will star in performances
at Independent Theater
Funny look at working world
comes to New York City stage
Jennifer Ostrega wrote,
will star in performances
at Independent Theater
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
Jennifer Ostrega
MANALAPAN — A one-woman show written and performed by a native of Manalapan will return to New York City on Aug. 8.
Jennifer Ostrega is the author of Tower of Babble, which is described in press materials as "The show for every corporate fetcher and copy maker" and "A one-woman journey through the denizens of corporate America."
Ostrega will present her work from Aug. 8-24 at the New York International Fringe Festival. The play will be staged at The Independent Theater, 52 W. Eighth St., between Sixth Avenue and MacDougal Street, New York City.
"I’ve always been creative," said Ostrega, who is the daughter of Phyllis and Irwin Ostrega. "I never could fit the mold of what the ‘right answer’ was. That’s why I love improv comedy. There is a structure to follow, but within that there are refreshing limitless possibilities, no boundaries and permission to take things beyond the norm."
Focusing on the corporate phrase "Think out of the box," Ostrega said, "[It’s] funny, I think there is a kind of irony in that statement, because they really want you to think outside their box, within the constraints of the system. It’s like, dare to be creative, but don’t be too daring or creative because we can downsize you in a millisecond."
Growing up in Manalapan, Ostrega had her first acting class at the Battle-ground Arts Center, Freehold. At age 8, Ostrega played her first role as the wicked queen in a third-grade Clark Mills School production under the direction of teacher Lois Stevens.
She graduated from Manalapan High School in 1991. In her junior and senior years, the actress remembers her daily bus trip to Howell High School, where she studied acting in the Freehold Regional High School District’s Fine and Performing Arts program.
"Fine and performing arts was great in high school," Ostrega said. "I couldn’t wait to jump on the bus and eat my lunch on the ride over to Howell. I studied acting there, and I loved it."
Ostrega attended Rutgers University, New Brunswick, and earned her bachelor’s degree in theater in 1995.
"They suggested getting life experience, and so I began commuting into New York City, taking some acting classes and doing internships at prestigious entertainment companies," she said. "I started taking classes with a guy who is now the head writer on Letterman, and I purchased Truth in Comedy and was inspired to move to Chicago."
While in Chicago, Ostrega began studying comedy as a performer in improv guru Del Close’s Chicago’s Improv Olympic.
"I wound up studying under (actor) Jeremy Piven’s dad, Byrne Piven," the actress said. "He trained John Cusack and some other favorite actors [of mine]."
Ostrega said the "go get life experience advice" is important for an actor, and if she hadn’t veered off the straight path of just being an actor, she wouldn’t have gotten into writing and creating her own show.
Last year Ostrega was identified by NBC’s artist development series as an up-and-coming comedic performer.
She is a member of the 52nd Street Project and an actress with the Yankee Repertory Company, a featured company at the New York International Fringe Festival.
"Yankee Rep has afforded me leading roles off-off-Broadway," said Ostrega. "They produce soon-to-be-published plays from up-and-coming writers. It’s a talented bunch and a great theater company to come home to."
The actress has transported her comedic style from coast to coast and back again. Tower of Babble has previously appeared in New York City and Los Angeles.
Tower of Babble represents the latest sampling of Ostrega’s growing repertoire of original character monologues that weave comedy into truthful moments that resonate with any working person.
Performances are scheduled for Aug. 8 (10:45 p.m.), 10 (2 p.m.), 15 (5 p.m.), 17 (6 p.m.), 20 (8:30 p.m.), 23 (noon) and 24 (2 p.m.). Tickets may be purchased for $15 by calling the box office at (212) 279-4488.