"Avow"
Written by Bill C. Davis
Directed by David Sorin

RUN: February 4 - March 6, 2005

SYNOPSIS: "Avow" takes a timely and poignant look at contemporary religion's role in shaping social issues. It is a warm, insightful and balanced meditation about who we are in relationship to the vows we make to the people and institutions in our lives. It is also, at times, screamingly funny. 

MEET THE CAST

	Jeffrey Micheal Deglow as "Brian" Jeff, from New York City, is making his first appearance on The Center Players stage and is happy to be doing so. A graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City, Jeff has been lucky enough to have added two credits to his resume already. Both of which were performed at the Manhattan Theatre Source, including the very successful run of F, and a reading of Providence. Before studying and performing in New York, his Canadian credits included: The Calgary Grandstand Show (2 years,) Pinnocchio and Robin Hood. Jeff has also appeared on Honey, I Shrunk the Kids the TV Series. On his off time, he loves music, painting and cereal. Thanks to everyone involved in the production. This is for his friends, family and especially his parents... thanks Mom & Dad.
	Dinh Q. Doan as "Tom" Dinh, from Manhattan, holds a B.A. in dramatic art from U.C. Berkeley, and received further training in acting with Austin Pendleton at HB Studio and at Circle in the Square Theatre School in New York City. He has appeared in Mary Zimmerman's Metamorphoses with CNR Drama, as Rosencrantz in Hamlet directed by George Bartenieff and in One Family One Child One Door with Yangtze Repertory Theatre. Heartfelt thanks to David Sorin, fellow cast members and everyone at Center Players for the opportunity to work on this timely and provocative play.
	Jennifer Natoli as "Irene" Jennifer is very excited to be making her first appearance with Center Players in the role of Irene. Jennifer works for The Auctioneers Group, which is an auction company that services the entire tri-state area, and she is also a certified fitness instructor. Jennifer along with two other fitness instructors, and friends, Adrienne and Nick started a free community workout program this summer at a lake in her hometown of Lacey Township, NJ. She is currently taking acting classes at TVI Actors Studio in NY and was recently in LA where she participated in the National Actors Intensive with TVI. In her spare time she enjoys to travel, usually to the west coast to see her niece and nephew, and she also enjoys jogging and reading a good book. Jennifer would like to thank David Sorin and everyone at Center Players for a wonderful opportunity and experience; she would also like to give a special thanks to her parents for all their love, support and encouragement.
	Christopher Chandonnet as "Fr. Raymond" Avow is Christopher's third production with Center Players. In 2003, he played the cowardly, violent Mr. Klemper in The Boys Next Door and last November participated in New Jersey's only staging of Dear George: Letters to the President - a unique reading of open letters to President Bush during the heat of the election campaign. Previous acting credits, as a member of the Arena Players Repertory Theatre (Long Island's oldest resident professional theatre), include Art, The Zoo Story, Miss Reardon Drinks a Little and Bell, Book, and Candle. Christopher is an executive speechwriter and corporate communications director for a leading professional services firm in New York City. He has a wife and five children from whom he draws great courage, creativity, and love of life. As ever, his performance honors them.
	Bernadette Gill as "Rose" Hoping a good thing will last, Bernadette is thrilled to be back again at Center Players. She appeared as Corrie’s Mom, Mrs. Banks in Center Players Summer 2004 Barefoot in the Park and in Fall 2003, she played Truvy Jones in Steel Magnolias. Bernadette also read the part of Miss Charlotte Schoen in Lettice and Lovage at Center Players Kruise Night Performance in August. In the early '80s, Bernadette was an active member of Spring Lake Community Theater appearing in productions of You Can't Take it With You and Philadelphia Here I Come. She took a long hiatus from acting to raise a son, pursue several degrees at night including an MBA from Rutgers and advance her career at NJ Transit where she is Director of Property Management. In the summer of 2002, Bernadette found her way back on stage as the female lead in Jackson's 2002 Summer Theater Production of Far Out in Jackson and found "the bug" had bitten again. "My Mom, who went to church daily must be having a good laugh, up above with the "Big Guy" that I am going to confession nine times every weekend." Bernadette would like to express her deep gratitude for the opportunity to work with such a talented cast and to learn from David Sorin's inspiring direction in such a wonderfully written play.
	Wayne Gattis as "Fr. Nash" Wayne has returned to acting after a long absence. He most recently portrayed Pops Bailey in 1940's Radio Hour at First Avenue Playhouse in Atlantic Highlands. Prior to that other performances included Dr. Finache in A Fleas In Her Ear, Kulygin in The Three Sisters, Hubert Laurie in Night Must Fall, Harry Berlin in Luv, The Cardinal in Tiny Alice, and Doc in West Side Story. He graduated from the America Academy of Dramatic Arts in the early 1970's and most recently last year started voice lessons with Thomas Rexdale in Red Bank, New Jersey since he loves signing Broadway and pop tunes. AVOW is his first performance at Center Players and he is enjoying working with the directors and staff. When not on stage, he works as a Customer Service Rep at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.
	Patricia Seligman as "Julie" Patricia, a resident of Marlboro, is appearing in her second production with Center Players. She is very happy to be working with David Sorin as she was always hoping an opportunity would present itself one day! Patricia went into acting very late in life and is having so much fun. Her previous acting experiences, starting in 2002, has been Mary Cassatt in the Greenbriar Theater production of The Impressionists; Fran Schmidt in The Sound of Music with the Marlboro Players; Mary in I Never Sang for My Father with the Center Players and Sara Schmidt, the mother, in Don't Tell Mother with the Spotlight Players. Patricia is presently taking acting classes at Brookdale College which she enjoys immensely. She would like to thank David and all the wonderful cast for such a great experience.
	David Sorin - Director David, from Howell, NJ is the co-founder and past-president of Center Players. He works as Director of Operations for a medical education firm in Pennsylvania, but his passion is theater where he produces, directs and acts. While Avow follows five separate yet related spiritual journeys, Sorin was particularly drawn to the play because of the plight of "Brian" and "Tom" who seek the affirmation of their relationship before the church. While today's headlines are filled with the political ramifications of gay marriage, seldom are the religious implications for gay people ever fully explored. "Modern culture tends to paint a black & white, 'right and wrong' picture of same-sex unions," says Sorin, "Avow eloquently depicts the gray areas of the issue that are, in fact, found throughout society." He dedicates this production to his partner of twenty-six years, Tom, for his support and encouragement.