Community Theater: Jersey Girls to Run July 11 to 20 at Sanibel's Herb Strauss Theater

SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. - June 16, 2013 - PRLog -- BIG ARTS Community Players are rehearsing their full-stage production of Jersey Girls at the Herb Strauss Theater, 2200 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Performances will be on select dates at 8 p.m. July 11 through 20, 2013.

Written by June Koc and Nancy Fueyo, Jersey Girls is set in the 1960s during a live radio

broadcast at the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, NJ. DJ “Cousin Louie” is the emcee hosting this radio show in a “battle of the bands” contest for four all-girl groups. Competing for the title of “Jersey Girls” are the Surf Queens from Wildwood, the Wonderettes from Hackensack, the Stone Ponies from Asbury Park, and the Wave Riders from Atlantic City. The winner will be chosen by the audience, possibly with a different result each night!

Fun for all ages, Jersey Girls is produced by the Community Players and features local talent, volunteering onstage and backstage.

June Koc has been involved with theater for many years, including working with Gelsey Kirkland in the children’s company of American Ballet Theater. When she moved to Sanibel in 1984, she opened the Pirate Playhouse with Carrie Lund and Robert Toperzer. In addition to running Sanibel’s Old Schoolhouse Theater with Vince Kelly and Emily Hewitt, she also formed the Off Beach Players. She has worked at the Barbara B. Mann, Theater Conspiracy, and Cultural Park Theater. Koc has taken on a directing role for many shows including A Tuna Christmas, Jitters, Jersey Girls and Over the River and Through the Woods. She won the 2013 Musical Director of the Year Marquee Award from Cape Coral Cultural Park Theater for Man of La Mancha. She performed in The Odd Couple (Female Version (Olive); The Oldest Profession (Renee); Ebenezer (Street Beggar); Jekyll & Hide (Mental Patient); Macbeth (Murderer); Pajama Game (Seamstress); Last of the Red Hot Lovers (Bobbi); Second Time Around (Cynthia); Finian’s Rainbow (Susan); Plaza Suite (Mrs. Nash); Jake’s Women (Jake’s sister) and Guys and Dolls (Chorus).

This production features direction and stage managing by June Koc, choreography by Bobbi Frasca, props and costume design by Ana Perez, musical direction by Nancy Fueyo, historical research by Jack Koc, and lighting design by Technical Director Adam Trummel. The cast includes Anna Anderson, Russell Bias, Sabrina Chantel, Gia Corbeil, Jennifer Dube, Beth Garner, Anna Grilli, Scott Knop, Lisa Kuchinski, Shelley Sanders and Brittany Wilson.

Shows are 8 p.m. Thursday, July 11, Friday, June 12, Saturday, July 13, as well as Wednesday, July 17, Thursday, July 18, Friday, July 19, and Saturday, July 20. Tickets are now on sale online at http://www.bigarts.org/theatre.php and at BIG ARTS and the Herb Strauss Theater, adults: $15, children age 17 and under: $5.

The Community Players welcome volunteers to work on all aspects of production – both on stage and behind-the-scenes. The Players provide local live theater, performed for the community, by the community.

Want to read more? Please visit www.BIGARTS.org for more event information, including ticket prices and links to performers’ websites. To purchase tickets, go online, stop by BIG ARTS, 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, or call Marks Box Office at (239) 395-0900.