Name: Jerry Rago
What’s your current project: Who’ll Save The Plowboy
Why and how are you involved? Love the Play…Playing Albert Cobb…Executive Producer
Website/Facebook:
Category: Theater
Trey K. Blackburn is in the Limelight
Name: Trey K. Blackburn
What’s your current project: JANEY MILLER’S WORLD TOUR with Speranza Theatre Company in Jersey City, NJ
Why and how are you involved? Acting in the show as “The Other Men” with this wonderful women-centric theatre company.
Website/Twitter Handle:
- www.treykblackburn.com
- @treykthethird
Jara Jones in the Limelight
Name: Jara Jones
What’s your current project: King of the Hobos
Why and how are you involved? Composer/Writer/Performer
Website/Facebook/Twitter Handle:
Valerie G. Keane is in the Limelight
Name: Valerie G. Keane
What’s your current project: As the event coordinator for Newtown Literary, I am running Book Trivia Night on November 2nd, a fundraiser for the Newtown Literary Journal. You should come! As a poet, I am reading with Saeed Jones and Molly Rose Quinn at the LIC Reading Series at LIC Bar in Long Island City on November 10th at 8pm. As founder of Poetry & Coffee, I hold monthly meetups to discuss poetry (the one rule is that it cannot be your own work) over food and drinks in various locations in NYC/Westchester/LI. Next month, November, is the 2nd anniversary of the group. In the last year, I’ve expanded it into Poetry Hikes and special events for book-length poems. In the second half of 2016, I will be developing Poetry & Coffee nationally and internationally. But in the first half of 2016, I will be concentrating on my own writing, submissions, and finally putting a manuscript together. In the middle of all of this, I am a former executive director who is looking for a full-time position as an office manager, project manager, event planner, or all-around kick-ass assistant in a company that is doing good things in the world. Hire me!
Why and how are you involved? I am involved in the world because I am supremely interested in the world. I am also supremely interested in things BEYOND this world, which is probably why I can handle everything in my life with a fair amount of patience and not take myself too seriously. I really just want to leave the earth at the end of my days having made a few people a little happier and their lives a little easier.
Websites: www.newtownliterary.org ; www.valeriegkeane.com; www.poetryandcoffee.com
Who’s in the Limelight?
No. I am not talking about those crazyfunfabulous days at the now defunct club turned mall. Yet, still in the body of the church.
It’s November and art never rests. I figured what a great opportunity to showcase what my family, friends, and colleagues are creating. Over the next month, I’ll be unrolling their projects. If you are starved for art of any form or would like to get your feet wet, feel free to reach out to me or any of the artists. We are a supportive community that believes in the voice of the artist.
And to kick off the month, I found this great post by Diana Urban on 43 words you should delete from your writing. A tough read but I implemented her suggestions for this post. I hope I succeeded.
Name: Malini Singh McDonald
What are my current projects: The Eternal Space and Who’ll Save the Plowboy?
Why and how are you involved? I am a producer and the marketing director for The Eternal Space about the demolition of Penn Station as well as the publicist for Who’ll Save the Plowboy? about what layers of untruths may unfold.
I have been involved with The Eternal Space for almost 2 and half years. It marries my love of theatre and my proud New York roots. Who’ll Save the Plowboy? sparked an interest as it was a play that had not been produced in 53 years in New York City. I was drawn to the subject matter and the enthusiasm of the producer.
Review: Comes a Faery by James McLindon
A young girl escapes into a world of imagination when her mother is deployed overseas. As time passes between video chats and calls, Siobhan regresses into the book her mother gifts her. The Faerie, Seaneen, jumps from the pages of the book, becoming both friend and foe to Siobhan. We observe the progression of her psychosis as well as the yearning of her leprechaun to reach his personal goal. Seaneen plays on the Siobhan’s deepest fears and tricks her into doing awful deeds so her mother will return home.
Shaun Peknic directs this emotionally charged piece against a simple yet creative set – a large book symbolizing the bedroom and the downstage area as the living room and office. One of the lines of the play that stood out for me relates to art being a game changer. A game changer to me can mean many things. In the case of this play, I believe that seamless weaving of reality and folklore through the beautiful storytelling of this ensemble cast is a game changer.
Comes A Faery runs until October 24th.
New Ohio Theatre at154 Christopher Street, Suite 1E
Wednesday October 21 at 8PM
Friday October 23 at 8PM
Saturday October 24 at 8PM
Click HERE for more info.
