'SUNNY SIDE' Among Six One-Act Plays at Manhattan Rep Today & 7/31

After ignoring each other for months, two lonely senior citizens finally speak and become acquainted in a city park, opening the door to an unexpected friendship. Thus begins "Sunny Side" by Philip Paradis, one of six one-act plays to be showcased at Manhattan Repertory Theatre, as part of Manhattan Rep's 10th Anniversary Event Series 5 on July 29 and 31.

Other plays in the series include "Cosmo Diner" by Justice Hehir, "Life as She Knows It" by Wayne J. Keeley and Stephanie C. Lyons, "Southern Discretion" by Lucas Womack, "Perfect Timing" by Heather C. Heron and "Fight or Flight" by Janice Stucki.

Though the upcoming production of "Sunny Side" will be the play's New York premier, the poignant comedy has received critical acclaim, elsewhere. When "Sunny Side" premiered in 2011 at the North Park Playwright Festival in San Diego, Arts in Fashion Magazine called it "an absolutely delightful, sweet, little play... by far, the most delightful of the evening." "Sunny Side" was later performed at the Avery Schreiber Theatre in Los Angeles and received a Kentucky New Play Series Award from the Kentucky Theatre Association in 2014.

Directed by Jennifer Sandella, the New York production of "Sunny Side" stars Amy Losi as "Dolly Brady" and Philip M. Cook as "Seamus O'Malley."

Sandella is the artistic director for Random Access Theatre, an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a 2015 resident artist at The Drama League and a member of the Director's Lab West ('14). Her recent directing projects include "Pinwheel! A New Musical" (Random Access Theatre), "Blue Window" (The Lee Strasberg Institute/NYU), and "Rosmersholm" (The Old Stone House/Random Access Theatre.

Amy Losi has appeared on stage in lead and supporting roles in over 40 comedies and dramas, including "Perfectly Normel People," "And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little," "Lend Me a Tenor," "The Dining Room" and more. Philip M. Cook's recent appearances include "Becky's New Car," "Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde," "Mrs. Warren's Profession," "Seasons Greetings" and "A Delicate Balance."

A Connecticut native, Philip Paradis has taught English and creative writing at Oklahoma State University, Iowa State University, Western Carolina University and Northern Kentucky University. He currently resides in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. He is a member of The Dramatists Guild of America, and was a semifinalist in the Kentucky Theatre Association's 2011 New Play Competition, for his play "Soldiers' Christmas." His play "Footprints of the Polar Bear" won the Cincinnati Directors Competition in 2008. He is currently working on a screenplay about the life of author Stephen Crane.

Manhattan Rep will present the 10th Anniversary Event Series on Wednesday, July 29 at 9:00 p.m. and Friday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m. at Manhattan Repertory Theatre, 303 W. 42nd Street, Suite 614, New York, NY. Tickets are $20 and are available at the door on the night of performance while supply lasts. Tickets may be reserved by emailing MRTRESERVE@GMAIL.COM. For more information, visit www.ManhattanRep.com.