Axial Theatre Announces Two Performances in Pleasantville

From Axial Theatre: A quirky collection of eight one-act plays sharing an offbeat and unsentimental take on the Feb. 14 paean to love – under the banner of Twisted Valentines – will be on stage for two consecutive weekends, Feb. 10–12 and 17-19, under the auspices of Axial Theatre at its Pleasantville location. Authors, directors and casts include members of Axial’s resident company.

“The goal was to examine love and related emotions in their many and varied guises,” explains Axial Associate Artistic Director Linda Giuliano. “The short plays remind us that romance can be teased and twisted out of shape. The eclectic stories range from hilarious to heartbreaking, and are likely to provoke a mix of laughter, tears and knowing nods.”

The plays were selected by Axial Founding Artistic Director Howard Meyer and Ms. Giuliano from a sizable pool of submissions. Axial Managing Director Betsy Klampert oversees business operations for all productions.

Charlotte Exton (Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts) is the stage manager; Heather Kornreich is set designer; Mary Cate Magnum is production manager (Schoolhouse Theater, Brevard Music Center); Chris D’Angelo is lighting designer; Jim Simonson is sound designer (Westchester Collaborative Theatre); Diana Davila is technical director.

Performances take place Friday, Feb. 10 and 17 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 11 and 18 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 12 and 19 at 4 p.m. at the Community House of St. John’s Episcopal Church, 8 Sunnyside Ave., Pleasantville, New York 10570.

Tickets are $25 general admission, $20 seniors and students, and can be purchased online (search: Axial). For more information: (914) 286-7680.

Twisted Valentines' Synopses and Who's Who

The first weekend of plays (Program A), to be performed Feb. 10 -12, are as follows:

A Spray of Roses, written by Lloyd Pace, directed by Robin Joseph and featuring Anne Hammond (Cincinnati Playhouse, Milwaukee Rep), Cash Tilton (Films on Amazon with Adam West) and actor/singer/dancer Susan Ward. Pace, a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, notes: “Death does not fall in love. Death wishes she could. One time she did.”

Words by Evelyn Mertens (finalist, 2016 and 2015 Aery 20/20 festival), tells of “a teenage runaway and a woman on a quest who meet at a bus depot. Their exchange is a game changer.” Jennifer Siciliano (Blueberry Pond), who directed the original production at Aery, will reprise her role; actors are Michael Pennacchio (films, The Graduates and Drinking Games) and Pamela Brokaw.

DVD and Chill by John Patrick Bray, (resident writer Off-Off Broadway’s The Rising Sun, editor Best Plays from American Theatre Festivals 2015), will be directed by Laura Credidio (Lincoln Center Theater Directors lab graduate) and features Siobhan McKinley and Dan Kausch. Notes Bray, “The magnetic power of Jane Austen and soggy cherry pie draws ex-lovers together.”

Double Date by multiple award-winning playwright/director Albi Gorn (finalist, 2014 All-England festival), will be directed by Robin Joseph and features Michael Boyle, Duane Rutter (Best Actor, Theatre Association of New York State competition), Sandy Oppedisano Rooney (N.Y. International Fringe Festival) and Emma Laurence. Explains Gorn, “Two’s company, three’s a crowd; Joan and Paul’s blind date becomes crowded indeed.”

The second weekend of plays (Program B), to be performed Feb. 17 -19, are as follows:

Sharon Cooper’s In the Meantime (playwright-in-residence, Cry Havoc), is directed by Michael Witkes (Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation Observership Candidate 2016–17) and features Dan Walworth and Rofa Abayon. Says Cooper, “There’s a fine line between a break-up and a breakthrough in this ‘in the meantime’ relationship.”

Gin Joint, by award-winning playwright (Planet Activist award, Planet Connections) Gabrielle Fox, head instructor of Axial’s playwriting program, will be directed by Jennifer Siciliano and performed by Marilyn Collazo and Sean Weil (Gotham, Jennifer Jones, Boardwalk Empire, Blue Bloods, Law & Order). Notes Fox:“In all the gin joints in all the towns in all the worlds she walks into his…in ‘the dress.’”

Secret Dreamers by Ed Friedman (Gallery Players, LI Theatre Collective), directed by Pat O’Neill, performed by Gail Greenstein, Lori Franzese and Nancy Intrator, explores how “A museum date leads to sisterly revelations embedded in canvas.”

Kissing Will by Virginia Reynolds (semi-finalist, Samuel French OOB Festival), directed by Michael Witkes and featuring Ann Gulian (HBO’s Show Me a Hero) and Lucas Kane (Best Actor, 2016 Aery 20/20 Festival), shows how “Paris, the city of lights, and a park bench, invite Claire and Will to ‘see’ who they truly are.”

Click here to see this event on the Patch Calendar.

Photos via Axial Theatre:

(Image 1) Howard Meyer is founder and artistic director of Axial Theatre.

(Image 2) Sean Weil, who has appeared in Gotham, Jennifer Jones and Boardwalk Empire, is one of the actors in Axial Theatre’s Twisted Valentines.