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The Family Deli
Written and Directed by Mary Ryzuk
Directed by Mary Ryzuk
October 25-27 & November 1-3, 2002

The Cast In Order of Appearance
Herb Schlossman    Jay Mills
Old Italian Man    Bill Eddy
Sarah    Shannon O'Connor
Aunt Joan    Bridget Burke Weiss
Martin    Ben Kaufman
Gladys Berger    Carole Caton
Leo Berger     Henri Gundersen
Jeffrey     Paul Aiello

Pictures From Our Production:
None are currently available. If any cast or crew member has any, please email them to the

 
Production Staff
Director Mary Ryzuk
Stage Manager Dianne Benoit
Set Design & Decor Laurie Hall (Assisted by Todd Mills)
Props Laurie Hall & Mary Ryzuk
Lights Jo Ann Oakes
Sound Regan Ryzuk & Lizette Zuccalmaglia
Program David Minor
 
The story takes place late one night during the winter of 1950 in the lower East Side of New York City. It is set in a small Jewish delicatessen and living quarters. Beyond the storefront, through a window, imagine you can see the brightly lit Williamsburg Bridge and hear the sounds of traffic and trains crossing the bridge. Sit back, relax, and the talented cast will make it easy for you to become involved with this somehow familiar family...
 
Who's Who in the Cast
Jay Mills (Herb Schlossman) Jay has recently directed productions of “ART” at the Black River Playhouse in Chester and “Most Happy Fella” at the Barn Theater in Montville. After “The Family Deli”, a directing project, “Ragtime”, at the Barn Theater, is on the horizon. This is Jay's second appearance with EPI, having had the opportunity to play the father in “Hansel and Gretel” a few seasons ago. Other favorite roles have been Da in “Da”, Dolittle in “My Fair Lady”, Weller Martin in “The Gin Game”, and Willie in “The Sunshine Boys”. He would like to thank his wife, Barbara, for putting up with his theatrical wanderings.
Bill Eddy (Old Italian Man) Bill appeared last year in the Nutley Little Theater Production of Barefoot in the Park. He has lived in San Antonio, Texas for ten years where he performed in “Henry V”, “Hamlet”, “The Lion in Winter”, “Breaking the Code”, “Laura and the Winds of August”. Before “Texas”, he was seen at the Barn Theater in Montville, NJ, in “Eqqus, Deathtrap, Tribute, and Otherwise Engaged”. At the Studio Playhouse in Montclair, he directed Noel Coward's “Present Laughter” and acted at the Montclair Dramatic Club in Butley. Bill wants to thank Mary Ryzuk for letting him play "The Two Thousand Year Old Man" in The Family Deli.
Shannon O'Connor (Sarah) Shannon O'Connor is thrilled to be back on stage in her first show with EPI. Shannon has studied acting at Rutgers University, William Esper Studio and The American Globe Theatre Conservatory. She is also in her sixth year of vocal training with private instructor, Sharon Reynolds. Her most recent credits include “A Midsummer Night's Dream” with Jove Productions and “The Vagina Monologues” at Drew University. She would like to thank Mary and the cast for their inspiring dedication, and Mom, Dad, Cait and friends for their continuing love and support.
Bridget Burke Weiss (Aunt Joan) Bridget is excited to be performing again on the historic Darress Theater stage. Her last appearance for The Enchanted Players was in the award-winning, one-woman show The River Jordan Lamp. Bridget was last seen in The Barn Theater's production of “Kindertransport” as Lil. Bridget is a "not so recent" transplant from San Francisco where she studied (and was an active participant) in theater and stand up comedy. Bridget loves residing in Boonton with her wonderfully supportive husband, Micah, and is currently a Montessori teacher in Madison. Past favorite roles include Lady MacBeth in “While Shakespeare Slept”, Pope Joan in “Top Girls”, Lady Constance in “King John”, and Mad Maggie in “Richard III”. Bridget would like to give a special thank you to Tom Timbrook for his dedication to and hard work in this unique and versatile theater.
Ben Kaufman (Martin) Ben Kaufman is fourteen years old and a ninth grader at Randolph High School. Certainly not a stranger to the stage, Ben is thrilled to be making his first show at The Darress a success. Production credits include Edmund in “The Lion”, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the Wolf in “Into the Woods”. This show has been an exciting experience, especially with a cast and a director who were one, complete strangers, and two, in a completely different age group. He is proud to be in this show, and hopes you enjoy it. Credits go his parents for being his personal taxi cab many days of the week. Enjoy!
Carole Caton (Gladys Berger) Carole Caton has been on stage for more than half her life doing community, regional and dinner theaters, as well as traveling groups and some exciting performances in London. She has completed her second season at the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival at Drew University -- so many roles -- but her favorites include Eleanore in “Lion in Winter”, Frau Schneider in “Cabaret”, Judith Bliss in “Hay Fever”, and Lin Essendine in “Present Laughter”, directed by Bill Eddy. Carole has played leading roles in “Prelude to a Kiss”, “Rumors”, “Gingerbread Lady”, “Chapter Two”, “Broadway Bound”, “Brighton Beach Memoirs”, “Steel Magnolias”, “An Inspector Calls”, Sister Rosensweig, and Rebecca Nurse in “The Crucible”...thank you, Mary, for letting me bring Gladys Berger to life!
Henri Gundersen (Leo Berger) Hank has been active in community theater since 1978. He is once again enjoying his work with Mary, Jay, Carol and Bridget. Meeting Ben, Shannon, Paul and Bill has been a happy experience and he hopes to work with this fine group again in the future.
Paul Aiello (Jeffery) Paul Aiello comes to us from the Bergen County Players where he just finished the role of Richard Henry Lee in the musical “1776”. Paul has performed professionally as a singer on the M/V Galaxy of Celebrity Cruise Lines, as a singer/dancer in "I Hear America Singing" at Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee, an actor in his own show at Busch Gardens at Williamsburg, and was even cast in the Provincetown cast of “Naked Boys Singing”. He is an 8th grade math and science teacher in Saddle Brook Middle School. He is delighted to have joined the cast and thanks Mary for the opportunity. All his love to his devoted friends and family.
Mary Ryzuk (Playwright-Director) Co-founder of The Enchanted Players Inc., Mary is a published author of non-fiction books: “The History of the Circle Reperatory Theatre”, and her true-crimes, “Thou Shalt Not Kill”, “The Gainesville Ripper”, and “Shattered Innocence and Shattered Dreams”. She is also an oft-produced playwright. Her original screenplay, “Stuffed Dolls”, is slated to go into production in the spring. Her musical, “The Fifth Wife”, has been produced four times, the latest in Port Richey, Florida. Having written the book and lyrics for all of the Enchanted Players, Inc's fairy tales with her collaborator (and son) Regan, she has applied all of her "true-crime" acumen in the creation of their latest musical, “Jack the Ripper”, the Victorian era's infamous killer which is slated to be produced in London in 2003.
Dianne Benoit (Stage Manager) Dianne is thrilled to be working once again as Stage Manager with Mary Ryzuk, and is learning many new tricks of the trade from this cast of terrifically talented actors and actresses. An Enchanted Players Inc. board member, Dianne operates her own infant and toddler day care, and is bringing up a pair of beautiful 12-year-old twin actresses-to-be!