Bergen County Players to present Neil Simon's CHAPTER TWO

Neil Simon returns to Oradell as the Bergen County Players close the mainstage portion of their 2016-2017 season with his semi-autobiographical comedy, the Tony Award-nominated "Chapter Two".

Under veteran BCP director Jerry Pettinati, the play starts its run on Saturday, May 6, ending on Saturday, June 4. The curtain goes up for Friday and Saturday performances at 8 pm, with Sunday matinees at 2 pm. There will be no performances on May 14 (Mother's Day) or May 26-28 (Memorial Day weekend). It will be presented at the Little Firehouse Theatre, 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell.

Nominated for a Tony Award as Best Play, "Chapter Two" is Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical play about the coping of a recently widowed writer, George Schneider (Howell Mayer of Saddle Brook), who is introduced by his press agent brother (Seth Kaplan of River Vale) to soap opera actress Jennie Malone (Sandi Higgins of Westwood). Jennie's marriage to a football player has dissolved after six years. Both are uncertain of themselves as ready to start dating and developing a new romance when the breakup is so soon and George has recurring memories of his deceased wife, Barbara. In a hilarious, farcical subplot, Leo has a fling with Faye (Pauline Quinones of Elmsford, NY), Jennie's neurotic married friend. "Lovely whimsical and touching and always funny [....] most of the time downright hilarious." - New York Post

Director Jerry Pettinati of Fair Lawn, whose past BCP directing credits include "Death of a Salesman", "Sideman", "Bus Stop" and "Bell, Book and Candle", along with such Neil Simon staples as "The Odd Couple", "Rumors" and "I Ought to Be in Pictures", noted how "Chapter Two marks a real blending of both drama and comedy, as Simon in his inimitable way addresses the history of his own life and his relationship with his then-wife, Marsha Mason".

The production team, besides Director Pettinati, includes David Luke of Mahwah (Producer), Cliff Dreispan of North Bergen (Assistant to the Director), Michael Smith of Oradell (Set Design/Construction, Photography), Rhea Smith of Oradell (Décor), Michele Roth of New Milford (Stage Manager), Gerard Boucier of Hillsdale (Lighting Design), Tim Larsen of Hackensack (Sound Design), Terri Caust of Glen Rock (Costumer), Elaine D'Addezio of New Providence (Dresser and Hair), Elissa Hickey of Oradell (Makeup), Rich Ciero of Oradell and Susan Faccone of Paramus (Props), Kathleen Ruland of Lodi (Lighting Operation), Anthony Ventola of Oradell (Sound Operation), Peter Caust of Glen Rock (Publicity), Marci K. Weinstein (Program Notes) and Debbie Zika of Hillsdale (Member-at-Large).

All performances for "Chapter Two" take place at The Little Firehouse
Theatre at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, home to the Bergen County Players since 1949. Performance times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm, beginning Saturday May 6 thru Saturday June 4. There will be no performances on May 14 (Mother's Day) or May 26-28 (Memorial Day weekend).

Tickets are $21 for Friday and Saturday performances and $17 for Sunday matinees and 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. Visa, Master Card and American Express are accepted.

BCP's popular Questions & Artists talkback session will be held following the performance on Friday, May 12. The session is included in the ticket price. Those interested in Group Sales of 20 or more tickets can email groups@bcplayers.org or call the main number and press #6.

A new program is now available for qualified non-profit organizations to use one performance of each production as a fundraising event. The group will book the house at a deeply discounted price and then resell the tickets at a price of their choosing, with the difference in price kept by the group. The available date is the Thursday of each show's final weekend. Interested groups can email fundraising@bcplayers.org for more information

Parking is free at the Park Avenue municipal lot, across the street, one-half block north of the theatre.

The Bergen County Players has grown tremendously from its roots as a small community theatre when it was founded in 1932; today, more than 300 volunteer members, working on and off stage, make possible the nine productions presented each season. The remaining Second Stage production is Standing on Ceremony (June 10th to June 11th).

Photo by Michael Smith

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