The Active Theater Company proudly presents TWO ROOMS, by Lee Blessing, the company's first show for their 2009-1010 season. Directed by Glory Sims Bowen, the show will play a limited-run December 3-13 at The Workshop Theater Company (312 W. 36th Street, between 8th/9th Avenues).
Two Rooms, written by Lee Blessing, (best known for his play A Walk In The Woods - Tony and Pulitzer Prize nominee), takes place in, as the title suggests, two rooms. One is a cell in Lebanon where Michael Wells is being held hostage by terrorists. The other is his office in his home in Washington D.C. where his wife Lanie waits for his return. The play deals with the subjects of terrorism and the government, the media, and the love of a husband and wife. Based on the hostage crisis that occurred in the late 1980s, Two Rooms is a dramatic portrayal of two lovers torn apart by global politics and the Super Powers of the world.
Two Rooms cast includes Angelica-Lee Aspiras (CREDITS: Broadway: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Understudy: [Marcy Park] - Replacement; Understudy: [Rona Lisa Peretti] - Replacement 1st National Tour: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) , Raissa Dorff (CREDITS: National Tours: MAME (30th Anniversary Tour with Morgan Brittany) -Agnes Gooch Cover, In the Mood Live Lead, Off-Broadway: Serenading Louie -Mary (dir: Glory Sims Bowen), *Raissa also toured the world as the lead singer and the Actress in the Off-Broadway show ENTER THE GUARDSMAN on board the QE11. She was also chosen from 1000s to participate in the following lunch with Barack - www.youtube.com/LunchwithBarack), Jason Emanuel (CREDITS: Titus Andronicus -Aaron received a Jessie Richardson Award Nomination (Best of Vancouver Theatre) Best Actor in Supporting Role - *http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0256032/bio) and Andy Kelso (CREDITS: Broadway: Mamma Mia - Replacement [Sky]). In addition to director Glory Sims Bowen (CREDITS: Executive Director of Planet Connections Theatre Festivity - New Yorks first eco-friendly theater festival. http://www.planetconnectionsfestivity.com/
Recipient of the Meritorious Achievement Award in Direction from the Kennedy Center A.C.T.F., Recipient of the Spotlight On Awards for Best Director of a full-length play.
Alum of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab, Alum of The Labyrinth Theater Company's Master Class, Associate Member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers,
Directed: Always Family (The Kirk Theatre at Theatre Row, Off-Broadway), Directed: Anomal (ATA-Off Broadway). ), the show's assistant director is Chanda Calentine, scenic design by Craig Napoliello, costume design by Laura Catignani, lighting design by Yuriy Nayer, sound design by Jacob Subotnik, and projection design by David Ojala. In addition to Two Rooms and A Walk In The Woods, Blessing's many works have also included A Body of Water, The Scottish Play, Black Sheep and Great Falls.
The 2009-2010 season for The Active Theater Company continues with the musical Romance, Romance, book & lyrics by Barry Harman, music by Keith Hermann (February 18-March 7), and Magnetic North, by William Donnelly (May 6-16, 2010). Previous productions for the company have included Body Language, by Jennie Contuzzi and Touch, by Toni Press-Coffman.
THE ACTIVE THEATER COMPANY - (Nathaniel Shaw/Artistic Director; Joseph Benesh/General Manager) - A group of artists dedicated to the work, both new and old, that moves you. Works that move you to think and rethink, to laugh, to love, to cry, to question. Moves you to anger, moves you to action, and moves you to feel more than you are comfortable feeling. More information at www.theactivetheater.com.
Two Rooms performance schedule will be as follows: Evening Shows - December 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, and 12 at 8:00PM, Monday, December 7 at 7:00PM, and matinees on Saturdays December 5 & 12 at 2:00PM and Sundays December 6 & 13 at 3:00PM. The show will play at The Workshop Theater Company (312 W. 36th Street, between 8th/9th Avenues). All tickets $18.00, available by visiting www.TheActiveTheater.com, or calling Ovation Tix at (866) 811-4111.
Photos by Jason Watson
Andy Kelso and Angelica-Lee Aspiras
Andy Kelso and Angelica-Lee Aspiras
Jason Emanuel
Raissa Dorff
Videos