The Cast of The Wisdom That Men Seek
August 10th, 2007
Genesis has “Wisdom”
August 10th, 2007
THE WISDOM THAT MEN SEEK. The New York International Fringe Festival in association with Genesis Repertory presents a new play by Robert Liebowitz. The play opens with the ghostly return of gangster Nathan Kessler (Joe LoGrippo) – now dead twenty years. Nathan needs absolution from his embittered son, Michael, ( J. Michaels) or he will find no peace. Nathan employs memories from the “other side” to help him in his quest for forgiveness … and to stop his son from following in his footsteps. Flashbacks transport the audience to a battle zone in World War II; a Jewish home in Brooklyn circa 1969; a back-room poker game in 1955; a boxing ring in Hell; and Lulu’s for corned beef… the lines there are shorter than at Irving’s. This hard-bitten drama is directed by Robert Liebowitz, with production design by Broadway staffer, Mary Elizabeth MiCari and lighting design by Shaun S. Orbin. Rounding out the cast is Michael Ruocco, Mitch Poulos , and introducing Artie Mezzo as Michael age 11. Eric Fitzgerald is production stage manager. 8/12 @ 7:45 p.m., 8/15 @ 3:45 p.m., 8/17 @ 2:30 p.m., 8/18 @ 4:30 p.m. and 8/24 @ 10:45 p.m. The Players Theatre 115 MacDougal Street (south of West 3rd St.) SUBWAY: A, B, C, D, E, F, V to West 4th Street PARKING: West 3rd and MacDougal. Tickets: $15. For tickets visit www.fringeNYC.org or call (in New York) 1.212.279.4488 or (outside New York) 1.888.FRINGENYC
Did you know…
o This is Brooklyn-born playwright Robert Liebowitz’s first time at the prestigious summer fest.
o His book of plays, Awake & Aggravated is on sale at the Drama Book Store.
o Chief designer of the production, Broadway staffer Mary Elizabeth MiCari (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Wonderful Town, Little Women, Light in the Piazza), makes her second outing with the Fringe.
o Liebowitz & MiCari started in theatre together 25 years ago during one of the high-points of the off-off Broadway theatre movement.
o J. Michaels originated the role of Michael Kessler at The Dramatists Guild.
o J. Michaels has been named director of public relations for The Bronx Opera.
o Joe LoGrippo is no stranger to tough-guy roles having appeared in The Godfather movies.
o High school senior Michael Ruocco and Brooklyn College student Eric Fitzgerald are part of Project R.E.A.C.T. (Repertory of Emerging Artists from College Theatres), a program sponsored by Genesis Repertory in which high school seniors and college students are given opportunities to work in the professional theater prior to graduation. R.E.A.C.T. was inaugurated at the 2005 Fringe Festival.
o Artie Mezzo, Age 11, makes his off-Broadway and professional theatre debut in this production.
o This is Mitch Poulos’ second time with the Fringe Festival.
o This production is sponsored in part by Ben’s Delicatessen.
o Costumes purchased on ebay.
From ancient grudge…
March 10th, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Martin West at 646-226-0370 or WrightGroupPR@gmail.com
In the Holy Land where we lay our scene.
Genesis presents “Romeo & Juliet” in the Middle East.
March 22 — April 14
Opening Weekend: Thurs - Sunday: March 22, 23, 24 at 8 p.m. March 25 at 2 p.m.
Thurs - Saturday: March 29, 30, 31 at 8 p.m.
Thurs: April 5 at 8 p.m.
Saturday: April 7 at 7 p.m. — A special performance benefitting Project R.E.A.C.T. Closing Weekend: Thurs - Saturday: April 12, 13, 14 at 8 p.m.
No performance on Good Friday or Easter Sunday
Tickets $15 all seats ~ For tickets: 646-226-0370 or GenesisAstoria@gmail.com
Log onto www.genesis-repertory.org for more info on the production and the company.
Astoria , Queens — Genesis Repertory will present Romeo & Juliet from March 22 through April 14 at the Greek Cultural Center at 27-18 Hoyt Ave. South in Astoria, setting this great play in Jerusalem, modern day. Romeo is an American Jew visiting Israel and encounters Juliet, the daughter of a Palestinian businessman. This will be presented in English with sections in Arabic and Hebrew. This will truly be a special event here in Astoria … or anywhere.
“Two households, both alike in dignity … from ancient grudge breaks to new mutiny … from forth the fatal loins of these two foes, a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life.” These words open Shakespeare’s perennial tale of tragic love – Romeo & Juliet. These words also resonate as describing life … and death in the Middle East.
J Michaels, artistic director of Genesis and one of the directors of the production noted recently that Shakespeare’s story of star-crossed love has come to be the definitive story of how the purity of love is often dwarfed by the blindness created by hate and that audiences are always ready for the tragedy that hits the two simple households in this play … “imagine what they might feel when they put such a topical face to it?” Mary E. MiCari, joining Mr. Michaels in the task of directing this production added “maybe it will impact the generations (who – sadly – have grown accustomed to hearing of strife in the Middle East) in some positive way.”
