MARCH
A new play by Sharyn Rothstein
Directed by Kel Haney

A funny new drama about life on the edge of adulthood

Featuring:  Andrew Ash*, Frank Deal*, Rachel Geisler, Annie Henk*, Ashley Marie Ortiz*, Thom Rivera*, John-Michael Scapin, and Melissa Teitel*

Two teens take on the real and imaginary monsters in their lives in this funny and compelling theatrical journey through the treacherous worlds of virtual battlefields and real-life adolescence. Though their backgrounds couldn't be more different, Eva Lucia Perez, a 14 year-old from the Bronx, and Michael Meltzer, a 15 year-old kid growing up in the suburbs, are both dealing with complicated families when they meet as avatars in Eden, a fantasy realm in an online game. As they embark on a journey to a new level in the game, Eva Lucia and Michael become unexpected friends, and find in each other the escape they need to get to that place and time when you first realize that the world is bigger than your family.

MARCH was performed April 12-29, 2012, at The Theater at the 14th Street Y located at 344 East 14th Street between First and Second Avenues.

Press Representation by Emily Owens PR.

MARCH was registered with the New York Innovative Theatre Awards, new awards specifically for Off-Off-Broadway theatre, and your vote will make a difference.  Thank you for voting for us at www.nyitawards.org!

We participate in the TDF voucher program.

Philanthropic Partner: The 14th Street Y Teen Theater Summer Institute Scholarship Fund for the Edgies Teen Center

For this production, the RFTC has chosen to partner with the 14th Street Y Teen Theater Summer Institute Scholarship Fund for the Edgies Teen Center

Since their inception in 2005, THE EDUCATIONAL ALLIANCE TEEN CENTER (known affectionately as "Edgies Teen Center" or "Edgies" for short) has quickly become a hugely successful center for teens on the Lower East Side. They offer a variety of activities in a healthy, safe, and fun environment, all free of charge to members. Activities include cooking and nutrition classes, sports, College Prep, and discussion groups. This summer the 14th Street Y will be offering their first TEEN THEATER SUMMER INSTITUTE and one Edgie will be receiving a scholarship for attendance. The Educational Alliance's dedicated staff motivates members to develop new skills and interests, improve their grades and academic achievement, and "reach higher" in planning their futures. As Christina, a member of the teen center, says, "If it weren't for Edgies, I wouldn't have anywhere to go. Instead of hanging out on the street, I'm learning new skills, getting tutoring with schoolwork and I'm working hard to be the first person in my family to go to college!"

For more information on the Edgies, click here. To learn more about the Teen Theater Summer Institute click here.

MARCH is made possible by generous grants from the following foundations:

The Dramatists Guild Fund

The Josephine Foundation

MARCH is also made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State agency:

New York State Council of the Arts

This program was supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Production design support is provided by The Edith Lutyens and Norman Bel Geddes Design Enhancement Fund, a program of the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (A.R.T./New York).

Cast Bios:

Andrew Ash*, Michael Meltzer

Andrew is so happy to be making his debut at the Red Fern Theatre Company!  New York:  Lively Productions (Blogologues, The Rivals), Inwood Shakespeare Festival (Othello), TheatreWorks USA (Max & Ruby), Queens Players (A Midsummer Night’s Dream).  Regional:  Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park (A Christmas Carol, The Nina Variations, The Foreigner), Hangar Theatre (What Happened to Bill Viola?, Bluebeard, Two Donuts, The Wedding Reception). Education:  Yale University, Upright Citizens Brigade.  Proud member of AEA.

Frank Deal*, Neil Meltzer

14th St.: Have You Seen Steve Steven (13P/Anne Kaufman, dir.). B’way: August: Osage County. Off B’way: Most Fabulous Story Ever Told (Rudnick/Minetta Lane), One Neck (w/ Allison Janney/Atlantic), Dark Ride (Soho Rep), Second Hand Smoke (Primary Stages), Vietnamization of N.J. (Durang/Beckett), Woman in White (NYTW), etc.
Regional: The Kennedy Center, Guthrie, Yale Rep, etc. Film: (upcoming) The Bourne Legacy, The Corrections (Noah Baumbach), The Bay (Barry Levinson). TV: Person of Interest, Nurse Jackie, Blue Bloods, Unforgettable, Fringe L&O’s, Sopranos, etc. Faculty: Juilliard, Tisch.

