For Immediate Release
March 4, 2013
Media Contact: Katie Rosin / Kampfire PR
917-562-5670 / [email protected]
 
CAT ON MY HEAD PRODUCTIONS
Proudly Presents the World Premiere of

BLEACHED BLONDE BETTY
What would YOU do for love?

Written by TOM KELLY

Original Music by ALLISON LEYTON-BROWN

Directed by DAN PATRICK BRADY

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT
MARCH 14 – 24, 2013 AT THE WORKSHOP THEATER

OPENING NIGHT IS THURSDAY, MARCH 14 AT 8 P.M.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT WORKSHOPTHEATER.ORG
 
CAT ON MY HEAD PRODUCTIONS is pleased to announce the world premiere production of Tom Kelly’s BLEACHED BLONDE BETTY, with original music by the award-winning Allison Leyton-Brown and directed by Dan Patrick Brady. BLEACHED BLONDE BETTY play a limited engagement at the Workshop Theater (316 West 35th Street, 4th Fl.). Performances begin Thursday, March 14 and continue until Sunday, March 24. Opening Night is Thursday, March 14 (8 p.m.). Press are invited to all performances.
 
Betty is a writer rapidly going nowhere but to work as a waitress.  Betty likes Sammy, the security guard at the New Modern Museum of Art.  Mystic is Betty’s stripper roommate.  She introduces Betty to her new boyfriend, Bobby.  Betty LOVES Bobby.  Bobby is suddenly interested in Betty.  He suggests to Betty a way for them to realize the life they want:  use Sammy to steal a painting from the Museum.  Along the way they will have to battle the Jersey Mob, a serial killer, an ex-con art thief, and the general chaos of their own conscience.  BLEACHED BLONDE BETTY asks the one major question in life:  what would you do for love? 
 
 
The production stars Karen Stanion (Reasons to Live, Provincetown Theatre) as Betty, Joe Diomede (award-winning actor for the film Sharp Love, Sharp Kittens) as Bobby, Kristen Lazzarini  as Mystic, John Lenartz (Bdwy: Inherit the Wind) as Sammy, Stacy Ann Strang as Anna/Denise, Ryan Lee (Side Man, EST) as Nathaniel, Gregory Kostal as Harold and Richard Kent Green as Frank.
 
The production features scenic and lighting design by Lauren Parrish, and costume design by Lucy Goldberg. Lauren Parrish is the production manager, DeLisa White is the sound designer and Laura Hirschberg is the production stage manager.
 
BLEACHED BLONDE BETTY plays the following regular schedule through Sunday, March 24: 

 Thursdays at 8 p.m. 
 Fridays at 8 p.m. 
 Saturdays at 8 p.m. 
 Sundays at 2 p.m. 
 
There are two additional performances: Tuesday 3/19 at 8 p.m. and Wednesday 3/20 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are 18 and are now available online at workshoptheater.org. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the theater 30 minutes prior to performance. 

Running Time: 90 minutes, one intermission

Website: workshoptheater.org

BIOGRAPHIES
  
DAN PATRICK BRADY (Director) has never directed a play in his life.  However, he has over 30 years’ experience as a professional actor.  He has worked opposite Kathy Bates, Frances Sternhagen, Phoebe Cates, Bill Pullman, and Bradley Whitford.  His Off-Broadway credits include Women and Football (Vinnie) and Curse of the Starving Class (Wesley).  Among his NYC credits are critically-acclaimed revivals of The Norman Conquests (Norman), Journey of the Fifth Horse (Zoditch), and The Lover (Richard), and new plays Fubar (DC) and Purple Hearts (Spooner).  Regionally his favorite roles have been Ray in Blackbird, Tom Joad in The Grapes of, and the title role in The Elephant Man.  In television and film, Dan enjoyed long-running roles on ABC’s Loving and All My Children, was featured in the TV movie Shoot first: A Cop’s Vengeance, performed in a truly beautiful movie called Paradise Falls, and is appropriately embarrassed by being in more than one dubious horror flick, none of which he will mention.  As a producer he has mounted critically acclaimed productions of The Norman Conquests, Journey of the Fifth Horse and Two Intimate, and evening combining Harold Pinter’s The Lover and Eugene O’Brien’s Eden.

