Ossining Arts Council & Westchester Collaborative Theater
present the 2018
The talent that IS Living Art
present the 2018
The talent that IS Living Art
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The Ossining Arts Council is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote and showcase the talent of all artists, whether professional or amateur, to unite diverse talent across other arts-based organizations through collaborative programs, and to build awareness and inspire passion for the arts within our community.
Westchester Collaborative Theater (WCT) is a 501 (C)3 multicultural, cooperative theater company located in Ossining, N.Y., solely dedicated to the development of new plays by its member playwrights, actors and directors.
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The Playwrights & Directors:
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C.J. Ehrlich, Playwright & Director of The Bees Are Watching C.J.’s award-winning plays have enjoyed dozens of productions, in 32 US states and on five continents. Staged full-lengths include THE MALTESE BABKA (which kicked off WCT's 2017 Reading Series, dir. Chris Arena, after being developed in the WCT play lab), ZANE TO GATE 69 (sci-fi comedy), THE CUPCAKE CONSPIRACY ("Terrorism is Easy. Marriage is Complicated", w/Philip J. Kaplan). Some other favorite collaborators: Samuel French Off-Off-Broadway Fest, Boston Theatre Marathon, Grin Theatre, Liverpool Seoul Players, South Korea. Her work is published anthologies that include six of the last 8 Smith & Kraus’ annual Best Ten Minute Plays (2011-2018) and The Best American Short Plays of 2014-15. A proud member of WCT and the Dramatists Guild of America, C.J. lists among her greatest achievements teaching her sons the fine art of the spit take. C.J. is grateful for the opportunity to develop THE BEES and other new work with the talented WCT company. Please visit at CJ-Ehrlich.com. Howard Lipson, Playwright & Director of Friends by Choice and director for Mr. Green Howard began his theatre journey as a child actor, working with Hal Linden and Eddie Dowling. He studied theatre at Temple University in Philadelphia, where he formed his first theatre company, The New Group Theatre. In NYC he founded another company, Gryphon Repertory, directing several OOB productions. He taught advanced acting for seven years to professionals, including many graduates of the Neighborhood Playhouse. Along the way he had the fortune to study acting briefly with the great Harold Clurman and direct for the legendary Michael Shurtleff. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, WCT and Main Street Playwrights. His plays have been produced nationally, regionally and in NYC. Howard is most proud of his theatre ministry at Christ Church, Tarrytown NY. For seventeen years he has written and directed over 150 sermon plays based on scripture, each performed monthly there and at several other regional churches.One of these plays, Joanna's Story, has been expanded into a full length play and will open March 3rd at Stamford High School in a modified version. The play about a transgender high school girl will be performed with a transgender student at the school in the lead role. Evelyn Mertens playwright of The Image of Women Evelyn has had one-act plays and monologues produced through Westchester Collaborative Theater (WCT); Axial Theatre’s Life on Earth, Gaslight Tango, Twisted Valentines 2015 – 2018, Glass Ceiling Breakers, and several Performance and Monologue Workshops; the 20/20 Aery Theatre Festival where she was twice a finalist; Irvington Town Hall Theatre’s Stage Door series; Manhattan Rep; and John Chatterton’s Short Play Lab. She studied acting through Howard Meyer’s Acting Program through the Master level, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Circle in the Square. A principal and owner of QED Associates LLC, Evelyn is a PR specialist and writer for a variety of private and nonprofit clients in theatre and the construction and design industries. She holds an M.A. in creative writing from Brown University and a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College. Angelo Parra, playwright of Mr. Green Angelo has had works produced Off-Broadway, in Los Angeles, Chicago, and at The Hartford Stage, Florida Stage, Cape (Cod) Playhouse, George Street Playhouse, Florida Rep, Merrimack Rep, Cleveland Play House, Milwaukee Rep, and at the Montreal International Jazz Festival (2012) and the Edinburgh International Theatre Festival, among other prestigious venues. His critically acclaimed play with music, The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith, was named among the “Top-Ten Off-Broadway Experiences” by the N.Y. Daily News and nominated for a 2012 Lucille Lortel