Name: Patrice Miller
What’s your current project: Poetry Electric’s Mother Tongue at La MaMa
Why and how are you involved? La MaMa has always opened its doors to me and invited me to challenge myself as an audience member and artist. I’m overjoyed to be a featured poet/performer at Poetry Electric.
Facebook/Twitter Handle:
Who’ll Save the Plowboy? brings us into the small New York apartment of husband and wife, Albert and Helen Cobb, played by Jerry Rago and Julie Hays, respectively. It is clear at the top of the show that the two have a very strained relationship, to say the least. They are awaiting the arrival of Albert’s old friend and WWII buddy, Larry Doyle, played by Robert Haufrecht. Larry saved Albert’s life during the war, and after losing touch for some time, is in town and on his way to visit his old friend.
Bradley Wherle’s set is comprised of a bare-bones, non-descript apartment with a few walls, entrances, a couple pieces of furniture and a window ingeniously placed into the grooves of the small Davenport Theater. Even the creative picture frames, painted blue like the wall, give us no hint to the kind of life these two lead.
Rago and Cobb don’t disappoint in showing us the hard life they have together during the time before Haufrecht’s entrance, after which we get to see some beautiful moments. Rago and Haufrecht have some great banter, and even greater timing, as they discuss (or try not to discuss) the subject of the Cobb’s son, Larry, Jr. Haufrecht is a pleasure to watch as you see the layers of emotion in his eyes after being asked about his wife, Veronica.
Tom Ashton gives us a nice taste of a couple characters, while Alex Vamvonkakis pulls off the boy next door.
But it is Spring Condoyan, playing Mrs. Doyle (Larry’s mother), who steals the show. Her slow, deliberate delivery made her a pleasure to watch. She had many wonderful moments, but the look she gave Helen right before her exit spoke a thousand words. Her subtext and subtlety left us begging for more.
While I share a birthday with the late Frank D. Gilroy (October 13th), I feel the play is dated, repetitive and heavy. Hays gave a lovely performance, but unfortunately her character had no redeeming qualities, just one of the downfalls of the misogynistic writing she fell prey to.
Director Marcia Haufrecht and her cast do a wonderful job of leaving us with the question: Have our actions, no matter how good the intention, left the world a better place?
Wednesday, November 11 at 8pm
Thursday, November 12 at 8pm
Friday, November 13 at 8pm
Saturday, November 14 at 8pm
Sunday, November 15 at 3pm (matinee)
Wednesday, November 18 at 8pm
Thursday, November 19 at 8pm
Friday, November 20 at 8pm
Saturday, November 21 at 8pm (closing)
BUY TICKETS
Click here or call 1-800-838-3006.
Name: Josh Rivedal
What’s your current project: An inspirational and motivational book of 50 true, short stories: The i’Mpossible Project: Reengaging With Life, Creating a New You. It has been described as a “Chicken Soup for the Soul for the new millennium”
Why and how are you involved? I am the curator and editor of the book. I have been telling my story via a one-man show for almost five years (Kicking My Blue Genes in the Butt) and it has helped more than 15000 get clarity and reframe their thinking around suicide, mental health issues, and obstacles in general.
Storytelling is one of our oldest traditions—yes, even older than the hokey pokey. Stories can make us laugh or cry… or both at the same time. They can teach, inspire and even ignite an entire movement.
The stories in The i’Mpossible Project are gritty, deep, heartwarming—and guaranteed to help you discover new possibilities in your life.
These stories are all about overcoming obstacles, reengaging with life, and creating new possibilities—a son’s homicide, a transgender man finding love, coming back from the brink of suicide, finding your funny in the face of overwhelming odds, and more…
Website/Facebook/Twitter Handle:
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:
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:
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:
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
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.
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.
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
Malini Singh mcdonald 