ALLISON LEYTON-BROWN (Composer) is an award-winning composer, pianist, and Musical Director based in New York City. With a passion for composition in a dramatic context, Allison’s scores have been described as cinematic, haunting, and fearlessly imaginative. As a performer, she is equally comfortable behind a keyboard or in front of a band, in literally any style of music. Above all, Allison is passionate about collaboration and loves to work with other musicians and artists from all walks of life.

TOM KELLY (Playwright) has a MFA from the Playwriting program at Brooklyn College. This is his first produced play.  He refuses to divulge any more information.
 
#     #     #

Listings Information:
Who: Cat on My Head Productions
What: BLEACHED BLONDE BETTY
Where: WorkShop Theater, 312 West 36th Street, 4th Fl
When: March 14-24, 2013
How: www.WorkshopTheater.org

BLEACHED BLONDE BETTY asks the one major question in life:  what would you do for love? 

For Immediate Release
January 24, 2013
Media Contact: Katie Rosin / Kampfire PR
917-562-5670 / [email protected]

WORKSHOP THEATER COMPANY

in conjunction with JEM THEATRICALS

Proudly Presents the New York Premiere of

MY MOM IS TRYING TO RUIN MY LIFE

A new family musical

Book by KATE FEIFFER & M.J. BRUDER-MUNAFO

Music by PAUL JACOBS

Lyrics by SARAH DURKEE

Based on the acclaimed children’s book by

KATE FEIFFER and illustrated by DIANE GOODE

Starring

MICHAEL BERNARDI*, MADDIE GLASS, ANDREW HUBACHER*, KAYLA KING, CLAIRE KWON, NOAH MARLOWE*, SHELLY MCPHERSON*, SYDNEY RYAN ROBLES, MADISYN SHIPMAN*, GARIELLE SMITH-GOLDSON, RYAN BAUER WALSH*, LAUREN WEINTRAUB*, ASHTON WOERZ*

*Appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association. AEA approved showcase.

Choreographed by DANYELLE DEMCHOCK

Directed by DEBBI KATZ

FOUR-WEEK LIMITED ENGAGEMENT

FEBRUARY 16-MARCH 10, 2012 AT THE WORKSHOP THEATER

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT WORKSHOPTHEATER.ORG

WORKSHOP THEATER COMPANY in conjunction with JEM THEATRICALS is presenting the New York premiere production of MY MOM IS TRYING TO RUIN MY LIFE, a new family musical comedy. The musical, with book by Kate Feiffer and MJ Bruder Munafo, music by Paul Jacobs, lyrics by Sarah Durkee, is based on the acclaimed picture book MY MOM IS TRYING TO RUIN MY LIFE, by Kate Feiffer with illustrations by Diane Goode (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books). The musical will be directed by Debbi Katz and choreographed by Danyelle Demchock of the Young Performers Dance Academy. MY MOM IS TRYING TO RUIN MY LIFE will play a four-week limited engagement at the WorkShop Theater (312 West 36th Street). Performances begin Saturday, February 16 at 12 pm and continue through Sunday, March 10 at 3 pm. Press are invited to all performances.

If Emma’s mom is so great, why is she trying to ruin her daughter’s life? She talks too loudly, worries about everything and kisses Emma in front of her friends. It wouldn’t be that bad if she just gave her one kiss on top of the head, but no, she kisses Emma all over her face. Can Emma stop her mom before she ruins the rest of her life? A heartwarming coming of age story with spectacular original music, MY MOM IS TRYING TO RUIN MY LIFE will have audiences laughing and singing.


