Bill's Theatre Teacher Homepage
Welcome to Bill Scurato's Theatre Teacher
Homepage.
I was lucky enough to be a theatre teacher from about 1985 until 1999 in the
Warren Hills Regional school system, in Washington, New Jersey.
I began my career in education as a speech correctionist for Warren County elementary school kids in 1970.
As a New Jersey pilot program, our Child Study Team provided services to Washington Borough, Franklin Township,
Mansfield Township, and Oxford Township. Later, (1976) I also added Lopatcong Township. In the early eighties I
had the opportunity to shift direction a bit. I split my day between speech correction and junior high
English/social studies. This work was done at Warren Hills Regional Junior High School. When, the
regional district proposed a new “theatre arts” course, I was approached as the potential instructor.
I eagerly accepted, and transferred to the high school the following year.
As a theatre teacher, I also directed the high school drama club, introduced a middle school theatre course,
and eventually became the supervisor for the district’s fine arts department.
In 1999, I assumed my current duties as the district’s director of curriculum and instruction.
In this role I oversee department supervisors as they revise content curricula,
oversee new teacher orientation, facilitate professional development of staff. I also helped to research,
select, and implement our high school’s rotational schedule. It’s all been fun. The only down side in
the last few years, is the essential absence of interaction with students. I do miss that.
During my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many great kids. Hopefully, I’ll be able to continue
in this role for at least a few more years. It seems that there is always something new to do.
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My late wife, Carolyn
Scurato, was also a teacher of theatre arts at the
Warren County School of the Arts at the Warren County
Technical School. She was a wonderful, dedicated teacher,
who was sincerely interested in the success of her students.
She believed that education in the arts was a powerful tool
in the nurturing of the human spirit. She is terribly
missed.
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Together we founded
the Country Gate Playhouse
in Belvidere, New Jersey, a non-profit, community theatre serving the
area since 1972, and providing a wide range of offerings, from
a mainstage season of plays and musicals to youth oriented acting workshops,
to murder mystery dinner theatre productions. With the exception of our children,
Country Gate was our proudest
accomplishment. It is made up of a wonderful group of committed
people, who work hard to bring a positive element to life in our
community. Incidentally, one of our alums has made it to the big time.
Jimmi Simpson, whose mom,
Mary, was one of our early members,
played Rolf in the Sound of Music, Hinkley in Assassins, and
Dickon in The Secret Garden, among others.
Congrats to Jimmi and his family.
" You've got to be very careful if
you don't know where you're going....'cause you might not get
there"------Yogi
Berra (1925- )
Jill's
Abode is my sister's home page. It's very creative with cool
music and poetry links....and lots more.
My
father's website recalls his service as a young man to the CCC's
during FDR's New Deal.
-------- Other pages of interest to me and maybe you are:
Sondheim.com
“putting it together since 1994”.
Aisle Say is an
ezine full of news, reviews and opinion on
everything theatrical
An electronic version of the famous program/magazine
distributed at Broadway shows is found at
Playbill Online.
Other useful theatre links are:
Samuel French,
Music Theatre International,
Drama Book Shop
New Jersey Online
provides useful state and local news for residents of the Garden
State.
A panorama of bureaucracy can be found at the
New Jersey Department of
Education. My current professional role finds me spending a lot of time on this site.
PNC Bank It's mine you
know...a necessary evil. Also
Tri-co
West Liberty State
College is my alma mater. I graduated in 1970 and have always
felt I received a fine education in both theatre and professional
education. You don't always have to go to a big name school to get
what you want out of life. Go Hilltoppers!
Juniata College
Thomas Edison State
College
Warren Hills Mail
Server, is where I check my school email.
ProLog Mail
Yahoo Mail
Here are some other spots I visit sometimes:
The Internet Movie Database
The Sopranos
Independant Film Channel
Regal Cinema
Food TV
MassBackwards
Bravo TV
Sundance TV
WDVR FM
Turner
Classic Movies
WLVT TV
NJN TV
WNTI Radio
WNYC...home of Jonathon
Schwartz
WFAN..the fan, New York sports.
WDIY FM....Lehigh Valley Public Radio
MSG Network....Madison
Square Garden Sports TV
The New York Times....where
it all fits
YES Network...home of the Yankees
XM RadioAlthough I spent considerable time
working in local radio during the eighties
(WSRR),
I'm not very fond of what it's become. Satellite radio is now about the only place to find a variety of
music programming.
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News Askew is
the site that keeps me up to date on all the latest news
about Kevin Smith. I only discovered his work when I saw his
film, Dogma. I loved it and have since seen the rest
of his films (Clerks, Mallrats, and Chasing
Amy.)
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back! was a bit disappointing. Smith is a
gifted writer who usually speaks to a meaningful theme. I'm looking forward to Jersey Girl
in '04. Hopefully, it'll get him back on track.
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I've gotten back into baseball in the last few years. As a kid, I
cheered for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Now I'm basically a
Yankees fan, but I also really
admire the Mets. I know you're not
supposed to like both teams, but I cant help myself.
And for the heck of it......
Yuengling,
America's oldest brewery
.we’ve taken several pilgrimages to the Pottsville, PA plant.
ESPN
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Please feel free to E-mail me with any
comments or suggestions. Just click here:
ascurato@ptd.net
site last updated: 7 Mar. 2004