General News: America's Brightest Star

RAILROAD PLAYHOUSE

New Plays. New Artists. Newburgh.

Presents the World Premiere of

 An Original Play

Written by

ALEX GOLDBERG

Starring Edward Crawford*, Kathryn Kates*, KEVIN LOREQUE*,

Catia Ojeda*, Charleigh E. Parker*, Megan Tusing, Jeffrey C. Wolf*

Directed by SETH SOLOWAY

LIMTED ENGAGEMENT

OCTOBER 19 - NOVEMBER 3, 2012

RAILROAD PLAYHOUSE

27 South Water Street, Newburgh, NY 12550

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT RRPLAYHOUSE.ORG or 845-565-3791

THE RAILROAD PLAYHOUSE (RRP) is pleased to announce the world premiere production of RRP Playwright-in-Residence, Alex Goldberg’s AMERICA’S BRIGHTEST STAR, directed by RRP Artistic Director, Seth Soloway. AMERICA’S BRIGHTEST STAR will play a limited engagement at the Railroad Playhouse (27 South Water Street, Newburgh, NY). Performances begin Friday, October 19 and continue through Saturday, November 3, 2012.

Can a reality show save a dying town?  In AMERICA’S BRIGHTEST STAR, the small town of South Farmingham is turned upside down when Sherry, a middle-aged, introverted librarian, uploads a video of herself singing onto the website of the hit TV reality show “America’s Brightest Star.”  Her video unexpectedly receives millions of views, which prompts an invitation to perform on the show.  Awkwardly shy, she resists, but is prodded along by her celebrity-craving assistant Amber, the ambitious mayor Dolores Danton, and Cecil Ravinsdale, the cock-sure host of “America's Brightest Star.” Addressing issues of humanity's differing relationships with fame, fortune and social media, this dark comedy tackles fleeting fame, dying towns, and raw talent.  

The production stars Megan Tusing (Wolves [Firework/59E59]; TV: “Law and Order”) as Amber, Charleigh E. Parker* (Cinderella [Asian Tour]; TV: “Boardwalk Empire”) as Sherry, Jeffrey C. Wolf* (Regional: Cabaret [Kevin Kline nomination-Ernst, Stages St. Louis]; TV/Film: “Boardwalk Empire”) as Cecil Ravinsdale, Catia Ojeda* (101 Dalmatians [Nat’l Tour]; TV: “30 Rock”) as Mayor Danton, Kevin Loreque* (CATS [Nat’l Tour]; Film: “The Birdcage”) as Dale, Kathryn Kates* (The Bakery Lady in “Seinfeld”) as Merla, and Edward Crawford (RRP: Lying Naked; PBS: “Promised Land”) as Gary/Dave/Network Executive.  *Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

The production features scenic design by Bill Bywater (20 years with Just Off Broadway, Inc), costume design by Bobby Pearce (Taboo, nominated for both the Tony Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Costume Design), lighting design by Emily Bean (RRP Inaugural One Act Play Festival), projection design by Grant McDonald (Sleep No More), casting is by Scott Wojcik wojcik/seay casting, and the production stage manager is Heather Arnson*.

AMERICA’S BRIGHTEST STAR plays the following regular schedule:

 Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. 

 Fridays at 7:30 p.m. 

 Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. 

Tickets are $25 GA, $20 Students/Seniors; and are now available online at www.rrplayhouse.org or by calling 845-565-3791. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the theater one hour prior to performance. 

Running Time: 95 minutes plus intermission

Website: rrplayhouse.org

BIOGRAPHIES

ALEX GOLDBERG (Playwright) latest play America’s Brightest Star will premiere at Railroad Playhouse in October 2012 (dir. Seth Soloway).  Recently, his play It is Done received critical praise for two productions, in New York in November 2011 (dir. Tom Wojtunik) and in Hollywood in May 2012 (dir. Michael Michetti).  It is Done will be adapted into a film by Ambush Entertainment in 2013.  Other produced plays include I’m In Love With Your Wife (Winner - Outstanding Playwriting for a New Script, Midtown International Theatre Festival, dir. Tom Wojtunik), Stock Home (New York International Fringe Festival, dir. Seth Soloway), The Final Jew (staged reading, APAC; O’Neill semifinalist), and the book/co-lyrics to the musical Election Day (ASCAPlus songwriting award, American Theater of Actors, O’Neill semifinalist, dir. Laurie Sales).  His one-act plays have been produced in New York at The Flea, Planet Connection Festivity, Instant Theatre Festival, and also at Railroad Playhouse, Pittsburgh New Works Festival, Raconteur Theater (Columbus, Ohio), Little Fish Theatre (San Pedro, California), and in Taiwan (in Mandarin).  Publication: Turn the Page: Two One-Act Plays about Closure (Original Works Publishing).  He co-wrote the feature film Fade to White, currently in post production, and the TV pilot The Adventures of Rick Brickman, finalist - FOX TV Comedy Script Contest.    He directed the feature film Today Will Be Yesterday Tomorrow, featuring Billy Dee Williams.  He studied and performed sketch and improv comedy at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater and The People’s Improv Theatre in New York.  He is a graduate of Skidmore College and a member of ASCAP and The Dramatists Guild, Inc.  He lives in New York and Los Angeles with his wife, actress Catia Ojeda. www.alexgoldberg.net.

SETH SOLOWAY (Co-Founder, Artistic Director, Director):  Seth will direct the World Premiere of Alex Goldberg's America's Brightest Star in October at RRP; he has been overseeing the workshop of the play for the last year and a half.   Other recent credits include Lying Naked (Goldberg), The Nostalgia Cure (Louise Schwarz), and the One Man Show . . . So I Got Fired From That Job!! (which he also worked to adapt from the book by Tom Briscoe.)  Favorite  past credits include After Wednesday (new play by Louise Schwarz), the New York premiere of Survival by Jeremy Basescu, Stock Home by Alex Goldberg (NYC Fringe Festival), Sweet on the Donor (Ashlin Halfnight), and The Underpants by Steve Martin (Gallery Players).  Along the road, Seth has held many producing/management positions including Director of Programming at The Paramount Center for the Arts, Artistic Director at Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, Director of Booking at OBB (a theatrical booking and touring agency), Associate at Richard Frankel Productions (producers, Hairspray, Sweeny Todd), and served as the Lortel Administrator for the Off Broadway League.  Other previous experience includes various positions at Second Stage Theater and the Appel Farm Arts and Music Center. Seth holds a BFA in Directing from Marymount Manhattan College, an MFA in Theater/Arts Management from Brooklyn College, and a Teaching Artist Certificate. Seth currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Electric Pear Productions, Chairman of the Newburgh Theatre Alliance, and is on the Brooklyn College MFA Performing Arts Management Alumni Board. Seth is also a managing partner of 917 Films.

THE RAILROAD PLAYHOUSE is dedicated to the revitalization of Newburgh and the preservation of Newburgh’s historic West Shore Railroad Station by providing a space for high-quality, artistically creative performing arts experiences.

The Railroad Playhouse provides a home for playwrights to workshop and showcase new plays; presents local, national, and international artists of all genres; creates partnerships with local businesses and organizations to continue revitalizing the area; has implemented after school programming and a summer arts camp for local children; and created teaching-artists residences in local schools.

Website: http://www.rrplayhouse.org

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