Fundraising. Special Event SPECIAL EVENT: Remembering Sharon Two performances were held for Remembering Sharon, written by Nick Pelino, Jr., a TRUE CRIME STORY of Franklin Township’s only unsolved murder! This staged reading raised funds to offer as a reward, for help in solving this case (see “The Reward” below). The first night, 74 tickets were sold, and the second night 84 tickets were sold. 50% of the proceeds ($1,975) will be held in reserve as part of a reward. DETAILS OF THE CASE: On October 26, 1982, at approximately 5:30 p.m., one day before her 16th birthday, Sharon Thor was preparing to leave her Franklin Township home for her weekly ballet dance lesson when the telephone rang. Sharon appeared to be pleased to hear from the caller. As soon as she hung up the phone, she told her mother that she would be right back as she rushed outside to the street. Sharon never returned. Three days later, a team of searchers found Sharon’s body discarded in a wooded area about a quarter-mile from her home. CASE REFERENCES: https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/affiliated-agencies/prosecutor-s-office/cold-cases Although the case is 40 years old, it was reopened in 2009 (attempting to use DNA evidence) but they could not prove the suspect. There is a recent push to re-open it again (there is no statute of limitations on murder). INTERVIEW WITH FRANK RESTA AND MARIE FIORELLO, DIRECTOR This video requires a Facebook login: RECENT NEWS ARTICLE DONATE ADDITIONAL FUNDS If you’re watching a performance, we encourage you to leave additional cash in the buckets, on your way out. These funds will be donated direct to the Reward. If you do not have cash and you’d still like to donate, please go to our “Donate” page, but next to “Please select your option for contribution”, select “Sharon Thor” in the drop-down. Your funds (minus credit card fees) will be donated direct to the Reward. This campaign ends on Sept 30th 2023. THE REWARDS! You’ll help solve this case, by purchasing a ticket to our production! Frank Resta initially offered a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the case, to spur attention to the cause. And as per the recent Franklin Reporter video https://www.facebook.com/franklinreporter/videos/, Miklos Hajdu-Nemeth of Miklos’ Tree Service, also matched Frank’s $500 with his own $500, totaling $1,000. Additional donations have increased the reward to $1700.00. Villagers Theatre adding to the Reward! 50% of our ticket sales for Remembering Sharon, $1,950.00 total, will be held in our Sharon Reward Fund, for up to 5 years. If information supplied by someone, leads to the arrest and conviction of the case within 5 years from our production, that Sharon Reward Fund will be given to the informant(s) as a Reward. If the case is not solved within 5 years, the Reward Fund will be donated to “Parents of Murdered Children” (https://pomc.org). Opening Date: 08/26/2023
Closing Date: 08/27/2023
Ticket Prices:
$25 All Tickets Performance Times:
1 WEEKEND ONLY Authors/Playwrights: Nick Pelino, Jr.
Directed by: Marie Fiorello
Cast:
Mrs. Thor – Alison Byrne Production Staff: Producer – Darren Nye |
A Center for the Performing and Cultural Arts