Meet the Production Team for King Lear

We sat down with the amazing production team of King Lear to get their thoughts on the rehearsal process and help us preview what’s to come. Read on to meet the director, assistant director, stage manager, and set designer and hear their wonderful insights. Stay tuned for more tech week content on our website and social media in the coming days!

Leslie Patient, Director

Q: What are you most excited for the audience to experience with this production?

A: I'm excited for the audience to feel the profound message that true wealth comes through love of family, self, and nature.

This is Leslie’s fourth outdoor Shakespeare performance with SCP. She performed as Polonius in Hamlet and then directed the witches in “The Scottish Play” and co-directed and costumed Twelfth Night last year. Previous directing credits include fifteen years as the theatre director for Purnell School where her acting troupe "Adlibbers" won "best ensemble" for three consecutive years and for which Leslie won "best director" in 2010 at Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Shakespearience Festival. She would like to thank Jesse, John, Darren, and the entire cast for their amazing and magical collaboration.

Jesse Luciani, Assistant Director

Q: What is a favorite moment from the rehearsal process?

A: My favorite moment from rehearsal has to be getting the chance to work with the cast one-on-one on their scenes, incorporating the set, and letting them get to play and have fun with it! 

Jesse R. Luciani is happy to be back behind the scenes with SCP. You may remember him from directing The Last Five Years and Mary, Mary. On stage he has participated in two other "Shakespeare in the Sheds" productions, portraying Macbeth in Macbeth and Laertes in Hamlet. Jesse would like to thank his family, his loving wife Elizabeth, and the cast and crew for being so supportive.

John Leslie, Stage Manager

Q: How is this production different from others you have stage managed at SCP?

A: This is my fourth show with Stone Church Players as stage manager, and it's the largest production by far! We have a cast of 14 wonderful actors, a giant playground set courtesy of Darren DeAngelo, and great sound design created by Steve Patient. It all seems fitting for one of Shakespeare's most impactful tragedies. Truth be told. I was never familiar with King Lear and often struggled with the text. Being part of this production has helped me understand why this story has weathered the storms of time. I am so grateful to work with Leslie, Jesse, and the rest of this fantastic group. 

This is John Leslie's fourth production as stage manager with Stone Church Players. John was awarded a 2024 NJACT Perry Award for Outstanding Stage Management of a Play (Stone Church Players - The Crucible) in 2024. He most recently performed in the staged reading of "Mary, Mary" by Felicia Russell. Beyond the stage, John is an educator, teaching English and Drama. 

Darren DeAngelo, Set Designer & Technical Director

Q: What is your favorite set piece you created for this show? 

A: I think my favorite piece of this set is the see-saw which my twin grandson and granddaughter will get to enjoy for many years. 

Q: Is it challenging to create for outdoors vs indoors?

A: Unlike a more controlled environment on an inside set, each outside production is unique based on each background setting (Sheds vs Facing Cemetery space, how wide will the set need to be, natural sounds (trees and leave rustling) birds, the wind itself, and natural lighting for daytime shows and even the dusk lighting before lighting can take full effect for night productions. 

This is Darren’s 4th outside “Shakespear in the Sheds” set construction production with SCP. Another fun challenge bringing to life this unique set design concept by the production team for this amazing cast to “play on” !!! Prior production sets include Hamlet, MacBeth, and The Crucible (Outside) and Bridges of Madison County and She Loves Me (Inside) When not building sets Darren has performed at SCP in the productions of Little Women (Mr. Lawrence), Hamlet (Player), She Loves Me (Sipos), and Christmas radio shows Miracle on 34 th Street and Meet Me in St. Louis.

King Lear Opening This Weekend

The Stone Church Players (aka SCP) is pleased to present Shakespeare’s King Lear, the fifth installment of the popular ‘Shakespeare in the Sheds’ series. The show opens Friday June 20th and will run for two weekends with performances at 7:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 pm on Sundays. Director Leslie Patient, of Highlands, is making her solo directorial debut after co-directing last year’s Twelfth Night and assistant directing 2023’s Macbeth. Her team includes Artistic Director Michael McClellan and SCP board member John Paul Durazzo as co-producers, Jesse Luciani as assistant director, John Leslie as stage manager, and Darren DeAngelo as set designer and technical director.

Continuing the tradition of presenting Shakespeare outdoors, Ms. Patient is staging the play on the grounds of the All Saints’ Memorial Church campus and re-envisioning the action against the backdrop of a playground. In her words, “Shakespeare’s unwieldy tragedy of family dysfunction is reimagined on a playground— what once was a place of innocence and imagination, now becomes a battleground for betrayal, madness, and ruin. As King Lear descends into madness, three actors portray his splintered self, reflecting the fracturing of a once-mighty, but flawed mind. Watch as Shakespeare’s words come to modern life in an exploration of what happens when we fail to teach our children compassion in a world driven by competition and cruelty.

SCP alum Jacob Turchi, newcomer Brian Smiga, and Mr. McClellan share the duties of portraying King Lear in his three “states”: Imperious King, Rejected Father, and Wise Outcast. Mr. Turchi plays Lear 1, an old king who wants to abdicate the duties of king but not the benefits of power. He was last seen in November’s staged reading of the original play “And Every Creeping Thing.” Other SCP credits include Twelfth Night, The Crucible, and Dog Sees God. Making his SCP debut, Mr. Smiga plays Lear 2, a parent who realizes because he was a monster, his children are monsters. He studied theater at Swarthmore, Haverford, and Trinity College Dublin. His past credits include A Streetcar Named Desire, The Philadelphia Story, and The Tempest. Mr. McClellan plays Lear 3, a simple elderly person who realizes too late what real devotion is. A founding member of SCP, Mr. McClellan is often found behind the scenes, either directing or producing plays, musicals, and staged readings. Most recently he directed the February staged reading of Agnes of God. King Lear marks his return to acting in an SCP mainstage production since appearing in 2014’s Jesus Christ Superstar.

King Lear’s three daughters are portrayed by Allie G. Cohen, Vivian Oliver, and Aster Fialla. Ms. Cohen plays Goneril, the king’s eldest and ruthless daughter. Ms. Cohen holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Muhlenburg College. She is a veteran actor and director who is often seen on the SCP stage. Most recently, she played the title role in the March staged reading of the original play, “Mary, Mary,” and she appeared in She Loves Me last June. Ms. Oliver plays Regan, the king’s middle daughter, who is also ruthless and violent. A soon-to-be graduate of Middletown North High School, Ms. Oliver has been an active member of its award-winning theater program. She was last seen on the SCP stage as Tootie in the December radio presentation of “Meet Me in St. Louis”. Mx. Fialla plays Cordelia, the king’s youngest and loyal daughter. This role is doubled with Lear’s jester, the only character who is able to criticize Lear without getting banished. A newcomer to both theater and SCP, Mx. Fialla is a local artist, poet, and game designer.

Rounding out the cast are Matt Gochman as Kent, Andrew Struse as Gloucester, Grace Ahlin as Edmund, Jayden Egnatovich as Edgar, Andrew Gerber as Albany, Arielle Halpern as Cornwall, Cynthia Dannen as Burgundy, and Brooke Tortorelli as France/Oswald.

Show synopsis (from Shakespeare Birthplace Trust): King Lear divides his kingdom among the two daughters who flatter him and banishes the third one who loves him. His eldest daughters both then reject him at their homes, so Lear goes mad and wanders through a storm. His banished daughter returns with an army, but they lose the battle and Lear, all his daughters and more, die.

Running time: approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including a 15 minute intermission. Street parking is available on Oakdale Run. You may enter the parking lot by the path next to the mailbox. A limited amount of accessible parking spots will be available in the main parking lot. Please email us at stonechurchplayersnj@gmail.com and we can reserve a parking spot for you. Restrooms are available in the Parish House and refreshments will be available for purchase on the patio. Chairs are provided and seating is first come, first served. Patrons may bring their own chairs if desired. We offer three ticket prices - $20 for adults, $15 for students, and $10 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at scp.booktix.com (includes a small service fee) or reserved by emailing us. Limited tickets will be available for purchase at the door (cash preferred). For more information visit our website, stonechurchplayers.org.

Meet the Cast of King Lear

Allie G. Cohen

Allie Cohen (Goneril) is so thrilled to be back home with Stone Church Players for this year’s Shakespeare in the Sheds! Allie is an actor and director who has worked on many productions across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Favorite past shows include: Macbeth (Lady Macbeth), Something Rotten (Ensemble), The Wedding Singer (Sideburn Lady), Man of La Mancha (Antonia), Edges (Woman 2), and many more. Allie is a 2014 graduate of Muhlenberg College and holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts. All her love to Adam and Oreo. She dedicates all performances to her mom, Susan.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Cynthia Dannen

Cynthia Dannen (Burgundy and others) has performed in 70 dramas, comedies, and musicals in Monmouth County, New York State, and Toronto. She earned an MA in Dramatic Literature from the University of Toronto and has taught Shakespeare, Writing, and Literature at the high school and college levels. Many thanks to Leslie, John, Jesse, and Michael for this wonderful Shakespeare in the Sheds experience!

