Programs
TONGUES: a reading series
RATTLESTICK TONGUES: a readings series, a special installment of TONGUES, returns in 2012 with free readings presented by Cherry Lane Theatre and Rattlestick Playwrights Theater!
Next up:
THE BENDS
by Megan Mostyn-Brown (Mentor Project 2006 Fellow)
directed by Lila Neugebauer
*with Matthew Dellapina, Aubrey Dollar, Sarah Nina Hayon, Greg Keller, Danielle Slavick, and David Ross.
Thursday, February 23rd at 2pm at Cherry Lane
Reservations at slawrence@cherrylanetheatre.org
*cast subject to change
About TONGUES: a reading series
In 1998, Cherry Lane Alternative launched its reading series of new American plays and has since hosted hundreds of readings, inviting our community of playwrights as well as guest companies and artists to participate. In this way, we offer a public forum to a wide range of exciting new works. It is our belief that the playwright learns the most about their work by bringing it before an audience.
Emerging, mid-career and award-winning writers have heard their words interpreted by a number of New York’s top actors, including F. Murray Abraham, Mary Alice, Matthew Arkin, Bob Balaban, Kelly Bishop, Kathleen Chalfant, Jill Clayburgh, John Cullum, Matt Dillon, Lisa Emery, Boyd Gaines, Sheila Gibbs, Micki Grant, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ethan Hawke, Judith Ivey, Jessica Hecht, Kim Hunter, Carol Kane, Kevin Kelner, Anthony LaPaglia, Dan Lauria, Mark Linn-Baker, Joe Mantello, Elizabeth Marvel, Ellen McLaughlin, Estelle Parsons, Jason Patrick, Austin Pendleton, Marianne Plunkett, Lily Rabe, Peter Riegert, Julia Roberts, Laila Robins, Roger Robinson, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Mercedes Ruehl, Jay O. Sanders, Lois Smith, Frances Sternhagen, Eric Stolz, and Will Swenson.
This year-round series attracts diverse audiences drawn from the theatre going public, young theatre and film artists, and industry insiders. In 2003, the reading series was officially named TONGUES in honor of the late Joseph Chaikin who directed our Heritage Series revival of Happy Days by Samuel Beckett, which received its world premiere in 1961 at Cherry Lane Theatre.
Recent History
2012
The Bends
by Megan Mostyn-Brown
directed by Lila Neugabauer
with Matthew Dellapina, Aubrey Dollar, Sarah Nina Hayon, Greg Keller, Danielle Slavick, and David Ross
February 23rd, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre, as part of Rattlestick Tongues
Leap and the Net Will Appear
by Chana Porter
directed by Craig Lucas
with Michael Bartelle, Mary Beth Peil, Maria Dizzia, Ryan King, George Olesky, Scott Rodrigue, Wallace Shawn
February 7th, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre, as part of Rattlestick Tongues
2011
Psalm 151
by Len Jenkin
directed by Kip Fagan
with Lynn Cohen, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Ana Reeder
December 13th, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre, as part of Rattlestick Tongues
Buzz
by Benjamin Kunkel
directed by Adam Rapp
with Natalie Kuhn, Dallas Roberts, Eddie K. Thomas, Katherine Waterston, Akeem Baisden-Folkes
December 6th, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre, as part of Rattlestick Tongues
Foo Fable
by David Van Asselt
directed by Caitriona McLaughlin
with Denis Butkus, Felipe Cabezon, Nandita Chandra, Nehassaiu deGannes, Rosa Gilmore, Vanessa Hernandez, Camille Mana, Hubert Point-Du Jour, Matt Pilieci, Sara Surrey, Alok Tewari, Sanford Wilson
November 29th, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre, as part of Rattlestick Tongues
Oh, the Power
by David Bar Katz
directed by Jaime Castaneda
with Liza Colon-Zayas, David Deblinger, Kim Director, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Zackary Grady, Jeffrey Horwitz, Deirdre O'Connell, Frank Whaley, and David Zayas
November 22nd, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre, as part of Rattlestick Tongues
Collision
by Lyle Kessler
directed by Terry Kinney
with John Doman, Jesse Eisenberg, Craig "Mums" Grant, Will Rogers, and Alexandra Socha
November 15th, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre, as part of Rattlestick Tongues
Honey Drop
by Erin Courtney
