"Knead" by Mary Lynn Owen; Directed by David de Vries
Mary Lynn Owen performs her one-person show "Knead"
"Knead" was developed in 2015 and received its World Premiere at the Alliance Theatre in 2018. A beautifully written essay about her brother sparked an idea of building a series of family stories into a drama. Mary Lynn's love of bread baking and the connection it provided to her mother emerged as the glue for these different tales, along with challenging notion of actually trying to bake bread on stage in real time. Composer and frequent collaborator Kendall Simpson provided the poignant and evocative music; Joe Futral designed the lights, April Andrews the costumes and Ann Beyersdorfer the Scenic Design. Stage Management by lark hackshaw.
Listen to an interview about the play on City Lights with Lois Reitzes
I'm Not Rappaport
by Herb Gardner
Aurora Theatre - Lawrenceville GA
2016 Suzi Award winner!
After a hugely popular run of this play back in the 80's at Theatrical Outfit, Aurora Theatre Artistic Director Anthony Rodriguez and I decided to remount this classic with Kenny Raskin and Rob Cleveland reprising their roles as Nat and Midge. Anthony, who helped to build the set in the original Atlanta production, migrated to theatre owner. I switched from playing Danforth to playing director. I picked up a Suzi Award for my efforts and Kenny Raskin won Outstanding Actor in a play. The Curley-Clay twins earned yet another Suzi for their spectacular design of our Central Park setting.
Award Winning Design by Isabel and Moriah Curley-Clay
Pictured: Joe Knezevich, Julee Cerda, Danielle Deadwyler, Neil Ghant
Smart People
by Lydia Diamond
Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company
Atlanta Arts Top Ten 2016!
"Smart People, directed with impeccable comedic timing by David de Vries, onstage at True Colors Theatre..."~artsatl.com
"[Lydia Diamond's] razor-sharp dialogue crackles, and director David de Vries gives the show a fever-pitched pace to match." ~Atlanta Journal Constitution
A smart, sophisticated romantic comedy that leaves no stone unturned when it comes to identity, race, gender and class. Four people at the top of the food chain in "smarts" intersect and their intelligence is tested by the complexities of modern relationships. Set within the confines of Harvard University, Diamond explores, with razor wit, the dilemma of confronting race and identity in academia and in America.
Pancakes Pancakes! (World Premiere)
by Eric Carle Adapted by Kenneth Lin
Alliance Theatre Company
Ken Lin's inventive adaptation of Eric Carle's classic children's tale pays homage to Carle's artistic process in a play about, well--process. With a wonderful score by Phillip de Poy, this piece was a challenge and a delight to put together. Aided by a crackerjack design crew that included Kat Conley, Jeff Cone, Mike Tutaj, Clay Benning and Ken Yunker, Pancakes Pancakes! was a visual feast and the extraordinary resources of the Alliance Theatre made it all come alive. Many thanks to cast members Molly Coyne, Rob Lawhon, Adam Washington and Matt Alea and Stage Manager Liz Campbell.
Matt Alea and Molly Coyne
Rob Lawhon and Matt Alea
R. Buckminster Fuller: The History (and Mystery) of the Universe
by D.W. Jacobs
Theatrical Outfit
This powerful one-man show teamed me with Theatrical Outfit Artistic Director and perennial fan favorite Tom Key as Bucky Fuller. A tour de force performance by Mr. Key brought the extraordinary journey of Fuller to life. A spectacular sound and lightscape by frequent collaborators Kendall Simpson and Joe Futral punctuated and lyricized this singular theatrical event.
Pictured: Tom Key
Pictured: (L-R) Joe Knezevich, E. Roger Mitchell, Donna Biscoe, Tom Key, Clayton Landey, Anthony Rodriguez
Storefront Church
by John Patrick Shanley
Theatrical Outfit
The final installment of Shanley's "Church and State" trilogy, Storefront Church confronts the clash of commerce and conscience in the Bronx. Inspired by the financial meltdown of 2008, Shanley delivers a powerful message about the exercise of power and its effects on individuals. I had a wonderful cast that included Joe Knezevich (who won a Suzi Bass Award for his portrayal of Reed Van Druyten), Tom Key, Anthony Rodriguez, Clayton Landey, E. Roger Mitchell and Donna Biscoe. Designs by James Maloof (scenic design), Ben Tilley (lighting design) and yours truly stepped in to do the sound design. I found inspiration in the music of Ben Folds and The National to set the tone of this interesting and provocative play.
Pictured: Tom Key and Anthony Rodriguez
Red
by John Logan
Theatrical Outfit
Winner of the Suzi Bass Award for Best Production of 2012. An extraordinary experience. An extraordinary play. One of the highlights of my career. Watch Tom Key and Jimi Kocina (Suzi Bass Award winner) in rehearsal priming the canvas. It took some practice to find the timing of covering the 6X6 frame to the overture to "The Marriage of Figaro" by Mozart. Painting rehearsals were built into the schedule and proved to be great fun for all of us.
