Director

Mariclare Rivera is a Theater Arts graduate of Rutgers University. 

As an actress she performed the roles of Mrs. Elvsted in Hedda Gabler, the Typist in As Five Year Pass, the Washing Machine in A Soap Opera and Lea in Not My Daughter also written by Ann Mary Mullane.  Most recently she appeared as Gwendolyn in the Importance of Being Earnest at Berkeley College and served as artistic director for this debut production of Farrington/Rivera Productions.

Mariclare has also appeared in several student and independent films.   Ms. Rivera has directed Tender Offer by Wendy Wasserstein and No Apology…Some Explanation.

Mariclare’s producing and directing credits include a staged reading of Teaching: A Futility in Four Marking Periods, January 2006; a staged reading of and original work, R & R Follies, August 2005 and Executive Producer and Director of No Apology…Some Explanation, an evening of original one-acts.  This production was a benefit for Rutgers Newark Theatre Department, July 2004.

Assistant Director

David McMillan is a student at Essex County College. He became involved with Teaching: a Futility in Four Marking Periods during the staged reading in January 2006. He is delighted to be making his directorial debut.

Producer

Kristin McDonald is the Program Coordinator for Arts Training at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.  Kristin coordinates the Summer Youth Performance Workshop, the Young Artist Talent Search and the Young Artist Institute.  She coordinates the audition weekend for over 700 students for acceptance into the three programs and serves as liaison between artists, teachers, parents and student for the production of the Summer Youth Performance Workshop. 

A Theater Arts graduate of Rutgers University, some favorite past acting roles include Kattrin in Mother Courage and Her Children, Bullard in Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar and Grill, Molly in Loving Molly Jones, and Meg in Crimes of The Heart. 

Playwright

Ann Mary Mullane is a New Jersey high school teacher.  She wrote and performed a series of commentaries, Footnotes for the local cable company.  

Teaching: a Futility in Four Marking Periods represents an integral part of the quintessential American story.  Everyone loves a story about high school.  However in Teaching: a Futility in Four Marking Periods the teacher is not airhead as in Up the Down Staircase, or the dreamer of To Sir With Love.  Ms. Drake, the teacher, is simply trying against all odds to get through the school year.