Rachel Geisler, Jenny Tepperman

Rachel is beyond thrilled to be a part of MARCH and to get to work on such an awesome play! National Tour: Spring Awakening (NETworks). Rachel is currently a student at NYU-Tisch and just closed their production of Songs for A New World as Woman 1. So much love to my family and friends and many thanks to everyone involved in this production and Victoria Kress and the team at DBA!

Annie Henk*, Eva Perez

Regional: Adriana Sevahn’s One woman show: Taking Flight, Gladys in: The Cook (Stages Rep). NYC:  SummerStage 2011, Clubbed Thumb, INTAR, Mabou Mines, Nibras, PRTT, EST, Resonance Ensemble, Foundry Theater, NYTW, Working Theater, New Georges, Collaboration Town, and 52nd Street Project. Film/Web: White, East WillyB, That’s What She Said, Thin Air, Entre Nos. Narration: Starbound, The Madonnas of Echo Park, Sunstroke, How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents, and more.  Member: INTAR Actor’s Collective, Packawallop’s: The Pack, proud LARKee.

Ashley Marie Ortiz, Eva Lucia Perez

Ashley is happy to be making her Red Fern debut in MARCH.  A North Carolina native, some of her credits include: Chastity in A Matter of Choice (NYC Fringe), Mary/Eve in  A Beautiful Star (Triad Stage/ Preston Lane), Norca in Our Lady of 121st Street (UNCG/Stephanie Yankwitt), and Lady in Blue in For Colored Girls who Considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf(UNCG). B.F.A. Acting - University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  She would like to thank her friends and family for their constant love and support.

Thom Rivera*, Manny Perez

NY Theatre - Roundabout, MTC, The Acting Company, Page 73, Culture Project, NY Classical, Working Theater & EST.  Regional - Oregon Shakespeare, Alabama Shakespeare, Colorado Shakespeare, Shakespeare/LA.  Yale Repertory, South Coast Repertory, Kansas City Repertory, St. Louis Repertory, Cincinnati Playhouse, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Triad Stage, Barrington Stage, Denver Center, Mark Taper, Dallas Theater Center, Bilingual Foundation of the Arts. TV - Law & Order: Prime & CI, As the World Turns MFA – UC Irvine  www.thomrivera.com

John-Michael Scapin, Benjamin Meltzer

John-Michael is thrilled to be working with such a fabulous cast and crew on this production of March. Recent graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts  – Atlantic Acting School, Classical Studio. Theater: MacBeth, Eurydice, Cloud 9, Much Ado About Nothing, The Winter’s Tale. Television: Triple Sensation (CBC). Many thanks to my family, Ronda and Erin for their continued encouragement and support.

Melissa Teitel*, Lillian Meltzer

Melissa Teitel could not be more excited to be working with the Red Fern Theatre Company!  Regional Credits Include: I Hate Hamlet (Northern Stage); Midsummer Night's Dream (Asolo Theatre); Broadway Bound (Asolo Theatre); Peter Pan (Asolo Theatre); The Front Page (Asolo Theatre); Inherit the Wind (Asolo Theatre).  New York Credits include: New York International Fringe Festival (Photosynthesis (2009) & Clare's Room (2006); DisConnections (45th Street Theatre); The Secret Life of the Office Worker (Columbia University).  Melissa has her MFA in Acting from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, and has been listed as a Top Performer by both the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

Production Team Bios:

Sharyn Rothstein, Playwright

Sharyn Rothstein’s plays include Lunchblocked (Ars Nova), Camp Monster (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Neglect (Ensemble Studio Theatre), The Invested (4th Street Theatre; Finalist, SheWRITES New Play Competition), For Abigail Who Drowns Men (New Georges workshop), A Good Farmer (3Graces Theatre Co.), among others. Her musicals, full-length and one-acts plays have been produced and workshopped in New York and around the country, and her short plays have been published in several anthologies. 

Sharyn holds an MFA in dramatic writing from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, as well as a Masters in Public Health from Hunter College. She is the recipient of a 2008 Ensemble Studio Theater/Sloan commission. Sharyn is a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre, as well as a member of the 2011-2012 Ars Nova Playgroup. 

