John Augustine to Helm Next Installment of NEW FEATHERS in New Hope

The ever-growing New Feathers, an independent, theatrical new works series that audiences have come to know and love, has announced the latest direction and casting additions for the November 5th Shorts production, featuring the literary, innovative works of Princeton's Witherspoon Circle.

Professional direction will be by playwright, actor, director and television writer John Augustine of Bucks County. The expanding cast includes New Hope local talent, Deborah A. Peckman, television, film and stage performers Judith Lightfoot Clarke, Megan Malloy as well as Michael Irvin Pollard. Further casting to be announced.

Show tickets are on sale now for $15.00 each; each pre-show gathering is an additional $10. Visit Eventbrite.com - "New Feathers" - to secure seats and learn more.

Providing theater-enthusiasts a ground-floor, indie-entertainment view, New Feathers shorts by the Witherspoon Circle offers a window into a potential, full-length play. Shorts presented offers a collaborative and creative environment between audience members and creatives, while encouraging an inviting forum for audience-influence over developmental theater. This experience promises to deliver a variety readings from edgy to outrageous, deranged, dark, delightful and everything in between.

Shorts premiering November 5th are by the following playwrights: John Augustine, Ken Kaissar, Bob Sandberg, Pandora Scooter, and David Lee White.

With the goal of offering a stimulating, collaborative environment between stage and audience, this series is conceived and co-produced by Mandee K. Hammerstein, jointly with Greg T. Nanni. New Feathers strives to provide personal experience and engagement for audience members and creatives alike, while encouraging an inviting forum for audience influence over new works. Throughout the series, patrons will witness a variety of play readings from edgy to outrageous, deranged, dark, delightful and everything in between.

This monthly reading series provides playwrights a secure outlet to confidentially show their work to the smart, theatre-enthused (or the theatre curious), gathering feedback, aiding in the development of their material. The Raven, as an arts-supporting establishment, is proud to host this series to its vast and varied audience.

The Raven Resort combines world-class dining and entertainment venues with a boutique hotel experience and pool club, all in a relaxed, stylish setting. Established in 1979, The Raven Resort has become an institution for locals, travelers and anyone drawn to the art, music, culture scene New Hope offers. For more information, go to www.TheRavenNewHope.com.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

John Augustine'S plays have been produced in NYC at The Zipper, HERE, Naked Angels, Expanded Arts, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Miranda Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, and 59E59 Theaters.

His anthology of 20 short plays, Augustine's Confessions, is published by Playscripts.com. Also published in the short play anthologies Take Ten, Best American Short Plays. His play PeopleSpeak is published in Shorter, Faster, Funnier. The New York Times wrote of this play, "PeopleSpeak" (is) a witty and acerbic play that is the best of the Summer Shorts festival." He and playwright, Willy Conley were commissioned by the National Theatre of the Deaf, to write OH! FIGARO! Touring the United States. For television, Augustine wrote for the Fox TV show Titus and for Encore! Encore! with Nathan Lane and Joan Plowright. He has taught playwriting at Sarah Lawrence College, New York University, The 42nd Street Collective, and Playwrights Horizons Theatre School. He is a Revson Fellow in Playwriting, and a member of WGA,The Dramatists Guild, SAG, AEA and SDC.

NYC Acting credits include the original productions of Young Playwrights Festival at Playwrights Horizons, Mac Wellman's satire on government censorship, "SEVEN BLOWJOBS" at Soho Rep, Heather McKutcheon's WALK ON LAKE ERIE at HOME; Christopher Durang's NAOMI IN THE LIVING ROOM at Home for Contemporary Theatre, and Bill Russell's ELEGIES FOR ANGELS, PUNKS & RAGING QUEENS. He is half of "Dawne" in the satiric nightclub act Chris Durang AND DAWNE, which has played at the Criterion Center, Caroline's Comedy Club, Williamstown Summer Cabaret, and the Triad, winning a 1996 Bistro Award. For more, visit www.JohnAugustine.net.

DEBORAH A. PECKMAN is a local New Hope resident that has performed in concerts, local and regional plays and musicals, national tours and internationally in Italy and Ireland. Deborah is currently performing in a NJ production of Equus through October 22nd at Franklin Villagers in Somerset, NJ. Most recently, she was seen in Lombardi at the Off-Broadstreet Theater in Hopewell, NJ and was featured in Stars 'n Stripes, a patriotic musical review with Lambertville's DPAC/Music Mountain Theater in which she performed alongside her two sons, ages 8 and 11.

Deborah moved to New Hope 3 years ago from CT where she appeared in the original 2-person concert, The Voice - Heart of an Irishman and several local theater productions. Prior to that, Deborah lived in Hoboken, NJ and New York and worked as a Technology Trainer at Goldman Sachs. Deborah grew up in Bridgewater, NJ and graduated from Rutgers University. She currently works independently as a music teacher for toddlers, performs in original, improvised shows for DOA Interactive, and is a performing artist for Philly Senior Stage, leading acting classes and sing-alongs for senior residents at assisted living facilities. She also volunteers her time with several organizations including the local cub scout pack, Kehilat HaNahar and the New Hope-Solebury elementary schools HSA (Home and School Association) where she currently serves as President.

Judith LightFOOT CLARKE: Broadway: CASA VALENTINA , Manhattan Theatre Club; Off Broadway: MTC: LINDA; St. Clement's: THREE TRAVELERS; Public Theatre: THE NORMAL HEART; Carnegie Hall: ANYONE CAN WHISTLE; Cherry Lane: EVE-OLUTION; Variety Arts: COMMUNICATING DOORS; York: SACRIFICE TO EROS. REGIONAL: Shakespeare Theatre Company: ROMEO & JULIET; Arden: MACBETH, Merrimack Rep: GOD OF CARNAGE, THE HOMECOMING, BOSTON MARRIAGE, THREE DAYS OF RAIN; Old Globe: HAYFEVER; Alley: MISALLIANCE; Ivoryton Playhouse: THE GRADUATE; Wilma: CLOUD 9; Interact: THREE CHRISTS OF MANHATTAN; Cincinnati Playhouse: CLOSER, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. FILM: How to Be Single, Killer. TELEVISION: Unforgettable, Forever, Outlaw, Law & Order, SVU, What Goes On. Graduate of The College of William & Mary in Virginia.

MEGAN MALLOY is thrilled to join the Witherspoon Circle for their evening of new play readings as part of the New Feathers Series. She holds a BFA in Acting from Point Park Conservatory in Pittsburgh. Some acting credits include My Children! My Africa! at the Wilma Theater (Barrymore Nomination), Enchanted April (Walnut), Doubt (Pgh. Irish & Classical), August: Osage County (Pgh. Repertory) and Dead Man's Cell Phone (Actors Theatre, Phoenix). She has also worked with InterAct, 11th Hour and Montgomery Theatre. Meghan has taught a variety of classes and workshops for nine years with the Walnut Street Theatre. She has also directed many children's theatre productions for the Walnut and Upper Darby Summer Stage.

Michael Irvin Pollard most recently Michael was seen at New Jersey Repertory Company's ALL ABOUT EVE festival of the arts and, before that, in THE GRADUATE at Forestburgh Playhouse. Other regional credits include performances at Shadowland Theatre, The Theater Project, The Bickford Theatre, the Adirondack Theatre Festival, Centenary Stage Company, Playwrights Theatre, the Depot Theatre, the Pioneer Valley Summer Theatre, George Street Playhouse and the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park where he was a member of the professional actor training program.

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