Pigs Do Fly Productions to present BETTER LATE By Larry Gelbart

25 Thursday Sep 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Pigs Do Fly Productions, Uncategorized

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Better Late, Chad Raven, comedy, Deborah Kondelik, Ellen Wacher, Empire Stage, Geoff Freitag, Larry Gelbart, Patti Gardner, Peter W. Galman, Pigs Do Fly Productions, Theater in Fort Lauderdale, Theatre in Wilton Manors

Pigs Do Fly Productions
to present
Better Late
by Larry Gelbart
November 7 – 30, 2025

“…funny, deliciously sharp and ultimately moving.” ~ New City Stage

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

September 25, 2025

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Pigs Do Fly Productions will present Better Late,Larry Gelbart’s (M.A.S.H.) ‘breezy entertainment on serious themes’ (Variety) at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale from November 7 – 30.

A bitingly funny December-December-December romantic triangle, Better Late focuses on former actress Nora, her not-always-faithful husband of 25 years, Lee, and her ex-husband Julian, who needs a place to stay while recovering from a recent illness. Once Julian moves in, the question becomes: how long will Julian have to remain with them? Gelbart’s clever script is filled with one-liners and sharp repartee, yet “explores love, divorce, aging and death with a mature sensibility and in a decidedly comedic tone.” (Variety)

“We are now into our ninth year of operations,” says Pigs Do Fly Productions’ Founder and Executive Producer Ellen Wacher. “When we started, we weren’t sure how our concept of focusing on characters (and employing actors!) over a ‘certain age’ who are living real and interesting lives would resonate with audiences. But we have found that people want good theatre, no matter what their age or demographic – our full houses reflect that.

“It has sometimes been a challenge to find plays that fit our mission,” she continues, “But with both Better Late, and our upcoming March 2026 production, Bonnie and Claire, we know we have chosen pieces that will provide great theatre and fit that mission perfectly!”

“Two husbands. One wife. Under one roof. What could possibly go wrong?” says Better Late director Deborah Kondelik. Gelbart has given us a story that’s funny, sharp, and surprisingly tender. It reminds us that love is never simple. We can love more than one person in different ways, and the past doesn’t always stay neatly in the past.

“Love is rarely tidy,” she continues. “It’s layered with jealousy, guilt, old affections, and unexpected loyalties. But in the end, forgiveness – sometimes grudging, sometimes hard-won- emerges as the saving grace.”

Kondelik has cast Carbonell Award-winner (and current 2024 nominee) Patti Gardner as Nora, Geoff Freitag as Lee, Peter W. Galman as Julian, and Chad Raven as Lee’s son Billy.

The Stage Manager for Better Late is Patrick Vida. Dean Landhuis is the show’s Scenic Designer, David Hart will do the Sound Design, and Preston Bircher will create the Lighting Design and serve as Technical Director. Director Kondelik will serve as both production’s the Costume Coordinator and Property Designer, and MNM Theatre Company will build the sets. Jessica Kaschube is the Company Manager, and Luis Roberto Herrera will handle the Box Office.

Tickets for Better Late are $45 and are available online at www.pigsdoflyproductions.com or by calling 954-678-1496. Performances are on Fridays at 8 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 5 pm. All performances will take place at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive,Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304.

For more information about Pigs Do Fly Productions, please visit www.pigsdoflyproductions.com. To arrange for interviews, or for photos, or for requests to see a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244. For more information about Ellen Wacher, please visit www.ellenwacher.com.

Better Late
By Larry Gelbart
November 7 – 30
Directed by Deborah Kondelik
Tickets: $45
Tickets: www.pigsdoflyproductions.com
Or call 954-678-1496
Performances:
Friday at 8 pm
Saturday & Sunday at 5 pm
All performances will take place at
Empire Stage1140 N Flagler Drive,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

(Click on each image to enlarge it, then right click on the enlarged image and ‘save image as’ or ‘copy image’)

Photo credit: Deborah Kondelik

Better Late – Cast, etc.

Pigs Do Fly Productions to Present PAINTING CHURCHES – April 11 – May 4

04 Tuesday Mar 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Pigs Do Fly Productions

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Ana Marie Calise, comedy, David Hart, Dean Landhuis, Deborah Kondelik, Donna Pacheco de Castro, Ellen Wacher, Empire Stage, Jessica Kaschube, Joseph Long, Laura Turnbull, Painting Churches, Pigs Do Fly Productions, Preston Bircher, Theater in Fort Lauderdale, Tina Howe, William Mahone

Pigs Do Fly Productions
to present
Tina Howe’s
Painting Churches
April 11 – May 4, 2025

“Beautifully written… A theatrical family portrait that has the shimmer and depth of Renoir portraits.”
~ The New York Times

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

March 4, 2025

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Pigs Do Fly Productions will present Painting Churches,Tina Howe’s moving and hilarious portrait of a family of artists falling apart and coming together at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale from April 11^th through May 4^th. Painting Churches was a finalist for the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Gardner Church (a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet), and his wife, Fanny (a flamboyant aesthete) are aging Bostonian bluebloods in the process of moving out of their Beacon Hill home into their summer cottage on Cape Cod due to the shambles their lives have become. They have invited their daughter, Mags, who is on the verge of artistic celebrity as a portrait painter, to come and help them with the move.

