Playwright Sets Dark Comedy in Flight
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Duncan Crary, 518-274-2723
DCC@DuncanCrary.com
ALBANY PLAYWRIGHT SETS DARK COMEDY IN FLIGHT
"Cabin Pressure" Saturday Oct. 14 & Oct 21 @ The University Club
ALBANY, NY (10/10/17) -- A local author has set his first short play on-board a flight from St. Paul to Albany, with two stagings set for this month at The University Club of Albany.
"Cabin Pressure," by Damon Stewart, is a situational comedy in which two former lovers find themselves together on a plane, engaged in what they believe may be their last conversation.
Scene from “Cabin Pressure.” Photo by Aden Suchak.
Directed by Karen Christina Jones of the Callaloo Theater Company, the performance stars Jean-Remy Monnay as Porter MacFarlane, who specializes in crisis management (professionally solving problems, personally creating them), and Angelique Powell as Valerie Dane, his ex who is trying to move on to bigger and better things.
"We see the whole second arc of a relationship unfold on a plane," Stewart said. "These former lovers are forced to talk to each other because of what's happening. There's no time for reflection or spinning. Porter especially decides, in the circumstance, he might as well tell the truth. He recognizes who he is by having the conversations. No point dodging. No point spinning. Sex in this situation is not going to happen, so he's not going to get her in bed another time."
The cast also includes Amy Scharf as Joyce Costello; Jared Scharf as Kyle Costello; Rachel Leah Pearlman as Sara Jane Meacham; Tyler Broker as Cory Schmidt; John Quinan as Don Nicholson, Isaac Scranton as Steve Valerio, Morgan Elizabeth as Lisa Mason, and Lonnie Honsinger as Voice of Captain.
Strong language and adult themes in the play may make it unsuitable for children (i.e. PG-13).
GOING FOR LAUGHS
As director, Jones said she's going for laughs, teasing out the humor in the craziness and uncomfortableness of the piece with a naturally funny cast. As part of their prep, she instructed her cast to watch the film "Airplane," not necessarily to mimic its slapstick style but to see the opportunities for movement in such a confined set.
"The best thing about this show is that there is always something going on," Jones said. "Even when the actors don't have lines, they're always doing something. Because even though the action may be on stage right, somebody will look to stage left."
SHOW TIMES, TICKETS
Promotional flyer for “Cabin Pressure,” by Damon Stewart.
"Cabin Pressure" will be performed on Saturday, Oct. 14 and Saturday Oct 21 at The University Club of Albany, located at 141 Washington Avenue in downtown Albany. One need not be a member to purchase tickets.
There will be a cash bar at 6:30 p.m. The show starts at 7 p.m.
The cost for the performance is $20 per ticket.
Reservations by the Friday prior to the performance are strongly requested by the Friday prior to the performance and may be made by calling The University Club at 518-463-1151; by sending an email to ellen@universityclubalbany.com; or online at: https://tinyurl.com/CabinPressurePlay
This event is presented by the University Club Foundation, a 501(c)3 corporation, and Callallo Theater Company.
KEY BIOS:
Damon Stewart. Photo by Tonya Scanlon Massey.
Damon Stewart (Playwright) lives in New York's Capital Region. He has published short stories in several literary journals as well as travel and outdoor articles for national and regional magazines and newspapers. He is the author of "Interesting Tales of Other People’s Woe," a short story collection published in 2014. In 2007, he wrote and co-produced a pilot for a reality series, "The List." In 2009, he wrote, produced and starred in a short film called "Shot Through the Heart." His screenplay, "Termini Station," was a finalist in the Fall 2011 Buffalo-Niagara Screenplay Competition. His website is: http://peopleswoe.com
Karen Christina Jones. Photo by Aden Suchak.
Karen Christina Jones (Director) is an active member of the Upstate theatre and film scene. After founding Callaloo Theater Company in 2000, Jones directed and produced productions of "Smokers," "Godspell," and "for colored girls who considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf." Jones has been recognized for her work on and off the stage by The Theater Association of New York "State for Doubt" (Classic Theater Guild), "The Wiz" (Our Own Productions, Inc.), “The Tempest” (Classic Theater Guild), “Home Again” (Confetti Stage). Ms. Jones' directorial projects include, “A Raisin in the Sun” (Our Own ProductionS), "The Man Who Came to Dinner" (Classic Theater Guild) and for Excellence in Direction TANYS, "A Soldier's Play," (Classic Theater Guild), "The Importance of Being Earnest" (Classic Theater Guild), "The Colored Museum" (Albany Civic Theater), "Clybourne Park" (Classic Theater Guild), "The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged)" (The Collar City Players), "WolfEyes," "Tuesdays at Gepetto's," and "Shot Through the Heart" are prominent in her film directorial career.
Jean-Remy Monnay. Photo by Aden Suchak.
Jean-Remy Monnay (Lead actor playing Porter MacFarlane) grew up in Haiti and has been acting since he was about 8 years old in French and Creole. He moved to New York in the 80's and continued performing in his native language with a Haitian troupe until 1997. He moved to the Capital Region and has been performing since in various theaters in the community. He most recently appeared in Clybourne Park, Instant Harmony and Shakespeare's "As You Like It." His films credits include: "The Revolution," a 13 parts miniseries on the History Channel, and "Rachael's Ward," 2007 Edwood Film Festival.
Monnay is the founder and artistic director of Soul Rebel Performance Troupe, inc. (SRPT), a nonprofit organization that seeks to highlight and promote performances and theatrical pieces by Minority Artists in the NYS Capital Region.
Angelique Powell. Photo by Aden Suchak.
Angelique Powell (Lead actor playing Valerie Dane ) is thrilled to be returning to the Callaloo Theater Company stage. Favorite past performances have included Ensemble in "Ragtime" (Park Playhouse), Mrs. Mueller in "Doubt" (Schenectady Civic Players), Shelley in "Grand Concourse" (Albany Civic Theater), Ensemble in Fires in the Mirror (Callaloo Theater Company), Bessie in Eclipsed (Soul Rebel Performance Troupe), Francine/Lena in Clybourne Park (Schenectady Civic Players), Mary Warren in "The Crucible" (Troy High School) and The Little Coochie Snorcher that Could in "The Vagina Monologues" (Ithaca College). S
Media Contact: Duncan Crary, 518-274-2723 DCC@DuncanCrary.com
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