About Us
Mission Statement
Gwen Orel, Producer, Playwright in Residence
Elaine Molinaro, Artistic Director
Culture Connection Theater has the mission to foster connection between people of different countries and between people of different cultures at home. Culture Connection Theater produces collaborations between artists of different cultures in order to break down barriers of racism, sexism and prejudice, to allow American audiences to ex
Culture Connection Theater has the mission to foster connection between people of different countries and between people of different cultures at home. Culture Connection Theater produces collaborations between artists of different cultures in order to break down barriers of racism, sexism and prejudice, to allow American audiences to experience other cultures, to shed light on our own culture and to engage, comment and ask questions about world events.
Elaine Molinaro, Artistic Director
Gwen Orel, Producer, Playwright in Residence
Elaine Molinaro, Artistic Director
Elaine founded Culture Connection Theater (CCT) in 2004. In NJ, Elaine has directed for CCT, the Theater Project, Luna Stage, Dreamcatcher Rep., Centenary Stage, Apricot Sky Productions, Nutley Little Theater, UCC Players, Intersections International, Montclair Early Music and George Street Playhouse. In NY - Lincoln Center, Peculiar Work
Elaine founded Culture Connection Theater (CCT) in 2004. In NJ, Elaine has directed for CCT, the Theater Project, Luna Stage, Dreamcatcher Rep., Centenary Stage, Apricot Sky Productions, Nutley Little Theater, UCC Players, Intersections International, Montclair Early Music and George Street Playhouse. In NY - Lincoln Center, Peculiar Works Project, The Cell, HERE, New Georges, Voice & Vision, Ping Chong and Co. Elaine is President of the Montclair Arts Alliance, Immediate Past Chair and member of the Montclair Arts Advisory Committee to the Montclair Town Council. She is an officer and women’s play contest coordinator of the Women and Theatre Program for the Association of Theatre in Higher Education. Elaine has a Masters of Fine Arts in theater directing.
Gwen Orel, Producer, Playwright in Residence
Gwen Orel, Producer, Playwright in Residence
Gwen Orel, Producer, Playwright in Residence
Gwen is a playwright and teacher. She serves as producer, playwright and teaches playwriting workshops for CCT. She is the Features editor of the Montclair Local; formerly arts editor, The Montclair Times; publications include New York Times, Wall Street Journal, American Theatre, Village Voice, Time Out New York. Dramaturgy includes lite
Gwen is a playwright and teacher. She serves as producer, playwright and teaches playwriting workshops for CCT. She is the Features editor of the Montclair Local; formerly arts editor, The Montclair Times; publications include New York Times, Wall Street Journal, American Theatre, Village Voice, Time Out New York. Dramaturgy includes literary manager, Alabama Shakespeare Festival; Peculiar Work Project. Gwen has had plays produced at: ThinkFast Festival; Apricot Sky Productions; Montclair Arts Festival; National Winter Playwrights Retreat, Creede, Colorado. Outer Critics Circle voter, PhD in theatre, AEA stage manager.
Laura Hoffman, Circle of Sparks Facilitator
Nadine Bernard, Circle of Sparks Facilitator
Nadine Bernard, Circle of Sparks Facilitator
Laura Hoffman is a facilitator and participant with Circle of Sparks. This new community building project combines storytelling and improvisational theater and allows audience members a safe place to share their own stories and see them enacted. She is a native New Yorker and works as an ASL interpreter, actor and musician. She and her
Laura Hoffman is a facilitator and participant with Circle of Sparks. This new community building project combines storytelling and improvisational theater and allows audience members a safe place to share their own stories and see them enacted. She is a native New Yorker and works as an ASL interpreter, actor and musician. She and her husband live in Montclair NJ with their amazing teenage daughter.
Nadine Bernard, Circle of Sparks Facilitator
Nadine Bernard, Circle of Sparks Facilitator
Nadine Bernard, Circle of Sparks Facilitator
Nadine is a playwright, actor, and is in training as a drama therapist. She is a facilitator and member of Circle of Sparks. Nadine’s plays - In the Shadow of My Son, Miss Valentine, Then Let the Fish Go, Seize the Day After, Veils, The Way to Summer - have been presented in NYC and across the country. She uses coaching and drama thera
Nadine is a playwright, actor, and is in training as a drama therapist. She is a facilitator and member of Circle of Sparks. Nadine’s plays - In the Shadow of My Son, Miss Valentine, Then Let the Fish Go, Seize the Day After, Veils, The Way to Summer - have been presented in NYC and across the country. She uses coaching and drama therapy techniques with clients in Montclair and has brought drama therapy techniques to the Bergen County Department of Family Guidance, Celebrate the Children School, summer camp at Luna Stage, and Sibshop Montclair of which she is the director. She holds an MFA in theater and MA in clinical psychology. www.PersonalPlays.com
Andreina Botto Roever, Education Coordinator
Nadine Bernard, Circle of Sparks Facilitator
Andreina Botto Roever, Education Coordinator
Andreina hails from Argentina and now lives in the US with her husband and three daughters. She coordinated enrollment for CCT’s Young Writers workshop which her daughters Valentina and Sophia participated in where they wrote and performed the script « The Brownie » with their classmates. Andreina fundraises for The Sisters Foundation fou
Andreina hails from Argentina and now lives in the US with her husband and three daughters. She coordinated enrollment for CCT’s Young Writers workshop which her daughters Valentina and Sophia participated in where they wrote and performed the script « The Brownie » with their classmates. Andreina fundraises for The Sisters Foundation founded to buy books and supplies for underfunded schools in the Argentine province of Mendoza. Her mother Clarisa Ares and Valentina co-wrote and illustrated the book « The Savior Bridge » (El Puente Salvador), an Inka legend, and donated the profits to the foundation.