Category: Queens

Harvey: Meet Victoria Lardieri

image1Name: Victoria Lardieri

Character: Mrs. Chauvenet

Why did you want to be a part of this production?
Wanted to have the pleasure of working with First String Players again.

What’s next for you?
Performing, finishing my vocal album and teaching

What’s your favorite animal and what is its name?
Wolf, his name is Spirit

Victoria is a graduate of The American Musical & Dramatic Academy. She performed throughout the East Coast. She would like to thank her husband, Jeremy, and her family and friends for everything they do.

HARVEY by Mary Chase

Director: Mary Lynch

Producers: Paul Morisi and Stef Morisi

Tickets: $10 General Seating (all tickets sold at the door)

July 14 at 7pm
July 15 at 7pm
July 16 at 7pm
July 17 at 2pm

Location:
Our Lady of Mercy Parish Hall
70-01 Kessel Street Forest Hills, NY 11375
PLEASE USE THE ENTRANCE OF JUNO STREET. Elevator is available on the side of the church.

Cast:
Nicole O’Connor
Cecilia Vaicels
Victoria Lardieri
Jim Haines
Malini Singh McDonald
Nick Radu
Jeremy Lardieri
Michelle Ruggieri
Rich Feldman
Kevin Abernethy
Chris Martens

For more info email FirstStringPlayers@gmail.com

Flyer designed by Steve Morisi

FSP_Harvey_Flyer

by Categories: Independent Theatre, NYC Theatre, Queens, TBB Interviews, TheaterTags: , , Leave a comment

Harvey: Meet Jim Haines

Jim-Haines-Face-2015Name: Jim Haines

Character: Elwood P. Dowd

Why did you want to be a part of this production?
I worked with Mary Lynch, our director, in a production of Lucille Fletcher’s Night Watch. We got along incredibly well, and created a mutual admiration society over our acting abilities, spending a great deal of our time saying ‘You’re GREAT…No, YOU’RE greater!…No YOU are!’ and so on. Mary swore to work with me again (shook her little fist and everything), and after several false starts, she found a theater group willing to produce ‘Harvey’. She asked me if I’d be interested. What am I…nuts?

What’s next for you?
Something big and beautiful. Hello…Universe?

What’s your favorite animal and what is its name?
A Great White Shark named Bruce.

Jim Haines has been acting for 3 decades, punctuated by years of ferocious activity in theater and voice overs, followed by long stretches of ennui. This is not a method of career advancement he recommends. He graduated the School of Visual Arts with a BFA in Cartooning, which is arguably the silliest degree in Higher Education. He draws, paints, designs, animates, sings (kind of) and spends more time on his Mac that with deserving friends. In closing, he’d like to paraphrase John Lydon:’The only place I have ever felt truly comfortable is on stage, or in front of a microphone…or asleep.’ Namaste, Peeps.

HARVEY by Mary Chase

Director: Mary Lynch

Producers: Paul Morisi and Stef Morisi

Tickets: $10 General Seating (all tickets sold at the door)

July 14 at 7pm
July 15 at 7pm
July 16 at 7pm
July 17 at 2pm

Location:
Our Lady of Mercy Parish Hall
70-01 Kessel Street Forest Hills, NY 11375
PLEASE USE THE ENTRANCE OF JUNO STREET. Elevator is available on the side of the church.

Cast:
Nicole O’Connor
Cecilia Vaicels
Victoria Lardieri
Jim Haines
Malini Singh McDonald
Nick Radu
Jeremy Lardieri
Michelle Ruggieri
Rich Feldman
Kevin Abernethy
Chris Martens

For more info email FirstStringPlayers@gmail.com

Flyer designed by Steve Morisi

FSP_Harvey_Flyer

by Categories: Independent Theatre, NYC Theatre, Queens, TBB Interviews, TheaterTags: , , Leave a comment

Harvey: Meet Cecilia Vaicels

Cecilia Pro HeadshotName: Cecilia Vaicels

Character: Veta Simmons

Why did you want to be a part of this production?
Harvey is such a great show and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with Mary Lynch and Jim Haines again. Once I met the other actors involved, I knew I made the right choice. What talented people! Rehearsals are a joy … work but fun with a group of people who truly work well together and respect each other. I love the role of Veta. She truly tries to do her best for her brother and daughter. Does it push her over the edge? Well, you’ll have to come and see.

