WINNER
OF THE
FALL/WINTER THEATER FESTIVAL 2015
Baby In A Corner
by Mustafa Gatollari
Two heartbroken strangers form an unlikely friendship by bonding
over mutual loss. Their newfound hope is short lived, however,
when a sudden visitor threatens their lives. Baby in a Corner is a
dark comedy that proves the best cure for misery is company.
Mustafa Gatollari is a Writer and Actor from Lodi, NJ. He was most recently in the off-broadway comedy My Big Gay Italian Funeral and the Killer Films web series Dogme. Mustafa is a big believer in simple theater with complex characters and loves blending genres in his writing. He works on his acting chops with Anthony Abeson and is currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing with Rutgers University. Mustafa is thrilled that Baby in a Corner has won Best Play in the 2015 Fall/Winter Theater Festival and is looking forward to developing the play even further.
The Cast of “Baby In The Corner ” From left:
Rob Byrnes, Justin McManus, Mustafa Gatollari
(nominated as a best Director) DaMond Taylor &
Ryan Johnson ( both Nominated as Best Actor)
………………………………………………………..
THE FINALISTS
# 2
Zuccotti Park
book/lyrics by Catherine Hurd
music by Vatrena King
After eight years at war, William Cooper takes leave to visit
childhood friend, Kate, in NYC. She is now beautiful, spirited,
and passionate…. about the Occupy Movement. As his feelings
for Kate grow, Cooper also connects with her protester friends,
learns their stories, and takes a good hard look at what it
means to be an American.
……………………………………………………………..
# 3
Rope
by Mark Sickman
The setting is the Old West in 1895. Respected Federal hangman
William Maledon decides to retire. His wife Mildred, a savvy promoter
who enjoys her notoriety as the “Hangman’s Wife,” resists. They clash.
Maledon’s career is over. So is Mildred’s. He’s at peace.
She’s outraged. Angry and betrayed, Mildred
takes actions that will keep her in the spotlight.
…………………………………………………………….
Stuck
by Deshja Driggs-Hall
It’s Marci and Eric March’s 15th wedding anniversary. It’s
been 2 months since Marci’s last mental breakdown. While the
winter winds howl they enjoy dinner, reminisce, consume
several glasses of wine and avoid what really needs to be said.
Perhaps it was Marci’s spiritually cooky sister or the impending
storm that began it all. Whatever it may be…it comes out tonight.
No looking back.
………………………………………………………….
Bride of Frankenstein
by Sharon Fogarty
The Bride of Frankenstein ~ an experiment in intimacy features Mary,
a woman sewn together from pieces of other humans,
designed to please a scientist obsessed with re-creating
his deceased wife. Though schooled in etiquette and the arts,
Mary remains a monster, abused by her creator who struggles
to find a niche for her extraordinary, mutated sense of self.
………………………………………………………….
Ain’t Life Sweet
by Bridget Stinson
Sisters Maggie and Baker return home for Christmas and things are
just like old times: Mom’s drinking, big brother’s in rehab, Dad’s
still clueless, and the sisters fight as if they don’t know how to
communicate in any other way. Ain’t life sweet unearths the truth
about what really happens behind the white picket fence.
……………………………………………………
Transition
by John Anastasi
“Transition” a story of a committed couple who are forced
to answer the question, “why do we love who we love?” Facing the
life altering choices the modern world offers and examines what
happens when a person’s happiness and sense of self
is pitted against one’s commitment to another.
………………………………………………………………….
Best Original Play
BEST ORIGINAL PLAY
Who Is Afraid Of The Moon
by Anna Mantovani
Divine Mother sends four Goddesses on Earth.
