Chain Theatre Winter One Act Festival

 Chain Theatre Winter One Act Festival
February 15, 2022
Program 1 – 6:00 PM
A Place for Us & For My Very Own 

Photo courtesy of Chain Theatre

Chain Theatre continues their Winter One Act Festival with riveting performance of new and unique plays.  The festival consists of nine different programs, including comedies, dramas, and musicals.  Each program is given four performance dates and one live stream date.  Program 1 showcases two strong pieces: A Place for Us, written and directed by Anthony M. Laura, and For My Very Own, written by Emma Lefkowitz and directed by Sarah De Baets.

In A Place for Us, playwright Anthony M. Laura explores alternate realities.  When Judith (played by Donna L. White) finds a bloody towel in her laundry basket, she questions her daughter, Hannah (played by Madison Murrah).  This adds to the already elevated level of stress between them, due to Judith’s infidelities.  Natalie, an unexpected visitor (played by Raina Silver) arrives, claiming she lives in their house.  Hannah befriends Natalie, against the strong warnings of her father, Vincent (played by Emerson A. Buchholz).  Natalie refuses to leave, and offers little detail to her life and history.  Even though her true identity remains a mystery, the family slowly begins to resolve their differences.

Photo courtesy of A Place for Us

Playwright Anthony M. Laura structured his play in short scenes.  This heightens the tension and mystery throughout the piece.  Each scene suspends the reality further, while grounding the characters in realistic actions.  It is the careful balance of this dichotomy that keeps the audience engaged, while continually questioning the levels of truth.  The final scene delivers a solid answer to Judith’s discovery of the bloody towel in the opening scene, yet opens the door to possibilities for Hannah’s continued journey. 

The cast fully commits to the realistic traits of their characters.  Their objectives are strong and clear, building genuine conflict.  This gives the audience a compelling story to follow, while the alternate realities unfold.  Madison Murrah effectively portrays Hannah as a confused and conflicted teenager.  Donna L. White builds an authentic mother relationship with her that is riddled with conflict.  Emerson A. Buchholz plays the father with humor and wisdom.  Raina Silver is enigmatic as the unexpected visitor.     

For My Very Own takes a humorous and effective look at white privilege.  Anne (played by Maya Kate Frueh) is looked over for a promotion at the Center, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to changing social policy.  She admits to her co-worker, Ines (played by Hannah Deale), that she is ready to sacrifice her white privilege to prove her dedication to making change.  She connects with Nora (played by Hadas Brown), who is starting a movement to adopt homeless people and place them in pods for support.  Anne takes her commitment too far, and ends up needing more help that she was ever able to offer in the first place. 

Playwright Emma Lefkowitz’s writing has a sharp wit and biting tongue, which serves her theme of white privilege very well.  Director Sarah De Baets guides this cast of skilled actors to deliver the powerful punch Ms. Lefkowitz’s play sets out to do.  Maya Kate Frueh plays the self-serving, righteous white woman with total conviction and bold humor.  Hannah Deale makes the side remarks that keep the far-fetched actions reality based.  Hadas Brown adds the intellectual, analytical point of view to the over the top actions.  Brian Mendoza plays a reporter who adds an outsider perspective to the story. 

Program 1 has one more showing on February 18 at 8:00 PM.  Go to the Chain Theatre website (www.chaintheatre.org) to get tickets for their final performance.  While there, check out the other one-act programs.  The festival runs through February 25 at 312 West 36 St. (4^th floor).  Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door.  The Winter One Act Festival continues to build Chain Theatre’s reputation for presenting quality theatre.  Don’t miss out.  Get a ticket today! 

Domenick Danza

The Music Man

Meredith Willson’s The Music Man

Winter Garden Theatre

February 9, 2022

Opening Night!

Photo Courtesy of The Music Man

The revival of Meredith Willson’s The Music Man opened on Broadway, spreading joy and delight to a full house at the Winter Garden Theatre.  Director Jerry Zaks did what he does best.  He took a Broadway classic, shined it up, injected it with life, and gave us a chance to look at it with fresh eyes.  Warren Carlyle’s choreography is exuberant.  It will get your heart beating faster.  The cast of forty-five skilled performers brilliantly works as one.  Their energy lifts the sprits and opens the hearts of every member of the audience.

When Professor Henry Hill (played by Hugh Jackman) gets off the train at River City, Iowa, his main goal is to swindle money out of the locals, then move on.  He sells marching band uniforms and instruments, with a promise to organize a boys band.  His plan is to get out of town as soon as the uniforms and instruments arrive, leaving them with no ability to play a single note.  One obstacle Professor Hill does not expect to face in River City is librarian and music teacher, Marion Paroo (played by Sutton Foster).  When Professor Hill’s connection with Marion’s younger brother, Winthrop (played by Benjamin Pajak), causes him to open up and start talking for the first time in two years, she realizes that, although Professor Hill does not intend to fulfill his promise to deliver a boys band, he does deliver on her dream. 

Hugh Jackman, Benjamin Pajak, & Sutton Foster
Photo courtesy of The Music Man

Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster are amazing together.  Sparks fly as their strengths play off one
another.  The tension and attraction never stops building.  Ms. Foster’s Marion is tough and stoic.  She does not go in for games or day dreaming.  As she looks at her brother changing when he is with Professor Hill, you can feel her heart open.  She does not lose her toughness when she allows herself to be charmed by the Professor.  She thinks through her plan and remains committed to her beliefs.  Mr. Jackman’s Harold Hill is shifty, cunning, and glib.  He is pure swindler, with charm and a golden tongue.  He has no doubt in his main objective, to take the locals for as much money as possible.  The moment it hits him that Marion sees more in him than he ever saw in himself is a genuine transformation.   

