Theater Project to Honor J. Edward Cecala at Gala, 5/15

The Theater Project will recognize J. Edward "Joe" Cecala, one of eight honorees at its 20th Anniversary Gala to be held on Thursday, May 15th at the Wilshire Grand in West Orange, New Jersey.

Cecala is a former resident of Westfield, New Jersey where he and his wife of 41 years, Kathy, raised their three children, Joe Jr., Kristen Marie, and Patrick Thomas II. Joe is being honored for his long-standing support of The Theater Project, a professional company based in Maplewood and Cranford. He started with the company as an actor when he took the stage by storm in Beyond Therapy by Christopher Durang in 1995. He immediately became a major supporter and loyal friend of The Theater Project. Director Mark Spina says, "He has boundless energy and enthusiasm for anyone or anything creative; his signature white handlebar mustache is only a small part of his huge presence and personality, and he puts these assets to work for the causes he supports."

Joe founded and supported the Benedetto J. Cecala Scholarship Fund for students graduating from Holy Trinity School in Westfield, and served as Chairman of the Holy Trinity School Board. He vigorously supports and encourages all range of theater in New York City. Over the past two decades, Joe has produced numerous Off-Off Broadway productions. In 2012, he was Executive Producer for the film, Greenwich Village: Music that Defined a Generation, a documentary examining the music scene of the '60s and early '70s. He serves as Executive Board President of PUSH Productions, and Executive Producer of Word of Mouth Productions.

The gala evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour, followed by a sit down dinner. The keynote speaker will be Ken Davenport, producer of Kinky Boots, the winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Musical. Entertainment includes live music and a lineup of many favorite actors who have appeared in Theater Project productions over the past 20 years. Tickets are $100 per person.

Besides attending the 20th Anniversary Gala, anyone can pledge support for The Theater Project by being a Gala Sponsor or placing an ad in the evening's program. Silent Auction donors will be listed in the evening's program and on The Theater Project's website. For more information on Sponsorships, advertising and auction donations, go to http://www.thetheaterproject.org/gala.

The Theater Project, www.TheTheaterProject.org, a professional theater company, is based at the Burgdorff Cultural Center for the Performing Arts in Maplewood, New Jersey. The Theater Project began in 1994 with the goal of bringing the best contemporary plays to their community, and now presents more than 50 performances a year on five stages in two counties. In addition to stage productions, it offers extensive programs serving local playwrights, the disabled, children and seniors.