Vital Theatre Company News

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the rolling world premiere of LOOKING FOR THE PONY by ANDREA LEPCIO, directed by STEPHAN GOLUX and featuring J. SMITH-CAMERON, DEIRDRE O'CONNELL, LORI FUNK and DEBARGO SANYAL. The production began previews on Wednesday, January 21st and opens on Monday, January 26th at 7pm. Performances continued Saturday, January 24th at 4pm and 8pm, Sunday, January 25th at 4pm, and Monday, January 26th at 7pm. From January 28th, there will be performances on Wednesdays at 2pm and 7pm, Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm through February 8th. Tickets are $45.00; $30 for students and seniors (preview tickets are $35.00; $20 for students and seniors.) After its New York run, LOOKING FOR THE PONY will also be presented at SYNCHRONICITY PERFORMANCE GROUP in Atlanta in February. To purchase tickets for the New York production, please call (212) 579-0528 or visit www.vitaltheatre.org. In LOOKING FOR THE PONY, a 2008 National Endowment for the Arts OUTSTANDING NEW AMERICAN PLAY finalist, Eloisa is finally ready to leave a lifeless career in finance to pursue a childhood dream when her sister Lauren is diagnosed with breast cancer. Lauren's perfect life and Eloisa's second chance collide as the sisters join forces to cure all that ails them. As funny as it is heart-breaking, LOOKING FOR THE PONY is a rollercoaster ride through treatment, ambition, loss and acceptance. This play was originally developed and produced by Vital Theatre Company as part of its VITAL SIGNS New Works Festival in 2002. '...the play condenses five years of personal history into ... raw, emotional theatre... I don't know of a more affecting (and effective) testament to the precious human spirit than this gorgeous, compact drama.' - nytheatre.com review of the original short play

Florida Studio Theatre opens Jose Rivera's Boleros for the Disenchanted in its continuation of the Winter Mainstage Season. 'Boleros for the Disenchanted is one of the most moving and life affirming stories of love and commitment I have seen on the stage in the past quarter century,' stated FST Artistic Director and show Director Richard Hopkins. From 1953 Puerto Rico to contemporary America a young couple overcomes adversity and discovers a world of hope and love. Immigrating to the United States, Flora and Eusebio experience new adventures, obstacles and life lessons. In a mystical journey through the ages, they realize they have overcome the biggest obstacle of all...finding true love. Boleros for the Disenchanted made its World Premiere at the Yale Repertory Theatre in April, 2008. Other productions include the Huntington Theatre in October of 2008. Jos? Rivera's plays have been translated into six languages. His plays include Marisol (Obie Award winner for Best Play), References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot (Obie Award), Cloud Tectonics, Each Day Dies with Sleep, The Promise, The House of Ramon Iglesia, Giants Have Us In Their Books, Sueno, The Street of the Sun, Sonnets for an Old Century, Brainpeople, and Adoration of the Old Woman. He studied with Gabriel Garc?a Marquez at the Sundance Institute and was writer-in-residence at the Royal Court Theatre, London, on a Fulbright Arts Fellowship in Playwriting. Mr. Rivera's television work includes the critically lauded NBC series Eerie, Indiana, which he co-created and produced. He has also written teleplays, among them an adaptation of his own The House of Ramon Iglesia for PBS, as well as feature screenplays, including The Motorcycle Diaries (Academy Award Nominee). The native Puerto Rican also serves on the boards of The Sundance Institute and the Independent Feature Project. The Boleros for the Disenchanted cast will include New York Actor Damian Buzzerio (Don Fermin/Older Eusebio). Buzzerio regional credits include Vinnie in The Odd Couple at the Carousel Dinner Theatre, Claudius in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead and Gremio/Vincentio in Taming of the Shrew at the Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey. He has also been cast in leading roles in four NYC based Independent Films. New York Actress Rainbow Dickerson (Flora/Eve) has played Kate in Taming of the Shrew and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare Saturdays, Patriot ensemble in The Accidental Patriot at Stolen Chair Theatre Company and the Dalai Lama in The Buddha Prince for Tiger Lion Productions.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the rolling world premiere of LOOKING FOR THE PONY by ANDREA LEPCIO, directed by STEPHAN GOLUX and featuring J. SMITH-CAMERON, DEIRDRE O'CONNELL, LORI FUNK and DEBARGO SANYAL. The production begins previews on Wednesday, January 21st and opens on Monday, January 26th at 7pm. Performances continue Saturday, January 24th at 4pm and 8pm, Sunday, January 25th at 4pm, and Monday, January 26th at 7pm. From January 28th, there will be performances on Wednesdays at 2pm and 7pm, Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm through February 8th. Tickets are $45.00; $30 for students and seniors (preview tickets are $35.00; $20 for students and seniors.) After its New York run, LOOKING FOR THE PONY will also be presented at SYNCHRONICITY PERFORMANCE GROUP in Atlanta in February. To purchase tickets for the New York production, please call (212) 579-0528 or visit www.vitaltheatre.org. In LOOKING FOR THE PONY, a 2008 National Endowment for the Arts OUTSTANDING NEW AMERICAN PLAY finalist, Eloisa is finally ready to leave a lifeless career in finance to pursue a childhood dream when her sister Lauren is diagnosed with breast cancer. Lauren's perfect life and Eloisa's second chance collide as the sisters join forces to cure all that ails them. As funny as it is heart-breaking, LOOKING FOR THE PONY is a rollercoaster ride through treatment, ambition, loss and acceptance. This play was originally developed and produced by Vital Theatre Company as part of its VITAL SIGNS New Works Festival in 2002.