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Jayden Egnatovich

This is Jayden Egnatovich’s (Edgar) first SCP show and Shakespeare show. A rising Senior at Allentown High School, some favorite past credits include Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Featured Ensemble), Marian, Or the True Tale of Robin Hood (Tanner/Tommy of No Consequences), Between the Lines (Frump), Ernxst, or the importance of being (Slouch), Les Misérable (Gavroche), Newsies (Pulitzer), I Don’t Want to Talk About it (Kyle), and Catch Me if You Can (Ensemble). Jayden was part of the stage premiere cast for both Ernxst and Marian. Jayden has taken acting classes at Actors Playground School of Theater for four years.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Aster Fialla

It’s hard for Aster Fialla (Cordelia/Fool) to find words, and yet, se’ll do er best to heave er heart into er mouth. Se’s never acted more than once but dreamed of acting Shakespeare er whole life. Se cannot thank Stone Church enough for the great chance to play these tricky and iconic roles for er first big debut onstage. Aster spends er free time drawing art, designing games, and writing poetry. Find er @ad_aster if you want! A kiss to er beloveds, Jake and Vince: For them, er love’s more richer than er tongue.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Andrew Gerber

Andrew Gerber (Albany) is happily making his SCP debut in one of his favorite plays. Earlier this year, he portrayed James in United Theatre’s production of Circle Mirror Transformation. Andrew majored in Theatre and English at Drew University, interned at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, performed improv with Chaos Theater Company, directed his original play The Golden Age off-off Broadway, and worked on the touring production Bear in the Big Blue House LIVE: A First Time for Everything, featuring characters from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. By day, he is a medical librarian and continuing medical education coordinator. Much love and thanks to Elyse and Lily.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Matt Gochman

As as Atlantic Highlands resident, Matt Gochman (Kent) is happy to have found another great local theater and he feels honored to be part of this fun, eclectic cast. Since 2012, he has acted in multiple shows throughout the state and has earned Perry nominations for his performances in “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” (Max) and “The Philadelphia Story” (Dexter). Some of his other credits include “The Pillowman” (Tupolski), “Othello” (Iago), “Proof” (Hal), “You’ve Got Hate Mail” (Richard), “Rumors” (Ken), “Art” (Serge), “Crossing Delancey” (Tyler), “Arsenic and Old Lace” (Mortimer), “Moon Over Buffalo” (Paul), “The Rainmaker” (Noah), and “Romantic Comedy” (Jason).

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Arielle Halpern

Arielle Halpern (Cornwall) is excited to be taking to the stage with Stone Church Players for the fourth time. Previous roles with SCP include Maria (Twelfth Night), Eliza Bishop (Mary, Mary), and Clara Ford (Floor Five). She has also stage managed on and off stage for It’s A Wonderful Life Radio Play (Misfits Theater Company) and performed as Oberon/Bottom in The Midsummer Project (Villagers Theater). Many thanks to Leslie, Jesse, and the Stone Church family for this opportunity. Much love to Mom, Dad, and the entirety of my chosen family!

Photo by John Paul Durazzo

Michael McClellan

Michael McClellan (King Lear 3) is the Artistic Director of The Stone Church Players, and has directed their productions of Twelfth Night, Macbeth, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Taming of the Shrew, The Bridges of Madison County, Man of La Mancha, Mame and Our Town, and co-directed Macbeth (2014), Lion in Winter, Drowsy Chaperone and Jesus Christ Superstar. He has appeared with them as Ragueneau in Cyrano, Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street, Peter in Jesus Christ Superstar, Mr. Lindquist in A Little Night Music, Noah Curry in 110 in the Shade, Moonface Martin in Anything Goes, Clarence in It’s A Wonderful Life, the Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol and as two brothers (one being a puppet) in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Other favorite past roles include Jules in Sunday in the Park with George, Mr. Bumble in Oliver, Dr. Dussel in The Diary of Anne Frank, and the lead in The Other Coal Miner’s Daughter with the Western Massachusetts Gay Men’s Chorus.

Photo by John Paul Durazzo

Vivian Oliver

Vivian Oliver (Regan) is so excited to be back at Stone Church and working with all of these amazing people. She is finishing her senior year at Middletown High School North and will be a freshman at the University of New Hampshire in the fall. Some of her recent roles have been, Tutti(Meet Me In St. Louis), Rosencrantz(Hamlet) and Katherine/Holofernes(Love’s Labour’s Lost). She wants to give a huge thank you to her directors and fellow cast members for being so kind and teaching her so much!

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Brian Smiga

Brian Smiga (King Lear 2), a Rumson native, studied theater at Swarthmore, Haverford, and Trinity College Dublin. While teaching English, Brian studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse and joined SAG and Actors Equity. Leading roles: Streetcar, Rose Tattoo, 27 Wagons, Tempest, Heartbreak House, Picnic, Philadelphia Story, Hayfever, Walk in the Woods, The Balcony, Rivals, The Changeling, Misanthrope, Marriage of Figaro. Locally, Brian produced TEDxAsburyPark 2013-2024 at Two River Theater, Bell Theater, and the Paramount. Professionally, Brian co-founded the venture fund, AlphaPartners.com, where he currently works, and five collaborative software companies in San Francisco and New York. Brian is a local dad, cyclist, kayaker, and gardener.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Andrew Struse

Andrew Struse (Gloucester) is a veteran character actor of the community acting scene. Since 2017, Andrew has graced the SCP stage with his idiosyncratic portrayals of some of Shakespeare’s most colorful supporting roles: Lord Capulet, Baptista, Thisbe, King Alonso, Don John, Rosenkranz, Banquo, Sir Andrew Aguecheek. Andrew would like to thank our magnanimous leaders, Leslie and Jesse, for their direction and unwavering support as well as his dog Boris for helping him run lines.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Brooke Tortorelli

Brooke Tortorelli (France/Oswald and others) is so excited to be involved with another production with Stone Church Players! Recently, she appeared as Jane in the staged reading of Mary, Mary, as well as Glenda/Donna in Lady Wife. She is ecstatic to be able to tell all kinds of stories in her home of Monmouth County. As an alumnus of Monmouth University, she had the privilege of playing Vivian Bearing in Wit and Gertrude in Hamlet. She is unbelievably grateful to the Stone Church Players team for their inspiration and support.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Jacob Turchi

Jacob Turchi (King Lear 1) is thrilled to return to Stone Church for another outdoor show. He is an actor from Dunellen, who has studied at Actors Playground in Freehold and the Upright Citizens Brigade in NYC. Past performances with SCP include The Crucible, Dog Sees God, Twelfth Night, & And Every Creeping Thing. He has been in community theater productions of Clue, Other Desert Cities, All My Sons, Wait Until Dark, American Son, and Almost, Maine. He thanks his friends, family, teachers, and the cast and crew of King Lear for their support.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Meet the Cast of Meet Me in St. Louis

Click on the pictures below to read each bio. If viewing on your phone, tap the dot in the lower right hand corner.

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Michael McClellan

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Felicia Russell

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Vivian Oliver

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Jessica Freeland

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Mike Marnell

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Greg Brooks

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Caitlin Mahon

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Darren DeAngelo

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Aaron "Juice" Jackson

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Cynthia Dannen

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Andrew Struse

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Masha Maister

Meet the Cast of Twelfth Night

Allison Dassler

Allison Dassler (Valentine) is elated to be apart of Stone Church Players again! She's been participating in shows since the age of 7 and is super passionate about theater! Tweltfh Night was deffinetly a new experience as she has never done Shakespear before and she loved every minute of it! She loves this amazingly talented cast and would like to thank her amazing directors for makeing this show happen and believing in her!

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

John Davis

John Davis (Orsino) is thrilled to be doing his first show with Stone Church Players! He has been acting since he was 13 years old in his many communities across the coasts, and even spent a few years character acting at Disneyland. He is very excited to be performing his first Shakespeare show and hopes you enjoy a fun filled night of comedy and love!

Photo by Lindsay Abbot.

