New Theatre Company! Upstage Productions Debuts with Ira Levin’s DEATHTRAP in October

27 Wednesday Aug 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, UpStage Productions

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Deathtrap, Deborah Kondelik, Empire Stage, Ira Levin, Janice Hamilton, Theatre in Fort Lauderdale, UpStage Productions

The Curtain Rises on
Upstage Productions
The New Theatre Company to Present
Deathtrap
At Empire Stage in October

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

August 27, 2025

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Janice Hamilton – Actress, Singer, Auctioneer, and Business Woman, will add Producer to her resume when Upstage Productions – her brand-new theatre company – debuts with Ira Levin’s Deathtrap at Empire Stage this fall. The show will run from October 10^th through November 2^nd at the popular Fort Lauderdale venue.

Ira Levin’s (Rosemary’s Baby) Deathtrap is an ingeniously constructed play that offers a rare and skillful blend of gasp-producing thrills and raucous laughter. It provides twists and turns and sudden shocks in abundance as it follows the machinations of Sidney Bruhl, a writer of thrillers, whose recent offerings have been flops, and who is prepared to go to any lengths and use any devious means to improve his fortunes.

Janice Hamilton, through her company Hamilton Fundraising Auctions, has raised millions of dollars for hundreds of not-for-profit organizations and causes over the past thirty years. She also has an impressive film, television, and theatrical resume and has been featured in numerous productions throughout South Florida. Some of her credits include City of Angels and Crazy for You (Jupiter Theatre); RX and Gingerbread Lady (Boca Stage); The Savannah Sipping Society, Morning After Grace, The Long Weekend (Pigs Do Fly Productions), Don’t Dress for Dinner (Caldwell Theatre); Hotel on Marvin Gardens (Actor’s Playhouse); Mystery of Love & Sex (Primal Forces); Anton in Show Business (Red Barn Theatre); Dames at Sea (Shores Performing Arts); and Menopause, the Musical (G-Four Productions). She toured the US in the award-winning comedy Viagra Falls opposite Harold Gould and appeared Off-Broadway in The Dutchman and Be Happy For Me. Her television and film credits include As the World Turns, Miami Sands, Boynton Beach Club, Lost Everything, Life’s a Drag, and Just My Type, and the Hallmark film A Royal Makeover, which was recently released on Amazon Prime.

“I chose Deathtrap as our opening production because I adore the murder-mystery genre and thought the timing was perfect in conjunction with Halloween”, Hamilton says. “Plus, Deathtrap is a comedy and pure escapism, something I believe is we all need in the present social climate.”

Deathtrap will be directed by Hamilton’s long-time collaborator DK Kondelik, who has also agreed to act as prop master and set dresser for the production.

Kondelik shares Upstage Productions’ artistic philosophy: “Whether on stage or in the classroom, we strive for artistic excellence that entertains, challenges, and inspires. Our mission is to celebrate the joy of live performance while elevating voices and provoking meaningful dialogue,” she says.

Deathtrap will run at Empire Stage from October 10^th through November 2^nd. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online at upstageproductions.net or by calling 954-264-1461.

For more information about Upstage Productions, or Deathtrap, to speak with Janice Hamilton, or to arrange to see a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

Deathtrap
By Ira Levin
October 10 – November 2
Directed by Deborah Kondelik
Tickets: $40
For tickets: upstageproductions.net
Phone: 954-264-1461
Performances:
Friday & Saturday at 8 pm
Sunday at 5 pm
All performances will take place at
Empire Stage1140 N Flagler Drive,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Amir Darvish to Direct GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS at Empire Stage

27 Monday Jan 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Empire Stage

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Amir Darvish, ArtBuzz Theatrics, David Mamet, Empire Stage, Glengarry Glen Ross, Theatre in Fort Lauderdale

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

January 27, 2025

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Actor/Director/Producer Amir Darvish will direct David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Glengarry Glen Ross, at Empire Stage. The production will run from February 7^th to 23^rd at the popular Fort Lauderdale venue.