The first workshop production of MY MOM IS TRYING TO RUIN MY LIFE played to sold out audiences at The Vineyard Playhouse on Martha's Vineyard in 2010. In 2011, MJ Bruder Munafo (Artistic Director of the Vineyard Playhouse) and Kate Feiffer teamed up with multiple Emmy Award-winning songwriters Paul Jacobs and Sarah Durkee to turn the play into a musical. The Vineyard Playhouse presented the first staged reading of the musical in the summer of 2012. WorkShop Theater Company’s Educational Wing presented a second reading in late 2012.


In keeping with the WorkShop Theater Company’s overall mission, the Educational Wing is dedicated to providing a creative home for young actors to hone their talents and cultivate projects from inception through finished productions.

“We work with children of diverse backgrounds to introduce the process of synthesizing new works through Page to Stage adaptations and the collaborative relationships between writers, directors, actors and designers. We pair professional teaching artists and guide young actors through the process of creating new works,” says Marie Mascia-Mancl, General Manager of Workshop Theater Company. “We have found that many professional kids are looking for a setting in which to work during the “tween” years when they can’t find continuous employment. This program allows them that home and gives us the opportunity to teach college level skills and techniques. We are very excited to bring to life this wonderful piece as we combine this amazing cast with an incredibly talented creative team. Everyone involved is helping to fulfill our mission.”

The production stars Michael Bernardi* (Surflight’s Once Upon a Time in New Jersey) as Officer Smith, Maddie Glass as Isabelle, Andrew Hubacher* (WorkShop’s Life on the Mississippi) as Dad, Kayla King as Mom, Claire Kwon as Julie, Noah Marlowe* (Bdwy: Mary Poppins) as Tommy, Shelly McPherson* as Tommy’s Mom/Officer O’Dooley, Sydney Ryan Robles as Danielle, Madisyn Shipman* (Bdwy: Enron; Off-Bdwy: Pippi Longstockings) as Christina/Lulu the dog, Garielle Smith-Goldson as Malika, Ryan Bauer Walsh* (Nat’l Tour: Billy Elliot) as Mr. Lucky/Officer Ortiz, Lauren Weintraub* (North Shore’s Annie) as Emma, and Ashton Woerz* (Bdwy: Priscilla Queen of the Desert; Nat’l Tour: Radio City Christmas Spectacular) as Andrew.

The production features scenic design by Dana Kenn and lighting design by Diana Duecker. Joe Marquet is the sound designer, Zach Rand is the production assistant, Evan Bernardin is the associate producer, Marie Mascia-Mancl is the general manager and Sierra Garland is the stage manager.

MY MOM IS TRYING TO RUIN MY LIFE plays the following schedule:

Saturday, February 16 at 12 pm and 3 pm      
Sunday, February 17 at 12 pm
Monday, February 18 at 12 pm and 3 pm (President’s Day)
Saturday, February 23 at 12 pm and 3 pm      
Sunday, February 24 at 12 pm
Monday, February 25 at 7 (Special Simon & Schuster Performance)
Saturday, March 2 at 12 pm and 3 pm      
Sunday, March 3 at 12 pm
Saturday, March 9 at 12 pm and 3 pm      
Sunday, March 9 at 12 pm and 3 pm      

Tickets are $15–18 and are now available online at workshoptheater.org. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the theater 30 minutes prior to performance. For special packages and donations please go to www.m3atyourservice.com.

Running Time: 70 minutes

Website: workshoptheater.org

Photos: http://bit.ly/MyMomPhotos

**Illustration by Diane Goode used by permission of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing**

BIOGRAPHIES

KATE FEIFFER (Book Writer) is the author of eleven highly acclaimed books for children. Her first book, Double Pink, illustrated by Bruce Ingman, was published by Simon & Schuster (S&S) in 2005. Her books Which Puppy? (S&S), Henry the Dog with No Tail (S&S), and My Side of The Car (Candlewick Press) are illustrated by her father, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Jules Feiffer. Other books include President Pennybaker (S&S) and My Mom is Trying to Ruin My Life (S&S), illustrated by Caldecott award honoree Diane Goode. A former Boston-based television producer, Kate produced and wrote the award-winning documentary Matzo & Mistletoe.