A Chat with Carol Hollenbeck & Home Town Premiere
Carol Hollenbeck knew one thing. “Ever since I was a little girl I never wanted to be an actress. I wanted to be a movie star.” Confident, powerful, and passionate, Hollenbeck, a 1960s Vegas showgirl turned Hollywood actress turned playwright (with a splash of Broadway usher) dreams it and then manifests it. This Thursday, she is having a reading of her play, Home Town Premiere, which is loosely based on an event in her life. The play has been incubating for the last 12 years but it’s In the last eight months that she has taken major steps towards completing the play. Hollenbeck said she had “…to get back to this play and something is missing.” She collaborated with a dramaturg and a director and also allowed freedom for the artists create.
Hollenbeck’s trajectory is fascinating. In her own words, she was born in Newburgh, New York, just sixty miles from New York City where she had the honor of winning several local beauty pageants. She traveled to Hollywood, California in the nineteen sixties and changed her last name to Holland. In Hollywood, she was truly discovered walking down the famous street of Sunset and Vine. The first week she arrived, she was hired for a television commercial. She filmed a candy commercial, where she played the role of “Miss Vanilla” for SkyBar candy. Soon after, she was picked to be a Las Vegas showgirl, and found herself working at the famous Riveria Hotel in the heart of the desert. There she pranced nightly in the musical IRMA LA DOUCE with the sizzling dance star Miss Juliet Prowse. Returning to Hollywood, she acted in several low budget teeny bopper films, where she wore her bikini well. She played a featured role in another teen movie EDEN CRIED, which premiered in her home town of Newburgh. She flew home in true movie star style to a wonderful and exciting event. She was greeted with open arms and good reviews…then the hard knocks began.
After Hollywood disappointments, she decided to move back to New York.
Hollenbeck shared her experiences as she studied playwriting with Arthur Kopit and John Guare. It was in Kopit’s class that she wrote The Christmas Dinner aka Upstate Mourning. The one thing that stood out in Kopit’s class was the offering of an opening line like “Did you bring it?” She further developed the play with the Women’s Ensemble Group. She also wrote Broadway Baby, a satirical view on her days ushering on Broadway which won awards. Upstate Mourning was produced Off Broadway a few times and adapted to screenplay with Monteserrat Montez. The boom of theatres in Hell’s Kitchen gave her the opportunity to continue getting her work done. The Lifters was a part of a short film festival as well as nominated for Samuel French One Act Play. Hollenbeck created the Hell’s Kitchen Film Festival, Hell’s Kitchen Writers Group, and works with Heidi Russell and the International Women Artist’s Salon.
As with her other pieces, she sees a life beyond the pages and a reading. She is open to the those next steps. I asked her what advice she has for any one at any age who wants to take a chance. “Do it.” That’s my favorite advice too.
Hometown Premiere: It’s the tumultuous nineteen sixties in a small town in upstate New York. When a young girl returns home from Hollywood to attend her local hometown movie premiere, what should have been a joyous occasion, slowly turns into a traumatic event. When certain family secrets are revealed chaos erupts, along with a sudden twist of fate that quickly turns into an obsession.
Starring: Mary Ann Gibson (Crazy For You); Nick Moss (Gossip Girl); JJ Pyle (Boardwalk Empire, Criminal Minds); Rita Rehn (The Allergist’s Wife, Law & Order) and Pheonix Vaughn (A Piece of My Heart)
Directed by Andrea Andresakis
Thursday, Oct. 15th
6:30 Reception, 7:00 Showing
The Ellington Room, 400 W. 43rd St @ 9th Ave,
RSVP: Andrea_Andresakis@yahoo.com
Review: It’s A-Scary! The Gray Man and The Pumpkin Pie Show: Labor Pains
I officially kicked off my new theatre season, Halloween. T’is the season to get all creepy with these two amazingly well-written and contrasting plays.
I was super excited to finally see a Pipeline production as I’ve been following them for years. And they didn’t disappoint. Andrew Farmer’s The Gray Man tells a story of a bogeyman, a ghost or a figment of someone’s imagination. Set in the round, Andrew Neisler directs this emotionally disturbing piece by employing a sensory experience that sufficiently creeped out the audience. The use of disembodied voices and movement in darkness traps us in the story. We are not sure where to look or just keep our eyes shut and listen as if being told a nightmarish bedtime story. The creative team and stellar ensemble supported the narrative and each other as they weaved in and out of scenes. And nothing is scarier than a little girl in a scary story because nothing good usually comes out of it. I loved the use of the theatre space as well as varying levels. The one set piece at the middle of the space brilliantly represented the interior of a home. However, there were many moments when actors were out of sight or the set couldn’t be totally seen due to being stable for the whole show.
