Category: TBB Interviews

From Southern Belle to Mrs. Cartel by Donna Thomas

ONE WOMAN SHOW CHRONICLES REAL LIFE JOURNEY FROM WAITRESS TO WIFE OF COLUMBIAN CARTEL MEMBER

(Los Angeles, CA) – File this story under “True Life is Stranger than Fiction.” Former Discovery Networks and Technicolor Senior Executive, Donna Thomas, takes the stage in “From Southern Belle to Mrs. Cartel.” The 30-minute one-woman show, shares her true-life journey from an innocent college student and waitress in Atlanta, Georgia to being married to a prominent member of a Columbian Drug Cartel. Except, she had no idea.

“I’m thrilled to be sharing my story at this years New York New Works Theatre Festival” said Donna Thomas, writer/creator and performer of “Southern Belle to Mrs. Cartel. “After more than 15-years of never speaking of my ‘former life’, through the festival’s support, I am thrilled to be taking the stage.”

Margot Leitman, Moth Grand Slam Champion, and one of the most sought after experts in the art of Storytelling, is directing. Producing is Brian Palatucci, who has been integral at bringing the story to life through archival photos and video.

Donna’s Twitter and IG: @bestofdonna
From Southern Belle to Mrs. Cartel hashtag: #belletocartel

Please provide us with a brief answer to the following:

1) What is your hometown? Warner Robbins, GA

2) What was the last show that you worked on and where?

From Southern Belle to Mrs. Cartel is my first one-woman show. I was Vice President of the Media Services Division at Technicolor and on April 1st they closed our division putting 300 people out of work including me. It was traumatic but I decided instead of mourning the loss of my job, I would create. So that very day I signed up for the Hollywood Fringe Festival, decided on four dates and secured a venue. I hadn’t written a word and had no director but knew that in 60 days I would be telling my story so I got to work! We completed a 4 night sold out run and our rave reviews placed us as #2 or #3 on the Fringemeter throughout the festival.

3) Why submit to a Festival like this?

I honestly don’t know if I am unique as a playwright and performer but I believe that as a woman in my 40’s starting down this path that I am. I’ve spent my entire career climbing the corporate ladder reaching the top of my game as a senior executive and leader in the industry.
Writing this play was over 20 years in the making because I spent that entire time pretending that my story did not happen to me. Over the last three years I began sharing bits of my story through my comedy, as I am an improviser here in Los Angeles. This has been a healing process but also a very creative one. The story spans in total almost 7 years of my life in the early 90’s and if I hadn’t lived it I would not believe it.

I’m thrilled to be a part of the Festival and I’m excited to bring my show to New York. My 20-year career in the TV and Entertainment Industry has created a built in base of industry executives and friends in the NYC area that are excited to come and support the festival. My goal is to develop it further into a longer production and eventually a scripted television series.

Reviews:

“This show features a charming southern belle who unknowingly–and I mean in a real-life, true story–married a drug cartel dude!”
“The writing is hilarious and her spirit is infectious!”
“Donna tells one of the most unbelievable true stories from her life with humor and heart.”
“Southern Belle to Mrs Cartel is a one woman tour de force – and its poignancy and humor is only heightened by the fact that it’s (unbelievably) true.”
“Her story is thrilling, hilarious, horrifying, and painful.”

Full List of Fringe Festival Reviews: http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/2393?tab=reviews

Donna Thomas Bio:

Donna Thomas, a former award-winning Technicolor and Discovery Networks executive has always nourished her comedy passion. Having spent the last 20 years rising rapidly in her day job, she spent evenings at weekends for the last three years at Upright Citizens Brigade and Improv Olympic in Los Angeles. The 2015 Hollywood Fringe Festival marked Thomas’s debut as a writer/producer/performer of her own one woman show. “Southern Belle to Mrs. Cartel” runs 30-minutes chronicling Thomas’ journey from innocent southern college student and waitress at the Steak & Ale to wife of a Columbian drug lord….but she had no idea.

Raised in a small town in Georgia, Donna has her BA in Marketing from Georgia State University. Along with comedy, Donna and her brother established the Thomas Angel Foundation in 2001 to fund scholarships for women studying comedy at Upright Citizens Brigade.

LA Magazine Story re: Thomas Angel Foundation (for background): http://www.lamag.com/citythink/public-service-announcement-meet-thomas-angel-foundation-founder-donna-thomas/

Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/preview?vpa=cxn1&locale=en_US

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/

Anymore by Sarah Fiete and Edison Hong

Sarah Fiete and Edison Hong are fresh out of NYU Tisch’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program where they received Masters degrees last May. During this program, they studied and cultivated short-form musical theatre in addition to long-form – thus “Anymore” was born. Outraged by the recent attacks on gay clubs in Russia by hate-filled vigilante groups, Fiete and Hong sought to draw attention to this issue by using the medium they know and love. Although creating a complete musical arc in ten minutes is a challenge, Fiete and Hong found this form the most striking for their story of a young Russian girl who just wants to find her brother – and the tale of the stranger with all the stunning answers. Sarah Fiete – who is no stranger to cramming a lot of content in a little space – has had her short stories and micro fiction in publications such as Blink Ink and Indigo Rising. Her musical theatre work has been performed at 54 Below. Edison Hong’s compositions have been heard all over New York City, including Joe’s Pub, Don’t Tell Mama, Sardi’s and Cornelia Street Cafe.

What is your hometown?

Sarah Fiete: Dublin, Ohio.

Edison Hong: Bronx, NY

What was the last show that you worked on and where?

SF: Last April through my graduate program, my thesis musical – “Lady Mercy,” for which I wrote book and lyrics and Peter Hodgson wrote the music – received a 29 hour reading.

EH: “Waiting For The Rain” with Tim Parker and “Second Place” with Kate Chadwick that received 29 hour readings at NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program

Why submit to a festival like this?

SF: Festivals like New York New Works are SO important for emerging theatre artists. It’s a great way for someone new to the industry (like me) to say, “Hey! I’m here! I love this medium and I want to use it to get people to think and feel things in new, exciting ways!” …in so many words.

EH: It’s an amazing opportunity to see and share a production of a show that I care for.

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/

Ten Commandments by John Doble

A sexy French journalist persuades the Republican Party’s foremost behind-the-scenes political operative to disclose his never-fail formula for winning any election, any time – his Ten Commandments. As he reveals his secrets, he becomes increasingly smitten and it looks like they may team up for the long term. But then what? Will he get what he wants? John Doble’s plays have been staged in numerous venues including FringeNYC and the Samuel French Festival in New York City, as well as the Neil LaBute Festival in St. Louis and other festivals across the US and in the UK. His A Serious Person was awarded Best Play in an annual festival in Belper, UK, and Tatyana and the Cable Man was named Best Play in a festival in New York. His collection of short fiction, Lefty and Other Stories, was published by Clemson University and nominated for the Southern Book Award. When a sexy reporter interviews the Republican Party’s foremost political operative, all the dark secrets behind his party’s success are finally revealed.

What is your hometown? I was born in Atlantic City and raised in Wilmington Delaware, but I’ve lived in NYC for many years.

What was the last show that you worked on and where? In January, I went to London to see one of my short plays, Tatyana and the Cable Man. It was repeated in a “Best-of” Festival in London this summer.

Why submit to a Festival like this? This festival provides a rare opportunity for emerging playwrights to have their work seen by a distinguished panel of industry professionals.

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/