By Regina Molaro
Actress Sally Struthers and singer Carter Calvert used their star power to brighten some of the dark days of December during a recent performance of “Always… Patsy Cline” by the Asbury Park Theater Company (APTCo).
As a new theater company that emerged right before the pandemic, APTCo has yet to land a permanent space of its own. The show, which ran from Dec. 1-10, was held at Palaia Theater at the Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove.
“By hosting us, Jersey Shore Arts Center helped us achieve our goal of bringing professional-level theater to the area,” said Bob Angelini, managing director of APTCo.
Struthers and Calvert shared the stage as they’ve done many times before. Struthers – the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning TV, film and Broadway talent fondly remembered for her role as Gloria in “All in the Family” – played Louise Seger, a Texas woman who befriended Cline early in the country artist’s career.
A fan of Cline since she was a child, Calvert sang “Crazy” and “I Fall to Pieces,” among other hits. Her accomplishments include a Tony Award nomination for “It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues” on Broadway, playing Grizabella in “Cats” and a European tour of “Smokey Joe’s Café.”
“No one does Patsy better than Carter. She and Sally are both perfect for these roles,” said William Whitefield, producing artistic director, APTCo.
Produced by Angelini and Whitefield with associate producer Serena Soffer, APTCo’s “Always… Patsy Cline” was directed by Jayme McDaniel and musically directed by Michael Gilch. Its set design was created by Neil Prince. Lyle Greene is credited for the lighting design.
Originally produced by Ted Swindley, APTCo’s sponsors included: PNC Private Bank; Holman Frenia Allison CPAs; Jules L. Plangere, Jr. Family Foundation; and Marilyn and Ken Rocky.
APTCo was co-founded by Robert W. Allison of Holman Frenia Allison CPAs & Advisors, who serves as board president. The founders are all grateful to Struthers who has supported the theater company since its inception.
In August 2019, Struthers hosted “A Little Musical Night” benefit concert to kick off the new venture. It featured performances by Calvert and other Broadway luminaries.
Behind the Scenes
Longtime friends and peers, Whitefield and Angelini formed a bond years ago through a shared desire to use the arts to unite people and communities.
Whitefield enjoyed a professional career as an actor, singer and dancer. While serving as executive director of Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan, he also toured as a construction worker for Village People, the disco group.
Angelini is the former executive director of ReVision Theatre in Asbury Park.
“We always talked about doing something together in Asbury Park. We wanted to do something music-centric. Music is an important part of our mission because of our location,” said Whitefield.
Dedicated to creating and providing powerful, invigorating and transformative professional theater and theater-arts education, APTCo plans to unveil everything from new works to reimagined classics and provocative musical performances. After shuttering during the pandemic, APTCo reemerged in July 2022 with Green Day’s “American Idiot.” Soul/pop singer, storyteller and bandleader Remember Jones served as co-director and production supervisor.
“Million Dollar Quartet” debuted in December 2022, with Remember Jones in the role of Sam Phillips, the owner of Sun Records. “We involve him (Jones) whenever we can because he’s so talented and always draws a crowd,” said Whitefield.
APTCo also staged “American Son.”
“We only did three shows, but people went nuts for it.”
Education Initiatives
Dedicated to training the next generation of talent, APTCo offers an apprentice program funded by grants from the Jules L. Plangere, Jr. Family Foundation.
Dylan Franz who served as the sound designer for “Always… Patsy Cline” is an 18-year-old college student at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Beyond gaining hands-on experience, this rising star can now list the collaboration with Struthers on his résumé, sure to catch some eyes in the industry.
APTCo also offers summer classes for children and scholarships for all ages.
However, the pandemic took a devastating toll on operations. “The challenge is getting the word out since we couldn’t produce for a while,” said Whitefield.
“We had some really great talent and performers. Audiences loved our shows, and we haven’t done one yet that hasn’t received a standing ovation. We want people to take a chance on us. We couldn’t be prouder of our artistic achievements,” he said.
For 2024, APTCo is seeking its own permanent space. It is also planning a cabaret-style show with Remember Jones and will participate in the North to Shore Festival in June. The New Jersey event will feature a three-weekend lineup of performances, screenings and more.
As a nonprofit corporation, APTCo relies on support from the community. For more information or to donate, visit asburyparktheatercompany.org.
The article originally appeared in the December 14 – December 20, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
