.

Moral Support
Mary is divorced, estranged from her family and suffering with cancer. Her son Mike visits her during spring break. She asks him for concrete actions of moral support. Mike’s father and aunt caution him not to get involved. Old wounds re-open and the bonds of family and love are rigorously tested.

JMAE is honored to welcome QuisQueYa productions and their dynamic new interpretation of when a brave few go once more unto the breach. HENRY V

Laurie Rae Waugh returns to the American Theatre of Actors opening their new season with THE BARE TRUTH by H. G. BROWN, directed by Laurie Rae Waugh.

Acclaimed film and stage director, Laurie Rae Waugh will open the legendary American Theatre of Actors 2019 season

with a world premiere of H.G. Brown‘s clever comedy, The Bare Truth. Performing Wednesdays – Sundays, January 23 – February 3; Wednesdays – Saturdays @ 8:00 p.m.; Sundays @ 3:00 p.m.; Sargent Theatre in the American Theatre of Actors complex, 314 West 54th Street (4th Floor) New York City. The Theatre is between 8th and 9th avenues Tickets on sale as of January 2

In this table-turning comedy, an elderly South Florida couple need to get their children off their backs! Fearing that the totally independent couple are unable to tend to themselves, the children won’t leave them alone.

So the couple – with the help of other senior folks – devise a plan to detract the children. They have announced they are nudists!

Their plan succeeds … in a most unusual way.

Ken Coughlin – a senior member of the ATA repertory of actors – appears in this production.

Waugh – winner of numerous awards for her work – including the Jean Dalrymple Award for outstanding work in independent theatre, brings her acumen for intimate relationship plays to the ATA stage again in this romp with rumps

A Therapy Session with Myself, a full-length, semi-autobiographical drama by Anthony J. Piccione about the inner struggles of living with mental illness and Asperger’s syndrome, premieres January 2019 at the Hudson Guild Theatre, 441 W 26th Street, as part of the New York Theatre Festival’s 2019 NYWinterfest.

Performance schedule is Tuesday, January 15 @ 9pm, Wednesday, January 16 @ 6:15pm and Saturday, January 19 @ 3:30pm. Tickets cost $23 and can be purchased at the door or by visiting www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3798842.

A Therapy Session with Myself tells the story of Alex Grayson, a young college student and aspiring writer suffering from severe social anxiety, depression and Asperger’s syndrome. During the summer before his senior year, he receives a mysterious visit from “himself”, a human incarnation of his inner consciousness. As they interact, Alex is forced to reflect on his own flaws and personality quirks, as well as some of the darkest and most painful memories of his adolescence, while also pondering the question of whether or not he can overcome his inner demons, and ultimately build a brighter future for himself.

As Piccione describes his play: “It’s a semi-autobiographical play, so while it’s not an exact retelling of my life, it comes extremely close, and I hope it helps fuel a significant conversation about issues of mental illness and autism awareness, and that maybe it will leave people thinking about them, in new ways. I also hope it leaves anyone who has been through dark times with the reminder that life can get better, as long as you’re willing to go out there and give people a chance…”

The play received a staged reading at the Dramatists Guild Foundation in October 2017, and marks its official world premiere with this production. It is directed by acclaimed director and World Ocean Arts’s Stand Out Artist of 2017 Holly Payne-Strange, who previously collaborated with Mr. Piccione on the innovative children’s play An Energy Tale at the 2017 Midtown International Theatre Festival, and assistant directed by Andres Gallardo Bustillo, who is known for his work as an actor in Piccione’s award-winning short drama What I Left Behind at last year’s NYWinterfest.

The production stars Nick Roy as Alex; Shane Zimmerman as “you”, the human incarnation of Alex’s inner consciousness; and Bryant Jager as “me”, Alex’s younger self who appears in flashbacks. The cast is rounded out by Emma Romeo (Kelly), Louise Heller (Kate), Tony Bozanich (Ray/Professor Collins), Travis Martin (Henry/Ensemble), Ramona Messina (Ms. Appleton/Beth/Ensemble), Nathan Cusson(Tim/Ensemble), Aaron Algren (Philip/Ensemble), Rosie Coursey (Ensemble) and Lizzy Moreno (Ensemble).

