Fear Itself
Sweepers
Seven Rabbits On A Fence
Seven Rabbits On A Fence
Pieces of the Sky
Chili Queen
Musical Legends Tribute
—————
Four tributes, performed in rep!
Roz White in PEARL BAILEY...BY REQUEST
Gretchen Reinhagen in SPECIAL KAYE: A TRIBUTE TO THE INCOMPARABLE KAYE BALLARD
Cleve Douglass in NAT 'KING' COLE: UNFORGETTABLE SMOOTH GROOVES
Janice Hall in GRAND ILLUSIONS: THE MUSIC OF MARLENE DIETRICH
February 24 – March 13, 2011
"A fine salute to the beautiful/glamorous/sophisticated side of Bailey’s life. As White launches into some of Bailey’s most famous songs — “Personality,” “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” and “St. Louis Blues,” for instance — she delivers a near-perfect Bailey sound." - Barbara Mackay, Washington Examiner
"I don't use this word often or casually, but Gretchen Reinhagen's show about Kaye Ballard is a triumph. It's everything a tribute show should be: loving, illuminating, informed and informative, with the icon's style captured to result in appreciation of the tributer and tribute." - Rob Lester, Cabaret Scenes
"Cleve ... seems to be Nat 'King' Cole reincarnated with a voice as silky as the lapels of his tuxedo."- New York Times
"He is one of the best male jazz singers on the scene today!" - New York Daily News
"A glorious hour ... When the show was over, I stayed in my seat a few moments, moved. I realized that I was responding to three forces, all working together: the enduring power of Dietrich, the strength of Hall's performance, and the brilliance of this show and all of its elements. Can one ask more of a tribute?" - Roy Sander, Bistro Awards.com
ReENTRY
by Emily Ackerman and KJ Sanchez
directed by Ms. Sanchez.
New York Premiere of Two River Theatre’s Production:
February 6 - March 7, 2010
Cast includes Joseph Harrell (United States Marine Corps from 1999-2008), Sameerah Luqmaan-Harris, Bobby Moreno, PJ Sosko, and Sheila Tapia
ReEntry is an unflinching look at the lives of Marines returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. An honest, moving, surprisingly funny play based on interviews with privates and colonels, combat vets and clerks, and one particularly memorable family. ReEntry tells the stories you haven't heard. ReEntry is not about politics. It is not about the WHY of this war. It's about stepping off that plane and coming home, re-entering one's life, family and country - again.
Marion Williams (Scenic and Costume Designer), Thom Weaver (Lighting Designer), Zach Williamson (Sound Designer), Alex Koch (Video Designer).
ReWrite
Book, Music, Lyrics by Joe Iconis
Directed by John Simpkins
World Premiere: December 6, 2008 - January 3rd, 2009
Starring Nick Blaemire, Badia Farha, Lorinda Lisitza, Lauren Marcus, Aj Shively, And Jason "Sweettooth" Williams.
A fun, quirky trio of mini-musicals called ReWrite, a musical comedy triple feature. ReWrite deals with time. With deadlines. The deadlines one imposes on oneself and the deadlines that the universe imposes on us. It's about trying to live up to the expectations you created for yourself and trying to do it before your time runs out. It's about normal people, not the sort of people who get musicals written about them. Normal people dealing with little problems that seem huge and huge problems boiled down to something a bit more manageable. ReWrite, a musical comedy triple feature includes the mini-musicals Nelson Rocks, Miss Marzipan and The Process.
“ReWrite is Unstoppable! Tremendous energy! Extraordinary music!” - Variety
“Most unique and innovative show” - Talk Entertainment
“ReWrite is funny and very good. Iconis’ lyrics are smart, funny, and referential. I have to admit I have never seen a musical like this.” - nytheatre
"Bright lyrics demonstrate that Iconis has a language of his own and his music has a contemporary beat" - Theatre Scene
“Rewrite, is a great show.” - Stage and Cinema
“ReWrite is a bitchin’ triptych of one-act pop/rock musicals” - NY Press
“Loopy, Nutty Loony. Iconis expertly lays the groundwork which land to showstopping effect.” - The New York Times
Michael Schweikardt (Sets), Michelle Eden Humphrey (Costumes) Chris Dallos (Lights), Craig Kaufman( Sound) and Jennifer Werner (Choreography). In Association With Sara Katz (Producer).
27 Rue de Fleurus
Book and lyrics by Ted Sod
Music and lyrics by Lisa Koch.
Directed by Frances Hill.
