Sports enthusiasts and theater lovers both have something to cheer about this weekend as the curtain opens on “7th Inning Stretch.”
The night of baseball plays is a celebration of our nation’s pastime, which was first played at Hoboken’s historic Elysian Fields.
This Saturday, June 16 at 8 p.m. at DeBaun Auditorium is Mile Square Theatre’s fifth annual night of baseball plays, which will feature original work by seven playwrights.
Seven hits
The seven short plays illustrate how the love of a game can bridge differences and tap into the things that drive us all, like hopes for the future and dreams of love and family.
Similar to fiction slams or the “Fringe Festival,” each short play will entertain the audience in only 10 minutes. According to Chris O’Connor, artistic director of Mile Square Theatre, he is pleased with high caliber of talent they’ve been able to attract.
“We’ve been pretty lucky,” said O’Connor. “We’ve been able to attract high quality playwrights.”
O’Connor said that there is a nice balance between comedic and dramatic pieces. “I think the tone really varies between these, which is what I really love about them,” said O’Connor. “They are very intelligent plays.”
The night features original work by seven notable playwrights, several of which in addition to extensive careers have won awards.
I Love This Game by playwright and filmmaker Neil LaBute (The Shape of Things, The Distance From Here). I Love This Game is a dramatic tale of a parent’s lost perspective on the game. In addition to his plays, LaBute won awards for his movies as well including: The New York Critics’ Circle Award for Best First Feature and the Sundance Film Festival Award for his film In the Company of Men. Other notable LaBute films include: Your Friends and Neighbors, Nurse Betty, Possession, The Shape of Things, and The Wicker Man.
Last Season by Neena Beber (Jump/Cut, The Dew Point, Hard Feelings ) tells the story of a mother in search of the perfect baseball glove for her son in the hope to lure him away from the video screen to the field.
Ya Gotta Believe! by Joseph Gallo (Star Song, No Parking, Warning: Adult Content) is about a couple of fans trying to get into Yankee Stadium for the subway series, only to find a difficult scalper.
Low and Away by Demetra Kareman (Pecking Order, Hoops) is the story of a pair of neurotic parents who have trouble teaching their daughter how to play the game.
For Eddie by Stuart Flack tells the story of a White Sox fan who hopes to bring the championship game to Chicago.
Strike Three by Dominic Taylor (Personal History, Wedding Dance) is a love story about Steve and Olivia. Steve loves baseball and Olivia; Olivia loves baseball and Steve. Is their united passion enough? A local writer
Hobokenite Joseph Gallo, who won the 2006 Scott McPherson Award for playwriting, is participating in this year’s “Stretch” for the first time.
Although this is his first time working with Mile Square Theatre, Gallo has written several plays that have been performed in Manhattan and around the country.
In addition, Gallo has written numerous screenplays and pilot episodes for television.
Recently, his play My Italy Story, which debut Off-Broadway, was revived at 12 Miles West Theater in Bloomfield. Gallo’s Ya Gotta Believe! stemmed from his love of both New York baseball teams, The Yankees and The Mets, and fond memories of the game. “I have a lifelong love of baseball,” said Gallo during a recent interview.
According to Gallo, the idea for the play spun from fond memories of trips to the stadiums with his dad. Gallo said that he approached Chris O’Connor after last year’s performance.
“I gave it to him after last year’s festival,” said Gallo, “in fact, it was the first play [O’Connor] accepted.” According to Gallo, the fictional play deals with a kid who promised to dump his father’s ashes on the field at Yankee Stadium.
While the premise is dramatic, it also contains comedic moments. “[The play] came out of my frustration about ticket scalpers,” said Gallo.
Although the play was completed last year, Gallo said that he did rewrite it recently. He is pleased to have the play performed in Hoboken, although he wishes there were more local venues for theater and films.
“I love Hoboken,” said Gallo. “I think it’s criminal that Hoboken doesn’t have a theater. To paraphrase A Field of Dreams, if you build a theater, they will come.” Gallo said that he hopes this annual fundraiser gets O’Connor and Mile Square Theatre closer to attaining their goal of a permanent theater in Hoboken.
Mile Square Theatre
Mile Square Theatre (MST) began in 2002 by founder/artistic director Chris O’Connor. O’Connor started the company in the hopes to bring Manhattan quality productions to the shores of Hudson County.
The annual “7th Inning Stretch” is MST’s only yearly fundraiser toward that goal and for the seasonal productions that the company puts on, which O’Connor created as a tribute to Hoboken’s history and because the idea of baseball plays was unique.
This year’s plays were weighed in on by company members including: O’Connor, Jenny Levison, Frank Licato, Rachel Fowler, and Dano Madden. Part of MST’s mission is to eventually have their own theater space in Hoboken, without having to rely on the generosity of Stevens and Hoboken High School.
According to O’Connor, he is hopeful and feels like they are much closer to their goal. Recently, MST was made a part of the New Jersey Theater Alliance. “I am very hopeful,” said O’Connor. “There is talk about plans for a space in Hoboken and we hope to be in position to produce.”
In addition to the “Stretch” plays, MST will present an interpretation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in July in beautiful Frank Sinatra Park in Hoboken. Produced and directed by O’Connor, the play will be set in Hoboken 1955. The “7th Inning Stretch” performance was made possible by the generous donations of the following sponsors: Frank Raia, Paula Ohaus, Corporate Realty, Applied Housing, The Burgiss Group, Elsewares Independent Art & Design, Hoboken Brownstone Company, Elysian Café, and Haven Savings Bank.
After the performance, there will be a reception with cast members and playwrights in Stevens Library with refreshments served. All audience members are welcome to attend.
The 7th Inning Stretch will be performed on Saturday, June 16 at 8 p.m. at DeBaun Auditorium, 5th and Hudson streets. Tickets are: $25/adults, $15/students, $15/ seniors. For more information, call (201) 216-8937 or visit: www.milesquaretheatre.org.