“When Tina Howe’s Painting Churches first premiered, it invited audiences into the intimate, poignant, and often humorously complex world of family dynamics,” says the play’s director, Deborah Kondelik. “Set against the backdrop of a New England home, the play explores the shifting tides of relationships between parents and their adult children, all while subtly examining the process of memory, change, and the inevitable passage of time.

“In Painting Churches Howe captures the bittersweetness of life – how we struggle with the past while simultaneously grappling with the responsibility of the present,” she continues. “The play gives us moments of levity amidst its emotional depths – finding laughter in the confusion, in the mismatched recollections, and in the sometimes outrageous behaviors of its characters. Howe reminds us that even in the face of loss or impending change, there is room for wit and tenderness.”

Kondelik has cast Carbonell Award-winner Laura Turnbull as Fanny, William Mahone as Gardner, and Ana Marie Calise as Mags.

“We are now entering our ninth year of operations,” says Pigs Do Fly Productions’ Founder and Executive Producer Ellen Wacher. “I am so proud of what we have accomplished during these past nine years; we are continuing to grow and to explore the many facets of life over 50. I love the fact that unlike in the past, the actor – and the character over ‘a certain age’ is no longer considered ‘old’. We are totally involved in life – we love, we lose, we work, we play, and we enjoy life.”

The Stage Manager for Painting Churches is Joseph Long. Dean Landhuis is the show’s Scenic Designer, David Hart will do the Sound Design, and Preston Bircher will create the Lighting Design and serve as Technical Director. Director Kondelik will serve as both production’s the Costume Coordinator and Property Designer, and MNM Theatre Company will build the sets. Jessica Kaschube is the Company Manager, and Donna Pacheco de Castro will handle the Box Office.

Tickets for Painting Churches are $45 and are available online at www.pigsdoflyproductions.com or by calling 954-678-1496. Performances are on Fridays at 8 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 5 pm. All performances will take place at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive,Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304.

~

Painting Churches
April 11 – May 4, 2025
By Tina Howe
Tickets: www.pigsdoflyproductions.com
Or call 954-678-1496
Performances:
Friday at 8 pm
Saturday & Sunday at 5 pm
All performances will take place at
Empire Stage1140 N Flagler Drive,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

(Click on each photo to expand, identify and/or download;
To download, right click on the expanded image and click on the ‘Save Image As’ option)
Photo credit: Carol Kassie

Pigs Do Fly Productions’ THE LONG WEEKEND Opens at Empire Stage November 1st

07 Monday Oct 2024

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Pigs Do Fly Productions

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Alan Goodman, Christopher Michaels, comedy, Comedy of Manners, Ellen Wacher, Empire Stage, Janice Hamilton, Karen Stephens, Michael Coppola, Norm Foster, Pigs Do Fly Productions, theater, theatre, Theatre in Fort Lauderdale

“…just enough sex, just enough smart talk, just enough preposterous plot twists to keep you titillated.”
– Gary Smith, Hamilton Spectator

“Norm Foster scores a bull’s eye with this tickling romp about mismatched spouses.”
L.A. Times

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

October 7, 2024

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Pigs Do Fly Productions will present Canadian Playwright Norm Foster’s The Long Weekend, a comedy of manners filled with numerous plot twists and a hilariously tangled web of truths, deceptions, and surprises. The production will run from November 1- 24 at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale.

“Norm Foster’s plays definitely resonate with our audiences,” says Pigs Do Fly Executive Producer Ellen Wacher. “This is the third one of his plays we have produced. They are clever, and funny, but they also they examine life and circumstances in ways that ring true – whether he’s analyzing established relationships or observing emerging or fluctuating ones.

“His characters are often of over the age of 50, which is great for us – that’s our target audience and that ties in perfectly with our mission statement.” She continues. “But – and this is a wonderful caveat – we have found over the past 8 and a half years that as our audiences have grown, they have diversified; it’s been so great to see younger people at the theatre and enjoying what we’re offering. As I often say, good theatre has no age limit!”

As The Long Weekend opens Max and Wynn are preparing to show off their beautiful new summer home to their best friends, Roger and Abby. What is meant to be a relaxing holiday weekend turns into a battle of wits as their pasts catch up with them, the gloves come off and old scores are settled in comedic fashion.

The production will be directed by Christopher Michaels: “The Long Weekend had me in absolute stitches on the subway while I gave it a first read,” Michaels says. “It is hilariously well-written and all I could think was how much it felt like a sitcom: unit set, key cast, set-ups and punchlines, the overall pacing… And there was the challenge of putting a large country home in the intimate space at Empire Stage.”

Michaels is making his Pigs Do Fly directorial debut; this is his second South Florida theatre directing credit, following his acclaimed production of Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story at Wilton Manors’ Island City Stage last season.

The Long Weekend cast consists of 2024 Carbonell Award nominee and Silver Palm Award Winner Karen Stephens as Abby, along with Janice Hamilton as Wynn, Alan Goodman as Roger, and Michael Coppola as Max.

Norm Foster is considered Canada’s most produced playwright. An extremely prolific writer, frequently referred to as the Canadian Neil Simon, Foster has had more than fifty plays produced on professional stages. His plays are known for their humor, accessibility, and insight into ‘the everyday tribulations of life.’