MJ BRUDER MUNAFO (Book Writer) is the Artistic and Executive Director of The Vineyard Playhouse on Martha’s Vineyard, where MY MOM began its life as a play in 2010. MJ has written dozens of children’s plays over the years in addition to directing many shows and premieres on the Playhouse mainstage. Her most recent was an all-female cast production of Romeo & Juliet outdoors at the Tisbury Amphitheater.

PAUL JACOBS (Composer) is a two-time Emmy-winning composer whose songs, co-written with lyricist Sarah Durkee, have been recorded by artists as diverse as Meatloaf, Mel Torme, Faith Hill, Brian McKnight, Roger Daltry, India Arie, Tricia Yearwood, Kermit the Frog, John Hiatt, and the London Philharmonic. Starting out as a classical pianist, he entered Juilliard at age eight and was soon performing Carnegie Hall and Radio Free Europe concerts. When the teen years and the guitar and rock world beckoned, he co-wrote the music for National Lampoon's Lemmings starring John Belushi, Chevy Chase and Christopher Guest, and for The National Lampoon Show with Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Richard Belzer and Harold Ramis. Paul was Meatloaf’s musical director, keyboard player and guitarist for many years and also played with Edgar Winter and Roy Buchanan. Back to his classical roots once again, he won the 2000 Van Cliburn Institute Amateur Concerto Competition, and performed with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Paul’s songs have been featured on over twenty years of Sesame Street, and he’s currently the musical director of the PBS reading show Between The Lions. 

SARAH DURKEE (Lyricist), since her days of performing, writing comedy for National Lampoon, and writing platinum-earning songs for Meat Loaf, Sarah has enjoyed a successful career writing scripts and songs for children’s television for over 25 years.  With composer Paul Jacobs, she’s written Emmy-winning songs for Sesame Street, performed by artists as diverse as Mel Torme, Kermit the Frog, Brian McKnight and Trisha Yearwood. Her scripts and songwriting have been regularly featured on Between the Lions, Dora the Explorer, Arthur, Wonder Pets, Peep and the Big Wide World and others, and she recently won her fifth Emmy award for her writing for Between the Lions. Her scriptwriting for the claymation series Bert and Ernie’s Great Adventures is also featured on Sesame Street and in the preschool music-based series Lomax: The Hound of Music. Sarah co-authored the adult satire The Book of Sequels with her fellow Lampoon alumni, and is the author of a middle grade novel The Fruit Bowl Project, a favorite of Writer’s Workshop teachers. In addition to My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life, this year’s projects include songwriting for a musical adaptation of the Leo Lionni classic Frederick, a children’s book series with an anti-bullying theme called Captain McFinn and Friends, and an educational video series for Curious George.

DEBBI KATZ (Director) is an equity actress, having performed in many Off-Broadway and regional shows, and seasoned director and producer. With more than 75 productions ranging from workshops to main-stage performances, Debbi has directed small-scale to full-ensemble productions.  Recently, She spent six years at the Bendheim Performing Arts Center in Scarsdale as the Producing Director where she oversaw a thriving cultural arts center inclusive of a theater school, outside performance series, music school and camp.  She ran large and small events, including the opening ceremonies for the JCC Maccabi Games at Madison Square Garden. She also developed and directed unique programs that combined the students of the theater school with top-notch Broadway talent as well as charitable groups that "gave back" to the community via musical performance around the tri-state area. Debbi has been an associate producer for Rockers on Broadway for four years, an organization that combines Broadway and Rock super star talent in order to raise money for Equity Fights Aids, as well as theatrical education companies. Debbi holds a BA in communications and theatre and a Masters in Special Education.  The messaging in My Mom Is Ruining My Life provides a wonderful platform for her greatest passion, which is using theatre as a bridge for connecting kids and their families.  

