HOPATCONG — Sparta resident Sam Kitchin is no stranger to the acting world. He has performed in films such as "The Truman Show" and in various roles on Broadway. Television work includes the daytime soap operas "All My Children," "Guiding Light" and "One Life to Live," nighttime hits "The Sopranos," "Law & Order" and "30 Rock," amongst others, and commercials too numerous to list.
His eight-year-old daughter, Natalie, could be following in her father’s footsteps. She has performed with Cornerstone Playhouse, known as The Community Theater of Sparta.
Unfortunately, father and daughter can not work in the business alongside each other. Kitchin is a long-time Union member with the Actors Equity Association, therefore not allowed to do community theater.
Both are big fans of The Growing Stage, The Children’s Theater of New Jersey, in Netcong.
“I took my daughter there a while ago,” said Kitchin, “and the artistic director asked me to read the part of Dad in 'With Two Wings'.” Kitchin nailed the role. “But I had only one-and-half weeks to prepare.”
Kitchin wasn’t the least bit nervous. “I do this all the time.”
His most recent performance was at Kean University where he played five different roles.
Having traveled the country in his younger years, and venturing into New York City for work, Kitchin is thrilled to be a part of something so close to home. Being cast as "Dad" is right up his alley too. The rest enables Kitchin to do what he does best — act.
The setting of "With Two Wings" is a mystical place where people are born with wings and can fly. The story centers around a young boy named Lyf who lives a hidden existence in the woods with his parents.
Twins Meta and Taur come upon Lyf’s remote home and secretive family and befriend the child. The result is an adventurous story about risk taking, truth, sensitivity, forgiveness and ownership of self.
The all-adult and professional cast includes P. J. Schweizer of Doylestown, Penn., as Lyf — who recently played the role of Hermey the Elf in The Growing Stage’s production of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Rosemary Glennon of Tewksbury and Josh Carpenter of Queens, N.Y. portray Meta and Taur. Lori B. Lawrence of Hackettstown plays Kitchin’s other half, Mom.
"With Two Wings" is the winner of the 2011-2012 New Play Reading Festival. It was a recipient of the 2009 Playwrighting Award from the Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences playwrighting competition. It was further developed at Write Now (formerly The Bonderman Playwrighting for Youth), a national playwrighting competition and symposium presented by Indiana Repertory Theatre and Childsplay in Arizona.
"With Two Wings" was created by Anne Negri and is under the direction of Stephen L. Fredericks, The Growing Stage’s Executive Director.