Chester's Carol Beaugard wins best actress at 2013 Strawberry Theatre Festival

CHESTER — Chester resident Carol Beaugard is the winner of the Best Actress award for the 2013 Strawberry Theater Festival hosted by The Riant Theatre. Beaugard received the award for her performance in “The Plastic Couch,” written by Alyssa Burgos presented Off Broadway at The Hudson Guild Theatre.

Beaugard starred as Grandma Carmen in the original play, a portrait of three generations of a New York Puerto Rican family and the grandmother whose humor, eccentricities, and mental illness inhabits the center of their world. Grandma Carmen is schizophrenic and Beaugard’s portrayal evolved from a comedic introduction to a slow but escalating revelation of the anguish, isolation and torment of her disorder.

Thirty plays and more than 60 actresses were entered in the prestigious competition. The award was announced at a gala awards ceremony held at the 100-seat Manhattan Hudson Guild Theatre.

“I was absolutely thrilled to win the award,” said Beaugard. “I did so much research on the role and enjoyed developing the complex part and working on the original script, alongside a great ensemble cast. It was a fabulous experience.”

Beaugard will next star as "Joan" in an original work entitled “White Noise,” from June 27 to July 14, 2013 at the Theater for the New City located at 155 First Ave. (at East 10 St.). Founded in 1971, Theater for the New City (TNC) is one of New York City's leading Off-Off Broadway theaters, known for political plays and community commitment. Productions at TNC have won 43 Obie Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. “White Noise” depicts a philosophical artist who travels to Detroit for an exhibit where he encounters Joan, an attractive, oversexed marriage therapist and a seemingly normal cast of characters who are revealed to be quite otherwise.

"White Noise" is the first play by Tom Block, a well-known Washington, D.C., painter, human rights activist and author of two books. It was originally presented in Washington, D.C. by Wanderlust Theater Lab and the Kennedy Center’s Page-to-Stage Festival. The TNC production will be directed by Moema Umann.

Beaugard has also been cast to star in two upcoming independent films. She will play "Amanda" in “En Avant,” a short film by Jazmin Godoy which takes a look into the life of a family broken by unexpected events.

She will also star in an as-yet-untitled film by Maritza Gomez. She plays the central character of Consuelo Vasquez whose life’s dream was destroyed by pursuing a bad marriage and who is now fighting to keep her daughter from throwing away a promising education and future for a disastrous relationship. The director is creating the film under a Screen Actors Guild Agreement (SAG) and the script explores themes of personal alienation and an outrage over social injustice. Both films will be shot in New York and New Jersey throughout May.

“White Noise” will be presented at the Theater for the New City from June 27 to July 14, 2013, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.. Tickets are $15; $10 for students and seniors. For reservations call 212-254-1109 or email info@theaterforthenewcity.net.

For more information about Beaugard, visit www.facebook.com/carolbeaugard or go to www.imdb.com/name/nm5533873/.