Productions Announces
Black Tom Island Radio Play
Art House Productions (Meredith Burns, Executive Director) is proud to announce their first audio play
Black Tom Island
by Martin
Casella
WHEN: available starting Monday, January 18 at 10:00am EST.
WHERE: on www.arthouseproductions.org and www.youtube.com/arthouseproductions
ADMISSION: free
A
free virtual panel discussion about the actual event featuring historians and
the play’s creative team will take place on Sunday, February 7, at 3:00pm EST on
Zoom.
Based on an actual incident that took place in Jersey City in 1916, Black Tom Island explores the first documented terrorist attack on American soil through the lens of a fictionalized Slovak immigrant and his wife who may or may not be involved in the attack. Funded in part through the Hudson County Historical Partnership Grant, the original project was imagined to include in-person readings on location in Jersey City, however, to adapt the project to the current safety guidelines, Casella’s play has been adapted as a radio play directed by Darren Lee with sound design by Megumi Katayama. The cast includes Michael Stewart Allen, Damian Buzzerio, Mason Hensley, and Jenna Krasowski.
Black Tom Island was originally commissioned
and produced by Premiere Stages at Kean University in Union, NJ. The original
production was presented at the Liberty Hall Museum, which received the 2018
Broadway World New Jersey Audience Award for Best New Play Produced.
“I grew up listening to old radio dramas, which our local Public
Radio station (KCRW in Los Angeles) played on weekday afternoons. Shows like
THE SHADOW and PAUL TEMPLE, where only the voices and sound effects told the
story,” says playwright Martin Casella. “When Art House suggested doing a radio
version of Black Tom Island, I jumped at the chance! What our brilliant
actors, director, and sound designer have come up with is absolutely
thrilling.”
“We hope this radio play will give our patrons a new way to experience the play and learn about this often overlooked important local historical event,” says Producing Director Courtney Little. “This is the first radio play Art House produced and it’s proven to be a rewarding challenge. We’ve translated theater’s spirit of collaboration, discovery, and creativity into this new format.”
The free historical panel on Sunday, February 7, at 3:00pm EST on Zoom will feature historians Janet Akhtarshenas of Liberty State Park and Timothy R. White of New Jersey City University, along with playwright Martin Casella and director Darren Lee. Moderated by Jim Peskin of Save Ellis Island. Additional panelists may be announced at a later date. Admission is free, advance registration is required to receive the Zoom link.
To register, please visit www.arthouseproductions.org. For questions about accessibility and patrons services, please email info@arthouseproductions.org.
Michael Stewart Allen Most recently was seen
playing, Juror 7 in 12 Angry Men at Indiana Repertory/Syracuse stage,
Iago in Othello for The Acting Company in NYC and King Louis XIII in Ken
Ludwig’s The Three Musketeers at The Shakespeare Theater of NJ. Theater:
The first Broadway National and International tour of War Horse with The
National Theater of Great Britain. Company member at the Old Globe: King
Lear, Madness of King George, Taming of the Shrew, The Tempest, Amadeus, and
Much Ado About Nothing. Company member at The Shakespeare Theater of New
Jersey for the last 20 years and performed in The Acting Company, Arkansas Rep,
Delaware Rep, The Folger Theater, Playmakers Rep, Florida Studio Theater,
Shakerbridge Theater, and the PA and NC Shakespeare Festivals. Film/TV: The
Blacklist, Billions, Admiral Rickover, Cold Mountain. Graduate
of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and proud member of Actor’s
Equity and SAG/AFTRA.
Damian Buzzerio has recently appeared as
Detective Lopez (FBI Season 2) Regionally he’s performed at: Premiere Stages,
NJ: Father Prosco (BLACK TOM ISLAND), Phil Carter (BY THE WATER), Playhouse on
Park, CT: Mushnik (LITTLE SHOP); Reb Saunders (THE CHOSEN); Robert (PROOF), Elm
Shakespeare, CT: Cassius (JULIUS CAESAR), Antiochus (PERICLES); Florida Studio
Theatre: Don Fermin (BOLEROS FOR THE DISENCHANTED), Shakespeare Theater
of NJ: Claudius (ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN), Des Moines Playhouse: File
(RAINMAKER), Mill Mountain Theatre, Pap Finn (BIG RIVER), PA Shakespeare
Festival: Lord Montague (ROMEO JULIET), Northern Stage, VT: Herr Schultz
(CABARET), Weathervane Playhouse, OH: Fredrik (A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC), Human Race
Theatre, OH: Alonso (TEMPEST).
Mason Hensley is incredibly grateful and excited to be
a part of this immigrant’s story for your auditory enjoyment! NY/REGIONAL:
Black Tom Island (Premiere Stages), Forever Plaid (Sunset Theatre), A Midsummer
Nights Dream (NC Symphony), In Her Blood (24 Hour Plays), I Create &
Auto Bon (Lincoln Center Education). FILM: Flounder, Cow-Boy, Permanent Press,
MILF. VOICEOVER: Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy (Hasbro), Red Dead
Redemption II (Rockstar), SELECTED READINGS/WORKSHOPS: Irish Repertory Theatre,
Playwrights Horizons, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Theatre Barn. EDUCATIONAL: The
Memorandum, The Drowsy Chaperone, Pericles, Seminar, Cymbeline,
Guys and Dolls. TRAINING: UNCSA. www.masonthomashensley@gmail.com
“Laska moja--tajomstvo”
Jenna Krasowski is thrilled to be reprising
her role as Ewa Babek in Black Tom Island. She also lends her voice to
the audio dramas Craiglockhart, and Cryptids: A Sci Fi Mystery
Podcast. Recent theatre credits include Proof (Hudson Stage Company)
and Across the Park (Araca Project). Recent film includes: Empty
Nesters (short), Emma on the Roof (short), The Resistance (short),
Nesting Dolls (feature) and Landing Home (web series). Thank you
to Marty, Darren, Courtney, and Art House for the opportunity to bring this
play back to life!
