NEW CITY, NEW BLOOD READINGS SERIES Returns 1/5

For 35 years, Pulitzer Prize winning THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY has nurtured hundreds of playwrights through its EMERGING PLAYWRIGHTS PROGRAM. In June, 2006, we launched NEW CITY , NEW BLOOD, a play reading series designed to serve our audiences and writers even better. Curated by Michael Scott-Price, TNC Literary Manager, NEW CITY , NEW BLOOD will provide a hearing for worthy plays in earlier stages of Development. Audiences will get the opportunity to provide feedback, and artists will gain valuable insight from audience response. Be sure to check www.theaterforthenewcity.net for details about upcoming readings. Please join us!

NEW CITY, NEW BLOOD READINGS:
Next Reading Monday, January 5th, 7:00pm
Wine and Cheese. COME EAT AND DRINK WITH US AND MEET THE WRITER!

Contribution: $5

Meet the Taggart brothers. Farrell, Michael and Stephen --- three siblings living in a small tenement apartment in Washington Heights, New York. Their dysfunction is both the glue that holds them together and the potential explosion that could tear them apart. Farrell Taggert is the middle one and certainly his brothers' keeper. Sweating it out during the day in a Wall Street brokerage house and keeping a watchful eye over both his older and younger brothers takes it toll on his relationship with Austin , the love in his life who fears that Farrell will be anchored in Washington Heights forever. It's simply not easy for Farrell. He used to idolize his older brother, Michael. They played in the same band together and they played with the same hard drug together namely heroin. Farrell quit the band and the scene and is in the process of turning his life around. The fact that Michael can't get past the failure of the band which he blames on Farrell or his heavy addiction to the drug, makes this very difficult. Add in to the mix their youngest brother, Stephen, who could be starting a journey down the same road of either brother.

As Michael and Farrell knock heads endlessly over each other's lost potential, "Paradiddle" deeply explores such themes as loyalty, responsibility, redemption and self-destruction. With thick, clever dialogue and a full sense of realism, the film entertains even as it turns a mirror on the ugly side of addiction and family dysfunction. The timely nature of the story makes it particularly relevant in today's social climate...one of detachment and isolation. We see lives emotionally drawn and quartered, only to witness the terrifying realities of drug dependence and the strength of family bonds.

Bio

An award-winning director/screenwriter, Craig A. Singer also Co Founded FanLib and My2Centences.
Born and raised in New Jersey , he studied film and theater at William Paterson University , then art history at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. Mr. Singer's first feature film was "Animal Room," a post-apocalyptic coming-of-age story starring Neil Patrick Harris, Matthew Lillard, and Amanda Peet. Next, Singer completed a series of films under the banner of My2Centences, FanLib's former parent company, which he co-founded with partner Chris M. Williams. It was during this period that he also conceived of the storytelling process that was the inspiration for FanLib's flagship technology.Singer's second feature, "A Good Night to Die," stars Michael Rapaport, Deborah Harry, Ralph Macchio, and Ally Sheedy. A gritty, urban fable that chronicles a day in the lives of two hit men, the film screened at Cannes , premiered at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival and was released in July 2003 by DEJ Films and Fox Home Entertainment. After "Good Night," Singer helmed the powerful crime-drama "Dead Dogs Lie" featuring Tommy Flanagan and Peter Greene. "Dead Dogs Lie" won several awards on the film festival circuit, including Best Feature at The Atlantic City Film Festival and The Phoenix Film Festival. Singer directed "Dark Ride," a no-holds-barred horror film starring Jamie-Lynn Sigler of "The Sopranos." Co-authored and directed by Singer, the My2Centences production was distributed theatrically Nationwide by Lionsgate Entertainment in November of 2006. Singer recently completed "Perkins 14" for After Dark films - shot in Romania P14 will be theatrically released this January. Additionally, Singer directed the acclaimed short film "Kill Charlie," a parody about the Willie Wonka kids 25 years later, currently playing all over the web. Mr. Singer has written numerous screenplays, including: "Animal Room," "Dark Ride," "Paradiddle," "The Terminal Club," "Untitled Fall Project," "Caroline," "Car Guys," and "6:45."

Robert Dean Klein has completed thirty-five screenplays, eight of which have been successfully produced as films: Little Fish Strange Pond, Dark Ride, The Thacker Case, A Good Night to Die, Blackwoods, Dead Dogs Lie, Heart of America and the short subject Kill Charlie. In 1995, Klein's script for A Good Night to Die was entered into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' prestigious Nichol Fellowship in Screenwriting competition. At age 23, his maiden effort reached the semi-finals, placing in the top ninety out of over 4,000 international submissions. Eight years later, with the help of childhood friend and producing partner, Chris Williams, the odyssey to bring A Good Night to Die to the silver screen, under the helm of director Craig Singer came to a conclusion. This effort culminated with a World Premiere at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival and eventual release by DEJ Productions. Three years later Klein, working again with Singer and Williams, got his first film up onto the big screen. Dark Ride, part of After Dark's 8 Films to Die For release, distributed by Lionsgate, was shown on 500 screens in 35 cities. Klein was recently hired to write four new screenplays: the horror films Buddy List and Slambook, the action film Contempt, and the inspirational drama Ropers. Next on his horizon is to make real his extremely ambitious trilogy To Hell And Back, an action series of epic proportions.

Thomas G. Waites (Director) Tom was last seen on New Amsterdam as a guest star on Fox, before that he was seen on Law and Order (original) and his most recent film was The Tourist. He was also Denton in One Life to Live. Before that he has been seen on Law and Order, OZ, Law and Order CI and NYPD Blue. Tom's Broadway credits are Richmond in Richard III with Al Pacino, Ralph in Awake and Sing! Dean Rebel in Teaneck Tanzi, Steve in Search and Destroy and Bobby in American Buffalo Off-Broadway with Al Pacino produced by Elliot Martin. Off-Broadway, some of his favorite roles are Steve in Pastorale at Second Stage, and Mitchell in the original production of Forty Deuce. Films: On the Yard, Pity the Poor Soldier, The Warriors, And Justice For All, The Thing, Clan of the Cave Bear, Light of Day, Verne Miller, Unwed Father, American Affair, America's Most Wanted, Money Train, Rites of Passage, McBain, Born on the Fourth of July, Till Death do us part, Shakedown, and State of Grace. Tom is a member of the Actors Studio. He teaches here in New York City . Go to www.thomasgwaites.com

Please rsvp to: literary@theaterforthenewcity.net

 

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