On the other end of the spectrum, is The Pumpkin Pie Show – Labor Pains which features five short stories told through absurd and fantastically comedic monologues. Clay McLeod Chapman, storyteller, is soon to be a daddy (true story) and shares the woes and fears and neuroses of being a parent. What if you are not the baby daddy? What happens if the oracular predictions your baby is making suddenly stop? Who is that random lady at the playground? Is that baby a terrorist? And what would a Mama Bird do for her baby chick? The fast-paced, quick witted, litany of words and emotions coming at the audience from Chapman and Cheek skyrocketed the audience to another dimension – a bizarro world – which is essentially parenthood.
Two fantastic shows. Be sure to get to a performance. My suggestion is to see both show back-to-back knowing you’ll need another hour to find your footing in reality.
See you at the show!
The Gray Man presented by Pipeline Theatre Company
Walker Space (46 Walker Street between Broadway and Church Street)
September 24-October 18,
Wednesday through Sunday at 8pm with additional performances on Saturday at 5pm and Tuesday, October 13 at 8pm.
Featuring Tahlia Ellie, Daniel Johnsen, Katharine Lorraine, Claire Rothrock, and Shane Zeigler. The production will include Lighting Design by Christopher Bowser, Costume Design by Daniel Dabdoub, and Scenic Design by Andy Yanni with an original score by Composers Mike Brun and Chris Ryan. Produced by Natalie Gershtein with Production Manager Joshua Shain and Stage Manager Kristy Bodall.
Visit www.pipelinetheatre.org for more info.
The Pumpkin Pie Show: Labor Pains, presented by FRIGID New York @ Horse Trade
UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1st Avenue and Avenue A)
September 24-October 10, Thursday through Saturday at 8pm
Featuring Hanna Cheek and Clay McLeod Chapman.
Visit http://claymcleodchapman.com/performances/the-pumpkin-pie-show for more info.
Review: Mend the Envelope by Jason Lasky
Sometimes one can get so lost in dreams that reality is almost another realm. Jason Lasky’s Mend the Envelope tells the harrowing story of a married couple broken by events of a single poor decision. Questions of faith and purpose are told under the careful direction of Cihangir “G.” Duman. Set on a almost bare stage with set pieces strategically placed, Henry and Joanie Davis’ relationship unfolds before the audience. Played by Andy Phillips and Brittany Belinski, the actors honestly share glimmers of a once successful and exciting life abroad to their current mundane and shattered life in upstate New York. Fern Lim’s lighting and sound design flawlessly shifted us to dreamscape and added a another layer to the one act. I would love to read the next scene of this one act to find out where the Davises go in their relationship.
Mend the Envelope is playing as part of the Thespis Festival for two more performances.
Tuesday, September 22nd at 6:15 PM;
September 26 at 3:30 PM
Hudson Guild Theatre
441 W. 26th Street
Click HERE for more info.
Review: Olivia’s Roses by Joanne de Simone
“The war to end all wars.”
Three brothers. Three wounds. The woman in the middle of it all. I am already committed to the story. Joanne de Simone’s Olivia’s Roses is a story that reveals the pathology of a family. Set at the end of World War II, three brothers return home: one with a bride, one with physical and emotional wounds, and the other filled with dreams.
Dennis Gleason directs this captivating cast on a simple set perfect for this complicated story. A story intertwined with love, deceit and confusion. The strong ensemble is absolutely riveting to watch on stage. It’s always a good sign when the audience applauses at the end of each scene. Led and brilliantly played by Brad Brockman (CADE), he is brooding, flawed, and absolutely riveting to watch on stage. Kalen J. Hall’s (JUDE) transitions within his character is breathtaking to watch. Byron Hagan (LUKE) is the romantic, artistic and sensitive dreamer who makes you want him to be happy. Ashley V. Harris (OLIVIA) flawlessly juggles her relationships with each son. I appreciated her complexities and her honesty in her performance. Greg Schuh (Rev. Holden) is the pragmatist who knows way too much and maybe doesn’t play too close to the vest. Rounding out this cast is Amy Losi (Martha), the matriarch is who is shrouded in secrets.
Olivia’s Roses is playing as part of the Thespis Festival. There are two more performances so be sure to take a friend so you can squeeze their knees during some revealing moments.
Friday September 18 at 9 pm;
Sunday September 20 at 3 pm
Hudson Guild Theatre
441 W. 26th Street
Click HERE for more info.
