Nick was an actor, director and playwright from Somerset who was active for years in Central Jersey community theater, behind productions like "Dancing at Lughnasa" and "The Who's Tommy" at Villagers Theatre, and shows like "Greetings" and "Hair" at Somerset Valley Players, as well as many others.
Nick had a knack for taking shows like "Chess" that had received middling reviews elsewhere, and impressing audiences and critics alike with his own take on them. He "got" the stage in a way that other people don't; in the time I reviewed community theater for the former Forbes Newspapers group, Nick Pelino's name was one of two I came to not just associate but equate with quality. (The other was Rich Baker.)
Pelino died earlier this year, in February. I am honored -- deeply honored, and thrilled -- to take part in a celebration of his life and work this Thursday at Villagers Theatre, on what would have been his 50th birthday.
The event includes a tribute in music, followed by a staged reading of his final play, "Remembering Sharon." The play -- I'll be joining eight other actors in the reading, including my oldest daughter -- is a tribute to a childhood friend of Nick's who was murdered at the age of 16. Sharon Thor's murder remains unsolved.
Admission to the tribute is free; donations and proceeds of a 50-50 will benefit the Villagers Theatre Nick Pelino Jr., Memorial Fund. A wine-and-cheese reception begins at 5:30, with the show starting promptly at 7 p.m.
For reservations, contact John Graf Jr. at (908) 285-8965, or online at ministerman@verizon.net.
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