Asbury’s ReVision:

How a theatre company will garner national applause for the triCity region

By Steven Froias
Tri-City News
May 29, 2008

ASBURY PARK – Regular readers of this newspaper may be forgiven if they feel that our editorial coverage sometimes borders on hyperbole if not down right hyperventilation. Hey – we admit that our zeal to uncover the promise and possibility of the triCity area sometimes gives us the vapors.

This isn’t one of those times, however. Rather, with the ReVision Theatre Company, we’re bringing you the real deal, straight up. Because the vision – or ReVision, if you will – of this group has the potential to garner for itself, Asbury and the triCity region the sort of national attention all three deserve.

ReVision Theatre has set up shop in Asbury Park, with offices in the VFW Post 1333 building (which is becoming an arts haven under Lou Parisi, commander).

The creative brain trust behind the ReVision Theatres consists of David E. Leidholt, Thomas Morrissey, and Stephen Bishop Seely, its Producing Artistic Directors. Lou Liberatore is its Literary Director. They’re joined by other members of their Board of Directors in launching this impressive endeavor in Asbury Park.

Here’s how they came to be here, in a proverbial nutshell. Thomas Morrissey founded the Genesius Theatre Guild in New York City in 1995. For ten years he served as its Artistic Director, gathering much acclaim in the role before deciding to take a break and cast himself in another. When he decided a comeback to Genesius was in the stars, the timing was fortuitous; the folks he had given the keys to were ready to move on.

As was Genesius – now with the surname Theatre Group. Morrissey sized up the landscape in New York, evaluated it through refreshed eyes, and decided it was time to hit the road – this time with company in tow rather than solo.

The bottom line aspect of theatrical production has been shifting for some time. That movement is largely leading out of the city and toward regional theatre groups like the Barrington Stage Company in the Massachusetts Berkshires, which work shopped and developed the Tony award-winning “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” before it ended up on Broadway. The prohibitive cost of nurturing new theatre in a gentrified New York is largely the cause.
The effect is the ReVision Theatre in Asbury Park, the re-branded Genesius. Its significance to the city – and the triCity region – could be profound.

ReVision plans to be a regional theatrical resource, just like the Barrington Stage Company. A breeding ground for developing new shows, plays, talent, ideas, you name it. It’s the cultural equivalent of nationally recognized, great architecture on the waterfront, or even Asbury’s historic role in the music industry. This is exciting, heady stuff.

And the people behind ReVision have the professional credentials and chops to pull it off. Their list of accomplishments could fill this issue, so instead we’d rather direct you to the ReVision website (http://www.revisiontheatre.org/) where you’ll find a page dedicated to their bios. They will be operating as a professional regional theatre under Equity (Actor’s Equity Association, the union for professional actors and stage managers) and SSDC (Society of Stage Directors & Choreographers union) contracts. They will also be utilizing and contracting professional musicians, non-union professionals, interns and volunteers. They’re a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and are registered with both the NJ & NY Charities Registration Bureaus.
But forget about the technical and legal jargon. What most impressed us about the four men we met listed above last week, at their office in the VFW Building of Lake Avenue, was their enthusiasm, and urban as well as urbane attitudes.

Let’s be clear – this isn’t a gang on New Yorkers dropping down sixty miles to impose some sort of creative fiat on the triCities. Hardly.

Rather, they carefully searched and researched their move to Asbury and chose their new home based on what the region has to offer. Think about that.

This is a company of first rate theatre professionals with national, industry-wide reputations impressed by what they saw and excited by the opportunity to plant roots, harness the artistic vibe they sense and make some hay here. For Asbury, and the triCity region, it’s an opportunity to claim ownership of an organization that could bring national cultural attention to the area. It’s a win-win for everybody.

The diversity within and without Asbury makes the area appealing to ReVision, and is what will help fuel the company’s artistic destiny. Part of the new theatrical paradigm means finding and tailoring plays and performances to specific audiences, with an emphasis on outreach to the young, the hip, and the hip-hop. ReVision wants to embrace them all. Indeed, they’ll be looking to Asbury and the triCities for inspiration and guidance.

The guys told us that they very much want the city to “take ownership” of ReVision Theatre. In essence, that means participating in their workshops (they have writing, acting and script-reading events scheduled; see the website for a complete list), supporting them financially and, of course, attending their productions.

They’ve spent some time preparing the stage, as it were, and are now ready to fill the seats. On Sunday, June 1st, they’ll be presenting a touring production of “Daydreaming: Channeling Doris Day” at Mattison Park. (Ticket and reservation info follows the story.)

And on Saturday, June 14th they’ll be producing a very special version of “Hello, Dolly”, with Richard Skipper as Carol Channing, at the Paramount Theatre as a fundraiser. (Again, info follows.)

So – what’s up with a new kind of theatre company doing “Hello, Dolly” as an introduction?
Leidholt belted out a laugh at that one, but then quickly explained that it’s done with a twist, as befits an outfit call ReVision. He was quickly baked up be the entire group with a chorus of clarification that, yes, the company will be on the edge at times, and yes, it’ll be dynamic and creative, but also every now and then they have to sell some tickets. That means some musicals.
As stated above, these guys are professionals; they know they have to turn a buck. And hey – what’s not to like about Dolly Levi? (Or Carol Channing for that matter.)

Immediately after saying “Hello,” ReVision will plunge into getting their next production ready. This will be one that serves to define they’re creative aspirations, as it will be a debut musical, developed from submission they’ve solicited and want to workshop. It’s scheduled for August and we’ll bring you more about it when we get the details.

Because reporting on ReVision Theatre is something we plan on turning into a long running production, it’s always been our contention that in order to be a great city, Asbury Park should act like a great city.

ReVision is just the stage to play upon.

Ticket and Show Information:

Daydreaming: Channeling Doris Day, a new musical starring Kathy Morath and Christopher Stephens at Mattison park Martini Lounge & Restaurant, 649 Mattison Avenue, Asbury Park, Sunday June 1 at 5pm. Tickets are $10, seating limited. Call 732 – 455 – 5039 or log onto http://www.revision.org/. Synopsis: Flash back to the “50’s” when Doris Day was one of the biggest names in show business. Kitsch is alive and well and has never been so much fun than at the east coast premiere of this intimate new musical directed by Broadway’s Dennis Bailey. The show is a rollicking musical journey through a roadmap of songs made popular by Doris Day. The musical features many Day songs including Daydreaming, I’ll Never Stop Loving You, I Gotta Sing Away These Blues, Someone Like You, Away the Wind Blows, Secret Love, and the Oscar winning song Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be).

Richard Skipper as Carol Channing in Hello, Dolly! a one night only benefit performance for ReVision Theatre at the paramount Theatre, Saturday, June 14 8 p.m. Tickets are $50, $25, and $15. Call 732 – 455 – 5039 or log onto http://www.revision.org/. Synopsis: The show, you know. Let’s introduce you to Richard Skipper. He’s made impersonating Carol Channing an art form, winning numerous NYC cabaret performance awards in the process. His sell-out performances attract Senators (Lautenberg), gossip columnists, and even Ms. Channing herself.