I Witness by Mary Miller
LOCATION
The Road on Lankershim – THEATRE
5108 Lankershim Boulevard
North Hollywood, CA 91601
(Street parking or paid lot parking at 5125 Lankershim Blvd)
I Witness
By Mary Miller
Directed by Michael LaPolla
CAST
RUTH- Maya Lynne Robinson
PEARL- Cheryl Francis Harrington
JACKSON- Merrick McCartha
STAGE DIRECTIONS-Evan Ferrante
*Appears courtesy of Actor’s Equity Association
SYNOPSIS
“How far would you go, to get as far away from where you are?”
TICKETS
No reservations or advance tickets. Admission is by donation ($15 suggested).
MEET YOUR PLAYWRIGHT
MARY MILLER is recognized as one of America’s “Finest Playwrights” winning the 2016 NETC John Gassner Award (In the Kitchen), Dayton Playhouse FutureFest (I Witness & Waiting for Oprah), a finalist at the National Repertory Theatre Foundation (A Matter of Grace), and Actors Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival (Ferris Wheel). Ferris Wheel is published in the Random House anthology Take Ten. Mary debuted with Carousel Theatre’s NYC production of Light Burgers & Ferris Wheel directed by Michael LaPolla. Together they are co-writing a trilogy inspired by Chekhov including The Sisters which was read at The Word in February.
MEET YOUR DIRECTOR
MICHAEL LAPOLLA directed Mary Miller’s Ferris Wheel and Light Burgers…which premiered at Carousel Theatre Co. in NYC. They are currently co-writing a trilogy inspired by the works of Chekhov. The Sisters, the first of the plays was given a reading at The Word in February. Other NY credits include; the premiere’s of The Dunes by Craig Pospisil, Gramercy Park is Closed to the Public by Toni Ann Johnson and the award winning Just Thinking by Alan Kravitz. Michael holds a BFA in directing from Emerson College. Thanks to Ann Hearn Tobolowsky and Carlyle King.
An Interview with Playwright Mary Miller
1: What is the name of your play?
i WITNESS
2: What was your first job in the theatre?
Dressed in a yellow tutu, doing somersaults across the stage… It wasn’t exactly a job, but it was my first memory of being on stage!
3: Do you ever model characters after real life people?
Yes, all the time. They start that way, but by the end of the final draft they will have evolved into their own individual characters with personality traits that are far different from anyone in real life.
4: As an artist, what subjects tend to draw your interest?
Relationships: family, work, love…stories about real life with all its banality and humor.
5: Do you have other passions aside from playwriting?
As a kid I played the National Junior Tennis Circuit.
6: Are you currently working on any new projects?
Yes…Michael LaPolla and I are co-writing a massive trilogy inspired by the works of Chekhov that follow the lives of the D’Alessandro family from their escape from Nazi Italy in 1938 to their life in New Canaan Connecticut in 2007.
7: Here’s a fun question! What is your favorite dessert?
Ice cream…anytime, any flavor, anywhere!
8: Any acknowledgements or words of encouragement?
Words of encouragement: Just keep writing.
Acknowledgement: I want to say a special “thank you” to Carlyle King and The Road Theatre for making this all possible.
9: Describe your play in 3 words!
I want out!