Country Gate Players will present an original youth musical, Pollyanna,
at the Country Gate Playhouse, 114 Greenwich Street, Belvidere, New
Jersey. Performances of the show will be: July 19, at 7pm, as well as
July 20 and 21 at 1pm. The production represents a return to the
Playhouse mission of providing meaningful performance opportunities
for youth, which had been interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are very pleased and excited to resume this important component of
our theatre’s activities” said Bill Scurato, Country Gate co-founder.
“ We’ve been extremely fortunate in gathering an enthusiastic and
talented group of young people to relaunch this endeavor”
Pollyanna, co-directed by Scurato, of Harmony Township and Cailla
Minerowitz, of Califon. is based on the 1913 novel by Eleanor H. Porter.
It concerns the plight of an orphan girl, Pollyanna Whittier (Morgan
Kerr, of Glen Gardner) sent to live with her “dutiful” but icy, Aunt
Polly (Leah Stockwell, of Flemington). Pollyanna’s positive, upbeat
personality becomes contagious and impacts the entire community.
The audience is guided through the story by Aunt Polly’s maid, Nancy
(Lily Naili, of Washington) who serves as narrator. Additional members
of Aunt Polly’s staff are Christina the gardener (Sierra Griglak, of Great
Meadows) and Martha, the cook (Stella Grzywacz, of Hackettstown).
Other members of the community impacted by the glad-girl Pollyanna
include: Reverend Francine Ford (Lillian Duckworth, of Belvidere,) the
spiritual leader of the community; the sickly Mrs. Snow (Madeline
Bigelli, of Phillipsburg,) who along with her daughter Millie (Kyla
Mulrine, of Glen Gardner), provide light comic relief to the dramatic
story; Dr. Chilton (Caleb Loenser, of Asbury,) Aunt Polly’s long ago
love: John Pendleton (Matthew Teets, of Glen Gardner,) the richest man in
town; and Jimmy Bean (Kellan Parish, of Columbia,) Pollyanna’s
friend and ally.
The uppity members of the Ladies Aid Society are featured characters
comprised of Mrs. McGillicutty (Molly Bigelli, of Phillipsburg,) Mrs.
Bouregard (Grace Duckworth, of Belvidere) and Mrs. Hoffinfeffer
(Jordan McHugh, of Portland.)
Mr. Pendleton’s cranky housekeeper, Gertrude (Jayla Abdullah, of Glen
Gardner) attempts, unsuccessfully to prevent Pollyanna from visiting the
injured Pendleton.
Other principal roles in the show comprise some of Pollyanna’s friends:
Gianna (Ellie Pirrello, of Hampton); Hortense (Evie Shleifer of
Belvidere) and Cora (Avery Slovak, of Washington.)
Pollyanna, features a strong ensemble cast comprised of orphanage and
town residents: Dorothy (Raelan Minerowicz, of Califon); Patricia
(Kelsey Cornel, of Hackettstown ); Charlotte (Olivia Gellene, of
Belvidere); Audry (Norah Monaghan, of Glen Gardner ); Eloise (Hannah
Ryerson, of Glen Gardner ) and Marigold (Cassidy Dalessandro, of
Califon)
Special guest artists, Vinny Foti and Melissa Bigelli, will share their
experience and talents with the youthful cast. Mr. Foti will reprise his
role as the quacky Dr. Warren and Mrs. Bigelli will portray his
somewhat wacky caregiver, Mrs. Mops.
Tickets for Pollyanna are now available at www.countrygate.org
Youth Production: Pollyanna
July 19-21
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/Screenshot 2024-05-21 at 7.42.47 PM copy.png)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/EleanorH.Porter.jpg)
Eleanor H. Porter, Author
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/238034558_10159534390937459_4937021868070304491_n.jpg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/280477375_10225068876122026_2171405193939060815_n.jpg)
Cailla Minerowicz
Co-director and Choreographer
Bill Scurato
Co-director and script adaptation
Cast
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3576.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3580.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3587.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3591.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3597.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3605.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3610.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3612.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3615.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3617.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3622.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3621.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3632.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3662.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3578.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3583.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/image3.jpeg)
Special thanks
Gina Scurato, Chelsea Markopoulos
Matt and Melissa Bigilli, Greg Minerowiz,
Cullen Delmore, Heather Delp, Grace Cunningham
and all the parent volunteers.
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3660.jpeg)
Morgan Kerr
Leah Stockwell
Lily Naili
Stella Grzywacz
Madeline Bigelli
Matthew Teets
Caleb Loenser
Kellan Parish
Ellie Pirrello
Jayla Abdullah
Lillian Duckworth
Raelan Minerowicz
Molly Bigelli
Grace Duckworth
Jordan McHugh
Kyla Mulrine
Avery Slovak
Hannah Ryerson
Norah Monaghan
Sierra Griglak
Olivia Gellene
Evie Shleifer
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3656.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3593.jpeg)
Kelsey Cornel
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/IMG_3629.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/1 2-3.jpeg)
Guest Artists
Vinny Foti & Melissa Bigelli
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/1 2-4.jpeg)
Cassidy Dalessandro
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/1 3.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/1 4.jpeg)
![](images/pollyanna-show-page/1 6.jpeg)