THE WOMAN REBEL by Shawn Bayer

I will be directing a staged reading about Margaret Sanger, "The Woman Rebel: No Gods, No Masters" by Shawn Bayer.  Many would call Sanger the mother of birth control, a phrase she coined. She was arrested for opening the first birth control clinic in the US in 1916 and went on to champion birth control nationwide. Margaret Sanger founded the American Birth Control League, which became Planned Parenthood.

The reading will take place on June 8th, @5:00 at Open Jar Studios. 

More details to follow.

 

ENTHUSIASTIC REVIEW FOR TEENAGERS IN LOVE

https://reviewsoffbroadway.blogspot.com/2023/06/navigating-minefield-of-love-and-loss.html

"Director Debra Whitfield does great work in keeping the story at the front through changes in setting, time, and tone. She and the cast make the transitions effortless and lets the actors work shine effortlessly."

SCOTT MITCHELL

TEENAGERS IN LOVE AT THE CHAIN THEATRE

 

PERFORMANCES JUNE 2ND, 2023-JUNE 17TH, 2023

to buy tickets: bwprods.ticketleap.com/teenagersinlove

Directing a staged reading about Jack the Ripper's victims

Gil Brady, Jim Baker To Present Staged Reading of

HIDDEN SHADOWS: THE WHITECHAPEL FIVE at AMT

The play details the relationships and the terror of the five prostitutes murdered by one of history's most well-known and elusive serial killers, Jack the Ripper.

by A.A. Cristi Feb. 14, 2023

Gil Brady (Sideways, Shear Madness off-Broadway, associate producer at AMT) and Jim Baker will present a staged reading of the new play HIDDEN SHADOWS: THE WHITECHAPEL FIVE based on the story of Jack The Ripper and his most infamous victims at AMT Theatre on February 22nd at 2:00 PM.

The play, conceived by the late K.C. Wilson and completed by collaborator Jim Baker, examines the relationships of the five prostitutes, the social injustices inflicted upon them, and the sudden violence and horror brought about by one of history's most well-known and elusive serial killers in The Whitechapel district of London in 1888. Debra Whitfield (The Shaw Project, Chatillion Stage Company) will direct.

The cast includes: Stacey Harris (Bells Are Ringing), Annie Edgerton (Mamma Mia), Jenny Strassburg (Life Sucks), Lara Hayhurst Compton (Bye Bye Birdie Nat'l Tour), Brian Ray Norris (The SpongeBob Musical), Andy Prosky (King Lear- Lincoln Center), Eve O'Brien (Law and Order: SVU), Dana Aber (Baggage at the Door), Dan Fenaughty (39 Steps Nat'l Tour), Justin R.G. Holcomb (The Blacklist) and Michael Reilly (An Unbalanced Mind at AMT).

DRACULA

I directed DRACULA by Hamilton Deane and John Balderston for the Amateur Comedy Club. We set the play in 1924 and added special effects, original music, fight choreography and a magic consultant! We wanted to make the show an "immersive experience." To that end, we had two pre-show events. 

The first was in Sniffen Court (the ACC is part of this historic mews). Dracula's undead "wife," Mina Weston (Julia Duffy), could be seen hovering near her photo, at her wake.

Julia Duffy played Wilhelmina Weston.

The second experience was in the theatre, itself. We positioned Renfield's cell in the audience, where he  could be viewed catching and eating insects through the window in his cell door. 

Richard Adler as Renfield

Alexa Poller as Van Helsing and Eric Kuzmuk as Dr. Seward

With the strength of 20 men, Dracula (Christopher Galiardo) hoists Renfield (Richard Adler) in the air, with the intention of killing him.

Welles (Alice Hale) is Dracula's minion where Lucy (Ziggy Schulting) is concerned.

The show ran October 26th--November 12th.

Review of "The Amorous Ambassador" by Michael Parker

We got a rave review in the CallBoard!

"The Amorous Ambassador" is intended to do nothing more than provide an evening of hilarity to its audiences and the Comedy Club's expert production delivered everything promised."

"The ACC cast was exceptional in every way."

 "Director Whitfield (assisted by Gautam Kannan) expertly kept everyone running around the stage, mining every laugh there was to be had."

You can read the entire review below.

 

THE AMOROUS AMBASSADOR at The ACC

I had such an amazing time directing "The Amorous Ambassador" by Michael Parker at the Amateur Comedy Club. We moved the setting from the '90's to the '60's, which opened the door to fabulous "British Invasion" music and Carnaby Street fashions. I also added a few more risqué bits of business, to spice up the already sexy romp. The play ran from May 2nd-May 14th, at the charming theatre located in historic Sniffen Court. The cast below included Sam Fortenbaugh, KellyRose Marry, Leah Schwartz, Stan Goldberg, Kaitlyn Mitchell, Alex Craven, Alice Lustig and Chris Galiardo.

Photo Credit: Rob Klein