Sussex County and area actors in rehearsal. From left to right: Phil Cocilovo, of Montague; Fenrir Lewin of Hackettstown; Stephen Burke of Secaucus; Benjamin Smith of Branchville; Leo Watson of Stillwater, and Gavin Bermingham of Newton. 

(NEW YORK, NY) -- Sparta resident Allison Ognibene, and lead faculty of Theater at Sussex County Community College (SCCC) has written an original play called "Mile 59" that will be featured in the renowned New York Theater Festival, "NY Summerfest" in June 2025 at the Hudson Guild Theater.

Based on a true story, Ognibene’s play is about 57 Irish migrants who boarded the John Stamp ship from Durry, Ireland to the Port of Philadelphia, United States of America in 1832. The migrants worked on a construction dig of the new Philadelphia / Concord railroad on Mile 59. Within six weeks of their arrival, all 57 Irish migrants died supposedly of cholera. Ognibene’s play is also based on the Duffy’s Cut Project and the historians, scientists and archeologists who worked diligently for years uncovering this bleak part of history to uncover prejudice and persecution of the migrant plight.

“I learned about Duffy’s Cut from a PBS special in 2014, and the story always haunted me.  When COVID-19 hit, I contacted lead historian Dr. William Watson, and in 2021, I interviewed him and visited the site of Mile 59, which is where the name of my play came from.” Ognibene continued, “There are connections from 1832 to our present time that I make in the play from cholera outbreak of 1832 to 2020’s Covid 19, and from Irish migrant surge in the 1800s to our current migrant plight at the southern boarder of the United States and on how communities responded to these crises. There is a depth of conflict that arises in “Mile 59” that is palpable to what is happening today."

Allison Ognibene, Sparta resident, playwright of “Mile 59” and SCCC Lead Faculty of Theater. Photo by Allison Ognibene

According to its website, the Duffy’s Cut Project began undergoing archaeological excavation in August of 2004 by a research team headed by Dr. William Watson from Immaculata University, Rev. Dr. Frank Watson, Earl Schandelmeier and John Ahtes (who passed away in 2010). The team took on the momentous task of archival and archaeological search into the life and death of the forgotten people of Duffy's Cut.

The New York Theater Festival’s show dates for “Mile 59” are June 17 at 6:15 p.m., June 20 at 4 p.m. and June 21 at 9 p.m.  Tickets are $26 and are available for purchase online. The Hudson Guild Theater is located at 441 West 26 Street in New York, NY.

Sussex County Community College students, alumni and community members will be performing in “Mile 59” at the New York Theater Festival, with Ognibene directing, including: Branchville Resident: Benjamin Smith; Hackettstown Resident: Fenrir Lewin; Hamburg Resident: Chris Flatt; Hardyston Resident: Michael Foster; Montague Resident: Phil Cocilovo; Newton Resident: Gavin Bermingham; Secaucus Resident: Stephen Burke; Sparta Residents: Sky Sobieski, Lillian Farrell; Stanhope Resident: Nicolas Galloza; Stillwater Resident: Leo Watson; and Vernon Residents: Danielle DiBattista, Lydia Rivera.

Two special shows of “Mile 59” will be performed at Sussex County Community College on Friday, July 18 at 7:00pm and July 19 at 7:00pm at the college’s Performing Arts Center (1 College Hill Road) in Newton, New Jersey.  To learn about the Performing Arts programs visit www.sussex.edu.

“This has been a very eye-opening experience for my students. Many of the 1832 Irish migrants who died on Mile 59 would be of college age, 18-22 years-of-age- in 2025. The actors understand that they are portraying real people who perished while searching for the American Dream,” remarked Ognibene.

New York Theater Festival has served NYC-based playwrights, offering them a chance to stage their works in a professional and respectful environment. The festival has hosted over 1,400 productions to date and offers up to $8,000 in prizes to participating shows in each festival. This spring, they return with another exciting slate of offerings, with over 90 shows produced across the spring/summer festival and offers professional and a supportive environment, excellent venues and a platform for new works to be developed and performed.