World Premiere: March 1st – April 13th, 2008
Featuring Sarah Chalfy, Susan Haefner, Barbara Rosenblat, Cheryl Stern, Emily Zacharias
Gertrude grows tired of Alice's lack of panache for telling her perspective of their story and attempts to hijack the play as only the author of such lines as "sugar is not a vegetable" can. But Alice has secrets to share with the audience that silence the famously verbose Gertrude. This celebrated couple confronts each other about love, marriage, jealousy, genius and a few other delicious topics while Pablo Picasso, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Mabel Dodge, Sylvia Beach and even Jean Harlow drop by for a visit.
"smart direction," "strong performances" (New York Times)
"luscious" (Variety).
" Add this small charmer to this season's cornucopia of off-beat new musicals," (Curtain Up) “Director Frances Hill's production has a zest that matches the unbridled creativity of the creators, unfolding on a handsome scenic design from Roman Tatarowicz, who's created a surreal white salon with skewed walls that's backed by a series of overlapping frames into which Alex Koch's collage-like video is projected. It's the perfect canvas for this haphazard look into Toklas and Stein's world." (Theatermania)
Musical direction by John Bell. Choreography by Jessica Hayden. Set by Roman Tatarowicz, Costumes by Carrie Robbins, Lights by Raquel Davis, Video by Alex Koch,Stage Manager: Carol A. Sullivan, Technical Director: Daniel Jagendorf, Sound Engineer: David Margolin Lawson, Casting Director: Stephanie Klapper, Stephanie Klapper Casting, Publicity: Brett Singer, Brett Singer and Associates
The Blue Bird
By Stanton Wood & Lori Laster, based on the classic by Maurice Maeterlinck
Directed by Heath Cullens.
Original music by Colm Clark.
World Premiere: December 14, 2007 – January 13, 2008
Featuring Sarah Chalfy, Susan Haefner, Barbara Rosenblat, Cheryl Stern, Emily Zacharias
In this play based on the early 20th-century classic by symbolist Maurice Maeterlinck, a mysterious visitor on Christmas Eve leads Martha, a materialistic city girl, on a fantastical journey. Armed with a magic hat that reveals the "true nature" of things, Martha finds the “blue bird of happiness”. It’s a multimedia extravaganza.
"... With exuberance and at times wicked humor, The Blue Bird achieves something irresistible: an adventure that is genuinely fun to embark on. It deals with death, grief, poverty, alienation, and fear, but it is never gloomy or self-conscious. The other half of the success comes from the renowned Russian avant-garde artist Andrey Bartenev's scenic and costume design. By marrying high-tech with high art, the familiar tale emanates as something strikingly new." (nytheatre.com)
"lovely job at evoking magical worlds and characters," (The New York Times)
Scenic design by Andrey Bartenev, video design by Alex Koch, lighting by Josh Bradford.
The Oxford Roof Climber's Rebellion
by Stephen Massicotte
Directed by ROGER DANFORTH
The American Premiere: October 13 - November 18, 2007
Cast: Dylan Chalfy, Stafford Clark-Price, Tom Cleary, Erin Moon, George Morfogen
Lawrence has recently been cast out of the Paris Peace talks of 1919, and Graves has barely survived the trenches of the Somme. Now that these two great men have survived the war, neither one of them can sleep, nor can they write or share their incredible experiences with anyone. As an act of rebellion against shell shock the two resolve to return to the frivolous days of undergraduate rebellion before the events of the Great War, enacting playful pranks in an attempt to express their feelings about what they have witnessed. As their movement gains momentum, Lawrence’s nemesis, Lord Curzon, sees in their humorous protests the seeds of deeper sedition and aims to undo the Rebellion before it has possible tragic ramifications.
"The drama of this riveting play could not be more timely...excellent new play... first-rate performances" - Wilborn Hampton, The New York Times, Oct. 27, 2007
"These 95 minutes are among the most sophisticated and absorbing currently on a New York stage... it glows with an uncommon intelligence." Karl Levett, Backstage, Oct. 18, 2007
"Chillingly relevant ... Director Roger Danforth, with the help of a superb cast, creates a powerful theatrical experience" CurtainUp, Nov. 1, 2007
Roman Tatarowicz - Set Design, David Toser - Costume Design, Josh Bradford - Lighting Design, Daniel Baker & David Thomas - Sound Design, Alex Koch - Video Design, Dialect Design - Amy Stoller, Stage Manager - Dan Zittel, Props - Joe Osheroff
Apostasy
by Gino DiIorio
Directed by Frances Hill
The World Premiere: March 24 - May 6th, 2007
Featuring Susan Greenhill, Susan Louise O'Connor and Harold Surratt.
