The Studio Theatre Mounts STOP KISS

In November, The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol (806 San Marino Drive, The Villages, FL) will open the second production of its third season with the play Stop Kiss, by American Playwright Diana Son. An Outer Critics Circle Award and John Gassner Award nominee, this play set in 1998, examines the moving power of love against brutality.

Urgency meets perfect timing when Callie, a traffic reporter, and Sara, an elementary schoolteacher, form an unlikely friendship in New York City. Follow them as they discover themselves individually and together in Diana Son's non-linear story of human relationships, culture, and romance. Stop Kiss asks the question how well do you know yourself, and what challenges will you endure when you open the door to possibility?

California native Actress Mary Ellen Moreno will portray the character Callie Pax. Steven Stanley of StageSceneLA says of her, "Mary Ellen Moreno... absolutely incandescent-and stardom bound." New to The Studio Theatre stage, Moreno won the Long Island International Film Expo's Best Supporting Actress Award for Graduation; StageSceneLA's Star-Making Performance in a Play Award; and was nominated for the Best Actress in a Drama Robby Award for R&J, a gender-reversed Romeo and Juliet. "Mary Ellen Moreno is a kinetic ball of energy on stage. Sparking between emotions fluidly and forcefully, you can't take your eyes off her," says Dan Gregor (writer, producer, actor). With Actress, Director, Teacher, and even Comedian under her belt, you will not want to miss Mary Ellen Moreno on The Studio Theatre's stage!

Playing Sara is actress Sarah French. Well versed on the stage and also on screen, you may have seen Sarah playing Young Sally Rayburn (the flashback of Sissy Spacek's character) on the hit Netflix series Bloodline for 3 seasons. She's also been featured in national and regional campaigns for Universal Studios Florida, Credit Karma, Home Depot, Spectrum, Hertz, and Publix Supermarkets to name a few. Sarah is eager to debut at The Studio Theatre, "I love working with small ensemble casts. I'm most excited about getting to have so much rehearsal time to really build connections and understand the character's relationships." Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, Sarah has graced local stages such as the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre as well as Mad Cow Theatre, among others. She is proudly represented by Lock Talent.

The cast also includes: Josh Melendez (George), Sean William Kelly (Peter), Alyson Johnson (Mrs.Winsley/Nurse), Joe Llorens (Detective Cole & George Understudy), Rachel Whittington (U/S Sara), Casey Casteel (U/S Peter), Karen Pope (U/S Mrs. Winsley/Nurse), and familiar face to our stage Lon Ward Abrams (U/S Detective Cole).

The Theatre Management and Creative Teams are composed of Artistic Director Whitney Morse, Producer Jason Goedken, Director Roberta Emerson, Stage Manager Grace Zottig, Assistant Stage Manager/ Production Assistant Amber Sacks, Set Designer Kenneth Constant, Lighting Designer Eric Van Tassell, Sound/AV Designer Nick Erickson, Costume Designer Monica Titus, Production Manager Danielle Paccione, Technical Director Clay Becker, Master Carpenter Preston Speaker, Company Manager Autumn Encarnacion, Assistant Company Manager Layna Sasser, as well as House Manager Grace Petty and Assistant House Manager David Paul Rowan.

For tickets: www.TheSharonStudio.com | (352) 751-7799

Price: $15 previews | $35 performances

The Studio Theatre's Mission is to inspire the residents of Central Florida to examine relevant issues by elevating them through innovative and intimate storytelling. Think outside the box, inside the box.

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