Living the dream

Under Rich Strack's senior picture in his high school yearbook, his future plans included "sports writer."

It took 45 years to achieve that dream, but now that he has, there's no holding him back.

In addition to being a part-time sports and feature writer for the Times News, this weekend Strack will be sitting in the audience at The Shawnee Playhouse, surrounded by family and friends, watching his first play come to life.

"The Waiting Room," is one of five one-act plays to be performed over the next three weekends, and is the third place winner in the 2013 Shawnee Original Playwright Series.

"There is no prize for winning," Strack says, "but for me to be able to see what came out of my head, up on the stage is enough for me; and to have it enacted in front of my eyes, I can't describe how I'm going to feel about that."

Strack says "The Waiting Room" is a comedy about four people who have just died and are in a holding area, waiting to get into Heaven. All of the deceased are holding a piece of paper, upon which is written their sins and transgressions.

The main character, Lawrence Higgins, sees nothing on his paper, and is pacing angrily and wondering why he's even there. He is also dismayed that his passing, which took place while waiting in the line at the deli of his local Shop Rite, should have been much grander and befitting his perceived stature.

The other characters include a 25-year-old ladies' man who committed suicide; a 31-year-old prostitute; a 19-year-old atheist; and a tired and cranky Winged Man, who leads the characters through Heaven's door.

Strack says his play was one of several chosen from approximately 60 entries.

This is officially the seventh year of the contest, says Midge McClosky, executive director of The Shawnee Playhouse.

Before that, readings of original plays had been done as part of the Worthington Players contribution to the community for more than 15 years.

McClosky says after the plays are submitted, the executive committee selects plays to be read in front of a live audience. Actors and nonactors from the Worthington Players read the scripts "cold" at one of several reading nights.

All of those present vote, offering comments and feedback to the playwrights. The votes are then tabulated and the winners selected.

McClosky was impressed with Strack's entry.

"'The Waiting Room' is a terrific script with a great twist," she says. "I personally like his take on judgment and morality. I think this play, though quite short, will strike a chord with many people."

Strack says "The Waiting Room" was written specifically for the playwright series contest, and is the first of a trilogy he calls "Rooms With A View." He recently submitted his second play, "The Birthday Room," for this year's contest.

"The Birthday Room" takes place in a nursing home, where a group of 80-year-olds are celebrating a birthday. When one of the party-goers produces a drink called "the fountain of youth," the fun begins.

The third play, "The Boiler Room," which Strack is currently working on, takes place in a high school, where the principal is having an affair with a teacher; there is also a drunken custodian and corrupt school board members.

Strack has always wanted to be a writer. In addition to his assignments for the Times News, and his latest gig as a playwright, he is writing his first novel.

"Upon a Field of Gold," is a story about a Confederate soldier killed at Gettysburg, who is reincarnated into the soul of a 60-year-old man living in Jim Thorpe.

Originally from Piscataway, New Jersey, Strack graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor of arts degree.

He has a master of arts from Marygrove College in Michigan.

Strack taught high school English and philosophy in Colonia, New Jersey, for 38 years.

He coached football and baseball for 20 of those years in the same school district.

He retired in 2011 and moved to Jim Thorpe, where he lives with his wife, Stacie, and their children, Richie, who is 10, and Sadie, who is 7.

If you go:

Shawnee Playhouse is located at 552 River Road in Shawnee on Delaware. Opening night is 8 p.m. Saturday.

The show continues at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Jan. 9, 10, 16 and 17, and at 2 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 4, 11 and 18.

Tickets are $10, $15 and $18 and are available online at theshawneeplayhouse.com, or by calling the box office at 570-421-5093.

The five one-act plays that will be produced include comedy and drama, and some content is intended for mature audiences only.