Jersey Stories
About the Plays
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Author's Notes
The 4am 'lizbeth
"The 4am ‘lizbeth" was written as my thesis play to fulfill the requirements for my Theatre Minor at the Rutgers/New Jersey Institute of Technology Theatre Program. Under the guidance of Michéle Raper Rittenhouse, I took the production from its early drafts to a full production in the Spring of 1997 directed by Mario Corrales. The play is a tribute to my adopted hometown of Elizabeth, New Jersey. I wanted to write a play that captured the spirit of the town, as well as that of the people who live there.
The play takes place on a section of abandoned railway tracks that runs across the town. Three men in their early twenties, Jay, Jerry, and Eddie, are hanging out on the tracks, drinking beer, and waiting for the ghost train, "The 4 am ‘lizbeth" which passes by at 4:00 am. Jay is dealing with the news that his girlfriend is pregnant. Jerry is dealing with the death of his father and the dependence of his mother and sister on him now that he is the man of the family. And Eddie, though graduating from community college and dreams of going cross-country, keeps a secret that will affect all their lives forever. The play is about how we have to deal with what life gives us and how our dreams don’t always turn out the way we plan.
In September 1999, "The 4am 'lizbeth" was filmed by Eric Velarde and Blessed Films. This short film is currently in production and is expected to tour the Film Festival circuit when completed.
Gray Guitars
"Gray Guitars" is the first play I wrote graduating from college. It is based on an idea that I worked on while I was in college but did not have time to develop. This will be the world premiere of this play.
The play takes place in Manhattan, on the rooftop of a small apartment building. Mark, contemplating suicide, is drinking heavily. His space is invaded by Alyssa, who comes up to the roof to smoke a joint. Though they are hostile and cautious at first, they develop a connection in which they share and confide their troubles. "Gray Guitars" is a novel that Alyssa is working on, about a songwriter with Bob Dylan's gray guitar, who drives off into the country, hoping to find that something that would fill a gap in his life.
"Gray Guitars" is dedicated to Michéle Raper Rittenhouse, who, with great patience and skill, taught me everything I know about the craft of writing plays.
- Jonathan Calindas