Martin Casella is a graduate of, and taught
playwriting at, the California Institute of the Arts. He also taught
playwriting for eight years at the Harvey Milk High School in New York City’s
East Village, which is a haven for LBGTQ students from around the country. Mr.
Casella’s plays and musicals have played across the U.S. and the world.
He’s a member of WGA, SAG/AFTRA, AEA and The Dramatists Guild. THEATER:
(Plays) Black Tom Island (Premiere Stages, 2018); THE REPORT
(2015 Fringe NYC; London, 2017); The Irish Curse (Off-Broadway, London,
LA, Edinburgh, Prague, Chicago, and Rio) ; published by Samuel French); Directions
for Restoring the Apparently Dead; Scituate; Mates; Paydirt; Desert Fire;
Beautiful Dreamer; Grand Junction; George Bush Goes to Hell.
(Musicals) Play It Cool (Off-Broadway); Paper Moon; Happy Holidays;
Taking Care of Mrs. Carroll; Saint Heaven; DOO-DAH! LATEST THEATER
PROJECTS: Miss Maude, about the 1950’s meeting between South Carolina
midwife Maude Callen and Life Magazine photo-journalist Eugene Smith; and Club
Dangerous, a jazz musical. FILM /TV: One Night Stand, directed
by Talia Shire; Behind the Lens for CBS; Daddy’s Girl, HBO pilot;
and staff writer on the daytime drama One Life to Live. Developed/wrote
screenplays for Steven Spielberg, Kerry Washington, Anthony Edwards, Whoopi
Goldberg, Disney, Universal, Warner Brothers, Paulist Productions, CBS and HBO.
LATEST FILMS PROJECTS: Two British animated features: a musical The Land of
Sometimes, with Ewan McGregor and Helena Bonham-Carter; and the murder
mystery-thriller, A Christmas Twist. AWARDS: FringeNYC 2015 Overall
Excellence Award for Playwriting, THE REPORT; New York Outer Critics
Circle nomination, Best New Off-Broadway Musical, Play It Cool; GLAAD
nominations for Outstanding New LA Play, The Irish Curse and Best New
Off-Broadway Musical, Play It Cool; FringeNYC 2005 Overall Excellence
for Playwriting Award, The Irish Curse; Dramalogue and LA WEEKLY
Outstanding Play Awards for Mates.
Darren Lee’s Broadway acting credits
include Chicago, Guys and Dolls, Allegiance, Shogun the Musical, Miss
Saigon, Victor/Victoria, Kiss Me Kate, On the Town, Seussical the Musical,
Pacific Overtures, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Film: Hackers,
Everyone Says I Love You, Sisters. National Tour and UK Tour: King
and I (King of Siam). Director/Choreography credits include: Broadway:
associate choreographer Pacific Overtures, other New York credits:
Orchard Project, Asia Society, Fringe Festival, Wagner College, NYMF, Prospect
Theatre. Regional: Ogunquit Playhouse, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Olney
Theatre Center, MUNY, Paper Mill Playhouse, Music Theatre of Wichita,
Glimmerglass Opera Festival, La Jolla Playhouse, McCarter Theatre, Williamstown
Shakespeare Festival, Kennedy Center, Diamond Head Theatre, Little Theatre on
the Square, Riverside Theatre, UNLV, Westchester Broadway, North Shore,
Cincinnati Playhouse, Atlanta Alliance, Trinity University, Lyric Theatre, La
Comedia, Casa Manana, Omaha Symphony, South Dakota Symphony, Holland America
Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line. In development for The Remarkable Journey
to Tianguo, Mr. Holland’s Opus. www.darrenlee.com
Megumi Katayama is a Sound Designer, Sound
Artist, and Composer based in NYC. Her recent design credits include Pass
Over (Studio Theater), Pride and Prejudice (Long Wharf Theater), For
Colored Girls… (The Public Theater), El Huracán (Yale Rep/The Sol
Project, Connecticut Critics Circle Award Nomination), Sense &
Sensibility (Virginia Stage Company), soft (Williamstown Theater Festival
Fellowship). Her installation Spine Line Awake: Manuel Neri Redux (Yale Art
Gallery) was selected for featured emerging artist exhibit at Prague
Quadrennial 2019. Originally from Japan, Megumi holds a BFA from University of
Central Oklahoma and an MFA from Yale School of Drama.
Zoom is an online video conferencing software that allows you to
virtually interact when in-person meetings and events aren't possible.
Participants must have wifi, download the application on a computer or
smartphone, and sign up for a free Zoom account to participate. Make sure
you've updated to the most recent version. (You can check your version by following these steps.) The
Art House staff are available to help troubleshoot registration and download;
please email info@arthouseproductions.org for
assistance.
Art House Productions is generously supported by The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, MACK-CALI Realty, SILVERMAN, Manhattan Building Company, CoolVines, Masterwork Arts, and Genova Burns.
Art House Productions is committed to accessibility and inclusivity in all public programming. Art House Productions produces work with a shrewd sense of social responsibility and challenges the idea of "universal" mind and "universal" body in each artistic endeavor.
Art House Productions is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to the development and presentation of the performing and visual arts in Jersey City, NJ. Art House Productions presents theater, performing and visual arts festivals, arts events, visual art exhibitions, and adult and youth art classes.
For more information about our programs, please visit our website at www.arthouseproductions.org.
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