The Jersey Shore has always been a platform for artists, painters, actors and writers. We are an hour and a few from the “hub of the world,” as some say, so it’s no surprise that the talent stretches far beyond the walls of that famous city.
Right in our own backyard is a theater troop called the “South Street Players”, which has been going strong since 1983 when it was founded in Freehold, New Jersey by its first artistic director, Robert Land. Eventually, Robert brought in more members to the board, including current Board President, Bill King, whom I was fortunate enough to sit down with to learn more about this creative group. Bill has worked with the South Street Players since 1993, continuing on as they moved to their present locale at the St Andrews Church owned venue of Wesley Hall, in the quaint town of Spring Lake, where Bill’s husband Felix Truex is Minister of Music at St. Andrew’s Church. In 2010, SSP had its first season at Wesley Hall, and presented the production “Harvey”, and has been going strong since then at this historic venue.
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Bill and his team at SSP also produce the “Tri-State Theater Festival,” also held at Wesley Hall, usually in the Fall. This festival attracts over 300 screenplays from playwrights all over the world, an “eclectic spattering of different genres,” Bill says.
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SSP does two shows a year at Wesley Hall, one in May and another in February. This year, they may perform a special event show in October as a tribute to the festival.
Inclusivity is at the heart of SSP, and you can feel that when you walk into one of their auditions. Everyone is welcome to showcase their talent, and the respect and consideration for every person is equally felt throughout this troop of wonderful actors, writers and directors. That is the power behind the incredible productions that this troop springs forth. The acting has depth, care, and a professionalism that exudes from stage to seat, capturing the audience with pure entertainment.
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Bill previously worked for “The New Yorker” and Condé Nast. He studied directing at Rutgers as well as information technology and drama. He got involved in community theater as an actor, director and board member of SSP, where they currently have five to six sitting board members, and are actively looking to include more.
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One such board member and director, whom I also had the pleasure to sit down with, is Melanie Taylor. Melanie is the Raritan High School Drama teacher in Monmouth County, New Jersey, and has taken a small drama program to a globe-trotting success story. She started in 1998 at Raritan with a drama club of less than ten students with only two classes in the program, and has grown that to include several honors drama courses for juniors and seniors, and over a hundred students currently enrolled. The kids even put on their own productions.
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This success and hard work have now brought her students to a global stage to showcase their talent as part of “The Fringe Festival”, the biggest arts festival in the world held in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Raritan Drama team had to apply to be considered for participation with the festival acceptance committee. They had to show that they have an advanced curriculum as well as substantive drama experience. The kids sent multiple videos to the committee of their work along with copies of their curriculum, as well as clips of their reviews.
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Melanie and her drama club were thereafter invited to join the festival, and are traveling on July 26th, 2025, to do so. The first two days they will spend in London and then travel by bus to Edinburgh, and remain there until August 8th. They will do four performances in black box theater. The Raritan kids are performing the Myth Adventures of Five Greek classics by writer Eric Coble.
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Melanie and the kids are very excited for this adventure. She chose this piece to perform because she started this vision before Covid, and wanted a play where the kids could perform outside, regardless, and Greek theater fit the bill perfectly.
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Melanie’s former student, and now directorial assistant, Brooke Ganz, will be joining her on this exciting experience. To donate to the Raritan High School Drama trip, email Melanie at mtaylor@hazlet.org. The kids raise 100% of their funds and appreciate any contributions to their art.
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Melanie said her mother was an avid theater fan who encouraged everything creative in her from a young age. Melanie has a degree in theater and in European literature, along with a minor in creative writing. She performed after college and did a lot of stage management and makeup artistry in NYC, but her heart remained with directing and teaching. Melanie enjoys helping her students create their own performance identity.
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Melanie began directing with SSP two years ago when she directed her first full-length show, “The Dining Room” at Wesley Hall. She’s at Wesley Hall again this May, directing a show of select short plays from the controversial playwright Christopher Durang, starting May 2nd and lasting through to Mother’s Day.
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Come see SSP on these dates and times at Wesley Hall; May 2 – 4; May 9 – 11, 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays and 12:45 on Sunday.
Tickets are on sale at the troop’s website: www.southstreetplayers.
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The curtain is up for the South Street gang and all are welcome to join in the fun!
Photo credit- Melanie Taylor