Award. His honors include the Jewel Box Theatre, Mixed Blood Versus America, and David James Ellis Memorial national play awards for his ensemble hospital drama, Journey of the Heart. His film script adaptation of Journey of the Heart was a finalist at the Sundance Film Festival. Angelo is also the author of Playwriting for Dummies, part of the international series of how-to books. His distinctions include two New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowships in Scriptwriting and the 1998 Chicano/Latino Literary Award (University of California). In 2000, he was named a Tennessee Williams Scholar at the prestigious Sewanee Writers Conference. He is a member of The Dramatists Guild, member emeritus of the BMI/Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, and literary manager of Penguin Rep Theatre. He also is the founder/director of the Main Street Playwrights workshop in Tarrytown, and teaches playwriting and performing arts at SUNY Rockland Community College. Angelo lives in Rockland County with his wife, Sandra, a private-practice psychotherapist, and their dogs, Charlie and Evvie. Pat O'Neill, Playwright & Director of The Loud Hours Pat is an actor, writer, and director who is proud to call WCT home base. You can usually find him in the back of the audience by listening for quiet weeping while his plays are being performed. He wants to thank his friends, family, and everyone involved in making this production happen for their support and hard work. Follow the broken crayon markings to www.proneill.online for more of his work. Jennifer Siciliano, director of The Image of Women Jennifer has directed the work of original playwrights at the Aery One-Act Festival, Axial Theater, and Blueberry Pond Theatre Ensemble. Her other directing credits include Christopher Durang’s Beyond Therapy, Dancing at Lughnasa, Me and My Girl, A Chorus Line, and The Wiz. She has developed several educational theatrical programs in Westchester and NYC, has an MST in Secondary English Education, and is a writer and award-winning bodypainter. Visit her website at: www.notascrazyasyouthink.com. Jane Ann Valentine, Playwright & Director of Clam Diggers and Mussel Suckers Jane’s plays have been performed at the Westchester Collaborative Theater, The Depot Theatre, the Brick Box at The Paramount Theater with the Vermont Actors’ Repertory Theatre, The Cherry Lane Theater with the Daisy Collective, The Cherry Lane Theater’s Cherry POP Fluid Edition, LaTEA Theater, the TheaterLab, Actors Theater of America and her storytelling has been presented at Sid Gold’s Request Room and the Asian American Writers’ Workshop. Most recently, her edgy comedy All’s Fair was a highlight at the 2017 WCT fall mainstage show and she will be directing and acting in its second production in the Aery Theater Company’s 8th Annual Ariane Original One-Act Play Festival in February 2018. Her solo show The Container was selected for the 11th Annual 20/20 Aery Short Play Festival at The Depot Theatre in September 2017 and her solo show It’s Just a Number was featured in the WCT August 2017 Monologue Series. Her play As I Live and Breathe won the 2016 Nor’Eastern Playwriting Contest and her screenplay Portrait (writer, director, actor) won the AAFilmLab's Best Short Scriptwriting Contest. She was one of the creators of the ongoing AAFilmLab 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition. Favorite stage credits: Tami in Got No Claim (WCT), Mary in The Erythrosine Ballad (WCT), Hanako in Hanjo (Bank Street Theater), Sunny in The Last Night of Ballyhoo (The Historic Dock Street Theater) and Chorus in Trojan Women (The Hallie Flanagan Studio Theater). A graduate from Smith College, Jane continued her studies with the Labyrinth Theatre Ensemble Workshop, Studio 34 Creation Formation Paris, Primary Stages, Anthony Meindl, Matt Hoverman, Gretchen Cryer, among others. She is a proud member of the WCT, The Shelter Theater Company and the Empire Dragonboat Team. Currently, she is working on her first feature-length play and is developing a web series. |
The Cast:
Enid Breis is delighted to be a part of this original production. She has had over 15 years of acting experience, has performed in several WCT productions, as well as in the NY International Fringe Festival and numerous plays, dramatic readings, and films throughout Westchester County and New York City. Some of her favorite roles are: Harriet in Cadillac, an original new play by Barry Malawar, Dr. Armstrong in Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, The Flood from Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues, Beth in Neil Simon’s California Suite, and Mrs. Cage in Nancy Barr’s eponymous play. Enid is a member of SAG/AFTRA and is proud to be a part of the WCT family..
