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Monday, February 28, 2022

"The Neighbor Project" reading at Vivid Stage: A part of the Stages Festival

 


Vivid Stage, formerly Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre, presents a reading of 

The Neighbor Project
by Laura Ekstrand 

WHEN: Wednesday, March 9, at 7:00 pm. The reading will be followed by a talkback with the audience, which will aid in the play’s development.
WHERE:
 
Oakes Center at 120 Morris Avenue in Summit. The reading will take place on the second floor; please contact us in advance if accommodation is required.
ADMISSIONThe event is free, but reservations are recommended: call 908-514-9654 or email info@vividstage.org.
The theatre at Oakes Center is wheelchair accessible.
The parking lot is accessible from Ashwood Avenue, behind the theatre.
For information on any of Vivid Stage's programs, please call 908-514-9654, 
www.vividstage.org.
All audience members will be asked to show proof of vaccination at the box office.

This event is part of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance 2022 Stages Festival, made possible by support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; Bank of America; The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey; OceanFirst Foundation; New Jersey Historical Commission. www.njtheatrealliance.org/stages

Over the past year, Artistic Director Laura Ekstrand has been interviewing neighbors from the Vivid Stage area to paint a picture of its diversity. Neighbors who have immigrated from Israel, Haiti, Japan, Romania, Italy and many other countries tell their stories in The Neighbor Project, a work-in-progress reading of this new piece. 

The cast of the reading includes Will Budnikov, Jennica Carmona, Kitty Chen, Sydney Fucito, Gail Lou, Becca McLarty, Beth Painter, Karen Tsen Lee and Joelle Zazz. 

Laura Ekstrand
is the Founder/Artistic Director of Vivid Stage in Summit, NJ. Her full-length plays include Life’s Work, A Certain Age, What Stays (w/Jason Szamreta), Whatever Will Be, The Neighborhood (Book/Lyrics), Brink of Life (Book). Adaptations: Astonishment, How to be Old, At 93. Short plays: Not Ready, Catching Some Air, Stung, Moment of Truth, A Christmas Match, Horoscope, Bob. Laura is also an actor and director and holds a BA from Yale University in Theatre Studies and an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College in Theatre. Member: AEA, SAG-AFTRA, Dramatists Guild.

Vivid Stage will require all visitors to show proof of vaccination and a photo ID for all events, and to mask throughout their time in the facility. Proof of vaccination may include a valid paper vaccination record, a photo of a valid vaccination record, the NJ Docket App, or equivalent app from your state.

About Vivid Stage:

Vivid Stage was founded in 1994 as Dreamcatcher Rep and is a non-profit professional ensemble of actors who build community with the audience by sharing contemporary, life-affirming stories that challenge, energize and entertain. Our work has at its heart a belief in the essential goodness of people and the power of live performance to connect people through our shared humanity. We expose theatregoers to ideas and lives like and unlike their own with the intention of awakening their imaginations and creating empathy for others. We deepen the experience of all our patrons with personal contact through receptions, talkbacks, and interactive programs.

The company’s activities include mainstage productions, improvisational comedy and cabarets, new play readings and a variety of educational and senior outreach programs.

Vivid Stage’s programs are funded by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and many other corporations, foundations and individuals. Vivid Stage is an Equity Producing member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

Vivid Stage, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) corporation, incorporated under the laws
of the State of New Jersey.