What’s next for you?
Once this show closes, I will start rehearsals for Isle of Shoals Productions’ original musical “Occupation: Dragonslayer” running September 8th through the 25th at the Robert Moss Theater, 440 Lafayette Street, Manhattan. The show is a musical fable that takes place in a doomed diner at Ground Zero on Christmas Eve a year after 9/11, as a mysterious stranger, a firefighter who’s lost his memory, challenges a real estate profiteer cashing in on the tragedy and restores hope to all within. I play Harriet who is the manager of the diner. Since this is the 15th anniversary of 9/11, I feel that performing this particular show, at this particular time, is a way to honor those we lost that day and those who worked so hard down at Ground Zero. For information on “Occupation: Dragonslayer” and how to get tickets go to http://www.isleofshoals.org.

I will also be performing as Lady Alice More in “A Man for All Seasons” on November 18th, 19th and 20th in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mercy Church, 70-01 Kessel Street, Forest Hills, NY. For tickets and information, call the Rectory at 718-268-6143.

What’s your favorite animal and what is its name?
I have two in my past. My dog, Skeeter, who seriously thought she was human and my cockateil, Finster, who would whistle along as I practiced for musicals. Well…then there’s Harvey. The jury’s still out on him!

Cecilia Vaicels began acting 26 years ago in community theatre. She has progressed to Off-off Broadway with Isle of Shoals Productions. Off-off Broadway credits include: “That Lady from Maxim’s” (originated role of Gabrielle Petypon/NYMF), “Café Coward” (World Premier originated role of Elsa Maxwell and Long Island Premier as Lynne Fontanne), “Lighthouse” (Evangeline Pratt), “Our Town” (Mrs. Webb), “Still Life” (Myrtle Baggot), “Idiot’s Delight” (Senora Rossi), “an intimate eve with Will & Chris” (various Shakesperian characters) and “Suddenly Last Summer” (Sr. Felicity). Other credits include: “Rags” (Landlady), “The Wizard of Oz” (Almira Gultch/Wicked Witch), “Kiss of the Spiderwoman” (Molina’s Mother), “Into the Woods” (Granny/Giant/Cinderella’s mother), “Fiddler on the Roof” (once as Golda, once as Fruma Sarah), “Annie” (Sophie the Kettle/Mrs. Greer/Connie Boylan), “Little Shop of Horrors” (Puppeteer/Audrey II) and many more. She has appeared in independent films, most recently as Jessica’s Mom in “Dumped”, and even a rap video! Many thanks to my husband, Charlie, and my daughter, Lauren, for all their love and support and to God for my talent! http://www.CeciliaVaicels.com

HARVEY by Mary Chase

Director: Mary Lynch

Producers: Paul Morisi and Stef Morisi

Tickets: $10 General Seating (all tickets sold at the door)

July 14 at 7pm
July 15 at 7pm
July 16 at 7pm
July 17 at 2pm

Location:
Our Lady of Mercy Parish Hall
70-01 Kessel Street Forest Hills, NY 11375
PLEASE USE THE ENTRANCE OF JUNO STREET. Elevator is available on the side of the church.

Cast:
Nicole O’Connor
Cecilia Vaicels
Victoria Lardieri
Jim Haines
Malini Singh McDonald
Nick Radu
Jeremy Lardieri
Michelle Ruggieri
Rich Feldman
Kevin Abernethy
Chris Martens

For more info email FirstStringPlayers@gmail.com

Flyer designed by Steve Morisi

FSP_Harvey_Flyer

by Categories: Independent Theatre, Queens, TBB Interviews, TheaterTags: , , , Leave a comment

Harvey: Meet Nicole O’Connor

image1Name: Nicole O’Connor

Character: Myrtle Mae Simmons

Why did you want to be a part of this production?
I love this play and I was really excited to be part of a straight play for the first tmr.

What’s next for you?
Hopefully, more fantastic shows like this one.

What’s your favorite animal and what is its name?My dog, Stella.

Nicole O’Connor has been acting for many years. She has played Miss Hannigan in Annie Jr., the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz Jr., the Witch in Into the Woods Jr., and a nun in The Sound of Music. She also recently performed in “Alvernians on Tour” in Disneyland, California, as well as A Salute to Sondheim at the Iridium Jazz Club, NYC. Nicole would like to thank her family for their support. She would also like to thank her acting coaches.

HARVEY by Mary Chase

Director: Mary Lynch

Producers: Paul Morisi and Stef Morisi

Tickets: $10 General Seating (all tickets sold at the door)

July 14 at 7pm
July 15 at 7pm
July 16 at 7pm
July 17 at 2pm

Location:
Our Lady of Mercy Parish Hall
70-01 Kessel Street Forest Hills, NY 11375
PLEASE USE THE ENTRANCE OF JUNO STREET. Elevator is available on the side of the church.