March was workshopped at the Bay Area Playwright’s Festival and was a 2010 finalist for the Yale Drama Series Competition.

Jacob S. Cooper, Image Artist

Jacob is a New York based graphic designer. He recently received a degree in Advertising from Michigan State University and is currently the design intern at Spotco, assisting in the creation of key art for upcoming Broadway shows.

Taylor Derwin, Properties

As a child of a new virtual generation I’m ecstatic to be working on sure a multi-dimensional play that tackles the real last frontier: The Internet. Growing up as a gamer I’ve always leaned towards games that we build our own worlds from scratch. Tonight we have a chance to walk through our imagination and ponder how we can manifest our own realties into fantasy. I hope you enjoy this play as much as I did working towards its creation, but just in case you want to snap out of here simply press the ESC button.

Darragh Garvey, Casting Director

Darragh graduated from Southern Connecticut State University (New Haven) in 2010, receiving a BS in Communications/Video Production, with a Theatre minor.  She was the Casting Resident at Playwrights Horizons from the Fall of 2010 to the Fall of 2011, working with Alaine Alldaffer and Lisa Donadio, CSA.  She has been working in casting at Manhattan Theatre Club since September 2011.

Ken Hall,  Managing Director

Theatre credits include: Managing Director, Red Fern Theatre Company; Dramaturg: A Shot Away (Red Fern); PSM: Mother Lolita, Circumference of A Squirrel, The Sweepers (Urban Stages), The Conjureman Dies (New Federal Theater); Assistant to the Producing Director, Urban Stages; Assistant to the General Manager, Richards/Climan, Inc.; General Management Intern: Theatre Previews at Duke, Ford’s Theatre. Ken holds a Bachelor’s degree from Duke University. Ken is currently a teacher and produces/directs an annual student musical.

Kel Haney, Director

Kel has directed and developed new work with Manhattan Theatre Club, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Ars Nova, Cherry Lane Theatre, The Flea, Partial Comfort Productions, New Dramatists, New Georges, The Directors Company, 52nd Street Project, Ma-Yi Theater Company, Youngblood, Lark, Vampire Cowboys, 3Graces, Red Fern Theatre Company, NY Fringe Festival and Westport Country Playhouse. 

Recent directing credits include: GOOD EGG by Dorothy Fortenberry (Red Fern Theatre Company), SEALAND book, music & lyrics by Nathan Leigh (The Flea), THE MOTHER FUCK**CKER WITH THE SOCIAL LIFE by Jonathan Caren (Old Vic), INTERVIEWING MISS DAVIS by Laura Maria Censabella (Ensemble Studio Theatre Marathon), WE SEMI-SOLIDS MELT INTO AIR by Jon Kern (Youngblood/Sam French Festival) and PARENT TEACHER by Sharyn Rothstein (Cherry Lane Theatre). Recent assistant directing credits include the Broadway debut of WIT (directed by Lynne Meadow) and THE WHIPPING MAN (directed by Doug Hughes) at Manhattan Theatre Club.

Also: Lincoln Center Directors Lab, Ensemble Studio Theatre Director in Residence, & Old Vic/New Voices Exchange Program. In summer, Kel will direct the world premiere of THE CONSEQUENCES by Kyle Jarrow & Nathan Leigh at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre. www.kelhaney.com

Caite Hevner, Scenic and Projection Design

Caite Hevner is a New York based scenic and projections designer. Upcoming scenic design projects include: Triassic Parq, Soho Playhouse. Recent scenic design credits include: La Scala di Seta and Il Cambiale di Matrimonio, The Juilliard School; Billy Witch and My Base and Scurvy Heart, Studio 42; Friends Don’t Let Friends, Less Than Rent at Walkerspace Theater; The Myths We Need – or – How to Begin, The Monkey; Refrain, The Wild Project; Three Times She Knocked, NYC Fringe; My Way and Little Shop of Horrors, Infinity Theatre Company; RENT, Yale Dramat; The Tenth Floor, NYMF; Jurassic Parq: The Broadway Musical, NYC Fringe and Fringe Encores; Rx and The Further Adventures of Suzanne and Monica, Chautauqua Theater Company.  Recent projection design credits include: Tales from My Parents’ Divorce, The Civilians at the Flea Theater, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and ArtsEmerson; Le Bel Indifferent, La Voix Humaine, and La Dame a la Licorne, Greenwich Music Festival; Carmen, Allentown Symphony. Caite is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts (MFA), the Yale School of Drama, and Florida State University. Member of Wingspace Theatrical Design. www.caitehevnerdesign.com