The Stage Manager for The Long Weekend is Larry Buzzeo. Dean Landhuis is the show’s Scenic Designer, David Hart will do the Sound Design, and Preston Bircher will create the Lighting Design and serve as Technical Director. Costumes are by Saul Mendoza and MNM Theatre Company will build the sets. Jessica Kaschube is the Company Manager, and Patrick Vida will handle the Box Office.

Tickets for The Long Weekend are $45 and are available online at www.pigsdoflyproductions.com or by calling 954-678-1496. Performances are on Fridays at 8 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 5 pm. All performances will take place at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive,Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304.

The Long Weekend
November 1 – 24
By Norm Foster
Tickets: $45
Tickets: www.pigsdoflyproductions.com
Or call 954-678-1496
Performances:
Friday at 8 pm
Saturday & Sunday at 5 pm
All performances will take place at
Empire Stage1140 N Flagler Drive,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Pigs Do Fly Productions’ THE AFFECTIONS OF MAY Opens at Empire Stage March 8

06 Tuesday Feb 2024

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Pigs Do Fly Productions

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Ben Prayz, Brian James McCormack, comedy, Deborah Kondelik, Ellen Wacher, Empire Stage, Fort Lauderdale Theatre, Mariah Reed, Norm Foster, Pigs Do Fly Productions, Romantic Comedy, The Affections of May, theater, William Mahone

Pigs Do Fly Productions
to present
Norm Foster’s
The Affections of May
March 8 – 31, 2024

“A delightful, feel-good comedy by Canadian playwright Norm Foster, “The Affections of May” tickles your funny bone and tugs at your heartstrings.”
Michigan Live

“Norm Foster creates characters who are so believable that theatergoers see bits of themselves reflected on the stage.”
L.A. Daily News

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

February 6, 2024

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Pigs Do Fly Productions’ second show of the 2023-2024 season will be The Affections of May, Canadian playwright Norm Foster’s delightful comedy that explores love, loss, and new beginnings. The production will run from March 8^th through March 31^st at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale.

“This is the second Norm Foster play we at Pigs Do Fly have produced,” says Executive Producer Ellen Wacher. “This is the second Norm Foster play we at Pigs Do Fly have produced,” says Executive Producer Ellen Wacher. “We loved doing his The Ladies Foursome so much we decided to see what else he had that fit our misssion – to feature people over ‘a certain age’ whose lives are just as interesting – and messy, and funny, and hopeful, and real ‘now, as they were ‘then.’!

“This is our eighth season,” Wacher continues. “I am so proud of how much we have grown and what we have accomplished these past eight years. We have featured and served a demographic that is often ignored, and I think our patrons are extremely appreciative of that. And… it’s also very gratifying to see not only ‘my’ contemporaries in our audiences, but younger people as well! It proves beyond a doubt that good theatre has no age limit!”

“Norm Foster’s Affections of May is a charming account of a woman who has been dumped by her husband of 29 years and left to fend for herself in a new town at the helm of a struggling business,” the production’s director Mariah Reed explains. “May’s tenacity and ability to overcome challenges is inspirational and her story is one I am delighted to craft as a director. Her ardent suitors, too, have their own personal challenges and with May as a catalyst each learns to overcome their insecurities and embrace an uncertain (and potentially exciting) future.

“Stories of redemption and triumph are a joy to share,” she continues, “And I’m extremely grateful to Executive Producer Ellen Wacher and Artistic Director Deborah Kondelik for allowing me the opportunity to do so with Pigs Do Fly Productions.”

Reed has cast William Mahone as Hank, Brian James McCormack as Brian, Ben Prayz as Quinn, and Deborah Kondelik as May.

Norm Foster is considered Canada’s most produced playwright. An extremely prolific writer, frequently referred to as the Canadian Neil Simon, Foster has had more than fifty plays produced on professional stages. His plays are known for their humor, accessibility, and insight into ‘the everyday tribulations of life.’

The Stage Manager for The Affections of May is Patrick Vida. Dean Landhuis is the show’s Scenic Designer, David Hart will do the Sound Design, and Preston Bircher will create the Lighting Design and serve as Technical Director. Jessica Kaschube is the Company Manager.

Tickets for The Affections of May are $45 and are available online at www.pigsdoflyproductions.com or by calling 954-678-1496. Performances are on Fridays at 8 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 5 pm. All performances will take place at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304.

For more information about Pigs Do Fly Productions, please visit www.pigsdoflyproductions.com. To arrange for interviews, or for photos, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244. For more information about Ellen Wacher, please visit www.ellenwacher.com.

The Affections of May
March 8 – 31, 2024
By Norm Foster
Tickets: $45
Tickets: www.pigsdoflyproductions.com
Or call 954-678-1496
Performances:
Friday at 8 pm
Saturday & Sunday at 5 pm
All performances will take place at
Empire Stage1140 N Flagler Drive,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Mariah Reed
Deborah Kondelik
William Mahone
Brian McCormack
Ben Prayz
Ellen Wacher
Norm Foster

Pigs Do Fly Productions’ MORNING AFTER GRACE opens October 27 at Empire Stage

18 Monday Sep 2023

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Pigs Do Fly Productions

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Andre Gainey, Carey Crim, comedy, Deborah Kondelik, Ellen Wacher, Empire Stage, Fort Lauderdale Theatre, Janice Hamilton, Morning After Grace, Peter Galman, Pigs Do Fly Productions

Pigs Do Fly Productions
to present
Carey Crim’s
Morning After Grace

October 27 – November 19, 2023

“She’s a witty, subtle but also deeply sensitive playwright. She explores in the real context of this play some serious issues facing older people and she brings true compassion to the questions raised. The play should get produced at many other theaters in the future.”
Pulp Arts ~ Ann Arbor

“It is heart-warming that, in these “worst of times,” playwrights like Carey Crim are working quietly to give us a look at new beginnings with humor and tenderness and hope.”
The Arts Fuse, Boston

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

September 18, 2023

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Pigs Do Fly Productions’ first show of the 2023-2024 season will be Morning After Grace, playwright Carey Crim’s delightful comedy that explores love, loss, and new beginnings. The production will run from October 27^th through November 19^th at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale.

