CDC Celebrates 90 Years with Shakespeare

The opening night of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)”  at the Cranford Dramatic Club Theatre in Cranford will also be a celebration of its 90th anniversary as a performing group in Union County.

“That night – October 9 – will be exactly 90 years and one day since a group of Cranford citizens got together and formed the Cranford Dramatic Club,” said Rosemary Schultz, current president of the group. “We believe that makes us the oldest continually operating community theatre in the state.”

Assemblyman Jon M. Bramnick, Cranford’s representative in the N.J. State legislature, and other local dignitaries, will be on hand to salute the club on its accomplishment.

“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)" will run on weekends in October.

Its director, Maurice J. Moran, is from Rahway, while his assistant Madge Wittel is from Westfield. The cast members are Michael Burdick of Linden, Ed Faver of Roselle, and Joel Redmount of Scotch Plains. The producer is Liz Howard of Cranford and the stage manager is Judi Chandler of Cranford. Joe Pisciotta of Cranford is the lighting designer.

The play is a satiric look at the tragedies, histories, and comedies of the famous Bard of Stratford, as originally written by the Reduced Shakespeare Company. 

“It is Shakespeare as written by Reader’s Digest, acted by Monty Python, and performed at the speed of the minute waltz," said the LA Herald of its West Coast production.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays, October 9 through 24 at 8 p.m. For ticket information, call 908-276-7611 or visit www.cdctheatre.org.