WRITERS IN PERFORMANCE Workshop Showcase Plays Tribeca PAC, 12/7 & 8

Writers in Performance is a 12-week poetry, writing and performance workshop culminating in public presentations. Throughout the course of the workshop, ten talented actors, playwrights, poets and storytellers have explored writing exercises, theater games, improvisation, movement techniques, and ensemble work in a safe, creative environment on the topic of "Anticipation." Writers in Performance participants are diverse by design; not only in ethnicity, but by age, and experience as well, mixing professionals with students.

On December 7 & 8, 2012 at 8PM, the troupe will showcase the monologues and short scenes they have been crafting. We are proud to have members of the BMCC student community in the production (denoted below). Tickets are a suggested donation of $10 and can be purchased in person at Ticketing Services in the lobby of 199 Chambers St. or by calling 212.220.1460.

BIOS:

Jeanine Cerundolo – Ms. Cerundolo is a writer and yoga instructor who lives in New York City. With former experience in social work and education, she believes much lasting change begins from the inside out. She is passionate about artistic creative expression, following her bliss, and helping others to do what inspires them.

Cristina Hernandez - Ms. Hernandez is a writer/actress from the Dominican Republic and the Bronx. She got her start with City Kids Foundation Theater Company and has performed in numerous plays, readings and presentations over the years. She was last seen in De Novo at Houses on The Moon Theater Company. She is currently working on her one-woman show. For her "laughter is the breath of life."

Dominique Lynch* (BMCC Student) – Dominique, also known on stage by the name of A Moment Of Epiphany, is a host, spoken word artist, actress and model. She was born and raised in the culturally enriched village of Harlem, New York. She has always loved to act and write since she was a very young child. Epiphany has been featured at Oze Tavern with the Hottest Poets, Soul Sweet Sanctuary for Black Amethyst Woman, and Freak Nasty Poetry Show. As an actress, she has appeared in Friday Nite With Ron at Raggs of Harlem, Friday Nite With Ron at 449 LA Scat as a spotlight feature, and at Hunter College School of Social Work for the Women of Color Collective. She has hosted at Sylvia's Also for Laugh Your a** Off Wednesday's. She performed in a stage read for V-Day "A memory, A Rant, and A Prayer". Also, she has hosted her own show called We Be Growing Poetry and Comedy Show.

Gustavo Pace - Gustavo is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is an actor, writer, performer, and singer. A graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC, he also studied in the Curso Profissionalizante de Ator – Casa de Artes de Laranjeiras (Professional Theater Course for Actors), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Neutral Mask, Clown and Lecoq workshops, at the Movement Theater Studio, NYC. Physical Comedy, Mime/ Clown and Commedia Dell' Art at the Funny School of Good Acting. Gustavo participated in a workshop with Drama Desk nominated group Parallel Exit in New York City. He developed "Naked Brazilian" with award-winning playwright/teacher Matt Hoverman. He also has a Bachelor's Degree from the Law School at Pontifical Catholic University, Rio de Janeiro. He performed in Waiting for Godot (Estragon) and King Lear (Clown) at Place of Arts, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He performed his original material at Whoa Variety Show at Triskelion Arts and Tinydangerounsfun at Sycamore, Gotham Comedy Club, Bindlestiff Family Circus at Dixon Place, All-Star Storytellers Night at The Gallery / LPR and acted in a off Broadway comedy show. He performed at Tribeca Performing Arts in "Writers in Performance" last year. He is excited that his one man show "Naked Brazilian" will be performed next year in New York.

Liz Queler – Ms. Queler is a singer/songwriter and daughter of esteemed opera conductor Eve Queler. She's performed on stages from the Newport Folk Festival to Carnergie Hall, and recently released The Edna Project - a CD of the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay set to music. This song cycle will be mounted as a multi-media theater piece by Peak Perfomances at Montclair State University next year. Visit: www.lizqueler.com

Enzo Scavone* (BMCC Student) - Enzo was born in Italy and raised in Germany. After his move to Switzerland, he discovered his love for the performing arts and had tremendous success which eventually led him to New York. His work touches on subjects such as the human psyche, class, and relationships.

