"Jitters"
Written by David French
Directed by Irwin Hahn

RUN: May 27 through June 12, 2005

SYNOPSIS: "Jitters" is the hilarious "backstage" comedy about a series of disasters that befall a theater company trying to open a new play. An hysterical playwright, a diva-ish leading lady, a leading man with an easily bruised ego, insecure supporting actors, a sarcastic stage manager, a sexy seamstress, a faulty bathroom door, and a director trying to hold it all together, add to the mayhem in this funny and sophisticated comedy about opening night jitters.

MEET THE CAST

	Joshua F. Cheslow as "Robert Ross" Josh has always been attracted to the stage and acting as a form of creative self expression. He has found this play, Jitters, to be far different than any other endeavor in his life and hopes to continue acting well into the future. His credits include starring in a well received, award winning short film, and performing with the band "StickFigures," which he helped found. Josh is proud to be performing in his hometown, where he has lived for 25 years, and hopes that the community will be enriched and continue to support all productions by The Center Players. Josh is a graduate of Rutgers School of Law, Camden, and practices in Manalapan.
	Julianne Dugan as "Susi" This is Julianne's first production for Center Players, and she is thrilled to be in this play. Jules graduated from Howell High School in 2004 where her major was acting, and she has studied improv at the Sandie Roser Studio in 2001. She loves comedy and is very excited to be in Jitters. Julianne plans to take her career further and hopes in the future to move on to films. She would like to take this time to thank Irwin for giving her this wonderful opportunity, and that she has had a great time working with such a talented cast. Lastly, she would like to dedicate her performance to her late Aunt Peggy, who always encouraged her to pursue her acting.
	Dee Ganz as "Jessica Logan" Dee is thrilled to be joining a most talented cast in her first performance at Center Players. She was last seen as Mrs. Shinn in The Music Man. You may have also seen her as Julia in Lend Me a Tenor, Yenta in Fiddler on the Roof, Bea in Lovers and Other Strangers, Miss Skillon in See How They Run, Clairee in Steel Magnolias, Mrs. Paddy in The Curious Savage, and her all time favorite character, the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz, which she had the opportunity to portray numerous times. She was also involved in area productions of Dracula The Musical?, Baby, The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, Man of La Mancha and It's a Wonderful Life. Thank you, Irwin, for the opportunity to portray ‘diva’ Jessica, and to be part of a warm and caring cast. We had many laughs along the way. Most of all, she would like to thank her "best friend" and husband, Harve, for his unending patience and support.
	Wayne Gattis as "Nick" Jitters is Wayne's second performance at Center Playhouse. He recently portrayed Father Nash in Avow in February here, directed by David Sorin. Prior to that, he performed as Pops Bailey in 1940's Radio Hour at First Avenue Playhouse in Atlantic Highlands. Other performances included Off-Off Broadway plays of Doctor in the House, The Crucible, Arsenic and Old Lace, and A Flea In Her Ear; as well as plays at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts of The Three Sisters, Three Penny Opera, The Courageous One, Dear Friends, and Night Must Fall. Also college performances of Luv, Tiny Alice, and The Unknown Soldier and His Wife, along with high school performances of West Side Story and See How They Run. Wayne loves vocalizing and singing and wishes to thank Irwin for his astute direction, as well as the fellow performers and staff.
	Dustin Hahn as "Tom Kent" Dustin's acting credits include Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, Once Upon a Mattress, Cinderella, Four Japanese Ghost Stories, The Twilight Zone, Carnival, and The Pajama Game. Dustin is excited about working with the fine actors in Jitters.
