(SUMMIT, NJ) -- Stony Hill Players presents Grandma Sylvia's Funeral from May 29 through June 1, 2025. This is the same kind of interactive theater experience as Tony N' Tina's Wedding and puts the audience in the center of the action among 21 actors. The production is directed by Peter Curley. The Executive Producer is Jayne Myers.
The audience is both observer and participant in this highly improvisational and fun story of a Jewish funeral gone entirely wrong. Grandma Sylvia has died .... hit by a garbage truck. Her bereaved family comes together in an uproarious fashion, as the mourners (the audience) at Grandma's funeral are treated to fond remembrances, biographical anecdotes, shameless bickering and vaudeville-like turns with the dearly departed's friends and family.
This piece is full of raucous comedy, and wacky and engaging characters! The most fun you will ever have at a funeral!
The cast includes Brian Kanefsky (Rabbi Michael Wolfe), Brian Madden (Gary Grossman), Nancy Levine (Marlena Weiss Grossman), Arik Hartman (Harvey Grossman), Scott Petritis (Jerry Grossman), Marla Friedman (Natalie Chasen), Allen Roberts (Dave Schildiner), Melinda Delpizzo (Elsie Duey), Jonathan Meola (skyBoy Grossman), Eileen McShane (Helga Helsenrott), Noelle LeBlanc (Dr. Rachel Rosenbaum), Christen Simmons (Melissa Franklin), Jose Rivera (Dr. Byron Franklin), Erin Feith (Dori Grossman), Karen Koronkiewicz (Marjorie Grossman), Barbara Moonsammy (Helen Krantz), Vin Verducci (Todd Grossman), James McArthur (Vlad Helsenrott), Rebecca Mazumbar (Ava Gerard), Alona Jones (Risa Iannuzzi), and Devon LoConte (Fredo Iannuzzi).
Performances take place Thursday, May 29th at 7:30pm; Friday, May 30th at 7:30pm; Saturday, May 31st at 7:30pm; and Sunday, June 1st at 2:00pm. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and students. Tickets are available for purchase online. Performances take place at The Oakes Center (120 Morris Avenue) in Summit, New Jersey.
Stony Hill Players was founded in 1946 by a small group of theater enthusiasts in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey who gathered in homes to read plays and poetry, as well as to share their theatrical experiences and aspirations. Stony Hill was incorporated on June 20, 1952. Stony Hill Players has been staging operas, dramatic plays and musical events ever since.
Their mission is to produce a wide selection of high-quality staged productions, including musicals and plays, by calling on the area’s top performance talent from student performers and adult performers, to promote and foster interest in all aspects of community theater in the area, including adult and youth theater; to offer a learning opportunity to amateur and youth actors, singers, and production staff in their community; and to reach as broad and diverse an audience as possible.
