MERCURY To Be Presented At Theatre Row In December

Verve Productions will present MERCURY by Jayson McDonald and directed by Lil Malinich  . Starring Nelia McNicol, Avery Baxter, and Indiana Robinson-Dawes. Running December 11- 15, 2024 at Theatre Row, NYC.

This December, experience Mercury, an absurdist exploration of identity, desire, and the human condition in a world where the boundaries of time blur. The play, written by award-winning playwright Jayson McDonald and directed by acclaimed director Lil Malinich, presents a trio of women embodying three archetypal figures—the prostitute, the career woman, and the police detective. Each actress portrays all three personas, weaving together nine distinct characters in a dynamic tapestry that probes the complexity of human experience.

As temperatures rise in the midst of a scorching summer heatwave, the women play a game of whodunit—a murder that has happened, will happen, or is happening right now. With each retelling, the details shift: names change, locations vary, and time bends. Yet, the murder remains inevitable—a tragic event slowly transforming into urban legend. Is it a crime of passion or simply a crime of opportunity?

Mercury unfolds in a non-linear narrative, underscoring the fluidity of fact, memory, and truth. As each actress shifts roles, the audience is drawn into an unsettling yet familiar world—like the recurrence of a half-remembered dream.

Mercury delves into the human desire for connection and authentic relationships, while exposing the fleeting nature of news and sensationalism. It highlights how public consciousness swiftly moves on, even from severe crimes. The women, stuck in a cycle of anticipation for a future that always feels out of reach, reveal the struggles of living fully in the present. Through live performance, Mercury invites audiences to reflect on perceptions of time, connection, and the urgency of existence.

WHERE:  

410 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036

WHEN: 12.11.2024 - 12.15.2024

Wed Dec 11th, 7:30pm 

Thurs Dec 12th, 7:30pm 

Fri Dec 13th, 7:30pm 

Sat Dec 14th, 7:30pm 

Sun Dec 15th, 2pm 

About the Creators

Jayson McDonald (Playwright)  is an award-winning Vancouver-based playwright, director, and performer with over 30 years of experience. He's been creating theatre for thirty years and is celebrated for his unique voice in solo shows like *Giant Invisible Robot* and *Underbelly*, and his work has been produced across North America and internationally, from New York to Mexico City. He's the creator of the serial stage and radio show The Boneyard Man, and the podcast Phantom Signal, which you can hear on your favorite podcast channel.

Lil Malinich (Director) is an actress, director, acting coach and producer from London, Ontario.  She is a member of Broadway-affiliated theater company Working Artists Theatre Project and co-founded the award-winning company Theatre Soup.  Feature film and TV credits include Construction and Paradise, "All My Children" "Gotham," "Law & Order" and "Godfather of Harlem."   She has worked internationally as a teacher in Canada, Paris, Rome and New York at the Susan Batson Studio.  Lil directed and produced the NYC premiere of The Way I Am, a one-woman show inspired by the life and work of Barbra Streisand as well as They Called Me Rita inspired by Rita Hayworth which premiered at the United Solo Festival.  For the Verve Project she recently directed Laundry & Bourbon and for New York Theatre Festival Lucy & Lucy which won Best Short Production and Best Actress Awards.  She has collaborated with the David Lynch Foundation (For Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace) in creating staged reading fundraiser events, and developed the NYC screening series for David Lynch's documentary Meditation, Creativity, Peace.  Lil is currently the acting instructor at the Joffrey Ballet School and working with MTTM Theatrics in the development of their musical Chester & Julia. She also coaches Forest Whitaker: Projects include Big George Foreman, "Andor," "Emperor of Ocean Park" and "Godfather of Harlem."

Nelia McNicol (Actor) is an Australian actress, dancer and producer based in New York City. Molding art forms, fusing her work as an actress and dancer cultivates her dynamic and nuanced performances. She earned her B.F.A in Dance at Joffrey Ballet School under Artistic Direction of Angelica Stiskin and is trained in the Susan Batson method and Meisner technique. Her one-woman show, They Called Me Rita  made its sold-out world premiere off-broadway at the United Solo Festival Fall 2023. 

Avery Baxter (Actor) is a rising star in the New York theater scene, Avery Baxter trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She has a rich background in classical training, off-broadway experience and a strong foundation in dance and psychology. Avery is uniquely positioned to offer both depth and versatility in her performances. Her previous theatre credits include Laundry and Bourbon, Dance Nation, and Othello.

Indiana Robinson-Dawes (Actor) is a British-Caribbean actor who came to New York to pursue her passion for the arts and train at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Her theatre credits include Henry IV part one (dir. Timothy D. Stickney), Smash (dir. Susan Pilar), Macbeth (dir. Caitlin Morley)  and The Grief Dialogues: Funeral Selfie (dir. Dani Davis). Physical theatre/ Dance credit: Dance for Solidarity (dir. Sarah Dahnke). She brings a passion for physical theatre and dance into her performances. 

Cece Gangemi (Costume design) is a stylist, dancer, model, and singer based in New York City. She graduated from the Joffrey Ballet School Jazz & Contemporary Program under the artistic direction of Angelica Stiskin.  She currently works as an assistant stylist for NY based editorial stylist/ designer Indigo Boy David.  She has worked with Brooklyn based artist Sandflower, dancing backup and setting choreography. 

Jen Leno (Lighting Designer) 

Sonnet Whitaker (Composer) 

Edu Diaz (Graphic Designer/ Stage Manager) 

 

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Step Forward Entertainment <stepforwardentertainment@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Nov 26, 2024 at 1:10 PM
Subject: Theatre Row Press Release on show
To: BroadwayWorld Newsdesk <newsdesk@broadwayworld.com>

Hi Stephi and others,
Been awhile, hope you are all well.
I am not producing this show on Theatre Row but my clients are director  (Lil Malinich) and Lead Actor (Nelia McNichol).
Hoping you could do an article or news item on the show opening on Theatre Row.   Attached is a press release in both doc and pdf that they put together.  I am helping as they cannot afford a publicist.
Appreciate your indulgence and regardless of outcome, thank you for your support as always.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Best,
Bob
Robert R. Blume, President/Managing Partner, New York, Los Angeles
Co-Executive Producer of The Annual Drama Desk Awards 1999 - 2018Jacque Pedersen-Schrimscher, Talent Manager, LA
Pat Labez, VP Development, NY/LAKaterin Rodriguez, Digital Marketing & Development, NY
Carrol Mendelson, Associate Talent Manager, FLSTEP FORWARD ENTERTAINMENT(Talent Management & Production)
Office: 3 Columbus Circle * 15th Floor, NYC 10019  Tel: NY 212-354-5124 / LA 310-927-0318NY email: StepForwardEntertainment@gmail.comLA email: ChezJacque08@gmail.comwebsite: www.StepForwardEntertainment.com

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