'6 Rms Riv Vu' to be directed by educator
Dan Green helms Center Players' summer production

Dan Green

Long before Daniel S. Green was instrumental in the founding of the Freehold Regional High School District Academy for the Arts, he took on his first teaching role at Manalapan High School. It was 1972 and the school had only been open for one year. Green was asked not only to teach English and drama, but to develop a theater program as well.

It was the start of "Dan the Man's" often life-altering guidance over scores of students who learned to love theater. Whether they were in class, on stage, or behind the scenes, Green created an environment for students that challenged them personally and creatively. He developed a world where students looking for a niche could use their talents and establish relationships that are still thought of fondly.

Green will be the first to tell you, though, that it took a collaborative effort. On hand to assist him during many of those early years were Richard Cayea, technical director and French teacher; Daniel Miller, band and music director; Carol Lifland, costume designer and home economics teacher; and Anthony Lagana, a fellow English teacher and sometime chaperone for excursions like the one taken to see "Grease" on Broadway.

Green's students from his early days at Manalapan are a devoted lot. When some of them became reacquainted during class reunions last year, the desire to reconnect with their former teacher led to a surprise gathering last winter to honor Green.

When it was learned that Green was slated to direct a 2007 summer production at the Center Playhouse, Freehold, one of his former students and drama club enthusiasts, Rene McCallum, was thrilled to hear it. When McCallum mentioned to Center Players board President Bernice Garfield-Szita what her connection to Green was, it did not take long for Garfield-Szita to ask her to produce the play.

"It's an amazing opportunity," McCallum said. "Bernice had been after me for a long time to get involved with Center Players. My daughters worked with the set and tech crews at their high school this year and loved it. This seemed like the perfect time for the three of us to get involved."

McCallum's twin daughters have been diligently working with the rest of the Center Players crew to create the set for "6 Rms Riv Vu."

Although she had been on stage during her freshman year at Manalapan, McCallum found she preferred working behind the scenes. According to McCallum, one of her most memorable experiences was heading the publicity committee for the Manalapan Theatre production of "Bye Bye Birdie." McCallum, of Freehold Borough, recently opened her own public relations company, CPR Creative Publicity Resources, and is now handling publicity for Center Players.

Not content to be the only one of Green's former students involved in the production, McCallum encouraged another, Bob Grill, to try out for the play.

"Bob wanted so much to be a part of the play, but was cast as Prospero in the summer production of 'The Tempest' at Brookdale Community College. I thought he would be great in the lead for '6 Rms,' but there was no way he could tackle the roles of both Paul and Prospero and he just couldn't pass up the role of Prospero."

As fate would have it, the person who had committed to the role of Eddie, the superintendent, backed out after rehearsals were under way.

"I immediately thought of Bob again and asked him if he'd be interested in the role. This time, he jumped at the chance to work with Dan again," McCallum said.

Grill said, "There is so much I owe to Dan Green. I'd need volumes to properly express how I feel about the man, the teacher, the director, and how great it is to be working with him again. Dan instilled in me a love for the theater, a love for performing."

After taking a 20-year hiatus from the stage, Grill's involvement in "6 Rms Riv Vu" marks his sixth performance in the past two years.

According to Grill's younger brother, Chuck, "Being part of (Green's) theater gave me the ability to speak in public. Whether in a meeting or in front of an audience, I owe quite a lot to Dan Green for allowing me the opportunity to act on his stage. He felt we could always do better and his desire made us want to do better."

Says Ray Montecalvo, another of Green's early students, "Dan Green literally changed my world view. Throughout my four years with Dan, I learned there is no substitute for hard work, and that what you earn by it can never be taken for granted."

In the spring of 1984, when asked to create a committee of community and staff members to create a magnet school for the arts, he was told the program needed to be operational by fall. Not only did the magnet school become operational as planned, but Green, in order to qualify by state standards to run the program, spent the summer traveling around the state four nights a week, taking the courses necessary to earn his supervisor's certification.

Green said he is grateful to Freehold Regional High School District Superintendent of Schools James Wasser and Howell High School Principal Zina Duerbig for being supportive of the arts and the academy programs.

"6 Rms Riv Vu" is being presented at the Center Playhouse, 35 South Street, Freehold, now through Aug. 26. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $24, with special pricing for seniors (60 and over), students, and groups of 10 or more. Tickets are available at www.centerplayers.org or by calling the box office at (732) 462-9093. Theater-goers may inquire about special dining packages, made possible by arrangements with the Metropolitan Cafe and Solo Trattoria.

Michele Kallman, who is the current English and drama teacher at Manalapan High School, is portraying the female lead (Anne Miller) in the show. Playing opposite Kallman is Jeff Caplan as Paul Friedman.

Set in the early 1970s, "6 Rms Riv Vu" derives its name from a New York Times classified ad for a six-room, rent-controlled apartment "overlooking" the Hudson River. The two main characters are each married, but not to each other. Paul Friedman is an advertising copywriter; Anne Miller is a self-described former "beatnik" and mother of two children.

While finding themselves in unusual circumstances, Paul and Anne are faced with tough choices as they explore who they were, who they are and what they want. Included in the supporting cast are Colleen DeFelice, Bob Grill, Tracey Hassel, Noelle Martines, David Spangler and Annie Wolbrom.

This article was written by Rene Mc Callum, the producer of "6 Rms Riv Vu."