(MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- The Strollers Virtual Stage presents an original children's show entitled, We're Zoomed this weekend. In the production, five kids are trapped by a Zoom Mastermind - can they find a way out? Join them via Zoom (of course) on Saturday, March 26 and Sunday, March 27 at 2:00pm to find out. The performances are free, but donations are always appreciated.
We're Zoomed was written and directed by Beth Seales Hanson. She (who also plays Mrs. Emma Tarry) is loving her second life on The Strollers stage! Her debut was alongside her two daughters in the children’s production The Day the Rainbow Broke Up, in which she played Butterfly. She then appeared in Fiddler on the Roof and How the World Got Wisdom. She was last seen on the virtual stage as the host of The Strollers’ October performance, Twisted Tales by Saki. She now serves on the board of trustees, and is very proud and pleased to do so!
The cast includes: Leo Hanson, Mercer Barton-Griffin, Adar Trarbach, Violet Hanson, Otto Bowen, Minka Trarbach, Fran Shultz, Butch Bowen, Dena Daniel, Rich Pearson, and Beth Seales Hanson.
The Meeting - Mastermind: Leo; Zoomateers: Adar, Minka, Otto, Violet, Mercer
Trivia Night - Zoomateer: Adar; Alex Triviak: Rich Pearson; Quiztina Aguilara: Dena Daniel; Lotta Ansers: Minka
The Convention - Zoomateer: Mercer; Alien: Fran Shultz; Bigfoot: Butch Bowen; Mothman: Otto
Book Club - Zoomateer: Minka; Rita Loude: Dena Daniel; Dewey D’essimal: Adar; Ty Prider: Rich Pearson
“Zoom of Gloom” Show - Zoomateer: Violet; Mrs. Emma Tarry: Beth Seales Hanson
Birthday Party - Zoomateer: Otto; Cilla Braithe: Fran Shultz; Buster Pinata: Butch Bowen; Patty Cake: Mercer
The Reveal - Mastermind and the Zoomateers
THE KIDS
Leo Hanson (Mastermind) is enjoying his first lead role in a Virtual Stage program. He first appeared as a creepy twin (with his actual twin) in the Halloween production of Shivery Shorts, then as a storyteller in Animal Tails. Leo is a 5th grader at Tuscan Elementary and loves building Lego, playing video games with friends, and playing with the family guinea pigs.
Adar Trarbach (Zoomateer, Dewey D’essimal) is a 4th grader, avid reader of the Percy Jackson series, and the bearer of surprising knowledge of U.S. history and space. He has also been caught playing a classical tune or two on the piano. His love for the novel, The Phantom Tollbooth, led him to audition for The Strollers production of the play (which has been postponed to January 2023), and he is excited to participate in his first-ever theatrical performance with We’re Zoomed.
Minka Trarbach (Zoomateer, Lotta Ansers) is a 3rd grader full of gusto for everything Olivia Rodrigo, Encanto, and Hamilton. In her spare time, she can be found listening to pop songs, dancing, reading Dork Diaries, and editing music videos of her own creation. Though she is sometimes shy, she is energetic and playful and was excited to join The Strollers in The Phantom Tollbooth (postponed to January 2023). She is now psyched for her first-ever theatrical performance in We’re Zoomed.
Otto Bowen (Zoomateer, Mothman) is a 4th grader at Seth Boyden. He enjoys all that is Minecraft, Harry Potter, and baking. He spends his summers in the woods swimming in a lake. On a whim, he auditioned for The Phantom Tollbooth and got in! Though that show had to be postponed for a year, his desire to perform has been ignited. He has since joined an improv class and is excited to be in We’re Zoomed!
Violet Hanson (Zoomateer) is a 5th grader at Tuscan elementary who is thrilled to be performing once again. She previously appeared on stage in The Day the Rainbow Broke Up, How the World Got Wisdom, and on the virtual stage as a creepy twin in Shivery Shorts, and as a storyteller in Animal Tails. Besides theater, Violet loves all things soccer, fashion, and video games with friends.
Mercer Barton-Griffin (Zoomateer, Patty Cake) is delighted to return to The Strollers Virtual Stage program, having first performed with the group on stage in How the World Got Wisdom then virtually in Animal Tails. Prior stage experience includes the Child in Suor Angelica and the Angel in St. Matthew's Passion (both in Cincinnati, OH). Mercer is a 4th grader at Seth Boyden Elementary and she enjoys horseback riding, writing, sewing, Minecraft, and playing with her dog. She lives in Maplewood with her parents and her twin brother.
THE GROWN-UPS
Butch Bowen (Bigfoot, Buster Pinata) performs every day as a gym teacher for primary school children. He may or may not have sung for a Punk Band or played a cop for protest training sessions in the 90s, but don’t let his students know. These days, Butch mostly acts pretty silly everywhere he goes. Grab some popcorn. This should be good!
Dena Daniel (Quiztina Aguilara, Rita Loude) is an actor/singer and long-time member of The Strollers, currently serving as a board trustee. Favorite roles include Velma von Tussle (Hairspray), Mrs. van Daan (The Diary of Anne Frank), Veronica (God of Carnage), and Tom Snout (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). Dena has directed workshops and children’s theater, and also directed a Virtual Stage production of ‘Art’. Dena salutes the Virtual Stage ninja warriors who have kept theater live and alive during the strangest season ever!
Rich Pearson (Alex Triviak, Ty Prider) is happy to make his debut with The Strollers in this Virtual Stage production – he was all set to do that in The Phantom Tollbooth, but is looking forward to the reboot of that show next winter. Rich started performing in the online play reading group, Living Room Theater Collective, in the Fall of 2020; he hadn’t been on a stage (live or virtual) since his senior year of high school! After high school, he stayed active in the arts as the host of radio show featuring a cappella music, an a cappella music group coach, and a judge for a cappella competitions. In “real life,” Rich is an earth science teacher and has served as CASA’s New Jersey ambassador for over 10 years. He is also an avid hiker and a cross-stitcher.
Fran Shultz (Alien, Cilla Braite) is delighted to be doing another Virtual Stage performance. She was last seen on stage as Cassandra (Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike), and has enjoyed many other roles on The Strollers’ stage. She has costumed many productions as well as directed A Midsummer Night’s Dream among others. Fran studied and performed improvisation at Second City in Chicago after having earned her MFA in Theatre from Ohio University, where she also taught acting. She has also taught in NYC and for the Paper Mill Summer Conservatory. She currently serves on the board of The Strollers and is the group’s treasurer.
The Strollers is a community theater troupe in Maplewood, New Jersey. We have been in continuous operation since 1932. Each year we produce a season of two plays and a musical, as well as a children's theater production in midwinter. We welcome anyone with an interest in the arts and a willingness to work toward a common goal, whether onstage or behind the scenes. Our diverse membership includes people of all ages and from all walks of life. Whether you have always been a theater person or just enjoy the fun of working on a creative project, The Strollers welcomes you.
Our monthly meetings include a workshop program, providing first-time playwrights and directors a forum for showcasing and experimenting with new works and ideas. Workshops also offer actors opportunities to perform in somewhat more casual and less time-consuming venues than a full play may demand.
If you are interested in joining us, or would like additional information about becoming a member of this vital, growing community organization, please contact us at [email protected].
Membership meetings, rehearsals, and all performances for The Strollers take place at The Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts (10 Durand Road, Maplewood, NJ)