John Durazzo

John Durazzo (Malvolio) is thrilled to be doing Shakespeare with SCP after recently appearing in She Loves Me (Georg Nowack), with other SCP favorites such as The Crucible (Reverend Hale), The Bishop's Wife (Dudley) and The Bridges of Madison County (Bud). It has been several years since John has performed in a Shakespeare play, having last performed in Othello (Rodrigo) several years ago at Monmouth University. Other favorites include: Next to Normal (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine) with Premier Theatre Company, Les Miserables (The Bishop of Digne) with Plays-in-the-Park, and Jesus Christ Superstar (Caiaphas/Priest) with MAC Players and Phoenix Productions. When not performing, John works in the advertising industry and shares his home with his partner and 3 dogs. John would especially like to thank his partner, family and friends for always being his greatest supporters. 

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Arielle Halpern

Arielle Halpern (Maria) is excited to be making her debut with Stone Church Players. She is an avid theatre lover who has not been on the stage in quite a while and is thrilled to get back to it! Previous roles have included Gaston in Beauty & the Beast, Vince Fontaine in Grease, Lt. Brannigan in Guys & Dolls, and ensemble roles. Many thanks to Michael, Leslie, John, and Juice for this opportunity, and to Allie for suggesting I audition. Much love to Mom, Dad, and my chosen family!

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Emily Lipman

Emily Lipman (Sebastian) is delighted to be in their first production with Stone Church Players! Past credits include The Merchant of Venice (Follower/Servant), One Acts 2023 (Waitress in The Philadelphia), Much Ado About Nothing (Verges), One Acts 2022 (Caller in 411), Twelfth Night (Valentine/Servant/Officer), and An Enemy of the People (Citizen) at Brookdale Performing Arts Center and Rent (Ensemble) at Neptune High School. Emily would like to thank the cast and crew for such a beautiful experience and hopes you enjoy Twelfth Night!

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Masha Maister

Masha Maister (Feste the Fool) is thrilled to play Feste in this production of Twelfth Night along with this incredible cast. A dedicated actress, Masha has graced the stage in numerous roles, bringing her passion and talent to every performance. She extends heartfelt thanks to family and friends for their unwavering support and to her boyfriend for his constant encouragement and love. Masha's previous credits with Stone Church include roles in Macbeth, Dog See’s God, and The Bishop’s Wife. She also performs at The Main Street Theater Company in Old Bridge. She is grateful for the opportunity to bring Feste to life and hopes you enjoy the show!

Photo by Caitlin Martin

Talia Strauss

Talia Strauss (Viola) is overjoyed to be in her third show with The Stone Church Players, with whom she previously acted in The Crucible (Mary Warren) and a staged reading of Dog Sees God (CB’s Sister). This past July she also played in the Brook Arts Center’s production of The Wolves (#08). In addition to her lifelong passion for acting, she loves doing arts and crafts, hanging out with her friends, and her fiancé Michael.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Andrew Struse

Andrew Struse (Sir Andrew Aguecheek) returns to the Stone Church Players for his 8th go-around with The Bard. A veteran character actor of the community scene, Andrew has graced the SCP stage with his idiosyncratic portrayals of Lord Capulet, Baptista, Thisbe, King Alonso, Don John, Rosenkranz and Banquo. Andrew is delighted to be back working with some new cast members. He would also like to thank our fearless and magnanimous leader, Michael, for his unwavering enthusiasm, guidance and complimentary baked goods.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Chris Stypa

You watched him serve as Bus Boy in She Loves Me earlier this summer, now watch him… serve again! Chris Stypa (Fabian) is overjoyed to return to SCP and would love to thank its incredible team of cast, crew, and board members for such a cool experience! He’s going on Year 2 of his Associate’s Degree in Theatre at Brookdale Community College. Community Credits: Romeo & Juliet (Benvolio) at Two River Theater and Legally Blonde (Nikos) at BPAC. Educational Credits: Spamalot (Sir Robin), Mamma Mia (Bill Austin), The Canterville Ghost (The Amazing Balaklava), & Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Walter Van Twiller) at Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School. Special shoutout to: the Six Pack <3, his supportive friends, and of course his canine family of four.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Jacob Turchi

Jacob Turchi (Sir Toby Belch) is thrilled to make his Shakespearean debut with Stone Church Players. He is a student at Actors Playground in Freehold and the Upright Citizens Brigade in NYC. Previous performances with SCP include Putnam/Hathorne in The Crucible and CB in the stage reading of Dog Sees God. Other performances include Trip in Other Desert Cities (The Barn Theater), Frank in All My Sons (Shakespeare 70), and Mike in Wait Until Dark (Dragonfly Multicultural Arts). He would like to thank his friends, family, teachers, and the cast and crew of Twelfth Night for their support.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Theodore Vaysberg

Theodore Vaysberg (Antonio/Captain) is so thrilled to be involved in his second Shakespeare in the Sheds with Stonechurch. Previously he's performed as Lennox in their production of Macbeth. Back from earning his CertHE in Acting and Theatre Arts from East 15, Theo is very grateful to the team at Stonechurch for creating such an uplifting and invigorating theatre experience that he gets to be a part of.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot.

Next Up...Twelfth Night!

The Stone Church Players (aka SCP) is pleased to present Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, the fourth installment of the popular ‘Shakespeare in the Sheds’ series and the first comedy since 2022’s Much Ado About Nothing.  The show opens Friday September 6th and will run for two weekends with performances at 7:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 pm on Sundays. Under the direction of Artistic Director Michael F. McClellan, returning to a main stage production for the first time since last year’s Macbeth, the production team includes Aaron Jackson as producer, Leslie Patient as Co-Director, John Leslie as Stage Manager, and Darren DeAngelo as Set and Lighting Designer. Continuing the tradition of presenting Shakespeare outdoors, Mr. McClellan is staging the play on the grounds of the All Saints’ Memorial Church campus and reimagining the action against a backdrop of a 1920’s beach resort. 

Talia Strauss leads the cast as Viola, a young woman who is shipwrecked along with her twin brother Sebastien on the shores of Illyria, ruled by the Duke Orsino. She is compassionate and kind and finds herself living a double life as a male servant of the Duke.  Ms. Strauss was last seen in February’s highly acclaimed reading of Dog Sees God and made her SCP debut last September as Mary Warren in The Crucible.  John Davis plays the Duke Orsino, ruler of Illyria and hopelessly in love with the wealthy and beautiful Olivia, played by Grace Ahlin. Both are making their SCP debuts after having appeared together as Peter and Ted in Peter and the Starcatcher at Holmdel Theatre Company this past April.  

John Paul Durazzo returns to the SCP stage for his sixth production, playing Malvolio, the pompous steward of Olivia’s household. Mr. Durazzo was last seen as Georg Nowack in SCP’s June production of She Loves Me and audiences may remember him for his turn as Reverend Hale in The Crucible. Playing opposite Mr. Durazzo is another “Crucible” alum, Jacob Turchi, as Sir Toby Belch, Olivia’s uncle, who finds great pleasure in tormenting Malvolio. Mr. Turchi is back for his third production with SCP having last appeared as CB in Dog Sees God. 

Rounding out the cast are Emily Lipman as Sebastien, Masha Maister as Feste the Fool, Andrew Struse as Sir Andrew, Theodore Vaysberg as Antonio/Captain, Arielle Halpern as Maria, Chris Stypa as Fabian, and Allison Dassler as Valentine. 

Show synopsis (from Shakespeare Birthplace Trust): Viola and her twin brother Sebastian have been shipwrecked; each believes the other to be drowned. Viola disguises herself as a young man and, under the name of Cesario, gets a job as a servant for the Duke, Orsino. 

Running time: approximately 2 hours with a ten-minute intermission. Street parking is available on Oakdale Run. You may enter the parking lot by the path next to the mailbox. A limited number of accessible parking spots will be available in the main parking lot. Please email us at stonechurchplayersnj@gmail.com and we can reserve a parking spot for you. Restrooms are available in the Parish House and refreshments will be available for purchase on the patio. Chairs are provided and seating is first come, first served. Patrons may bring their own chairs if desired. We offer three ticket prices - $20 for adults, $15 for students, and $10 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at scp.booktix.com (includes a small service fee) or reserved by emailing us. Limited tickets will be available for purchase at the door (cash preferred). For more information visit our website, stonechurchplayers.org.

Opening Friday...She Loves Me!

The Stone Church Players’ (SCP’s) 16th season continues with She Loves Me, a musical featuring music by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (Fiddler on the Roof) and a book by Joe Masteroff (Cabaret). An endearing “jewel box musical,” She Loves Me is Directed by long-time SCP collaborator Christine Jay (2021’s Little Women) with musical direction by newcomer Hannah Elarmo. The show will run two weekends, June 7th, 8th, and 15th at 7:30 pm and June 9th, 15th, and 16th at 2 pm. Produced by Artistic Director Michael McClellan, the crew also includes John Leslie as Stage Manager and Darren DeAngelo as Set Designer, with costuming by Playtime Costumes. 