“This lovely play is a perfect example of what we at ‘Pig’s are trying to prove,” says Executive Producer Ellen Wacher. “That people over ‘a certain age’ are as interesting in ‘the now’ as they ever were. Morning After Grace is a funny, profound, and very hopeful example of life in general – no matter what age someone may be.

“This is our eighth season,” Wacher continues. “I am extremely proud of how much we have grown and what we have accomplished these past eight years. We have featured and served a demographic that is often ignored, and I think our patrons are extremely appreciative of that. And… it’s also very gratifying to see not only my contemporaries in our audiences, but younger people as well! It proves beyond a doubt that good theatre has no age limits!”

Angus, Abigail, and Ollie, all residents in a Florida retirement community gather together for the first time in Angus’ apartment the day after a funeral. During the course of the play, each one of them discovers something about themselves – and the others – and that no matter what might occur, there is always a morning after.

“I am very familiar with Carey Crim’s amazing work and was thrilled to learn that Morning After Grace was finally available for production in South Florida,” says the show’s director, Deborah Kondelik. “The play is hilarious yet poignant, timely, and a perfect match for Pigs Do Fly’s mission. I am happy to know that more plays are being written about older yet vibrantly alive people.

“The wonderful thing about theatre is that it has an open-door policy. Everyone is invited to participate. No exceptions,” she continues. “Pigs Do Fly Productions has opened the door wide to showcase the more mature actor. Older actors bring a great deal of life experience to the stage. After all, the most important trait of a good actor is the ability to move others and to truly connect with the character being portrayed. And there is no age limit on that!”

Kondelik has cast Andre Gainey as Ollie, Peter W. Galman as Angus, and Janice Hamilton as Abigail.

The Stage Manager for Morning After Grace is Patrick Vida. Dean Landhuis is the show’s Scenic Designer, David Hart will do the Sound Design, and Preston Bircher will create the Lighting Design and serve as Technical Director. Jessica Kaschube is the Company Manager.

Tickets for Morning After Grace are $45 and are available online at www.pigsdoflyproductions.com or by calling 954-678-1496. Performances are on Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, and on Sunday at 5 pm. All performances will take place at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304.

Morning After Grace
October 27 – Novembr 19
By Carey Crim
Tickets: $45
Tickets: www.pigsdoflyproductions.com
Performances:
Friday, & Saturday: 8 pm
Sunday: 5 pm
All performances will take place at
Empire Stage
1140 N Flagler Drive,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Andre’ Gainey
Peter W. Galman
Janice Hamilton
Deborah Kondelik
Carey Crim
Ellen Wacher

Pigs Do Fly Productions to present Tom Dugan’s CEMETERY PUB – March 13 – 19, 2023

24 Tuesday Jan 2023

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Pigs Do Fly Productions

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Tags

Caroline Dopson, Dark Comedy, Dave Corey, Deborah Kondelik, Ellen Wacher, Empire Stage, Fort Lauderdale Theatre, Pigs Do Fly Productions, Todd Bruno, Tom Dugan, Wiesenthal

Pigs Do Fly Productions
presents an
East Coast Premiere:
Cemetery Pub
March 3 – 19

“… fast-paced script, which is taut and sharp… Cemetery Pub is a terrifically entertaining piece of theatre…”
Paul Myrvold’s Theatre Notes, May 2022

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

January 24 2023

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Rehearsals will begin shortly for Pigs Do Fly Productions’ production of playwright/actor Tom Dugan’s Cemetery Pub. This will be only the second time the play has been produced – the first time was in May 2022 in Dugan’s own Backyard Theatre in California. Cemetery Pub will run from March 3^rd through March 19th at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale.

Set in the old-time and slightly run-down O’Brien’s Tavern (also known as the Cemetery Pub) across from St. Gertrude’s Catholic Cemetery as well as from the railroad tracks, Cemetery Pub is a dark comedy, and features a trio of fascinating characters: Dixie, the young owner of the bar, Ken O’Brien, Dixie’s uncle, and Danny, Dixie’s long-lost cousin.

This three-character play is somewhat of a departure for playwright Tom Dugan, who is well known to South Florida audiences for his award-winning play (and performances in) Wiesenthal, and several other one-person shows: “I grew up in a big Irish Catholic family, I had over 60 first cousins, aunts and uncles,” he explains. “As the second youngest of the clan, no one sat me down to explain, who was who and what was what. I was on my own to figure out my family history – I cobbled together a family narrative, based largely on half pieces of information, fortified by my own imagination. My older siblings have pointed out to me recently that most of my assumptions are wrong, but they also pointed out that my version was much more entertaining. This got me thinking about writing a play based not on the facts of my family story but rather the rumors and embellishments I came up with.”

