HOWELL — Local playwright Joseph Simonelli is inviting theatergoers to his newest production, “Old Ringers,” to be performed at the Grange Playhouse starting on Aug. 5.
Show dates areAug. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 8 p.m. There will be a Sunday matinee on Aug. 7 at 3 p.m.
The Grange Playhouse is at 4860 Route 9 south, Howell. Tickets are $15 general admission, $12 for seniors and students.
“Old Ringers” is an adult comedy and a follow-up to Simonelli’s hit comedy “Men Are Dogs.”
He describes “Old Ringers” as the comic adventures of four senior women who try to battle a slow economy and their shrinking checkbooks by starting a phone sex service.
“If you never saw ‘Men Are Dogs’ it works; if you have, you have an investment in the characters,” Simonelli said.
The writer said some of the audience’s favorite characters from “Men Are Dogs” make an appearance in “Old Ringers,” including a character played by the same actress,
Leslie Wheeler of Toms River.
The cast also includes Simonelli regulars like actor-director Jeff Caplan of Toms River, Linda McLaughlin of Brick Township, Annette Curran of Toms River, Maria DeAngelo of Freehold, Kevin Walsh of Freehold, and Debbie O’Brien ofAberdeen Township.
Simonelli has been writing and performing in plays on the Jersey Shore since 1998. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was exposed to the New York theater scene at an early age when he saw live theatrical performances by Danny Kaye in “Two by Two” and Katherine Hepburn in “Coco.” He also directs his plays from time to time and is broadening his audience base throughout the country.
For the playwright, it is important to make his audiences laugh, but it is just as important to send a valuable message.
“It’s funny, but there are a lot of serious undertones,” he said of “Old Ringers.”
He said most of his scripts deliver a message about life and “don’t always turn out the way you think.”
“We like to educate as well as entertain,” Simonelli said.
“Old Ringers” revolves around a struggle between a mother and daughter who do not share the same opinions. The mother and her friends turn to some out-of-theordinary ideas to make money during hard times.
“These women are struggling to make money,” he said, which is in tune with the current economic situation. “A lot of my comedy is based on reality.”
Caplan, who is directing “Old Ringers,” has previously worked with Simonelli.
“He is a very talented actor and director,” Simonelli said, adding that directors like Caplan whom he has worked with bring different characterizations to his scripts, which he appreciates.
“I like to see other people’s take on [the scripts],” he said. “They bring a lot to the table.”
Simonelli said he does not include a lot of stage direction in his scripts. He chooses to leave that up to the director and allow him to “tweak it” as he sees fit.
Interestingly enough, that allows for a different experience or even a different ending every time the show is performed.
“It’s a collaborative effort,” he said. “They find things I didn’t see.”
Simonelli has also written “Heaven Help Me,” “With This Ring,” “Wretched Asylum” and “Romance.com,” a musical about Internet dating.
He is no stranger to the musical world, since he has a background in music as well, performing since an early age. His father had a wedding orchestra in Brooklyn, he said.
Simonelli dreams about one day writing a full-length musical of Broadway caliber.
When he is not writing plays, he is an independent financial adviser and a father of three children, Nicholas, Kristen and Michael. He resides in Atlantic Highlands, home to the First Avenue Playhouse, where many of his shows have been performed.
For ticket information and reservations for “Old Ringers” at the Grange, call 732- 984-7128 or visit joesimonelli.com or thegrangeplayhouse.com.