Felicia Russell (Comedy Tonight, A Musical Fundraiser, The Bridges of Madison County, and Little Women)  leads the cast as Amalia Balash, the newest employee at Maraczek's Parfumerie and a skilled saleswoman if somewhat anxious and a little naive. Ms. Russell is a college student and aspiring playwright. Her original one-act play, “Mary, Mary”, was performed last year as part of the MAC one-acts play-reading festival at the Middletown Arts Center. Opposite her is Perry-nominated John Paul Durazzo (The Bishop’s Wife, The Crucible, and The Bridges of Madison County) returning to the SCP stage as Georg Nowack, a hopeless romantic. Mr. Durazzo, a theater veteran, made his debut with SCP in 2022 and has since appeared in five productions, most recently April’s fundraiser “Comedy Tonight”. 

Loretta Boyle (A Little Night Music) and Perry-nominated Alec Kelsey play Ilona Ritter and Steven Kodaly, coworkers entwined in an on-again, off-again love affair.  Ms Boyle, a seventh grade language arts teacher, is returning to the SCP stage after more than ten years and has appeared in principal roles with Phoenix Productions, Spring Lake Theatre Company, and Algonquin Arts Theater. Mr. Kelsey, originally from North Carolina, is making his SCP debut. A trained actor and singer, his most recent credits include Gabe in Next to Normal and Hanschen in Spring Awakening, both with the Premier Theatre Company. SCP founding member David Beil (The Bishop’s Wife, It’s a Wonderful Life, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream) plays Mr. Maraczek, owner of Maraczek’s Parfumerie. In addition to performing in over 20 SCP productions, Mr Beil is often seen on stage at the First Avenue Playhouse and the Premier Theatre Company. 

Rounding out the principal cast are Darren DeAngelo (Miracle on 34th Street, Little Women, and Hamlet) and Cayden Jay (Miracle on 34th Street, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Once Upon a Mattress) as Ladislav Sipos and Arpad Laszlo, clerks at Maraczek's Parfumerie. A member of the SCP board, Mr DeAngelo also serves as set designer, having previously built the sets for The Crucible, Macbeth, and The Bridges of Madison County. Cayden, a rising sophomore in Freehold High School’s Medical Science Magnet Program, has worked professionally as a Voice Actor and is featured in audiobooks, ads and video games. Appearing in the ensemble are SCP alumni Allie Cohen, Cynthia Dannen, Leslie Patient, and Brian Smith with newcomers Caitlin Mahon, Silvia Fragale, Bethany Miranda, Chris Stypa, and Amanda Winter.

Show synopsis (from MTI): Considered by many to be the most charming musical ever written, She Loves Me is a warm romantic comedy with an endearing innocence and a touch of old-world elegance. Set in a 1930s European perfumery, we meet shop clerks, Amalia and Georg, who, more often than not, don't see eye to eye. After both respond to a "lonely hearts advertisement" in the newspaper, they now live for the love letters that they exchange, but the identity of their admirers remains unknown. Join Amalia and Georg to discover the identity of their true loves... and all the twists and turns along the way! 

Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes including a fifteen minute intermission. Performances take place inside the All Saints’ Memorial Church located at 202 Navesink Ave, Atlantic Highlands, NJ. Parking is available for all patrons in the main parking lot. Additional parking is available on Oakdale Run and you may enter the main parking lot via the path by the mailbox. There will be a limited number of spots available in the upper parking area next to the church for those needing accommodation. If you would like to reserve one of these spots please email us.at stonechurchplayersnj@gmail.com and we can reserve a parking spot for you. Restrooms are available in the Parish House and refreshments will be available for purchase on the church terrace. Seating is first come, first serve. We offer three ticket prices - $25 for adults, $20 for students, and $15 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at scp.booktix.com (includes a small service fee) or reserved by emailing us. Limited tickets will be available for purchase at the door (cash preferred). Please note, tickets purchased online are non-refundable. For more information visit our website, stonechurchplayers.org.

Meet the Cast of She Loves Me

Loretta Boyle

Loretta Boyle (Ilona Ritter ) is thrilled to be performing once again with Stone Church Players after appearing in their 2013 Production of “A Little Night Music “ as part of The Quintet. Other favorite roles include Adelaide in Guys and Dolls at both The Spring Lake Theatre and Algonquin Arts Theatre . M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias with Algonquin Arts Theatre and Mama Rose in “Gypsy” , Deb in “Elf” and New Rochelle Ensemble in “Ragtime” with Phoenix productions. Loretta is a Seventh Grade Language Arts Teacher and loves residing in Asbury Park with her dog, Jane. Loretta would like to thank Christine, Hannah, and John for this wonderful experience. Loretta dedicates this performance to her best friend- her mom.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Allie G. Cohen

Allie G. Cohen (Ensemble) is thrilled to participate in her fourth production onstage (sixth overall) and first musical with some of her favorite people at Stone Church Players! Favorite past shows include: Macbeth (Lady Macbeth), Something Rotten (Ensemble), The Wedding Singer (Sideburn Lady), Man of La Mancha (Antonia), Edges (Woman 2), and many more across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Allie is a 2014 graduate of Muhlenberg College and holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts. All her love to Adam and Oreo. She dedicates all performances to her mom, Susan.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot.

Cynthia Dannen

Cynthia Dannen (Ensemble) is pleased to be in her 14th show with the wonderful Stone Church Players.  She has performed in 50 musicals and 20 dramas, comedies and children’s theater productions in Monmouth  County, Toronto, and New York State. Many thanks to Christine, Hannah, Regina and John!

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Darren DeAngelo

Darren DeAngelo (Ladislav Sipos) This is Darren’s 3rd production with SCP. What a fun role to return to the stage side of a production with this amazing cast. Thank you to the entire production team for another wonderful on stage experience!!! Prior SCP roles as: Mr. Lawrence (Little Women), Player (Hamlet). Other notable roles: Mordcha (Fiddler), Quartet (The Music Man), Barber (Man of LaMancha), Clarence (It’s a Wonderful Life), Mr. Kirby (You Can’t Take It With You), Larry (Company), Father (Children of Eden), Warbucks (Annie), Bob Cratchit (A Christmas Carol), George Read (1776), Murdoch/Edgar Bean (Titanic), Marvel/Oz (Wizard of Oz), Nathan Detroit (Guys and Dolls).

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

John Paul Durazzo

John Paul Durazzo (Georg Nowack) is thrilled to be returning to Stone Church Players after appearing in favorites such as The Crucible (Reverend Hale), The Bishop's Wife (Dudley) and the 2022 Fall production of Bridges of Madison County (Bud). He recently performed in TWO productions of Jesus Christ Superstar: MAC Players (Caiaphas) and Phoenix Productions' 35th Anniversary Gala (Priest/Guard). Other favorites include: Next to Normal (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine) with Premier Theatre Company, Les Miserables (The Bishop of Digne) with Plays-in-the-Park, and Anything Goes (Sir Evelyn Oakleigh) with Phoenix Productions. John would like to thank his partner, family and friends for always being his greatest supporters.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Silvia Fragale

Silvia Fragale (Ensemble) is so excited to perform in her first production with Stone Church Players. Silvia has been singing, dancing, and performing in shows since she was a young girl. She attended Fordham University where she was a part of the Women’s Choir. She also trained at various performing arts schools, such as Papermill Playhouse, New York Film Academy, and Icon Dance Complex. Her most recent credits include Jesus Christ Superstar with the MAC Players, Freaky Friday at Axelrod Performing Arts Center, as well as Beauty and the Beast at Dunellen High School, where she worked behind the scenes for the first time as Assistant Director. Silvia is so thankful for this opportunity to work with Stone Church Players and all the wonderful people behind it, as well as to God for leading her to this experience.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Cayden Jay

Cayden Jay (Arpad Laszlo) is excited to return to SCP after last being seen in 2022’s Miracle on 34th Street. Other favorite roles include Captain Hook in Peter Pan, John Brooke in Little Women, and Mayor Shinn in The Music Man. He has worked professionally as a Voice Actor and is featured in audiobooks, ads and video games. Cayden is a rising sophomore in Freehold High School’s Medical Science Magnet Program, a lover of all things Spider-Man and Sondheim, works for Jersey Santa as helper elf “Dwindle”, and is a long-time volunteer at Rescue Ridge cat rescue.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Alec Kelsey

Alec Kelsey (Steven Kodaly) is excited to be making his Stone Church debut! Previous credits include Gabe in Next to Normal, Hanschen in Spring Awakening, Apostle/Ensemble in Jesus Christ Superstar. He would like to thank the creative team for putting together a fantastic show. Special thanks to his partner George Platis for his love and support.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Caitlin Mahon

Cait Mahon’s (Ensemble) passion for performing started at Dance With Marie, continued with Rutgers Performing Dance Company, and led back to DWM as an instructor and competitive dancer. Inspired to create "Sing and Sway” in 2019, Cait fosters safe space for self-expression through karaoke & beginner dance. A mid-2020 car accident ended her dance career, leading to brain surgery in 2023 due to triggered Chiari Malformation symptoms. Cait aspires to raise awareness of invisible illnesses amidst her ongoing chronic pain journey. Vocal credits: Showtunes Showcase (Monmouth County Parks, 2023); Dance credits: Footloose, Hairspray & Annie (DWM, 2015-2018). Cait is grateful for this step along her healing journey & to fulfill a lifelong dream of acting on stage!