Apostasy: Sheila is a successful, middle-aged Jewish businesswoman who has a terminal illness. Until now Judaism has been her security blanket, but its teachings are no longer providing the comfort she seeks. A charismatic black televangelist walks off the TV screen, through Sheila's back door and into her fragile life. The choice is his arms or the arms of her daughter. When you are about to bite the dust, do you take a bite of the apple? Do you choose the forbidden fruit or the fruit of your loins?
"Fearless play... exceptional examples of naturalistic acting by the women in the cast [Susan Greenhill and Susan Louise O'Connor]... Acting is something to see... a wonderful mix of heartbreak and fury" The New York Times *read the whole review
"INTRIGUING ... VIBRANT ... a thought-provoking pas de trois" TimeOut New York
"All three performances are excellent, particularly Susan O’Connor… Susan Greenhill brings dignity and spunk to the complex role of Sheila. Harold Surratt … is spectacular … in William Cusick’s excellent video projections. Frances Hill’s direction is strong and sharp. DiIorio is obviously a talented and fearless writer who should be watched." nytheatre.com
Roman Tatarowicz - Set Design, Josh Bradford - Lighting Design, Nadia Fadeeva - Costume Design, David M. Lawson - Sound Design, William Cusick - Video & Projection (Tom Stoppard's The Coast of Utopia at Lincoln Center), Carol A. Sullivan, Stage Manager, Christopher Bonnell, Assnt. Director
The Magical Forest of Baba Yaga
a modern translation by Stanton Wood of the original Russian play Two Maples by Eugene Schwartz
Directed by Aleksey Burago
The world Premiere: December 16, 2006 - January 11, 2007
Starring Nikki E. Walker, Maria Silverman, Ned Massey, Rainey Lacey, Catherine Kjome, Aidan Koehler and Greg Adair.*
Set in a magical corner of Prospect Park, this new version of Eugene Schwartz’s classic fairy tale is a treat for the whole family, featuring a lazy wood witch and her magical band: a Cat, a Dog, a real estate agent she transformed into a Bear, and her living, moving, House on Chicken Legs. In a world where children are turned into trees and impossible tasks are everyday chores, a poor Russian-American mother must use all her inventiveness to find and free her lost children from the clutches of Baba Yaga.
"This is a great show to bring the family to see..." offoffonline
original music by Greg Adair, more original music by Colm Clark, set design by Ryan Kravetz, lighting design by Josh Bradford, costume design Lioudmila Maisouradze. Stage Manager: Alan Bluestone
Live Girls
by Victoria Stewart
directed by Lou Jacob
The world premiere: October 23 - November 26, 2006
With Pamela Hart*, Suli Holum*, Jenny Maguire*, Joe Medina
An African-American lesbian performance artist interviews a porn star for her latest documentary theater piece on social injustice and winds up questioning the exploitative nature of her own work.
"Is this play a “Devil Wears Prada” for the performance-art set? ... Victoria Stewart’s drama Live Girls makes a forceful case that reality-based theater can be as artificial as reality television." - Jason Zinoman, The New York Times
"Smart, thought-provoking drama" The Village Voice
"TANTALIZING!" - CurtainUp
"Compelling...heady and charged material. ...Under Lou Jacob's assured direction and featuring a trio of richly realized performances, Live Girls unfolds with gripping intensity." - Backstage
"Live Girls is a piece about performance, theatrical and X-rated, but to me it also seemed to be about women—what they want, what drives them and their sexuality." - nytheatre.com
John McDermott, Set Design, Josh Bradford - Lighting Design, Amela Baksic - Costume Design, Lindsay Jones, Sound Design, Ashley B. Delegal*- Stage Manager, Susan W. Lovell - Casting Director, Brett Singer & Associates - Publicity, Michelle Brandon, Marketing
Bulrusher
by Eisa Davis
directed by Leah C. Gardiner
The world Premiere March 8-April 9, 2006
With Robert Beitzel, Peter Bradbury, Charlotte Colavin, Zabryna Guevara, Guiesseppe Jones, Tinashe Kajese
This poetic, evocative play by Eisa Davis is set at the dawn of the Civil Rights movement, in 1955, the year Emmett Till was murdered. In a small town in California, a young African-American girl begins to understand what race means when a stranger from Alabama arrives. Set in a brothel in the real town of Boonville, with its own unique homespun language (Boontling), BULRUSHER tests our assumptions about race, sexuality and love.
Eisa Davis "tickles the ears of her listeners [and] the effect is haunting... Ms. Kajese and Ms. Guevara.are drawn to each other emotionally and physically [and] their moving scenes on the banks of the pebble-strewn river, well designed by Dustin O'Neill, feel utterly true " - Andrea Stevens, The New York Times, March 16, 2006
NOMINATE FOR A PULITZER PRIZE IN DRAMA
Original Songs Composed by Eisa Davis & Robert Beitzel.
