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About CAST/ CREATIVE

Dinner with Georgette

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Good Neighbor Program Directions Accessibility Calendar

By Rick Burkhardt
Directed by Ellie Heyman

March 17, 2018—April 7, 2018

Run time: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Recommended for ages 16+
Read Synopsis

Contemporary farce meets queer fantasia in DINNER WITH GEORGETTE, a world premiere about two gay college lovers and their tangled experiences in the closet.

Balti and Jaker begin the play as two gay 20 year-olds enjoying the romantic and sexual possibilities on their contemporary college campus. But when Jaker asks Balti to pretend to be straight for the duration of Jaker’s grandmother’s visit to campus, a spiraling journey begins in the friends’ consciousness. Balti finds himself traveling back in time, stumbling upon the mystifying voices of a Cherub, a rattlesnake, a war child, and other peculiar characters along the way.

Dinner with Georgette presents DESSERT: FOUR NIGHTS OF QUEER PERFORMANCE

DATES/TIME:

March 26 – 8:00

March 27 – 7:30

April 2 – 7:30

April 3 – 7:30

RUNTIME: 75 Minutes

TICKETING:
General Admission
$25

CAST / CREATIVE

  • Ben Langhorst

    Balti

    Off-Broadway: Jason Craig and Dave Malloy’s Beardo (Pipeline Theatre Company, dir. Ellie Heyman); The Pirate La Dee Da (Atlantic Theater Company); Clown Bar (Pipeline Theatre Company). New York/Regional: The Music Man (Sharon Playhouse, dir. Morgan Green); I Heard Sex Noises (Ars Nova); A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant (Know Theatre). Graduate of NYU Tisch (BFA: Drama). NYU credits: That Poor Girl and How He Killed Her (world premiere by Jen Silverman); Three Sisters; The Museum is Closed for a Private Function

  • Kennedy Kanagawa

    Jaker

    Kennedy Kanagawa is thrilled to be working with Next Door at NYTW. A graduate of Muhlenberg College, Kennedy has recently been seen as Alex in “We Have Apples” (West End Theater), as Corin in the National Asian Artist Project’s staging of “Elysium: An American Fable” (Theater 315), Oeddy in “Oedipus for Kids!” (54 Below), LaMont in Ogunquit’s reading of “Mr. Holland’s Opus”, and as Yelena in “Minor Character: 6 Translations of Uncle Vanya” (Sharon Playhouse). He is an associate artist of Strangemen and Co. Kennedy is a frequent singer at 54Below and Rockwood Music Hall, the latter being where he most recently performed his sold out show “Kennedy Kanagawa: Alive, the Music of Sia.” Much love to Ryan and the HG. www.kennedykanagawa.com

  • Jermaine Golden

    Cherub

    Jermaine Golden is thrilled to make his New York Theater Workshop debut with Dinner with Georgette! After having moved to NYC from Boston last year, Jermaine has been busy collaborating on new and experimental theater pieces across the city. His skill set in devising, story telling, and theatrical experimentation lends itself perfectly to this piece! Other works in progress include: The Orange Balloon, Above the Noise, and Campfire Requiem. Jermaine has been performing in musical theater for over 20 years between Boston & his hometown in Portland, OR. Past credits include Baltimore Waltz, Little Shop of Horrors, Spamalot, Lucky Stiff, Pippin, Altar Boyz, & Jack the Ripper (Premier). Jermaine would like to thank his partner Kayla, and his friend Rick Burkhardt for continuing to support and believe in his dream!

  • Jessie Shelton

    Elena

    Jessie Shelton is a multi-disciplinary performer and artist based in NYC. Her work has been seen at Dixon Place, Abrons Art Center, JACK, the Cell, La MaMa, and Theatre For A New Audience. Ecstatic to be back on east 4th, Jessie was last seen at NYTW as a Fate in Anaïs Mitchell and Rachel Chavkin’s HADESTOWN. Elsewhere in the city, she was most recently seen as Cecile Caldwell in CRUEL INTENTIONS: The Musical at Le Poisson Rouge and heard as Judith in the 36 QUESTIONS Musical Podcast opposite Jonathan Groff. Upcoming: CONFLICT at the MINT Theater. Ed: Carnegie Mellon BFA, Moscow Art Theatre/Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, Rhodopi International Theatre Lab. JessieShelton.com

  • Gianna Masi

    Trisha

    Gianna Masi is an actor and singer based primarily in New York. Currently, she spends a lot of time in her favorite chair crafting stories and songs, or brainstorming ideas for her historical comedic folk duo, Side of the Story. She is grateful to be a part of such a wonderful group of creative people! www.giannamasi.com

  • Beth Griffith

    Georgette

    This past year, Beth has performed with Clubbed Thumb, Predihana Music Festival in Ljubjana, Slovenia, New Georges, Brooklyn New Music Collective, Lower East Side Festival, Rady & Bloom, Communal Spaces Garden Play Festival, Medicine Show Theater, Instant Shakespeare, Culturemart at HERE, Sachiyo Ito’s DanceJapan. Readings of new works by Sarah Einspanier, Corinne Donly, Julia May Jonas, Emma Stanton, Rachel Kauder Nalebuff. Thank you to Rick and Ellie and the whole wonderful family gathered together for “Dinner with Georgette”!

