The World Premiere of 'Masters of Puppets' at Legacy Theatre

James Roday Rodriguez & Connecticut’s Legacy Theatre present

the World Premiere of

MASTERS OF PUPPETS

Written by LAURENCE DAVIS*, directed by GABE MCKINLEY

Limited run begins May 25 – June 11, 2023

BRANFORD - James Roday Rodriguez (“A Million Little Things,” “Psych”) & The Legacy Theatre will present the world premiere of Masters of Puppets, written by Laurence Davis*, and directed by Gabe McKinley. It will begin its limited run at The Legacy Theatre on Thursday, May 25, and run through June 11, 2023.

Masters of Puppets is a fictionalized, no holds barred look at the dirty underbelly of professional wrestling written by insider Laurence Davis*. The riveting drama takes you from the corner office to the top turnbuckle and will star Dana Ashbrook (Showtime’s Twin Peaks), Amanda Detmer (Fox’s Empire), Kurt Fuller (CBS’s Evil), Michael Hogan (Fox’s The Resident), Michael Bobenhausen (“Imposters") and Joshua W. Heggie (Big River).

The creative team includes Jamie Burnett (scenic and lighting design), Gali Noy (costume design), Adam Jackson (sound design), Erica Pajonas (props design), Emmett Cassidy (fight choreographer), and T. Rick Jones (production stage manager).

“I have been a pro wrestling fan my whole life. From its humble beginnings in traveling carnivals to the billion-dollar industry that fills arenas across the world, one thing has always been intrinsic to its machinations: storytelling. Masters of Puppets peels back the canvas and gives us a peek at the shoots behind the works, and it's absolutely electric. Ging Ging."

Producer, James Roday Rodriguez

"How exciting to begin the season as the host of the World Premiere of this thrilling new work, Masters of Puppets, with such seasoned, recognizable visiting artists in this precious seaside town in Stony Creek. Orson Welles presented his bold, new theatrical work at this very venue in the 1930s, and I am moved to produce programming in a similar vein nearly a hundred years later, championing new works that challenge and thrill audiences. This one is particularly fulfilling as I am collaborating with artists I have known for 25 years."

The Legacy Theatre’s Artistic Director, Keely Baisden Knudsen

“There’s always been questions as to what’s real and what’s fake in the world of wrestling, and those questions continue to this day. This piece explores the topic in a really thought-provoking way. It’s a gritty, no-holds-barred approach to the subject matter. We are happy to present its World Premiere.”
The Legacy Theatre’s Managing Director, Jeff Provost

The world premiere of Masters of Puppets debuts at The Legacy Theatre (128 Thimble Islands Road, Branford, CT 06405) on Thursday, May 25, at 7 p.m. Performances run through June 11, with shows on Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are on sale now; season subscribers to all four productions receive a 25 percent discount.

Content Warning: For mature audiences. Contains violence, harsh language, and drug use. There is no puppetry in the production.

For more information and tickets, visit www.LegacyTheatreCT.org or call (203) 315-1901.

Bios:

DANA ASHBROOK (Ted Blasendale) FILM: Please Baby Please, Minor Premise, Ice Cream in the Cupboard, Framing John DeLorean, Restraint, Getting Grace, and others. TV: “Twin Peaks,” “Insatiable,” “Psych,” “Blue Bloods,” “The Resident,” “Crash” (tv series), “The Kill Point,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “Chicago P.D.,” and others. THEATER NY: Lesser Mercies by Jason Williamson. LOS ANGELES: Sustenance (James Roday Rodriguez), Night and Her Stars (Richard Greenberg), Pay or Play (Roger Kumble), Us and Them (Betsy Thomas).

AMANDA DETMER (Delia Kragston) earned her MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and has starred in a variety of films and franchises, including Big Fat Liar, directed by Shaun Levy, Final Destination, Saving Silverman, The Majestic, and Kiss the Bride. Notable television credits include “Psych,” “The Vampire Diaries,” “Necessary Roughness,” “Two and a Half Men,” and “Empire.” Theater credits include Cecily in the Importance of Being Earnest at the Guthrie, several plays with the infamous Red Dog Squadron, and most recently appeared as Mary Jo in the stage adaptation of Designing Women. Her greatest achievement to date is her son, Jake.

KURT FULLER (Victor Kragston) Over his almost 40-year career, Kurt is proudest of his work as the grouchy and violent Mr. Brell (no first name) opposite Mr. Hulk Hogan in the actor/wrestler’s starrer NO HOLDS BARRED. Produced by Vince McMahon, the film has been criminally ignored on every list of “Best Films” ever compiled. Surprisingly, Fuller’s performance was overlooked during 1989’s awards season.

MICHAEL HOGAN (Rainey Dayes) New York Theatre: Kandahar and What Happens In Vegas (World Premieres) by Neil Labute; Actors Theatre of St. Louis, Welcome to Arroyo’s by Kristopher Diaz. Welcome Home Rock Rogers by Gabe McKinley, Much Ado About Nothing at NYU’s Classical Studio, directed by Louis Scheeder. Regional: A Man’s a Man (Arena Stage), Biloxi Blues (Geva), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Festival of St. Louis). Television: Dr. Albert Nolan on “The Resident,” Swat Officer Hawk on “The Kill Point,” as well as featured roles on “The Sopranos,” “Chicago, P.D.,” “Psych,” “Murderville,” “Shooter,” “Law & Order C.I.” and “Genius: Aretha Franklin” as Sydney Pollack. Film: Staten Island, Hank Boyd is Dead (Producer), Coffee and Cigarettes, I Don’t Know How She Does It, and others. Currently residing on Badstreet, USA.

MICHAEL BOBENHAUSEN (Jace Powers) is delighted to be making his Legacy Theatre debut in Masters of Puppets! Michael received his MFA in Acting from the University of CT and has been enjoying a career in acting and education ever since. Some favorite roles have been Blake in the pilot "Imposters" (winner of Best Series @Utah Film Festival), Kenan in the series "Waves Season 2" (now streaming on Amazon Prime), and as George Senesh in Hannah Senesh at the National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene (Off-Broadway.) When not performing or teaching, Michael can be found freestyle rapping, strumming his ukulele, and jamming wherever karaoke is available!

JOSHUA W. HEGGIE (Leonard “Reaper” Barnett) is super stoked to be back on stage! It has been a while since he was seen in the NYMF Roofless, locally at STONC as Jim in Big River, or as Harker in Dessa Rose at the New Rep in Boston; and he couldn’t be happier. He is so blessed and lucky to be surrounded by the most amazing family, great friends, and outstanding colleagues. Gratitude, awe, and appreciation for all of the Medics, EMTs, Nurses, Police, Firefighters, Military, and school personnel. You keep us safe, help raise our kids, and enrich our community and culture. Thank you.

LEGACY THEATRE is a professional regional theatre company located in the quaint village of Stony Creek in Branford, Connecticut. The Legacy Theatre strives to be a premiere arts house and to ensure ongoing seasons of uplifting, inspiring, and challenging professional theatre and theatre training for all through its Mainstage Season, Family Series, Sunday Broadway Concert Series, classes, and much more! Housed in what was once the historic Stony Creek Puppet House, the Legacy Theatre celebrates its history as a home of the arts for the past century, while championing new works and providing a residence for world premieres and debuts. legacytheatrect.org/

*a pseudonym