The Women, an old-fashioned "modern" comedy of manners and Clare Boothe Luce's second play, opened on Broadway in 1936 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre with an all-female cast that included Arlene Francis, Marjorie Main and Doris Day. It was a satire on the idleness of wealthy wives and divorcees. This prequel to "Desperate Housewives" is filled with 40 women in all their assorted roles and problems dealing with life and men.
The cast includes women from various geographic locations. The Pocono area residents Mary Cassidy, Emily Brands, JoAnn Mazza, and Kim Lyons. Phillipsburg is represented by Lesley Peters, and Tammy Yale. Hackettstown residents include Heather Stromberg, Debbie Lockwood, and Karri Siena-Reyes. Hailing from the Belvidere area are Cindi Halkola, Claudia Casser, and Renae Buckenmyer. The Leheigh Valley is represented by Dawn Weiss, Liz Korp, Ann Moyer, Stephanie Wargin, Deb Jacoby, and Beth Crivellaro. Rounding out the cast are Slate Belt residents Chelsea Scurato, Marisa Delmore, Jessica Cooper, Melissa Molinari, Tierney Jory, and Linda Benton. The show is under the direction of Gina Scurato of Harmony Township.
All seats are $15. with group rates available. Further information and reservations are available by calling (908) 475-1104 or by logging onto the theatre website at www.countrygate.org
Noted American soprano Amy Shoremount-Obra will present a special benefit concert at the Country Gate Playhouse on June 24, 2006, at 8:00 P.M., to benefit the theatre's marquee restoration program. The Playhouse is located at 114 Greenwich Street, Belvidere, New Jersey.
Ms. Shoremount-Obra will perform what she describes as a classical recital with a twist. The evening will include the music of Bizet, Debussy, Strauss, Donizetti, Rossini, Bachelet and Bellini, mixed with some Bernstein and other non-traditional surprises. Works will be performed in English, Italian, German and French. Audience members need not be multi-lingual or have any knowledge of classical music to appreciate the performance! This recital promises not to disappoint the avid theatre-goer! A student of Marlena Malas, Ms. Shoremount-Obra has earned her Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees from Manhattan School of Music, and her Artist Diploma from The Juilliard School, as a member of the Juilliard Opera Center.
Ms. Shoremount-Obra has appeared in recital and concert on the stages of Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall, at The Riverside Church (NYC), The Sheldon (St. Louis, MO), Manhattan School of Music, and The Juilliard School. She has also performed in recital and made many other appearances at music festivals in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Delaware, Wisconsin and in Italy.
On the operatic stage, Ms. Shoremount-Obra has worked with such conductors as Daniel Beckwith, Yves Abel, James De Preist, and David Gilbert, and such directors as Robin Guarino, Dona Vaughn, Ned Canty and Lillian Groag. Ms. Shoremount-Obra has appeared as Le Feu and Le Rossignol (L'Enfant et les Sortilèges); Le Rossignol (Le Rossignol); Fiordiligi (Cosi fan tutte); Frasquita (Carmen); Konstanze (Die Entführung aus dem Serail); Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte); Jenny (NY Premiere of Robert Ward's Roman Fever) and Ifigenia (Händel's Oreste), with such companies as Opera Theater of St. Louis, Juilliard Opera Center, and Manhattan School of Music Opera Theater. Ms. Shoremount-Obra recently reprised the role of Ifigenia (Oreste), when she made her 2004 European Operatic Debut at the Spoleto Festival, Italy. Ms. Shoremount-Obra is featured on two Operatic World-Premiere Recordings on Albany Records; as Jenny on the recording of Robert Ward's Roman Fever, and as Nina in Thomas Pasatieri's The Seagull.
Highlights of Ms. Shoremount-Obra's most recent performances include her Carnegie Hall Debut as the Soprano Soloist in Brahms' Ein Deutches Requiem, with the Juilliard Orchestra and under the baton of Maestro James DePreist. 2006 began with a three week Artist-In-Residency at Lawrence Conservatory, Wisconsin, where Ms. Shoremount-Obra performed The Queen of the Night in a production of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte and also performed a joint recital with Tenor Steven Spears. In April, Ms. Shoremount-Obra collaborated with Pianist Melody Fader, performing Mozart Lieder at a performance of the New Chamber Ballet, NYC.
