NYNW Theatre Festival: Meet Boris Timanovsky & Heavy Lifting

LOGO_BUG+TYPE-resized-2-1_blkbg (1)Heavy Lifting by Boris Timanovsky

Two lost and lonely Americans abroad meet in the weight room of a hotel in Ukraine. Will the resultant fireworks bring them together or drive them apart? Heavy Lifting, Boris Timanovsky’s sharp and insightful new romantic comedy, is produced by Three Bridges Theater. The cast and crew of this funny and moving piece are proud to present Mr. Timanovsky’s work in the second annual New York New Works Theatre Festival. And remember this: wherever you go – there you are.

What is your hometown? NYC

What was the last show that you worked on and where?  Adam and Eve’s Date No.5, at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre, in March 2015

Why submit to a Festival like this?  We have had a lot of fun putting this work together, and we are proud of how it has come out, and we would want to share it with as wide an audience as possible. Also, it would be great to see if someone would be interested in producing it either as a full-length piece, or as part of an evening of one-act plays.

PERFORMANCE: August 20th at 7:00 PM

LOCATION: The Times Square Arts Center, 300 W 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036.

TICKETS: Click HERE to purchase tickets.

The NYNW Theatre Festival is located in the world’s premier theater district at The Elektra Theatre in the Times Square Arts Center, and is a short play competition where the audience casts their votes to select the best play of the season.

Playwrights from all over the country will present their shows and have the chance to move from the First Round to the Semi-Finals, and then the Finals, where a winner will be selected.

The First Round of the NYNW Festival shows will be presented August 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th. The Semi-Final rounds will be August 31st and September 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The Finals will be held September 16th.

http://www.nynwtheatrefestival.com/

NYNW Theatre Festival: Meet Daniel Curzon & Carpe Diem Airlines

LOGO_BUG+TYPE-resized-2-1_blkbg (1)Carpe Diem Airlines by Daniel Curzon

Carpe Diem Airlines by Daniel Curzon is the amusing tale that could be called “Come Fly with a Bi.” Curzon wrote the first gay protest novel, Something You Do in the Dark, (Putnam, 1971). He says we’ve come a long way, baby! If you don’t count Russia, the Middle East, and most of Africa! He won the 1999 National New Play Contest for his Godot Arrives.

PERFORMANCE: August 19th at 7:00 PM

LOCATION: The Times Square Arts Center, 300 W 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036.

TICKETS: Click HERE to purchase tickets.

The NYNW Theatre Festival is located in the world’s premier theater district at The Elektra Theatre in the Times Square Arts Center, and is a short play competition where the audience casts their votes to select the best play of the season.

Playwrights from all over the country will present their shows and have the chance to move from the First Round to the Semi-Finals, and then the Finals, where a winner will be selected.

The First Round of the NYNW Festival shows will be presented August 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th. The Semi-Final rounds will be August 31st and September 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The Finals will be held September 16th.

http://www.nynwtheatrefestival.com/

NYNW Theatre Festival: Meet Rebecca Stahl & You Look Like You Taste Like Strawberries

LOGO_BUG+TYPE-resized-2-1_blkbg (1)You Look Like You Taste Like Strawberries by Rebecca Stahl

Rebecca Stahl is very excited to have, “You Look Like You Taste Like Strawberries,” premiere in the NYNW Theatre Festival, “In the modern world of dating, nothing is as it seems!” Rebecca, a practicing Pediatrician, has been writing a number of years. She likes to choose unusual or compelling topics and give them an interesting twist! Her one act play, “Role Reversal,” premiered at the Strawberry One Act Festival in NYC in Feb. 2015. Her full length play, “The Legion,” is currently being produced in Nov 2015 at the American Legion Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Another play in development is called, “The Implant”, about intrigue and rural life in a close knit Wisconsin Farming community. In addition, she has written a TV Pilot, “The Eleventh Hour,” concerning unexplained supernatural events in a NY hospital. Rebecca is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America. Her short stories, “Fly Away,” and “Familiar Stranger,” were published in Carrier Pigeon Magazine in Dec. 2014 and in Bewildering Stories in Magazine in April 2014, respectively. She is also currently working on a novel called, “Intended.” 1) What is your hometown? Luxemburg, Wisconsin 2) What was the last show that you worked on and where? Role Reversal in NYC 3) Why submit to a Festival like this? The NYNW Festival is a great festival for playwrights and as New York is my favorite city, the opportunity to have my work showcased here is a great honor.

PERFORMANCE: August 18th at 7:00 PM

LOCATION: The Times Square Arts Center, 300 W 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036.

TICKETS: Click HERE to purchase tickets.

