CNJ+ July 2023

STAGECOACH PRODUCTIONS LAUNCHES IN MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP Bringing Theatrical Entertainment to the Community and Surrounding Areas By, Pam Teel

Stagecoach Productions, a 501(c)(3) organization, announced its recent launch, with the purpose in mind to enrich, educate, and entertain the Mill stone Township community and surrounding areas, by providing an afford able, quality theater experience. The organization will bring theatrical en tertainment in various ways, including mainstage productions, trips, classes and workshops. The organization was founded by Lisamarie Cappuzzo and Gina Augusta Whalen, who both have extensive theater background, and have been run ning thriving theater programs for the last 15 years through the Millstone Township School District and Community Education. Cappuzzo has been a theater educator for more than 30 years and has directed more than 30 productions for Millstone Township Community Education and the Millstone Township Middle School’s Drama Club. In addition, she created the curriculum and teaches classes in acting, direct ing, musical theater, improvisation and playwriting, as part of the Millstone Township Middle School’s seventh and eighth grade elective program. Ms. Whalen has been in the theater industry for more than 35 years, work ing in all aspects. She has appeared in numerous productions regionally and throughout the U.S. as an actor, and has also toured internationally with the Broadway production of Evita. Behind the scenes, Whalen has directed, produced, choreographed, and designed costumes for many different productions, as

LisaMarie Cappuzzo (L) Gina Augusta Whalen (R)

well as in Millstone Township. She is the program director for Millstone Township’s Community Education program, as well as the facility manager for the Millstone Performing Arts Center (MPAC). Since 2012, Ms. Whalen has been a teaching artist for the Millstone Township’s Community Education Theater Performance pro gram. Ms. Cappuzzo, Stagecoach Productions co-founder and president, stated, “Stagecoach Productions fills a void in the community and surrounding ar eas. The current programs, through the Millstone Township School District and Community Education, are limited to school aged children. Stagecoach Productions will offer a more inclusive arena for theatrical opportunities for all ages. Additionally, Stagecoach Productions will be a place for artists and theater patrons in the surrounding areas to have access to a theater close to home.” Anticipated additional performances include a dinner theater/murder mystery in October and a holiday themed production in December. “As the program grows, Stagecoach Productions plans to offer more op portunities to the community,” Ms. Whalen stated. “The goal is to provide Millstone Township and the surrounding communities with an opportunity to experience theater, whether they’re onstage or backstage.” For ticket information, sponsorship opportunities, or to find out how to get involved, follow us on Facebook: Stagecoach Productions, Instagram @ stagecoach.productions.org or visit our website www.stagecoachproduc tions.org. We are currently looking for adult volunteers to help with mar keting, fundraising, etc. If you have an interest in the theater, please come and join us!

STAGECOACH PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

FREAKY

FRIDAY

August 4th at 7:00 pm August 5th at 2:00 pm MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 5 DAWSON COURT ▪ MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP, NJ PURCHASE TICKETS AT MPAC.THUNDERTIX.COM Based on the novel by Freaky Friday by Mary Rogers and the Disney films

INFO@STAGECOACHPRODUCTIONS.ORG STAGECOACHPRODUCTIONS.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION

Freaky Friday is presented through special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI), All Authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 423 West 55th St., New York NY 10019 www.MTIShows.com

34 CNJ+ | FORMERLY THE MILLSTONE TIMES

JULY 2023