The entire cast is superb, building unique characters and creating a small, uptight town that allows themselves to blossom.  The orchestrations, by Jonathan Tunick, keep Meredith Willson’s score running full steam ahead from the minute the curtain goes up.  The dance numbers feature the younger cast members.  Their skills are astonishing.  Their energy is vibrant.  

Get a ticket for The Music Man and be prepared to have your spirits lifted! 

Domenick Danza

Chain Theatre Winter One Act Festival

Chain Theatre Winter One Act Festival

February 5, 2022

Program 2 – 5:00 PM

Amorality Play & Every Other Weekend

Program 5 – 8:00 PM

Stuck & Maybelle…Unfiltered

Photo courtesy of Chain Theatre

Chain Theatre kicked off its Winter One Act Festival on February 4.  The festival consists of nine different programs, including comedies, dramas, and musicals.  Each program is given four performance dates and one live stream date.  Program 2 (February 5 at 5:00 PM) includes Amorality Play by Laura Clare Browne and Lauren Dietzel, directed by Samantha Mushin, and Every Other Weekend written and directed by Joseph Sexton.  Program 5 (February 5 at 8:00 PM) includes Stuck, book & lyrics by Danielle Koenig, music by Julio Vaquero, directed by Irvin Mason, and Maybelle… Unfiltered written and directed by Horace Turnbull.  The opening weekend shows great promise for what is ahead, reaffirming the high quality of work you can expect from Chain Theatre.  

Program 1:

Laura Clare Browne and Lauren Dietzel’s Amorality Play is a present day take on the medieval morality play.  Some Dude (played by Seann Morgan) is visited by Death (played by Laura Clare Browne).  He has ten minutes to review the value of his life before she takes him.  Death allows him to consult with his Conscience (played by Anna Rudegair) and his Vice (played by Ethan Marble) before making his decision about spending eternity in heaven or hell.  Yes, it is his decision.  After reviewing his Virtues and Sins (played by Kaitlyn Rose Rabocse), he is unable to judge himself, so Death leaves it up to the audience to decide. 

Director Samantha Mushin uncovers the timing and humor embedded in Ms. Dietzel and Ms. Browne’s writing.  The cast delivers the laughs with enough punch to give the audience a chance to ponder the deeper message of the work. 

Every Other Weekend examines a woman’s right to choose.  Playwright Joseph Sexton directed his own work, taking his characters on a journey toward a clearer understanding of their situations and personal power. 

Melissa (played by Johnette Janney) is excited about her weekend trip with her friend Ellen (played by Sarah B. Denison).  When Melissa asks Ellen to pull the car over because she is feeling sick, Melissa knows something is up.  Ellen admits she is pregnant and not planning on going through with it.  Melissa is supportive, yet it is clear Ellen is uncertain about her decision.  Through the course of their car ride, Ellen talks through her choices and becomes stronger about the decision she needs to make.  

Ms. Denison and Ms. Janney are equally paired in these roles.   Their camaraderie is natural and motivates sincere discourse.  Mr. Sexton uses effective dramatic devices to reveal the inner thoughts of his characters, giving depth and heart to their development and journey. 

Program 5: 

Photo courtesy of Stuck &
Chain Theatre Winter One Act Festival

Stuck is a futuristic musical comedy.  Julio Vaquero’s score is fun and memorable.  Danielle Koenig’s book and lyrics are witty and engaging.  This is a promising creative team, well worth keeping an eye on. 

Paul (played by Sara James) has a simple and monotonous job.  It consists of pulling a lever, all day, every day.  Paul dreams of being a super hero, but isn’t.  While at work, Paul is visited by Mad Max Paul (played by Madison Wechsler), who is Paul from the future, returning to convince Paul to stop pulling the lever and push the button to save the world from a future of war and fear.  Just as Paul is about to push the button, Unlucky Paul (played by Jamie Shapiro) appears, who is Paul from the future after Mad Max Paul convinces Paul to push the button.  As the name reveals, Unlucky Paul’s life did not turn out so well, and has returned to convince Paul not to give in to Mad Max Paul’s pressure to push the button.  Save the world or save yourself?  What is Paul to do?

This 20-minute musical is quality work on every level.  Director Irvin Mason hits the ball out of the park.  The cast is excellent.  The humor is exaggerated.  The stakes are high.  The theme is strong. 

Maybelle… Unfiltered by Horace Turnbull takes place in 1977.  It follows Maybelle (played by Trena B. Real) as she takes calls during her late night radio show.  Maybelle listens to numerous callers (all played by Scout Ford and Aja Downing).  They reveal their problems, sorrows, and achievements.  Maybelle offers advice, sometimes firmly and sometimes with kindness.  The music is a soulful mix of 1970’s style tunes, all written and composed by Mr. Turnbull.  The cast captures the sound of the times with their lush and luxurious voices. 

Chain Theatre’s Winter One Act Festival is running through February 25 at 312 West 36 St. (4^th floor).  If this opening weekend is a sign of what’s ahead in this festival, it is sure to be an exciting month.  Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door.  Check out their website (www.chaintheatre.org) to choose a program and purchase tickets.  Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to experience fresh, upcoming voices in NYC theatre.  

Domenick Danza