The NYNW Theatre Festival is located in the world’s premier theater district at The Elektra Theatre in the Times Square Arts Center, and is a short play competition where the audi

The NYNW Theatre Festival is located in the world’s premier theater district at The Elektra Theatre in the Times Square Arts Center, and is a short play competition where the audience casts their votes to select the best play of the season.

Playwrights from all over the country will present their shows and have the chance to move from the First Round to the Semi-Finals, and then the Finals, where a winner will be selected.

The First Round of the NYNW Festival shows will be presented August 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th. The Semi-Final rounds will be August 31st and September 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The Finals will be held September 16th.

http://www.nynwtheatrefestival.com/

Playwrights from all over the country will present their shows and have the chance to move from the First Round to the Semi-Finals, and then the Finals, where a winner will be selected.

The First Round of the NYNW Festival shows will be presented August 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th. The Semi-Final rounds will be August 31st and September 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The Finals will be held September 16th.

http://www.nynwtheatrefestival.com/

NYNW Theatre Festival: Meet Lanner Tremont & One Percent

LOGO_BUG+TYPE-resized-2-1_blkbg (1)

One Percent by Lanner Tremont

What’s up with the “One Percent”? Author, Lanner Tremont, thinks that even with all their money, they may not be as happy as the “Ninety-Nine Percent,” or the rest of us. The author thinks a few members of the “One Percent,” may have serious problems. Is it possible the author has a problem–envy?

PERFORMANCE: August 18th at 7:00 PM

LOCATION: The Times Square Arts Center, 300 W 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036.

TICKETS: Click HERE to purchase tickets.

The NYNW Theatre Festival is located in the world’s premier theater district at The Elektra Theatre in the Times Square Arts Center, and is a short play competition where the audience casts their votes to select the best play of the season.

Playwrights from all over the country will present their shows and have the chance to move from the First Round to the Semi-Finals, and then the Finals, where a winner will be selected.

The First Round of the NYNW Festival shows will be presented August 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th. The Semi-Final rounds will be August 31st and September 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The Finals will be held September 16th.

http://www.nynwtheatrefestival.com/

NYNW Theatre Festival: Meet Sue Fitzgerald & Au Revoir

LOGO_BUG+TYPE-resized-2-1_blkbg (1)Au Revoir by Sue Fitzgerald

Au Revoir is about a surgical misadventure placing an influential woman in a situation where she has to make a difficult decision and say good bye while trying to find out what happened. This is a situation that occurs every day and one we hope to never be in. It can happen to anyone rich or poor, Ivy League educated or uneducated. We all feel the pain of loss in the same way.

Where is your hometown? Hometown is Phillipsburg, NJ

What was the last show that you worked on and where?Last worked on Kitchen Table Conversations at Stage Fest in Jersey City, NJ

Why submit to a festival like this? I submitted because Elena Zazanis who facilitates the Inkubator at Art House encouraged me to do so.

Susan Fitzgerald has spent 39 years working as a Registered Nurse. Old women often take up pastels or painting still life pictures, but she has no artistic ability at all. After endless hours of boredom and telling stories to her many cats, she decided to write them down. It seemed more cost effective than paying a therapist. A friend brought her to Art House’s Inkubator for writers and with encouragement she has used her experience to bring authentic medical drama to the stage.

Susan’s first play Kitchen Table Conversations was presented at Stage Fest in Jersey City in 2013.

PERFORMANCE:  August 17th at 7:00 PM

LOCATION: The Times Square Arts Center, 300 W 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036.

TICKETS: Click HERE to purchase tickets.

The NYNW Theatre Festival is located in the world’s premier theater district at The Elektra Theatre in the Times Square Arts Center, and is a short play competition where the audience casts their votes to select the best play of the season.

Playwrights from all over the country will present their shows and have the chance to move from the First Round to the Semi-Finals, and then the Finals, where a winner will be selected.

The First Round of the NYNW Festival shows will be presented August 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th. The Semi-Final rounds will be August 31st and September 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The Finals will be held September 16th.

http://www.nynwtheatrefestival.com/

NYNW Theatre Festival: Meet Sean McGrath & La Gionconda

LOGO_BUG+TYPE-resized-2-1_blkbg (1)La Gionconda by Sean McGrath

Taking a look at women in today’s prison system, La Gioconda lightheartedly focuses on the power struggle between two dueling personalities. Through her years in prison Mona has developed a thick skin, and tough demeanor, but when her new cellmate, Lisa, forces her way into a an uneasy friendship Mona’s impenetrable outer shell is put to the test as Lisa unforgivingly pries into her past. Sean T. McGrath, a native New Yorker, recently returned from a year-long sojourn to London, where he honed his craft under the tutelage of some of the best that England has to offer, has created a unique and original piece that will pull at your heartstrings, while tickling your funny bone.’

