You missed it!
A new play written by Ryan Glass
Directed by Chanda Calentine
April 28 - May 15, 2011
Looking Glass Theatre, celebrating almost 20 years of productions strengthening the voice of women in theater and the arts, proudly presents JUST A READING, a new play written by Ryan Glass and directed by Chanda Calentine, as part of its exciting Spring 2011 lineup. Just A Reading is slated to open at Looking Glass Theatre (422 West 57th Street) on Thursday, April 28. Performances are scheduled Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. through May 15. Tickets for all performances $18.
NOTE: NO LATE SEATING PERMITTED.
ABOUT THE SHOW…
Alan Watson, NYC playwright turned Hollywood golden boy, returns to Looking Glass Theatre to present a reading of his first new play in eight years. But this isn't the play anyone expected.
This is a new script. About them.
Just a Reading is a play about the reading of a play - a play Alan has written to confess his love to his old friend and creative partner May and expose her boyfriend's affair. The guilty lovers seek escape...but the door is locked. And only Alan has the key. Will they read the parts he's written?
Will he get the happy ending he's waited so long to hear?
Featuring: Jenn Boehm, Michael Sean Cirelli, Brandon Ferraro, Cas Marino, Alexandra Mingione and Stephen Reich.
Assistant Director/Stage Manager: Margaret Chirstie
Light Design: Ryan Metzler
Fight Director: Helen McTernan
Looking Glass Theatre’s mission is to theatrically and truthfully reflect a female vision on the stage while creating a community of artistic freedom. We fulfill this by presenting female directors' visions of original works or the classics and by staging new plays either written or directed by women. This includes children’s shows and educational programming as well as our semi-annual festival of new works, featuring emerging women playwrights and directors, each season.In June 2006, Looking Glass Theatre and Artistic Director Justine Lambert received The Lucille Lortel Award from The League of Professional Theatre Women.
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JUST A READING
April 28 - May 15, 2011
SCHEDULE: Thursday-Saturday @ 8 p.m., Sunday @ 3 p.m.
TICKET PRICE: $18 General Admission
ADDRESS: 422 West 57th Street (btwn 9th//10th Aves)
PHONE: (212) 307-9467
This show is now closed.
JENN BOEHM (May Robbins), originally from North Dakota, is delighted to be back on the Looking Glass stage,, where she has appeared Baal, Helix 999 and three fantastic V-Day events.. Recent credits include: What Happens to Women Here (Richmond Sheperd Theatre), The Maguffin (Philadelphia Fringe Festival), The Ghost Dancers (June Havoc Theatre, Midtown International Theatre Festival Award, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play), A Chicken Goes to Broadway (Samuel French Short Play Festival/Peter Jay Sharp Theatre), Young Jean Lee's Church (The Public Theater) and Always Family (The Kirk Theater on Theatre Row). Jenn is the Co-Artistic Director and Managing Director of Looking Glass Theatre. Special thanks to Chanda and Ryan, this groovy cast, everyone at the Glass and, of course, Tres Vs. Love to Greg.
MICHAEL SEAN CIRELLI (Alan Watson) - Previous New York credits include Hamlet in Rachel Wohlander's Hamlet at the House in Ditmas Park, Target in The Subjective Theatre Company's Corporate Personhood Play Festival. He has also appeared as Reverend Hale in The Crucible, the ensemble in Short and 2 the Point: An Evening of Pinter and Mamet, and as Carl in the short film The Support Group. He can be seen regularly performing with his his improv group Herschel at the People's Improv Theater and around NYC. He is currently enrolled in the Atlantic Acting School's conservatory program.
