Polanski Polanski

Polanski Polanski

September 5 - 21, 2013

Don't miss this hyper-physical monodrama performed by Grant Neale, playwright Saviana Stanescu has imagined three threshold moments in the life of famed film director Roman Polanski. Under the direction of Tamilla Woodard, this fast moving tale of Desire, Escape, and Punishment, mixes film and theatre as it delves into the brilliant mind of the controversial figure, sometimes victim sometimes villain.

Reviews

"Featuring a remarkable, compelling performance by Grant Neale and fluid and often surprising direction by Tamilla Woodard, Polanski Polanski is a show that deserves to be seen again. The writing is astonishing."
— Martin Denton, nytheatre.com

Playright: Saviana Stanescu
Director: Tamilla Woodard
Performer/Artistic Director: Grant Neale*
Sound Designer: Hillary Charnas
Lighting Designer: Joyce Liao
Video Designer: Paul Lieber
Costume Designer: Amelia Dombrowski
Assistant Director: Nancy Keegan
Stage Manager: Mark Grystowski
Graphic Designer: Allen Spector
Public Relations: John Capo

*Member Actors' Equity Association

Einstein

Einstein

August 2 - 25, 2013

World Premiere of new play written by Jay Prasad
Directed by OBIE Award Winner Randolph Curtis Rand

Variations Theatre Group presents the world-premiere of Jay Prasad’s new play, Einstein. Directed by OBIE Award winner Randolph Curtis Rand, Einstein follows the turbulent life of the renowned physicist as he moves from a dropout with no prospects, to the most renowned scientist of his time.

Einstein was an enigmatic and controversial figure from his early years until his death. Who was the real Einstein? The man who cruelly mistreated his first wife, or the one who worked day and night to bring over refugees from Hitler’s Germany? The pioneer who explored new frontiers in science, or the road blocker who passionately opposed quantum mechanics and the Big Bang theory? Jay Prasad’s play explores the many facets of his character and gives the viewer an opportunity to judge the complex man behind the charismatic genius.

Casting Director: Jamibeth Margolis
Press Representative: Jim Randolph
General Manager: Kevin Kennedy
Executive Producer/Assistant Director: Rich Ferraioli
Lighting Designer: Daniel Winters
Costume Designer: Samantha Newby
Stage Manager: Garrett Guilbeau
Postcard Design: R. Allen Babcock
Projection Designers: Darwin Gilmore

Starring

Einstein: Richard Kent Green*

Featuring 

Steven Bidwell
Steve Carter
Jill Catherine Durso
Brad Fryman*
Grant Kretchik*
Frank Palmer*
Jay William Thomas
Sophie Vanier*
Sheilagh Weymouth*

*Actors appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association

What's In A Name

What's In A Name

Written by Timothy Nolan | Directed by Greg Cicchino
April 12 - 27, 2013

The play takes place in the back of a bar. A well-dressed woman, barely awake and laden with bags, stumbles in. Confronted by the past, the present, and the police, she sees for the first time the results of the choices she made so many years ago and finds that the secrets that are hardest to keep are hardest to tell. Does she trash her present to rectify her past, or does she double-down on a life she can no longer lead but can’t escape from?

Written by Timothy Nolan

Directed by Greg Cicchino

Starring

Maria Deasy*
Lenny Thomas
Lauren Roth
Sutton Crawford*

*Actors appear courtesy Actors Equity Association
"What’s In A Name" is an Actors Equity approved showcase

Venus & Mona

Venus & Mona

by leslie bramn
March 15 - 30, 2013

Venus & Mona are twins. Two young, strong, hard-edged women that are trapped on the roof of their mother’s double-wide mobile home. Their mother is at death’s door but the sisters can’t help but continue to wage war on one another.  Meanwhile a demon circles the doublewide waiting for one of the combatants to slip and fall in his clutches. Part fantasy/part cruel reality and inspired by the writing of American mythologist Joseph Campbell; Venus and Mona asks questions about the war we wage with ourselves and each other, and when and if we ever figure out when it’s time to grow up.