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Keith Bulluck is a Mount Vernon native living in Hudson Valley. He is very excited to be a part of this cast and production. Keith has been performing throughout the Tri-State area for the past 30 years. His theatre experiences include such productions as: A Short Walk into Sunshine, Boys Next Door, Radio Golf, Driving Miss Daisy, Two Trains Running and The Piano Lesson.
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Jeff Callan has been studying acting at Axial theater with Howard Meyer for 3 years and has performed in numerous productions there. In 2016, Jeff performed in the 10th Annual Aery 20/20 Festival at the Depot Theater. He was recently invited and has become an active member of the WCT. Jeff performed in the Muscoot farm production of The Crucible and costarred in the independent comedy film The Overtipper, directed by Eric Busey. Most recently Jeff was in the monologue workshop performance at Axial theater. Jeff would like to thank Karina, Alan, and Jane. Special thanks to his wife Anita and his three children for their love and support.
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Michelle Daneshvar is very pleased to be working with WCT & OAC for this production of Living Art. Most recently, Michelle has performed in "Foothold" at The Philipstown Depot Theatre, “The Erythrosine Ballad” at the Aery 20/20 Festival (for which she is honored to have received the "Best Actress" award), “No Hablo Ingles” with Aminal Productions, and “Lot’s Wife” at Westchester Collaborative Theater. Michelle is excited to have the opportunity to perform in both "The Loud Hours" & "Clam Diggers & Mussel Suckers" this production & hopes you enjoy them as much as she has enjoyed working on them.
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Anne Glickman recently performed in WCTs production of “Fractured Family Tales” and is very excited to be part of the Living Arts Event. Prior to connecting with WCT, Anne appeared on many stages -- from Summer Stock to Soap Operas. For the last 21 years she's been acting happily married to her husband. Her role as Wife, Mom, Realtor & her many jobs working at a restaurant has kept her busy, but working with these great writers, directors & fellow actors of WCT is just what she needed.
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Tom Lloyd has been acting in community theater on and off since 1976, when he first appeared in ACT's Sweet Charity. He is grateful to be included in WCT's wonderful group of talented writers, directors, and actors. This is his first time being in the LAE and is already hoping to do it again!
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Sandy Rooney is a graduate of the William Esper Studio in NYC where she studied under the tutelage of Suzanne Esper, and she continues to hone her craft through a masters acting class with the renowned Howard Meyer. She has had both leading and supporting roles in numerous theater, film and television projects throughout Manhattan and is thrilled to be performing in her hometown of Westchester! She was most recently seen in Axial Theatre’s production of NECTAR, and prior to that she played a somewhat ‘savory’ character in the one-act DOUBLE DATE (as part of Axial Theatre’s 2017 production of “Twisted Valentines”). Sandy also produced an original play titled THE ATOMIC VIEW MOTEL that met with sold out audiences and the Producer’s Club in Manhattan.
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Roberta G. Robinson was last seen as Sarah in the the WCT Main Stage production of Fractured Family Tales. Over the summer she played Maggie in the WCT staged reading of Missouri Pals. She is so excited to continue her journey back to the stage after so many years away and she appreciates for the opportunity to work on her craft in the company of so many talented, generous and amazing people. Roberta is grateful for the support she receives from her family and friends.
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Dan Slavin This is Dan’s second performance with WCT following his portrayal of Jonah in Where the Sun Don’t Shine in last season’s fractured family tales. A big thanks and HELLO to all of the fractured crew! Dan has been a resident of Scarborough since 1998 with his wife Belkis, son Lucas, and daughter Sophia. Prior to WCT, Dan performed with Carnegie Mellon University’s Scotch ‘n Soda Players, and studied at HB Studio in New York. Dan is thrilled to be working with the company, and honored to be able to create great theater with such talented and local collaborators. The BEES performance is dedicated to his son, in honor of graduating high school and pursuing his path in music. Keep making art Lucas, it works!
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Stage Manager, Julia LaVerde
Julia LaVerde's most recently ran tech for Fractured Family Tales and prior to that was stage manager for the spring 2017 mainstage play Lot's Wife. She is happy to be returning for her second Living Art Event, last being in 2016. She works as a stage manager for various companies throughout Westchester including Actors Conservatory Theater. In her alternate life Julia freelances with communications, web and graphic design, and wedding coordination, among other things, but feels especially at home creating for and working on the stage.