Anthony J. Piccione is an award-winning playwright whose eclectic canon of plays have previously been presented in NYC at the Hudson Guild Theatre, Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, Midtown International Theatre Festival, and Manhattan Repertory Theatre, as well as at regional venues such as Playhouse on Park, Hole in the Wall Theatre, the Windsor Art Center, and Windham Theatre Guild. His short drama What I Left Behind was named the NYWinterfest’s Best Short Play of 2018, and he was also nominated for Planet Connections Theatre Festivity’s Outstanding Playwright award for his avant-garde one-act 4 $tages. His work as a playwright has been published at JAC Publishing and Promotions, Heuer Publishing & Off The Wall Plays, and his articles and reviews are frequently published at OnStage Blog. He received his BA in Theatre from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2016 and is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild of America.

Planet Connections Theater Festivity in partnership with The Theater at the 14th Street Y present a powerful new play written by Glory Kadigan and directed by Broadway veteran, Tonya Pinkins:

A granddaughter bonds with her grandfather as she helps him confront the regrets of his youth in Glory Kadigan‘s riveting play featuring David L. Carson as Robert, a former surgeon having served in Guadalcanal during World War 2. Through magical realism, Kadigan’s work explores the regrets of his youth and how his granddaughter helped him confront them. Broadway veteran, Tonya Pinkins, helms this premiere at the Theatre at the 14th Street Y, 344 E 14th St, New York City.  

The production features Mehret Marsh,* June Ballinger,* Perri Yaniv,* David L. Carson,* Mary Monahan, and Gina Lemoine

Running January 11-26. Tickets available at https://14streety.secure.force.com/ticket#details_a0S36000007OsctEAC.

Glory Kadigan ( Playwright) founded Planet Connections Theatre Festivity and served as The Producing Artistic Director for six seasons. Her work as a playwright has been presented in Singapore, London, and New Zealand. Her plays have received staged readings at La MaMa, The Actors Studio, TADA, and Dixon Place. She is also a director who recently directed Vivian’s Music 1969 at 59E59, Clover by Erik Ehn at La MaMa, Bank by Lucy Thurber, Mean Girls by Lyle Kessler (World Premiere), Biting The Bullet by Regina Taylor ( World Premiere). Ms. Kadigan is a member of The League of Professional Theatre Women which looks to promote the viability of women in the arts.

Tonya Pinkins directed Paul Robeson: The Opera at TRILOGY OPERA Company in 2018. BRING IT ON at Black Spectrum Theater in 2018. Tonya’s short film “WHAT CAME AFTER which she produced, directed and adapted with Christopher Oscar Pena‘s from his play by the same name at the 2016 at Eclectic Festival. Tonya Directed EXIT: An Illusion by Marita Bonner in American Bard Theater’s “Visionary Voices” She directed “Miss Roj” from THE COLORED MUSEUM for Project One Voice at The Kimble Theater.She directed A Visit Home by Jeffrey Sweet in 2013. Tonya co-directed by EASY TO LOVE by Larry Powell in the Fire This Time Festival.FOR COLORED BOYS by Jesse Alick in 48 Hours in Harlem. She has been developing Blaine Teamer’s # BoxSeats at NYTW and in National Black Theater’s Monday Night Reading series. She has directed V-Day the Vagina Monologues at The World Health Ministry Conference in Mexico. The Klucking of Hens by Carol Lockwood at New Professional Theater, Camille Darby‘s LORD’S RESISTANCE at The National Black Theater Festival in Winston Salem. DEAD PEOPLE’s THINGS by Patricia Ione Lloyd at Red Circle Rising. Tonya is a Tony, Obie Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Lortel Award winning actor, She teaches privately.. Tonya is the author of Get OVER YOURSELF : How to Drop The Drama and ClaimThe Life You Deserve (Hyperion Books), Tonya is the Producer, Director and a Co-writer of the TRUTH and RECONCILIATION OF WOMYN Plays which will be presented at The Commons in Brooklyn on February 4, 2019 and excerpted on WBAI Radio produced by EnGarde Arts, #HealMeTooFestival March 28-April 14, 2019 at IRT Theaters and at The 14th Street Y in July 2019. To make donations to this empowering social justice project by and about womyn visit https://thefield.org/sa/620277.

SCHEDULE
Friday, January 11th 8:00 PM
Saturday, January 12th 1:00 PM
Wednesday, January 16th 7:00 PM
Thursday, January 17th 7:00 PM
Friday, January 18th 8:00 PM
Saturday, January 19th 1:00 PM
Wednesday, January 23rd 7:00 PM
Thursday, January 24th 7:00 PM
Friday, January 25th 8:00 PM
Saturday, January 26th 1:00 PM

General Admission: $35
VIP Tickets: $50
Includes premium seating, and other extras
Running Time: 2 hours
There will be one Intermission
*This production contains adult content*

Granny’s back for some more wild and woolly word-play from back-in-the-day. This time, it’s not sexy banter but smoky phrasing! 