Original Score Composed by Daniel T. Denver.
Original Score Performed by Daniel T. Denver, Manoel Felciano, Robert Beitzel
Choreography by Jennifer Harrison Newman
Fight Choreography by Denise HurdScenic Design and Video/Projection Design: Dustin O’Neill, Lighting Design: Sarah Sidman, Costume Design: Kimberly Ann Glennon, Sound Design: Jill BC Du Boff, Assistant Director: Ronald Francis Brescio, Production Stage Manager: Jana Llynn, Assistant Stage Manager/Props: Stephen Riscica, Brett Singer & Associates, Publicity, Michelle Brandon, Marketing, Stephanie Klapper Casting, Casting, Sondra Graff, Pentacle, Graphic Design.
The Snow Queen
by Stanton Wood
directed by Daniella Topol
World Premiere: Dec 11, 2005- Jan 15, 2006
STARRING: Susan Heyward, Utkarsh S Ambudkar, Lanna Joffrey, Ned Massey
An urban take on the Hans Christian Andersen story for kids, young adults and their families
Old World meets New World in this family holiday extravaganza. Gerda's epic journey in search of her best friend takes her from New York City to the South Pole, with stop-offs in Brazil and Patagonia.
Puppetry, theatricality, music, and sheer fun highlight this charming and touching production for kids of all ages. Award-winning playwright and computer game designer Stanton Wood is the author of plays for both children and adults, including The Zombies Next Door and Down the Drain.
The New York Times: "Featuring samba rhythms, urban raps, a cross-dressing reindeer and hip-hop-embracing adolescents, this magical "Snow Queen" manages to be both undeniably New York and authentically Andersen. ...It's to Mr. Wood's credit that the contemporary humor never diminishes the tale's tenderness. He has increased the story's resonance..." Laurel Graeber, Dec. 30, 2005.
from NYTHEATRE.COM: "The easiest way sto measure the worthiness of theater for children is by the behavior of its young audience. At The Snow Queen, the world premiere of Stanton Wood’s contemporary adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale, the audience is engaged for the full hour. Hats off to an ensemble effort: clear storytelling, an energetic cast, easy yet magical sets, and whimsical costumes."
BACKSTAGE: "an impressive production with Nadia Fadeeva's colorful costumes, Mikiko Suzuki's sparkling set, and a competent cast"... "Ned Massey, hilarious in four roles"
BIG APPLE PARENT: "outstanding performances.... The modern day Snow Queen is a great way to introduce the very young to both the theater and classic tales."
Puppet Designer: Eric Wright. Scenic Designer: Mikiko Suzuki. Costume Designer: Nadia Fadeeva. Original Music & Sound Design: Allison Leyton-Brown. Dramaturg: Lori Ann Laster
Technical Director: Sam Narrison. Stage Manager: Meghan Melcher. Assistant Director: Kate Stopa. Assistant Stage Designer: Dragica Dabo. Assistant Costume Designer: Liuba Karpushina. Assistant Stage Manager: Daniel Leif. Puppet Handler: Stephen Riscica. Costume Maintenance & Backstage: Olga Devyatisilnaya. Brett Singer & Associates, Publicity. Michelle Brandon, Marketing. Sondra Graff, Pentacle, Graphic Design. Photography by Pavel Antonov
Marion Bridge
by Daniel MacIvor
directed by Susan Fenichell
American Premiere: October 1 - November 27, 2005
produced by special arrangement with
Sonny Everett and Ashley Gates
with Susan Louise O'Connor, Christa Scott-Reed, Henny Russell, Victor Slezak, and Jennifer Ferrin.
Three sisters return home to care for their mother in this lyrical, poignant, and funny play by Obie-winning Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor. Trapped by life choices and unfulfilled expectations that have left them isolated, the three women search for the courage to create a new family from the remnants of the old. Marion Bridge uses an elegant theatricality to portray three remarkable women struggling to change their lives. Daniel MacIvor, author of In on It, Never Swim Alone, and Cul-de-Sac, is a recipient of The Governor General's Award and one of Canada's most acclaimed contemporary playwrights.
