'Honk!': There's no director in sight!
Peer Players mount second musical at Middletown Arts Center
BY LAUREN BECKETT Correspondent
Christina Lennon was never a part of the theater program in her high school, but she didn't hesitate when her friend Allison Cloonan asked her to join an extracurricular theater troupe. She has since been a fixture.

MATT DENTON Clockwise from top: Alison Cloonan watches as Steve Bucco (l-r), Danny Cassidy, Christina Lennon and Kristen Costa rehearse a scene from "Honk! The Musical" on July 7. Leah Sugarman (l) and Sara Howard run through a scene from the musical, which is being produced by the Peer Players. Cast members Stefanie Winters (l-r), Katie Kroeper, Sugarman and Mike Daneman rehearse at the Middletown Arts Center, where the musical will be presented July 11-20.

"I asked her in English [class] one day, 'Hey, Chrissie, want to be in ['You're a Good Man,] Charlie Brown'? And she said yes. No one actually thought she would show up to rehearsal, but she came and had a lot of fun, and now she's a part of the group," said Cloonan, whose anecdote was met with laughter from Lennon as well as other members of the Middletown Peer Players.

The Peer Players are members of a theater troupe dedicated to a collaborative style of mounting musical theater productions. The company, as well as the majority of the production staff, is made up of area teens who are involved in all aspects of a show, from performing to production and everything in between.

The theater troupe, which includes 18 current and former Middletown High School South students ranging in age from 15 to 20 years old, was formed in the winter of 2007 as a creative outlet for the students to become involved in a full theatrical production from its inception to opening night.

The original company for the troupe's first musical, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," comprised mainly Middletown South seniors who had participated in the school's drama program.

The teens decided that they wanted one more show together as a team before each went off to a different college or university, and they decided that the best way to do that would be to produce one themselves. Little did they know that it would turn out to be a success and carry through to the summer following their first experiences at college.

"It makes you feel like you have a purpose for the summer, like you're part of the community again," said Sara Howard, currently a college sophomore who participates in the group over summer vacation.

That sentiment was echoed by Stephen Buck, also a college student, who joked, "It's nice to have a social life again."

Kristen Costa, currently attending Middletown south, commented, "It's really cool working with people who are a lot older. It makes you work to be more mature," referring to the varying ages of those participating in the show and how they learn from each other.

Currently the Peer Players are presenting "Honk! The Musical" at the Middletown Arts Center on Church Street.

"Honk!" is based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling" and tells the story of an odd-looking baby duck, Ugly, and his quest to find his mother. With a witty book and score provided by British songwriting duo George Stiles and Anthony Drew, the musical won an Olivier Award (equivalent to an American Tony) for Best Musical.

The production is being funded by the group's second grant from the Middletown Township Cultural and Arts Council, for which the teens wrote the application. The first grant funded "Charlie Brown," staged last year.

"We wanted to do another show that was a little more challenging," said Cloonan, referring to the difference between their first performance and the current show.

Once funding was in place, the actors then went on to cast the show, set up a rehearsal schedule that could be met by all involved, designed the sets and costumes that would be used, and hired professional musical director Svetlana Nosov.

Working within a completely collaborative environment can, at times, cause conflicts, but since there is no head authority outside of the group (such as a professional director, or head of production), the teens learned to work these hitches out among themselves and gain valuable experience in handling interpersonal dynamics as well as production issues that might arise.

"Whoever is not on stage takes notes," Cloonan said, which drew nods of agreement.

There are lots of fun and games and silliness between rehearsing numbers, but when it's time to be serious and rehearse, the company members have no trouble reining themselves in. Some have training in theater, some do not, but it is obvious that all thoroughly enjoy being a part of Peer Players and they all just have a good time with their friends.

"Honk! The Musical" opens tomorrow, and runs for six performances: at 8 p.m. July 11, 12, 18 and 19, and at 3 p.m. July 13 and 20 at the Middletown Arts Center, which is located at 36 Church St., adjacent to the Middletown train station.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and may be purchased in advance between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday at the arts center, or by calling 732-706-4100. For more information about Peer Players, visit the Web site, www.middletownpeerplayers.com.