“How I feel about this play is ‘Wow’”, says Pig’s Do Fly’s Executive Producer Ellen Wacher. “It’s definitely a departure from many of the shows we’ve done in the past. But it’s superbly written – I can visualize each scene – and it has a great deal of humor integrated with its serious subject matter and the characters’ lives.”

“To me, Cemetery Pub defies classification,” says the production’s director, Deborah ‘DK’ Kondelik. “It is deadly funny, full of mystery and suspense, and at times even farcical. The characters and relationships are distinctively off-beat and captivating; there is an edginess to the play, a tongue-in-cheek kind of humor that will titillate audiences.”

Kondelik has cast Caroline Dopson as Dixie, David Corey as Ken, and Todd Bruno as Dan.

Cemetery Pub’s Stage Manager is Joseph Long, Dean Landhuis is the show’s Scenic Designer, David Hart will do the Sound Design, Preston Bircher will create the Lighting Design and serve as Technical Director, Jameelah Bailey will handle props, and Director Deborah Kondelik will coordinate Costumes. Jessica Kaschube is the Company Manager.

Tickets for Cemetery Pub are $39 and are available online at www.pigsdoflyproductions.com or by calling 954-678-1496. Performances are on Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, and on Sunday at 5 pm. All performances will take place at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304.

For more information about Pigs Do Fly Productions, please visit www.pigsdoflyproductions.com. For more information about Ellen Wacher, please visit www.ellenwacher.com. To arrange for interviews, or for photos, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

~*~

Cemetery Pub
By Tom Dugan
March 3 – 19, 2023
Directed by Deborah Kondelik
Performances:
Friday & Saturday at 8 pm
Sunday at 5 pm
Tickets: $39
For tickets: www.pigsdoflyproductions.com / 954-678-1496
All performances will take place at
Empire Stage
1140 N. Flagler Drive
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
www.pigsdoflyproductions.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PigsDoFlyProductions/

Tom Dugan: Dubbed by critics “A National Treasure,” for the past twenty years Tom Dugan’s one-man plays have thrilled audiences from Beverly Hills, to 42^nd street, and have been the subject of many PBS programs throughout North America. His play Wiesenthal, (Produced by Daryl Roth) honored with multiple awards and nominations (N.Y. Drama Desk, N.Y. Outer Critics Circle, L.A. Ovation, L.A. Drama Critics Circle), has enjoyed productions in Israel, India, Australia, Italy, and Mexico. A feature film of Wiesenthal is planned for 2024.
Mr. Dugan’s one person plays include The Civil War Trilogy, Robert E. Lee – Shades of Gray (100% Sweet -Bitter Lemons), Frederick Douglass In The Shadow Of Slavery (“the best history lesson ever!” – Peninsula News) and The Ghosts of Mary Lincoln (Spellbinding – LA Times), The twentieth century trilogy; Tevye In New York! (“Delightful” – Broadway World) Wiesenthal (“Masterful”- Backstage), Tell Him It’s Jackie. (“Brilliant”- Curtain Up). Tevye In New York will have its Florida premiere at The Delray Beach Playhouse in December 2023. For more information contact; Tom.dugan@outlook.com

Tom Dugan
Dave Corey
Caroline Dopson
Todd Bruno
Deborah Kondelik
Ellen Wacher
Todd Bruno, Dave Corey, Caroline Dopson
Todd Bruno, Caroline Dopson
Caroline Dopson, Todd Bruno
Dave Corey, Caroline Dopson

Pigs Do Fly Productions Presents THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY – November 4 – 20

13 Tuesday Sep 2022

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Pigs Do Fly Productions

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Tags

Barbara Bonilla, Carol Sussman, comedy, Dalia Alemán, Debora Kondelik, Ellen Wacher, Empire Stage, Janice Hamilton, Jones Hope Wooten, Pigs Do Fly Productions, Savannah Sipping Society, Theatre in Fort Lauderdale

“…the perfect show for these times – many of us have faced uncertainty, loss, and the struggle of rediscovering who we are and who we want to be – difficulties the characters in this show face with much humor and grace.” Andrea Stephenson – Broadwayworld.com

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

September 13, 2022

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Rehearsals will begin shortly for Pigs Do Fly Productions’ production of the Jones, Hope, Wooten comedy, The Savannah Sipping Society. The show will run from November 4th through November 20^th at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale.

Filled with laughter, hilarious misadventures, and the occasional liquid refreshment, The Savannah Sipping Society focuses on four unique Southern women, initially strangers, as they successfully bond and find the confidence to jump-start their lives. Together they discover lasting friendships and a renewed determination to live in the moment – and most importantly, realize it’s never too late to make new old friends.

“This play is absolutely perfect for us,” says Pigs Do Fly’s Executive Producer Ellen Wacher. “It completely fulfills our mission to produce plays that highlight actors – and characters – over the age of fifty, who are doing interesting things with their lives. And these four women are certainly doing that! We have assembled an amazing cast, who will bring these four women to life with humor, grace… and perfect timing. And I can’t wait to see it!”

“Everyone needs purpose, self-affirmation, and connection,” says the show’s director and Pigs Do Fly Productions’ Artistic Dirctor, Deborah Kondelik. “The Savannah Sipping Society is about four women of a certain age, being accepted for who they are and realizing that there is more to life than they can imagine. It is through friendships and influences that the women in the play relearn how to have fun, make discoveries, and flourish. After all, ‘girls just wanna have fun!’”

