Brooke and Chad Are… JUST AS GAY AS YOU

Cabaret Artists Chad M. Ryan and Brooke M. Haney's first collaborative endeavor, Brooke and Chad Are... Just as Gay as You. (A Queer Cabaret of Chaos and Clarity), premieres this year during Pride Week on Tuesday, June 20th at 6:30 pm at The Duplex. Created by Haney and Ryan from their combined personal "GAY" experiences, the show explores the themes of queerness and identity and the unlikely friendship between a Gay man and a Queer woman, all under their shared love of music and storytelling. Filled with chaotic humour, truth telling vulnerability and occasional crisp clarity, the evening is sure to be a 'gay ol time.' The duo has also partnered with Shining Hope for Communities to raise money and build awareness for Margaret's Safe Place, a project of Shining Hope. To that end, a portion of the proceeds from every ticket will go to support Shining Hope.

"When Brooke initially approached me about writing a cabaret together, I immediately agreed" asserted Co-Creator Chad M. Ryan. "But, I was curious to see what story the two of us would be drawn to write together. We work together, so we just started spitballing ideas while we worked and slowly a theme started to emerge." As time passed, they realized that they had something special. "We'd kind of settled on exploring the themes of queer identity and friendship," added Haney. "And, when The Duplex booked us for Pride Week, everything started to fall into place." The duo decided to confront the challenges and prejudices both outside of and within the LGBTQ community when it comes to less traditional relationships.

Ryan and Haney are excited to celebrate Pride week together in New York City with this cabaret.

Brooke M. Haney is a New York based actor/singer/playwright who has worked regionally in Seattle, Boston, Orlando, and Kentucky. She has a passion for classical text and new play development. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with her MFA in Acting. She joined the leadership council of Shining Hope for Communities in January 2014. Favorite theatre roles include: Mary Bennet and Charlotte Lucas in Pride and Prejudice at Orlando Shakespeare Theater (company member for 4 seasons); Hermione in Winter's Tale with Last Leaf Productions; Claire in the World Premiere of Debbie Lamedman's Triangle Logic; Kate Percy in 1 Henry 4 at Lexington Shakespeare; and Dee Dee in the site-specific production of Third and Oak: The Laundromat at the All-Brite Laundromat in Boston. TV/Film: A Surprise, directed by Rob Margolies; A Crime to Remember and Unraveled for the ID Network; and Greatest Mysteries, Kremlin for the Travel Channel. Proud member of AEA, SAG/AFTRA. Adjunct professor of Acting at Marymount Manhattan College. brookemhaney.com

Chad M. Ryan is an actor, director, singer, storyteller and an aspiring writer. Chad's past two cabarets played to sold out crowds at NYC's Duplex Cabaret Theatre. He was a cast member of the recent musical revue THIS VERY MOMENT with Stomping Ground Theatre Company, and he portrayed Jody in LONELY PLANET at the Gene Frankel Theatre having played Carl 15 years earlier. His past credits include self-producing and starring in the Chicago premiere of David Drake's one man show THE NIGHT Larry Kramer KISSED ME, subsequently performing in a multiple actor version on Broadway for a BC/EFA benefit. In Chicago Chad starred in THE RITZ with Alexandra Billings at Stage 773. Chad also originated the role of Blanchet in the off-off-Broadway cult hit THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND: The Golden Girls Musical Parody. Chad had his own theatre company for a few years, producing and starring in 3 productions. He has also been seen on BOSS, PLAYBOY CLUB, and SEX IN THE CITY.

Follow me...www.chadmeansryan.com

Jessica Anderson has been an active pianist, teacher and vocal collaborator in New York City since 2011. Before relocating to New York, Jessica was employed by Roosevelt University where she served as vocal coach and rehearsal pianist. She completed her Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance from the same institution where she studied solo repertoire with Dr. Winston Choi and collaborative with Dr. Dana Brown. While attending Roosevelt, she was active as both a soloist and collaborator, featured in their production of Poulenc's Mamelles des Tiresias, three seasons of Roosevelt's Operafest, opera scenes, multiple chamber groups, many vocal recitals and solo performances. While earning her Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville she studied with Dr. Linda Perry.

About Shining Hope for Communities: Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) combats gender inequality and extreme poverty in urban slums by linking tuition free schools for girls to accessible social services for all. Shofco.org

About Margaret's Safe Place: Margaret's Safe Place (MSP) is a boarding facility that houses the most vulnerable students of The Kibera School for Girls. Because SHOFCO targets the brightest but most at-risk girls, our younger students have often been victims of sexual assault, malnutrition, extreme negligence and other abuses. At the Kibera School for Girls, roughly one-fifth of our students ages 4-9 have been raped, a statistic that spurred the creation of our safe house in 2010.

MSP is a vibrant, warm, home, presently providing holistic care for 10 KSG students. Boarders also receive additional psychological support from the Kibera School for Girls social workers who, if possible, work towards a resolution to the living situation with the student's parent or legal guardian. In the meantime, at Margaret's Safe Place they are part of a close-knit, thriving sisterhood, that shepherds incredible improvements in the girls' health and well being.

http://www.shofco.org/project/margarets-safe-place

Website: https://www.chadmeansryan.com/

 

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