Playwrights Theatre Presents MoM A Rock Concert Musical

Sept. 16, 2010 - PRLog -- **Photos Available**

(Madison, NJ) - Playwrights Theatre is pleased to present the World Premiere of MoM A Rock Concert Musical book, music and lyrcis by Richard Caliban. The production (appropriate for ages 16 and up, adult language and situations) will preview on September 30 and run for four weeks through October 24, 2010 (Press Opening: Friday, October 1 at 8:00pm). The production will be directed by Richard Caliban and features Donna Jean Fogel, Jane Keitel, Bekka Lindström, Dana McCoy and Stefanie Seskin. Single tickets are on sale now $25 for adults, $22.50 for seniors and $15 for students. For tickets, visit www.ptnj.org or call the box office at 973-514-1787 X10. Performances take place at Playwrights Theatre, 33 Green Village Road in Madison, NJ.

Five “soccer moms” form a rock band to play at a High School benefit. Then they get really famous. Beautiful and terrible things happen to them. MoM A Rock Concert Musical chronicles their rise and rise. The workshop production won Outstanding Musical at FringeNYC 2009.

“We’ve been working on the development of this piece since we first saw the workshop at FringeNYC in 2009, including a private workshop at Playwrights Theatre in June 2010. While musicals are a bit of a departure for us, this isn’t your typical musical; it’s really the “Mom Show”, an evening of original songs the Moms composed while they were becoming famous, arranged to tell their unique story through a rock show,” said John Pietrowski, Artistic Director. “Vote the Outstanding Musical at the FringeNYC 2009, the piece has thrilled trial audiences since with its raucous energy and touching portraits of five “regular” women successfully following their creative dreams. It’s gotten better with every iteration. Our audiences are in for a treat.”

Drew Francis will design the set and lights, Sarah Cubbage is the Costume Designer and Sound Design is by Jeff Knapp. Danielle Constance is the Production Stage Manager.

Book Clubs at Playwrights Theatre
Playwrights Theatre will continue its successful book club project. Instead of reading a book, book club members read the play (script provided by Playwrights Theatre). They then see the production and stay after the performance for a post-show discussion with the Artistic Director.

About the Playwright:
Richard Caliban has worked as a director and playwright across the country and internationally.  He was Artistic Director of critically acclaimed, award-winning Cucarach Theatre where he wrote and directed many of his plays over fourteen seasons, including Homo Sapien Shuffle at the Public Theatre, Performance Piece #27 (also at the Vineyard Theatre and the Ilkhom Theatre in Tashkent, Uzbekistan), Budd, A Vast Wreck, Famine Plays (also at the Yale Cabaret), Rodents & Radios (Best Play List 1990--Mel Gussow, New York Times). Under Mr. Caliban’s directorship Cucaracha received a 1989 Obie for its achievements as an emerging company.

Season subscription and single tickets are on sale now. Registrations are being accepted for the Creative Arts Academy fall classes for children and adults. The New Jersey Writers Project is accepting applications for residencies as well as for residencies in the Poetry Out Loud Program, the national recitation contest created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation that encourages young people to explore poetry through memorization and performance. Submissions are also being accepted for the 28th Annual New Jersey Young Playwrights Contest and Festival. For more information on any of the programs, please visit www.ptnj.org or call (973) 514-1787.

About Playwrights Theatre:
Founded in 1986, Playwrights Theatre is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit professional theatre and arts education institution dedicated to developing and nurturing the dramatic imagination of artists, students, and audiences. Our New Play Program creates development opportunities for professional writers through readings, workshops and productions, and invites audiences to participate in authentic feedback experiences. Our New Jersey Writers Project, Poetry Out Loud, New Jersey Young Playwrights Contest and Festival, and Creative Arts Academy programs provide a comprehensive and hands-on arts education experience to over 31,000 students, Pre-K through adult.

Writers in the New Play Program are drawn from across the country, including our affiliation with the National New Play Network, a nation-wide group of theatres dedicated to the development and production of new work. Teaching Artists in our Education Programs are professional artists working in their field in the New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia metropolitan areas. From 2003-2012, we have been designated a Major Arts Institution by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (along with only four other theatres: The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, George Street Playhouse, McCarter Theatre Center and Paper Mill Playhouse) as “an anchor institution that contributes vitally to the quality of life in New Jersey.”

Funding for our activities comes from: the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the F.M. Kirby Foundation, Inc., Bank of America, the Bay and Paul Foundation, The Bickford Foundation, Dramatist Guild Fund, Horizon Foundation of New Jersey, The Prudential Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Travelers, The Victoria Foundation, and many corporations, foundations and individuals.

Playwrights Theatre is a member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, the National New Play Network, and Madison Arts & Culture Alliance.


Production Summary

Title: MoM A Rock Concert Musical book, music and lyrics by Richard Caliban

Director: Richard Caliban

Cast:  Donna Jean Fogel*, Jane Keitel*, Bekka Lindström*, Dana McCoy and Stefanie Seskin.

Dates: September 30 – October 24, 2010

Performances:
Opening Night: Friday, October 1 at 8pm
Thursday, September 30 at 8pm; October 7 at 6:30pm; October 14 at 3:00pm; October 21 at 8pm
Fridays at 8pm
Saturdays at 8pm
Sundays at 3pm

Ticket Prices: Adults $25, Seniors $22.50, Students $15. Cash, Check, MasterCard, Discover and Visa gladly accepted.

Advisory: Suitable for ages 16 and up, adult language and situations

Theatre Location: 33 Green Village Road, Madison, NJ 07940. Playwrights Theatre is accessible by car from both New Jersey and New York (30 miles from midtown) via I-24 and 287. From NYC: take the NJ Transit Train to Dover and exit at Madison. The theatre is a short walk from the train station. NJ Transit’s Midtown Direct offers daily service from Manhattan to Madison. For further information, contact NJ Transit at www.njtransit.com or 800-722-2222.

Reservations: Box Office (973) 514-1787, ext. 10 or online at www.ptnj.org

Photos: Available by contacting Jennifer DeWitt at jdewitt@ptnj.org or 973-514-1787 X20.

Creative Staff:
Set Designer – Drew Francis+                         
Costume Designer – Sarah Cubbage
Lighting Designer – Drew Francis+
Sound Designer – Jeff Knapp
Production Stage Manager – Danielle Constance*         

Playwrights Theatre Administrative Staff:
Artistic Director - John Pietrowski   
Director of Marketing and Public Relations - Jennifer DeWitt
Director of Program Development – Alysia Souder           
Director of Education - Jim DeVivo         
Box Office Manager/Webmaster - Jim Ligon                    
Associate Artistic Director - James Glossman
Volunteer Coordinator - Norma Mortimer

* denotes member of Actors' Equity Association    
+ denotes member of United Scenic Artists Association

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Playwrights Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre comprised of playwrights, theatre artists, and arts educators. We provide opportunities for writers to develop their works in a nurturing environment and connect with new audiences.