  • Brian Kim

    Cactus Eyes

    Brian Kim is a MN native who currently calls the great city of Brooklyn his home. Past theatrical credits include Les Miserables, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Carousel, Flower Drum Song, and his personal favorite, Hair! Other workshops include Great Wall, The Music of Time, Enter Laughing, and most recently, Jason Ma’s Gold Mountain. As a voiceover artist, he can be heard on Pokemon: Sun and Moon, Regal Academy, MCvs, and more to come in 2018. Through his production company, Misfit Dog, he continues to explore the American-Asian narrative through film and theatre – including the recent short film, The Beach House, currently making the festival circuit. Much love to my tribe of crazy contributors, my friends, Avalon Artists, and especially, Mom and Dad.

Rick Burkhardt / Playwright

Rick Burkhardt is an Obie-award-winning playwright, composer, director and performer whose original music theater pieces have been performed in over 40 US cities, as well as in Australia, Europe, Taiwan, Canada and Mexico. He studied Music Composition (PhD 2006) at the University of California, San Diego and playwriting (MFA 2016) at Brown University with Erik Ehn. His plays, including Three Pianos, Conversation Storm, Storm Still and The Climb Up Mount Chimborazo, have been produced by organizations such as New York Theatre Workshop, the American Repertory Theater, P. S. 122, LaMama NYC and River-to-River NYC, as well as numerous US and international festivals, and published by New York Theater Experience. As a songwriter he has shared stages with artists such as Pete Seeger, the Indigo Girls, Holly Near and Utah Phillips, and his original songs have been featured on radio programs like NPR’s “Morning Edition” and Pacifica’s “Democracy Now.” As playwright and composer, he has collaborated with theater-makers including Lisa D’Amour, Anne Washburn, Erin Courtney, Kristin Kosmas, Dave Malloy, Sylvan Oswald and Rachel Chavkin. In addition to workshops across the US and in Europe, he has taught full courses in playwriting at Brown University, in music composition at Harvard University and in experimental music theater at The Evergreen State College.

Ellie Heyman / Director

Ellie Heyman is a New York based director and the Director in Residence at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater. Recent credits include: Jason Craig & Dave Malloy’s Beardo (Drama Desk Award Nomination; Pipeline Theater), Erin Markey’s Boner Killer (Under the Radar/The Public Theater), Becca Blackwell ‘s They, Themself and Schmerm (Under the Radar/The Public Theater); Adrienne Truscott’s THIS (Bessie Award Nomination for Outstanding Production; NYLA) and The Traveling Imaginary, an internationally touring theatrical rock show with Julian Koster (Neutral Milk Hotel) rated “Top 5 shows of the year” by NPR. Many of these shows are touring throughout 2017-2019. International credits include: Elevation 506 in Bulgaria with Yasen Vasilev and Home/Yuva in Istanbul with Sami Berat Marcali. Her narrative podcast, The Orbiting Human Circus (Of the Air) (Night Vale Presents) was rated #1 on Apple Podcasts and downloaded over 4 million times. Upcoming projects include Dane Terry’s Boomtown (PS122/COIL), Fusiform Gyrus (Talking Band) and new fiction podcasts with Night Vale Presents. She is a graduate of Northwestern University and Boston University, a Drama League Alumni and a Time Warner Directing Fellow at the WP Theater. ellieheyman.com.

Charlotte Murray / Assistant Director

Charlotte is a New York director and theater maker. Credits include: Mary V (Theater for the New City), Political Subversities (The PIT), Out of my Skin (The PIT), Eurydice (PHTS) and Lear (PHTS). She has worked with creators like, Andrew Neisler, Sam Pinkleton, Annie Tippe, Kristine Haruna Lee, Jennifer Morris, Andrew Scoville, Erin Ortman, and Tea Alagić. NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Playwrights Horizons Theater School.

Russell Maclin / Production Manager and Technical Director

Russell is a Production Manager, Stage Manager, and Lighting Designer. Current Projects: DUTCH MASTERS by Greg Keller, directed by André Holland (Wild Project, April 2018); BABETTE’S FEAST directed by Karin Coonrod (Associate PM, St Clements, March 2018). He has been an Associate Production Manager with Tinc Productions since Summer 2017. Tinc Credits include the Victoria’s Secret Fall Fashion Show 2017 (Associate PM for Scenic); Manhattan School of Music, 2017-8 (Associate PM for Musical Theater and Opera); NYNW Festival 2017 (Associate PM); NYMF Summer 2017 (Venue Production Manager, Acorn Theatre). Other Production Management credits include CUTE ACTIVIST, by Milo Cramer, directed by Morgan Green (Bushwick Starr, January 2018); Williamstown Theatre Festival (Associate Production Manager, 2016; Workshop PM, 2015). russellmaclin.com

Krishna Istha / Stage Manager

Krishna Istha is a performer, live artist and theatre maker. Their performance work looks at transformations (physical and political), gender politics and queer culture using subversive text, cabaret elements and comedy.