directed by Denis Butkus
with Jack Gwaltney, James McMenamin, Heidi Schreck, Jenny Seastone Stern, Welker White, and Breanna Foister
November 8th, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre, as part of Rattlestick Tongues
The Closet Play
by Charline Spektor
directed by Kathleen Turner
with Dennis Boutsikaris, Will Bradley, Margaret Colin, Kathryn Grody, Meg McCrossen, James Waterston
October 28, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre
Straight
by Scott Elmegreen and Drew Fornarola
directed by Andy Sandberg
with Michael Arden, Liza J. Bennett, Paul Iacono
Matthew Maisto, casting director; Colin O'Rourke, asst. director; Emily Jenda, stage directions
September 26, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre
After Paradise
by Israel Horovitz
directed by Damien Gray
read by Will Swenson
original music performed and composed by Peter Lurye
September 11, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre
Mamma Roma
written and performed by Anne DeSalvo
Jeff Rubino, stage directions
August 8, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre
Crap Crap Crap or Everything I Don't Want to Be at Forty
by Callan Stout
directed by Richard Caliban
with Jessica DiGiovanni, Marlo Marron, Caroln Popp
Arthur Lundquist, stage directions
August 1, Studio at Cherry Lane Theatre
From Breast Cancer to Broadway
An evening of short plays by breast cancer survivors
“From a Misery to a Ministry” by Lenice Bozeman
directed by Terrence Spivey
with Stephanie Berry and Rosalyn Coleman
June 27
“Sibling Rivalry” by Rose Dukes
directed by Terrence Spivey
with Shiko Amos, Frank Bowman, and Marjorie Johnson
June 27
“The Awakening” by Sabrina Heath
directed by Petronia Paley (6/13) and Terrence Spivey (6/27)
with Lizan Mitchell and Franceli Chapman
June 13, 27
“A Husband’s Perspective” by Loretta Embry
directed by Terrence Spivey
with Chuck Cooper and Brenda Pressley
June 27
“I’m Ready” by Kim Marin-Sadler
directed by Leah Gardiner (6/20) and Terence Spivey (6/27)
with Brenda Pressley and Renee Williams (6/20); Petronia Paley and Yvette Ganier (6/27)
June 20, 27
“Dance Partners” by Jacquelyn Richards
directed by Billie Allen
with Linda Powell and Roscoe Orman
June 13, 20
“Today” by Denise Richmond-Kelley
directed by Terence Spivey
with Denise Richmond-Kelley and Shiko Amos
June 27
“Surviving Cancer and Crazy People” by Bernadette Scruggs
directed by Bridgette Wimberly
with Yvette Ganier and Petronia Paley (6/13); Roslyn Ruff and Renee Williams (6/20)
June 13, 20
“Bitter Sweet” by Bernadette Scruggs
directed by Terrence Spivey
with Rosalyn Coleman and Ty Jones
June 27
“Better and Better” by Carol Snyder
directed by Pat Golden
with Linda Powell, Justin S. Myrick, and Renee Williams
June 20
“A Gift” by Cordi Stokes
directed by Pat Golden (6/13; 6/20) and Terrence Spivey (6/27)
with Roscoe Orman and Stacy Osei-Kuffour (6/13; 6/20); Peter Lawson Jones and Cassandra Freeman (6/27)
June 13, 20, 27
“Waking Up” by Cori Thomas
directed by Pat Golden
with Aimiende Negbenebor and Bridgit Antoinette Evans
June 13, 20
“Birthing Hope” by Devonna White
directed by Terrence Spivey
with Bridgit Antoinette Evans and Ananias Dixon
June 27
“The Argument” by Cheryl Williams
directed by Ruben Santiago Hudson, Bridgette Wimberly, and Terrence Spivey
with Roslyn Ruff and Brenda Pressley (6/20); Renee Williams and Yvette Ganier (6/13); Rosalyn Coleman and Perry Gaffney (6/27)
June 13, 20, 27
“The Visit” by Linda Wood-Wims
directed by Terrence Spivey
with Yvette Ganier and Rodney Freeman
June 27
Plays mentored by Gretchen Cryer, Lynn Nottage, and Molly Smith
Renee Williams, stage directions
Kelly Ruth Cole, Production Stage Manager
Sins of the Mother
written and directed by Israel Horovitz
with Chris Cooper, Ethan Hawke, Francisco Solorzano, and Michael Stuhlbarg
May 2, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre
2010
Questioning
by Elizabeth Primamore
directed by Craig Lucas
with Karen Ludwig
December 8, Studio at Cherry Lane Theatre
The Sudden Glide
written and directed by David A. Crespy
with Colleen Smith Wallnau, Elise Link, Carlos Ponton, Eli Ganias, Michael Shelle, Laura Swanson and Steven Dennis. Stage Directions by Alexander Peck.
