'Father's Day' Shooting Wrapped

This week I made my directorial debut on the set of my first short film, 'Father's Day.' Inclement weather on-location in Amsterdam, NY didn't phase my tremendously talented crew. This project is particularly special because I'm related to nearly everyone involved. I was lucky enough to be born into an enormously talented and creative family. 

Meet the team: 

Mike Sheridan (MITCHELL/SCORE)- actor, singer and musician- has been playing bass since the 50s, acting since the 60s and nurturing my creative mind since the late 80s. Master of impersonations and silly voices, Mike has made a life out of making other people smile. This is his film debut. Mike plays my dad on-screen and off. 

Shawn Barnes (CAMERA)- jack of all trades- is an actor, singer, camera-charmer and podcast host. Check him out on the Hard On Podcast. Shawn has been dating my sister for about thirteen years. They're getting married in October. 

David Weaver- filmmaker, screenwriter, camera-star- is a cinephile with the knowledge and talent to shake things up in the indie horror world. Check out his upcoming film, The Last Frankenstein. David is my cousin and childhood partner in exploring the very property 'Father's Day' was filmed on.

Jay Leonard (PRODUCER/GRIP/TECH)- filmmaker, producer, one-stop-gear-shop, mentor. Jay's the resident godfather of the Capital Region's indie film scene and creative genius behind Trenchmouth Productions (info there for his latest film, Death Before Discomfort). I came to Jay by way of Shawn and David, both of whom rightfully sing his praises.

Jarred Aldi (BOOM OPERATOR)- actor, writer, filmmaker, every-day-celebrity- works hard and plays hard on-stage and off. Jarred and I have been collaborating creatively and generally causing a scene since 2003. 

Haylee VanValkenburgh (PRODUCTION ASSISTANT)- photographer, newly-liscensed-driver- all-star high school student- is new to the film scene, but definitely one to watch. Haylee came to us through Jarred's family. Fam to fam. 

It takes a village... or in this case, a large family... I'd be amiss if I didn't mention my Aunt and Uncle on whose property we shot, my sisters (and significant others) who provided assistance with anything I asked (iced coffee run? yes! building a bonfire? sure!), my friends at the Glove Theatre for last-minute wardrobe accommodation and my mother and step-mother who patiently watched and loaned flashlights, costuming skills, gardening gloves... My heart is so full and I've not even watched all of the footage. Life is good. 

Table Reading of Emily Comisar's 'Moonlighting'

This afternoon I'll be joining a juicy handful of talented folks for a developmental reading of Emily Comisar's new play Moonlighting. I worked Track Twelve - another piece of Emily's - during last summer's NY Fringe Festival. I'm thrilled to be a part of the development of her newest piece. 

Teaching Gigs!

I'm thrilled to be working with both the Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX) and the Brooklyn Apple Academy this fall teaching creative movement and theatre. Stay tuned for more educational excitement!

Father's Day Pre-Production

First pre-production meeting for 'Father's Day' completed. Shooting scheduled to begin August 21st 2014. 

Forgive the title typo- it's a draft!

Art Helix's Coverage of the 24 Hour Project

A few more shots & coverage of Chez Bushwick's 24 Hour Project on Art Helix's blog, here. 

Reading of "The Offending Gesture" by Mac Wellman

I'm thrilled to be working again with director Meghan Finn on another Mac Wellman piece- a reading of "The Offending Gesture." It's part of the inaugural New Works Brooklyn Festival and features the work of an absurdly fierce lineup of playwrights, including Kia Corthron, Erin Courtney, Jose Rivera, Anne Washburn and Mac Wellman.

The Offending Gesture by Mac Wellman, directed by Meghan Finn, curated by Christine Snyder Sunday, June 29, 3:00 PM, 312 Roosevelt Hall- Brooklyn College Campus- 2900 Bedford Ave. 

Read all about it at the Brooklyn Eagle or on Broadway World.  

Yayo! released.

Enjoy!

Enjoy!

Reading of 'Honey Drop' by Erin Courtney

On Tuesday evening I had the privilege of participating in a reading of Erin Courtney's Honey Drop, recently listed by The Kilroys as one of the top 46 un/under-produced plays by women writers in America. The reading was directed by Lisa Peterson and produced by the Brave New World Rep in a gorgeous backyard in Ditmas Park, BK. There are few more enjoyable ways to spend an afternoon or two than rehearsing a beautiful play in the sunshine. 

