Wait Until Dark

Wait Until Dark

by Frederick Knott | Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
October 30 – November 14, 2015

Following the success of critically acclaimed productions of THE PILLOWMAN, NYIT Outstanding Revival Nominee 2015 TALK RADIO, and ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST; Variations Theatre Group will present a newly adapted version of the classic thriller, WAIT UNTIL DARK, never before seen within the five boroughs of New York City, opening on October 30, 2015 at The Chain Theatre.  Forty-seven years after WAIT UNTIL DARK premiered on Broadway, Jeffery Hatcher has adapted Frederick Knott’s 1966 original, giving it a new setting.  In 1944 Greenwich Village, Susan Hendrix, a blind, yet capable woman, is imperiled by a trio of men in her own apartment, tormentors who will stop at nothing to get what they want.  As the climax builds, Susan discovers that her blindness just might be the key to her escape, but she and her tormenters must wait until dark to play out this classic thriller’s shattering conclusion.

This chilling new version of WAIT UNTIL DARK under the direction of John Arthur Long and VTG Artistic Director Kirk Gostkowski will include: Christina Elise Perry* (Fool for Love) as Susan Hendrix, Paul Terkel (The Pillowman) as Mike, Patrick Pizzolorusso* (The Last Cyclist) as Sam Hendrix, David Rey (The Bear) as Carlino, Schuyler Press (Theresa Is A Mother) as Gloria, Kelsey Bowens (The Adventures of Nicholas Nickelby) as Lisa, and Kirk Gostkowski (Talk Radio) as Roat.

REVIEWS

“Director John Arthur Long builds suspense and deception with a well planned strategy… Gostkowski excels as the ruthless murderer…His withering stare and wild, wild outbursts are perfect for this production. Christina Elise Perry’s well blended combination of vulnerability, stubbornness and intelligence help add to the drama’s suspense… Irritating police sergeant Carlino (David Rey) earns our dislike and our suspicions. It’s Mike (Paul Terkel) who demonstrates the greatest ambiguous emotions and confusing loyalties… Kudos to everyone behind the scenes.”
— Cliff Kasden, A View From the Cliff

“As blind Susan Hendrix, played by a radiant Christina Elise Perry… captures this once strong and sighted woman who now feels helpless. Paul Terkel and Christina Perry have terrific chemistry. Gostkowski dazzles with his abilities. He is scary, funny, disturbing and disgusting all at once.”
— Kevin Zimmerman, Times Ledger

“The set is absolutely beautiful and realistic, from the rain dripping outside the window when the play opens to the props and set pieces on the stage. The refrigerator and stove are authentic and the lighting is clever and perfect and draws you in from the moment you enter. Production Design for WAIT UNTIL DARK is by Aaron Gonzalez. Christina Elise Perry delivers. From the minute the play opens, you get the sense that this young woman is blind and vulnerable in unimaginable ways. There is no doubt that she is about to go on a journey that will test her and perhaps scar her forever. Perry is talented and focused and real in the part. As the psychotic Roat, company founder, co-director and actor, Kirk Gostkowski, is a menace. His “Roat” is weird and at times funny in a scary, disturbing way. His final scenes are fun to watch. He is threatening from the start and if you don’t already know the story, there are moments that will surprise and shock you and give you an added jolt. Overall, every character carries his or her weight in terms of performance and has standout moments during the play, including Paul Terkel as Mike, Patrick Pizzolorusso as Sam Hendrix, David Rey as Carlino, Kelsey Bowens as Lisa. But I would not feel right if I didn’t point out one performance in particular: a special shout out goes to the young Schuyler Press who plays Gloria. She was spot-on perfect and does an outstanding job. This youngster has a future in acting.”
— Roger Gonzalez, Local Theatre NY

Poster Design by Rebecca Kollmer & Poster
Photography by Sean MacBride Murray
Still Photography by Matt Wells

production team

Director: John Arthur Long & Kirk Gostkowski
Production Designer: Aaron Gonzalez
Associate Production Designer: Kelsey Bowens
Sound Design: Greg Russ
Assistant Lighting Designer: Christian Neely
Stage Manager: Rafaella Rossi
Producer: Greg Cicchino

