Dan Lauria to Headline Private Reading of MEND

MEND, a New Play by Steven Hillyer and Tim Marback, will have a private reading on Wednesday, May 18th 2016. Dan Lauria (LOMBARDI, A CHRISTMAS STORY) will be joined by April Ortiz (IN THE HEIGHTS), Amy Engelhardt (A COMEDY OF ERAS at ACT), and James Donegan (FORBIDDEN BROADWAY). Marc Tumminelli will direct.

A comedic rollercoaster from beginning to end, MEND tackles the universal issues every family must face. Can we forgive each other for past wounds, or is the damage already done? Is our love strong enough to overcome our differences? These questions are posed after physical ailments force a father and daughter to alternately care for one another while confronting their own, and each other's, personal demons. Their struggle is further complicated by issues of faith and religion and, of course, meddling phone calls and visits from other family members.

Steven Hillyer and Tim Marback are award-winning screenwriters / playwrights / producers and cofounders of New York City based Arkanjel Productions. Their first feature film, THE EVENT, starring Academy Award winner Olympia Dukakis, Sarah Polley, and Parker Posey, premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. The film won the prestigious Siegessäule Jury Award at The Berlin International Film Festival, Best Screenplay and Best Feature awards at the Atlantic Film Festival, Best Actress for Olympia Dukakis at Outfest Los Angeles, and was released domestically and internationally.

The reading is produced by Rich Martino and Mike Cruz in association with Arkanjel Productions.