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The South Florida Theatre League presents THE DANA PLAYS – A play reading fundraiser for the American Cancer Society Inspired by Dana Castellano

26 Thursday Jun 2014

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The South Florida Theatre League
presents
The Dana Plays
A play reading fundraiser for the American Cancer Society
Inspired by Dana Castellano
Dana CastellanoMiami, Florida, June 26, 2014

On July 14th the South Florida Theatre League will present The Dana Plays, a play reading fundraiser inspired by Dana Castellano, a beloved member of the local theatrical community.

The event will take place at Miami Theatre Center at 8 pm. Castellano was diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer in January 2014.

The evening, which has evolved as an adjunct to the League’s Summer Theatre Fest Play Reading Festival, will raise funds for the American Cancer Society and for Castellano to help her defray the heavy costs of her treatments.

Dana Castellano has been a passionate supporter of and involved with South Florida theatre for over 10 years in both Broward and Palm Beach Counties. She has been an active member of the board of directors the Women’s Theater Project and has dedicated her time and energy a number of theatrical projects. Her love of the theater allowed her to make amazing lifelong friends and share her commitment to the theater and the community.

Castellano is pleased, excited, and tremendously moved by the support she has received from the theatrical community, as well as from her friends and family since her diagnosis. Her plight has led to the formation of a support group, Team Chaos, whose mandate is to raise funds for, and awareness of her situation. They will actively support the event.

Among playwrights contributing to The Dana Plays are Andie Arthur, Christopher Demos-Brown, Jessica Farr, Tony Finstrom, Avi Hoffman, Michael McKeever, Juan C. Sanchez, Deborah Sherman, and Paul Tei.

Tickets for The Dana Plays are $15 each (with any extra donation welcome), and will be available at the door of the theatre the evening of the performance only.

For more information about The Dana Plays, Dana Castellano, or the South Florida Theatre League, please contact Andie Arthur at Contact: Andie Arthur at andie@southfloridatheatre.com / 954-557-0778 or Carol Kassie at ckassie@gmail.com / 561-445-9244.

The South Florida Theatre League is an alliance of theatrical organizations and professionals dedicated to nurturing, promoting, and advocating for the growth and prestige of the South Florida theatre industry. The South Florida Theatre League is funded by its members, member theatres, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, and the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners. For more information visit: www.southfloridatheatre.com.

Under the leadership of Founder and Artistic Director Stephanie Ansin, The Miami Theatre Center produces classical and contemporary works that entertain and educate audiences and artists of all ages and abilities. MTC programs include: MTCperformance, innovative theater, dance and music; MTCeducation, learning opportunities for students, professionals, and the general public; and MTCfilm, a partnership with O Cinema that transforms the theater into an independent cinema several nights a week.  To learn more, visit www.mtcmiami.org.

For more than 100 years, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has worked relentlessly to save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Together with millions of supporters worldwide, they help people stay well, help people get well, find cures, and fight back against cancer.

Donations can be made directly to Dana Castellano’s support group,
Team Chaos here: http://tinyurl.com/le2p2nr
Like Team Chaos on Facebook here:  http://tinyurl.com/n83rjt5
~*~

The Dana Plays: A play reading fundraiser for the American Cancer Society Inspired by Dana Castellano
Monday, July 14th – 8 pm
Tickets: $15
Phone: 305-751-9550
Miami Theatre Center
9806 NE 2nd Ave Miami Shores,
FL 33138

COME UNDER OUR UMBRELLA – The South Florida Theatre League’s 2014 Summer Theatre Fest Begins June 2nd

26 Monday May 2014

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 summertheatrefest2014The South Florida Theatre League
Invites patrons to
‘Come Under Our Umbrella’
and Experience a
Free Night of Theatre
as part of their
2014 Summer Theatre Fest

South Florida audiences will once again have the opportunity to see theatre for free, check out new plays in development by South Florida playwrights, and tell the world what the arts – and theatre – mean to them. The success of last summer’s Get in Bed With the Arts program and play reading series indicated to the League that theatre patrons are ready and willing to try new theatrical experiences, and even cross county lines to do it.