Starring

Susan Hendrix: Christina Elise Perry*
Mike: Paul Terkel
Carlino: David Rey
Gloria: Schuyler Press
Sam Hendrix: Patrick Pizzolorusso* 
Lisa: Kelsey Bowens
Roat: Kirk Gostkowski

*Actors appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association

The Pillowman

The Pillowman

by Martin McDonagh
September 18 – October 3, 2015

Following on its success of TALK RADIO (NYIT Award nominee) and ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, Variations Theatre Group will present Martin McDonagh’s THE PILLOWMAN, opening on September 18, 2015 at The Chain Theatre. With echos of Stoppard, Kafka, and the Brothers Grimm, THE PILLOWMAN centers on a writer in an unnamed totalitarian state who is being interrogated about the gruesome content of his short stories and their similarities to a series of child murders. The result is an urgent yet surprisingly hilarious theatrical masterpiece; an unflinching examination of the very nature and purpose of art.

Under the direction of Greg Cicchino, the cast of PILLOWMAN will include:, Deven Anderson (HURLYBURLY) as Tupolski, Paul Terkel (ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST) as Ariel, Kyle Kirkpatrick (ALICE!) as Michal, and VTG Artistic Director Kirk Gostkowski (TALK RADIO) as Katurian.

The poster art and accompanying gallery exhibition which to be displayed in the Chain Theatre Sisu Gallery through the run of the show is by Tyler Huges.

reviews

“Easily one of the BEST REVIVALS on the Off-Off-Broadway scene this year… A MASTERFUL PERFORMANCE by an indefatigable Kirk Gostkowski…the production is directed with CONCISE ASSURANCE by Greg Cicchino and acted with STARK FOCUS by the fine cast centered by Gostkowski’s SMASHING PERFORMANCE.. An EVILLY STRAIGHT-UP Deven Anderson…an equally effective Paul Terkel… and a KNOCKOUT turn by Kyle Kirkpatrick.”
— Blog Critics

“The police, played in a delightfully manic key by Deven Anderson and Paul Terkel. Gostkowski expertly manages the wide range of emotions Katurian runs through when it comes to his brother, from protector to accuser to ultimately savior-of-a-sort. Kyle Kirkpatrick beautifully captures the nuances… in an OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE. KUDOS… to director Greg Cicchino.”
— Times Ledger

“It’s not a light evening of theatre, but one hell of a thought provoking one. Whether you saw it when it was last on Broadway or not, you should head out to Long Island City and see this truly talented ensemble displaying spectacular performances. You may be uneasy watching it, but you won’t be disappointed.”
— The ArtsWire Weekly

Director: Greg Cicchino
Production Designer: Aaron Gonzalez
Film Direction: David Rey
Associate Production Designer: Kelsey Bowens
Stage Manager: Zach Shinske
Producer: Christina Perry
Production Intern: SanMartin Garcia

starring

Katurian: Kirk Gostkowski
Tupolski: Deven Anderson
Ariel: Paul Terkel
Michal: Kyle Kirkpatrick
 

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

ONE FLEW OVER
THE CUCKOO’S NEST

by Dale Wasserman
Based on the novel by Ken Kesey
April 10-25, 2015

A mordant, wickedly subversive parable, set in a mental ward, the play chronicles the head-on collision between its hell-raising, life-affirming hero R. P. McMurphy and the totalitarian rule of Nurse Ratched. McMurphy swaggers into the mental ward like a blast of fresh air and turns the place upside down. But McMurphy’s revolution against Nurse Ratched and everything she stands for quickly turns from sport to a fierce power struggle with shattering results. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST is based on the award winning novel by Ken Kesey of the same name, which also inspired the legendary film which garnered 5 Academy Awards.

