Photo Flash: First Look at World Premiere of MEMORARE...

As previously announced, the critically acclaimed Beautiful Soup Theater Collective will present the world premiere production of Steven Carl McCasland's Memorare this winter. The new drama, featuring an all female ensemble, will bow at St. John's Lutheran Church on Christopher Street in January of 2018. Set to star in the production is Helen Hayes Award-winner Patti Mariano as Sister Mary Cecelia (Broadway: Original Cast of The Music Man, George M!, The Full Monty and more) and newcomer Ashleigh Awusie as Sister Mary Azu (Ain't Never Been Easy). Award-winning director Peter Darney (5 Guys Chillin') directs the limited engagement.

In Memorare, a young Nigerian postulant arrives at a New York City convent for refuge, prayer and a new beginning on a hot summer day in July, 1964. Meanwhile, a 14-year-old black boy has been shot and killed by a white police officer in Harlem. The streets are raging with riots. The questions that arise in the aftermath of in the postulant's arrival will change the Sisters of Mercy, and the postulant, forever.

Also joining Mariano and Awusie are PennyLynn White (Little Wars, What Was Lost, TV: Louie, Bull) as Mother Superior, Janet Fanale (Forbidden Broadway National Tour) as Sister Mary Eugenia, Kristen Gehling (Little Wars, neat & tidy) as Sister Mary Agnes, Joyce Nolen (Broadway: Smile, Stop The World, I Want to Get Off) as Sister Mary Bridget, JoAnn Mariano (The Patti Duke Show, Out Cry) and Sabina Petra (NYMF - Forest Boy, Outstanding Individual Performance Award) as Sister Maria Celeste.
Steven Carl McCasland's writing has been acclaimed by New York critics as "brilliant", "riveting", "mesmerizing" and "extraordinary". Produced regionally and in Manhattan, his plays include neat & tidy, BLACK [Billy Learns About Captain Kirk], BLUE: a fable, When I'm 64, Hope & Glory, The Tip, Opheliacs Anonymous, Fifth Position, Little Wars, Pulchritudinous, Shades Of Blue: The Decline and Fall of Lady Day, What Was Lost, 28 Marchant Avenue: Six Summers at Hyannis Port, and Der Kanarienvogel (The Canary). Little Wars has been produced in New York and Minnesota, as well as internationally in Bermuda and Costa Rica. Critics hailed Steven as a new Thornton Wilder with the production of neat & tidy, declaring it a Top Dramatic Play of the Year. He won First Place in the Huntington Award forPlaywriting with Pulchritudinous. When not writing, Steven produces abridged musicals in concert at Feinstein's/54 Below. Steven's plays Shades of Blue, What Was Lost, 28 Marchant Avenue and Little Wars are all published and available on Amazon.com and at www.dramabookshop.com. 28 Marchant Avenue will receive its Vermont and Ohio debuts in 2018. Steven is currently at work on a new play about Stratford-Upon-Avon during The First World War. To learn more, visit www.stevencarlmccasland.weebly.com.

Director Peter Darney, based in London, returns to New York after his acclaimed production of his internationally acclaimed play Five Guys Chillin' last year to direct this world premiere production. Five Guys Chillin, which received the Brighton Fringe LGBTQ Award and double winner at Dublin International Gay Theatre Festival, will receive its Australian debut this September at The New Theatre in Sydney.
Performances for the world premiere production are as follows: Wednesday, January 10th at 8pm (preview performance); Friday, January 12th at 8pm (Opening Night); with Saturday and Sunday matinees and weeknight performances continuing through January 27th. For a full performance schedule and tickets, which go on sale this Friday, October 20th at 10am, please visit www.showclix.com.

PHOTO CREDIT: Rich Kowalski

PennyLynn White as Mother Superior and Ashleigh Awusie as Mary Azu

Patti Mariano as Sister Mary Cecelia with members of the cast

Ashleigh Awusie as Mary Azu

The Cast of MEMORARE

Joyce Nolen as Sister Mary Bridget

The Cast of MEMORARE

Sabina Petra as Sister Maria Celeste

Janet Fanale as Sister Mary Eugenia and Kristen Gehling as Sister Mary Agnes

Penny Lynn White as Mother Superior

JoAnn Mariano as Sister Mary Hildegard, Patti Mariano as Sister Mary Cecelia and Ashleigh Awusie as Mary Azu

Ashleigh Awusie as Mary Azu

Patti Mariano as Sister Mary Cecelia

Kristen Gehling as Sister Mary Agnes with Ashleigh Awusie as Mary Azu

The Cast of MEMORARE