The production features a cast of vibrant young artists including Michael Raver, Josh Silverman, Tania Asnes, Sarah Hankins, Justin Maruri, Raphael Kasen, Alex Moshofsky, Adam Gutbezahl, Shawn Watson, Mary Riley, Jennifer Gelber, Kenneth L. Naanep, Brittany Bellizeare, Carissa Cordes, Jason Butler, Shaun Orbin, Sarah Leigh Orbin, and Dianna Lora. Translation & traditions within the production managed by Mimi Asnes and Nesreen Mahmoud. The production is designed by Rob Nguyen on lighting, Carla Gant on costumes, and fight choreography by Douglas Castillo.
Genesis Repertory’s mission is to make the classics accessible to new audiences by combining the old and the new. The seven-year-old non-profit arts & education organization endeavors to take classical works and place them in new and unique settings. It operates under the 19 th Century “Actor-Manager” motif so members have the opportunity to grow as professionals in many directions during their stay at Genesis.
Once More Unto The Breach
December 4th, 2006We are now off and running. Look for audition info on
Romeo & Juliet - March 2007
The Bacchae - Summer 2007
and look for info on
The Pirates of Penzance
Arias & Sonnets
The First Annual Stage Fright Fest.
Watch out Astoria here we are!
November 20th, 2006Genesis had a grand night! A wonderful supportive audience turned up to support us and our actors, singers and comedians were outstanding. Romeo and Juliet is slated for March 22, 2007. We will be starting auditions and membership interviews in December and again after the Holidays. Thank you to everyone who came and made our big night a great success!!!!
FUNDRAISER AND GALA FOR GENESIS IN ASTORIA NOVEMBER 18, 2006
November 9th, 2006Triboro Bridge
Hello and Welcome to GenesisAstoria!
I wanted to take a moment and invite you to our opening in Astoria on
November 18, marking the start of GenesisAstoria — our run here in Queens.
Art is something that feeds the soul and so we want to plant the seed in the
fertile ground of Astoria.
Let me share with you our “backstory:”
For six years, Genesis Repertory has endeavored to make the classics
accessible and desirable. During the first four years of our existence this
was done at our home on the upper east side of Manhattan – the Jan Hus
Playhouse. After that, we endeavored to bring our work to a wider audience
by “touring” the festival circuit. We brought classics and new plays to
audiences at the Fringe, Spotlight-On, Samuel French, the Midtown
International, and many other festivals. Simultaneously, we offered
sponsorship and internship opportunities; lending financial, administrative,
technical, and artistic support to universities and companies that shared
our mission. We lent support to Fordham University in the Bronx; Yeshiva
University in Manhattan; Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn,
BlueBerryPond Theatre in Westchester, and Cypreco of America in Queens.
After much discussion, the board of Genesis decided it was time to open a
branch *out of Manhattan*. The decision to move operations to Astoria,
Queens, was easy. We weighed the pros and saw no cons: this community has
deep artistic roots – once housing seven live theatres and a movie studio
famed for filming the first Marx Brothers movie; it’s community – culturally
speaking – is diverse and energetic; many actors currently working on
Broadway and Off-Broadway live in Astoria because of its beauty and
accessibility (it is between two bridges and three trains thus making a
commute of about 15 minutes from the heart of Manhattan). As members of the
Astoria community ourselves, we felt it was time to stop leaving the
neighborhood to go to the theatre but to bring our theatre to the
neighborhood.
We hope you can join us on November 18 when we present our fundraising gala
at The Advance Island City Mispah Lodge on 30th Avenue and 21st Street. This
lovely historic building has been part of the Astoria landscape for some
time. As a matter of fact, it was one of the first venues that featured the
great Ethel Merman. To that end, our evening will have a finale of great
works of Ms. Merman.
We will be sending updates on all the proceedings – for instance, opera
singer, Courteney Lynn Wilds, will be joining us. Ms. Wilds is a veteran of
CAMI Hall and Regina Opera. We will be holding auditions for actors,
singers, directors, playwrights, technical staff, and administrative
personnel prior to the first of the year. We also will open our internship
programs to high school and college students. If you would like to learn
more about us, please feel free to call or e-mail.
Please feel free to contact us for any purpose. The Genesis office is
646-226-0370 or *genesisastoria@gmail.com. *
I hope you will join us November 18.
J Michaels
Artistic Director
Genesis Repertory and the new GenesisAstoria
Program listing for your perusal.
Grand Theatre on Grand Avenue. Off/Off Broadway’s Genesis Repertory comes to
Astoria in a big way with a gala musical event at the Advance Island City
Mispah Lodge, 21-14 30th Avenue. The company presents a musical celebration
featuring guest artists as well as artists who work and reside in Astoria.
Aside from a bevy of musical and classical works on display that night, the
evening will include a grand finale entitled “Ethel Sang Here” a tribute to
Ethel Merman, one of Astoria’s most famous theatrical citizens — who
actually did sing at the meeting hall in her early days. Saturday night,
November 18 at 8:00 pm in the main hall of the Advance Island City Mispah
Lodge, 21-14 30th Avenue 30th Ave. & 21st St. Refreshments will be served.
$20 646-226-0370/GenesisAstoria@gmail.com