September 13, Studio at Cherry Lane Theatre
A Loss of Roses
by William Inge
directed by Austin Pendleton
with Jane Summerhays, Raul Sigmund Julia, Evan Neuman, Jean Lichty, Roger Manix, Sara Croft, Clarke Thorell, Sarah McKee, Emily Robinson, Rutanya Alda. Narrator: James Judy
produced by Jean Lichty
July 27, Studio at Cherry Lane Theatre
Best Friends
by Jack Gindi
directed by David Armstrong
with Mario Brassard, Sandy Rustin, Tamara Bechara
May 3, Library at Cherry Lane Theatre
Give Me Give You
by Jason Pizzarello
directed by Peter Gil-Sheridan
with Zach Fineblum, Alice Kremelberg, Beca Ballenger, and Brian Gerard Murray
April 22, Cherry Pit
Motherlodge Presents the Saints Tour
a walking tour of the West Village with meal and music
conceived and written by Molly Rice
directed by Rachel Chavkin
with Taylor Mac and Nick Lerangis. Assistant direction by Knud Adams, production stage management by Stephen Ellis
April 15 – 17, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre
What of the Night?
four one-acts presented as part of The 2010 New York Fornes Festival
by Maria Irene Fornes
Nadine directed by Jaquelyn Landgraf
with Zuleyna Guevara, Ronald Alexander Peet, Rik Walter, Desiree Burch, Tracy Podell, and Stephanie Hsu; Jeri Silverman; Guitarist
Springtime directed by Kay Matschullat
with Anna Fikhman, Massiel Delgadillo, and Liam Nelligan
Lust directed by Felipe J. Gorostiza
with Walter Krochmal, Gilbert Gruz, Monica Steuer, Mateo Gomez, Elizabeth Acosta, and Ryan Thibeault
Hunger Directed by Mayra Ferrer
with Jack R. Marks, Eve Packer, Ralph Pochoda, Adriana Sonones, and Kaitlin M. Goff.
Ashley L. Fields, Stage Directions for all four plays
Festival presented by INTAR; Gwendolyn Alker, Curator.
April 5, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre
Memorial Day
written and performed by Brian Delate
Jim Farmer, music and sound; Hillery Makatura, Stage Manager; Maria De Fazio, Sound Recording; Elisa Matula, voice of Min Sister Blister/Barbara; Jacqueline Knapp, voice of Denise
March 31, Studio at Cherry Lane Theatre
Dani Girl
music by Michael Kooman, book & lyrics by Christopher Dimond
directed by Scott Schwartz
with Rozi Baker, John Bolton, Jayne Paterson, and Zachary Carter Sayle, stage directions by Michael Schwartz
produced by Alex Orbovich and Michael Roderick
March 26, Studio at Cherry Lane Theatre
Tango Palace & Dr. Kheal
presented as part of The 2010 New York Fornes Festival.
by Maria Irene Fornes
directed by Gisela Cardenas
Tango Palace performed by Arjun Gupta and T. Ryder Smith. Dr Kheal performed by Rocco Sisto; Christian Pineda, Stage Directions.
Festival presented by INTAR; Gwendolyn Alker, Curator.
