'Mercy of Trees' at the Jefferson Market Library

I'm grateful beyond words to have been a part of Russell Brown's Mercy of Trees directed by Luis Villabon. I had the privilege of playing the Lady of Light opposite Kamaria Dailey's Mother of Darkness.

This immersive theatre piece led audiences through the beautiful Jefferson Market Library's Gardens and then into the former courthouse, incorporating dance and music into an evening of storytelling. 

Our team is so grateful to the large and generous audience who attended and surrendered to this non-traditional experiences. I look forward to many future collaborations with this team.

The Ume Group's 'Dream Dances'

I'm humbled and thrilled to join The Ume Group as a company and ensemble member for the 2014-2015 season to collaborate on their new piece, 'Dream Dances.' I'll be working closely with a diverse, talented and inspiring team to use butoh, yoga, meditation and gymnastics to create a movement piece that explores the world of sleep and dreams. Performances will be March 5-7, 2015 at Grace & St. Paul's Church on 71st St. Stay tuned for more details. 

Sam's Tea Shack TICKETS

Get 'em while they're hot. http://dixonplace.org/performances/sams-tea-shack/

Sam's Tea Shack- September 23rd @ Dixon Place

Sam's Tea Shack

inspired by the storytelling of Sam Soghor

written and directed by Ben Gassman

making use of transcribed conversations with Sam Soghor and Eliza Bent

Featuring: Sam Soghor, Keelie A. Sheridan, Robert Garbarino and Eliza Bent

Tuesday, September 23 @ 7:30PM

Dixon Place: 161A Chrystie St., btwn Rivington & Delancey

ticket info coming soon

Somewhere between visiting his uncle in Los Angeles and relocating to one of Calvino's more inscrutable Invisible Cities, Sam decided to open a tea shack, here, in our town. Please come and join him, Keelie, and Eliza for tea and the famed vegetarian tea snacks of Chef Robert Garbarino. Sam's Tea Shack is a transportable way-station as play. Or as Sam describes it: "it's about cultural identity versus national identity. It's a comedy." So stop in from the road for bottomless tea, vegetarian chopped liver, genealogical conjecture and irreverent storytelling.  

'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.