Kondelik has cast Dalia Alemán as Randa, Barbara Bonilla as Marlafaye, Janice Hamilton as Jinx, Carol Sussman as Dot,and Donna Pacheco de Castro as Cordelia.

The Savannah Sipping Society’s Stage Manager is Joseph Long; David Hart will do the Sound Design; Preston Bircher will create the Lighting Design; director Deborah Kondelik will provide Costumes and Props, and MNM Theatre Company’s Jordon Armstrong and Johnbarry Green will Design and Construct the Set. Jessica Kaschube is the Company Manager.

Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, collectively known as “Jones Hope Wooten”, enjoy the reputation of being three of the most popular and widely produced playwrights in the United States. They specialize in writing laugh-out-loud comedies and creating vivid strong roles for women. Between them, they’ve written classic television, hit movies, and Off-Broadway comedy.

Tickets for The Savannah Sipping Society are $39 and are available online at www.pigsdoflyproductions.com or by calling 954-678-1496. Performances are on Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, and on Sunday at 5 pm. All performances will take place at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304.

~*~

The Savannah Sipping Society
By Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten (Jones, Hope, Wooten)
November 4 – 20, 2022
Directed by Deborah Kondelik
Performances:
Friday & Saturday at 8 pm
Sunday at 5 pm
Tickets: $39
For tickets: www.pigsdoflyproductions.com / 954-678-1496
All performances will take place at
Empire Stage
1140 N. Flagler Drive
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
www.pigsdoflyproductions.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PigsDoFlyProductions/

Deborah Kondelik
Ellen Wacher
Barbara Bonilla
Carol Sussman
Janice Hamilton
Dalia Aleman
Dalia Aleman, Barbara Bonilla, Carol Sussman, Janice Hamilton, Donna Pacheco de Castro
Barbara Bonilla, Carol Sussman, Dalia Aleman, Janice Hamilton
Janice Hamilton, Barbara Bonilla, Dalia Aleman, Carol Sussman
Deborah Kondelik (Director) & Ellen Wacher (Executive Producer)
Dalia Aleman, Ellen Wacher, Barbara Bonilla, Carol Sussman, Joseph Long, Janice Hamilton, Deborah Kondelik, Donna Pacheco de Castro

Pigs Do Fly Productions presents 2 ACROSS March 4 – 20, 2022

03 Thursday Feb 2022

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Pigs Do Fly Productions

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2 Across, comedy, David R. Gordon, Deborah Kondelik, Ellen Wacher, Empire Stage, Fort Lauderdale Theatre, Jerry Meyer, Michele Verdi, Pigs Do Fly Productions, Romanctic Comedy

Pigs Do Fly Productions
presents

March 4 – 20, 2022

“A charming, character driven comedy” ~ Los Angeles Times”

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

February 3, 2022

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Rehearsals will begin shortly for 2 Across, Pigs Do Fly Productions’ upcoming ‘reprise’ production of Jerry Mayer’s ‘comedy of crosswords and romance’. The show will run from March 4^th through March 20^th at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale.

2 Across finds two strangers, a man and a woman, on board a San Francisco BART train at 4:30 a.m. Alone in the car, the only thing they have in common is that they are both doing the New York Times crossword puzzle. Soon the puzzles they unravel are more intriguing than any crossword puzzle could ever be.

“2 Across was extremely successful when we presented it in 2019, and I am often asked not if, but when we will be bringing it back,” says Pigs Do Fly Productions’ founder and Executive Producer Ellen Wacher. “Presenting it again is an exciting prospect – it’s a delightful two-person comedy that totally meets with our company’s mission – to show people over the age of 50 who are interesting and active and real. I was captivated by these characters’ development, and I believe our audiences will be too.”

Deborah Kondelik, who directed 2 Across in 2019 and helmed Pigs Do Fly’s recent successful production of Helen on Wheels is looking forward to revisiting these characters: “It has been said that opposites attract,” Kondelik said recently. “Whether or not that rings true remains to be seen in Jerry Mayer’s hilarious yet poignant romantic comedy. One thing that is guaranteed though, is a delightful very early morning romp by two strangers on San Francisco’s BART train. The tie that binds is that both of them are hard at work on the Saturday New York Times crossword puzzle. Although they tackle the puzzle with very different approaches, they soon discover commonalities that cannot be ignored.”

Michele Verdi and David R. Gordon will star in 2 Across, and both are excited at the prospect of exploring their diametrically opposite characters: Verdi’s Janet is a responsible, honest, rule-abiding psychologist, and Gordon’s Josh is part-free spirit, part executive, part dreamer, and part Peter Pan.

Playwright Jerry Mayer has written scripts for All in the Family, M*A*S*H*, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and the Bob Newhart Show (where he served as story editor). His first play, Almost Perfect ran for a year and a half at the Santa Monica Playhouse. Other plays include the musical You Haven’t Changed a Bit, and Other Lies and Dietrich and Chevalier, The Musical.

Tickets for 2 Across are $39 and are available online at www.pigsdoflyproductions.com or by calling 954-678-1496. Performances are on Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, and on Sunday at 5 pm. All performances will take place Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304.