About WorkShop Theater Company

WorkShop Theater Company’s mission is to provide a creative home for a diverse group of playwrights, directors, and actors.  WorkShop has developed hundreds of plays, among them Eddie Antar’s NY Times Critics’ Pick, Drama Desk–nominated, and NY Innovative Theatre Award–winning hit The Navigator (“cruises in entertainingly high gear” – NY Times) and Ken Jaworowski’s Interchange (NY Times Critics’ Pick). Another WorkShop play, Allan Knee’s The Man Who Was Peter Pan, became the acclaimed film Finding Neverland, which received an Academy Award nomination for its screenplay by David Magee and was produced by Nellie Bellflower – both of whom are WorkShop Theater Company alumni.

#     #     #

Listings Information:
Who: WorkShop Theater Company
What: MY MOM IS TRYING TO RUIN MY LIFE
Where: Main Stage at WorkShop Theater (312 West 36th Street, 4th Floor).
When: February 14 – March 10, 2013
How: workshoptheater.org

If Emma’s mom is so great, why is she trying to ruin her daughter’s life? A heartwarming coming of age story with spectacular original music, MY MOM IS TRYING TO RUIN MY LIFE will have audiences laughing and singing.

For Immediate Release
January 10, 2013
Media Contact: Katie Rosin / Kampfire PR
917-562-5670 / [email protected]

WORKSHOP THEATER COMPANY

Proudly Presents the New York Premiere of

LIGHTNING FROM HEAVEN
The love story behind Doctor Zhivago

"Mr. Sickles’s zingy dialogue sparkled." – The New York Times review of Intellectuals

“Under Thomas Coté’s brisk direction, swift scene changes — no small feat for a play with so many — allow the momentum to build as the audience puts the pieces of the plot’s puzzle together.” – The New York Times review of Interchange

“Playwright Scott C. Sickles creates an intriguing, surprisingly believable study of human behavior. ... Just about any audience member will find something with which to connect." – Back Stage’s review of Moonlight & Love Songs

“A good cast under Thomas Coté’s direction brings each of the characters to life.” – The New York Times review of Never Missed a Day

Written by Award-Winning playwright SCOTT C. SICKLES

Starring MARY RUTH BAGGOTT, MICK BLEYER*, ETHAN CADOFF*, JED DICKSON*, BOB MANUS*, DAVID M. MEAD*, KARI SWENSON RIELY*, MICHAEL SELKIRK*, CHRISTINE VERLENY, DUSTYE WINNIFORD*
*Performing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.  AEA approved showcase.

Directed by THOMAS COTÉ

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT

FEBRUARY 14 – MARCH 9, 2013 AT THE WORKSHOP THEATER

OPENING NIGHT IS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, AT 8 PM

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT WORKSHOPTHEATER.ORG

WORKSHOP THEATER COMPANY is pleased to announce the New York premiere production of LIGHTNING FROM HEAVEN by WorkShop Theater Company Artistic Director and award-winning playwright Scott C. Sickles’s, LIGHTNING FROM HEAVEN, directed by Thomas Coté. LIGHTNING FROM HEAVEN will play a limited engagement on the Main Stage at WorkShop Theater (312 West 36th Street, 4th Floor). Performances of this love story begin on Valentine’s Day Thursday, February 14 and continue through Saturday, March 9. Opening Night is Saturday, February 16 (8 pm). Press performances: Thursday, February 14, at 8 pm; Friday, February 15, at 8 pm; Saturday, February 16, at 3 pm; Saturday, February 16, at 8 pm.

Before the classic film and the celebrated novel Doctor Zhivago, there were poet Boris Pasternak, his muse Olga Ivinskaya, and the Soviet government’s attempt to silence their story. After Pasternak’s death in 1960 Olga, his lover of fourteen years, was arrested by the KGB. LIGHTNING FROM HEAVEN chronicles Olga's subsequent interrogation and trial, while depicting her and Pasternak's struggle to complete and publish Doctor Zhivago despite determined Soviet efforts to stop them.

