Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 09/22/2025
(L-R) Erin Feith and Meghan Coates in rehearsal. Photo by Gus Ibranyi
(CHATHAM, NJ) -- The Chatham Community Players will open their 104th season with the romantic comedy, Stage Kiss by Sarah Ruhl from October 10 – October 25, 2025 at The Chatham Playhouse. Art imitates Life. Life imitates Art. When two actors with a passionate history are thrown together as romantic leads in a forgotten 1930s melodrama, they quickly lose touch with reality as the lines between offstage and onstage begin to blur.
Stage Kiss is meta-theatre at its best, following the casting, rehearsal and production of a play within a play (well actually, two plays within a play) - bringing to life all of the hilarity and drama and playfulness and joy and insecurity and frustration and confusion that seems to be inherent in a theatrical production. It's a charming, funny and poignant tale about what happens when lovers share a stage kiss—or when actors share a real one.
Gabrielle Wagner Mann of Summit directs, after previously directing The Flick in 2023 there. "This show is not only a super fun, challenging beast to direct, it's also going to be a thrilling ride for those that come to watch and experience all the behind the scenes shenanigans of mounting a production, from audition to opening night and all the laughter and drama that that encompasses," says Wagner Mann.
The talented cast includes actors from all around New Jersey: Starring Cara Heary of Summit as She, Carl DiMaggio of Parlin as He, Andrew Marr of Gillette as Director, Nick Matthews of Sparta as Kevin, Brett LaRose of New Providence as Husband/Harrison, Erin Feith of Florham Park as Angela/Maid/Millie, Meghan Coates of Clinton as Millicent/Laurie.
Performance dates are October 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 & 25 at 8:00pm and October 19 at 3:00pm. All performances take place at the Chatham Playhouse (23 North Passaic Avenue) in Chatham, New Jersey. Advance Tickets are $27 for Adults & $24 for Seniors/Students and Walk-Up/In-Person Tickets are $30 for Adults & $27 for Seniors/Students. Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling the box office at (973) 635-7363
Patrons with special needs requiring seating accommodations should contact the Playhouse at least 24 hours prior to the performance. Without prior notice, accommodations cannot be guaranteed.
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Rounding out the production team is: Producer Gus Ibranyi, Assistant Director Missy Renwick, Stage Manager Genevieve Anderson, Scenic Designer Roy Pancirov, Lighting Designer Ian Clark, Costume Designer Autumn Hyun, Sound Designer Chris Anderson, Scenic Artist is Dean Sickler and Joëlle Bochner, Prop Mistress and Set Decorator Corina Lupp, Intimacy Coordinator Jennifer Cooper and Fight Coordinator is Steve Ruskin.
"We are so excited to share this story with our audiences. Everyone is in for a treat as we watch this play within a play within a play unfold before us", explained Ibranyi.
The Chatham Community Players has been entertaining residents of Morris County and the surrounding area since 1922. The organization's mission is to produce high-quality theater for a diverse audience, while elevating its standard of excellence and providing a creative outlet with educational opportunities and outreach programs.
Funding has been made possible in part by Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
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