Singer/Actor/Playwright/Director Member of the HB Studio Acting Ensemble since 2009 Most Recent Performances and Upcoming Performances Divine Mother in “Who is afraid of the Moon” February 23rd, 27th and March 1st 2015 Lead in major Off Broadway show “When Yellow Were the Stars on Earth” Dec, Jan 2014 Lead in Muskego Lake, Summerfest Festival 2013 Title role in Maid of Orleans, Fringe Festival 2010 Director/Playwright/Screenwriter Who is afraid of the Moon? Director/Writer February 2015 Cabrini Women, Movie commissioned by the Mother Cabrini Order, Director 2014 In a Persian Garden, Finalist Fall/Winter Festival, Director/Writer 2013 Muskego Lake, Director, 2013 Romeo and Juliet the Musical, Third Prize, Summerfest Festival, Director/Writer 2012. Education: Master of Voice, Karlsruhe Musikhochschule Master of Voice, Manhattan School of Music HB studios, Ensemble Member since 2009, Five years full-time acting training
Best Director Luis Salgado
for the Musical “Zuccotti Park”
In 24 years of commitment and passion to art, and 17 years living from doing what he loves Luis Salgado has developed a need to make art that matters, Art that serves a purpose and a real passion for Storytelling. Luis has directed and choreographed musicals and plays, as well as conceived and developed many others. Luis was the Latin Assistant Choreographer of the Tony Award winning musical In The Heights and wants to pass all of his experiences in art to potential new projects that serve a purpose. Salgado, who has been seen on Broadway in In the Heights, Rocky and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown won the Best Director Award at the Summerfest Festival for Song of Solomon. Other directing credits includes Amigo Duende, The Musical (music and lyrics by Joshua Henry, book adaptation by Salgado), Aniversario Sin-Cuenta and Candela Fuerza y Pasión (Lima, Peru), and Zuccotti Park (music by Vatrena King, book and lyrics by Catherine Hurd), Luis is Schedule to direct a Spanish-language production of David Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow in August 2015 in San Juan Puerto Rico.
Some members of the cast of “Zuccotti Park” . From left top:
Joshua Coyne, Ashley Brooke, Luis Salgado, Daniel Karp,
Levin Valayil, Jessica Smith, Megan Tischhauser
Lower in pic: Sarah Sirota, Brian Kinnard, Valeria Cossu
………………………………………………….
Best Actress
Barbara McCulloh
From The Play “Transition”
Barbara with Costar Darcy Wright
………………………………………………………………….
Best Actor
Troy Hall
From the play “Stuck”
Troy wife and costar Deshja Driggs – Hall playwright of “Stuck”
…………………………………………………………………………………….
PLAY FINALISTS
# 2
Zuccotti Park
book/lyrics by Catherine Hurd
music by Vatrena King
After eight years at war, William Cooper takes leave to visit
childhood friend, Kate, in NYC. She is now beautiful, spirited,
and passionate…. about the Occupy Movement. As his feelings
for Kate grow, Cooper also connects with her protester friends,
learns their stories, and takes a good hard look at what it
means to be an American.
THE FINALISTS
Ain’t Life Sweet
by Bridget Stinson
March 4 @ 3:30
……………………………………………………
Bride of Frankenstein
by Sharon Fogarty
March 4 @ 6pm
The Bride of Frankenstein ~ an experiment in intimacy features Mary,
a woman sewn together from pieces of other humans,
designed to please a scientist obsessed with re-creating
his deceased wife. Though schooled in etiquette and the arts,
Mary remains a monster, abused by her creator who struggles
to find a niche for her extraordinary, mutated sense of self.
………………………………………………………
Zuccotti Park
book/lyrics by Catherine Hurd
music by Vatrena King
March 4 @ 8:30pm
After eight years at war, William Cooper takes leave to visit
childhood friend, Kate, in NYC. She is now beautiful, spirited,
and passionate…. about the Occupy Movement. As his feelings
for Kate grow, Cooper also connects with her protester friends,
learns their stories, and takes a good hard look at what it
means to be an American.
………………………………………………………………….
Baby In A Corner
by Mustafa Gatollari
March 5 @ 3:30
Two heartbroken strangers form an unlikely friendship by bonding
over mutual loss. Their newfound hope is short lived, however,
when a sudden visitor threatens their lives. Baby in a Corner is a
dark comedy that proves the best cure for misery is company.
……………………………………………………………………..
Rope
by Mark Sickman
March 5 @ 6pm
The setting is the Old West in 1895. Respected Federal hangman
William Maledon decides to retire. His wife Mildred, a savvy promoter
who enjoys her notoriety as the “Hangman’s Wife,” resists. They clash.
Maledon’s career is over. So is Mildred’s. He’s at peace.
She’s outraged. Angry and betrayed, Mildred
takes actions that will keep her in the spotlight.
…………………………………………………………………
Stuck
by Deshja Driggs-Hall
March 5 @ 8:30
It’s Marci and Eric March’s 15th wedding anniversary. It’s
been 2 months since Marci’s last mental breakdown. While the
winter winds howl they enjoy dinner, reminisce, consume
several glasses of wine and avoid what really needs to be said.
Perhaps it was Marci’s spiritually cooky sister or the impending
storm that began it all. Whatever it may be…it comes out tonight.
No looking back.
……………………………………………………………………………
Transition
by John Anastasi
“Transition” a story of a committed couple who are forced
to answer the question, “why do we love who we love?” Facing the
life altering choices the modern world offers and examines what
happens when a person’s happiness and sense of self
is pitted against one’s commitment to another.