I’m SOOO High: Rev. Mary’s Reefer Revue
April 6 @ 9:30 at Pangea, 172 Second Avenue, NYC

Song-stylists of the roaring 20s and 30s supplied the crowds of the speakeasies with terrific tunes and merry melodies more than mentioning MARIJUANA!

With nicknames like Blue sage, Catnip, Dope, Grass, Jive, Jay, Gauge, Tea, Vibe, Mary-Jane, and Jazz Cabbage – not to mention the standard reefer, pot, and weed … expect a wild night at Pangea that you’ll never forget … then again, what’s that about short term memory?

Rev. Mary has since taken the cabaret world by storm with her All-Man Band of Dan Furman on piano with Mario Claudio and George Dixon as back-up, with a host of guest musicians. She brought down the house at the Duplex with Granny’s Blue-Mers: The Meat Show and Down In the Alley. Both acts having toured clubs such as Pianos, Freddy’s Bar and Backroom, Otto’s, West End Lounge, and a return engagement at the Duplex. She presented her powerful one-woman exploration in The Lady in Black at Don’t Tell Mama on two occasions collecting scores of resounding reviews; and scored kudos as part of the Augusta Heritage Blues and Swing festival in West Virginia.  She also produced Sing-ular Sensations at Don’t Tell Mama, spotlighting three cabaret artists’ one-person shows.

Tickets will be on sale shortly. For further information contact Jay Michaels Arts & Entertainment at 347-497-4814 or jay.michaels.theatricals@gmail.com.

Quill Productions invites you to attend a staged reading of Granville Wyche Burgess‘ musical play about the first-time our nation faced a civil war.

Based on fact, COMMON GROUND concerns a meeting between Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln regarding his responsibility toward a belief in political and social equality for African-Americans.

COMMON GROUND, a musical presentation, also features a disgruntled John Wilkes Booth likening his current political issues and values as “Playing Brutus to His Caesar.”

It dramatizes the question that still haunts a nation founded on both slavery AND equality – for all: what is the answer to injustice? Vengeance or Common Ground?

Remembering the Booths via Shakespeare’s Caesar is not uncommon this season, with Casey Wimpee’s riveting play, The Brutes, scoring kudos and award nominations at Planet Connections and subsequently at the New Ohio Theater.

Book & Lyrics: Granville Wyche Burgess

Music & Musical Direction: Stan Wietrzychowski

Stage Direction by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj

JMAE welcomes [back] Sunflower Duran ! This time it’s for Pink Arts Peace Productions, Inc. web series BLONDE BRUNETTE. Three episodes in … let’s watch!
https://vimeo.com/299777057
https://vimeo.com/276114764
https://vimeo.com/308574784
And look for news on “Two Faces One Mirror” regarding its opening at the Manhattan Rep this month!

Veronica Moya, an international performer with stage, film, and TV credits heard the call. She tapped into her innate spirituality and combined it with her endless energy and ambition to help those who are lost. Focusing on your people, she is somewhat like a spiritual life coach – helping people tap into their own inner stregeth to move forward. 

ANDREW ROTHKIN, the producing artistic director of White Rabbit Productions has entered into a partnership with producer/publicist JAY MICHAELS.

Currently the partnership is developing two stage works into short films. The first, penned by Rothkin:

Love Bites: With elements of Hitchcock and Takashi Miike’s The Audition, LOVE BITES tells the tale of a young woman who sharing the travails of her bad relationships is simply not enough.

Earthmen: The celebrated period-piece written by Joanne de Simone, about a meeting between a runaway slave and an enigmatic Native American on the eve of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Ms. Merson has a long history of supporting and developing new plays and playwrights as the Founder/Producing Artistic Director of New York Theatre Intensives (NYTI) and through her work at such theatres as New Dramatists, Manhattan Theatre Club, Lion Theatre (which she co founded) and the O’Neill Theatre Center.

Her mentoring skills have been polished through significant time on Broadway, in regional theatre and in the Off-Off Broadway developmental world.

Appearing as an actress in the Broadway productions of Zefirelli’s SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY and CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD, she also co created and appeared in the original production of VANITIES, Off Broadway, in which she performed over 800 times. Her first play REFLECTIONS OF A CHINA DOLL was produced Off Broadway at the Ensemble Studio Theatre which seeded her ongoing relationship as an active artist and board member of EST on both coasts.

