Backstage Pass

In this podcast we talk with the cast of Hollywood Arms, produced by Maurer Productions OnStage at the Kelsey Theatre in West Windsor, NJ. Host John Maurer talks with the director and the cast about the creative challenges of bringing Carol Burnett's childhood to the stage. Guests include Director Dan Maurer and actors Leta Gilbert as Louise, Laurie Hardy as Nanny, Nicole Spadafino as Older Helen, and Kirsten Pasewaldt as Young Helen.

This podcast features a disussion with the production team of Cheng/Ferrara's Jekyll and Hyde being staged at the Kelsey Theatre in West Windsor, NJ. Our guests include Director Frank Ferrara, Musical Director Nick Cheng, technical director Judi Parish and actor Meera Mohan, who plays Lucy.

This podcast features a light hearted talk about The Musical of Musicals (the Musical), a parody of musical styles being produced by the Pennington Players at the Kelsey theatre in West Windsor, NJ. Our guests include Director Kyrus Westcott, Stage Manager John Boccanfuso, Musical Director Wayne Irons, Choreographer Talia Shumsonk, and from the cast Dave Destro, Rache Tovar, Katie Sheffer-Vicari and Andrew Young.

This podcast features a talk about the musical Assassins, being produced by Cheng/Ferrara Productions at the Kelsey theatre in West Windsor NJ. Our guests include Director Frank Ferrara, Technical Director Judi Parrish, Kyrus Westcott who plays the Balladeer, John Zimmerman who plays Charles Julius Guiteau, Jennifer Devenio who plays Sara Jane Moore and Andrew Young who plays the Proprietor.

This podcast features a talk about the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat being produced by Yardley Players at the Kelsey theatre in West Windsor NJ. Our guests include Director Marge Swider, Walter Smyth who Plays Potiphar, Musical Director and Narrator Laurie Gougher, and Rob Gougher, who plays Simeon.

This podcast features a talk about the play The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, being produced as part of the 7th Annual James Tolin Memorial Fund's annual Fundraising event, at the Kelsey theatre in West Windsor NJ. Our guests include Director Brian Bara, Producer Tracy Antozzeski and cast members Damian Geata, Maddie Patrick and Kathy Garofano.

This podcast features a talk about Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, being produced by Pierrot Productions at the Kelsey Theatre on the West Windsor Campus of Mercer County Community College. Our guests include Director Peter Labriola, Vocal Director Pat Masterson and actors Patrick Andrae as Sweeney Todd and Debbie Schrager as Nellie Lovett.

This podcast features a talk about Cheng/Ferrara Productions' presentation of High School Musical, being staged at the Kelsey Theatre on the West Windsor Campus of Mercer County Community College. Our guests include Director Frank Ferrara, Vocal Director Shannon Ferrara, Choreographer Jillian Potash and Actor Kyrus Westcott.

This podcast features a talk about the Pennington Players' Production of The Wiz being produced at the Kelsey Theatre on the West Windsor Campus of Mercer County Community College. Our guests include the Pennington Players President and Producer Judi Parrish, director Kyrus Westcott and Sasha Alexandria who plays Dorothy.

This podcast features a talk about Pierrot Productions' presentation of The Sunshine Boys being produced at the Kelsey Theatre on the West Windsor Campus of Mercer County Community College. Our guests include the director Ruth Markoe and actors Paul Saunders who plays Willy Clark and Charlie Leeder who plays Al Lewis.

This podcast features a talk about a new re-invisioning of the classic Shakespeare Play Romeo and Juliet being presented at Arts YOUniversity in Hamilton NJ. Our guests include the Director Michael McClure, Music Director Tom Buckley and actors Alana Jaskir who plays Juliet, Kimberly Teller who plays Mercutio and Rachel Rocco who plays the Nurse

This podcast, hosted by Diana Gilman Maurer, features a talk about Man of La Mancha being presented by Maurer Productions OnStage at the Kelsey Theatre in West Windsor NJ. Our guests include the Director John Maurer, Musical Director Israel “Buzz” Herman, and Actors Daniel Petrovich who plays Don Quixote, Sam Rosalsky who plays Sancho Panza and Meera Mohan who plays Aldonza.

This podcast features a discussion about the New Jersey Association of Community Theaters. Our guests include Amy Levine and Patrick Starega, the newly elected president and vice president of NJACT. Together we discuss the mission and history of the organization, its benefits to the theater community, the Perry Awards selection process, what goes into producing the Annual Perry Awards Ceremony, the state of the organization today and what NJACT plans for the future.

