I LOVE WORKING WITH ACTOR’S EXPRESS IN ATLANTA AND THIS YEAR WAS NO DIFFERENT. I HAD THE CHANCE TO CREATE AN ORIGINAL PLAY CALLED THE ISLAND OF TABULA RASA FOR THEIR TALENTED CLASS OF INTERNS.
UNLEASH THE WRITER WITHIN AT PLAYPENN
IN NOVEMBER I WENT DOWN TO PHILADELPHIA TO TEACH A CLASS THAT I LOVE TEACHING! SPENDING MANY YEARS BLOCKED BY FEAR IT’S A GIFT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO STUDENTS WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IN THE YEARS ACCEPTING AND PUSHING THROUGH FEAR.
YOU CAN READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE.
AWARDED CLIFFORD ODETS ENSEMBLE PLAY COMMISSION
THANKS TO THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE LOVELY LINDSEY FERRENTINO I WORKED WITH THE LEE STRASBERG THEATRE & FILM INSTITUTE TO CREATE A PLAY FOR THE PRACTICUM CLASS THAT WAS PERFORMED THIS PAST DECEMBER BY GRADUATING SENIORS AND DIRECTED BY THE AMAZING ESTEFANÍA FADUL.
A BAD NIGHT PRODUCED BY NY REP AT PLAYWRIGHTS HORIZONS
THE GENEROUS CREATIVE TEAM AT NEW YORK REP PRODUCED A TOWN HALL READING AND DISCUSSION OF A BAD NIGHT THIS PAST NOVEMBER. A BAD NIGHT CONTINUES TO BE RELEVANT TODAY AND MY HOPE IS THAT IT WiLL CREATE MORE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS IN THE YEARS TO COME.
READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE.
BELOW IS A VIDEO CREATED BY NEW YORK REP WITH MY CO-WRITER NICOLE PANDOLFO.
SUNNYSIDE IMPRESSIONS
PETER’S IMPRESSIONS, A HAIR SALON IN SUNNYSIDE QUEENS, CELEBRATED FORTY YEARS IN BUSINESS THIS PAST OCTOBER. THANKS TO A GRANT FROM QUEENS COUNCIL ON THE ARTS, SUNNYSIDE IMPRESSIONS WAS PERFORMED IN OCTOBER. THE PLAY WAS CREATED THROUGH INTERVIEWS FROM SUNNYSIDE RESIDENTS AND PERFORMED BY A TALENTED GROUP OF ACTORS. TO TOP IT OFF A DEAR FRIEND MADE THE BELOW VIDEO. THIS PROJECT CONNECTED MY LOVE OF COMMUNITY AND CREATIVITY IN A WAY THAT I HOPE I CAN CONTINUE TO DO MORE OF.
THE JOURNEY OF ANNE PAGE HATES FUN, SO FAR
THE WONDERFUL ANNE G. MORGAN WROTE A PIECE ABOUT MY REWRITING JOURNEY AND YOU CAN READ IT HERE.
OPENING NIGHT!
CLOSING NIGHT AND STILL SMILING.
THE HOUSE ON THE HILL REVIEWS
I WAS VERY LUCKY TO WORK WITH BEAUTIFUL ARTISTS ON THIS HARD AND IMPORTANT PLAY.
MY HOPE IS THIS PLAY WILL CONTINUE TO REACH MANY.
THE FIRST TWO NEW CONTEMPORARIES
Grateful to have my play announced along with Mary Elizabeth Hamilton's 16 Winters or the Bears Tale.
AMERICAN SHAKESPEARE CENTER'S NEW CONTEMPORARIES
Grateful to announce that my play Anne Page Hates Fun has won the inaugural Shakespeare's New Contemporaries prize at the American Shakespeare Center. The World Premiere will take place in February, 2019 in charming Staunton Virginia.
THE HOUSE ON THE HILL'S WORLD PREMIERE OPENS JULY 7th at the Contemporary American Theatre Festival
This summer I've been working hard down in West Virginia with a talented team of actors, designers, tech team, and wonderful director Ed Herendeen on my play The House on the Hill The play runs from July 6th - July 29th and it will be worth the trip!
INTERVIEWS with CATF Playwrights C.A. JOHNSON & AMY E. WITTING
A little backstory on how this play came to light and why it feels so important to share it with audiences now. The House on the Hill is in rep with the wonderful C.A. Johnson's play Thirst. Come down to Shepherdstown and check it out!
THE HOUSE ON THE HILL is having it's WORLD PREMIERE at CATF this JULY!
I'm over the moon to have my play included in the wonderful Contemporary American Theatre Festival this July! So many people have helped contribute to the growth of this piece and I can't wait to share it with a larger audience. Opening night is JULY 7th in Shepherdstown, WV. If you are up for an adventure this summer and want to see some great theatre you can get tickets HERE!
A BAD NIGHT part of Guttman College's Sexual Assault Awareness Month
In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Office of Student Conduct at Guttman Community College in collaboration with Jeenie Yoon of NYC Alliance and the Guttman Women’s Resource Center presented “A Bad Night” on April 19, 2018. The event, titled #MeToo @Guttman, recognized the empowering effect of the National #MeToo Movement.
