Mrs. Maren Sugarman “grew up” backstage at Westfield Community Players in Union County, where she, alongside her mother and grandmother, worked props, decorated sets, moved scenery, directed and performed. Most of her school days were spent in and around auditoriums and choral and instrumental music rooms. A graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of Arts, she spent many years acting professionally for theater companies specializing in bringing classical theatre to young people. While in New York City she performed Greek and Restoration plays in playgrounds and parks from the Bronx to downtown Manhattan, and went on to play Shakespeare in over twenty six of this nation’s states. She spent seasons performing with Actors’ Shakespeare in Albany NY, Phoenix Theatre in Rutland VT, and at Shakespeare and Company in Lenox MA, where she had the privilege of working with Artistic Director Tina Packer and Master Voice Teacher Kristen Linklater (currently of Columbia University).

After “retiring” from the professional stage, to raise two lovely daughters (now ages 12 and 9), Mrs. Sugarman began teaching. Starting with Music Together (an international program for infants/toddlers and caregivers) she went on to become a Music and Movement Specialist for Shoresh Preschool in Bloomfield and the Early Learning Center at Clifton’s YM/YWHA. She also established SugarLady Parties, providing entertainment for birthdays and school/church/synagogue events with sing-a-longs and puppetry programs.

Finally returning to her theatrical roots, Mrs. Sugarman began a working relationship with Action Theatre Conservatory in Clifton and their performance unit, The Conservatory Players, performing, directing and teaching Voice and Speech for their advanced acting students. [Productions: A Midsommer Night’s Dreame; Brighton Beach Memoirs (five NJ Assoc. of Community Theatres Perry Award nominations), The Tragedie of Romeo & Juliet (three NJACT Perry nominations)] While pursuing her desire to teach in public schools, she became the director for Verona Middle School’s Spring Musicals of ’05 and ’06. She also worked as a Drama/Art counselor at Montclair Parks and Recreation Summer Day Camp, a long term substitute Drama and Public Speaking teacher at Roosevelt Intermediate School in Westfield (her old Jr. High!) and as a one-on-one classroom aide at The Therapeutic School and Preschool in Belleville working with children on the autistic spectrum.

Mrs. Sugarman has been pursuing her goal to lead a drama program at the Orange Preparatory Academy level for over four years. She is positively delighted to have the opportunity to continue meeting this goal at OPA. In the Orange Public School System she has found a welcoming community of dedicated professionals and vibrant students. She always looks forward to classes and students with anticipation and excitement!

Mrs. Sugarman has directed productions of Rossini’s La Cambiale di Matrimonio and the world premiere of An Angel in the Park by Clifton composer Francesco Santelli, for Garden State Opera Company. She continues to work with NYC’s Instant Shakespeare Company (ISC), which presents “instant” readings of ALL of Shakespeare’s plays each year in NY Public Libraries. Mrs. Sugarman and her daughters, Kate and Marnie have been quite closely involved with the ISC over the past seven years because they live with the company’s Founding Director, husband, dad, actor and publisher, Paul Sugarman.