James Tolin Memorial Fund Is Back with Die, Mommie Die!

A fallen pop diva battles her vicious husband, vengeful children and a hornet's nest of secrets in the hilarious thriller "Die, Mommie Die!" As part of its ninth annual theater fundraising weekend, the James Tolin Memorial Fund (JTMF) brings this campy spoof to life at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, June 26 at 2 p.m. The Friday and Saturday shows will feature a silent auction of authentic theater memorabilia starting at 7 p.m., along with a catered reception. Proceeds benefit the Open Arms Foundation and the James Tolin Memorial Scholarship at MCCC. Kelsey Theatre is located on Mercer's West Windsor campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road.

Written by Tony nominated theater veteran Charles Busch, "Die, Mommie, Die!" is the melodramatic tale of faded singer Angela Arden, who is trapped in a bad marriage and attempts to find happiness in the arms of a younger man. When Arden's husband turns up murdered, daughter Edith quickly suspects her mother and joins forces with her brother to get revenge. The show was adapted for the big screen in 2003, starring Jason Priestly as the younger man and Busch as the lead character.

Directed by Brian A. Bara of Levittown, Pa., JTMF's "Die, Mommie Die!" features Damian Gaeta of Hamilton, D.C. Hamm of Wrightstown, Kathy Garofano of Morrisville, Pa., Matty Daley of Toms River, Kelly Reilly of Mercerville, and John Devennie of Mercerville.

Over the past eight years, the JTMF has raised more than $50,000 for AIDS and arts education charities. Past shows presented by the group at Kelsey Theatre include such LGBT-related plays as "Jeffrey," "Torch Song Trilogy," "Mr. Charles" and "Psycho Beach Party," another of Busch's parodies of 1960s cult movie classics.

According to Tracy Antozzeski, JTMF's co-founder and president, the actors and production staff welcome the chance to come back to Kelsey Theatre each year to honor the memory of James Tolin, an MCCC Theatre alumnus who died in 2002. "We are very excited to work with these fine actors and are looking forward to another memorable and incredibly fun production," Antozzeski said. For more information about the James Tolin Memorial Fund, visit www.jtmf.org.

Tickets for the June 24 and 25 benefit shows are $25. Tickets for the June 26 show are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for students. (The show contains adult themes and language and is intended for mature audiences). Tickets may be purchased online at www.kelseytheatre.net or by calling the Kelsey Box Office at 609-570-3333. Kelsey Theatre is wheelchair accessible and free parking is available next to the theater.

Tickets for Kelsey's Summer Series are on sale now. Offerings include "Twelfth Night" July 1-10; "Oklahoma!" July 15-24; "13 the Musical" July 29-Aug. 7; "Forever Plaid" Aug. 19-27; and, for the younger set, "Camp Muckalucka" July 8-9. Learn more at www.kesleytheatre.net.

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