NY REP to Produce WOMEN'S DAY READING of A BAD NIGHT - March 8th
A BAD NIGHT is having a reading on March 8th in support of Women's Day thanks to our generous partnership with NY REP. This timely play will have a second act panel discussion with advocates and artists sharing a space to work towards change. Please join us! Email RSVP@newyorkrep.org to reserve a seat.
MARCH 8th; 7pm; 87 Lafayette Street, 2nd Floor.
New Play LEVI'S IMPRESSIONS backed by Queens Council on the Arts
This is a picture of where I've been getting my hair cut in Sunnyside for the past few years. The salon is celebrating it's 40th Anniversary this year. Every time I go into Peter's Impressions I hear stories of the old days of Sunnyside so I decided to submit a proposal to capture these stories and put it into a documentary play. I love my neighborhood, and it's the first time I've felt I really had a home in New York. I'm grateful for QCA's support and will be updating the progress of LEVI'S IMPRESSIONS here. It seems fitting I can give a little bit back to the community that has given so much to me.
Featured on Roundabout Theatre Company's Blog
I'm getting ready to gear up for two teaching residencies starting next week and couldn't be more excited. I had the chance to answer some questions about my experience being a TA for the last two years and thoughts I'd share. You can read the interview HERE. It's amazing how much I learn from jumping in and saying yes to these projects.
DIRECTING IN ECUADOR
This summer I had the great fortune to travel as a director with DRAMATIC ADVENTURE THEATRE creating a devised piece of theatre called Whispers of Floreana. The play was created through interviews with residents of Floreana, a small island in the Galapagos, and was performed in both Quito and New York City. Beyond working with some amazing actors I was able to meet a few new animal friends highlighted here. The journey was incredible and I'm so grateful I can continue to do what I love and love what I do. Below is the directors note posted in the program. It is amazing how much can happen when you are simply open to it.
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
It had been a dream of mine to spend time on the Galapagos since 2009 when I first travelled, as an actor, with DAT. Many years later I found myself on Santa Cruz, thinking I had landed on Mars. The land was different, turtle crossing signs peppered the road, and we had to take one plane, to another plane, to a boat, to a bus, to a truck, to finally get to our hotel, and it was worth every moment. While the Galapagos is known for its nature, it’s the people, and energy from the island’s mysterious past, that created the spark for Whispers Of Floreana.
My initial vision for a play about Floreana, before I left for Ecuador, was inspired by the history of Post Office Bay, the birthplace of the Galapagos, and the letters that were left by whalers. Ask the cast and they will tell you about the letters I had them write to each other, to paintings, to their naps, and the art installation we came across in Quito about the art of letter writing. It was a wonderful way to come together as a team, but on the boat to Floreana from Santa Cruz I was immediately struck by the enthusiasm of the local tour guide, Jimmy, who was bringing a group of snorkelers to the island for the day. He was happily surprised that we were volunteering and staying for more than a few hours and was excited to be interviewed. I believe that when devising a piece of theatre if you follow the breadcrumbs the story starts to unfold for you. Jimmy was the key that unlocked the inspiration to create a documentary theatre piece based on interviews with the islanders, people we came across on our journey, and information we pulled from the documentary The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden.
We could have told many different stories with the materials we gathered, but decided together that it was Rodrigo’s story that was the most inspiring. The cast truly connected with the students they taught, and I have no doubt that they each made a lasting impression. While language was a barrier for some of us relating through the language of love came easy for all. It was inspiring watching each actor dig in and connect on a deep level with each person they came across during our time on Floreana.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such inspiring individuals who truly care about their place in this world and want to make a lasting difference that goes beyond showing up with a handful of candy. It is my hope that you see a little slice of an island that has so much potential, many challenges, and a beating pulse from a mysterious past that continues to tug at the heart of each person who grows up on Floreana.
A BAD NIGHT reading Saturday, November 5th @ The Abingdon Theatre
A READING of A BAD NIGHT directed by Jackson Gay
w/ A Talk Back Discussing Rape Culture in our Society
$10 suggested donation -
Email abadnight@gmail.com to reserve a spot.
An original play co-written by Nicole Pandolfo & Amy E. Witting based on real interviews from survivors, detectives, attorneys, and others affected by what is a problem of escalating proportions. Directed by Jackson Gay - Featuring: J.Stephen Brantley, Glen Feinstein, Meg Griffiths Anderson, Jamie Heinlein, Celestine Rae, Evelyn Spahr
With Trump's sexual assault allegations there has never been a more important time to confront this issue.
Micro-Commission from Baltimore Center Stage
My dear talented friend Paul Eddy and I have been asked by Baltimore Center Stage to participate in their new virtual play program #WNPL. People will prompt, audiences will vote, and Paul and I will write a few short plays with music!
Check it out HERE.
Inaugural Playwright-in-Resident at Abingdon Theatre
Grateful to be selected as one of two Playwrights for Abingdon Theatre Company's Inaugural Residency Program. For the next year I will have a desk to call home, to write, explore, and have a community advocating for my work. Looking forward to what the year brings!
Read more