Little Firehouse Theatre
298 Kinderkamack Road
Oradell, NJ 07649

  PRESS RELEASE

BERGEN COUNTY PLAYERS HEATS UP THE SEASON WITH
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS' CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF

Oradell, NJ, January 28, 2010

The Bergen County Players (BCP) presents Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Under the direction of Jacqueline McElroy-Poquette, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof will be performed at the Little Firehouse Theatre in Oradell from February 13th through March 6th, with shows at 8pm on Friday and Saturday and 2pm on Sunday.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.bcplayers.org, by calling 201-261-4200 or by visiting the box office at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell during regular box office hours.

Tennessee Williams’ classic play won both the Pulitzer Prize and the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award in 1955. Now, more than 50 years later, Williams’ craft still entertains, enlightens and bares men’s souls.

In this story of a Southern family in crisis, Williams focuses on the turbulent relationship of Brick and Maggie “the Cat” Pollitt. Maggie, though witty and beautiful, finds herself suffering in an unfulfilling marriage. Brick, an aging football hero, has neglected his wife and further infuriates her by ignoring his brother’s attempts to gain control of the family fortune.

They interact with Brick’s family over the course of an evening gathering at the family estate in Mississippi. The family patriarch, Big Daddy, is unaware that he has cancer and will not live to see another birthday; his doctors and family have conspired to keep this information from him and his wife. His relatives are in attendance and attempt to present themselves in the best possible light, hoping to receive the definitive share of Big Daddy’s enormous wealth. This timeless drama has shattering moments of revelation that today pack the same emotional punch audiences experienced half a century ago.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is directed by BCP Life Member Jacqueline McElroy-Poquette, whose long list of directorial credits includes BCP’s production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane, which garnered nine Perry Award Nominations, including Outstanding Production.  “I have always been intrigued by the life and work of Tennessee Williams and his ability to create such vibrant characterizations of people you would certainly not meet every day – but ones you would never forget,” says McElroy-Poquette. “Cat is a prime example of a successful play that has seen many lives; the original script, the first Broadway production and an Oscar-nominated movie. I am thrilled to have the chance to work with such wonderful material.” McElroy-Poquette resides in Westwood with her husband Ray, who designed lights for the show.

The cast is made up of veteran performers from across Northern New Jersey.  Christine Laydon of Bloomfield portrays Maggie the Cat opposite Montclair’s Glen Rombough as Brick Politt. They are joined by Frank Osmers of Haworth as Big Daddy and Melissa Surow of West Orange as Big Mama. Brick’s brother Gooper and sister-in-law Mae are played by Jon Cole of Glen Rock and Janica Carpenter of Old Tappan. Rounding out the talented cast are Frank McDonnell of River Edge as Reverend Tooker, Phil Marshall of New Milford as Dr. Baugh, and as the Politt grandchildren, Laura Ramsay of Bergenfield, Milo Cassarino of Teaneck and Aidan Biddle of Montvale.

The team behind the scenes of this sultry drama includes Jacqueline McElroy-Poquette (Director); Michele Roth (Producer); Myra Richards (Assistant to the Director); David Arts (Stage Manager); Rob Bazzanella (Set Design/Construction); Marci K. Weinstein (Décor); Ray Poquette (Lighting Design); Rob DeScherer (Sound Design); Katie Lupfer (Costumes); Pat Bain (Properties); Elizabeth Morris (Crew); Jill Hendrickson (Lighting Operator); Darren Carfano (Sound Operator); Chris Siley (Make-Up); Megan Taylor (Publicity); Alan Zenreich (Photography); Stephanie Bazzanella (Programs); Shari Buchwald (Programs and Program Notes); and Joanna Bell (Member-at-Large).

TICKET AND SCHEDULE INFORMATION

• All performances take place at The Little Firehouse Theatre at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, NJ.  The show will run from February 13 – March 6, 2010, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. Tickets are $19 (Fri/Sat) and $16 (Sun), and can be purchased online at www.bcplayers.org, by calling 201-261-4200, or by visiting the box office during regular box office hours.  Visa, Master Card, and American Express are accepted.
• An Audience Q & A (“Questions & Artists”) is scheduled for February 19^th.  Admission is included in the cost of the ticket.
• Those interested in benefit theater parties or group sales can call (201) 262-0515.
• Student Rush tickets available for $5 for students age 25 and under with valid ID, 30 minutes prior to curtain. One ticket per ID. Cash only. Students can also guarantee their seats in advance either online or through the box office for the special student price of just $14.00.
• Parking is free at the Park Avenue municipal lot, across the street, one-half block north of the theater.

The Bergen County Players has grown tremendously from its roots as a small community theater when it was founded in 1932; today, nearly 300 volunteer members, working on and off stage, make possible the eight productions presented each season.  The company's professional alumni include Tony Award-nominated actress Beth Fowler (The Boy From Oz, Sweeney Todd), Tony Award-winning actor Robert Sean Leonard (FOX’s House, The Invention of Love), Tony Award-nominated director Robert Jess Roth (Beauty and the Beast, Lestat), and international best-selling suspense author Mary Higgins Clark, just to name a few.  In May 2001, Tony Award-winning playwright and composer Rupert Holmes (Curtains, The Mystery of Edwin Drood) collaborated with the Bergen County Players to premier his new play at the Little Firehouse Theatre, a comic mystery called Thumbs.

Information on the remaining shows in the 2009-2010 season can be found at www.bcplayers.org.

The Bergen County Players, Inc., is a non-Equity, non-profit community theatre company dedicated to presenting quality productions for the enrichment of the community.