Busy Summer for New Players at RHS

Although school's out, the show must go on for the New Players Company. While other students spend their summers sitting beside the pool, preparing for the SATs or working a summer job, members from the Ridgewood High School theater group occupy their summer nights with rehearsals for three summer productions.

Starting Friday, the New Players debuts a month of shows.

"Every weekend there is something going on," said Louisa Luisi, assistant producer and director for the New Players. "So if you want to have an exciting July, just get tickets to every show, every weekend."

The Summer New Players will be performing two plays this July: William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince. The productions are followed by a musical—The Mystery of Edwin Drood, which is based on an unfinished Charles Dickens' novel.

More than just high school kids get in on the action.

"In between The Little Prince and the musical there's a weekend of Junior New Players [productions]," said Luisi, also a Ridgewood High School English and creative writing teacher.

Junior Company Players are Ridgewood students who recently completed middle school and are interested in theater, she said. The New Players work with junior members for three weeks to stage five short plays written by RHS alumni and directed by New Players members. 

Founded in 1972, the New Players provides intensive theater education for Ridgewood students, giving them an opportunity to work with professionals and challenge themselves. The Summer New Players program is for Ridgewood students looking to strengthen their acting by auditioning for a play and musical. During the program's five weeks, the students work hard to get their lines down and transform the stage.

The New Players summer productions are sure to provide a lot of entertainment through July. The summer season opens July 9 with The Taming of the Shrew, starring Kelsey Halloran and Morgan Knight and directed by Luisi and James Mainard O'Connell. The Little Prince opens July 16, starring Julianne Saltalamcchia, directed by Kelly Van Zile, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood opens July 30, starring Knight, Ben Smith and Hattie Taylor, directed by Dr. Meg Schaefer.

All shows begin at 8 p.m., except for the July 31 matinee of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Tickets for the plays are $10 for students, staff and senior citizens, $15 for adults. Tickets for the musical are $15 for students, staff and senior citizens and $20 for adults. Each show runs Friday and Saturday nights at the RHS Little Theatre.

The Junior New Players productions will run July 22 and 23. Tickets are $5.

For more information visit the company's website.