Jim Tierney Presents MUSH At NY International Fringe Festival 2011

Jim Tierney presents Mush, directed by Dina Epshteyn, as part of the 15th NY International Fringe Festival. The festival will take place Aug 12th through 28th

After John is left half brain dead from a self inflicted drug overdose, his father - Gary - drags John on a tour of local grammar schools to "Just Say No." As Gary spreads his anti-drug message to hoards of students, he battles his own demons and starts an addiction of his own.

The production stars Ralph McCain* as Gary (John's father); BranDon Jones* as John/Young John; Brantley Brice as Joseph/Young Joseph; Alexis Braxton as Maria (John's mother); Cash Tilton* as Ray, Andy Schneeflock as Doctor/Principal #1, Judy Stone as Joanne/Nurse/Principal #2.

Production Management provided by Jenna Lazar, Lighting Design provided by Christopher Weston.

NY International Fringe Festival 2011
SAT 8/13 @ 5; MON 8/15 @ 4; FRI 8/19 @ 8; THU 8/25 @ 2; SAT 8/27 @ 2:15

La Mama's First Floor Theatre, 74A East 4th Street, between Bowery & 2nd Ave

Advanced Tickets $15, General Admission $18. For tickets and info visit http://www.fringenyc.org or www.mushtheplay.com

BIOGRAPHIES

JIM TIERNEY (Playwright) A former Marine Corps reservist and actor, Jim Tierney has spent the last eight years writing, with plays produced in both New York and Los Angeles. Past written and produced one-acts include "Dirt", "Carry On", "Loose", "Shitbird" and "Lynching St. Thomas." His play, "Monkey", was the winner of the 2009 Shotgun Theater Festival and had two subsequent runs Off-Off Broadway. In August of 2010, Tierney's "Banshee of Bainbridge" debuted at the NY International Fringe Festival. Most recently, his full-length version of "Carry On" premiered at the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity in June of 2011.

DINA EPSHTEYN (Director) has directed various NY readings and productions, including "Visionaries and School Romance" (MITF); "The Boys Own Jedi Handbook" and "The Clockmaker" (readings, Urban Stages); "George the Fourth" (Fringe Festival); "Ori & Addison", "Wrong Planet", "Cupcakes", and "Tumble Jumble" (Manhattan Theatre Source); "Ghost Light" (reading, ABroad Stage); "No Applause Please" (Strawberry Festival); and many others. She also dramaturged Tongue-in-Cheek's NY Premiere of "Dead White Males". Regionally, she recently directed "Still the River Runs" at Bloomington Playwrights Project and has assistant directed at Capital Rep ("Oxford Roof Climber's Rebellion"), Two River ("Heartbreak House"), Westport Country Playhouse ("Mary's Wedding" and the World Premiere of "Sedition"), and Baltimore's CENTERSTAGE ("Hearts"). Additionally, she did dramaturgy for "Ah, Wilderness!", "The Three Sisters", "Things of Dry Hours", "Death and the Maiden", "Trouble in Mind", and "The Boys from Syracuse" at CENTERSTAGE. Her first play-a short entitled "No Blueberries"-won the 2009 $7,500 Grand Prize in Manhattan Theater Club's REALationships National Playwrighting Competition, and was staged at their City Center Off-Broadway space. Ms. Epshteyn graduated with distinction from McGill University. www.dinaepshteyn.com

RALPH MCCAIN* (Gary) recently appeared in "The Right Reverend Dupree In Exile" at the Billie Holiday Theatre. Other stage credits include "Nobody Knew Where They Was", "The Winter View", "Banshee of Bainbridge", "The Etymology of Bird", "Box Seats", "Sun Down Names and Night Gone Things" (AUDELCO nominated Best Ensemble), "No Place To Be Somebody", "God's Trombones", "The Piano Lesson", "Fynin' West", "Twelve Angry Men", "Whose Life Is It Anyway". Television credits include One Life To Live, Another World, Guiding Light, The Sopranos, and an independent film, Flowers (SXSW Film Festival). Thank you again Jim Tierney for another great role.