This press release along with actor head shots can be viewed online at: TBA

~*~

2 Across
By Jerry Mayer
March 4 – 20, 2022
Directed by Deborah Kondelik
Performances:
Friday & Saturday at 8 pm
Sunday at 5 pm
Tickets: $39
For tickets: www.pigsdoflyproductions.com / 954-678-1496
All performances will take place at
Empire Stage
1140 N. Flagler Drive
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
www.pigsdoflyproductions.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PigsDoFlyProductions/

Deborah Kondelik
Ellen Wacher
Jerry Mayer
Michele Verdi
David R. Gordon & Michele Verdi
Joseph Long, Deborah Kondelik, Michele Verdi, David r. Gordon, Ellen Wacher

Pigs Do Fly Productions presents HELEN ON WHEELS December 3 – 19!

03 Wednesday Nov 2021

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Pigs Do Fly Productions

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Tags

Beverly Blanchette, Carol Sussman, comedy, Cricket Daniel, Deborah Kondelik, Ellen Wacher, Empire Stage, Fort Lauderdale Theatre, Michael Gioia, Pigs Do Fly Productions, Steven Chambers, Todd Bruno

Pigs Do Fly Productions
Soars Back With
Helen and her gang… all ready to raise a ruckus!

“‘Helen on Wheels’ is a lovely play about real people, and its gentle humor provides the structure for a very funny lesson on living your life, and no one else’s, no matter how old you are.” ~ Mary Ann Johnson, MD Theatre Guide

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

November 3, 2021

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Pigs Do Fly Productions’ Helen on Wheels managed just one performance before the pandemic forced the show to shutter in March 2020. However, Pigs’ founder and Executive Producer Ellen Wacher vowed Pigs Do Fly Productions and the show would be back when the time was right. Now, with Florida COVID numbers consistently dropping, and audiences starting to attend theatre, Wacher feels “It’s time to bring the gang back!” Helen on Wheels will run from December 3rd through December 19th at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale. There will be a preview performance on December 2nd.

“We were devastated when we had to close down,” Wacher says, “But of course it was the right and only thing to do. We’ve had to make a couple of changes due to scheduling issues – a new director and two new cast members, but I am more than confident our audiences will love this production of Helen on Wheels. It is totally enjoyable, far out, very funny, and fits our Pigs Do Fly mission – to show people over 50 doing interesting things with their lives – to a ‘tee’.”

“I am so pleased to be working with Ellen Wacher again and most happy to be directing another Cricket Daniel play,” says the show’s director Deborah Kondelik. “I loved directing The Lost Virginity Tour for Pigs Do Fly, and I am certain that Helen on Wheels will be just as entertaining and engaging. We theatre artists are all grateful to be back after such a long hiatus.”

A feisty, bingo-playing, gun-toting, ruckus raising, independent woman living in the small town of Crockett, Oklahoma. That’s Helen Wheeler, the title character in Cricket Daniel’s comedy Helen on Wheels. When Helen isn’t locked up in the local clink, she’s on her front porch shootin’ up critters and the local kids. Not even the local sheriff, who has already taken away all her ammo and her driver’s license, can manage to uphold the law when it comes to Helen, her sidekick Zona, and their daily “Thelma and Louise” antics.

Beverly Blanchette will return as Helen, as will Carol Sussman as her best friend and partner in crime Zona. Todd Bruno will reprise his role as Nelson, and Michael Gioia and Steven Chambers have joined ‘the gang’ as Elmer and Seth.

Helen on Wheels’ Scenic Designer is Dean Landhuis, David Hart is the show’s Sound Designer, Preston Bircher is the Lighting Designer, and Joseph Long is the production’s Stage Manager.

“I am thrilled to have Helen on Wheels produced by Pigs Do Fly Productions,” playwright Cricket Daniel said recently. “This play is very personal to me because it was inspired by my own mother, who loved two things… my Dad and Bingo! I had an absolute blast creating these characters. I think the heart of Helen on Wheels is the friendship between Helen and Zona. Everyone needs a best friend that will wipe your tears… and help you break out of jail. Everyone needs a Zona!”

Cricket Daniel holds a theater degree from UC Santa Barbara and studied Shakespeare in Cambridge, England. She has an extensive background in improv, stand-up and theater. Cricket was a member of the national improv troupe Comedy Sportz and has performed stand-up at The Ice House and The Improv and has performed regularly in local community theatre productions. Her short play Break Dreams has been staged in New York City, Miami, Colorado Springs, Eugene, Oregon, and in Austin, TX. Her full-length play Love, Laughter & Lucci took home Best Production, Best Actress and Best Actor awards at the 2012 Golden Gravel Awards. Her full-length play Helen On Wheels was a finalist in the 2015 New Play Development Workshop through Route 66 Theatre in Chicago. Cricket is a 2012 recipient of an Arts, Beautification, and Culture Award for her contribution to local theater and is a member of The Dramatist Guild of America. She lives in Bend, Oregon with her husband and daughter.

There will be a preview performance of Helen on Wheels on December 2nd; the production will open on December 3rd and run through December 19th. Tickets are $39 and are available online at www.pigsdoflyp roductions.com. Performances are on Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, and on Sunday at 5 pm. All performances will take place Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304.

Masks covering nose, mouth, and chin must be worn in the building
at all times in order to attend.
There will be no refreshments available.