Darvish, a member of SAG-AFTRA and Actor’s Equity Association, has appeared in numerous television programs, films, and theatrical productions in New York and across the country, and is the Co-Founder, Creator, and Producer of his own company, Five on a Match. He has played a multitude of characters – from his award-winning Off-Broadway turn as Freddie Mercury in Mercury: The Afterlife and Times of a Rock God, to featured roles in films (Charlie Wilson’s War, Month to Month, Love, Magical) and on such television shows as Madam Secretary, The Blacklist, and The Michael J. Fox Show.

Glengarry Glen Ross will be Darvish’s third directorial project at Empire Stage – his previous projects were the well-reviewed Art (by Yasmina Reza) and Mike Bartlett’s Cock.

“I was drawn to directing Glengarry Glen Ross because of its exploration of corporate and personal greed, cutthroat business practices, and, of course, David Mamet’s razor-sharp dialogue,” Darvish says. “What fascinated me most was the chance to dive into the deeper layers of ambition, desperation, and the ethical dilemmas people face — the relentless drive to succeed at any cost. In today’s cultural and political climate, these themes feel more relevant than ever.”

Glengarry Glen Ross will run from February 7^th through February 23^rd at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased online at https://empirestage.com/ or by calling 954-678-1496.

To learn more about Amir Darvish, visit https://amirdarvish.com. For more information about Glengarry Glen Ross, Amir Darvish, Empire Stage, and/or ArtBuzz Theatrics, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

A press release about the production, along with the show logo, and director and actor headshots can be viewed online at https://wp.me/p1S9OR-2yz.

In the attached photo:
Amir Darvish
Photo credit: Matthew Tippins

Glengarry Glen Ross
By David Mamet
Directed by Amir Darvis
February 7 – 23
Tickets: $40
For tickets and Information:
https://empirestage.com/events/glengarry-glen/
Phone: 954-678-1496
Performances:
Friday & Saturday at 8 pm
Sunday at 5 pm
All performances will take place at
Empire Stage
1140 N. Flagler Dr.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

David Mamet’s GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS Opens at Empire Stage February 7th

16 Thursday Jan 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Empire Stage

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Amir Darvish, Bob Sharkey, David Mamet, David R. Gordon, Drama, Empire Stage, Eric Purcell, Glengarry Glen Ross, Harry Redlich, Larry Buzzeo, Matthew Schenk, Michael Small, Michael Vadnal, theatre, Theatre in Fort Lauderdale

David Mamet’s
Glengarry Glen Ross
Opens at Empire Stage
February 7^th

“This may well be the most accomplished play its author has yet given us. As Mr. Mamet’s command of dialogue has now reached its most dazzling pitch, so has his mastery of theatrical form.” Frank Rich – The New York Times

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

January 16, 2025

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Empire Stage and ArtBuzz Theatrics will present Glengarry Glen Ross, David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play from February 7^th through February 23^rd at the popular Fort Lauderdale venue. The production will be helmed by noted director Amir Darvish.

Based on Mamet’s own experience working in a real estate agency, the play depicts two days in the lives of four desperate Chicago real estate agents who are prepared to engage in any number of unethical, illegal acts—from lies and flattery to bribery, threats, intimidation and burglary—to sell real estate to unwitting prospective buyers.

Darvish’s cast includes Michael Small as Shelley Levine, Matthew Schenk as John Williamson, Eric Purcell as Dave Moss, Harry Redlich as George Aaronow, David R. Gordon as Richard Roma, Michael Vadnal as James Lingk, and Bob Sharkey as Baylen.

Preston Bircher will serve as the production’s lighting designer, and David Hart will design the sound. Set and costume design is by Larry Buzzeo, who will also serve as the production’s stage manager.

Glengarry Glen Ross will run from February 7^th through February 23^rd at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased online at https://empirestage.com/ or by calling 954-678-1496.

For more information about Glengarry Glen Ross, Empire Stage, ArtBuzz Theatrics, and/or Amir Darvish, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

In the attached photo:
Amir Darvish
Photo credit: Matthew Tippins

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.

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. For more information about Christopher Michaels please visit https://www.christophermichaels.nyc/director.

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 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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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.

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.

~*~

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