March 25, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre
Swan Day 2010
Towards a New WPA: Supporting Women Artists Now
a play reading and panel discussion: “Mixed Relief,” a one-act play by NewShoe Theatre members Suzanne Bennett, Jill Campbell, Marya Cohn, Dana Leslie Goldstein, Michele Aldin Kushner, and Andrea Lepcio, with Elyse Mirto, Lynn Cohen, Lizan Mitchell, Judith Hawking, Black Eyed Susan, Melanie Nicholls-King, Toks Olagundoye, and Peter Reznikoff, directed by Teresa K. Pond. Lauren Rosen, Sound & Audio Design; Rebecca Snead, Harmonica Player; Annie Deardorff, Stage Manager.
WomenArts panel discussion, “Towards a New WPA,” with leading feminist arts activists Martha Richards, Elizabeth A. Sackler, Carol Jenkins, and Arlene Goldbard
Produced by WomenArts in collaboration with NewShoe Theatre Group and the League of Professional Theatre Women
March 22, Mainstage at Cherry Lane
Thinner than Water
by Melissa Ross
directed by Mimi O’Donnell
with Lisa Joyce, Ana Ortiz, Greg Keller, Yetta Gottesman, David Wilson Barnes, Raul Castillo, Alex Alioto, and Betsy Aidem
produced by LAByrinth Theater Company
February 2, Cherry Pit
April Escapes
by David Neipris
directed by George Demas
with Ben Livingston, James McMenamin, Dana Jacks, and Kathleen Peirce.
stage directions read by Pauline Colon
January 26, Studio at Cherry Lane Theatre
Green Setting Sun
by Jakob Holder
directed by Daniella Topol
with Will Harper, Kelly McAndrew, Christian Rummel, Gio Perez, Gerardo Rodriguez, and Godfrey Simmons
January 7, Library at Cherry Lane Theatre
2009
Goldfish
by John Kolvenbach
directed by Loretta Greco
with Anna Ballard, Rod Gnapp, Patricia Hodges, Andrew Pastides,
produced by Magic Theatre
December 14, Studio at Cherry Lane Theatre
Quick Bright Things
by Tracy Thorne
directed by Lucie Tiberghien
with Jennifer Mudge, John Douglas Thompson, Sloane Shelton, and Peter Jay Fernandez
November 6, Studio at Cherry Lane Theatre
Standing Ovation: Telling Our Stories As We Fight Breast Cancer
an evening of short plays:
Soc it to Me by Phyllis Goldberg
directed by Pat Golden, with George Tynan Crowley, Nate Faust, and J. J. Perez
Cancer Notes by Jackie Richards
directed by Billie Allen, with Lynn Whitfield and Roscoe Orman
Excerpt from In This Life Together by Ruby Dee
directed and performed by Billie Allen
The Joy of Life by Pearl Griffith-Eccles
directed by Chuck Paterson, with Marjorie Johnson, Bobbi Owens, Hechter Ubarry,
and Kate Mailer
Glass by Bridgette A. Wimberly
directed by Elizabeth Van Dyke, with Stephanie Berry
I Luv Valentine’s Day by Carolyn Smith
directed by Nicole Watson, with Marjorie Johnson, Bobbi Owens, Peter Jay Fernandez, Charles Barboza, and Michael Micalizzi
The Blind Eyes Wanted to See by Valerie P. de Beaufort-d’Aubigne
directed by Bridgette A. Wimberly, with Elizabeth Davis, Lelund Durond Thompson, Amanda Duffy. Joshua John McKay, and Francois d'Aubigne
Identification by Kate Mailer
directed by Chuck Paterson, with Performed by Kate Mailer
Sorry Ain’t Enough by Daisy I. Dumas-Featherstone
directed by Stephanie Berry, with Marjorie Johnson, J.J. Perez, Denise Lock, Thyais Walsh, Bobbie Owens, and Nate Faust
Excerpt from In This Life Together by Ruby Dee
directed and performed by Billie Allen
Surviving Cancer and Crazy People by Bernadette M. Scruggs
directed by Pat Golden, with Rosalyn Coleman and Susan Brown
October 26, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre
Low Down Dirty Blues
a new musical by Randal Myler and Dan Wheetman
with Sandra Reaves-Phillips, Deborah Blackwell-Cook, Gregory Porter, Mississippi Charles Bevel, and Terrence Riggins
musicians: Dan Wheetman, Calvin Jones, and Mark Alexander
BJ Jones, Artistic Director, Northlight Theatre
October 19, Mainstage at Cherry Lane Theatre