FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Peter Caust, 201-615-0404
BERGEN COUNTY PLAYERS PRESENT NEIL SIMON’S “CHAPTER TWO”
Oradell, NJ, April 24, 2017 – Neil Simon returns to Oradell as the Bergen County Players close the mainstage portion of their 2016-2017 season with his semi-autobiographical comedy, the Tony Award-nominated “Chapter Two”. Under veteran BCP director Jerry Pettinati, the play starts its run on Saturday, May 6, ending on Saturday, June 4. The curtain goes up for Friday and Saturday performances at 8 pm, with Sunday matinees at 2 pm. There will be no performances on May 14 (Mother’s Day) or May 26-28 (Memorial Day weekend). It will be presented at the Little Firehouse Theatre,
298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell.
Nominated for a Tony Award as Best Play, “Chapter Two” is Neil Simon’s semi-autobiographical play about the coping of a recently widowed writer, George Schneider (Howell Mayer of Saddle Brook), who is introduced by his press agent brother (Seth Kaplan of River Vale) to soap opera actress Jennie Malone (Sandi Higgins of Westwood). Jennie’s marriage to a football player has dissolved after six years. Both are uncertain of themselves as ready to start dating and developing a new romance when the breakup is so soon and George has recurring memories of his deceased wife, Barbara. In a hilarious, farcical subplot, Leo has a fling with Faye (Pauline Quinones of Elmsford, NY), Jennie’s neurotic married friend. “Lovely whimsical and touching and always funny [….] most of the time downright hilarious.” – New York Post
Director Jerry Pettinati of Fair Lawn, whose past BCP directing credits include “Death of a Salesman”, “Sideman”, “Bus Stop” and “Bell, Book and Candle”, along with such Neil Simon staples as “The Odd Couple”, “Rumors” and “I Ought to Be in Pictures”, noted how “Chapter Two marks a real blending of both drama and comedy, as Simon in his inimitable way addresses the history of his own life and his relationship with his then-wife, Marsha Mason”.
The production team, besides Director Pettinati, includes David Luke of Mahwah (Producer), Cliff Dreispan of North Bergen (Assistant to the Director), Michael Smith of Oradell (Set Design/Construction, Photography), Rhea Smith of Oradell (Décor), Michele Roth of New Milford (Stage Manager), Gerard Boucier of Hillsdale (Lighting Design), Tim Larsen of Hackensack (Sound Design), Terri Caust of Glen Rock (Costumer), Elaine D’Addezio of New Providence (Dresser and Hair), Elissa Hickey of Oradell (Makeup), Rich Ciero of Oradell and Susan Faccone of Paramus (Props), Kathleen Ruland of Lodi (Lighting Operation), Anthony Ventola of Oradell (Sound Operation), Peter Caust of Glen Rock (Publicity), Marci K. Weinstein (Program Notes) and Debbie Zika of Hillsdale (Member-at-Large).
TICKET AND SCHEDULE INFORMATION
The Bergen County Players has grown tremendously from its roots as a small community theatre when it was founded in 1932; today, more than 300 volunteer members, working on and off stage, make possible the nine productions presented each season.
Further information can be found at www.bcplayers.org.