'She Loves Me' and She Loves Community Theater

When Molly Gilman saw the audition notice seeking individuals for interACT Productions staging of She Loves Me at the she was overwhelmed with joy: she would audition for her favorite show, in her dream role, right in the town where she grew up, and in a theater she adores!

Molly plays the role of Ilona Ritter in interACT’s production of She Loves Me. Based on the old play Parfumerie, which also inspired such big screen hits as Shop Around the Corner, In the Good Old Summertime and You've Got Mail, She Loves Me involves two battling co-workers who have no idea that they are romantic pen pals. This charming and upbeat musical, written by Bock and Harnick, the team behind Fiddler on the Roof, sets this now-classic misunderstanding in a 1930s Budapest perfume shop. 

As it happens, Gilman, works in a “shop around the corner” — at in Maplewood. Community is truly at the center of this production; Gilman’s character parallels true life in that both are clerks in small community shops, and this production is “community theater” at its best.

Founding member Elena Svitavsky (who is also an actress in the ensemble) stressed that “community theater is essentially theater for the people, by the people. There is so much untapped talent around us. We strive to involve as broad an array of community members as possible in the way of actors, singers, dancers, musicians and set crew, welcoming people of all ages, backgrounds and demographics. There is so much to be gained for everyone involved. The final result brings people together and lifts everyone up. Each contribution is an essential part of the beautiful community whole.”

The set crew alone ranged in age from 1-½  to 70+; there are numerous volunteers, and the production company is always looking for community-minded individuals to participate and volunteer.

Gilman loves working in New Jersey community theater. She has found that other forms of theater she has participated in usually focus on the individual and the career and personal achievement. Working on She Loves Me, Gilman reiterated that volunteers and participants are there for one reason; to put on a great show doing something they love, while tapping into the community in a multitude of ways.

She Loves Me is the first production of the 2011-2012 season and interACT is thrilled to have brought together such a talented cast, crew and production team from around New Jersey and New York. Represented communities include Maplewood, South Orange, Union, Jersey City, West Orange, Newark and Brooklyn. 

She Loves Me is being performed at the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood, New Jersey. Performances ran this past weekend, and will be presented Friday Oct. 14 at 8 p.m., Saturday Oct. 15 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday Oct. 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for orchestra seats and $15 for balcony. Please visit www.interactproductions.com for tickets or volunteer opportunities.