Reviews

“What will happen next? Who will live and who will die? It’s a tense and fascinating ending that I recommend you experience for yourself. It’s refreshing to hear dialogue that is so up to date, aggressive, bratty and also vulnerable. This play which has no males onstage is a special opportunity to see female characters who have overcome adversity to find their own way in life, yet enjoy the chance to bond using their unique language.”
— NYTHEATRE.COM

Directed by: Kirk Gostkowski
Scenic design by: R. Allen Babcock
Poster Art by: Joenell Luma
Stage Manager: Chistopher Flores
Assistant Stage Manager: Christopher Schultz

Starring

Venus & Mona stars Christina Elise Perry* and Amy Newhall

features Becky London* as Officer Cortes.

*Appears courtesy of Actors Equity Association;
Venus & Mona is an AEA pending showcase

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This marks the first production to come out of Minor Variations Project for new plays. One of the only workshops of its kind, The Minor Variations Project is designed to bring a second life to a play, by taking an already realized work and through collaboration between the playwright and actors, retools the piece. After a rigorous six month revision process culminating a staged reading, Variations Theatre Group is now presenting the first of these fully-staged productions.

Prisoner of Love

Prisoner of Love

Written By Jay Prasad | Directed by Rich Ferraioli
April 5 - 21, 2012

Variations Theatre Group is proud to present the world premiere of Jay Prasad’s new play, Prisoner of Love. Prisoner of Love tells the story of Julian who is convicted of murder but through unexpected chain of events is released into a world that he no longer knows.

Starring

Roger Yeh as Julian
Whitney Brown as Pauliene
Kelly Johnston as Ralph
Jael Golad as Janice
Tara Lynn Gillfillan as Norma
Jaime Geiger as Kurt
Leo Goodman as Parole Officer

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

Veteran stage and film actor Robert Ian MacKenzie, who has performed on such renowned world stages as The West End and Symphony Space as well as innumerable regional theaters, returns for the 5th time to “humbug” audiences again this year. After a 5 year hiatus, Robert leads this veteran cast of 20 through past, present and future to learn once again the true meaning of Christmas.

Previous incarnations of this adaptation have been met with significant critical acclaim. “In this Christmas Carol there are no fireworks or flying ghosts, but amazing acting, hypnotizing scenes, and beautifully sung Christmas melodies woven expertly throughout the narrative.” says Off-Off Online. Blogger Deidre McFayden agrees, calling it a “holiday treat”. “You’ll leave the theater in high spirits, humming under your breath and thinking better of the world than it probably deserves for the rest of your day or night.”

This striking adaptation is penned and directed by Stephen Wargo, whose most recent offering, NY Fringe hit Triassic Parqlater went on to a successful run at the Soho Playhouse, was hailed as “flat out ingenious” by the New York Times and will be transferred to Los Angeles in 2013. Steve also founded and served as Artistic Director of NYC-based Personal Space Theatrics for several years. Composer Diane Adams MacDowell’s has written for Radio City Music Hall, arrangedpieces for performances at Avery Fisher Hall and Lincoln Center, and served as associate conductor/vocal arranger of Broadway’s Tony-nominated Starmites. She was nominated for the 2002 Helen Hayes Award in the category of Outstanding Musical Direction for the production of Tazewell Thompson’s Constant Star at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., and her production ofThe Wind in the Willows had its NYC premiere at The New Victory Theatre.

Strangers

Strangers

Written by Michael Edan
October 12 - 23, 2011

How well do we know those who are most close to us? What is the source of one’s ethics and their claim upon one’s beliefs? Where is the line between faith and fallacy?

Claire, a minister’s wife, has a late night visit from a disoriented stranger, Andrew, at her isolated campsite while her husband is away getting additional provisions. Andrew’s unexpected presence weaves a conversation that is awkward, convivial, eerie, and ultimately unsettling. Three days later Claire is at home with her husband Jonathan, preparing for a banquet where he is being honored. A storm is approaching. An unexpected radio broadcast relays information about Andrew and activates Claire’s unresolved disquiet from her previous encounter. Sudden revelations plunge Claire and Jonathan into turmoil and a horrific dilemma where repressed emotions escalate into a battle of wills. More is at stake than the survival of their marriage.

Variations Theatre Group, in association with its second annual Harvest One-Act Play Festival, proudly presents the World Premiere of STRANGERS, a full length drama written by the 2010 Festival winner for Best Play, Michael Edan. Michael Edan’s 90 minute play will be presented during the Harvest One Act Play festival in mid October.