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Bethany Miranda

Bethany Miranda (Ensemble) is to be making her debut with Stone Church Players! Favorite credits include: Miss Honey (Matilda), Bea (Something Rotten), Sandy (Grease), Sarah (Company), Bad Idea Bear (Avenue Q), Dorothy Brock (42nd St). In addition to acting, Bethany is a director, sings in a band, and teaches elementary school ABA. Bethany thanks Christine and the entire production staff for the opportunity.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Leslie Patient

Leslie Patient (Keller/Ensemble). Since her first SCP role as Polonius in Hamlet (2022), Leslie has worked as crew in Bridges of Madison County, Mrs. Shellhammer in Miracle on 34th St, Witches Director in Macbeth, and most recently Rebecca Nurse in The Crucible. Past favorite roles in musicals include: Gooch in Mame, Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel, and Martha in A Christmas Carol. Ending her stint as Upper School Dean of Student Life, Leslie will begin the 2024-2025 school year as English Department Chair at Ranney School.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot.

Felicia Russell

Felicia Russel (Amalia Balash): Dear Friend, Felicia is thrilled to return to SCP to play a character as special as Amalia and simultaneously feed into her ice cream addiction. This is her third main stage production with SCP, others including The Bridges of Madison County, as Marian and Little Women as Beth. She’s been acting on various NJ stages since the age of 9. Some other favorite credits include Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime, Miep in The Diary of Anne Frank and Alice in You Can’t Take It With You. She’s inexplicably thankful to Christine, Michael, Hannah and the entire SCP family for their trust in her and immense support.

Brian Smith

Brian Smith (Head Waiter/Ensemble) Brian is so excited to be back with Stone Church in his third production here. An NJ based songwriter, you can find his music on Spotify/SoundCloud under his artist name “bri”. His third album, “screenshots of songs: act one” is out now. His fourth album will be released August 2nd. Break legs to the cast and crew! Love you Dad. <3

Chris Stypa

Chris Stypa (Busboy/Ensemble) is elated to stumble into his first production with Stone Church Players! He’s currently pursuing an associate’s degree in Theatre at Brookdale Community College. Community Credits: Romeo & Juliet (Benvolio) at Two River Theater and Legally Blonde (Nikos) at BPAC. Educational Credits: Spamalot (Sir Robin), Mamma Mia (Bill Austin), The Canterville Ghost (The Amazing Balaklava), & Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Walter Van Twiller) at Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School. Special shoutout to: the cast, crew, and wonderful team at SCP, the Six Pack <3, his supportive friends, and of course his canine family of four.

Come see "Comedy Tonight" and raise funds for a great cause

Tragedy tomorrow, comedy tonight! Stone Church Players (aka SCP) is thrilled to present “Comedy Tonight”, A Musical Fundraiser, featuring a hilarious lineup of live musical performances at the historic All Saints’ Memorial Church in Atlantic Highlands, NJ. “Comedy Tonight” will be held Saturday, April 6th at 7:30 pm and Sunday April 7th at 2 pm. All proceeds from the event will benefit the ‘All Enter As One’ project sponsored by the All Saints’ National Landmark Trust, Inc.

The Landmark Trust is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation founded for the purpose of seeking, receiving and disbursing funds contributed to the Trust for the maintenance and preservation of the historic landmark property of All Saints' Memorial Church buildings and grounds. The ‘All Enter As One’ project will install a permanent, handicap accessible ramp at the main entrance to the narthex of All Saints' Church. This project will include exterior landscape, demolition, ramps, retaining walls, railings, lighting and drainage. Members of the Landmark Trust will speak briefly during the event about the importance of this great cause. 

Directed by Caitlin Martin, the event will feature Mike Kabash on keyboard and a cast of 9 wonderfully talented singers and actors, a mix of SCP alumni and some exciting new faces. The program will feature a diverse selection of musical comedy songs presented as solos, duets, and group numbers. 

Cast: Brittany Ahr, Christine Jay, Victoria Leigh, Felicia Russell, Lizzy Stefanic, Greg Brooks, John Durazzo, Aaron “Juice” Jackson, and Brenden Kortenhaus.

Running time: 1 hour, 10 minutes with one 15 minute intermission. General admission tickets are priced at $25. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at scp.booktix.com (includes a small service fee) or purchased at the door (cash preferred). Seating is first come, first served. Concessions will be available for purchase (cash preferred). Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.

Parking is available in the main church parking lot with overflow parking available on Oakdale Run. If you require accessible parking, please email us at stonechurchplayernj@gmail.com and we can reserve a spot for you in the upper parking area next to the church.

For more information visit our website, stonechurchplayers.org. For more information about the Landmark Trust, please visit https://stonechurchtrust.org/. 

Announcing the cast of Dog Sees God

SCP proudly presents the cast of our upcoming staged reading of “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead.”

CB: Jacob Turchi

Beethoven: Brian Smith

CB’s Sister: Talia Strauss

Van: Will Zottman

Marcy: Vivian Oliver

Betty Parris: Vivian Oliver

Tricia: Tori Dillon

Matt: Sean Ferguson

Van’s Sister: Masha Maister

This Weekend...The Bishop's Wife!

Season’s greetings from all of us at the Stone Church Players! This weekend don’t miss SCP’s annual radio play, a holiday tradition!. This year we are thrilled to introduce a new show to our repertoire, “The Bishop’s Wife”, the classic story made famous by Carey Grant and Loretta Young that shows us the value of doing the right thing. Performances will be held Saturday, December 2nd at 8 pm and Sunday December 3rd at 2 pm. Directed by Artistic Director Michael McClellan of Long Branch, the event will feature Musical Director Mike Kabash of Rumson on piano. The cast includes 7 wonderfully talented actors who have all performed in past SCP productions.

John Paul Durazzo of Atlantic Highlands leads the cast as Dudley, an angel sent from Heaven in answer to Bishop Henry Brougham’s prayers. Mr Durazzo was last seen as Reverend John Hale in September’s production of “The Crucible”. The bishop is played by SCP veteran David Beil of Middletown, returning to the SCP stage for the first time in two years. He was last seen as George Bailey in the 2021 radio presentation of “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Marcy Zieve of Howell voices Julia Brougham, the bishop’s kindly wife. She was last seen as Marmee March in our 2021 production of “Little Women”.

The show features a very talented ensemble cast voicing multiple parts. SCP veterans Cynthia Dannen of Rumson (“Once Upon a Mattress,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and “Our Town,” among others), Jesse R. Luciani of Red Bank (“Macbeth,” “Hamlet,” and “Miracle on 34th Street”), and Lizzy Stefanic of Middletown (“Hamlet,” “Little Women,” and “Much Ado About Nothing”) are joined by newcomer Mariya Maister of Old Bridge (“Macbeth”).

Show synopsis (from Turner Classic Movies): Based on the novella “The Bishop's Wife” by Robert Nathan, an angel helps set an ambitious bishop on the right track.

Running time: 1 hour. General admission tickets are priced at $10. Tickets can be purchased at the door (cash only). Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime. Parking is available in the main church parking lot with overflow parking available on Oakdale Run. For more information visit our website, stonechurchplayers.org.

“The Last Five Years” Limited Engagement Opens Friday

Stone Church Players (aka SCP) will present The Last Five Years opening Friday, October 13th and running for one weekend only with performances at 8:00 pm on Friday and Saturday and 2 pm on Sunday. Directed by SCP board member Jesse Luciani of Red Bank and Lizzy Stefanic of Matawan, with musical direction by Kara Leigh of Toms River, the crew also includes Lindsay Abbot as Producer, Felicia Russell as Stage Manager, and Darren DeAngelo of Keansburg as Set Designer. This stunning “jewel box” production from acclaimed composer Jason Robert Brown (Parade and The Bridges of Madison County) explores the ups and downs of a five-year marriage.

