George J Mitchell Scholars Announced- Hint: You Know One!

It still feels a bit surreal. I'm thrilled to announce that I've been selected as one of the twelve 2016 George J Mitchell Scholars from across the US. I'll be traveling to Dublin in the fall of 2015 to pursue my MFA in Theatre Directing at Trinity College's The Lir Academy. To say it's an honor is an understatement. Each year the US Ireland Alliance sponsors the George J Mitchell Scholarship which sends students with outstanding scholastic achievements, commitments to their communities and contributions to their fields to Ireland for a year of post-graduate study. There has only ever been one other CUNY student to receive this award- I'm honored to be representing Brooklyn College and the CUNY system internationally.

Pictured above are the twenty finalists with Ambassador Anne Anderson, Ambassador David O'Sullivan and Serena Wilson- Director of the Mitchell Scholarship Program. 

Emerging Voices Trailer- Fall 2014

The production quality is a reflection of my super-stretched schedule at the moment, but the kids shine through. Hear what some of the students in my Emerging Voices programming have to say. 

Butoh Workshop with Yokko of Ren Gyo Soh

After a lengthy and intensive Void rehearsal Saturday AM, I hopped down to the ABC Sanctuary for a butoh workshop led by fellow Void dancer (and Ume Group member), Yokko- the founder of Ren Gyo Soh. It was an honor to explore and share deeply personal dances with this generous and open group. Many thanks, Yokko, for a beautiful afternoon!

The Ume Group's 'Dream Dances' Sketching Phase

After weeks of butoh, yoga nidra, acrobatics and physical theatre training along with intensive dream journaling, the ensemble has begun to sketch some of our most vivid, poignant, curious or personally stirring dreams using the ensemble to create representations of or responses to elements of within these stories. 

Below is an image from last night's initial sketch directed by ensemble member Mike McNulty. The process has been challenging, invigorating and extremely fertile for me thusfar. Look out for more updates. Dream Dances will be performed March 5-7th 2015 at Grace & St. Paul's Church- 173 W. 71st St, NY NY.

Void Theater Company- Save the Date

I'm thrilled to have become a member of the Void Theatre Company. I'm humbled to belong to this octet of insanely talented female performance artists, headed by the inspiring Leni Mendez. 

Our objective is to represent and promote artistic and cultural interests of a cosmopolitan nature. Theater, cinema, dance, music and plastic arts are utilized through an inclusive and multiethnic lens. We provoke the creation of an open space, a meeting point, exploration, fusion of new artistic languages incited by the cultural exchange fermented in New York City, whose cosmopolitan character makes it the ideal laboratory to create and "believe" art in this manner.

We'll be opening our doors and showing this fall's work on Sunday, November 30th at 8:30p in Manhattan. Details to follow. Please save the date.

The Harper's Play

Participating in this year's Prelude Festival was a delightfully odd whirlwind of a weekend. Part of a 12-month installment, I had the opportunity to play Nancy Silberkleit and Monique Mabelly in Paul Ketchum's adaptation of the February 2014 issue of Harper's Magazine. Paul said "From cover to cover, The Harper’s Play translates the entirety of the February 2014 issue of Harper’s Magazine to the stage (including the articles, advertisements, copyright info, and font). It features A-10 Warthogs refusing to bomb civilians, parents venting about their adopted children on a Yahoo message board, and a puzzle that is very difficult. Among other things, you will probably learn some surprising statistics by watching, which is excellent." Many thanks to Paul Ketchum and the rest of the Harper's Magazine Play team for letting me romp around in this wild piece. 

'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.