BRANDon Jones* (John/Young John) BranDon Jones recently starred as Brendan in Jackie Alexander's "The Right Reverend Dupree in Exile" at the Billie Holiday Theatre. Originally from Paris, KY, Brandon has worked in theatre, film and voiceover. Recent NY credits include "Tales From The Tunnel" (Off Broadway), "Race Music" (Off Broadway), "river: post-futurists" (Cherry Lane), "Jump Jim Crow: How to Produce Your Own Minstrel Show" (Subjective Theatre Company), "Cold Keener" (Target Margin Theatre). Regional credits include "ReEntry" (American Records Theater Co.), "Lobby Hero" (Whaler's Warf Theater), "Jitterbug" (Universal Theater), "References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot" (Garson Theatre Co.), "Othello", "King Lear", "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and "To Kill A Mockingbird" ( all at Lexington Shakespeare Festival). Film credits include "Brothers Incorporated", "Mildred Richards", "Trust22", and "Pvt. Francis of Williamsburg". Voice over credits include McDonald's, Pierre Foods,Kentucky Historical Society, US Navy, Joint Services Wiring Action Group, LMR Marketing, MTV and Howcast.com. Brandon would like to thank God for the blessing of this opportunity, his family and friends for their support. Brandon is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association.

BRANTLEY BRICE (Joseph/Young Joseph) Brantley Brice (Joseph/Young Joseph) Some theater credits include "Romeo & Juliet", "Lone Star", and "Euripides". He is a graduate from The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts and has also studied at The Upright Citizens Brigade, T. Schreiber Studios, and with Anthony Abeson. Most memorable performance was playing a shepherd boy opposite Annette Bening in a nativity sketch on Saturday Night Live... His feet (and Jesus sandals) got peed on by a real goat during the live taping. Other film/TV credits include Junior Varsity (NYU/Tisch) and The Kill Point (Spike TV).

ALEXIS BRAXTON (Maria) Alexis Braxton is an actress from Harrisburg, PA. Recent theater credits include "The Fireplace" (Manhattan Repertory Theatre), the cabaret show "Secret Agent Man: The Music of Bond" (The Players Theatre Loft) and "Relationships" (South Oxford Space). She has also appeared in the short film "Haters Anonymous," as well as the pilot webisode for the series "Vampires of Astoria". She is very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of MUSH and would also like to thank her family and friends for their constant encouragement and support.

Cash Tilton* (Ray) Cash Tilton has worked as a director, actor, and playwright at theaters in Texas, Illinois, Vermont, Pennsylvania, and New York. Favorite projects include "The Island of Dr. Moreau" and other mad scientists for RadioTheatre; onscreen, Sexina: Popstar, P.I., as a (merely nervous) scientist who is forced to create a cyborg boy band, with which evil record company exec Adam West plans to dominate the music industry and possibly the entire world; directing a spoken/American Sign Language "Midsummer Night's Dream"; and adapting "A Christmas Carol" in a version that became a regular production at Philadelphia's Walnut St. Theatre for years. He plays St. Peter in the forthcoming Stuck in the Middle, the first theological slacker comedy since Kevin Smith's Dogma, and is currently working on a stage adaptation of 150 hours of interviews with men about their relationships with their daughters. Come by and say hello on Facebook.

ANDY SCHNEEFLOCK (Doctor/Principal #1) Andy recently appeared in "The Epic History of Everyday Things" on the History Channel & "Ori & Addison" at Manhattan Theater Source. Other credits include - Theater: NEW YORK, "The Story Pirates" (Various Venues) "Harry The Hunk On His Way Out" (Cherry Lane Theatre) "Really Rosie & Miss Nelson Is Missing" (Atlantic Theater For Kids) "HalloWHOA!" (The Story Pirates) "Land of the Astronauts", "The Weir", "A Winter's Tale" (Atlantic Stage 2) "OMFG Sketch Comedy" & "Too Many Zombies TV" (Upright Citizen's Brigade) "it is said the men are over in The Steel Tower" (Theater Arts Japan) "Interrogation Room" (Know Laughing Matter) "The End of History" (Random Access Theatre) "Crossed Wires" (Second Fig Theatre Co.) "GArden Party" (Manhattan Repertory Theatre) "Population: 2" (Spoke The Hub). PHILADELPHIA, "The Rise And Fall Of 16 Tons Theater Company & Ghost Stories" for the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. MONTREAL, "OMFG Sketch Comedy" (Montreal Sketch Fest). TV: "Seor Nugget". Film: "Roles", "Staring At the Sun", "GUYnecology", "Marketing Minorities", "Apocalypse Clown", "OMFG Instructional Videos". He is a proud member of The Story Pirates and a teacher for the Atlantic Theater Company. Thanks to Dina for this wonderful opportunity and special thanks to Leah, my newlywed wife, I love you.

