From the Page to the Stage, a unique program with a tantalizing twist, began with a student playwriting contest in the spring of 2003 and culminated with theatrical performances that were cast and directed by adults in our community in December 2003.
During the first phase of this program, a total of 60, ten-minute plays were submitted by students in grades five through twelve. All were reviewed by a panel of judges consisting of teachers, journalists, playwrights and people involved in local theater. The contest theme was "Overcoming Obstacles, Large and Small." Of the 60 original scripts received, the following eight were chosen to be performed on the Governor Livingston High School stage.
The eight judges who volunteered to carefully read and evaluate each play were:
- Gina Comprelli, fifth grade teacher at Thomas Hughes School
- Eric Haffen, Artistic Director of the Bickford Theater at the Morris Museum
- Elaine Insinnia, retired Berkeley Heights teacher
- Joan Masini, part time Berkeley Heights teacher for 20 years
- David Noonan, Senior Editor Newsweek Magazine
- Margaret Noonan, Artistic Director of Revolving Door Studios
- Jennifer Pagano, Playwright
- Susan Sample-Duffy, Language Arts teacher at Governor Livingston High School
The BHEF was grateful to the following teachers and supervisors who helped coordinate the contest within the schools:
Kitty Venditti ~ Judith Mulder ~ Lisa Babic ~ Susan Sample-Duffy
Julie Gentile ~ Maryann Confroy ~ Ellen Masters ~ JoAnne Barton
Auditions were held in June 2003 as adults from all aspects of our community came out to help bring the student playwright's scripts "from the page - to the stage." This innovative program brought very brave teachers, a talented principal, members of the Board of Education, our Superintendent of Schools, the mayor of Berkeley Heights, athletic coaches, "Ziggy" from the post office and many other residents together in a community-wide effort to support the BHEF and ultimately support the students in our schools.
The creators, directors, production crew and cast worked diligently throughout the fall to help bring the student's plays to life. Excitement and enthusiasm grew as the countless hours of rehearsing, perfecting sound, lighting and staging, coordinating ticket sales, advertising and performance day logistics were soon to be rewarded. As the scheduled performance dates approached, however, disturbing weather reports put a doubt in everyone's mind as to whether or not the show would actually go on. |
Winners of 2003 Playwriting Contest
- "Bus Stop Blues" by Alex Pellegrino, Kara Zaccardi, Alex Pastore, and Lena Krause, grade 5 (Directed by Eve Balboni)
- "Son of God" by Jon Fuller, grade 8 (Directed by Aimee Kaufman)
- "Who to Please" by Samantha Penabad, grade 8 (Directed by Eve Balboni)
- "Necrophobia" by Michael Stallone, grade 8 (Directed by Jane Brown)
- "Romeo and Juliettes" by Kelsey Marie Hall, Grade 8 (Directed by Eve Balboni)
- "Nutella and Pink Lemonade" by Katie Zaeh, grade 9 (Directed by Weslee Lynch)
- "Got Stoges?" by Brianna Sullivan, grade 9 (Directed by Lisa Babic)
- "The Treaty" by Debbie Hong, grade 11 (Directed by Kathi Donner)
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