The Stone Church Players’ (SCP’s) 14th season continues with The Bridges of Madison County, a musical from acclaimed composer Jason Robert Brown based on Robert James Waller’s 1992 novel and the 2014 Tony-award winner for Best Score and Orchestrations. Directed by Michael McClellan of Long Branch with musical direction by Kara Leigh of Toms River, “Bridges” will run one weekend only, October 14th-16th with performances Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 2 pm. The crew also includes Jesse Luciani of Red Bank as Assistant Director, Darren DeAngelo of Keansburg as Set Designer, and Donna Craig of Belmar as Costume Designer. Mr. McClellan, who also serves as the group’s Artistic Director, aims to provide audiences with an immersive experience allowing them to be transported to farm life in Iowa in the mid-1960s. The intimate venue, All Saints’ Memorial Church in Atlantic Highlands, lends itself well to this type of production.
Lindsay Abbot of Rumson leads the cast as Francesca Johnson, an Italian-born farm wife living with her American husband and two children in Iowa. A member of Monmouth Civic Chorus, Mrs. Abbot was last seen on the SCP stage as Jo March in Little Women, The Musical. Making his SCP debut, Alex Dubinsky of Mayetta plays Robert Kincaid, a photographer on assignment from National Geographic to photograph the historic covered bridges of Madison County, Iowa. A member of The Actor’s Project NYC, Mr. Dubinsky was seen earlier this summer as Nostradamus in Premier Theatre Company’s production of Something Rotten!. John Paul Durazzo of Atlantic Highlands is Bud Johnson, Francesca’s husband and a WWII veteran. Mr. Durazzo is returning to the stage after a nine year hiatus and is making his SCP debut.
Brian Smith of Old Bridge and Tori Dillon of Marboro play Michael and Carolyn Johnson, Bud and Francesca’s teenage children. Mr. Smith is an emerging recording artist whose debut album, Discharged, was released in March. He is making his SCP debut. Ms. Dillon was last seen on the SCP stage as Amy March in Little Women, the Musical. A senior at Howell High School, she is an acting major in the prestigious FPAC program. Felicia Russell of Middletown plays Marian, Robert’s ex-wife. Ms. Russell, who was last seen on the SCP stage as Beth March in Little Women, The Musical, is a college student and aspiring playwright. Her original play, “And at the Hour”, was recently featured as part of the Monday night play reading series at Holmdel Theater Company.
Rounding out the principal cast are Lauren Friedman of Manalapan and Patrick Comey of Matawan as Marge and Charlie, Francesca and Bud’s next door neighbors and close friends. Both are making their SCP debuts. Ms. Friedman was seen earlier this summer as Miss Sheinkopf in School of Rock with Phoenix Productions. Mr. Comey recently appeared as Collins in Exit 82’s production of Rent. Also featured are Amanda Mason of Mayetta and Elliot Maher of Howell, taking on various roles as part of a two-person ensemble.
Show synopsis (from MTI): A musical based on the best-selling novel, a love affair between a photographer and a housewife changes them forever. Winner of the 2014 Tony Award for Best Score and Orchestrations, this sweeping romance about the roads we travel, the doors we open and the bridges we dare to cross will leave audiences breathless.
Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes with a fifteen minute intermission. Performances take place inside the All Saints’ Memorial Church located at 202 Navesink Ave, Atlantic Highlands, NJ. Parking is available for all patrons in the main parking lot. Additional parking is available on Oakdale Run and you may enter the main parking lot via the path by the mailbox. There will be a limited number of spots available in the upper parking area next to the church for those needing accommodation. If you would like to reserve one of these spots please email us.at stonechurchplayersnj@gmail.com and we can reserve a parking spot for you. Restrooms are available in the Parish House and refreshments will be available for purchase on the church terrace. Seating is first come, first served. Masks are recommended but not required. We offer three ticket prices - $25 for adults, $20 for students, and $15 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at scp.booktix.com (includes a small service fee) or reserved by emailing us. Limited tickets will be available for purchase at the door (cash preferred). Please note, tickets purchased online are non-refundable. For more information visit our website, stonechurchplayers.org.