Moving to Los Angeles, Susan co-founded and served as moderator for the Los Angeles Writers Bloc with writer Jane Anderson, which has supported the work of such writers as Donald Margulies, (Pulitzer), Noni White and Bob Tzudike (Tony for Newsies), Irene Mecchi (Lion King), Janet Fitch (White Oleanders) and countless others since the 1980’s.
She has served in LA as Artistic Director of the Streisand Festival for New Plays, Associate Producer at the Fountain and Mark Taper Forum, Resident Playwright for the Jewish Women’s Theatre Project, Literary Manager of the Ensemble Studio Theatre/ LA and has worked as a reader for Fogwood Films, TNT, and Polygram and many others.

Her many plays have been seen at theatres across the US and Canada.  DAMN EVERYTHING BUT THE CIRCUS: 2 short plays About the Circus  at the FOUNTAIN THEATRE in Los Angeles and Ensemble Studio Theatre/NYC in readings. BETWEEN PRETTY PLACES, a play with music written by Shellen Lubin, premiered at the Pacific Resident Theatre in Los Angeles and as part of the HERE ARTS Sublet Series in Manhattan, full production 13th Street Rep. NYC has also seen WHITE BIRCHES at the Avant Garde Arts Festival, CARLA TELLS US WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BLUE BEDROOM at Berkshire Playwrights Lab, I BELIEVE IN MARRIAGE at the League of Professional Theatre Women’s One Act Festival and WHEN THEY GO AND YOU DO NOT at both the EstroGenius Festival and EST/6th Floor/NY and the Fountain Theatre in LA. HAIR: A REMINISCENCE a Heideman Award finalist at Louisville; and BOUNTY OF LACE a Religion and Theatre Award recipient. Plays continue to be done across country. 
Screenplay nods have gone to SWIMMING UPSTREAM and DEATH IN VIENNA, both developed with Jimola Productions. As a fiction writer, her work has appeared in various journals and anthologies. Her novel DREAMING IN DAYLIGHT and a recent collection of plays and memoir WHEN THEY GO AND YOU DO NOT: Writing on Transition are available on Amazon along with her book on solo performance, YOUR NAME HERE: An Actor Writers Guide to Solo Performance. Audible.com now features the AUDIOBOOK version of DREAMING IN DAYLIGHT. OH GOOD NOW THIS, her second novel, is finished and preparing for publication as of 2018.

She currently leads the programs of New York Theatre Intensives. She remains a long time member of the Ensemble Studio Theatre and the League of Professional Theatre Women and is the founder and moderator of the NY Writers Bloc.

http://www.susanmerson.com/

The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews with Cult and Classic Video Game Developers by Patrick Hickey
Featuring interviews with the creators of 36 popular video games—including Deus Ex, Night Trap, Mortal Kombat, Wasteland and NBA Jam—this book gives a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of some of the most influential and iconic (and sometimes forgotten) games of all time. Recounting endless hours of painstaking development, the challenges of working with mega publishers and the uncertainties of public reception, the interviewees reveal the creative processes that produced some of gaming’s classic titles.

“From arcade rats to indie developers, Hickey gives an intimate look at the personalities behind gaming with the passion of a fanboy and the attention of a scholar.” —Cesar R. Bustamante, Jr., New York Daily News

A short play. In preparation for the New Year, a Village housewife joins businesspeople, locals and tourists as they question what matters to them. As technology continues to fascinate, isolate and shape our lives, how do we encounter our New York City? Individual script purchases do not include rights/royalties for performance.

Gary Morgenstein wrote the critically acclaimed off-Broadway rock musical The Anthem, as well as Mad Mel Saves the World, and his dramatic works range from A Tomato Can’t Grow in the Bronx to Right on Target, Ponzi Manand Saving Stan. Morgenstein’s literary works include the upcoming science fiction-baseball novel A Mound Over Hell, set in 2098 following America’s defeat in World War Three. The first book in The Dark Depths trilogy, A Mound Over Hell will be published by BHC Press in March 2018. His other novels include Jesse’s Girl; Loving Rabbi Thalia Kleinman; Take Me Out to the Ballgame and The Man Who Wanted to Play Center Field for the New York Yankees.

NOVEL

A Mound over Hell (March 2018, BHC Press) – Baseball, a sport now identified with terrorism and treason, begins its final season in 2098 following America’s loss to a radical enemy in World War Three. Revitalized by the miraculous appearance of great players from the past fueling one last hurrah, baseball becomes a pawn between those who want peace and those who want another war.

This first novel in THE DARK DEPTHS trilogy. http://www.bhcpress.com/Books_Morgenstein_A_Mound_Over_Hell.html