Young players' musical will benefit Camp Daisy
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

KRISTIN TANGLE Amanda Rich (from left), Jonathan Noah, Devin Messih (center) and Simone Portera, members of the East Brunswick Young Adult Charity Players, rehearse a scene from "Amnesia" Sunday.

EAST BRUNSWICK - The township's Young Adult Charity Players are gearing up for their annual show, and they hope residents will remember to come out and support their cause.

This year's show, "Amnesia: The Musical," is slated to run Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the auditorium of East Brunswick High School, Cranbury Road. The play was written and directed by local resident Michael Costa, and is based around the music of a number of famous shows, including "Chicago" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels."

The play focuses on a boy named Buddy who loses his memory after a robbery and attack. He goes through the show trying to figure out who he is and what his purpose is, according to Simone Portera, producer and co-founder of the charity players.

The show includes about 25 actors and a crew of about a dozen.

"A lot of the people acting also have roles in the crew," Portera said.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The ticket price is $10, and all proceeds go to the Daisy Association, an East Brunswick-based organization that coordinates programs for children with special needs.

The township Division of Recreation is assisting with the production.

Portera helped found the summer theater troupe seven years ago when she was 16 years old. The other co-founder is Michael Solomon. The group, made up of people ages 13 to 23, raises money for charitable groups such as Camp Daisy and provides experience to budding actors. The charity players have raised and donated more than $20,000 to Camp Daisy and other philanthropies in East Brunswick, according to a press release from the group.

The summer show is the only one the troupe is able to do because many members are away at school the rest of the year.

"We're trying to spread out and do more during the year, but it's hard due to people being away," Portera said.

Portera said the group expects at least 100 people to attend each of the three shows.

"I look forward to the show every year, and hope everyone will come out and support our cause," Portera said.

To make reservations, call Phil Solomon at (732) 257-7329 or send an e-mail to EBYACP@hotmail.com. For more information about the players, visit their Web page at www.myspace.com/EBYACP.