Thomas Krey of Barnegat and Emily DeMaio of Tinton Falls are Jamie Wellerstein and Cathy Hiatt, a rising novelist and a struggling actress who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. The show's unconventional structure consists of Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically; the two characters meet only once, at their wedding in the middle of the show. Mr. Krey is a recent graduate from the The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. His credits include Edward Bloom in Big Fish, Willard in Footloose, and Cousin Kevin in The Who’s Tommy. Ms. DeMaio is a local actor who has appeared on stage at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, Spring Lake Theatre in Spring Lake, Exit 82 in Toms River, and Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan. Her recent credits include Lucy in Avenue Q, Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors and Dragon/Mama Bear in Shrek. Both Mr. Krey and Ms. DeMaio are making their SCP debuts.

Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes with no intermission. Performances take place inside the All Saints’ Memorial Church located at 202 Navesink Ave, Atlantic Highlands, NJ. Parking is available for all patrons in the main parking lot. Additional parking is available on Oakdale Run and you may enter the main parking lot via the path by the mailbox. There will be a limited number of spots available in the upper parking area next to the church for those needing accommodation. If you would like to reserve one of these spots please email us.at [stonechurchplayersnj@gmail.com][2] and we can reserve a parking spot for you. Restrooms are available in the Parish House and refreshments will be available for purchase on the church terrace before and after the show. Seating is first come, first served.

We offer three ticket prices - $25 for adults, $20 for students, and $15 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at scp.booktix.com (includes a small service fee) or reserved by emailing us. Limited tickets will be available for purchase at the door (cash preferred). Please note, tickets purchased online are non-refundable. For more information visit our website, stonechurchplayers.org.

Come See The Crucible!

Stone Church Players (aka SCP) will present The Crucible opening Friday, September 15th and running for two weekends with performances at 7:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 pm on Sundays. This is the first installment of what is being dubbed ‘Classics on the Campus,’ riding on the coattails of the very successful ‘Shakespeare in the Sheds” series that has run for the last three summers. SCP board member Liz Carlin of Belmar is taking the reins as Director with Allie Cohen of Jackson as Assistant Director, and John Leslie of Oceanport as Stage Manager. The crew also includes Darren DeAngelo of Keansburg as Set Designer and Justin Giachetti of Staten Island as Costumer. In the words of Ms. Carlin, “The Crucible offers us a mirror into our humanity, but also acts as a bit of a cautionary tale - a reminder that so much harm can be done fighting in the name of moral superiority.” This exciting production sets the action outside on the grounds of the All Saints’ Memorial Church and will feature a real bonfire, transporting audiences back in time with SCP’s signature immersive experience.

Aaron Jackson of Ewing leads the cast as the stern and upright John Proctor, a local farmer who becomes entrenched in scandal and forced to fight for his reputation. Mr. Jackson was featured in our staged reading of Crimes of the Heart as Doc Porter and was last seen on the SCP mainstage as Claudius in last summer’s Hamlet. Bella Ashton, entering her senior year at Pace University as an Acting for Film & Television Major, plays the smart and vindictive Abigail Williams. A former graduate of the FPAC program at Howell High School, Ms. Ashton is making her SCP debut. John Paul Durazzo of Atlantic Highlands returns to the SCP stage as Reverend John Hale, a committed Christian and expert on witchcraft. Mr. Durazzo was nominated for a Perry for his work as Bud in last Fall’s The Bridges of Madison County at SCP.

Elizabeth Proctor, John Proctor’s virtuous but cold wife, is played by Rach Phelan of Edison. Ms. Phelan is an AMDA Conservatory graduate who was last seen as the Sour Kangaroo in the MAC Players’ production of Seussical. She is making her SCP debut. Also making his SCP debut, Jim Watson of Toms River plays the paranoid and power hungry Reverend Parris. A veteran of the stage, Mr. Watson’s credits include The Laramie Project and Play it Again, Sam. Mary Warren, a servant in the Proctor’s household, is played by Talia Strauss of Freehold, a student at Actors Playground School of Theatre and an aspiring film and television actress. Lorraine Stone of Eatontown plays Tituba, Reverend Parris’ slave from Barbados. An actor and performance artist, Ms. Stone is bringing the role of Tituba to life for the second time. Both Ms. Strauss and Ms. Stone are making their SCP debuts.

Rounding out the principal cast are Greg Brooks of Eatontown and Rod Belle of Westfield as Judge Danforth and Giles Corey. This is Mr. Brooks’ second SCP production having previously appeared as Prince Dauntless in the 2017 production of Once Upon a Mattress. Mr. Belle is making his SCP debut. His past credits include The Wedding Singer, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Ragtime. Also featured are Lindsay Abbot of Rumson and Jacob Turchi of Old Bridge as Ann and Thomas Putnam (doubled with Judge Hathorne), Leslie Patient of Highlands and Howard Smith of Oceanport as Rebecca and Francis Nurse, Ellie Sheehan of Hazlet as Willard/Hopkins, and a very talented group of young actors from Middletown - Vivian Oliver as Betty Parris, Jordyn Javaruski as Mercy Lewis, Daniella DeDonno as Susanna Walcott and Antonio Fagliarone as Ezekial Cheever.

Show synopsis (from Sharnbrook Mill Theatre): Salem, Massachusetts, 1692. A small group of girls 'cry out' against other people in the town, accusing them of witchcraft, in an attempt to cover up their own dabblings in the occult. Led by Abigail Williams, the girls' accusations cause a court to be formed to investigate the alleged crimes.

Running time: 2 hours, 50 minutes with a fifteen minute intermission. Street parking is available on Oakdale Run. You may enter the parking lot by the path next to the mailbox. A limited number of parking spots will be available in the main parking lot on a first come, first served basis. If you require accessible parking please email us at stonechurchplayersnj@gmail.com and we can reserve a parking spot for you. Restrooms are available in the Parish House and refreshments will be available for purchase on the patio. Seating is first come, first served. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at scp.booktix.com (includes a small service fee) or reserved by emailing us. Limited tickets will be available for purchase at the door (cash preferred). For more information visit our website, stonechurchplayers.org.

Getting to Know the Cast of The Last Five Years!

Rehearsals are underway for our fall musical, The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown. Our incredible cast features Thomas Krey of Barnegat as Jamie Wellerstein and Emily DeMaio of Tinton Falls as Cathy Hiatt. We asked them to reflect on their first week of rehearsals. Stay tuned for more as we count down to opening night on October 13th!

SCP: Okay, week one of rehearsal is done! How do you feel?

T: I feel great week 1 of rehearsal was fun and can’t wait for week 2
E: Feeling excited and ready to dive in more!

SCP: Any surprises?

T: There is always a snack or treat waiting for us to eat it.
E: Complimentary baked goods at every rehearsal!

SCP: What are you most looking forward to in this process?

T: I’m looking forward to collaborating on the character development of Jamie with the team.
E: Singing this insanely beautiful score and the opportunity to show up vulnerably, sharing different sides of myself through Cathy.

SCP: Plug yourselves:

T: Insta @thomas_krey21; TikTok @thomiboi
E: Follow me on IG @emilydemaio_realtor :)

Meet the Cast of The Crucible

Bella Ashton

Bella Ashton (Abigail Williams) cannot wait to take the stage in her first production with Stone Church Players. A former graduate of Howell High School’s ‘FPAC’ program, she is now entering her senior year at Pace University NYC as an Acting for Film & Television Major. Some of Bella’s favorite credits include “The Outsiders” (Cherry Valance), “The Little Mermaid” (Ariel), and “No Exit” (Estelle). She would like to thank director Liz Carlin and the entire cast/crew for facilitating this absolutely bewitching experience!

