West Orange Resident Cast in American Theater Group's Our Town

West Orange resident Monica Ross has been cast in American Theater Group's upcoming production of Our Town as Professor Willard. Ross is a drama teacher at Piscataway Arts and trained at LaGuardia High School and SUNY Purchase, where she earned a BFA in Acting. Some of her recent credits include Kate in King Charles III , which earned her a NJ Act Perry Award nomination, and Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible at Summit Playhouse.

Beloved by many, Our Town is set in the fictional town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, and explores the universal themes of life, love, community and mortality. Since it was first performed in 1938, it has been widely considered one of the best American dramas of all time, combining humor, tenderness and powerful storytelling.

Performance dates are Oct. 23-Nov. 2nd at the DMK Theater at the new Union Arts Center in Union, NJ (1980 Morris Ave) and Nov. 6-9th at the Sieminski Theater in Basking Ridge, NJ (8000 Fellowship Road). Tickets range from $40 to $60, with student and group rates available, and can be purchased at: americantheatergroup.org.

Ross will appear with other drama teachers in supporting roles, including Amy Bauer (Morris Catholic High School) as Mrs. Soames, Lauren Lipman (The Albrook School) as Sam Craig, Joseph Mancuso (Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School) as Joe Stoddard, Tatum Thompson (School for Kids, Union) as the woman in balcony and box, and Brendan Wahlers (Bayonne High School) as Constable Warren/Man in Auditorium.

Cast in leading roles are professional artists Timothy Ware-Hill, who starred in ATG’s March production of Purlie as the title character, and returns to ATG, leading the cast as the Stage Manager. Carrie Keating (After Forever, Amazon Prime, Emmy-winning) will portray Emily Webb, Chase Pittman (Dogman the Musical, Intn’l Tour, TheatreWorks) will play George Gibbs, Jamie LaVerdiere (The Producers, Orig. Broadway cast) will play Mr. Webb, Gabrielle Lee (Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, Pittsburgh CLO) will play Mrs. Webb, Stacey Linnartz (Life Sucks @ Theatre Row; Drama Desk Nom and OBA Award) has been cast as Mrs. Gibbs, Rudy Martinez (In The Heights, Signature Theatre) has been cast as Dr. Gibbs, Max Evans (The Mighty Four, Vivid Stage) as Howie Newsome, Carly Giuliano as Rebecca Gibbs, Bob Vaias as Simon Stimson, Charlie Giancolons as Joe/Si Cowell and Lucca Balzano as Wally Webb.

American Theater Group (ATG), founded in 2012, produces new and classic works primarily by American playwrights with an emphasis on the development of new works and the rediscovery of undeservedly neglected older ones. It also provides quality arts-in-education initiatives, including its New Works/New Voices playwriting program for high school students and its PlayLab program for BIPOC and queer playwrights. More information can be found at www.americantheatergroup.org.