Where is your hometown? My hometown is Pearl River, NY

What was the last show that you worked on and where? The last show I worked on was Disappear, a short two hander, in which I starred, as a part of the Manhattan International Theater Festival’s Short Play Lab.

Why submit to a festival like this? The New York New Works Festival is a well respected and exciting young festival, that garners a huge amount of attention from the New York theater community. Being a part of the festival give me an amazing opportunity to get my work in front of an audience that might otherwise not see it, expanding both my personal and professional network of artists.

PERFORMANCE:  August 17th at 7:00 PM

LOCATION: The Times Square Arts Center, 300 W 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036.

TICKETS: Click HERE to purchase tickets.

The NYNW Theatre Festival is located in the world’s premier theater district at The Elektra Theatre in the Times Square Arts Center, and is a short play competition where the audience casts their votes to select the best play of the season.

Playwrights from all over the country will present their shows and have the chance to move from the First Round to the Semi-Finals, and then the Finals, where a winner will be selected.

The First Round of the NYNW Festival shows will be presented August 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th. The Semi-Final rounds will be August 31st and September 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The Finals will be held September 16th.

http://www.nynwtheatrefestival.com/

NYNW Theatre Festival: Meet Cat Migliaccio & Victoria Queen of Tinder

LOGO_BUG+TYPE-resized-2-1_blkbg (1)Victoria Queen of Tinder by Cat Migliaccio

Cat Migliaccio is a witty, blonde, ball of fire. She entered the entertainment business as a character actor and loves creating, playing, and bringing characters to life.
Thus Victoria was born! Victoria is the Queen of Tinder, a Goddess of Scrapbooking and Love Guru to woman helping them find the right mate with some back us to bless this earth with BABIES. It’s a class you don’t want to miss. 
Cat Migliaccio created, produced and stars as Victoria in Tinder Scrapbooking Love Guru Victoria. Other works of Cat’s can be found online on her YouTube Channel: Cat Migliaccio where she created, produced and stars in multiple webseries: “:30 With Josie”, “HOW TO with Mrs. Apples”, “Trashy Trash”, “8-6-ViewersPick” and counting with her independent group, C. Miggs Productions. Cat also co-created, wrote, produced and starred in three sessions of webseries as well as a short and a feature with another group: DarlaCat Productions. To learn more about her visit http://www.catmigliaccio.com

PERFORMANCE:  August 17th at 7:00 PM

LOCATION: The Times Square Arts Center, 300 W 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036.

TICKETS: Click HERE to purchase tickets.

The NYNW Theatre Festival is located in the world’s premier theater district at The Elektra Theatre in the Times Square Arts Center, and is a short play competition where the audience casts their votes to select the best play of the season.

Playwrights from all over the country will present their shows and have the chance to move from the First Round to the Semi-Finals, and then the Finals, where a winner will be selected.

The First Round of the NYNW Festival shows will be presented August 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th. The Semi-Final rounds will be August 31st and September 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The Finals will be held September 16th.

http://www.nynwtheatrefestival.com/

NYNW Theatre Festival: Meet Robert Cooperman & The Flower Stand

LOGO_BUG+TYPE-resized-2-1_blkbg (1)The play is the story of Elisa, a street flower vendor, who tries to determine why octogenarian Mr. Goldberg buys a bouquet each and every day. Elisa’s various and sundry notions as to Mr. Goldberg’s motivations serve as the catalyst for the action as she puts her theories to the test throughout the piece.

Originally from Queens, New York, Cooperman now resides in Columbus, Ohio where he is an Adjunct Professor of English and Theatre at Ohio University, Lancaster. He is also the host of the weekly Blog Talk Radio show “Stage Right,” which seeks underrepresented voices in theatre. As a playwright he has had productions of his work in New York and Ohio; most recently his full-length play, Kate ‘n’ Spence, was produced by the Evolution Theatre Company in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to playwriting, Cooperman has served as the director of the ETC Local Playwright’s Festival and was a previous winner of that festival with his play “Shut Up, Mr. Mandelbaum.” He is proud to feature the work of his children in this production.

Where is your hometown? My hometown is Columbus, Ohio (but I am originally from Queens, NY).

What was the last show that you worked on and where? I directed a play entitled “Sea Change” for the ETC Local Playwright’s Festival in Columbus.