Gina Stevensen - Gina holds a BFA in Drama from NYU Tisch where she studied acting and creating original work. Her original play, The Time Crawlers Save the World, has been produced at Manhattan Repertory Theater and Looking Glass Theater, and she has performed in several NYC venues including HERE Arts Center, the 45th Street Theater, and Arlenes's Grocery. She teaches drama to elementary school children, is on the literary committee at Urban Stages, and is a member of Open Hydrant Theater Company.

Victor Vauban Jr.* (BMCC Student) – Victor is an actor, dancer and circus performer is originally from Brazil, and settled in New York City in 2003. Victor is debuting as a writer after his first workshop at Writer In Performance and is currently pursuing a degree in acting at BMCC. He began his professional training in circus performing and Capoeira as a teenager at the Escola Nacional de Circo (Rio de Janeiro), and has pursued the performing arts as a career since. He has performed with a number of international circus companies such as: UniverSoul Circus, Gran Circus Norte-American, Beto Carrero Show, and Gran Bartholo Circus. Victor is an eternal admirer of culture and is always willing to share his passion for arts with his students, friends and community.

Rahima Wachuku - Rahima has been in numerous stage, film and teleVision Productions. "I regard theater as the greatest of all art forms. The most immediate way in which a Human Being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a Human Being." - Oscar Wilde

Shakeem R. Winn* (BMCC Student) – Shakeem is a 38 year-old native of Bed Stuy, Brooklyn N.Y. He resides in Brownsville with his wife of eighteen years, Marilyn Winn. He majors in English Literature at Borough Manhattan Community College and works as a self- employed, underground, graphic novelist.

Mario Giacalone (Director) - Mr. Giacalone has been working in theater and performing as a singer, songwriter and actor in New York City since the 1970's. His credits include being Artist Director and/or a founding member of The Root Theater Collective, Mass Transit Street Theater, The Writers Actors and Directors Collective and the co-owner and both Producing and Artistic director of The Creative Acting Company (CAC). Mr. Giacalone taught acting classes and produced an annual Short Play Festival at CAC as well. Other directing credits include Neighbors, The Drowning of Manhattan, and the short films "Vinny and Iggy's Big Date" and "Mamma Millies Pasta Sauce Stupendiouso". Recently Mr. Giacalone directed the show Girl Group: A Daughters Tale at LaMaMa, Back to Baraka (Yvette Heylinger's show), and Natural Novice, Siobhan O'Loughlin's show, both doing festival runs. Mr. Giacalone continues to direct the Writers in Performance workshop/performance at Tribeca Performing Arts Center each season. Mr Giacalone has had featured and leading roles in a number of independent films including I Was on Mars and The Giraffe by the acclaimed German Director Danni Levi. Mr. Giacalone is also a singer songwriter who was a member of the legendary 70's folk rock band The Human Condition. He continues to perform as a singer songwriter, actor, and is in the process of recording his new CD, The Only Thing I'm Sure Of.

Caron A. Levis (Writing Coordinator) – Caron's short play, Flight Risk, written while she was a participant of WIP, was recently selected as Audience Favorite in the 2010 Estrogenius Festival. Her story Permission Slip is listed in The Best Nonrequired Reading 2010 anthology edited by Dave Eggers after winning the 2009 SLS Unified Literary Contest and being published in Fence magazine. Caron has her MFA in Creative Writing from the New School University; has studied acting at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center, the Moscow Art Theatre, and the Michael Chekhov Acting Studio. She works as a Teaching Artist in the NYC public schools, assists classes at The New School University MFA program, and is adjunct faculty at Summer Literary Seminars where she teaches her original workshop Stage-To-Page: acting techniques for writers. www.caronlevis.com

BMCC Tribeca PAC is Downtown Manhattan's premier presenter of the arts, reaching audiences from the college community, downtown residential and business communities, local schools, families, and audiences of all ages. BMCC Tribeca PAC strives to present a broad global perspective through the presentation of high-quality artistic work in music, theatre, dance, film and visual arts.

BMCC Tribeca PAC is located on the Borough of Manhattan Community College campus, 199 Chambers Street (between Greenwich Avenue & West Street) and is convenient to the 2/3, A/C/E and R subway lines and the New Jersey Path Train. For more information, visit the website, www.tribecapac.org.