"...beautifully performed drama at Urban Stages by Mr. MacIvor, a vastly underrated and prolific writer... There's no murder, no shocks and no dark secrets waiting to be revealed. But in some ways, this moving drama, which tiptoes toward sentimentality without ever reaching it, is the most surprising play that he's ever written. When was the last time you saw a drama about three distinct, complex women that had nothing to do with their relationships with men? The MacKeigan sisters, whose affection for one another shows despite their constant bickering, are troubled, each in her own way. Agnes (Henny Russell) has a faltering acting career and an estranged daughter; Theresa (Christa Scott-Reed) is a rigid nun questioning her faith (a portrait on par with Cherry Jones's in "Doubt"); and childlike Louise (Susan Louise O'Connor, above right, with Ms. Scott-Reed) is married to her soap operas. They have all come home to see their dying mother, but while Mr. MacIvor often writes about death, this resolutely hopeful play is as much about making the most of life (despite all its flaws and disappointments). JASON ZINOMAN, The New York Times, Oct. 28, 2005
"Immortalized by King Lear, the three-sisters drama has been appropriated and embellished countless times by artists as eminent as Anton Chekhov (Three Sisters), Woody Allen (Interiors; Hannah and Her Sisters), and novelist Jane Smiley (A Thousand Acres). Daniel MacIvor's Marion Bridge is a modest entry into the genre, but it distinguishes itself through an elliptical and refreshingly ascetic approach to family melodrama. In a maritime island town, alcoholic Agnes (an excellent Henny Russell) returns home to help look after her dying mother. Already tending to the hearth are youngest sister Louise (Susan Louise O'Connor), an antisocial couch potato, and middle sibling Theresa (Christa Scott-Reed), a plainclothes nun whose favorite sartorial colors are gray and grayer. Predictably, the sororal trio progresses from awkward non-communication to vindictive bickering to hesitant reconciliation. What's surprising and most gratifying are all of the big moments that MacIvor doesn't show us˜the offstage mother who communicates solely via Post-its, Agnes's trips to visit a long-lost relative, and the titular bridge that played a crucial role in each sister's adolescence. Denying itself many of the obvious means of emotional catharsis, Marion Bridge subsists on small, often trivial scenes that, when taken together, cast a spartan chill that no happy ending can erase. " The Village Voice, October 26th, 2005
Scenic & Costume Design - Carol Bailey. Lighting Design - Jorge Arroyo. Sound Design - Eric Shim. Stage Manager - Keleigh Eisen. Assistant Stage Manager - Stephen Riscica. Casting by Stephanie Klapper Casting. Publicity - Brett Singer & Associates
Comfort Women
by Chungmi Kim
directed by Frances Hill
The World Premiere: October 23 - November 28, 2005
Starring TINA CHEN with Jade Wu, Jo Yang, Haerry Kim & Ji-young Kim
Between 1937 and 1945, the Japanese Imperial Forces conscripted or abducted about 200,000 young women, some as young as 12, from Asian countries to serve as sex slaves, known euphemistically as “comfort women,” for more than 2 million Japanese troops and officers. The play COMFORT WOMEN (formerly HANAKO), written by the Korean-born playwright Chungmi Kim, tells the story of these women as they begin to acknowledge and speak out about their experience. Set in 1994, JINA, an NYU student, meets two Korean “comfort women” who have come to speak at the UN protest. She brings them to her home in Queens, New York, where they meet her grandmother. Stories are told and secrets are revealed in this powerful and haunting theatre piece.
"This effective drama comes alive with strong performances" -The New York Times
"Comfort Women is a play of enormous emotion and prominent social awareness. There's also a good chance it wil make you cry...[it] presents a picture of beauty belying pain, of torture threatening to overtake peace, and of the truth that can't be hidden." -Talkinbroadway.com
Roman Tatarowicz, Set/Lighting Design.Heesoo Kim, Costume Design. Jane Shaw, Sound Design. Song Hee Lee, Choreography. Mimi Craig, Production Stage Manager. Terry LeCompte, ASM. Stephanie Klapper & Associates, Casting. Brett Singer & Associates, Publicity. Sandy Graff, Pentacle, Graphic Design.
Seven Rabbits on a Pole
by John C. Picardi, directed by Frances W. Hill
World premiere: March 30 - April, 2004
Cast: Bob Ari, Stephanie Cozart, Brian Hutchison, Kahan James and Anthony Veneziale.
