JULIA ROSE MONTALVO
Role: Andromache
Hometown: Rutherford, NJ
Major: Communications and Media Arts
Year: First Year
I first heard about this play from Professor Carol Kotch when I was taking her Troy and the Trojan War Class and decided to audition. I’ve always loved theater and have done it all throughout high school and wanted to continue in college. I hope to gain new friends, and new knowledge of Greek mythology from this production. You can learn a lot about respect, ancient culture, and about loyalty from Greek plays.
ALEXANDRA R. GRASSO
Roles: Aletheia (Hermione’s Nurse), Halie (Nereid), Woman of Phthia
Hometown: Mays Landing, NJ
Major: Undeclared (Going into Jazz Studies)
Year: First Year
I wanted to participate in this play when I thought I wanted to act for a living, and this was an easy opportunity for me to get experience. Even though I know I’m a musician, I’ve always loved musicals, and being in them, which is also why I participated in this play. From this experience, I hope to gain acting experience and a strong bond with my awesome cast mates. I’ve always loved Greek mythology, from when I was a sophomore in high school. I thought it would be interesting to participate in history. Greek plays contain many lessons, and from this play in particular, I think that this play teaches us how people can fall and rise in their situations.
MELANIE GARZON
Roles: Arete (Servant to Andromache), Glauke (Nereid), Woman of Phthia
Hometown: Garfield, NJ
Major: English
Year: Senior
I decided to participate in the play because all I do is go to class and immediately rush home to take care of my 3 boys. I wanted to do something for myself and be a part of something on campus. Also, I’m a Classics minor so I have always been interested in all things concerning the ancient Greeks.
MICHAEL CRUZ
Role: Hyakinthos (caretaker of shrine of Thetis)
Hometown: Montclair, NJ
Second Grade
I want to participate in the play because I am interested in it. I would like to see what the play is going to be like.
TIFFANI STAR WATERS
Role: Thetis
Hometown: Montclair, NJ
Year: Senior
DANIEL SALAZAR
Role: Menelaus
Hometown: Netcong, NJ
Year: Sophomore
Major: Psychology and Classics
I chose to participate in Andromache not only to continue my love affair with theater and the classics but to challenge myself with a serious role, as opposed to the comedic ones I’ve played before. I think that much like Shakespeare, classical plays help to illustrate many universal values.
CARL SCHECKEL
Role: Pouli (child of Andromache)
Hometown: Montclair, NJ
Third Grade
I thought it would be fun to be part of this play since this is my third time in an ancient Greek play at Montclair State University. I always wonder what’s going to happen in the plays. What I can learn from a Greek play is how ancient Greek people used to live. Acting with students from Montclair State, I hope to get better at acting in plays. People feel the same way now that they did in ancient Greece, so when I play my character, I feel the same way he could have felt.
MIA GURTMAN
Role: Dynamene (caretaker of shrine of Thetis)
Hometown: Montclair, NJ
Third Grade
LIAM LAWLESS
Role: Theseus (soldier of Neoptolemus; messenger)
Hometown: Verona, NJ
JAN VERSTRAETE
Roles: Peleus; Attendant
Hometown: Highland Park, NJ
Since I teach the Trojan War and Greek civilization in general, I was delighted to have the chance to participate in Greek theater as a living tradition. That is why I decided to take a role in this play, written by a Greek playwright from the end of the 5th century about the Trojan War seven centuries earlier.
CHRISTOPHER PARKER
Roles: Peleus; Attendant
Christopher Parker teaches in Classics, holds an MFA (Columbia) and an Ed.D, in Pedagogy/Philosophy (MSU). A poet and playwright Chris’s latest short play will run at Luna Stage, May 10. Scheduled to teach Creative Thinking Fall ‘16 (CArts, MSU), one of Chris’ acting goals is to play a Star Trek Vulcan.
RAJULA JOSHI
Roles: Galatea (Nereid), Woman of Phthia
VIN VERDUCCI
Role: Orestes
Hometown: East Hanover, NJ
I decided to participate in this play because I have been involved in theater ever since high school and I wanted to continue with theater. I also thought it would be cool to participate in an outdoor production for once. I would like to thank the cast, crew and director for making this experience happen.
GINA MCCROSTIE
Role: Hermione
JORIE HOFSTRA
Role: Attendant
DAMIEN PIÑERO
Costume Design
NICK MASTALESZ
Nick Mastalesz is a senior graduating from the Television/Digital Media program with a concentration in Sound Design at Montclair State University. He has designed and engineered the audio for a multitude of shows including productions of Avenue Q, Les Miserables, and The 39 Steps. Nick is excited to be a part of this production of Andromache and wishes the best to the cast and crew. He would like to thank the General Humanities Department for the opportunity to sound design for production in the amphitheater.