BRANDON FERRARO (Luke Bosco) was born and raised in the great state of Virginia and spent most of his youth just outside the D.C. beltway. He earned a B.A. in Theatre from James Madison University. Go Dukes. Favorite acting roles include: Cassio in Othello at the Looking Glass Forum; Duke in Measure for Measure and Marcus Andronicus in Titus Andronicus, both at the Secret Theatre; Chris Keller in All My Sons; Hal Dobbs in Proof; Oedipus in Oedipus Rex; and Mercutio, Friar et al in Shakespeare’s R & J. Television credits include "Real Naval Justice'' for Investigation Discovery and Tex Watson in the Charles Manson documentary "Will You Kill For Me?" on MSNBC. Brandon is currently working on producing his written full-length play Who Doesn’t Love Ben Franklin? as well turning out video shorts through his BeefEasyProductions. Click here for more about Brandon.
CAS MARINO (Victor Newhouse) recently starred in The Unlikely Adventures of Race McCloud, Private Eye at ATA, due back off-Broadway next season. He was homicidal queen Clytemnestra in Aliza Shane’s Are You There, Zeus? It’s Me, Electra! for the Planet Connections Festivity, Antonio in Black Henna‘s NYC parks tour of Much Ado About Nothing. Success as Caldwell B. Cladwell in MRC’s Urine Town led Cas to back-to-back workshops of new plays Hero Worship, House Full of Dust, and How My Mother Died of Cancer and Other Bedtime Stories. Numerous cabaret appearances at Joe's Pub @ the Public Theater and the Laurie Beechman; regional/independent productions of Seussical! (Cat in the Hat), My Fair Lady (Alfred P. Doolittle), The Tempest (Gonzalo), and Kool Obz at Wings Theater. Other roles: Hook (Peter Pan), Warbucks (Annie), and multiple Grease runs. Annual Strawberry, Hamptons Shakespeare, and LICAP Spring Fest festivals. Cas is best known for his critically acclaimed roles in the La Cage Aux Folles and 2009’s revival of Torch Song Trilogy. Independent/short films: Honey, The Call; LogoTV’s “Jefferey & Cole Casserole,” numerous radio/tv broadcasts. Board of Directors, Black Henna Productions. Celebrated columnist for the lifestyle web site Phrolix.com and “Cas Marino is The Food Daddy.” Thanks to God, family and friends, to Chanda, to kids Alli and Zach. Facebook/Twitter CasMarino.
ALEXANDRA MINGIONE (Cassandra Ciliano) - Much like Cassandra, Alexandra is a Brooklyn native and graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts - however, the similarities end there. She has studied with the Playwrights Horizons Theater School, the Atlantic Theater Company, and the Upright Citizens Brigade among others. She was last seen in the Michael Chekov Theater Company's production of Sam Shepard’s Suicide in B Flat. This is her first production with Looking Glass Theatre and she would like to thank Chanda for the opportunity to be part of such a talented cast!
STEPHEN REICH (Thomas Nordstrom) moved to New York right out of college to pursue acting, having studied as a guest student at NYU and the Atlantic Theater Company. He has been acting commercially since 2000, appearing in ads for MTV, ESPN, STARZ Cable,Time Warner, Nickelodeon, Fed Ex (Brown Bailout web campaign) and more as well as recording voice overs for Chase, Monster.com, MTV, Soapnet, Dentek, Shoprite and others. Stephen is also a print model, having shot for Kraft Family and Friends Magazine, W Magazine, Macanudo Cigars, Microsoft, M&T Bank, YMCA and many more. In addition, Stephen had a small supporting role in a Sundance feature and enjoyed a minor stint on ABC’s “The Bachelorette” as a contestant—he was not awarded a rose for his trouble. Stephen runs his own law practice on the side, specializing in intellectual property and entertainment law, wills trusts and estates, and civil litigation. He is thrilled to get back on the stage in such a fun and fresh production. Thanks to Mom and Dad for their unwavering support. This performance is dedicated to my grandmother, Tina “Zip” Reich.”