Mary Ellen Stebbins / Lighting Design

Mary Ellen Stebbins is a theatrical lighting designer based in New York City. Recent credits include War Stories (Opera Philadelphia), Orpheus Unsung (Guthrie Theater), Westside Story (PPAS), Olagon (eighth blackbird), Fusiform Gyrus (Talking Band), Jupiter’s Lifeless Moons (PS122 Coil Festival), Black Inscription (Prototype Festival), THIS with Adrienne Truscott (New York Live Arts). Other collaborators include Princeton University, Pipeline Theatre, Banana Bag and Bodice, Ars Nova, Monica Bill Barnes, Bristol Valley Theater. She is the resident designer for HOWL ensemble and Third Space. She is a 2016 Henry Hewes Award nominee, a 2014 Live Design Young Designer to Watch, the 2011 USITT Barbizon Lighting Design Award winner, and a 2009 Hangar Theatre Lab Company Design Fellow. Member USA 829. MFA, Boston University; AB, Harvard College. Upcoming: Savior (Chicago Symphony Orchestra MusicNOW), Inheritance (UC San Diego) maryellenstebbinsdesign.com

Katja Andreiev / Costume Design

Katja Andreiev designs costumes for theatre, opera, dance, performance art, and film, primarily in New York City where she has lived since attending NYU Tisch School of the Arts. After working for the Theater Development Fund Costume Collection for their final years in their Manhattan space, she now designs freelance and writes articles for theatrical publications including Stage Directions Magazine, and Theater Bay Area. Her primary areas of continuing study include Shakespeare and Chekhov, but she is also dedicated to contemporary performance, particularly new works that expand the boundaries of genre, and theatrical space. She has designed for art galleries and site specific performance art as well as for short films, music videos, and the occasional circus act.

Sam Schanwald / Associate Scenic Design, Props Design, Graphic Design

Sam Schanwald ​is a freelance scenic designer, artist, and writer. ​Collaborations include: Esperanza Spalding, Dane Terry, Erin Markey, Amy León, ​and Brooklyn-based indie-pop group​ And Lucky. Sam has ​been a part of creative teams​ at BAM, New York Theatre Workshop, Joe’s Pub at The Public, Performance Space New York (PS122 COIL), AmericanAF Festival, and performs projected live drawings in venues across NYC. ​He designs site-specific workshops and happenings for Gakko (gakkoproject.com), and has made work in France, Romania, and Indonesia. ​Upcoming:​ CAVE @ Brunel Museum, London (installation artist), T​win Size Beds ​@ ​Loading Dock Theatre​ (writer/designer/performer), Singlet @ Bushwick Starr, Salty @ Access Theater.

James Fluhr / Scenic Design

James Fluhr is an actor, designer and writer of fabulous theatre. Addicted to coffee and glitter.

Jenn Haltman / Casting Director

Jenn Haltman is a freelance theatre, film, and new media casting director. Recent theatre projects include Babette’s Feast, Red Herring, The Niceties, and Sex and Other Disturbances (all Portland Stage), A Christmas Carol (Hartford Stage), Music Man, Far Away (Sharon Playhouse), and The Wedge Horse (Fault Line). Films include Then There Was (dir. Louis Mandylor), Boy Meets Girl” (dir. Eric Schaeffer), the award-winning short Behind the Wall (dir. Bat-Sheva Guez), and the 2017 Sundance selection Madeline’s Madeline (Josephine Decker). As Co-Producing Artistic Director of Between Two Boroughs Productions, Jenn has cast and directed Summertime and The Understudy and is in pre production for Cannibal Galaxy: a love story (June 2018). Other directing credits include the recurring Cast and Loose Live! at Joe’s Pub and Maybe Never Fell for Axial Theatre Company. Previously, Jenn was the Casting Associate at New York Theatre Workshop (shows include Peter and the Starcatcher, Little Foxes, Aftermath, The Seven) and worked with Page 73 Productions, Pig Iron Theatre Company, and Soho Rep. She is a proud graduate of Muhlenberg College. www.betweentwoboroughs.com

Rachel Birnbaum / Producer

Rachel Birnbaum is a Brooklyn-based producer and designer. She currently heads up vertical expansion at TodayTix working with non-traditional theater and other performing arts partners. Proud graduate of Northwestern University.

Bob Kalas / Producer

Bob Kalas has worked with with Kemang Wa Lehulere (I Cut My Skin To Liberate the Splinter, Performa 17); Nicholas Hlobo (umBhovuzo, Performa 17); Michael Portnoy (Wrixling, CAC Vilnius); Tristan Powell (Jared & Ivanka Live, Co-creator, Dixon Place; LGNA/VGNA, Center for Performance Research); Amanda Scherker (Very Good American Love Story); and as visual arts curator for EAST ARTS.

Leysan Timirboulatova / Associate Producer

Leysan Timirboulatova is fresh out of Sarah Lawrence College is a creative producer and performer. She’s recently worked on The Talking Band’s Fusiform Gyrus at HERE, a current line producer for The New Group’s new discussion series New Group Now and a line producer for SoftFocus, a theatre incubator for the digital age.

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