The South Florida Theatre League is the ‘umbrella organization’ for close to 70 theatres from Key West to Jupiter, blue-umbrellaand this year’s Summer Theatre Fest’s theme is Come Under Our Umbrella. Participating theatres have been given large white canvas beach umbrellas which they will decorate according to their mission, current production, or any other aspect of their company they would like to showcase. These umbrellas will be displayed at various readings and performances throughout Summer Theatre Fest and patrons will be encouraged Come Under Our Umbrella to talk about their theatrical experiences, and the significance of the arts in their lives.

Free Night of Theater is an audience development program that has proven to be immensely popular since the League first introduced it in 2008. Free Night offers patrons an excellent opportunity to visit a venue they’ve never been to before, or sample a type of theatre they might not otherwise ever consider. Developed by the Theatre Communications Group (the national organization for American Theatre) about a decade ago to increase audiences, subsequent studies found that approximately 42% of patrons who attend a Free Night of Theatre return to that theatre and purchase tickets. So far, participating theatres include Area Stage, Actors’ Playhouse, Delray Beach Playhouse, Palm Beach Dramaworks, Sol Children Theatre, and TheatreXP.

“All of our Summer Theatre Fest programing provides a chance for people to really get to know the variety of local talent available. There’s so much meaningful work happening at all levels and this provides a chance for the community to interact in exciting ways,” says South Florida Theatre League Executive Director Andie Arthur.

Patrons can sign up for tickets at summerfestfreenight.southfloridatheatre.com starting on June 9 for performances during the month of July. The window to enter the lottery will close on June 23 and patrons will find out if they have won tickets on June 27.
Come Under Our Umbrella -umbrella schedule:

June 9             Lost Portraits by Kenneth N. Kurtz at Miami Acting Company,
performing at the Hibiscus Room in Pinecrest Gardens
June 23           Outside by Juan C. Sanchez, Ann Gillespie, Ozzie Rodriguez,
Nick Mwaluko, and Vanessa Garcia at The  Krane
June 30           The Pot by Glenn Hutchinson atMain Street Players
July 7              Endless Song by Andie Arthur at Lost Girls Theatre, performing
at the Deering Estate
July 14            The Dana Plays: Raising Money for the American
Cancer Society by Various Playwrights (venue to be announced)
July 21            Dead by Night by Juan C. Sanchez at Actors’ Playhouse
at the Miracle Theatre
July 28            Tres Mariasby Hector Pino at Teatro Prometeo
August 4      It Feels Good by Michael Yawney at GableStage
August 18      Instant Classic by Paul Tei at Mad Cat Theatre
August 18      Two Weekends and a Day by Susan Westfall at City Theatre
at Empire Stage
August 25      Fuck the Universe: Scott and Charlie Steal Space by
Jeremiah Musgrove at Alternative Space Theatre

Umbrellas will also be featured at the following events:

June 26- 29    City Theatre’s CityWrights Conference
June 27 – 29   The Women’s Theatre Project’s Girl Play

Umbrellas will also be seen at the Sol Children Theatre and Entr’Acte Theatrix.

Summer Theatre Fest Reading Series

Every Monday from June until August, member companies will be hosting readings of plays by South Florida Playwrights. There will be at least eighteen evenings of readings across four counties on the thirteen Mondays of Summer Theatre Fest. Playwrights range from established local favorites, including Carbonell winners and nominees, to emerging talents, with plays vastly ranging in subject matter and style. For more details, including a synopsis of each reading, please visit www.southfloridatheatre.com.

Summer Theatre Fest Reading Series Schedule:

June 2             Finding Mona Lisa by Michael McKeever at Zoetic Stage at the Adrienne Arsht Center
June 9             Lost Portraits by Kenneth N. Kurtz at Miami Acting Company at the Hibiscus Room in Pinecrest Gardens
June 16           Captiva by Chris Demos-Brown at Maltz Jupiter Theatre
June 23           Outside by Juan C. Sanchez, Ann Gillespie, Ozzie Rodriguez,
Nick Mwaluko, and Vanessa Garcia at The Krane
June 23           Juxtaposition by Julie Gilbert at Palm Beach Dramaworks
June 30           The Pot by Glenn Hutchinson at Main Street Players
June 30           The Signature of Fear by Bob Bowersox at TheatreXP
July 7              Endless Song by Andie Arthur at Lost Girls Theatre at the Deering Estate
July 14            The Dana Plays: Raising Money for the American Cancer
Society by Various Playwrights (venue to be announced)
July 21            Dead by Night by Juan C. Sanchez at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
July 21            Roses are Blind by Wendy White at New Light Foundation
July 28            Desperation by Marj O’Neill-Butler at Pigs Do Fly Productions at Empire Stage
July 28            Tres Marias by Hector Pino at Teatro Prometeo
August 4        It Feels Good by Michael Yawney at GableStage
August 11      Broken English by Nancy Cheser at Area Stage
August 18      Instant Classic by Paul Tei at Mad Cat Theatre
August 18      Two Weekends and a Day by Susan Westfall at City Theatre at Empire Stage
August 25      Fuck the Universe: Scott and Charlie Steal Space by
Jeremiah Musgrove at Alternative Space Theatre
August 25      Dear Mom by Nancy Holson and Jay Falzone at The Plaza Theatre

The South Florida Theatre League is an alliance of theatrical organizations and professionals dedicated to nurturing, promoting, and advocating for the growth and prestige of the South Florida theatre industry. The South Florida Theatre League is funded by its members, member theatres, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, and the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.

For more information about the South Florida Theatre League, including a list of member theatres and their current and upcoming productions, visit: http://www.southfloridatheatre.com

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Parade Productions to present a premiere reading of Michael Leeds’ The Gift’

29 Wednesday May 2013

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                         Sometimes a nightmare can be a gift… THEGIFT - imageParade Productions will present a premiere reading of award-winning South Florida playwright/director Michael Leeds’ new work, The Gift. The reading will take place on July 1st at 7:30 p.m., at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center’s Studio Theatre in Boca Raton and will feature actors Clay Cartland and Lindsey Forgey.  This FREE reading is part of the South Florida Theatre League/WLRN sponsored Summer Theatre Fest program.

The premise of The Gift is simple: A young man and woman are stuck in adjoining elevators. However their gradual realization they might actually be trapped in each other’s dreams leads the characters – and audiences – on an intriguing journey as they discover things about one another, and themselves, they have never known before.

“The genesis for The Gift came when I was hunting for an idea and read a quote from a New York playwright who said, ‘Most people suggest writing what you know.  I like to write what I fear.’” Leeds explains. “When I was younger I had bouts of claustrophobia and as a writer I’m drawn to plays that have a fantastical element to them.  So I started with the image of a young man trapped in an elevator who realizes he’s actually trapped in a dream, and the story just evolved from there.”

“We were looking for a play to help develop.  We fell in love with this one,” Parade Productions’ Executive Producer Candace Caplin says. “The characters are irresistible and the concept is fascinating.  It’s an honor to be part of this process with Michael.”

Clay CartlandLeeds is equally pleased: “Getting the chance to have a Lindsey Forgeyreading at Parade Productions with Candace and (director) Kim St. Leon and wonderful actors like Clay Cartland and Lindsey Forgey is a terrific opportunity.  I’m hoping the audience will be as intrigued with The Gift as I was writing it.”

Although he is primarily recognized as one of South Florida’s finest and busiest directors, Leeds has also had great success as a playwright, screen writer, and choreographer. He co-wrote and directed the Broadway musical Swinging on a Star which received a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical as well as a Drama Desk Award nomination and a Theatre World Award. Off-Broadway he directed and choreographed Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah – The Songs of Allan Sherman, Leeds head shotstarring Tovah Feldshuh & Mary Testa, for which he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Best Director and Best Choreographer.  His extensive resume also includes work on films such as End of Summer, starring Jacqueline Bisset and Peter Weller (choreographer); he co-wrote The Simian Line starring William Hurt, Lynn Redgrave and Tyne Daly and The Last Film Festival, starring Dennis Hopper, and Jacqueline Bisset. Leeds’ plays include The First Step, Who Killed Joan Crawford, and a new version of Cole Porter’s Red, Hot And Blue. His recent directing credits include Mack and Mabel (Carbonell Award Best Musical), Lend Me A Tenor, My Fair Lady and The Light In The Piazza (Carbonell nomination Best Musical, Silver Palm Award for Direction) at Broward Stage Door, and Driving Miss Daisy and Chapter Two at The Plaza Theatre. Leeds also teaches adult acting classes in Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton.