Chez Bushwick 24 Hour Dance Project

What a beautifully-exhaustingly-glorious weekend participating in Chez Bushwick's 24 Hour Project was. My dance partner Dominique Robinson, choreographer Kyle Marshall and I explored themes of territory and change and gentrification and Puerto Rican/ Irish ritual and tradition in a gravel lot on Harrison Pl in Bushwick in our piece, Isle of Rocks. 

We had two days of 12 hour rehearsals to conceptualize, choreograph, rehearse and perform. This format was challenging but also liberating- the time and space constraints pressure-cooked our ideas into something we probably wouldn't have discovered if we were moving at a more leisurely pace. Many thanks to the fine folk at Chez Bushwick for organizing this project and to the inspiring dancers and choreographers in the other three groups.

Images from A Mass for Isis

What a privilege it was to take part in this experience. Special thanks to Jordan Rosin of the Ume Group for letting me join! I'm really excited to continue exploring the world of Butoh and other non-traditional physical performance-styles. 

A Reading of 'Botte di Ferro' by Ben Gassman

Ocean becomes pizza becomes candy becomes war as a sometimes couple tries to make sense of desire and each other across a decade, new kinds of telephony, and a night in Naples where it all seems right.

A Reading of Botte di Ferro

by Ben Gassman 

directed by Mark Sitko

Cast Includes: Noel Joseph Allain, Keelie A. Sheridan, Eliza Bent, Sam Soghor and Sarah Mollo-Christensen

Thursday, May 15 @ 3PM

The New Ohio Theater

154 Christopher St. (inside the Archive Building)

A Mass for Isis- Butoh Performance

I'll be appearing as a guest artist in this upcoming performance!

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The Ume Group presents
A MASS FOR ISIS

A site-specific dance ritual, drawing on butoh, yoga, gymnastics and healing movements to celebrate the animating power of the Egyptian mother goddess, Isis.

SCHEDULE
6:45pm A Moving Meditation led by Marie Putko
7:30pm Tea Reception
8:00pm Mass for Isis
featuring performances by The Ume Group Ensemble and special guests!

TICKETS
$25 - $30 at http://massforisis.bpt.me/
Get $15 & $20 tix with Discount Code: "ISIS15"

CREDITS
Choreography by Jordan Rosin
The Ume Group Ensemble: Yokko, Dave Herigstad, Marie Putko, Jordan Rosin
Also featuring Rachel Kodweis, Ilanna Saltzman, Leslie Erin Roth and Keelie A. Sheridan

LOCATION
Grace & St. Paul's Church
123 West 71st Street, New York, NY 10023
(72nd Street on the 1, 2, 3, C, & B trains)

ABOUT THE UME GROUP
Since 2011, The Ume Group has been producing live events, marked by "commanding, physically impressive performances" (The Village Voice) and a "risky physical vulnerability" (nytheatre.com). They have been seen at The New York International Fringe Festival, The Hollywood Fringe Festival, The CoolNY Dance Festival, and The Irondale Center (NY). Their major works include BUTOH ELECTRA, FACET, THE ISIS VARIATIONS along with countless short dance works and theatrical collaborations. The Group's core members come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but are all highly trained teachers and physical theatre artists, with years of experience in disciplines as far ranging as butoh and gymnastics to yoga and martial arts. 

For more information, visit: http://www.theumegroup.org/

Dance.

Traditional Irish dance. Non-traditional dancers. Stay tuned. 

The Dream Vault Cycle

It is with much joy and excitement that I partner again with Mind the Art Entertainment (with whom I've worked on & off since 2007) on The Dream Vault Cycle- a collaborative mixed media project that will culminate in a performance on June 6th at La MaMa E.T.C. Stay tuned for details. 

'The One with No Name' Film Shoot

Next month I'll be playing a boxer in a short film by Adam Howard Forman called 'The One With No Name.' Stay tuned.

A Reading of 'Kings' by Andrew Ondrejcak

I'll be reading the role of The Whore in the upcoming staged reading of Andrew Ondrejcak's Kings at Brooklyn College. This is part of a reading series partnering the MFA Acting, Directing and Playwrighting programs together to develop new work. I was able to take part in the very first reading of this series- Maidenhead by Kim Davies in October of 2011 and it's been a real pleasure watching the development between the departments grow. 

