Hoboken resident Joanna Koster represents the stars and performers as a talent agent during the day, and then morphs into a local celebrity at night.
A longtime staple of the Bergen County Players community theatre in Oradell, Koster will perform in yet another play this year, playing Rachel in the theatre company’s newest production “Modern Orthodox.”
“Modern Orthodox” is about an Orthodox Jewish man named Hershel and his friendship with another man named Ben. Hershel is a diamond dealer in Manhattan. Ben is buying a diamond because he’s going to propose to his girlfriend.
For more information about the Bergen County Players visit BCPlayers.org.
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Koster plays Rachel, a girl who is set up on a date with Hershel through a Jewish dating website.
The play description paints Rachel as “the outlandish Jewish bachelorette who wants to seduce Hershel.”
Koster has appeared in at least 10 productions at Bergen County Players.
Koster describes the play as “a great show about friendships and relationships.”
“The show teaches you how you can learn and grow from each other,” Koster said. “It’s a comedy. You’ll laugh; and it’s a heart warming story.”
Koster said the play is open to all audiences, but she said it might be inappropriate for children under age 13 because of the subject matter.
A family duo
Although Koster’s father is the director of this play, she said she didn’t get the role due to favoritism. “If I audition and someone does a better job than I do, he’ll give the role to the better actor,” Koster said, laughing.
A talent agent in New York by day, Koster channels her love for community theatre and performance at night.
“I work all day until 6 p.m. and sometimes I have to go see my clients in shows and work late as things come up,” Koster said. “It does take a little bit of work to balance my time, but what’s good about this show is that I don’t appear until [later in the play]. I can work and be late if I need to.”
Koster has also worked as a producer and director for plays at the Bergen County Players production company.
When asked if it’s easier to be an actor or producer, she said it depends on the role.
“Producing in community theatre is different from commercial because in commercial theatre the producer is in charge of getting the funding,” Koster said. In community theatre, the play company already establishes the funding.
“Producers work with the director to gather the set designs, and make sure everything is going along on schedule,” Koster said.
Bergen County Players is one of the older continuous run community theatres in the area, and is celebrating its 80th year in 2012.
The play company performs seven main stage shows per year, plus two “second stage”, or weekend shows, annually. The season runs from September through late May.
Steve Bell of Teaneck directs the play.
“Modern Orthodox” will be performed from Jan. 14 through Feb. 4, with shows at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information about the Oradell-based Bergen County Players visit BCPlayers.org.
Ray Smith may be reached at RSmith@hudsonreporter.com