Broadway Veteran Helms New Play At 14th Street Y Theater

Planet Connections Theater Festivity and The Theater at the 14th Street Y present a powerful new play directed by Broadway veteran, Tonya Pinkins.

The horrors of war confront a former WWII surgeon in playwright Glory Kadigan's riveting drama featuring David L. Carson as Robert, a former surgeon having served in Guadalcanal during World War 2, Kadigan's work explores the regrets of his youth and how his granddaughter helped him confront them. Broadway veteran,Tonya Pinkins,helms this premiere at the Theater at the 14th Street Y, 344 E 14th St, New York City.

The production features Mehret Marsh, *June Ballinger, *Perri Yaniv, * David L. Carson,* MaryMonahan, and Gina Lemoine

*appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association

Running January 11-26. Tickets available at https://14streety.secure.force.com/ticket#details_a0S36000007OsctEAC.

Ms. Pinkins directed Paul Robeson: The Opera at TRILOGY OPERA Company in 2018. BRING IT ON at Black Spectrum Theater in 2018. Tonya's short film WHAT CAME AFTER which she produced, directed and adapted with Christopher Oscar Pena's from his play by the same name at the 2016 at Eclectic Festival.

Tonya Directed EXIT: An Illusion by Marita Bonner in American Bard Theater's "Visionary Voices" She directed "Miss Roj" from THE COLORED MUSEUM for Project One Voice at The Kimble Theater. She directed A Visit Home by Jeffrey Sweetin 2013. Tonya co-directed by EASY TO LOVE by Larry Powell in the Fire This Time Festival.FOR COLORED BOYS by Jesse Alick in 48 Hours in Harlem. She has been developing Blaine Teamer's #BoxSeats at NYTW and in National Black Theater's Monday Night Reading series. She has directed V-Daythe Vagina Monologues at The World Health Ministry Conference in Mexico. The Klucking of Hens by Carol Lockwood at New Professional Theater,Camille Darby's LORD'S RESISTANCE at The National Black Theater Festival in WinstonSalem. DEAD PEOPLE's THINGS by Patricia Ione Lloyd at Red Circle Rising. Tonya is a Tony, Obie Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Lortel Award winning actor, she teaches privately. Tonya is the author of Get OVER YOURSELF: How to Drop The Drama and Claim The Life You Deserve (Hyperion Books), Tonya is the Producer,

Director and a Co-writer of the TRUTH and RECONCILIATION OF WOMYN Plays which will be presented at The Commons in Brooklyn on February 4,2019 and excerpted on WBAI Radio produced by EnGarde Arts, #HealMeTooFestivalMarch 28-April 14, 2019 at IRT Theaters and at The 14th Street Y in July 2019. To make donations to this empowering social justice project by and about womyn visit https://thefield.org/sa/620277.

Ms. Kadigan founded Planet Connections Theatre Festivity and served as The Producing Artistic Director for six seasons. Her work as a playwright has been presented in Singapore, London,and New Zealand. Her plays have received staged readings at La MaMa,The Actors Studio, TADA, and Dixon Place. She is also a director who recently directed Vivian's Music 1969 at 59E59, Clover by Erik Ehnat La MaMa,Bank by Lucy Thurber, Mean Girls by Lyle Kessler(World Premiere), Biting The Bullet by Regina Taylor( World Premiere). Ms. Kadigan is a member of The League of Professional Theatre Women which looks topromote the viability of women in the arts.

The Theater at the 14th Street Y focuses on social awareness and change through big picture narrative.Inspired by works that welcome artists of all backgrounds, we place artists at the heart of our community and seek to create an inclusive and open cultural experience for all. Art is incubated here.

The 14th Street Ys philosophy is grounded in thebelief that contemporary Jewish sensibilities can be a source of inspiration,connection and learning. No matter what your background, we aim to inspire youto live your best life. Were committed to the development of the whole person,to strengthening family connections and to building inclusive and sustainable communities. The 14th Street Y serves more than 26,000 people annually with a variety of community programs and is proud to be apart of Educational Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a 128-year history of serving New Yorkers downtown.