RYAN GLASS (Playwright) is a poet/musician/teacher from Washington Court House, Ohio - a small town tucked in the middle of several large corn fields. Introduced to the theatre world as a musical director, he has directed music for shows including Cabaret, Godspell, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Grease!. His previously produced original works include Bring It On Home, Inside Outside, Shards Volume 1 and The Sun Also Rises 9-12. Under his musical alias, Slim Dixon, Ryan has performed his original music in all five boroughs, solo and with The Waywords, including a number of Looking Glass Theatre events. As a teacher, Ryan has worked with students ages 8 months to 25 years, teaching everything from Music For Aardvarks (Mommy & Me) to high school Job Readiness. Ryan wishes to thank Justine, Erica and Jenn for their ever-open arms, Chanda for her vision and drive, and the talented team of actors bringing Just a Reading to life.
CHANDA CALENTINE (Director) is a graduate of Ohio University, holding a B.S. in Organizational Communication, with minors in Dance and Theater. Originally from Ohio, Chanda has been active in New York City's theater community as a performer, director, choreographer, teacher and arts administrator. Currently, she serves as the Development Director/ Artistic Associate at Looking Glass Theatre. Previously at Looking Glass, she directed 70 Million Tons, All In My Head (Forum Award for Best Director), Her Only Customer and The Hope Chest (reading). Other recent NYC directing credits include Bite Your Tongue (IMPACT Theater),In the Beginning, and Shards; Volume 1 (Horse Trade Theater Group). Most recent choreography includes Fate, Fury and Musical Theatre: A Kind of Cabaret...THE REVENGE (Red Room) directed by Amanda Thompson , Are You There, Zeus? It's Me, Electra! (Bleecker Street Theater) directed by Aliza Shane and Live/Feed (Brooklyn Lyceum) directed by Melanie Armer. She would like to thank the Looking Glass ladies (especially Tres Vs) for their love and support, you will always hold a special place in my heart!
MARGARET CHRISTIE (Assistant Director/Stage Manager) is a New York-based theatre artist and director. She studied theatre at Hunter College and is currently enrolled in UCB’s Improv program. As Assistant Artistic Director at Metropolitan Playhouse, she oversaw production of numerous shows and festivals including: Anna Christie, Nowadays, Power, “Melvillapalooza,” and “The East Village Theatre Festival”. As stage manager: Alphabet City V, To Kill A Mockingbird and Laughter on the 23rd Floor. With aWe Creative Group, she has directed for “24Hour PlayFun!” since December. Margaret would like to thank Chanda and Looking Glass Theatre for this wonderful opportunity.
RYAN METZLER (Light Design) former Light Designer in Residence for Looking Glass Theatre and the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. Recent productions in New York include Finding Elizabeth Taylor (Manhattan Theatre Source), The Awakening (Theater 3), St. Nicholas (The WorkShop), and Noah’s Arkansas (Wings Theater). His designs have also been seen at Theatre Row, Stella Adler Studios, chashama, Second Stage, Altered Stages and other venues around New York City. Regionally, Ryan's work has been seen in Boston with the OperaHub productions L'Incoronazione di Poppea (Cambridge YMCA Theater), Der Zwerg (BCA Black Box Theater) and The Four Note Opera (BCA Plaza Theater). Ryan is proud to have lighted benefit productions for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, the Children's Brain Tumor Foundation, the Society for Ethical Culture, the PM3 Foundation and others. After five years of collaboration, Ryan would like to extend his gratitude to Jenn Boehm and the Looking Glass community for their constant support, friendship and, above all, integrity. We have indeed lived in interesting times.
HELEN McTERNAN (Fight Director) is an actor combatant trained in unarmed, rapier, rapier/dagger and broadsword techniques. Fight credits include: Assistant Fight Director, FUBAR (59E59); Fight Captain, Everything Will Be Alright (Shapiro Theatre); Fight Captain, All in My Head (Looking Glass Forum). New York audiences have seen Helen on Broadway in the Benefit Revival Concert of Brigadoon at the Shubert Theatre, as Fan/Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol at Town Hall, and as Mindy Vant in SPITE at The Cherry Lane Theatre. Training: BA Acting, Kean University; AMDA. Proud member of AEA. Click here for more about Helen.
