Wayne Friends Form Theater Company, Hosting Auditions for First Show

Two Wayne friends with a passion for theater have decided to showcase talent in the township.

Robert Barwick, a longtime community theater performer, and Michael Magenta, a playwright, founded the new Ground Level Theater Company in October, and they are now holding auditions for the group’s first show.

The two men met over a decade ago through their kids, who attended Wayne schools together. The two became friends and quickly learned that they shared a love for theater.

“There’s this misconception, about local theater and community theater,” Magenta, who had a play of his produced at an off-Broadway theater in New York last year, said.

“People think that they are there to perform big shows that have already been on Broadway, but I’ve learned that it shouldn’t really work like that. The shows that make it to Broadway are ones that started out in small theaters and worked their way up. So, that’s what we wanted to do: create an area theater that showcased original plays that aren’t in the mainstream.”

From an acting perspective, Barwick said the new company will also give local actors a unique opportunity.

“By performing new works, actors will get to create characters,” he said. “That’s a dream. You won’t be fighting against stereotypes and people known for playing the same role before you, but you actually get to make the character yourself.”

The duo is working on rolling out at least three productions in the fall, but its first show will debut this May. “Relation-Slips, Moments from a Modern World,” is written and directed by Magenta. It is a compilation of 10 short plays that tell different stories about relationships today.

Ground Floor Theater Company is holding open auditions for the 14 roles in the show this Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Auditions will be held at Exhibit Craft, 22 Riverview Drive in Wayne. No monologue or appointment necessary to audition. See the attached flyer for information on the available roles in the show.

“We really felt that this area needed a theater like this,” Magenta said.

“We know that there are a lot of other people out there like us, who love the craft and want to get back into it. Now they can.”