Cast:
Nicole O’Connor
Cecilia Vaicels
Victoria Lardieri
Jim Haines
Malini Singh McDonald
Nick Radu
Jeremy Lardieri
Michelle Ruggieri
Rich Feldman
Kevin Abernethy
Chris Martens

For more info email FirstStringPlayers@gmail.com

FSP_Harvey_Flyer

by Categories: Independent Theatre, NYC Theatre, Queens, TBB Interviews, TheaterTags: , , Leave a comment

Harvey: An Oldie but A Goodie – Opens 7/14

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Photo Courtesy of Mark Lord,  Queens Chronicle

I rarely act these days. I tend to be behind the scenes – producing, publicizing, directing – enjoying the magic created by artists. I believe it takes courage to get on a stage and bare your soul.

“Art is prayer is love is creation is expression.” I came up with that gem some years ago. My personal prayer to the theatre gods who keep my passion burning for this art form. So when the opportunity presented itself, I thought to myself that it might be time to audition for a show. The opportunity presented itself through my dear friend and one of my actresses, Mary Lynch. Mary has one of my actresses for 13 years. She played M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias, my first professional gig. I was a young director finishing grad school; newly married; new to Queens theatre. She and I just connected and I directed her in at least 5 plays including Torch Song Trilogy and Plaza Suite.

Now she is the director and I follow her vision. Harvey is a wonderful play. Yes, it is dated in some spots but there’s this innocence under the comedy that I find delicious. I am playing Nurse Kelly with an amazing cast. All we do in rehearsal is laugh and work. And eat. We enjoy eating very much.

I would like you to meet these extraordinary folks. I am putting them in the limelight as we get ready to open 🙂

See you at the show!

HARVEY by Mary Chase
Director: Mary Lynch

Producers: Paul Morisi and Stef Morisi

Tickets: $10 General Seating (all tickets sold at the door)

July 14 at 7pm
July 15 at 7pm
July 16 at 7pm
July 17 at 2pm

Location:
Our Lady of Mercy Parish Hall
70-01 Kessel Street Forest Hills, NY 11375
PLEASE USE THE ENTRANCE OF JUNO STREET. Elevator is available on the side of the church.

Cast:
Nicole O’Connor
Cecilia Vaicels
Victoria Lardieri
Jim Haines
Malini Singh McDonald
Nick Radu
Jeremy Lardieri
Michelle Ruggieri
Rich Feldman
Kevin Abernethy
Chris Martens

For more info email FirstStringPlayers@gmail.com

Photo Courtesy of Stef Morisi

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by Categories: Beyond Broadway, Independent Theatre, NYC Theatre, Openings, Profiles, Queens, TBB Interviews, TheaterTags: , , , , Leave a comment

Review: Lend Me a Tenor by Ken Ludwig

CaptureOpening night for any performance is filled with excitement and anxiety. A play about the opening night of a performance is a beautiful insight to the crazy that surrounds it. Especially if it’s Verdi’s Otello, the tenor is an Italian superstar, and there’s a catastrophe. Set in 1934, Otello is the saving grace for the Cleveland Grand Opera. However, everything doesn’t turn out the way it should. How can it when there’s an angry wife, the starstruck girlfriend, the bombshell starlet, the nosey bellhop, the diva president of the Opera, and the anxious General Manager and his assistant – the true underdog and secret talent. That’s the perfect and delicious recipe for mayhem! And where there is mayhem, hilarity ensues.

Ken Ludwig’s comedy, under the skillful direction of Erik Niellsen, has three essential characteristics that makes this successful: precise comedic timing, physicality, and a talented ensemble. Also, what makes this show enjoyable is the comraderie and trust between the actors. It oozed off the stage and infected opening night’s audience.

Fun fact: Ludwig wrote a sequel called A Comedy of Tenors.

Running for two more weekends in the newly renovated parish hall:

Maggie’s Little Theatre

St. Margaret Parish Hall
66-05 79th Place
(between Metropolitan Ave. and Juniper Valley Rd.)
Middle Village, NY 11379

Performances:

Friday, March 4 at 8:00 pm;
Sunday, March 6 at 2:30 pm;
Saturday, March 12 at 8:00 pm;
Sunday, March 13 at 2:30 pm

Click HERE to reserve tickets.

 

 

by Categories: Queens, Reviews, TheaterTags: , , , Leave a comment

Audrey Dimola is in the Limelight

Name: Audrey Dimola

What’s your current project: spreading positivity and power through guerrilla poetry stickers and handwritten/handmade street art

Why and how are you involved:

i feel that part of my duty on this earth is to be a messenger- to remind people of their own limitlessness and the power of words. aside from more traditional performances and self-published books, i’m basically finding every way i can to put those positive messages out into the world in unexpected places- chalk graffiti, guerrilla poetry stickers, handmade/handpainted signs tied up or velcro’d around the city. the compass project is actually migrating across the globe thanks to friends and fans of the stickers! some of my biggest messages are: STAY WILD, STAY GRATEFUL; IDENTIFY WITH THE INFINITE; THE MAGIC ONLY STOPS WHEN YOU SAY SO; and of course, very important to this mission- CREATE WHAT YOU WISH TO EXPERIENCE. bomb positive! change the landscape. if we don’t do it, who will?

