Common Tongue Theatre Presents The 1st NY Reading of GRENADINE, 9/26

Lila Dupree of The Common Tongue Theatre will present the first New York reading of Neil Wechsler's Yale Drama Award winning play, GRENADINE.

The play was selected as the winner of the 2008 Yale Drama Award by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, Edward Albee, who remains vocal in his support of Wechsler's play.

The play, GRENADINE, which features the fantastical story of a man's (Bruce Dow as "Prismatic") quest for love in the company of three devoted friends, will be presented one night only - Monday, September 26th, 7pm at Theatre for The New City, The Johnson Theatre (155 1st Ave - between 9th and 10th)

The reading will be directed by Hal Brooks, director Nilaja Sun's Obie Winning No Child. Brooks is currently directing Ionesco's The Bald Soprano for The Pearl Theatre, NY.

The cast will feature Brennan Brown, Bruce Dow, Monique Vukovic, John Warren, and Elizabeth R. Warren.

Tickets are $10 general admission and are available online at The Common Tongue Theatre website: http://www.tctnyc.org

CAST AND CREATIVE BIOS:
Neil Wechsler (playwright): lives in Buffalo, NY, with his wife, Anne, and their two children, Max, 5, and Sasha, 3. His play GRENADINE won the 2008 Yale Drama Award. Edward Albee was the judge. The play was published by Yale University Press. It was The Drama Book Shop Play of the Week, October, 2009. It premiered at Road Less Traveled Productions in Buffalo (2009). It has received student productions at SMU (2010) and UNC-Chapel Hill (2011). Neil is currently working on an adaptation of Ibsen's EMPEROR AND GALILEAN, which will open at Torn Space Theater in Buffalo, March, 2012.

Hal Brooks (director): directed Nilaja Sun's Obie Award Winning No Child , Will Eno's Pulitzer Finalist Thom Pain (based on nothing) and Mona Mansour's Urge for Going (Public Theater), and served as creative consultant on Colin Quinn's Long Story Short directed by Jerry Seinfeld. Regional: Six Years (Humana), Back Back Back (Dallas Theater Center), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Two River), My Name is Asher Lev (Marin). Other New York:Valparaiso and The Flu Season (Rude Mechanicals of New York), What Then and Precious Little (Clubbed Thumb). Hal is the Associate Artistic Director of the Ojai Playwrights Conference, a member of LCT Directors Lab, a Drama League Fellow, a recipient of the NEA/TCG Program for Directors, and Artistic Director of the Cape Cod Theatre Project. Upcoming: Tigers Be Still (Dallas),The Whale (Denver). Current: Ionesco's The Bald Soprano (The Pearl Theatre, NY).

Brennan Brown (sconce): Is currently starring in A Time To Kill at The Arena Stage in Wash. DC. and carrying both Minute Maid OJ and Embassy Suites television campaigns. Featured in the film I LOVE YOU PHILIP MORRIS and on PBS in Agatha Christie'S MARPLE with Julia McKenzie, Lindsay Duncan and Joanna Lumley. Best known in the UK for his role as "Mr Dresden" in the long-running Orange comedy cinema commercials. NY Theater includes Ethan Coen's OFFICES, directed by Neil Pepe Off-Broadway at Atlantic Theater Company, as well as The Roundabout's Broadway production of MAJOR BARBARA with David Warner and Cherry Jones.

Bruce Dow (prismatic): Now in his 12th season with the Stratford Festival, Bruce plays Herod in Des McAnuff's production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (moving to the La Jolla Playhouse, November 2011). Last season, he appeared as Trinculo in THE TEMPEST, starring Christopher Plummer (filmed by Melbar Entertainment and Bravo! for release in Cineplex Theatres across Canada; now on DVD); and, as Speed in The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Broadway credits include featured roles in: JANE EYRE, THE MUSIC MAN and ANYTHING GOES (benefit Lincoln Center Theater). In 2010, Bruce enjoyed a successful run as Pseudolus in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM for Mirvish Productions (Toronto). In 2004, he was nominated for a Dora Award (Toronto's TONY®) for his performance as Pirelli in SWEENEY TODD. He has appeared in leading roles across Canada and the U.S. www.brucedow.com

Monique Vukovic (actress 1): The Vineyard Theatre & New Georges:
God's Ear (Lanie). The Cherry Lane Theatre: Housebreaking (Magda). The Roundabout Theatre: IMPOSSIBLE MARRIAGE. Tom Noonan's Paradise Theatre: PETER & VANDY (Vandy) (Drama Desk Nomination Best Play); I WANT YOU TO (Anna); PEOPLE DIE THAT WAY (Liv). Jean Cocteau Repertory Theatre: IPHIGENEIA IN AULIS (Iphigeneia), THE CHERRY ORCHARD (Dunyasha). Film: Losing Ground; The Audition; The Mike Champagne Show.

John Warren (actor 2): - bio unavailable at time of release- please check with http://www.tctnyc.org -

R. Elizabeth Woodard (stage directions/stage manager): is a graduate of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. She has recently appeared in the award-winning play The Timing of a Day, My Sister in This House, Den of Thieves, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, The Taming of the Shrew andTwo Rooms as well as performing as a member of the sketch comedy group Really Sketchy. She has also appeared in various independent films includingB.E.N.N.y Go Home and several pilots.

Lila Dupree (producer): was awarded the Henry Evans Traveling Fellowship from Columbia University in order to facilitate the creation of an original musical production in the township of KwaMashu in Durban, South Africa. NYC acting credits include: Named, Rising Phoenix Rep and Young, Ars Nova (both Lucy Thurber World Premieres); All Over, Linda Gross Theater (Staged Reading) and 14th St. Theaterlab; The B-File, 78th St. Theatre Lab; AMidsummer Night's Dream, Abingdon Theatre. Regional: Main Street, Collected Stories, Barefoot in the Park all with Acadia Repertory Theatre. Film/TV: The Golden Boys with Bruce Dern and David Carradine (Roadside Attractions). Directing Credits include: KwaMashu Dreams, Ekhaya Multi Arts Center, Durban, South Africa; Freedom Train, Columbia University (collaboration with award-winning playwright Katori Hall). Training: London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), Atlantic Acting School (NYC and LA). B.A., Columbia University. Co-founder and Co-Artistic Director of The Common Tongue.

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