Telly Leung To Produce Industry Reading of OCEAN WALK By Gianfranco Lentini

Broadway's Telly Leung, best known for his roles in Aladdin, Allegiance, and Glee, steps into the role of producer by presenting the debut industry reading of OCEAN WALK, a new play by up-and-coming queer playwright Gianfranco Lentini. The invite-only reading takes place at Open Jar Studios on December 5, 2024.

Leung, who has long been a champion of new voices in theater, has reunited with Allegiance librettist Marc Acito, who directs the reading. Acito, an award-winning writer-director—known for his film MAD/WOMAN, Off-Broadway's Bastard Jones, and the musical Chasing Rainbows—describes OCEAN WALK as “a modern mix of Samuel Beckett and Terence McNally that speaks to our shared humanity right now.”

Set in the aftermath of a catastrophic storm that has submerged Fire Island, OCEAN WALK centers on Harry, a longtime resident of Fire Island Pines, who refuses to evacuate his submerged home even as Casey, a teenage Sayville Ferry deckhand, arrives to rescue him. What ensues is a tense, poignant exploration of the power of human connection in a fragile time and place.” 

“I believe in Gianfranco's vision,” says Leung. “He's captured the beating heart of the community that holds Fire Island Pines—an iconic queer sanctuary—dear. But it's about the universal bond we all have to the places that define who we are. I'm thrilled to be working on this project, which feels both urgent and timeless.”

This reading of OCEAN WALK marks the first in a series of works that will form THE PINES PLAYS, a developing cycle of plays that reflect the changing cultural and environmental landscape of Fire Island and the queer community. Lentini, a researcher and board member with the Fire Island Pines Historical Society, brings a unique, historically informed perspective to the project, blending personal storytelling with a deep connection to the island's legacy.

In addition to Leung, Acito and Lentini, the reading features an all-queer team that includes James Lloyd Reynolds (Harry), Caroline Keegan (Casey), Benjamín Cardona (Glen/Martín), and Julie Monteleone (Stage Manager).

The development of OCEAN WALK has already garnered recognition in the theater world with a Spark Grant from The Jeffrey L. Nissen Arts Education and Development Fund in partnership with Open Jar Studios. Lentini has developed the play through Berkshire Voices, the playwrights' organization of Great Barrington Public Theatre in Massachusetts. For this reading, New York's Life Jacket Theatre Company has also come on board as co-producer. “As a historian, Gianfranco applies the methods of in-depth inquiry that we support,” says Life Jacket Artistic Director Travis Lee Russ. “OCEAN WALK matches our mission to create work that's bold, relevant and theatrically imaginative.”

“What most people don't realize is that Fire Island Pines is only 71 years old,” says Lentini. “However, in just the span of a single lifetime, this tiny barrier island has gifted the world with so much life and legacy. My hope is that OCEAN WALK honors the lived experiences of those who call the Pines home while sharing the queer magic of this haven with those who've never taken the ferry ride over.”

About OCEAN WALK: OCEAN WALK is Gianfranco Lentini's first play in a developing cycle titled THE PINES PLAYS, which seeks to tell the stories of Fire Island Pines and its vibrant queer history. In the wake of an environmental catastrophe, OCEAN WALK follows Harry, a stubborn resident of Fire Island Pines, and Casey, a young ferry worker who arrives to rescue him—only to find that what is at stake is much more than just a home.

About the Creative Team:

Gianfranco Lentini (he/him), Playwright: A NYC-based queer playwright, teacher, and First-Generation Italian-American. His work has been developed and produced across the U.S. and internationally, and he is currently a researcher and board member for the Fire Island Pines Historical Society. He is also an Adjunct Professor at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and a Teaching Artist with TDF.

Marc Acito (he/they), Director: An award-winning director and librettist, Marc Acito is known for his work on Broadway's Allegiance and his Off-Broadway musical Bastard Jones. His short film MAD/WOMAN garnered multiple awards, including Outstanding Director at the Queens World Film Festival and Best Experimental Film at the Bowery Film Festival.

Telly Leung (he/him), Producer: Broadway credits include Aladdin, Godspell, and Allegiance. Leung is also the executive producer of The Nice List, and a producer on projects like the short film Grind (starring Anthony Rapp) and the documentary Ensemble, which explores Broadway's future during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Life Jacket Theatre Company: The Manhattan-based theatre company is a purveyor of untold stories. Life Jacket has been nominated for a Drama Desk Award, two American Theatre Wing Henry Hewes Design Awards, seven New York Innovative Theatre Awards, and eleven BroadwayWorld Awards. Their work has been selected as Critic's Picks by The New York Times, Time Out New York, Fest Magazine, Voice Magazine, and The List and has been named the “#1 Show at the Edinburgh Fringe” by Fest Magazine and among the “Top 10 Plays of the Year” by NewNowNext.

For more information about OCEAN WALK and upcoming events, visit www.heygianfranco.com.

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