JUDY STONE (Joanne/Nurse/Principal #2) has recently appeared in "Stark Shadows", a spoof of the soap opera "Dark Shadows" (ReVision Theatre, Asbury Park). Other credits "Lost in Yonkers" (Schoolhouse Theater), Alan Ayckbourn's "Body Language" (Chester Theatre Group), "Talking Heads" (Chester Theatre Group), Miss Daisy in "Driving Miss Daisy" (A Mixed Company, National Tour), and Leona Helmsley in "Stand up and Die", a comedy mystery (Caroline's Comedy Club) She studies acting with Austin Pendleton.

JENNA LAZAR (Production Manager) is excited for round three with the Tierney Dream-Team after the amazing runs of this summer's "Carry On" and 2010 Fringe favorite "The Banshee of Bainbridge". Other recent favorites include Christopher Boal's critically-acclaimed plays "Order" (dir. Austin Pendleton), and "Jonathan's Blaze" (dir. Alexander Dinelaris); Duncan Pflaster's "Sweeter Dreams"; "Twelfth Night"; "Notches"; "The Starship Astrov" (dir. Eric Parness); "American Rapture" (dir. Alexander Dinelaris); "Woman Before a Glass" (dir. Austin Pendleton); "Insecurity!"; "Much Ado About Nothing"; "As You Like It"; "Richard III" and "Hamlet" (both w/ Karen Lynn Gorney); and the short film Max and Zoe.

Christopher WestON (Lighting Design) Chris is a NYC based Lighting Designer. Regional productions include "Mrs. Mannerly" (Penguin Rep), "Logomaniacs" (Actors Shakespeare Company), "Proof", "Having Our Say" (Hangar Theatre), and "The Color of Flesh" (NJ Rep). International: T.E.L.O.S. (European Biennial in Athens, Greece). New York theaters include the Kitchen, John Houseman, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 59E59, 45th Street Theatre, Queens Theatre in the Park, Cherry Lane, Metropolitan Playhouse, Lamb's Theatre, Barrow Group, Center Stage/New York, Theatre for the New City, HERE Arts Center, Raw Space, Connelly Theatre, Access Theatre, Mazer Theatre, Bank Street Theatre and the Old American Can Factory. Chris was nominated for Outstanding Lighting Design by the New York Innovative Theatre Awards for his design of The Return of Peter Grimm at Metropolitan Playhouse where he has been the Resident Lighting Designer. He is also the Resident Lighting Designer for the OBIE winning Immigrant's Theatre Project. From 1996-1999, he served as Artistic Director of Resistance Theater in Brooklyn, NY where he designed and directed his own original work, as well as works by others. He is a founding member of the Van Reipen Collective. He has an MFA in Lighting Design from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and a BFA in Performance Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

RACHEL TIERNEY (Producer) Rachel has assisted in many Jim Tierney productions over the past several years as both actor and silent producer. Having just completed Tierney's run of "Carry On" at the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, she is very excited to work with Fringe once again alongside such a talented cast and crew.

JULIETTE SHULMAN (Co-Producer/Publicity) Juliette is thrilled to be working on the premiere of Jim Tierney's "Mush" at this year's New York International Fringe Festival. She has previously worked with Tierney on his productions of "Carry On", "Dirt" and a compilation of one-acts entitled "Working Class Collection".

*Actors are appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association.
www.mushtheplay.com