Why submit to a festival like this? The NYNW Festival is prestigious and full of possibilities, so any playwright who wants to get noticed would be foolish not to submit a play. The mere chance of even one performance in Manhattan should be enough to motivate playwrights—and I was so motivated!

PERFORMANCE:  August 17th at 7:00 PM

LOCATION: The Times Square Arts Center, 300 W 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036.

TICKETS: Click HERE to purchase tickets.

The NYNW Theatre Festival is located in the world’s premier theater district at The Elektra Theatre in the Times Square Arts Center, and is a short play competition where the audience casts their votes to select the best play of the season.

Playwrights from all over the country will present their shows and have the chance to move from the First Round to the Semi-Finals, and then the Finals, where a winner will be selected.

The First Round of the NYNW Festival shows will be presented August 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th. The Semi-Final rounds will be August 31st and September 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The Finals will be held September 16th.

http://www.nynwtheatrefestival.com/

NYNW Theatre Festival: Meet Christopher Travlos & Two Princes

LOGO_BUG+TYPE-resized-2-1_blkbg (1)Two Princes by Christopher Travlos

What is the real difference between gay and straight? Do we decide who we love? Where does friendship end and romance begin? Secondhand Theatre Company presents a new play by Christopher Travlos—“Two Princes”: the story of two young men navigating their way through their sexual desires. Watch the friendship of Reid and Mitchell reach the breaking point as orientation is challenged, friendships are broken around them, and lies are told to each other and to themselves. Is their bond strong enough to survive sexual need? Or will it crumble in front of them, unable to withstand the fluidity of sexuality?

Where is your hometown?  Berkeley, California

What was the last show that you worked on and where? Writing wise–workshopped this very piece in Montreal at McGill University. Acting–last piece was Slaughterhouse-5 at the Fringe Festival 2013.

Why submit to a festival like this? Festivals like this keep new and fresh playwrights and plays happening! Without emerging and smaller festivals (with big support) there would be no outlets for those of us who need a hand making connections and meeting new faces.

PERFORMANCE:  August 17th at 7:00 PM

LOCATION: The Times Square Arts Center, 300 W 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036.

TICKETS: Click HERE to purchase tickets.

The NYNW Theatre Festival is located in the world’s premier theater district at The Elektra Theatre in the Times Square Arts Center, and is a short play competition where the audience casts their votes to select the best play of the season.

Playwrights from all over the country will present their shows and have the chance to move from the First Round to the Semi-Finals, and then the Finals, where a winner will be selected.

The First Round of the NYNW Festival shows will be presented August 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th. The Semi-Final rounds will be August 31st and September 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The Finals will be held September 16th.

http://www.nynwtheatrefestival.com/

Guest Blogger: Nick Radu Reviews Rise of the Usher by Jessica Elkin

Victoria Medina, Production Photographer
Victoria Medina, Production Photographer

Every business has its cast of characters and Rise of the Usher gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in the front of the house at a Broadway theater. Jessica Elkin doesn’t waste any time delving into those characters as she jumps right into the action. Accents, mannerisms and voice changes abound as she carefully and playfully jumps from one eccentric usher to the house manager to another usher to an ex-con ticket-taker and back again until you get a sense of who’s who in her zany romp to the top of the usher totem pole. It was a pleasure watching a fellow Ohioan up on a New York stage enjoying her craft. Mary Catherine Donnelly’s direction gave way to a fun and quirky night of theater as Jessica, who also wrote the piece, found a job, a purpose and even love on her journey. Many ushers will no doubt be able to relate to the antics that are being portrayed in front of them. But whether you’re an usher, an actor, an avid theater-goer or just someone who likes to laugh, catch Jessica Elkin’s performance in the 16th Annual Midtown International Theatre Festival before the lights go down, the curtain comes up and an usher keeps YOU from getting a seat!

Performance Dates:
Sat 7/18 at 3:00pm
Thurs 7/23 at 6:30pm
Sun 7/26 at 4:00pm

Danielle Gautier, Executive Producer
Joanne Pan, Stage Manager/Board Op
David Goldstein, Lighting Designer
Malini Singh McDonald, Marketing Director/Publicist

Nick is an actor/writer/director/producer from Canton, OH. He is currently a founding board member of Non Disposable Productions and a member of Theatre Beyond Broadway. Nick has worked on TV pilots, film productions and numerous theater projects in NYC. Favorite acting credits include Tony Wendice, “Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” Cain/Japeth, “Children of Eden,” Philip, “The Lion in Winter,” and Oscar Lindquist, “Sweet Charity.” Nick is currently writing a musical, “Lonely Moon” as well as a novel, “3225.” Nick loves collaborating with other artists and looks forward to creating exceptional art and connection.