If you build it they will come could be the motto of Kathi Paluscio, the director of Rock Salt Theater, a new production company opening on Friday, August 10. She plans an original comedy experience for the whole family through a variety of skits. “We will warn you that you may leave with a sore face from laughing too much, but we guarantee a fun-filled evening complete with running gags, ridiculous antics, and even prizes for a few brave audience members,” she says. The show is recommended for ages 13 and up. Tickets are $10, cash only, and the doors open 45 minutes before the show. There is cabaret seating.
One of the performers is Laura Manfredi of Plainsboro. Born and raised in New York City, Manfredi has lived in Plainsboro for eight years. She moved here to be closer to her place of employment. An electric bass player with Last Band Standing, a cover band in the central New Jersey area, Manfredi is a pit musician for community theaters and a semi-professional musician who has toured and recorded.
She began playing banjo, a gift from her mother, in December — and will play banjo in the show.
“Once upon a time I was an advertising executive before the bottom fell out of recruitment advertising,” says Manfredi. “I used to write, design, and place help wanted ads in newspapers throughout the country. Thanks to a horrendous economy and the Internet, that career is gone never to return again.” She lives in Plainsboro with her boyfriend and their two adopted cats.
She has been studying at Mercer for a chance to change careers. Meanwhile she has been working for a non-profit organization in Lawrenceville, but her position, as well as 25 others, have been eliminated due to a loss of funding. “The job market really stinks,” she says.
She’s been taking two classes a semester since spring, 2010. A liberal arts major with a concentration on education, Manfredi is an honor student on the dean’s list and is a member of two honor societies. “I really have no idea what I will do when I graduate — I haven’t looked that far into the future,” she says.
She met Paluscio, a professor of public speaking, at MCCC. “She is probably one of the most popular, well-liked, and just all around awesome professor and individual at the college,” says Manfredi, who is a returning student. The age gap between them is only a few months, and the two became friends.
Last fall Paluscio put together a small troupe to perform at the college’s open house and she asked her best students to do a two-minute speech that was truthful, funny, and engaging. “I had a great time doing this, and I think the college was happy with our presentation,” she says.
“The theater company is Kathi’s dream, and something she has talked about since I’ve known her,” says Manfredi. “She’s been working on the business with writing proposals, finding funding, and locating a venue for at least two years — if not longer.”
Manfredi learned about the auditions in April and thought about it for two weeks. “I really wasn’t sure if it’s something I could pull off. Performing like that is very different from what I have done previously,” she says. “I’m a musician; a bass player. Bass players tend to stand towards the back of the stage and their job is to keep the band in time by laying down the rhythm while looking cool. Not much interaction with an audience, and just head nodding and cues with my drummer.” She passed the audition.
For the show Manfredi is in a few skits with a few speaking parts and a skit where she plays the banjo. The ensemble piece was co-written by Manfredi and Paluscio. “It really has become a funny piece, and something that probably wouldn’t transfer well into print — it’s just something to be seen.”
“I like the area, but I feel that affordable nightlife is lacking,” she says. “Plainsboro pretty much falls asleep at 8 p.m. nightly. With a community of at least 20,000 people there needs to be more venues for people to get out and enjoy themselves.”
— Lynn Miller
Comedy, Rock Salt Theater, Mercer County Park ice skating lobby, West Windsor. Comedy presented in original skits. Ages 13 and up. Flexible seating in a cabaret-like setting. $10. 732-690-8694. www.rocksalttheatre.com.
Upcoming performances include Fridays, August 10, 17, and 24; September 7, 14, and 21; and October 5, 12, 19, and 26, all at 8 p.m.; Sundays, October 21 and 28, at 8 p.m.; and Wednesday, October 31, 6:30 and 9 p.m.
