 |
 |
|
|
Blow the House Down
February 24, 2002
by P.J. Barry
Directed by Brian Smiar
NANNETTE:
Nicola Sheara
MAGGIE:
Noni Connor
DIANE:
Joey Brenneman
STAGE DIRECTIONS:
Ken Thompson
|
|
CAST & CREW
P.J. BARRY (Playwright) Mr. Barry's THE OCTETTE BRIDGE CLUB earned acclaim at the Humana Festival at The Actor's Theater of Louisville, and followed that with a Broadway run. It has been performed in more than 400 theaters and continues to play throughout the country. Other recent productions of his plays include BABY GRAND, GETTING THE GOLD (Long Island Stage), DAGGER (South Jersey Regional), TOAST AND JELLY (George Street Playhouse), JUMP THE TRAIN AT RIVERPOINT (Stage West) and AFTER THE DANCING IN JERICHO, A DISTANCE FROM CALCUTTA, DOWN BY THE OCEAN (The York Theatre Company). These last three, which he also directed, are part of his twelve-play saga centered in and around the fictional town of Jericho, Rhode Island. At the National Playwright's Conference of the O'Neill Theatre Center he was the recipient of the HBO Award for his play AND FAT FREDDY'S BLUES which later went on to the Shelykova Festival of new plays in Russia. Productions of his plats Off and Off-Off Broadway include HERITAGE, THE KISS OF LIFE, SHE PLAYED GOOD PIANO, THE LOVE MAN'S GONE AWAY, GANNON, and REASONABLE CIRCULATION. Other works have been commissioned by Actors Theater of Louisville, Stage West and the Empire State Institute for the Performing Arts. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild. For seven years, he was Artistic Director of the Hudson Guild Theatre, NYC, where he directed over 30 productions. As an actor he has performed in regional theaters along the East Coast, and on television most recently in AS THE WORLD TURNS, LAW & ORDER, and in many national commercials.
JOEY BRENNEMAN (Diane) has performed in many original and experimental works in New York City at LaMama ETC, The Atlantic Theater, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Playhouse 122, and The Pantheon Theater. Regionally, Joey was seen in COLLECTED STORIES in Cooperstown & Woodstock NY. She has spent ten years touring throughout NYC and across the country as an actress and a director with STAR Theatre, educating young people around the issues of AIDS, sexuality, gender equity, racism, abuse and other urgent topics. She is a senior trainer and teaches others the STAR Theatre model. Joey has acted in numerous educational films and videos and has worked in commercials and voice-overs. She received her BFA from New York University. Joey has also just finished writing her first play called FAST BREAK. She lives in NYC with her husband, actor Craig Waletzko and their daughter Hallie Claire.
NONI CONNOR (Maggie) received a BA in Drama from Marymount Manhattan College and continued her drama training in New York with Austin Pendleton, Aaron Frankel, Michael Karm and Joanna Merlin. Her New York theatrical appearances included leading roles IN LOOK BACK IN ANGER, THE WAR WIDOW, THE PROMISE, DESIGN FOR LIVING, THE CHILDREN'S HOUR and THE TAVERN. After moving to London in 1995, she appeared in BURN THIS, HEDDA GABLER, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, ON GOLDEN POND, THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG, SARA (a retelling of Ivanov) and THE DARK IS LIGHT ENOUGH. She earned a Master's Degree in Text and Performance Studies from King's College London and Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She studied with William Gaskell, Brigid Panet and Lloyd Trott at RADA, and with Bill Homewood, Nina Finburgh and Andrew Pratt at the Actors' Centre. Her one-woman show, SCENES FROM A LIFE, based on the life of actress/writer/suffragist Elizabeth Robins, was presented at the New Theatre on the Strand. She is a member of the Tavistock Repertory Company in London and the Playwrights' Gallery and American Renaissance Theatre Company in New York.
NICOLA SHEARA (Nannette) has performed on Broadway (GRAPES OF WRATH: Tony Award - Best Production,) Off Broadway, and in regional theaters across the country. Hudson Valley audiences have seen her in LOVE LETTERS and COLLECTED STORIES with Performing Arts of Woodstock, and in three productions at Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany. She is currently appearing in two Horton Foote plays at Horton by the Stream in Elka Park, N.Y. and, in August, with the Woodstock Theater Company at the Byrdcliffe Barn. Ms. Sheara's work as a director has been seen in the area at PAW, Shadowlands, and at the Bardavon (THE THREEPENNY OPERA). Daytime serials include LOVING and LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING. Ms. Sheara records books on tape, several of which can be found on the shelves of the West Hurley Library.
BRIAN SMIAR (Director) has directed at Bucks County Playhouse, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Theatre West of Los Angeles, East Coast Arts of New Rochelle, and the Lyric Stage, Boston, to name a few. As an actor, Mr. Smiar appeared on Broadway in MIXED EMOTIONS. He has also performed at Playwrights Horizons, The Provincetown Playhouse, Fulton Opera House, Cincinnati Playhouse and The Charles Playhouse, Boston. His films include REGARDING HENRY, BOSS OF BOSSES, SHADOWS AND FOG, 13 CONVERSATIONS (soon to be released), and THE NEXT KARATE KID, and he was a regular on THE SLAP MAXWELL SHOW and L.A. FIREFIGHTERS. In addition he has been on LAW & ORDER, THIRD WATCH, ED, HOOP LIFE, CHINA BEACH, thirysomething and THE COMMISH, and recently on THE EDUCATION OF MAX BICKFORD.
KEN THOMPSON (Stage Directions) as appeared in the Hudson Valley area in PAW's WENCESLAS SQUARE, ZOO STORY at UPAC's Back Alley Theatre, Shadowland's Social Security and THE MOUSETRAP; and Law & Order: SVU.
|
|
 |
|
