Casting Call: 'W.A.S.P' (staged reading)

Villagers Theatre is seeking a cast for a staged reading of the next play in its ongoing New Playwrights Series.

The show, "W.A.S.P.," is scheduled for a reading at 8 p.m. May 16 at the theater. Written by Zanne Hall and directed by Joey Palazzo, the show dramatizes the experiences of women who trained with the Women Airforce Service Pilots in Sweetwater, Texas, in 1944. Pilots with the W.A.S.P. program were faced with personal and professional conflict, and had to confront military and societal prejudice that believed the U.S. Air Force was a man's world where women did not belong.

Pilots from the program received the Congressional Gold Medal from Congress in 2010 in recognition of their WWII flying service. Interested actors should send head shots and resumes to NewPlaywrightseries@gmail.com

CAST OF CHARACTERS

JACKIE WIGHTMAN – 20s.	As a Floridian foster child (slight Southern accent) she had a difficult life in her early poor beginnings but found that a passion for flying made her life purposeful. She is an ace pilot and loves military life. She is a cocky wiseacre but can be an empathetic person because of her own hard-knock life. A deceased mother, a father who vanished soon after her brother was born, she hopes to reunite with her sibling.
DESIREE PATRICIA POST – 20s.	A member of the wealthy Post Cereals family, she and her husband owned a flight school before the war. She is a troublemaking snitch who has connections with the military brass because of her elite background. She is indifferent to anything but herself and thinks she is an ace pilot.
TSUN-YAN (SUNNY) CHUN - 20s.	(Chinese) Very upbeat, funny, always with a wisecrack that hits the point. Very self-assured and comfortable with herself in any situation. A hot pilot who was the first woman to fly solo across the U.S. north to south.
TERRY MITCHELL – 20s.	The naïve greenhorn of the group. Sweet and shy at first but a plucky, determined individual with a youthful passion for flying. She comes from a protective family who sent her away to Ohio State University to study pharmacy. She discreetly spent the surplus money they sent her for charm school on flying lessons. During W.A.S.P. training she becomes secretly married to a flight surgeon – military suicide if discovered.
INEZ (WHISKY) SANCHEZ - 20s.	(Argentinean) Her farming family moved to Wisconsin when she was a child just after the Peron power takeover. A soft-spoken, sensitive, commonsense woman with an understanding ear. JACKIE‘s confidant. She hopes to combine her love of flying with missionary work after WWII.
ALICE (ZIGGY) NEGLEY - 20s.	A smart-cracking tall beautiful New York Ziegfeld Follies gal who felt the call to help her country in a unique way. A producer‘s son who owned his own plane took her on flying trips where she fell head-over-heels in love with piloting (but not him). With a tough-as-nails exterior but a soft exterior, she thinks she can take care of herself until she gets into problems over her head, like an unwanted pregnancy.
BEATRICE (FRANKIE) WILKENS – 20s.	A devotee of Frank Sinatra. She is a daredevil trickster who has a sporting way about her. She is a good pilot but takes too many chances that eventually place her as a pawn in the military‘s game of elimination.

Military Nurse (doubled)
Military Orderly (doubled)


The goal of the Villagers New Playwrights Series is to provide playwrights with an opportunity to glimpse the performance potential of their works in progress. Additional goals are to provide alternative performance opportunities for our local actors and directors and to expose our local audiences to new works. All submissions will be considered for their potential to fulfill these goals.

Due to the fact that Villagers programs are supported, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council of the Arts/ Department of State (a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and administered by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission through the State/County Partnership Local Arts Program), preference will be given to New Jersey resident playwrights. - See more at: http://www.villagerstheatre.com/viewproductions/new-playwrights-series/#sthash.pGLBrNpz.dpuf

'A Kiss and Then Fade to Black' at Villagers Theatre

Villagers Theatre will begin this year's New Playwrights Series, a series of staged readings lasting March through June, with "A Kiss and then Fade to Black" by Jennifer Lubach this evening.

What happens when your body desires what your the mind doesn’t want it to consider? In this play, set in the dressing room of a community theater production, a 45-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man are both seeking resolutions to problems of the heart. The older woman is experiencing the first attraction she has ever had for a man younger than herself; the younger man has a crush on his best friend's girlfriend. The body and the mind of each have a face-to-face battle of wills.

The goal of the Villagers New Playwrights Series is to provide playwrights with an opportunity to glimpse the performance potential of their works in progress. Additional goals are to provide alternative performance opportunities for our local actors and directors and to expose our local audiences to new works.

The staged reading will begin at 8 p.m. this evening, March 14. Admission is free.

The staged readings will be held the third Monday of each month from now through June. The next staged reading, "Midcentury Modern" by Hal Corley, will take place April 18.