Love, lust, opera and art occupy the lives of an Italian immigrant family living on a vegetable farm south of Boston in SEVEN RABBITS ON A POLE. Emotion and comedy soar when a meddling neighbor and a stranger selling rabbits arrive, revealing secrets that alter lives
"Epic in the making!" The New York Times
"Storytelling at its finest" Curtain Up
"Tono positivo, nobile. Quel che i nostri genitori e parenti han dato a questa societa... Precisa regia di una compagnia ottima, affiatata. Spettacolo racomandato." Mario Fratti, America Oggi
"Hope, dreams, pride, politics, love, lust and awful guilt drive this drama, bringing to mind the tortured souls and family relationships found in the best of O'Neill... The superior cast brings Mr. Picardi's play to riveting life." Lawrence Van Gelder, WQXR
Set and Lighting Design by Roman Tatarowicz/Costume Design by Kevin Brainerd. Sound Design by Jane Shaw. Original Song by Colm Clark. Production Stage Manager J.B. McLendon. ASM Fran Rubenstein. Choreographer Chad Shiro. Fight Director Marius Hanford IV. Technical Director Steve Friday. Publicity by Brett Singer & Associates, LLC. Casting Director Stephanie Klapper, Casting Assistant, Kelly Gillespie
In Spite of Myself
written by and starring Antoinette LaVecchia
directed by Jesse Berger
The world premiere - September 3 - 27, 2003
IN SPITE OF MYSELF is about the outrageous, hysterical and, ultimately moving struggle between an immigrant Italian mother and her Americanized daughter. Their dialogue is interrupted by colorful Italian-American characters that support and enlighten the universal mother/daughter relationship.
"As the piece opens [Ms. LeVecchia] gives birth to herself, something that has to be seen to be appreciated…Inspired!" -New York Times (Neil Genzlinger):
"LaVecchia is a stellar actress! [She offers] carefully layered caricatures, balancing the quirky with the poignant." -CurtainUp (Amanda Cooper):
"Hilarious! Huge laughs!" "Endearing characterizations and comedy… sharply performed" -Talkin' Broadway (Matthew Murray):
"Quando il teatro italoamericano diventa universale: il bellissimo monologo di Antoinette LaVecchia sul rapporto tra una madre italiana e la figlia americana.....Fin dai primi istanti del monologo si ha la sensazione che li al centro di un piccolo teatro, quella piccola donna voglia darci molto di piu.....Le relazioni madre-figlia si confondono, si sovrappongono, si allontano, si riconciliano grazie ad un filo misterioso di conflittualita e fusione. E ogni istante di questo spettacolo, anche nei suoi momenti piu ilari, cela una struggente domanda dicomprensione.....Rimane impressa questa figura di donna che recita da sola - al centro di un teatro, come dentro un ventre materno." - America Oggi (Mario Fratti)
Origins of Happiness
A Cuban-American Story
written by and starring Felix Pire
directed by Angel David
The World Premiere: Sept. 6 - 28, 2003
Just how many relatives can a Cuban have? And just how many characters can one actor play? You won't believe your eyes!
Outer Circle Winner for Outstanding Solo Performance, Felix Pire returns after his Urban Stages' Off-Broadway commercial triumph in Men on the Verge of a HISPANIC Breakdown by Guillermo Reyes. Origins of Happiness is a hilarious collection of family stories delivered by Felix Pire, a first-generation Cuban-American whose mother was an extra in Cuban movies in the 1960s. Using a full-vocabulary of body language and a variety of Cuban and Cuban-American accents Pire creates a colorful assortment of characters-most of them are members of his large extended family.
“Felix A. Pire doesn't have a false moment” - Anita Gates, The New York Times
"Pire is full of energy which reverberates throughout the theater and resonates with the audience…endearing, sweet, and hysterical!" - CurtainUp (Amanda Cooper):
“Pire is a gifted impersonator…. He provokes waves of laughter from the audience…Poignant [and] courageous.” -American Theater Web (Andy Probst)
Roses in December
By Victor L. Cahn
Directed by T. L. Reilly
March - EXTENDED THROUGH APRIL 6, 2003
Starring
Tony-Award winner James Naughton (APPEARING THROUGH March 9) and his daughter Keira Naughton. Together On Stage For The Very First Time!
Victor Slezak (replacing Mr. Naughton March 11-March 25).
Paul Ben Victor (replacing Mr. Slezak March 27-Apr. 6)
In this play of letters, a young official in a college alumni office invites a celebrated but reclusive author to the thirty-fifth reunion of his class. When he declines, she charmingly prods him, and thereby begins a witty and revelatory correspondence that becomes part mystery, part memory, and part romance.
"Cahn, Reilly, and the two Naughton's create beautiful music in Roses in December!!" -Talkin' Broadway
"Victor L. Cahn is clearly a gifted writer!…James Naughton delivers a pitch-perfect performance.
