BillScurato.com

Original scripts for youth, school and community theatre productions written by Bill Scurato

Bill Scurato has been an active theatre artist for over fifty yers. In 1972 he extablished, along with his wife Carolyn, the Country Gate Players community theatre. The group emerged as a grassroots organization providing the northwestern New Jersey community with access to theatre, as both participants and audience members. In 1978 the group took occupancy of the former Belvidere, New Jersey movie theatre. Over the span of his career, Scurato has directed and acted in numerous productions. As a director he was most pleased with his work on Teahouse of The August Moon, by John Patrick, Inherit The Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee and 1776 by by Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone. His favorite acting roles are Oscar Madison in Barefoot In The Park, the Construction Worker in Working and Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof.

In addition, Scurato authored a series of musical adaptations for young performers. These included Tom Sawyer (republished in a reading anthology by Oxford University Press,) That Weird Kid, and Pollyanna.  Scurato has also written and directed a score of mystery dinner theatre productions. These scripts have been produced throughout the United States. In 2005, he wrote and produced a two part theatre vehicle in deference to his home state called Jersey Diner. In 2012 he added Orson’s Path, an homage to theatre and film director, Orson Welles.

Beyond his work in the theatre, Bill Scurato spent 40 years as an educator in New Jersey public schools. In this capacity, he engaged as a speech correctionist, classroom teacher, instructional supervisor, college adjunct and district administrator.

Scurato has written three books: Makes A Man’s Blood Pound, (2017),  a memoir chiefly documenting the establishment and growth of the Country Gate Players; Rag Doll…a theatre story, (2019,) recounts the struggle and ultimate triumph of a woman’s journey in seeking validation for herself and her daughter through the auspices of a local theatre and Murder Show, (2021,) an exploration of his journey through the quirky world of murder mystery dinner theatre. Through the ’80’s and ’90’s Scurato was known to local radio audiences as a newscaster and announcer on WCRV AM, licensed to Washington, New Jersey

In recent years, Scurato has ventured into film production with the documentary, Punch Line and the web series,The Troupe. Bill Scurato is also a podcaster having produced the internet audio programs: Theatrecast, Stages, Shameless Rewind and his current offering, Movies and More.