originally published: 03/31/2016
(MAPLEWOOD, NJ) – In Marc Palmieri’s comedy, The Groundling, Long Island landscaper Bob Malone has been infected by the writing bug: after accidentally wandering into a low-rent production of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labor’s Lost, he feels compelled to write his own verse play about his troubled marriage. Malone pays a desperate New York director to make actors out of his landscape crew in order to present a single performance in the garage for friends and family – if only Bob’s angry wife doesn’t run them all over with the Land Rover first.
The Theater Project presents The Groundling weekends from April 14-24. Performances take place Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at 8:00pm, and Sunday matinees at 2:00pm. The Theater Project is located at the Burgdorff Center, 10 Durand Rd, Maplewood, NJ. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors, and $15 for students. There is a $7 discount for NJ Education Association members.
The comedy that ensues is unexpectedly laced with sharp insights about love and loss, life in and out of the theater, and about the power of drama to hold a mirror up to life -- even when the glass is slightly cracked.
After its premiere in New York, TheaterMania,com called The Groundling “one of the surprise downtown gems of the season” with “gut-busting laughs and a moving story.”
Known for presenting off-Broadway-quality theater in an intimate environment, Theater Project’s production of The Groundling features a talented cast of actors including company veterans Dennis DaPrile, Jeff Maschi, Barbara Guidi, and Gary Glor. Lori McNally, Jeff Newman and Marissa Peragine are new to the company.
Thanks to the generosity of the Lions Club and the cooperation of the Union County Association for the Blind, a special audio described version of the play will be performed on April 21. During the show, trained narrators will describe the visual element of the scenes in vivid detail for those in the audience who are visually impaired. For information about The Groundling and to purchase tickets visit The Theater Project’s website at www.thetheaterproject.org
About The Theater Project (TTP):
Founded in 1994, The Theater Project under the leadership of Mark Spina, Artistic Director has stimulated New Jersey audiences with award-winning thought provoking theater. The Theater Project offers venues for actors, writers and directors of all ages. In addition, TTP awards scholarships and incentives for young playwrights, young filmmakers, and young actors engaged in the tasks of organizing and telling a story.
Providing a forum to express ideas that spark the imagination, The Theater Project presents its main stage season and children’s classes at the Burgdorff Cultural Center in Maplewood, New Jersey. TTP also maintains a strong presence in Cranford, New Jersey through a monthly staged reading and discussion series showcasing the work of TTP’s Playwrights Workshop. For more information, visit www.thetheaterproject.org
PHOTO: Jeff Maschi, standing center -- also standing Mike Newman, Barbara Guidi, Jeff Maschi, Marissa Peragine; seated - Dennis DaPrile, Gary Glor and Lori McNally PHOTO CREDIT: Mary Iannelli
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