For more information about Pigs Do Fly Productions, please visit www.pigsdoflyproductions.com. For more information about Ellen Wacher, please visit www.ellenwacher.com. To arrange for interviews, or for photos, or to arrange to see the production, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

Helen on Wheels
By Cricket DanielPreview Performance: Thursday, December 2 at 8 pm
Runs from December 3 – 19, 2021
Tickets: $39
Tickets: www.pigsdoflyproductions.com
Or call 954-678-1496
Performances:
Friday, & Saturday: 8 pm
Sunday: 5 pm
All performances will take place at
Empire Stage
1140 N Flagler Drive,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
www.pigsdoflyp roductions.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PigsDoFlyProductions/

Beverly Blanchette
Carol Sussman
Deborah Kondelik
Michael Gioia
Todd Bruno
Ellen Wacher
Todd Bruno, Deborah Kondelik, Michael Gioia, Steven A. Chambers, Beverly Blanchette, Carol Sussman, Joseph Long, Ellen Wacher
Todd Bruno, Michael Gioia, Steven A. Chambers, Beverly Blanchette, Carol Sussman
Deborah Kondelik, Ellen Wacher, Joseph Long
Deborah Kondelik, Ellen Wacher
Michael Gioia, Beverly Blanchette
Steven A. Chambers

Pigs Do Fly Productions presents HELEN ON WHEELS – March 5 – 29, 2020

11 Tuesday Feb 2020

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Pigs Do Fly Productions

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Beverly Blanchette, Carol Sussman, comedy, Cricket Daniel, Dave Corey, David Hyland, Elizabeth Price, Ellen Wacher, Empire Stage, Fort Lauderdale Theatre, Helen on Wheels, Pigs Do Fly Productions, theatre, Todd Bruno

Pigs Do Fly Productions
presents
Helen on Wheels
March 5 – 29, 2020

“‘Helen on Wheels’ is a lovely play about real people, and its gentle humor provides the structure for a very funny lesson on living your life, and no one else’s, no matter how old you are.” ~ Mary Ann Johnson, MD Theatre Guide

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

February 11, 2020
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: A feisty, bingo-playing, gun-toting, ruckus raising, independent woman! That’s Helen Wheeler, the title character in Pigs Do Fly Productions next outing – Cricket Daniel’s comedy Helen on Wheels. The show will run from March 6^th through March 29^th at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale. There will be a preview performance on March 5^th.

Ellen Wacher

“We had such a great response to our recent production of Cricket Daniel’s The Lost Virginity Tour that I was pumped to look at this play too,” says Ellen Wacher, Pigs Do Fly’s founder and Executive Producer. “Helen on Wheels is totally enjoyable, far out, very funny, and perfect for us, and for the times.”

Elizabeth Price, who recently received glowing reviews in Primal Forces Productions’ Villainous Company will direct Helen on Wheels:

“Nostalgia for the past, good times. Pushing boundaries, living out loud. Seeing what’s really important, not buying into what people think we should be and do, missed chances, new opportunities… these are things that everyone, no matter what their age, can relate to.” Price says.

Elizabeth Price

“The play is about a woman who has lost the man she spent her whole happy life with, and now she’s acting out in crazy but hilarious ways as she looks for who she is on her own,” she says. “Another chance for love comes along and she has to decide which way to go. Essentially, we get to see how the sweetness of the past doesn’t end when something new begins.

“This company has a great mission,” Price continues. “I want to see and tell stories that reflect what the whole of life looks like, not just life’s early phases.”

Price has cast Beverly Blanchette as Helen, and Carol Sussman as her best friend and partner in crime Zona. Rounding out the troupe are David Hyland as Seth, Todd Bruno as Nelson, and Dave Corey as Elmer.

“I am thrilled to have Helen on Wheels produced by Pigs Do Fly Productions,” playwright Cricket Daniel says. “This play is very personal to me because it was inspired by my own mother, who loved two things… my Dad and Bingo! I had an absolute blast creating these characters. I think the heart of Helen on Wheels is the friendship between Helen and Zona. Everyone needs a best friend that will wipe your tears… and help you break out of jail. Everyone needs a Zona!”

Cricket Daniel

There will be a preview performance of Helen on Wheels’ on March 5^th; the production will open on March 6^th and run through March 29^th. Tickets are $39 and are available online at www.pigsdoflyproductions.com or by calling 866-811-4111. Performances are on Friday, and Saturday at 8 pm, and on Sunday at 5 pm. All performances will take place Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304.

For more information about Pigs Do Fly Productions, please visit www.pigsdoflyproductions.com. For more information about Ellen Wacher, please visit www.ellenwacher.com. To arrange for interviews, or for photos, or to arrange to see the production, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

Funding for this project is provided in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council.

~*~

Helen on Wheels
Preview Performance: Thursday, March 5, 2020
Runs from March 6 – March 29, 2020
By Cricket Daniel
Tickets: $39
Tickets: 866-811-4111 / www.pigsdoflyproductions.com
Performances:
Friday, & Saturday: 8 pm
Sunday: 5 pm
All performances will take place at
Empire Stage
1140 N Flagler Drive,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
www.pigsdoflyproductions.com
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Tag Archives: Ellen Wacher

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Pigs Do Fly Productions Presents THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY – November 4 – 20

Pigs Do Fly Productions presents 2 ACROSS March 4 – 20, 2022

Pigs Do Fly Productions presents HELEN ON WHEELS December 3 – 19!

Pigs Do Fly Productions presents HELEN ON WHEELS – March 5 – 29, 2020