmas,” “I Won’t Send Roses,” “Bosom Buddies,” “Before The Parade Passes By,” “Hello Dolly,” “It Only Takes A Moment,” “I Am What I Am,” and “Mame.”
Bringing these hit songs to life are, in alphabetical order, Secaucus resident Elaine Enright; Beatriz Esteban-Messina of Union City; Lisa Garrabrant, a Little Falls resident; Fran Leonardis of Ringwood; Carrie Nagy (who doubles as choreographer), Vanessa Rappa of New Milford; Alina Randazzo, a resident of Emerson; and Marilyn Schilkie (doing double duty as director). Serving as producer is Chris Sienkiewicz of Rutherford, and stage-managing the production is Candice Gibson of Montclair.
For reservations and information, call TNT at (201) 692-0200. Visit TNT’s web site at www.go-tnt.org for directions to the theatre and for online credit card ticket purchases through Theatermania (212 352-3101 or 1-866 811-4111).
TEANECK NEW THEATRE PRESENTS
“MORNING’S AT SEVEN”
Teaneck New Theatre (TNT)—in association with The Hackensack Cultural Arts Center (HCAC)—will stage "Morning’s At Seven," Paul Osborn’s comedy about family relationships. Tenafly resident Frances Simon of Tenafly directs "Morning’s At Seven," the fourth offering of TNT’s 23rd season. The production takes the stage from October 30-November 15 at HCAC, 39 Broadway, Hackensack. Curtain times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m.
"Morning’s At Seven" has charmed audiences ever since its debut in 1937. Two successful, all-star revivals —one in 1980 and another in 2002—played on Broadway to high praise, Tony nominations and awards. This delightful comedy is the tale of four small-town sisters and their families. Aary, the unmarried sister, has a secret she’s on the verge of revealing. Aary lives with sister Cora, who also has something up her sleeve, and Cora’s husband Thor, who tries to keep things on an even keel. Living next door are sister Ida, who worries about her husband Carl’s “spells,” and Homer, their 40-year-old son. After a 12-year courtship, Homer is about to introduce the family to his fiancée Myrtle, but remains undecided about marrying her. Esty, the fourth sister, can’t bring herself to stand up to her husband David, who considers himself superior to Esty’s family. And that’s just for starters.
Esty is Ridgewood’s Marjory Lewis, who appeared with TNT as Titania/Hippolyta in "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," and with Bergen County Players in "The Women" and "Lend Me a Tenor." She has also sung lead roles with the Ridgewood Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Co. Esty’s husband David is Elliott Pollack of Teaneck, who has worked in community theatre, university theatre and summer stock in plays ranging from "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest," to "Come Blow Your Horn" and "Follies."
Ida is played by Brenda Sherman, a Bergenfield resident making her TNT debut. Brenda previously appeared in the Belles & Beaux Players murder mysteries. Ida’s husband Carl is Ray Parker of N. Arlington, who debuted with TNT in "War of the Worlds." He has also performed in improvisational theatre and church plays.
Homer is Westwood resident Thomas Scott Roberts in his second go-around as Homer. Thom previously played the role with Ridgewood’s Hillside Players, where he also was Peter in "The Diary of Anne Frank," Charlie in "The Foreigner" and, most recently, John Brown in "John Brown’s Body." Homer’s fiancée Myrtle is portrayed by Edgewater’s Doreen Danue, who has performed with TNT in a radio episode of "The Great Gildersleeve" and in the stage production of "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead."
Serving as producer is Andy Rodriguez of Paterson. The set designer is N. Haledon resident Patt Tanner. The production’s stage manager is Delaney Gibson of Teaneck.
Tickets for Morning’s At Seven are $15; $12 for students and seniors; and $10 for theatre parties of 10 or more. For reservations and information, call TNT at (201) 692-0200. For online credit card ticket purchases through Theatermania (212 352-3101 or 1-866 811-4111).
Serving as producer is Andy
Rodriguez of Paterson. The set designer is N. Haledon resident Patt
Tanner.
For reservations and information, call TNT at (201) 692-0200. Directions
Hackensack Cultural Arts Center
39 Broadway,Hackensack
November 11, 2009
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20
Teaneck New Theatre (TNT) caps its 23rd season with a broadcast of the pilot episode of "Father Knows Best", the radio show that was forerunner to the long-running television series of the same name. Conceived and written by Ed James, the show originally aired December 20, 1948. TNT’s version of that episode will air Sunday, December 6, from 8:00 a.m.-8:30 a.m., on the Fairleigh Dickinson University radio station WFDU (89.1) http://www.wfdu.fm).
The TNT re-creation is directed by Ed Gross of Teaneck and produced by Hackensack resident Jeffrey Muller. "Father Knows Best" is TNT’s fourth annual airing of old-time radio shows on WFDU. The project took off with an episode of "Suspense", and continued with "The Great Gildersleeve" and a second "Suspense" episode.
The "Father Knows Best" pilot begins with a seemingly ordinary breakfast for the Hendersons (the Andersons in the TV series) that turns into a family crisis when 17-year-old Betty announces she’s getting married…at the end of the week. Instead of forbidding the marriage, father Jim decides to try psychology. His well-thought-out plan runs into unforeseen difficulties, however, when Betty’s boyfriend and his parents come to dinner.
TNT’s rebroadcasts are a pet project of Jeffrey Muller, longtime TNT member, devotee of old-time radio and producer of all four broadcasts. “I really like this year’s show for two reasons,” says Jeffrey. “The first is that not many folks realize "Father Knows Best" started out as a radio show years before it became an iconic television program. The second is that this episode actually was an audition show or, as we call it now, the pilot.”
Playing the Henderson family are Oakland resident David Cooper as Jim, Teaneck resident Diana Gross as Margaret, Ramsey resident Danielle Van Kampen as Betty, Lodi resident Frank Borrelli as Bud and Glen Rock resident Nikki Rosengren as Kathy. Cast as the visiting Smith family are Andy Rodriguez of Paterson as Hector, June Mandeville of Teaneck as Elizabeth and Paul Raptopoulos of New Milford as son Billy. The announcer is Lodi resident Brian Wood.
TNT’s 2010 onstage season kicks off in February with the romantic comedy "Mary, Mary" by Jean Kerr (author of "Please Don’t Eat the Daisies"). For more information call (201) 692-0200.