Annie Parisse to Lead Reading of New Play DO THIS at The Davenport

By: Apr. 20, 2017
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Do This, a new play by Karen Siff Exkorn (bestselling author of The Autism Sourcebook) and starring Annie Parisse (Clybourne Park, The Layover, "Law and Order") will be performed at an invitation only developmental reading on Thursday, April 27th at 3pm at The Loft at the Davenport Theatre (354 W. 45th Street).

Directed by Tony Award nominee Sheryl Kaller (Next Fall, Mothers and Sons), Do This is presented by Ken Davenport, direct from a sold-out run at Gulfshore Playhouse in Naples, Florida.

Do This follows one woman's journey through marriage, motherhood and a maze of obstacles as she navigates an unexpected life-changing experience. Filled with humor and heartbreak, Do This is the universal story of a woman who finds hope in the face of hopelessness and faith where she least expects it.

Do This appeared as part of the 2016-17 season of The Gulfshore Playhouse in Naples, FL, Kristen Coury, Producing Artistic Director.

For more information, visit www.DoThisThePlay.com.

KAREN SIFF EXKORN (Playwright) is an author, playwright and consultant. Do This was a semi-finalist in the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's 2015 National Playwrights Conference. Karen's multi-media performance piece, Body & Soul, was performed at the Gene Frankel Theatre in NYC and her solo play, Who's They, was performed at the Knitting Factory in NYC. Author of the bestselling book, The Autism Sourcebook: Everything You Need to Know About Diagnosis, Treatment, Coping and Healing-From a Mother Whose Child Recovered(HarperCollins 2005), Karen is also a contributing writer for Huffington Post and Today.com. She has been featured on Good Morning America, Today Show, CNN, CBS, The View, NBC Nightly News, Nightline, and in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. An internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, Karen is founder of Speak On, a corporate training company that specializes in presentation skills and media training. Karen has a B.A. from Brown University and an M.A. from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University, where she serves on the board. She is also a board member of New York Collaborates for Autism (NYCA). Karen lives in upstate New York with her husband, son and dog.

Sheryl Kaller (Director) Sheryl Kaller's direction was seen this season on the world premiere of Winnie Holzman's play Choice at the Huntington Theater. She also recently directed the world premiere of Billy Porter's play While I Yet Live at Primary Stages, the world premiere of Nick Blaemire's new musical A Little More Alive (Barrington Stage, Kansas City Repertory Theatre), Roundabout Theatre Company's Underground production of Too Much Too Much Too Many by Meghan Kennedy, and the LCT3 production of Mr. Joy by Daniel Beaty. Sheryl directed Terence McNally's Tony nominated play on Broadway, Mothers and Sons with Tyne Daly. Ms. Kaller received a Tony Nomination for Best Director for the Broadway production of Next Fall by Geoffrey Nauffts. She has directed at many theaters including The New Group, Pasadena Playhouse, Primary Stages, Williamstown Theatre Festival, A.C.T., New York Stage and Film, The Geffen, Philadelphia Theater Company, Bucks County Playhouse, the York, EST, National Theater of the Deaf and Naked Angels. She has directed and developed a plethora of new plays and musicals with writers including Christopher Durang, ReGina Taylor, Dick Beebe, Theresa Rebeck, and Alan Menken. Sheryl is currently in development with David Henry Hwang, AnnMarie Milazzo, Jonatha Brooke, Josh Radnor and Geoffrey Nauffts, among others.

Annie Parisse (star) Annie Parisse is a a series lead on the new Netflix comedy, "Friends From College" created by Nick Stoller and Francesca Delbanco. She also recently starred on the hit HBO Series, "Vinyl" produced by Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger. Her work includes, series regular roles on "The Following" for FOX opposite Kevin Bacon, " Law & Order", "Rubicon" for AMC and her incredible arc in the HBO mini series, "The Pacific" for Steven Spielberg. Other notable television work includes "House of Cards," "The Big C," "Person of Interest," and "Unforgettable". Annie made her Broadway debut in the revival of Craig Lucas's Prelude to a Kiss directed by Daniel Sullivan and she starred in Clybourne Park, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play. Off Broadway she starred as the title role in the Pulitzer Prize nominated Becky Shaw garnering a Lortel Nomination for her performance. Additional credits include: The Layover at 2nd Stage, Playwrights Horizons's Antlia Pneumatica, Shakespeare in the Park's All's Well That Ends Well and Measure for Measure, The Internationalist (Drama Desk Nomination), Monster, and The Credeaux Canvas at Playwrights Horizons. Annie's feature work includes the independent feature Wild Canaries (SXSW Grand Jury Nomination), And So It Goes directed by Rob Reiner, Price Check, One For The Money, My Own Love Song with Rene Zellweger and Forest Whitaker, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days opposite Kate Hudson and Monster-In-Law with Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez. Parisse hails from Anchorage, Alaska and resides in New York.

Ken Davenport (Producer) Broadway: Groundhog Day, The Play That Goes Wrong, Spring Awakening (Tony nomination), It's Only a Play, Macbeth starring Alan Cumming, Godspell, Kinky Boots (Broadway - Tony Award, National Tour, Toronto, Australia, and West End), The Visit (Tony nomination), Mothers and Sons (Tony nomination), The Bridges of Madison County(National Tour), Allegiance, Chinglish, Oleanna starring Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles, Speed-the-Plow, Will Ferrell's You're Welcome America (Tony nomination), Blithe Spirit (Broadway, West End and National Tour), and 13. Off-Broadway: Daddy Long Legs, Altar Boyz (Co-Conceiver), My First Time (Author), The Awesome 80s Prom( Creator), and Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating, & Marriage (Author). Ken's productions have been produced internationally in over 25 countries. Ken is also the Executive Producer for North America for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group. Ken's unique style has garnered him two front page articles in the NY Times, features on MSNBC, Rock Center, Fox News, BBC, and a mention in Jay Leno's monologue on "The Tonight Show." Ken was named one of Crain's "40 Under Forty," and is one of the co-founders of TEDxBroadway. Other projects include: smartphone app Did He Like It™, Broadway board game Be A Broadway Star. His blog, TheProducersPerspective.com, has been featured in Vanity Fair, New York Magazine, The Gothamist and more. Upcoming projects include his original musical Gettin' The Band Back Together (George Street Playhouse premiere), the new play Do This, and revivals of Once on This Island, The Great White Hope and Mass Appeal, as well as the movie, Band Dorks. For more information, visit his blog or www.KenDavenport.com.



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