As part of his award in 2010, Michael was given the opportunity by Variations Theatre Group to develop an original full length production. 

Director: Kirk Gostkowski

starring

Claire: Anastasia Zorin
Andrew: Sean Macbride Murray
Jonathan: Jeffrey A. Wisniewski

Fool for Love

Fool for Love

Written by Sam Shepard | Directed by Rich Ferraioli
February 23 - March 5, 2011

May is hiding out at an old motel in the Mojave Desert.  An old flame and childhood friend, Eddie, finds her there. He threatens to metaphorically, and at times literally, drag her back into the life she had fled from.

“I get sick every time you come around.
Then I get sick when you leave.
You’re like a disease to me.”
– May

Through searing truth and dark humor, Fool for Love shows the story of two people who just can’t live without each other.  Whether they like it or not.  As with most of Sam Shepards plays: reality and dream; truth and lies; past and present mingle in an explosive and emotional experience.

As per the author’s request: this play will be “performed relentlessly without a break”.

Reviews

— Leslie Bramm, NYTheatre.com

Written by Sam Shepard
Directed by Rich Ferraioli

Starring

Eddie: Kirk Gostkowski
May: Christina Elise Perry*
Old Man: Charlie Moss*
Martin: Collin Meath

*Actor appeared courtesy of Actors Equity Association

An AEA approved showcase

Shape of Things

Shape of Things

Written by Neil LaBute | Directed by Rich Ferraioli
July 28 - August 7, 2010

Nerdy, shy English major Adam is surprised and thrilled when sexy art student Evelyn takes an interest in him—an interest that leads to a makeover of his life. Under Evelyn’s direction, Adam begins to work out, buys contact lenses, and even has plastic surgery. At first Adam’s friends Philip and Jenny are impressed by Evelyn’s positive influence, but when they begin to feel she’s gone too far, Evelyn orders Adam to abandon them. When his transformation is complete, Adam finds out that his relationship with Evelyn was about something other than love, and is left to ponder whether he is better or worse for having known her.

Artistic Director Rich Ferraioli brings his minimalist approach to this well known Neil LaBute play. With the help of designer R. Allen Babcock, Ferraioli creates a world where we constantly look at ourselves on display. We search or ponder for what it all means and how LaBute’s play was originally produced in 2001 at the Almeida Theatre in London starring Paul Rudd and Rachel Weisz. It has since been turned into a movie directed by Mr. LaBute himself.

reviews

— Bina Sharif, Arts International

— Perrin Drumm, SUNfiltered

— Alan J. Miller, Theatre Is Easy

— Jennifer Rathbone, NY Performing Arts Examiner

Written by Neil LaBute
Directed by Rich Ferraioli

Starring

Adam: Kirk Gostkowski
Evelyn: Alice Bahlke
Jenny: Melissa Haley Smith
Phil: Deven Anderson

Oregon

Oregon

Written by Jay Prasad | Directed by Rich Ferraioli
December 13 - 18, 2010

Oregon is the story of Stanley Tannenbaum, rabid Yankee fan, real estate developer, and foulmouthed Brooklynite. During his struggle with Lou Gehrig’s disease the play asks provocative questions about
how to live and ultimately how to die.

The production stars Anthony Patellis as Stanley, JF Garcia as his devoted lover Hilda, Kirk Gostkowski as Michael, Richard McDonald as Nick, and Christina Elise Perry as Sara. The play is
directed by VTG artistic director, Rich Ferraioli.

The playwright, Jay Prasad, is a Manhattan transplant who hails originally from India. This is the follow-up to his success at the last year’s NYC Fringe festival, with his play Daily Sounds. Mr. Prasad is a published novelist whose current book, Fabulous Voyage Across the Sea, is available via Wings Press. His work has been seen also in the Strawberry Festival and throughout Manhattan.

Written by Jay Prasad
Directed by Rich Ferraioli

Starring

Stanley: Anthony Patellis*
Hilda: JF Garcia
Michael: Kirk Gostkowski
Nick: Richard McDonald
Sara: Christina Elise Perry*

*Actors appeared courtesy Actors Equity Association

An AEA approved showcase