Mahwah Soloist to Sing Musical Adaptation of 'Trees' at 'Joyce Kilmer On Stage' Jan. 25 at Mahwah Public Library

Mahwah soloist Helen Soboleski will highlight the finale of the novel presentation of “Joyce Kilmer On Stage” this Sunday, Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. at the Mahwah Public Library, where she will sing the Oscar Rashbach musical adaptation of Joyce Kilmer’s “Trees” with keyboard accompanist Jozef Soroka.

Soboleski, her mother and father, three sisters and a brother, all delighted audiences with their extraordinary musical talents. She is soloist and choir director at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Island Road.

Like so many others, she memorized the words of the poem, “Trees,” growing up in Mahwah, where she was born and has lived her entire life, about a mile from the house where Kilmer penned the verse, which remains one of the most famous poems in the English language.

The program is a sequel to the Joyce Kilmer Society of Mahwah’s summer presentation of “Joyce Kilmer in the Park.” It incorporates the summer poetry reenactments along with two additional ones and is accompanied by excerpts of Stan Kenton’s signature instrumental, “Artistry in Rhythm” and Soboleski’s appearance. The cast has been chosen from area residents, musicians and actors.

The program includes reenactments of these Kilmer poems:

• THE HOUSE WITH NOBODY IN IT” Written by Joyce Kilmer (Tom Walker) in Mahwah 1914, his mother, Annie Kilburn Kilmer (Barbara Shanley)
• “THE TWELVE-FORTY-FIVE” Written by Joyce Kilmer while living in Mahwah, 1912-16. JoyceKilmer (Pastor Rob Parker) and News Reporter (Pastor Jeremy Mathews)
• “DAVE LILLY” Written by Joyce Kilmer while living in Mahwah, 1912-16. JoyceKilmer (Tom Meyers), his college friend, poet Shaemus O’Sheel (Jonathan Wong)
• “TREES” Written by Joyce Kilmer in Mahwah, Feb. 2, 1913. JoyceKilmer (James LaRocca), Aline Kilmer (Kim Barron)
• “DELICATESSEN” Written by Joyce Kilmer while living in Mahwah, 1912-16. JoyceKilmer (Tim Malone), JoyceKilmer’s NY Times secretary, John Bunker (Jeremy Langdale)
• “THE SNOWMAN IN THE YARD” Written by Joyce Kilmer while living in Mahwah, 1912-16. JoyceKilmer’s daughter, Deborah (Deborah Clifford), Joyce Kilmer’s son, Kenton (Al DiGiacomo)
• “ROUGE BOUQUET” Written by Joyce Kilmer in France in World War I, 1918. Joyce Kilmer (The Rev. William Grob), Father Francis Patrick Duffy (John Spiech)

The presentation will also mark the Feb. 2 observance of the third annual “Joyce Kilmer Day,” set by official mayoral proclamation commemorating the date on which Kilmer wrote “Trees.”

Photo Caption:

Picture #1. Helen Sobeleski.