	Vic Morosco as "Phil Mastorakis" Vic is a graduate of The American Theatre Wing in New York City. He is presently active in both regional and local community theatre. Vic is comfortable both on and off stage, having directed and acted on many local stages. His directorial credits include South Pacific, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, Hello Dolly, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Cabaret, to name a few. His most recent directorial assignment was The Music Man for the Temple Shalom Players. His latest onstage role was in Sugar Babies where he played the Mickey Rooney comic part. He lists Sayreville Main Street Theatre Company as his home base where he is on the board of directors and also a resident director. Vic is often sought out by local theater groups as a character actor. He lists his favorite roles as Sancho in Man of La Mancha, Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum, The Governor in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which he reprised for SMSTC last season, and his all time favorite, Ben Franklin in 1776. Vic has enjoyed the company of this talented cast. You will see why at this performance. His thanks, as always, goes to his wife Teri for allowing him his favorite pastime, live theater.
	Anna Oleinik as "Peggy" Anna is happy to make her Center Players debut in Jitters. She is a Rutgers University Douglass College 2002 graduate, and currently works in the field of social services. She has participated in many productions with the Livingston Theater Company in Piscataway, Princeton Summer Theater in Princeton, Cabaret Theater in New Brunswick, and NENA Productions in Ocean Grove. Past theater credits include Joseph..., Nunsense, Godspell, Fiddler on the Roof, Theater A.D.D., MUSICAL! The Musical, Trip a Little Fish, R.A.W., The Vagina Monologues, Merrily We Roll Along, The Fabulous Fable Factory and The Laramie Project, as well as experience with stage crew, stage managing, costuming, choreography and lighting. XOXOXO to Jellybean, Jupiter & Samoha!
	Dave Scotti as "George Ellsworth" A graduate of New York University (BFA), and the University of Southern California (MFA), Dave has appeared in many stage productions on both coasts. He played the recurring role of Vito on the daytime soap General Hospital. His short film, The Right Hook (wrote and acted), won the HBO Arts Festival, and he recently co-starred in the Independent Feature Film, Docs And Robbers.
	Peter A. Stark as "Patrick Flannagan" Peter played the Telephone Man in last season's Barefoot in the Park. Other area roles include NENA productions' Twelfth Night as Sir Toby Belch; Bracko the Prince Frog, as King Ludwig, and Sweeney Todd as Mr. Fogg. He recently returned to Freehold after many years in the Boston area, where his theatrical roles included Ross, Hecate, and Caithness in Macbeth; Arnold in The Boys Next Door; Mel Cooley in Tomfoolery; Jack Point in Yeomen of the Guard; Ribaud in The New Moon; The Learned Judge in Trial By Jury; Major-General Stanley in The Pirates of Penzance; Mike in Lovers and Other Strangers; Sir Joseph Porter in HMS Pinafore, Billy Jester in Little Mary Sunshine; and many others. Among his roles off-stage are teacher; principal; chair for 1995 Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education (7 days, 700+ sessions, 2200+ participants); project manager for a technical search engine; and for 8 years, director of an educational outreach program for Jewish children in the USSR and its successor states. He has also translated/subtitled a number of Yiddish feature films for The National Center for Jewish Film, including the forthcoming restorations of The Living Orphan and Der Purim-Spieler. Scholarly interests include Hebrew Bible, cuneiform languages, and medieval Sephardic poetry. Peter is a member of Vokes Players in Wayland, MA and studies acting with John Eyd at The Actors Training Institute in Eatontown.
	Irwin Hahn - Director Irwin's directing credits include Tribute, Isn't It Romantic, Family Business, Lovers and Other Strangers, The Twilight Zone, Peter Pan, Come Blow Your Horn, All The Sounds of Fear, West Side Story (cabaret), Makin' Whoopee!, A Room with a Revue, Broadway Rocks!, The Wizard of Oz, and Same Time, Next Year. Irwin is a founding member of @CT! Theater Company. He would like to thank The Center Players, his talented and hard working cast, and Beth, Lorry, Dan and Sue, for bringing this show to life.
	Beth Wein - Producer/Stage Manager Beth has a variety of experience both on stage and behind the scenes. Past credits have included Chicago ("Roxie"), Steppin' Out ("Vera"), The Wiz ("Glinda"), and Wizard of Oz ("Glinda"), just to name a few. In recent years, Beth has helped found @CT! Theater Company, and has produced, as well as performed, in several revues and concerts. It's good to be back in the theater!!

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