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Rod Belle

This marks Rod’s (Giles Corey) first appearance with SCP, his 5th show this year, he’s been quite the busy bee. He just completed a run of Grease with Madison Public Theater in August, previously West Side Story with Villagers in June, and so on. Other credits both NJ and NY (off Broadway) include A Chorus Line, Hair, Something Rotten, Young Frankenstein, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chicago, Legally Blonde, and others. He is mostly musical oriented, but has also done some dramas, for a change, including, The Miracle Worker, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Mousetrap, And Then There Were Non, Twelfth Night, and others. We is a WGA member (writers guild member) and studies with Broadway Dance Center in NY. He is also an award winning filmmaker who runs a micro production company. He is looking to branch more into Directing in 2024. What’s next? Stay tuned.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Greg Brooks

Excited to be returning to the Stone Church Players’ “stage”, Greg (Judge Danforth) reminisces on roles like The Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz, Mike in Philadelphia Story, Ozzie in On the Town, George in All My Sons, Sir Evelyn in Anything Goes, Nick in Baby, Juror #8 in 12 Angry Men, Riff in West Side Story and The Beast in Beauty and the Beast. A busy & benevolent English teacher, Greg can regularly be seen as Doting Father, cast opposite The Dutiful Nurse.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Daniella DeDonno

Daniella (Susanna Walcott) is excited to play Susanna in The Crucible, her first production with The Stone Church Players. She has appeared in local productions of The Adams Family (Ancestor), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Wife), Matilda (Older Student), Seussical and Elf the Musical (Ensemble). Daniella is a Senior in the MTPS Arts Academy, where she performed in When Shakespeare’s Ladies Meet (Juliet), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Fairy), A Chorus Line (Kristine) and Les Miserables (Featured Ensemble). She thanks her family for their support. She also thanks the amazing cast and crew of The Crucible.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

John Durazzo

John (Rev. Hale) is excited to be returning to Stone Church Players, after appearing in the 2022 Fall production of The Bridges of Madison County (Bud). He was recently seen in Premier Theatre Company’s production of Next To Normal (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine). Other favorites include: Les Miserables (The Bishop of Digne) with Plays-in-the-Park, Anything Goes (Sir Evelyn Oakleigh) with Phoenix Productions, and The Musical of Musicals (Billy) with Holmdel Theatre Company. John would like to thank the cast and crew for a wonderful experience as well as his partner, family, and friends for always being his greatest supporters.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Antonio Fagliarone

Antonio Fagliarone (Ezekiel Cheever) is from and still resides in Middletown New Jersey and this will be his very first production with The Stone Church Players. He is very excited for this experience and is appreciative of all the support he has gained so far. Community Credits: Rock of Ages (Franz) At BPAC. Matilda (Ensemble/Sergei) at Premier Theatre Company. Educational Credits: A Chorus Line (Mike) At Middletown High School North. Chicago (Ensemble) At Middletown High School North. Into the woods (Wolf/Cinderella's Prince) at Middletown High School North.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Aaron Jackson

Aaron "Juice" Jackson (John Proctor) is thrilled to be returning to the Stone Church Players in his first lead role since 2018. Past SCP credits include Claudius in Hamlet, Bottom in Midsummer Night's Dream, and Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Other favorite roles include Trunchbull in Matilda, and Kenny in Laughter on the 23rd Floor. He couldn't so this without the support of the amazing production staff, and you. Yes, you. Thank you for your support.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Jordyn Javaruski

Jordyn Javaruski (Mercy Lewis) is so excited to be doing “The Crucible” as her first show with SCP. She is currently a senior at Middletown High School North and is in the theater track of the Arts Academy. She has been in shows such as Les Miserables (Ensemble), A Chorus Line (Bebe Benzenheimer), and Much Ado About Nothing (Conrade). She would like to thank her family, coaches and the amazing cast and crew of the crucible for helping her thrive and make this an amazing experience!

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Vivian Oliver

Vivian (Betty Parris) is so excited to be in her first production with Stone Church. She is also very excited to be in the Crucible for her second time this year! She will be going into her Junior year at Middletown High School North. Some of her recent roles have been. Lori(A Chorus Line), Ensemble(American Idiot) and Thing 2(Suessical). She wants to give a huge thank you to her directors and fellow cast members for being so kind and teaching her so much.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Leslie Patient

Since the role of Polonius in SCP’s 2022 Hamlet, Leslie (Rebecca Nurse) has worked as crew in Bridges of Madison County, Mrs. Shellhammer in Miracle on 34th St, and most recently directed the witches in Macbeth. She is Dean of Student Life at Ranney School where she also teaches English and coaches Speech in the New Jersey Speech and Debate League. Leslie holds degrees in Religion (USC), Theatre (Villanova), and English (Rutgers) making a role in The Crucible a natural fit! She is grateful to be part of a show that reminds us all to be wary Because The Truth Matters.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Rach Phelan

Rach (Elizabeth Proctor) is so stoked to be in this production of The Crucible. She is an AMDA Conservatory grad and has been performing in the city and around New Jersey since graduating. Most recently she played The Sour Kangaroo in Suessical with Middletown Arts Center. Other favorite roles include; Amnesia in Nunsense with Centenary Stage Company, Meg in Little Women with Holmdel Theatre Company, and Tracy in Hairspray with Algonquin Arts Theatre. She is also a permanent cast member with Let’s Broadway NYC. Thanks to the cast and everyone at SCP!

Photo by Lindsay Abbot.

Ellie Sheehan

Ellie Sheehan (Willard/Hopkins) is excited to participate in her first performance with Stone Church Players. She resides in Hazlet, Nj and attends Brookdale Community College. Working with this cast and crew has been wonderful and she hopes you enjoy The Crucible. Past credits include: A Christmas Carol (Martha Cratchit), Myth Adventures (King Midas, Hera, Sailor), Brookdale One Acts, An Enemy of the People.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Howard Smith

This is Howard’s (Francis Nurse) first performance with the Stone Church company. He has performed in over 20 productions over the last decade including Cabaret, Man of La Mancha, Music Man, Christmas Carol, Romeo and Juliet, and To Kill a Mockingbird. Howard would like to thank his fellow performers and staff members for the opportunity to work with such generous professionals. Thanks to all my friends and family for their continued support, especially my best friend Ed!

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Lorraine Stone

Lorraine Stone (Tituba) is an actor and performance artist living in Eatontown. She is delighted to be making her debut with Stone Church Players and excited to bring the lively Tituba to life again.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Talia Strauss

Talia Strauss (Mary Warren) is bewitched to be making her debut with the Stone Church Players as Mary Warren in The Crucible. She has been studying acting and Meisner Technique with the great teachers at Actors Playground School of Theatre in Freehold, NJ since the start of 2017. Talia has previously acted in a few original social justice plays with the Playground Theatre Project, as well as a couple of short films including “Dress” (2020) with Burnt Toast Productions. In addition to acting and auditioning for TV and film, she has a strong love for writing, scrapbooking and lurking around in a Barnes & Noble or Michaels Craft Store.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Jacob Turchi

Jacob Turchi (Thomas Putnam/Judge Hathorne) is an actor from Old Bridge Township. He is a Rutgers University graduate with a minor in Theater Arts and is currently a student at Actors Playground in Freehold. His most recent performance was at The Barn Theater as Trip in a production of Other Desert Cities. This is his first production with Stone Church Players. He would like to thank his friends, family, teachers, fellow students at Actors Playground, and the cast and crew of The Crucible for their support.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Jim Watson

Jim Watson (Rev. Parris) is happy to make his Stone Church debut. Previous credits include Greg Pierotti, The Laramie Project; Andy, Lovers; Henry, Life X 3; Larry, The Dream of the Burning Boy; Bruce, Beyond Therapy; and Bogart, Play it Again, Sam. A construction safety professional and sometime writer, he lives in Toms River with his wife and children.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Announcing the cast of The Crucible

SCP proudly presents the cast of our upcoming production of “The Crucible”. Thank you to everyone who auditioned!

John Proctor: Aaron Jackson

Abigail Williams: Bella Ashton

Mary Warren: Talia Strauss

Mercy Lewis: Jordyn Javaruski

Susanna Walcott: Danielle DeDonno

Betty Parris: Vivian Oliver

Elizabeth Proctor: Rach Phelan

Reverend Hale: John Paul Durazzo

Reverend Parris: Jim Watson

Judge Hathorne/Thomas Putnam: Jacob Turchi

Judge Danforth: Greg Brooks

Willard/Hopkins: Ellie Sheehan

Ezekial Cheever: Antonio Fagliarone

Giles Corey: Rod Belle

Ann Putnam: Lindsay Abbot

Sarah Good/Martha Corey: Emily Mangiavillano

Francis Nurse: Howard Smith

Rebecca Nurse: Leslie Patient

Tituba: Lorraine Stone

Macbeth Opening This Weekend

The Stone Church Players’ (SCP’s) 15th anniversary season continues with the third installment of ‘Shakespeare in the Sheds’, Macbeth. Directed by Michael McClellan of Long Branch and assistant directed by Leslie Patient of Highlands, Macbeth will run for two weekends opening this Friday, June 2nd with performances Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 6 pm. The crew also includes Jessica Paul of Woodbridge as Stage Manager, Darren DeAngelo of Keansburg as Set and Lighting Designer, and Donna Craig of Belmar as Costume Designer. Mr. McClellan, who also serves as the group’s Artistic Director, makes great use of the grounds of the All Saints’ Memorial Church in Atlantic Highlands to tell this story infusing a sense of interactivity between the actors and the audience that has come to be a trademark of SCP productions.