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The Brooklyn College Department of Theater, in association with Mac Wellman, Anne Washburn, and the Graduate Playwriting Program, cordially invite you to a reading of KINGS by MFA candidate Andrew Ondrejcak, the final installment in Season Three of our monthly play-in-progress reading series.

KINGS is a collection of moments from everyday life, in which the simplest action underscores a wealth of humanity. Conceived as a modern telling of THE CANTERBURY TALES, ten characters search for meaning while en route to destinations they cannot quite pinpoint.  

The reading of KINGS is on Friday, April 25 at 2:30 PM in the Jefferson/ Williams Lounge, fourth floor of Brooklyn College’s Student Union Building (SUBO) at Campus Road and East 27th Street.

The reading will feature Andrea Aranguren, Ana Bell, Joshua Bastion Cole, Shawna Cormier, Vasile Fluter, Jorge Luna, Richard McDonald, Andrew MacLarty, Nazli Sarpkaya, and Keelie A. Sheridan. It will be directed by MFA Playwright Jessica Almasy and curated by Andy Buck.

Please join us for our newest collaboration with the Playwriting Program, and to support the development of another unique new voice in contemporary American theater.

Voiceover Demo Reel

Thanks to Erik Sanchez of Sticky Audio for helping me record a voiceover demo reel! Erik made the process quick, simple and enjoyable and I'm thrilled with the results! 

Little Theatre: Dixon Place

Getting to work with two of my favorite playwrights is a good way to start April. I'm in both Ben Gassman and Paul Ketchum's pieces. They're very different and very good. Check us out!

Little Theatre, Vol XIV, No. 8 — April, 2014

________________________________________

- Brunelle
- Gassman
- Gould
- Ketchum
________________________________________

NANOBOT CIRCUS
written and performed by Jon Keith Brunelle

A live demonstration of microscopic nanobots in action, accompanied by a brief talk with projected slides and video, focusing on the cultural impact of what is certain to be widespread ’bot popularity


SAM'S TEA SHACK
conceived and directed by Ben Gassman
text by Sam Soghor & Ben Gassman
performed by Sam Soghor and Keelie A. Sheridan with help from Jon Bernstein (sound)

Somewhere between visiting his uncle in Los Angeles and a short respite from it all in one of Calvino's more inscrutable Invisible Cities, Sam decided to open a tea shack. Thank you all for coming. Would you like some vegetarian chopped liver with that? 


Morgan Gould & Friends Presents...
I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT BEFORE, THANKS FOR THE TIP!
By Morgan Gould
Starring Amir Wachterman
as Morgan Gould
as Amir Wachterman

a monolog


READINGS FEBRUARY 2014
written by Paul Ketchum
directed by Marty Brown

She calls her male employees "penises." She tries to locate hidden stockpiles of ammunition. He recalls the last guillotining in France. And UPS is in the house. An adaptation of Harpers Magazine.


________________________________________
Monday, April 14, 2014 — 7:30 p.m. 
@ the new Dixon Place
161A Chrystie btw. Delancey & Rivington 
(F/V 2nd Ave; 6 Bleecker; JMZ Bowery)

Tickets $15.00 @ the door 
but just $12.00 online, in advance (https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/9885658)

1st come, 1st served, no reservations ('less you buy yr. tix online)
For more information, call (212) 219-0736, or browsewww.dixonplace.org

Upcoming Installation Sneak Peeks

Dara Malina and I are working on an installation piece for a NYC arts festival this fall. Stay tuned for details. In the meantime, enjoy some of our inspirational images. Originals by Edvard Munch, Mia Jessup and Emily Comisar. 

Hamletmachine- Reserve a Free Seat ASAP!

You are invited to attend Heiner Müller's Hamletmachine directed by Dara Malina at Schapiro Studio Theatre at Columbia University. 

The past month we have been working to bring the madness of Heiner Müller's Hamlet to life in an interactive installation with a delightfully twisted ensemble cast of five and a team of talented designers.

The weekend of April 11th-13th we're rolling out the Welcome mat and would like to invite you into our world. Showings at 7:30, 8 & 8:30p on Friday & Saturday, 1, 1:30 & 2p on Sunday.

Please follow the link posted below to make a reservation, e-mail hamletmachine2014@gmail.com with any questions.

What's your revolution?