A native of Mansfield Township, Ms. Shoremount-Obra appeared in many Country Gate productions during her formative years. Country Gate director Gina Scurato is eagerly anticipating the upcoming concert. "Amy is wonderful" said Scurato, "She's a consummate performer and it's a thrill to have her back on our stage."
Ms. Shoremount-Obra will be accompanied by internationally known collaborative pianist, David Maiullo. Mr. Maiullo has performed at Carnegie, Avery Fisher, Alice Tully and Merkin concert halls; his repertoire includes choral music, musical theatre, art song, instrumental literature and opera.
The theatre will utilize open seating for the benefit concert, with all tickets priced at $10. Further information and reservations are available by calling (908) 475-1104 or by logging onto the theatre website at www.countrygate.org
This highly successful musical is based on the 1984 movie of the same name. It tells the story of a big city kid who moves to a small conservative town where rock music and dancing are frowned upon. The hero of the story rallies the kids and takes on the town's establishment. Songs from the energetic score include: Let's Hear It For The Boy, Holding Out for a Hero, and of course, Footloose.
Footloose requires universal proficiencies in acting, singing, and dancing. Fortunately, Country Gate has managed to assemble a talented ensemble of performers from throughout the tri-state area. They include the following: Stacy Higgins, Rachel Acevedo, Sarah Linklater of Washington; Renae Buckenmyer, of Columbia; Matt Christie, of Tobyhanna; Jessica Attinello, Valerie Kumma, Vic Kumma, Natalie Kumma, Rosemary Kumma, Roy Bjellquist, Tammy Yale, Zachary Yale, and Terese Yale, of Phillipsburg; Judy Perry of Milford; Lauren Santarelli of Hackettstown; Mike Benton of Allentown; and Katherine Perry of Long Valley. Also among the cast are Becky Lieberman, Marisa Delmore, Dianne Duignam, and Marissa Duignam of Pen Argyl, as well as, Maria Stein, Deb Jacoby, Tyler Ringland, Liz Korp, Tom Korp, Molly Gallagher, Stephanie Wargin, and Eamon Kinsman, all of Easton. Emily Brands, Sarah Nagy, and Melissa Molinari from Bangor. Rounding out the cast are our Belvidere residents who include Jenny Tammera, Nicole Palmasano, Hannah Riley, Carolyn Wilkerson, Dan Wilkerson, David Holzwarth, Jenna Tshudy, and Meghan Farley.
The show is under the direction of Gina Scurato of Harmony Township, with musical direction by Tierny Jory, of Bangor. The aforementioned Ms Higgins serves as choreographer.
All seats are $15. with group rates available. Further information is available by calling (908) 475-1104 or by logging onto the theatre website at www.countrygate.org
Dracula is one of the great mystery thrillers and is generally considered among the best of its kind. Lucy Seward, whose father is the doctor in charge of an English sanitarium has been attacked by some mysterious illness. Dr. Van Helsing, a specialist, believes that the girl is the victim of a vampire, a sort of ghost that goes about at night sucking blood from its victims. The vampire is at last found to be a certain Count Dracula. The play is intended for all who love thrills in the theater.
The talented cast includes Jessica Attinello, Eamon Kinsman, Kelvin Godshawk, and Gary Crivellaro, all from Easton. Juliet Dunham and Dave Martin join the cast from the Stroudsburg Area. Phillipsburg is represented by Gary Boyer, Roy Bjellquist, and Vinny Foti. Also in the cast are Brenda Kull from Oxford, Becky Lieberman from Martin's Creek, Nancy Zrake from Asbury, Don Zirilli and Colleen Russell, from Andover, and finally, Laura Sassano from Dover. The show is under the direction of Gina Scurato of Harmony Township.
All seats are $15. with group rates available. Further information and reservations are available by calling (908) 475-1104 or by logging onto the theatre website at www.countrygate.org