For Immediate Release
Contact: Bill Scurato
Country Gate Players
114 Greenwich Street
Belvidere, New Jersey 07823
(908) 475-1104
email: info@countrygate.org

Steel Magnolias At Country Gate

The joys and struggles of six strong women will be celebrated when the Country Gate Playhouse presents Robert Harling's Steel Magnolias September 11, 18, and 25, at 8:00 p.m., as well as, September 26, at 2:00 p.m. The show will be staged at the Country Gate Playhouse, 114 Greenwich Street, Belvidere, New Jersey.
According to director Gina Scurato, of Harmony Township, "This play features six extraordinary women who are sensitive and tough in facing the worst that the world can subject them to. They maintain a positive attitude based on a love for each other and deep understanding."
The action is set in Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle played by Juliet Dunham of Pocono Pines, the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy (Rosemary Kumma, of Phillipsburg) dispenses shampoos and free advice. Truvy’s regular customers include; Ouiser, the town's rich curmudgeon, played by Debbie Lockwood, of Hackettstown ("I'm not crazy, I've just been in a bad mood for forty years"); Clairee, an eccentric millionaire portrayed by Brenda Kull of Oxford; and local social leader, M’Lynn, played by JoAnn Mazza, of Stroudsburg. The play focuses on the wedding of M’Lynn’s daughter, Shelby, portrayed by Chelsea Scurato of Phillipsburg. "The depth of the women will be depicted in the play," said Gina Scurato, "Everything will occur in the beauty shop. There aren't any outside elements to take away from the women and how they deal with situations."
All seats are reserved at $15 and are available by calling (908) 475-1104. Further information may be obtained by logging onto www.countrygate.org

Country Gate To Offer Annie Get Your Gun as Season Finale

Country Gate Players will bring down the curtain on its 32nd theatrical season with its production of the family musical, Annie Get Your Gun. The show will open November 13, at 8:00 p.m. at the Country Gate Playhouse, 114 Greenwich Street, Belvidere, New Jersey. Additional performances will be staged November 20 and 27 at 8:00 p.m., as well as, November 28, at 2:00 p.m.

Annie Get Your Gun , with music by Irving Berlin, and book by Herbert and Dorothy Fields, was originally produced on Broadway in 1949, as a star vehicle for the Ethel Merman. The familiar score includes such American standards as “It’s Wonderful”, “Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better”, and “There’s No Business Like Show Business.”

The Country Gate production features an exceptional cast of experienced performers. The show tells story of Annie Oakley, a backwoods, wise cracking sharp shooter, who i s discovered by the great “Buffalo” Bill Cody, to star in his Wild West Show. In the tile role at Country Gate, is Gina Scurato of Harmony Township. Ms. Scurato was most recently seen as the Narrator in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The role of the legendary Buffalo Bill Cody, will be played by Country Gate’s own legend, Sal Marchello, of White Township. Marchello is an original member of Country Gate, having appeared in its first production in 1972. Annie Oakley’s chief competitor in the sharp-shooting competition, also becomes her love interest. Frank Butler, will be portrayed by accomplished performer, Craig Evans, of Blairstown. Evans is the drama director at Blair Academy, and is making his first appearance at Country Gate since 2002.

Other principal players in the Country Gate production include: Vinny Foti, of Stewartsville, as show manager Charlie Davenport; Heather LaPointe, of Belvidere, as Annie’s rival, Dolly Tate; and Steve Matuszek, of Great Meadows, as the great Chief Sitting Bull. Annie’s younger siblings, Nellie, Jessie, Minnie, and Jake are played with energy and enthusiasm by Marisa Delmore, of Pen Argyl, Ali Dickison, of East Stroudsburg, Jenna Tshudy, of Belvidere, and Erica Riley, of Belvidere.

Other cast members include local performers Dan Wilkerson, Shauna Cutrone, Deb Jacoby, Gwenn O’Donnell, Jennifer Santos, Mike Benton, Marilou Tshudy, Meredith Wilkerson, Carolyn Wilkerson, and Whitney Beam.

The show is under the direction of Bill Scurato of Harmony Township, with musical direction by Tierney Jory of Bangor.

All seats for Annie Get Your Gun, are reserved at $15. Group rates are available. Further information may be obtained by calling: (908) 475-1104 or by logging onto www.countrygate.org