Editor's pick: UFOs, espionage and “The Sopranos”

Staged Reading

Saturday, July 29, 8:00 p.m. The Rivoli Theatre, South Fallsburg, NY. $5. 845/434-7232.

Michael Corriere has had an interest in UFOs since he was a child. When new information regarding President Truman’s secret trip to Wright Field in September of 1947 came into his possession—information only a handful of people know about—he was prompted to write a play about it.

In the play, President Truman is confronted with a UFO crash, the death of two Army Air Force Intelligence officers on a “top secret” mission involving UFOs and the possible infiltration of the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. by Soviet Spies.

A couple of years ago, Corriere showed the work, “Hangar #1,” to Daryl Castellana, son of actor Joseph Castellana, who plays Lou DiMaggio on HBO’s “The Sopranos.” When Joseph saw the play he thought it was interesting, and when a staged reading was planned, he signed on board.

Embarking on an acting career at age 64, when most people are settling back into retirement, Joseph Castellana has amassed a wealth of stage credits, as well as film and television in the last 17 years. A member of the Screen Actors Guild, he has appeared in “Dellaventura,” with Danny Aiello, and “The Sopranos.” However, he finds stage work more challenging, recalling that he once heard that Sir Laurence Olivier did film work to support his stage work.

The public can view the result of the Corriere/Castellana collaboration on Saturday, when the premiere reading of “Hangar #1” comes to the stage of the Nartoff-Wells auditorium of the Rivoli Theatre for one night only. Castellana portrays Lt. Col. Donald Springer, a central figure in the intrigue. Many local actors are also involved, including Albee Bockman, Cass Collins, Tom DelFavero, Mike Gastwirth, Oliver King, Harold Tighe and Erich Werner.

This reading is a benefit for the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop, the area’s longest-standing community theatre group and a private, not-for-profit organization.