Keira Naughton's performance is a revelation of skilled acting!" -Culturevulture.net
"It's easy to see Roses In December blossom into many productions! Thanks to the many amusing turns of phrase, T.L. Reilly's smooth direction and Naughton and Naughton's fit-like-a glove interaction the characters evolve into richly nuanced portraits" ... CurtainUp.com
"Roses in December stacks up well against A.R. Gurney's Love Letters… James Naughton gives a solid performance…Keira Naughton gives a winning performance…Roses in December could stay in bloom for quite some time!!"…Broadway.com
Original music composed by Sergei Dreznin. Production Design by Roman J. Tatarowicz. Stage Manager Mimi Craig. Publicity Brett Singer & Associates
The Sweepers
by John C Picardi
directed by Frances W. Hill
World premiere - Spring (April-May) & Fall (Oct 19-Dec 1) 2002
Cast: Domenica Cameron-Scorsese, Valorie Hubbard, Antoinette LaVecchia, Dana Smith, Matt Walton
Bella, Mary, and Dotty have been friends and next-door neighbors in Boston’s North End Italian neighborhood since childhood. Husbands and sons are away fighting, and World War II impacts the neighborhood, exerting unsettling pressure to assimilate and change with the times on those who cherish traditions, values, and cultural heritage. Against this backdrop, Bella’s son is about to marry into an affluent Italian American family with connections to Beacon Hill. Secrets are revealed, lies are bared, and truths are told as the war winds down and powerful emotions strain life-long friendships.
Set and Light Design: Roman J. Tatarowicz. Costume Design: Kevin Brainerd. Sound Design: Marc Gwinn. Technical Director: Andy Smith. Master Electrician: Ralph Carhart. Stage Manager: Mimi Craig. Assistant Stage Manager / Choreographer: Dara Seitzman. Back Stage Assistant: Olga Devyatisilnaya. Dialect Coach: Charlotte Fleck.Assistant Costume Designer: Melissa Schlactmeyer. Casting: Stephanie Klapper Casting / Susan Lovell. Publicist: Brett Singer & Assoc.Graphic Design: Sondra Graff, Pentacle
Circumference of a Squirrel (or a riff with an inner tube)
By John Walch
Directed by TL Reilly
The New York Premiere: February 12 - March 17, 2002
With Paul Sparks
*First production in Urban Stages renovated 30th Street theater, Ribbon cutting ceremony wast Feb 12, 2002.
Chester is a self-proclaimed rodentophobe with an unhealthy fear of squirrels. That fear, born of hatred passed down by his father who was bit by a rabid one, is surrounded — literally — by an obsession with circles. These include a donut, an inner tube, a holiday wreath, a tire-swing and a figurative cycle of abuse and hate.
Jeff Nellis (lighting), Michael Fagen (sets) and Marc Gwinn (sound).
MOTHER LOLITA
by Guillermo Reyes
The world premiere: November 21, 2000 - December 17, 2000
The cast: Piter Fattouche, Rana Kazkaz, Carlos Molina, Debora Rabbai, Caesar Samayoa, Matt Skollar, and Brigitte Viellieu-Davis.
MOTHER LOLITA, set in modern-day Los Angeles, centers around a high-energy apartment complex that is ruled by a sexy Hispanic siren named Lola. This fast-paced new comedy brings us murder, music and redemption, all in less than two hours. Mr. Reyes pushes the boundaries in this, his latest work since the Outer Critic's Circle Award-winning Men On the Verge Of a His-Panic Breakdown.
"A remarkably efficient laugh machine" -The New York Times
"The entire cast oozes energy ... enthralling" -The Village Voice
Set and lighting design by Roman Tatarowicz, costume design by Marcus Henry, and sound design by Mark Gwinn.
Coyote on a Fence
By Bruce Graham.
Directed by Lou Jacob
The NY premiere: March 29 - April 22 2000
Tom Stechschulte, Paul Sparks, Pam Hart and David Letwin.
DRAMA DESK NOMINATIONS
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA - PAUL SPARKS
BEST SOUND DESIGN
OBIE AWARD NOMINATION
Two murderers share space on death row. The friendship that unfolds between them reveals a complicated and powerful look at justice, tolerance, the media and personal truth. Once again Graham explores the complexities of our legal system. Coyote on a Fence provocatively explores the relationship of two men on death row. One inmate has come to terms with conviction; while the other prisoner fights his verdict by interviewing with The New York Times, and editing an anti-death penalty inner-prison newspaper.
Casting by Stephanie Klapper/ Susan Lovell Assistant. Marketing Services: ArtVoice. Publicity: Brett Singer & Associates. Set Design: Klara Zieglerova. Lighting Design: Jeff Nellis. Costume Design: Ilona Symogi. Sound Design: Marc Gwinn. Production Mgr.: Karma Productions. Production Stage Mgr.: Carlos Mongé III
The Queen Bee's Last Stand
(or Why Your Mail Is Sometimes Late)
Written by Rob Santana
Directed by T. L. Reilly
The world premiere: Sept. 5-Oct. 3, 1999
Cast: Valorie Hubbard, Carlo D' Amore, Ibi Janko, Michael Alexis Palmer, K. C. Ramsey
Critically acclaimed playwright Rob Santana, himself a Postal system employee, answers this question and brings us a drama about sexual harassment set during the graveyard shift during the holidays at a Manhattan post office.
