South Orange Performing Arts Center Presents THE DIFFERENT SHADES OF COMEDY, 12/4

South Orange Performing Arts Center and Food for Thought Productions presents The Different Shades of Comedy on Friday, December 4 at 8pm.

This special reading of four one-act plays, directed by Antony Marsellis, will include:  The Treasurer’s Report by Robert Benchley, Run, I’ve Got To Love/Confessions of a Dyslexic Lover by Susan Charlotte, When The Women Come Out To Dance by Elmore Leonard and Marred Bliss by Mark O’Donell (co-author Hairspray, Crybaby) starring John Shea and Rex Reed.  Highlighting what writer and creator of the series Susan Charlotte describes as the forgotten art of the short play, these one-acts will explore the different sides of comedy. During the post-performance reception in the SOPAC Loft, audience members will have the opportunity to meet and participate in a question-and-answer session with the actors, writer and director.

Tickets are priced at $65, $35 and $25.  They can be purchased online at tickets.sopacnow.org or by phone by calling (973) 313 ARTS.

Almost 10 years in the making, SOPAC evolved from an idea of then Village of South Orange President Bill Calabrese to bring a movie theater to town. The center evolved into a performance space that presents elite artists in an intimate theater and feature cinema and event space. It created dozens of jobs in the area, offers arts education and spur snew partnerships. It has also become a community gathering point and a regional point of arts pride. In its first ten months, SOPAC featured superstars Nancy Wilson, Olympia Dukakis, Paquito D'Rivera and Yo-Yo Ma among others. Praise came in from media like the New York Times and Star Ledger and from important politicians such as New Jersey's Senate President, Richard Codey, Essex County Executive Joseph D'Vincenzo and Governor Corzine himself, who selected SOPAC to host a public forum open to all in the state.