The production stars WorkShop Theater Company members: Mary Ruth Baggott as Olga’s daughter, Irina, Mick Bleyer* as Vladilen Alexanochkin, Ethan Cadoff* as Semionov, Jed Dickson* as Boris Pasternak, Bob Manus* as Kosachevski, David M. Mead* as the judge, Kari Swenson Riely* as Olga Ivinskaya, Michael Selkirk* as Giangiacomo Feltrinelli, Christine Verleny as Pasternak’s wife, Zinaida, and Dustye Winniford* as the prosecutor.

The production features scenic design by Craig Napoliello, costume coordination by Joanie Schumacher, and lighting design by Diana Duecker. Ryan Lee is the sound designer, makeup is by Jade DaRu, and Jason Healy is the stage manager.

LIGHTNING FROM HEAVEN plays the following regular schedule through Saturday, March 9:

 Thursdays at 7 pm
 Fridays at 8 pm
 Saturdays at 8 pm
 Sundays at 3 pm

There is an additional performance on Monday, March 4, at 7 pm

Tickets are $15–18 and are now available online at workshoptheater.org. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the theater 30 minutes prior to performance.

Running Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 10-minute intermission

Website: workshoptheater.org

Earlier incarnations of LIGHTNING FROM HEAVEN have been performed at the Red Barn Theatre near Pittsburgh, PA, in 1999, directed by William C. Kovacsik; and at The Hartt School in West Hartford, CT, directed by Michael Montel.

In January 2013, Smith & Kraus selected one of the speeches from LIGHTNING FROM HEAVEN to include in BEST MEN'S STAGE MONOLOGUES OF 2013!

BIOGRAPHIES

SCOTT C. SICKLES (Playwright) received the 1999 Beverly Hills Theater Guild Julie Harris Playwriting Award for Lightning from Heaven. His plays have been performed across the United Stares, as well as in Canada, Australia, the UK, and Lebanon. Smith & Kraus included his full-length comedy Intellectuals in New Playwrights: The Best Plays of 2007. Other published works include the short plays murmurs (Samuel French) and Beautiful Noises (also S&K). In addition to serving as Artistic Director of the WorkShop, Mr. Sickles has received three WGA Award nominations with the writing team of One Life to Live, and currently is a scriptwriter for General Hospital.

THOMAS COTÉ (Director) For the Workshop Theater, Ken Jaworowski’s Interchange and Never Missed a Day, Allan Knee’s The Jazz Age and The Last Seder, and Levy Lee Simon’s Audelco Award–winning play, The Guest at Central Park West. For Algonquin Productions, the critically acclaimed production of Shel Silverstein’s The Devil and Billy Markham.  For the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, National Pastime by Tony Sportiello.

About WorkShop Theater Company

WorkShop Theater Company’s mission is to provide a creative home for a diverse group of playwrights, directors, and actors.  WorkShop has developed hundreds of plays, among them Eddie Antar’s NY Times Critics’ Pick, Drama Desk–nominated, and NY Innovative Theatre Award–winning hit The Navigator (“cruises in entertainingly high gear” – NY Times) and Ken Jaworowski’s Interchange (NY Times Critics’ Pick). Another WorkShop play, Allan Knee’s The Man Who Was Peter Pan, became the acclaimed film Finding Neverland, which received an Academy Award nomination for its screenplay by David Magee and was produced by Nellie Bellflower – both of whom are WorkShop Theater Company alumni.

#     #     #

Listings Information:

Who: WorkShop Theater Company

What: LIGHTNING FROM HEAVEN

Where: Main Stage at WorkShop Theater (312 West 36th Street, 4th Floor).

When: February 14 – March 9, 2013

How: workshoptheater.org

Before the classic film and the celebrated novel Doctor Zhivago, there were poet Boris Pasternak, his muse, Olga Ivinskaya, and the government that did not want their story to be told.