Parade Productions is a not-for profit theatre company whose mission is “To produce high quality theatre experiences that entertain, enlighten, inform, uplift, and inspire audiences, sending them home with new thoughts, insights, questions, and ideas.”

This production is open to the entire community. Seating is ‘first come/first served’.

For more information about Michael Leeds, visit www.leedsworkshop.com or contact Carol Kassie at ckassie@gmail.com/561-445-9244.

The Gift
By Michael Leeds
July 1st
7:30 p.m.
Admission: FREE
The Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, Studio Theatre, 2nd Floor
201 Plaza Real,
Boca Raton, FL 33432

 

Parade Productions presents “Better Than Damn Good” – April 23rd

15 Thursday Mar 2012

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To present a premier reading of
Stuart Meltzer’s
Better Than Damn Good
at
The Studio at Mizner Park
April 23

Talk Back with Playwright, Director, and Cast

Boca Raton, Florida:
Parade Productions, Boca Raton’s newest theatre company, will follow up their wildly successful debut production of Donald Margulies Brooklyn Boy with a premier reading of South Florida playwright Stuart Meltzer’s comedy, Better Than Damn Good. The reading will take place on April 23rd, at 7:30 p.m., at the Studio at Mizner Park in Boca Raton.

Written in a sophisticated voice reminiscent of a young Woody Allen, Meltzer’s tour de force comedy follows a group of Manhattanites through their complicated, too-funny, too-real dilemmas.

Director Kim St. Leon has assembled a top-notch cast, including Michael McKeever, Michael Gioia, Jacqueline Laggy, Kim Ostrenko, Nan Walter, Linda Ellis, Candace Caplin, Natasha Waisfeld, and Meltzer himself.  All will participate in a talk back following the performance.

Although he is primarily recognized as one of South Florida’s finest and busiest directors, Meltzer enjoys writing immensely: “It is an enormously fun and creative time for me when I get to put on the playwright’s hat. I don’t often get that opportunity but it is one that feels the most comfortable, oddly enough,” he says.

“And I am thrilled to have my play read with the wonderful creative and producing team at Parade Productions,” Meltzer continues.  “Being a new theatre company in South Florida, it is wonderful to have another place where local playwrights can workshop material and hear it read. Kim St. Leon is an incredible director who understands my style and rhythms very well. She totally understands the characters and I feel very happy that she likes the play as much as she does.”

STUART MELTZER is the Artistic Director and a founding member of Zoetic Stage. He directed The SantaLand Diaries, Michael McKeever’s world premiere play Moscow, and the world premiere of Christopher Demos-Brown’s Captiva for which he is currently nominated for a Carbonell Award for Best Director of a Play.  In 2010, he directed Zoetic Stage’s critically acclaimed inaugural production of South Beach Babylon. Previously, Stuart served as the Artistic Director of City Theatre in Miami, where he oversaw and expanded the Summer Shorts Festival.  His New York credits include Romulus Linney’s Gint, Harold Pinter’s One for the Road, Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls… as well as Morzek’s Striptease. South Florida directing credits include Kiss of the Spider Woman, Painted Alice, Barefoot Boy With Shoes On, Everything Will be Different, and Melt. He received his M.F.A. in Directing from the Actors Studio in 2002 and B.F.A. from New World School of the Arts in Miami, where he currently serves as part of their adjunct faculty.

Parade Productions is a not-for profit theatre company whose mission is “To produce high quality theatre experiences that entertain, enlighten, inform, uplift, and inspire audiences, sending them home with new thoughts, insights, questions, and ideas.”

Tickets for Better Than Damn Good are $12.00 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased on-line at www.paradeproductions.org, or by calling 866-811-4111.  For group sales, call: 561-291-9678.

Better Than Damn Good
April 23
7:30 p.m.
The Studio at Mizner Park
Tickets $12
For Tickets:  www.paradeproductions.org
866-811-4111
Group Tickets: 561-291-9678