The Portmanteau Theatre Company, led by co-founders Ilana Becker and Michael Padden, is currently presenting its inaugural production of Clifford Odets' WAITING FOR LEFTY at The Hartley House (413 West 46th St, btw 9th and 10th aves) through May 29th, 2011. Performances are on Saturdays @ 5:30 PM and Sunday @ 7:30 PM. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased via . www.tinyurl.com/leftytickets.
The Portmanteau Theatre has reached out and partnered with numerous Unions to make this show more than just a production. They have made it part of the conversation on Unionism in the 21st century - specifically in New York City.
On Sunday, May 15th, a group from The New York Taxi Workers Alliance will be attending the show and on Saturday, May 21st, a group from The United Federation of Teachers will be attending the show. In addition to these groups, the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is sending its members to various performances over the course of the run.
Said director
Ilana Becker: "The rights of workers were under attack in the 1930's, when
Clifford Odets wrote WAITING FOR LEFTY. Almost 80 years later, unions are under attack once again, and we couldn't think of a better way to show our support and stand in solidarity with Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Idaho, Chicago, Utah, Florida, New Jersey, New York -- the list goes on -- by staging an environmental take on WAITING FOR LEFTY. The show, a seminal dramatic fixture of the American labor movement, reminds us that each worker is an individual with a family and a home, with needs and rights."
WAITING FOR LEFTY takes place at a union meeting of New York taxi drivers in a heated argument over whether or not to strike for a living wage and better working conditions. Over the course of the play, several union members step forward to recount their stories, allowing us intimate windows into their lives and personal struggles toward a better lot in life.
Waiting for Lefty, directed by
Ilana Becker, will feature lighting design by Burnside Design Studio, costume design by Lisa Renee Jordan, sound design by Jay Spriggs, set consultation by
Michele Spadaro, and stage management by
Kate McDoniel.
The cast features
Jeff Still (August: Osage County, Lombardi),
Keith Perry (Our Town), Tunde Somade, Daisy Ouzts, Christopher Norwood, Steve Juergens, Mickey O'Sullivan, Rachel James Mike Mergo, Scott Morse ,
Brian Henderson, Matthew Shawlin,
Ron Scott, Tynan Craycraft, Illya Konstantin, Sahil Farooqi, and Jamie Westberry
Tickets are $18 and can be purchased via www.SmartTix.com
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