Wolf on the Loose at Center Playhouse

Rumors have spread throughout town that a wolf had been seen on South Street.

Upon further investigation at , Freehold Patch has discovered that the rumors are not entirely false, and that for the month of August, Center Playhouse has been turned into an enchanted forest, inhabited with pigs, a wolf, a grandma, a rabbit and many other characters.

The Musical Adventures of Horatio Wolf and Little Red was written by Ray Ruiz, Bernice Garfield-Szita, Zach Berman, and Leslie Hochman, and is the first original production to be put on at Center Playhouse. The production is directed by Hochman and has 11 original songs written by Ruiz who is also the Musical Director for the play. A cast 10 people from across Monmouth County and neighboring counties make up the actors and include:

• Sami DeSocio, Holmdel,
• Zach Berman, Tinton Falls
• David Clarke, South River
• Dina Agranovsky, Freehold
• Doriane Feinstein, East Windsor
• Calista Amrell Howell
• Nicole Sollazzo, Howell
• Francesca Alexander, Manalapan
• Bernice Garfield-Szita, Manalapan
• Jake Hollander, Eatontown

In addition to the talent being showcased on stage, Horatio Wolf and Little Red involves the help of another 10 volunteers that make up the publicity crew, house crew, running crew and more. Local residents like Founding Member of the Freehold Borough Arts Council, also lent a hand to Center Playhouse by painting and creating the set of the upcoming production.

Opening in 2001, Center Playhouse continuously puts on multiple productions a year with an all-volunteer staff. Although the hours are long, according to Garfield-Szita, cast and crew members consistently come back to Center Playhouse because of the atmosphere, and strong bonds formed. Center Playhouse is currently nominated for five Perry Awards for two of its recent productions. A great honor says Garfield-Szita since Center Playhouse is considerable small.

“Although we have high expectations of our cast and crew we are all a family and we do this with love,” said Garfield Szita. “We say that we are a theatre with heart, in the heart of the community.”

According to the musical’s press release, The Musical Adventures of Horatio Wolf and Little Red will run for only two weekends at Center Playhouse, located at 35 South Street in downtown Freehold. The show will play on Saturday Aug. 11 and 18 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and Sunday Aug. 12 and 19 at 2 p.m.  Tickets are currently on sale for $14 for adults and $10 for children ages 3 through 12 and includes light refreshments. Group rates for parties of ten or more are available.  Seating is limited so call the box office at (732) 462-9093 or visit www.CenterPlayers.org to reserve your seats.

This production is apart of the Michelle Catania Children's Theatre Program that provides opportunities to children and adults to become active in the community through theatre arts.