Jesse R. Luciani of Red Bank leads the cast as the bewitched Macbeth, a brave Scottish general in King Duncan’s army. Mr. Luciani, a graduate of the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, recently served as Assistant Director of last fall’s The Bridges of Madison County and was last seen on the SCP mainstage as Laertes in Hamlet.  Allie G. Cohen of Jackson plays the strong, ruthless, and ambitious Lady MacBeth, wife of MacBeth. Ms. Cohen is a 2014 graduate of Muhlenberg College and holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts. She was last seen on the SCP stage as Lenny in the February staged reading of Crimes of the Heart, and assistant directed the last two installments of Shakespeare in the Sheds.

Mariyah Maister of Old Bridge, Sophia Rivera of Howell, and Elliot Maher of Howell play the three witches, prophets who hail Macbeth early in the play and predict his ascent to kingship. Ms. Maister was last seen in Main Street Theater’s most recent production, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. She is making her SCP debut. Ms. Rivera is also making her SCP debut. A junior in the FPAC Acting program at Howell High School, her recent credits include Howell High School’s production of Matilda, for which she received a Basie Nomination. Fellow FPAC and Basie-nominated actor Elliot Maher is returning to the SCP stage after having appeared in the ensemble of the October production of The Bridges of Madison County.

Mike Marnell of Hazlet plays Macduff, a loyal thane in the service of King Duncan and later Malcolm, the son of Duncan. Mr. Marnell is making his community theater debut after having appeared in numerous productions as a student and alumnus of Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken.

Rounding out the principal cast are Andrew Struse of Middletown as Banquo and Dave Harris of Red Bank as King Duncan. Mr. Struse is a veteran character actor and SCP favorite. Macbeth is his seventh Shakespeare production with SCP having most recently portrayed Rosenkrantz in last year’s Hamlet. No stranger to local theater, Mr. Harris has appeared in over 100 community theater performances, but Macbeth marks his SCP debut. Also featured are Harriet Ulmer of Red Bank and Karlsruhe, Germany as Hecate/Lady Macduff, Tori Dillon of Marlboro as Malcolm, Theodore Vaysberg of Marlboro as Lennox, and Elaina Pecora of Middletown as Ross.

Running time: 2 hours, 40 minutes including a ten-minute intermission. Street parking is available on Oakdale Run. You may enter the parking lot by the path next to the mailbox. A limited amount of accessible parking spots will be available in the main parking lot. Please email us at stonechurchplayersnj@gmail.com and we can reserve a parking spot for you. Restrooms are available in the Parish House and refreshments will be available for purchase on the patio. Seating is first come, first served. Masks are not required. We offer three ticket prices - $20 for adults, $15 for students, and $10 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at scp.booktix.com (includes a small service fee) or reserved by emailing us. Limited tickets will be available for purchase at the door (cash preferred). For more information visit our website, stonechurchplayers.org.

Meet the Cast of Macbeth

Tori Dillon

Tori Dillon (Malcolm) is ecstatic to be part of her third production and first Shakespeare at SCP! She’s a senior in the FPAC Acting program at Howell High School and is also a member of their varsity Acappella team, Rebel Remix. Some of her previous credits include Chick Boyle (Crimes of the Heart), Carolyn (Bridges of Madison County), Amy (Little Women), for which she received a Broadway World nomination, and Miss Blacklock (A Murder is Announced), for which she received a Basie Award nomination. She wishes to thank all her cast mates and directors for their hard work on this show!

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Dave Harris

Dave Harris (Duncan, Doctor, Siward) is a veteran of more than 100 shows in local community theaters, but this marks his debut at Stone Church. Previous appearances in Shakespeare productions include Romeo and Juliet, Comedy of Errors and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He can be seen in the comedy series On Our Own on Prime Video. He sends all his love to Mary, who has somehow managed to put up with him for 52 years.

Photo by Elaina Pecora

Jesse R. Luciani

Jesse R. Luciani (Macbeth) is very excited to be in this production of Macbeth. Jesse’s most recent work includes Mr. Van Daan (Diary of Anne Frank), Laertes (Hamlet), and Barnett Lloyd (Crimes of the Heart). Jesse would like to thank all of his friends, family, and his fellow cast members for their continued support during this project!

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Elliot Maher

Elliot Maher (Witch Three) is excited to be a part of their second show with SCP! They are a junior in the FPAC Acting program at Howell High School. Previous credits include Patrick in Agatha Christie’s A Murder is Announced, in which they were nominated for a Basie Award, and Ensemble in Matilda. They wish everyone involved in the production the best and thank them for all their support!

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Mariya Maister

Mariya Maister (Witch One ) is so excited about her first show with the Stone Church Players! After spending much of her childhood on a stage Mariya is happy to be re-discovering her passion for theater after 14 long years of "adulting". For the past 2 years, she has been in several productions with the Main Street Theatre Company in Old Bridge. Some of her previous roles include a Protean (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), Widow Piper (Babes in Toyland), Laya Dina and Sarah (Letters to Sala) and Chef Ramona (Dinner at 8 Dead by 9). The thanks her friends and family and looks forward to many more shows with SCP!

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Mike Marnell

Mike Marnell (MacDuff) is overjoyed to make his SCP and community theater debut! As a Student and Alumnus of Stevens Institute of Technology, he has played numerous roles including: Friar Lawrence (Romeo and Juliet), Dromio of Ephesus (Comedy of Errors), Sir Toby Belch (Twelfth Night), Puck (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Verges/Balthasar (Much Ado About Nothing), Hysterium (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), and Hamlet/Player King (Hamlet). Offstage, he is an engineer, singer, propmaker, and avid cosplayer. He would like to thank the cast and crew for this wonderful experience and his mom for her unwavering support.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Elaina Pecora

Elaina Pecora (Ross) is very excited to be a part of her second Stone Church Players production! She is from Middletown NJ, and she was involved with the previous years Shakespeare in the Sheds production of Hamlet (Horatio). She is a senior at Middletown High School North and will be attending SUNY Binghamton University this upcoming fall to study English. Past credits include: Tinkerbell (Tinkerbell) and Alice in Wonderland (White Rabbit) with Red Bank Theatre for Young Audiences, as well as Les Miserables (Ensemble/Soloist), The Crucible (Tabitha), A Chorus Line (Ensemble), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Philostrate) with the MHSN Performing Arts Dept.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Sophia Rivera

Sophia Rivera (Witch Two) is so excited to be a part of this wonderful production. This is her first show with SCP. She is a junior in the FPAC Acting program at Howell High School. Her recent credits include Howell High School’s productions of Young Frankenstein (Dance Ensemble), and Matilda (Acrobat), for which she received a Basie Nomination for. She would like to thank her directors and cast mates for all of their hard work and support. Break legs!

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Andrew Struse

Andrew Struse (Banquo)-Andrew returns to the Stone Church Players for his 7th go-around with The Bard. A veteran character actor of the community scene, Andrew has graced the SCP stage with his idiosyncratic portrayals of Lord Capulet, Baptista, Thisbe, King Alonso, Don John and Rosenkranz. Andrew is delighted to be back with many of his cast mates from past years and would like to thank our fearless and magnanimous leader, Michael, for his unwavering enthusiasm, guidance and baked goods.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Harriet Ulmer

Harriet Ulmer (Hecate/Lady MacDuff) is very excited to be in her first (and last U.S.) production with the Stone Church Players! She is a German exchange student that will be heading home shortly after closing night, and will cherish her first ever Shakespeare experience. Harriet is delighted to work with such a beautiful and talented cast and crew. She would also like to give credit to her family and friends from across the pond who encouraged her to study abroad.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot

Theodore Vaysberg

Theodore Vaysberg (Lennox) is thrilled to make his SCP debut with this Shakespeare in the Sheds production. His favorite recent roles have included Inspector Craddock in A Murder is Announced and The Escapologist in Matilda with the Howell High School Drama Club. He is continuing his studies abroad with the University of Essex this fall. He'd like to thank his family and friends for getting him far enough to make his march towards Birnam.

Photo by Lindsay Abbot.

Announcing the cast of Macbeth

SCP proudly presents the cast of our upcoming production of “Macbeth”. Thank you to everyone who auditioned!

Macbeth: Jesse R. Luciani

Lady Macbeth: Allie G. Cohen

The Witches: Dawn Witek, Sophia Rivera, Elliot Maher

Banquo: Andrew Struse

King Duncan: Dave Harris

Macduff: Michael Marnell

Malcolm: Tori Dillon

Hecate: Henriette Ulmer

Lenox: Theodore Vaysberg

Ross: Elaina Pecora

"Miracle" Wrap-Up

This past weekend, we closed out our 2022 season with “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play”. We were lucky enough to work with local photographer, John Posada, so please enjoy these photos from the show!

We look forward to seeing you in the new year (and season) starting in February, with our semi-staged reading of “Crimes of the Heart” by Beth Henley, directed by Liz Carlin.