Villagers Theatre is located at 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset.

'Glengarry Glen Ross' All Female Reading at Circle Players

Circle Players will hold an all female reading of "Glengarry Glen Ross."


No reservations are required. Admission is $5 at the door. The reading will take place at 8 p.m. on June 28. Latecomers will not be seated.

Winner of the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, "Glengarry Glen Ross" is perhaps the most commonly done play of David Mamet's, with two runs on Broadway and a film adaptation. The show follows small-time, cutthroat real estate salesmen trying to grind out a living by pushing plots on reluctant buyers jn a never-ending scramble for their fair share of the American dream.

The reading will feature Cody Dalton as Levene, Alicia Harabin as Williamson, Faith Dowgin as Moss, Lisa Sudfield as Aaronow, Jessica Sherman as Roma, Kristen Umansky as Lingk, and Heidi Hart as Baylen.

'The Biography of Margaret Dawson' at Villagers Theatre

Villagers Theatre presents a staged reading of Marv Siegel "The Biography of Margaret Dawson."

The reading will take place at 7:30 p.m. on May 11 at the theater. Admission is free.

Aging movie star Margaret Dawson has agreed to allow her biography to be filmed. She has requested a private meeting with the young starlet Jennifer who has been cast to play her as a teenager. When they meet, sparks fly, secrets are revealed and the two are profoundly changed by the experience.

The show is directed by Nina Marti and stars Donne Petito and Rainni Moran.

'You Make My Frame Shake!' at Villagers Theatre

Villagers Theatre will hold a staged reading of Luigi Jannuzzi's new play "You Make My Frame Shake!"

The reading will take place at 7:30 p.m. on April 13. Admission is free.

Watch the paintings, artists, and statues of the Metropolitan Museum of Art come to life in this wild collection of romantic comedy vignettes.

The reading is the third of four readings in the theater's New Playwrights Series, the last of which will be Marv Siegel's "The Biography of Margaret Dawson," which will be done this May.


It is directed by Stephen Hirsekorn and stars Mary Lawrence, Lydia Durham, Robert Cleary, Christpher W. Hall, Harvey Rothman, and Judy Wilson.

'No Mansfield Slocum' at Villagers Theatre

Villagers Theatre will hold a staged reading of Lennon Perricone's "No Mansfield Slocum."

The reading will take place in the theater's black box at 7:30 p.m. on March 9 only. Admission is free.

 When a bitter personal conflict between the mayor of a small and wealthy eastern city and the CEO of a fortune 500 company leads to a careless acussation, five empowered and accomplised women are drawn into tragic events that change the course of their lives forever.

The show stars Liz Mahon, Eileen Hladky, Lluana Jones, Laurie Hardy, Terianne Shetler, Meghan Coates, and Shiori Ichikawa.

'But I'm Not Complaining' at Villagers Theatre

Villager's Theatre will hold a staged reading of their first piece in their New Playwrights Series, Ann Hirsch's "But I'm Not  Complaining."

The reading will take place at the theater at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 9. Admission is free.

Fenster is a senior citizen who finds herself marginalized as an older adult. She fights depression with caustic wit as she tells her often comic, sometimes tragic story directly to the audience. Fenster meets various characters along the way- a relative who is a want-to-be aristocrat; a little person who's daughter cooks with too much spice; a long-lived gentleman whose life would be fine if he could only find his teeth; and more. The more Fenster reveals of herself, the more we feel for her. Through self searching and observing others, Fenster is, in the end, triumphant.

The reading is directed by Luana Jones, and stars Terrie Copeland, Daniel Pino, and Kristin Clapcich.

New Playwright's Series at Villagers Theatre

Villagers Theatre will hold it's annual New Playwrights Series.

The theatre will present staged readings of new works by unknown playwrights. Admission is free, and all reading take place at 7:30 p.m. andare produced by Lluana Jones.

The series starts on February 9, with a reading of Ann Hirsch's play "But I'm Not Complaining."

On March 9, a reading will be held of M. Lennon Perricone's play "No Manfield Sloclum."

April 13 brings a reading of Luigi Jannuzzi's "You Make My Frame Shake!"

Last of the series, a staged reading of Marv Siegel's play "The Biography of Margaret Dawson" will be held on May 11.

Anyone interested in performing or directing any of the readings, please email NewPlaywrightSeries@gmail.com.

'Macbeth' at Circle Players

Circle Players will present a reading of Shakespeare's "Macbeth."

The reading will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 26. Admission is $5.

The cast features John Dowgin as Macbeth, Faith Dowgin as Lady Macbeth, Ed Faver as Duncan, Thom Boyer as Banquo, Erik Hall as Macduff, Stacie Williamson as Lady Macduff, Laura Lindson as Witch #1, Diane Boyer as Witch #2, Heidi Carter Hart as Witch #3, Christie Leigh Carver as Hecate, Anthony Younes as Malcolm, Andrew Young as Donalbain, Michael Stratton as Ross, and Lewis Decker as other roles.