Sydney Maresca, Costume Design

Sydney recently designed costumes for Hand to God (Ensemble Studio Theater), The Lapsburgh Layover (Ars Nova), Buddy Cop 2 (The Debate Society), The Yellow Brick Road (TheatreWorksUSA), The Little Death, Vol. 1 (Incubator Arts Project), Nostradamus Predicts the Death of Soho (Soho Think Tank), The Zero Hour (13P), OMG, I am so Thirsty (Little Lord) and MilkMilkLemonade (The Management).  She is a resident designer with The Debate Society and her other work with them includes You're Welcome, Cape Disappointment, The Eaten Heart, A Thought about Raya, and The Snow Hen.  Film work includes The Wedding Video  and  Robin's Big Speed Date starring Justin Long, Jason Sudeikis, Kristin Bell and Uma Thurman.  Sydney has an MFA from NYU/Tisch and is part of the The Hazzards, New York's baddest ukulele band.

Anthony Mattana, Sound Design and Original Music

Anthony was recently named "a young designer to watch for 2012" by Live Design Magazine. Assistant/design/composition credits include: Rx, Morini Strad (Primary Stages), Bell Book and Candle (Long Wharf Theatre), The Nutcracker and I (George Street Playhouse), Judith of Bethulia (Theatre For The New City), The Vigil or The Guided Cradle (Brick Theatre) Thirds (Heiress Productions) and Through the Night (Riverside Theatre). Currently, Anthony serves as audio engineer on Punchdrunk Production's “Sleep No More” when he is not designing.  www.anthonymattana.com

Michal V. Mendelson*, Production Stage Manager

Michal V. Mendelson is happy to return to Red Fern for her fourth time. She has also worked with New Georges, Purple Rep, TerraNova Collective, New Dramatists, The Pearl Theatre, Studio 42, Nomad Theatricals, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Phoenix Theatre Ensemble, Dog-Run Repertory Company, Worth Street Theatre, Women’s Project, La Mama, Etc, Berkshire Playwrights Lab, Passage Theatre, Fairfield Theatre and Oldcastle Theatre. Ms. Mendelson has a BA from Brandeis University. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.

Michael Walkup, Dramaturg

Michael is the Associate Director of Page 73, a Brooklyn-based theater company that develops and produces the work of early-career playwrights. He is the teaching artist for the Dwight/Edgewood Project, an outreach program in New Haven teaching playwriting to middle school students modeled on New York's 52nd Street Project, for which he also volunteers. Michael worked previously in new play development as Artistic Coordinator at Yale Repertory Theatre. MFA in Dramaturgy, Yale School of Drama.

Melanie Moyer Williams, Executive Artistic Director

Most recent RFTC credits include the world premiere of WE IN SILENCE HEAR A WHISPER, A SHOT AWAY, CREATED EQUAL, +30NYC; NYC Premiere of Shirley Lauro’s ALL THROUGH NIGHT; MISS EVERS' BOYS (NYIT and AUDELCO Nominations). Melanie has developed new plays at Actors’ Studio and Ensemble Studio Theatre, and directed in the NY Fringe and the Philadelphia Fringe Festivals, for POCKET OPERA NY, for Wanderlust Theater in El Salvador, and NY Public Library. Credits also include a founder and Managing Director of the Camden Shakespeare Company. AB in Theater and International Relations: Duke University.

Marie Yokoyama - Lighting Design

Her lighting design credits include: (M)asking Questions (California Repertory Theater), King Cat Calico (Son of Semele), Compulsion (Yale Repertory Theatre), Celebration (TheatreHAN), Walkabout Yeolha (Columbia University), Sparkling Objects (Canal Park Playhouse), The Rubber Room (Artistic New Direction), Baudelaire la Morte (Pan Asian Rep), and Faust (Curtis) Set design credits: Dream Babies (Riant Theatre) and vanya. (Paisley in Blue) She has worked with Red Fern Theatre on Gentrifusion, A Shot Away, We in Silence Hear a Whisper, and Created Equal.