Reviews

"BRAVO!…We are left breathless from this intense and unforgiving indictment of once commonplace institutionalized brutality. Kirk Gostkowski and Leigh Anne West as bizarre sides of the same coin, are riveting and charismatic. Supporting players in the day room are flawless. Since every seat is just inches from the stage, the audience feels the intense pull of the actor’s emotions and their unfortunate circumstances. Kudos to the entire production and creative staff."
— Queens Courier

"You’re not crazy, Variations Theatre group delivers a knock-out 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.'"
— Times Ledger

"'One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest' soars to complex heights."
— Broadwayworld.com

Director: Greg Cicchino
Associate Director: John Arthur Long
Production Design: Aaron Gonzalez
Producer: Christina Perry

Starring

McMurphy: Kirk Gostkowski
Nurse Ratched: Leigh Anne West*
Bromden: Constantin Tripes
Harding: Mark A. Keeton*
Billy Bibbit: Victor Albaum
Scanlon: Michael Selkirk*
Cheswick: Doug Stone*
Martini: Sean MacBride Murray
Nurse Flinn: Maria Prudente*
Warren: Kyle Kirkpatrick
Williams: Lenny Thomas
Dr. Spivey: Michael Horowitz*
Candy: Jacklyn Collier*
Sandra: Alexandra Kopko
Ruckly: Paul Terkel
Turkle: Steven Martin

*Appears courtesy of Actors Equity Association

Sci-Fi Radio Plays

Sci-Fi Month

February - March 2015

After the success of radio plays TALK RADIO and IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE at The Chain Theatre, as well as the success of The Usual Rejects with action parodies of ROADHOUSE and DIE HARD, Variations Theatre Group is announcing a month of SCI-FI themed radio, film and parody programming at The Chain Theatre.

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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

A LIVE RADIO PLAY
February 27 at 8pm, February 28 and March 1 at 2pm

“The Earth does not need new continents. It needs new men.”

Years before their appearance, Jules Verne foretold the submarine, the balloon, the airplane, the telephone… But perhaps his greatest writing achievement was the complex character of Captain Nemo, the tragic star of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Featuring: 
Aaron Gonzalez, Timothy J. Cox, Christina Perry, Chris Harcum, Chris Sutton and Nick Fondulis

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*Both Radio Play performances will be accompanied by a bonus reading of a chapter from the universally and infamously renown tome – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – championing the immortal words “DON’T PANIC!”**

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WAR OF THE WORLDS

A LIVE RADIO PLAY
February 13 at 8pm, February 15 at 2pm

Based on the iconic paranoia-inducing alien-invasion novel of the same name by H.G. Wells, this is a live reenactment of the same radio program played on October 30, 1938 that produced a panic across the nation.

Featuring: Chris Catalano*, Alexander Pappas*, Doug Shapiro*

*Appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association

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The Usual Rejects Present
This is Heavy: BACK TO THE FUTURE  

February 21, Doors at 7pm

What the hell’s a gigawatt?!? Time to turn that peeping-tom-science-fiction nerd of a father into a real hero and avoid the hormonal advances of your adolescent mother. While your at it, dodge Libyan terrorists, shape up a wild-eyed scientist and OH YEAH, help put Chuck Barry on the map. THIS IS HEAVY. Its the one you’ve been waiting for – we’re going Back to the Future. Roads? Yeah…we totally still need them.

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Chain Theatre Comedy Nights Presents: 
Benny & Griff: Go to Space!

Thursday, February 19th at 8PM

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THE LAST STARFIGHTER 

Friday February 20th at 8pm | 21 +

Cinema Under The Influence is back–hot on the high-heels of a sold-out screening of “The Birdcage”–with a special presentation of 1984′s coming-of-age, sci-fi gamer classic “The Last Starfighter” (1984, Dir. Nick Castle, Runtime 101 minutes.) Often imitated but never bested, “Starfighter” is the story of Alex, a seemingly average teen stranded in the middle of anywhere America who realizes his life is meant for more after achieving the high-score on a gas station arcade game. Featuring a cutting-edge ’80s mash-up of practical effects, creature make-up, and CGI, this underrated gem is space opera of the highest caliber and demands to be seen big, played loud, and experienced under the influence!

The movie will be preceded by “If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Rich?” (1992, Dir. Eric Radomski, Runtime 22 minutes) a classic episode of the groundbreaking “Batman: The Animated Series” featuring the first appearance of The Riddler as Batman and Robin fight their way out of a treacherous virtual game.

Our program will feature critical writings and reflections from NYC artists and gamers, a raffle with donations from local businesses, and complimentary beer from Finback Brewery with your ticket purchase. Raffle sponsors for this event include The Chain Theatre, Queens Comfort, 8 Bit & Up Video Games, España Streb Trapeze Academy, Royal Collectibles, Videology, and more.