The reading is directed by Jessica Sherman.

Villagers Theatre is accepting submissions for the New Playwrights Series

The Villagers Theatre in Franklin Township is accepting submissions for the 2015 New Playwrights Series.

Selected plays will be presented as staged readings in the theater's black box at some point from Feb. to May 2015. The selected playwrights are required to attend the readings and to participate in discussions with the audience.

Submissions must be turned in by October 15. Scripts can have no more 20,000 words. All submissions must include the character breakdown and a detailed synopsis or they will not be considered. Please all include the genre of the play, a brief bio, and contact information. Scripts must be original, unpublished works. One act plays will be considered as well as full length ones. The theater is not accepting musicals. No hard copy paper manuscripts will be accepted. Plays with smaller casts and simple sets are preferable, but other plays will be considered as well.

To submit, please send a digital copy of your script to NewPlaywrightSeries@gmail.com.

The goal of the Villagers New Playwrights Series is to provide playwrights with an opportunity to glimpse the performance potential of their works in progress. Additional goals are to provide alternative performance opportunities for our local actors and directors and to expose our local

audiences to new works. All submissions will be considered for their potential to fulfill these goals.

Due to the fact that Villagers programs are supported, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council of the Arts/ Department of State (a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and administered by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission through the State/County Partnership Local Arts Program), preference will be given to New Jersey resident playwrights.

'The Scapegoat' at Villagers Theatre

Villagers Theatre's will be holding a staged reading of Leroy Elliston Barry's "The Scapegoat".

The reading is at 7 p.m. on April 21 only. Admission is free.

“The Scapegoat” is based upon the true story of Captain Charles Butler McVay after the sinking of the USS Indianapolis on July 30, 1945. McVay, with an unblemished and highly decorated 26 year career with the navy, finds himself being blamed for the sinking and is brought to trial with false accusations.

The reading is directed by Danielle Barry with a cast of John Pizzigoni, Larky Barnes, Greg Chornomaz, Jeff Maschi, Carl Leone, Eric Radell, Bill Fricke, Mike Schuller, Fred Halperin, Clinton Ambs, Shane Chandler, Jeff Bassman, and Kopan Pusztai.

Seeking Actors for 'Her Dream, My Nightmare'

Villagers Theatre is seeking actors for a staged reading of "Her Dream, My Nightmare" by Tiffany L. Wilson.

The production is a light commitment. There is only one performance and minimal rehearsal. The performance is on May 19.

The play takes a look at the lives of two couples and how their situations overlap. Bo and Val live together and get along well.  Val's mother passed and Val promised her mother that she would go back to church. When Val gives Bo an ultimatum, marry her or no sex, Bo decides to move out of their apartment. Bo moves in with his friend and business partner Shelby a successful business owner. She is a Lesbian and her girlfriend Tricia is unhappy about the new arrangement. As the plot thickens, religious values, friendship, loyalties and a massive web of secrets and lies intertwine.

Roles are:

Taylor Goodmen	Devout church member. African-American. She was married to a pastor for 8 years.  She lived in New York with her husband. She is a "super Christian" that is actually extremely tormented by guilt.
Valerie Fiona Bell	African-American. Just got "Saved", just joined the church, and has befriended Taylor. Valerie is a Junior High Math teacher. With no kids, she is full of energy, the good girl. She is a good woman to Bo, but has trouble speaking up for herself.
"Bo" Bowen Jonathan Jones	Valerie's boyfriend: Accountant. African-American. Has 3 kids from a marriage  College Graduate.  He has just getting accounting career off the ground.
Clyde Brewing	Professional comedian. African-American. Bo's best friend from elementary school. Has been a comedian all his life. Started writing jokes to make the bullies laugh when he was younger. Graduated as a biology major top of his class. Was over weight all his live but has recently lost a lot of weight.
Shelby Wallace	Lesbian, African-American. Clyde's best friend from college Owns a gym that she is in the process of franchising the Workout Lounge.  Shelby is intelligent and beautiful.
Patricia "Tricia" Walker	An artist, Shelby's Lesbian girlfriend. African-American. A con artist manipulator that has been abused and misused so much that she uses her beauty to take advantage of others. Actress must be able to be sweet, sexy, and hateful.
Pastor George Fathers	Taylor's husband. African-American. He is loving, compassionate, and smart.
Rose	Comic relief, African-American. Val's next door neighbor. She is married and a friend to Val. Rose brings truth from a different perspective into the story.

If you are interested please send you resume and head shot to newplaywrightseries@yahoo.com.