Website/FB/Twitter handle:

 

by Categories: Limelight November Project, Poetry, QueensTags: , , , Leave a comment

Free in NYC? Yes, Please

It’s Tuesday. The 4th of July is coming upon us. Here are some fun things to do for FREE!

Check out NYCGO. They have my favorite list: Capture

Museums that are “either always free, free on specific days of the week or free for select hours”. 

CaptureNYC.gov offers the best of what’s happening. This week’s latest episode includes movies at Bryant Park, Karaoke on the Coney Island Boardwalk. and Dancing Under the Stars (which I spied from my window).

This one is super fun and I hope to get to a show this summer. I mean, THE WHO, played the Forest Hill Stadium a month ago.Check out DNA.info. Capture

I live near Forest Park and there is always something a-happening. Zumba, free concerts, CaptureMAGIC!

by Categories: Concerts & Music, New York City, Queens, Random MusingsTags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

The Experience is Sometimes Not Knowing 

Last night I spent the evening with a theatre company that produced a show of which I wasn’t familiar. I love seeing shows that I don’t know. I had seen a show earlier in the week in the same fashion. I received an invite and I didn’t ask what I was seeing. It was really pretty awesome. I walked into the both spaces as a visitor in a new locale. I stepped in and took it all in – the space, the seating, the set. Then I sat down and was curious about what was going to happen. Both spaces were not conventional. The audience was a part of the action, the story, and the show. Yet, not intrusive. Subtle. I had no preconceived notions and was not wearing any of my hats (producer, director, publicist). I was just an audience member there for the ride. 
However, once curtain came down (metaphorically) I was able to appreciate how it was produced, directed and promoted. I was also able to really appreciate artists telling stories. That’s why I love theater so much. Why do this if it isn’t going to move someone? Who knows who’s in the audience who really needed that inspiration. 

This summer is full with great theater. I am thrilled to be on the production team on some amazing shows. Continue creating and see you at the show!

by Categories: Beyond Broadway, Fringe NYC, Independent Theatre, New York City, New York New Works Theatre Festival, NYC Theatre, Queens, TheaterTags: , , , Leave a comment

Queens Impact Awards Impact Others

photo (1)Usually I write about being in a room of creatives and loving the energy that wildly erupts. Well, last night I was in a room full of do-gooders who were being recognized by the Times Ledger through the Queens Impact Awards. It was a wonderful night. Lots of gratitude. Lots of love. Lots of service. These 27 recipients covered all of Queens as well as the areas of arts, medicine, higher education, civic scene, entrepreneurs and community service. Whether it was Salvatore Lopizzo creating YANA – You Are Never Alone – in the Rockaways to help the post-Sandy community or Audra Fordin creating Women Auto Know – empowering women about car mechanics, we were all united by one common goal:

To be of ultimate service to others through our best talents.

My friend, Valerie, says that 50% is showing up. I agree. Just by sitting there and listening, I am inspired to do something. And I do with Theatre Beyond Broadway and Friends of Maple Grove Cemetery.

Here’s a great note on inspiration:

When I slow down and listen I find inspiration. In contrast, when I was young, I thought the creative process was putting blinders up to the world with the idea that I could make something ‘uniquely from Me’. I thought that if I could come up with something no one had ever seen before, I would be special; I would be somebody.

Me, Me, Me! I was constantly reinventing the wheel and I thought I was clever in the process, but my resources were limited and so was my output. My childish misconceptions, My Ego, were suppressing my true creative flow. Later, attending artists’ workshops and poetry readings, I came to realize that the creative process is an act of opening up to, not shutting out from, what other artists are doing. I am one, my life stops at the corner of my experiences.  But, when I slow down, and open up to listen to other artist’s stories, I can grow exponentially. My life opens up to the corner your experiences.  It is about being present and listening so we are part of the ebb and flow of taking-in–putting-out –taking-in. Great people have been thinking and rethinking, feeling and re-feeling, since the beginning of time. Ideas are not new. I only have new ways of synthesizing them. When I show up, slow down, and listen, authentic creation comes. I can grow at a faster pace. It is as if I take the ideas and feelings I’ve collected home in a basket and rocked them in an old comfortable rocking chair until they become new again.  – Patty Marcinek Yaverski

 

 

by Categories: Queens, Random Musings 2 Comments