"An explosive combination of personality and problems with just the right proportion of intensity and humor" Roma Torri, New York 1 Television
A Dream of Wealth
By Arthur Giron
Directed by Richard Harden
The world premiere: Fall 1998
With Frank Rodriguez, Gilberto Arribas, Magaly Colimon, Mick Weber, Carlo D'Amore, Andrea Gabriel, Giancarlo Gonzalez, Mary Bacon, Cullen Wheeler and Courtney Mitchell.
A magical adventure into the Jungles of Guatemala. the Mysticism of the Mayans Clashes with the Powerful American Builders of a Banana Empire
Sets by Derek Stenborg. Lighting by Kevin Lawson. Costumes by Lisa Jahn. Sound by Johnna Doty. Production stage manager, Carlos A. Monge 3d. At Theater at 46 Walker Street, SoHo.
Pieces of the Sky
written by David Paterson
directed by T.L. Reilly
The World Premiere: April 22 - May 10, 1998
Starring: Robert Ari*, Jamie Bennett*, George Cavey*, Diane Grotke*, Mick Weber*
Set in a Nebraska diner during World War II. A mailman (Robert Ari) who's disliked both for being Jewish and for delivering bad news from the front, strikes up a romance with the diner's owner (Diane Grotke).
Set Designer: Derek Stenborg, Lighting Designer: Jason Boyd, Costume Designer: Jen McGlasham, Sound Designer: Johnna Doty, Stage Manager: Loren Noveck, Casting: Stephanie Klapper
Men on the Verge of a His-Panic Breakdown
by Guillermo Reyes
Directed by Joseph Megel
New York Premiere - March 1997
Starring Felix A. Pire.
Philip Anthony (alternate)
The play is anchored by the humorous, neurotic gay immigrant, Federico, whose journey we follow in three separate monologues, arriving in the U.S., settling down and marrying a lesbian to get his papers. Along the way we also meet the aging kept boy from Colombia, the sexually repressed ESL teacher who teaches English to even more downtrodden immigrants, the Cuban immigrant who's been exiled as a punishment to Phoenix, the Latino actor with multiple personalities who finally cracks, the Roommate from Hell who'll need to pay people to move in with him, and the martyr Drag Flamenco diva who represents the AIDS crisis in the early 90s. All of them create a kaleidoscopic view of a West Coast immigrant lifestyle with some flair, humor, and outrageousness.
COMMERCIAL MOVE to 47 Street Theatre, 1997
OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD - FELIX A. PIER
"Felix A. Pier does not have a false moment in this glorious six-character, eight-sketch, one-man play by Guillermo Reyes," The New York Times
Scenic Designer, George Xenos, Costume Designer, Ramona Ponce, Lighting Designer, Jeff Nellis, Sound Designer, Johnna Doty, Choreographer, Annmaria Mazzini, Production Stage Manager, Jen McGlashan, General Manager, Brent Peek Productions
Minor Demons
by Bruce Graham
directed by Lou Jacob
March 16, 1997 - April 13, 1997
Starring Reed Birney; with Charley Hofheimer, Robin Haynes, Alexandra O'Karma, Amelia Marshall, David B. McConeghey
After years as a high-power and corrupt lawyer for the mob, Deke Winters returns to his small hometown to reclaim his life and live a decent life. That is until the case of a fifteen-year-old murderer falls into his hands. A procedural error means that Deke can get his client off easy even though he is clearly guilty of his horrible crimes. A lie will keep his dangerous client out of society. Yet lying in the court of law is what destroyed Deke’s life in the first place and what he tried to get away from when he moved back home.
COMMERCIAL MOVE -OPENING THE NEW CENTURY THEATER OFF-BROADWAY
"A truly gripping evening in the theater!" New York Post
"Play pack a real punch" Daily News
Set Design: Patrick Mann. Lighting Design: Alan Michael Smith
FEAR ITSELF
by Eugene Lee
New York Premiere in 1997
Cast Include: Count Stovall
In a small Texas town, Cornelius is a figure of bravery and masculinity. Except that time he froze up and didn’t try to save his wife as she died screaming in a fire. His son, Harry Lee, is set to follow in his footsteps as a star football player. Secretly, Harry Lee writes poems. Unique and sensitive poems that long to know what really happened on the night of his mother’s death.