PHOTOS from “Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating, and Marriage!” at The Theater Project



(MAPLEWOOD, NJ) — The Theater Project is presenting Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating, and Marriage! by Ken Davenport & Sarah Saltzberg from August 17-27, 2023 in Maplewood, NJ. With help from her assistant Paco and a few cooperative audience volunteers, Miss Abigail demonstrates flirtation techniques from 1940s and 50s how-to-find-romance handbooks to prove that “love can’t be bought — but it can be taught!” Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.

Using her extensive, if somewhat outdated pre-feminist collection of dating guides, Miss Abigail and Paco invite the audience to play along practicing the most effective ways to attract a mate. Ellen Revesz (Clifton, NJ) and Tomas Vorsteg (New York, NY) bring their extensive improv skills to Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating, and Marriage! . The play is directed by Theater Project artistic director Mark Spina (Union).

Let Miss Abigail take you back to a simpler time, before booty calls and speed-dating, back when the divorce rate wasn’t 50% and when “fidelity” was more than an investment firm! It’s Loveline meets Dr. Ruth as Miss Abigail shares her vast knowledge of every piece of relationship literature known to mankind. The audience participates in this hilarious variety show, and Miss Abigail’s strapping young assistant Paco is there to provide for her every need. This smash Off-Broadway hit will keep you laughing all night long— that’s the Miss Abigail guarantee!

Performances take place Thursdays through Sundays, August 17-27, with post-show talkbacks each Friday, at Maplewood’s Burgdorff Cultural Center where The Theater Project is concluding its summer season. The show is performed in the “Black Box at the Burgdorff,” an intimate air-conditioned venue perfect for an audience participation show. Patrons familiar with Maplewood Village know of the many excellent food and beverage options within walking distance of the theater, making Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating, and Marriage!  a great night out.

Single ticket prices are $32 for general admission, $25 for seniors and students. Senior Sunday prices—the first Sunday of each play performance—are $20. Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling the box office, 908-809-8865.

The Burgdorff Cultural Center is located at 10 Durand Road in Maplewood, New Jersey.

The Theater Project, which received another prestigious National Endowment for the Arts grant in 2021, has gained regional and national recognition for its ongoing projects including its annual Young Playwrights Competition, ARK (Actors Reading with Kids) program, the Think Fast short play competition—which attracted writers from throughout the country—and its The Theater Project Thinks About … podcasts.

Here are more photos from the production.

John Posada is a New Jersey based photographer specializing in live theatre and music performances. For more than 10 years, John has photographed live music events where he mastered the techniques of timing and capturing fast moving action under challenging lighting conditions to capture that perfect moment that tells a story in a single image. Currently, John has photographed over 110 productions for over 70 different theatres and venues. Click here for John’s website.