This podcast features a talk about Pinworth Productions' presentation of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? being presented at the Kelsey Theatre in West Windsor NJ. Our guests include the Director Lou Stalsworth, and Actors John Shaken-Kaye who plays George and Ruth Markoe who plays Martha.

This podcast features a talk with some of the production crew and cast of Yardley Players' production of Rumplestiltskin is My Name being presented at the Kelsey Theatre in West Windsor NJ. Our guests include the Director/Music Director Laurie Gougher, Producer Mike DiIorio, Actors Paul McGlew, Matthew Blazejewski and MaryAnn Wiley.

This podcast features a talk with the director and cast of Twas the Night Before Christmas, being presented at the Kelsey Theatre in West Windsor NJ. Our guests include the Director, Diane Wargo, Actor Ken Ambs who plays Clement Moore and Actor John Costello who plays Mr. Kringle.

This podcast features a talk with some of the cast and crew of The King and I being presented by Playful Theatre Productions at the Kelsey Theatre in West Windsor NJ. Our guests include Director Paula Barson, Producer Suzanne Smith, Choreographer Hilary Goldman and cast members Liz Rzasa and Fred Gropper.

This episode features a discussion about the Rocky Horror Show being presented by ChangFerrara productions at the Kelsey Theatre in West Windsor NJ. Our guests include the Director, Frank Ferrara, Musical Director, Nicolas Chang and Set Designer Judi Parrish.

This is part 2 of our episode featuring a round-table discussion about children in theatre. What are some of the benefits for children who perform in theatre? How can a parent get their child started? What can the child and the parent expect? These and other questions are answered by Susanne Trani McClure, Artistic Director of Arts YOUniversity, a performing arts school based in Hamilton, NJ; Diane Wargo, Artistic Director of the theatre company Stars in the Park; and M. Kitty Getlik, Artistic Director of the Kelsey Theatre in West Windsor, NJ.

This is part 1 of our episode featuring a round-table discussion about children in theatre. What are some of the benefits for children who perform in theatre? How can a parent get their child started? What can the child and the parent expect? These and other questions are answered by Susanne Trani McClure, Artistic Director of Arts YOUniversity, a performing arts school based in Hamilton, NJ; Diane Wargo, Artistic Director of the theatre company Stars in the Park; and M. Kitty Getlik, Artistic Director of the Kelsey Theatre in West Windsor, NJ.

This program features a round-table discussion about Dames at Sea being presented by Pierrot Production at the Kelsey Theatre on the West Windsor Campus of Mercer County Community College. The show opens on October 17th and our Guests for this discussion include Producer/Director Peter LaBriola, Musical Director Lou Woodruff, Vocal Director Pam Sharples, Choreographer Kat Ross and Actress Melissa Rittmann.

This program features a round-table discussion about Shakespeare 70s' production of The Skin of Our Teeth opening at Kendall Hall on the Campus of The College of New Jersey on September 26th, 2008. Guests include producer Janet Quartarone, director Brian Bara, Designer and Tech director Dale Simon, Puppet Master Walt Cupit and Actor Damien Gaeta who plays Henry.

This episode features a discussion about NJACT's 2008 Perry Awards. Guests include M. Kitty Getlik (Hamilton, NJ), who is the Artistic Director of Kelsey Theatre and a 3-time Perry nominee for Outstanding Lighting Design. Kyrus Westcott (Hamilton, NJ), producer of "NKD: Sex, Lies, Life," who has been nominated this year for Outstanding Production of an Original Play. And John Maurer (Ewing, NJ), co-founder of the theatre company Maurer Productions OnStage. John is a 6-time Perry Award nominee himself, and executive producer of last season's "Driving Miss Daisy" and "Singin’ in the Rain," which have received a total of 17 nominations.

This program features a visit with cast and crew members of Yardley Players' production of "Moon Over Buffalo" opening at Kelsey Theatre on September 19, 2008. Guests include director Howard Matter, producer Marge Swider, and actors Laurie Hardy and Kurt Penney.

This program features an interview with Chris Ghaffoor, president of the Mercer County Community College Drama Club and producer of the Late Night Series. Chris talks about LNS, the off-the-hook evening of sometimes R-rated entertainment put on by and for young adults. WARNING: this interview contains adult language and situations.

This program features a round-table discussion about Maurer Productions OnStage's presentation of "Brighton Beach Memoirs" opening at Kelsey Theatre on October 3, 2008. Guests include director Alycia Bauch-Cantor (Ewing, NJ), actor Dominick Sannelli (Levittown, PA) who stars as Eugene Jerome, actress Jennifer Devinio (Monroe Township, NJ), who plays his mother Kate, and actress Leta Brehme Gilbert (Yardley, PA), who plays his Aunt Blanche.