Vital Theatre Company recently announced the rolling world premiere of Looking For The Pony by Andrea Lepcio, directed by Stephan Golux and featuring J. Smith-Cameron, Deidre O'Connell, Lori Funk and Debargo Sanyal. The production begins previews on Wednesday, January 21st and opens on Monday, January 26th at 7pm. Performances continue Saturday, January 24th at 4pm and 8pm, Sunday, January 25th at 4pm, and Monday, January 26th at 7pm. From January 28th, there will be performances on Wednesdays at 2pm and 7pm, Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm through February 8th. Tickets are $45.00; $30 for students and seniors (preview tickets are $35.00; $20 for students and seniors.) After its New York run, Looking For The Pony will also be presented at Synchronicity Performance Group in Atlanta in February. To purchase tickets for the New York production, please call (212) 579-0528 or visit www.vitaltheatre.org.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY has announced the rolling world premiere of LOOKING FOR THE PONY by ANDREA LEPCIO, directed by STEPHAN GOLUX and featuring J. SMITH-CAMERON, DEIRDRE O'CONNELL, LORI FUNK and DEBARGO SANYAL. The production previews on Wednesday, January 21st and Thursday, January 22nd at 7pm, and opens on Friday, January 23rd at 7pm. Performances continue Saturday, January 24th at 4pm and 8pm, Sunday, January 25th at 4pm, and Monday, January 26th at 7pm. From January 28th, there will be performances on Wednesdays at 2pm and 7pm, Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm through February 8th.

Vital Theatre Company recently announced the rolling world premiere of Looking For The Pony by Andrea Lepcio, directed by Stephan Golux and featuring J. Smith-Cameron, Deidre O'Connell, Lori Funk and Debargo Sanyal. The production begins previews on Wednesday, January 21st and opens on Monday, January 26th at 7pm. Performances continue Saturday, January 24th at 4pm and 8pm, Sunday, January 25th at 4pm, and Monday, January 26th at 7pm. From January 28th, there will be performances on Wednesdays at 2pm and 7pm, Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm through February 8th. Tickets are $45.00; $30 for students and seniors (preview tickets are $35.00; $20 for students and seniors.) After its New York run, Looking For The Pony will also be presented at Synchronicity Performance Group in Atlanta in February. To purchase tickets for the New York production, please call (212) 579-0528 or visit www.vitaltheatre.org.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY has announced the rolling world premiere of LOOKING FOR THE PONY by ANDREA LEPCIO, directed by STEPHAN GOLUX and featuring J. SMITH-CAMERON, DEIRDRE O'CONNELL, LORI FUNK and DEBARGO SANYAL. The production previews on Wednesday, January 21st and Thursday, January 22nd at 7pm, and opens on Friday, January 23rd at 7pm. Performances continue Saturday, January 24th at 4pm and 8pm, Sunday, January 25th at 4pm, and Monday, January 26th at 7pm. From January 28th, there will be performances on Wednesdays at 2pm and 7pm, Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm through February 8th.

Vital Theatre Company recently announced its family holiday offering, 'THE KLEZMER NUTCRACKER.' Based on the award-winning book The Golden Dreydl by Ellen Kushner, the production features music by Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky, arrangements by Michael McLaughlin and David Harris and performance by The Shirim Klezmer Orchestra, a book by Ellen Kushner, direction by Linda Ames Key, and choreography by Dax Valdes. The production has added performances from 12/13-1/3

Keen Teens, the educational theatre partnership between Off-Broadway's Keen Company and the publishing company Playscripts, Inc. has selected the writers for the program's third season. Liz Flahive, Jason Grote and Cheri Magid have been commissioned to write thirty minute, large cast plays, which will be produced with student actors Off-Broadway in May 2009.

Vital Theatre Company recently announced its family holiday offering, 'THE KLEZMER NUTCRACKER.' Based on the award-winning book The Golden Dreydl by Ellen Kushner, the production features music by Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky, arrangements by Michael McLaughlin and David Harris and performance by The Shirim Klezmer Orchestra, a book by Ellen Kushner, direction by Linda Ames Key, and choreography by Dax Valdes.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) and Back Stage will host the networking panel, I'll Create an Educational Program and I'll Get Funding … Won't I?, on Wednesday, October 22 at 7:30pm at The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street (below W. 3rd Street), NYC.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the opener of its new Family Series DAISY IN DISGUISE, an original musical for children and families performed by adults with music by SIMON GRAY and book and lyrics by STACIE LENTS and direction by DAVID HILDER featuring ANGIE PEREZ, ROSS HEWIT, NORMAN PAYNE, STEPHANIE TORNS, BETHANY JAMES, and REBECCA LIEB WALSH.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the opener of its new Family Series DAISY IN DISGUISE, an original musical for children and families performed by adults with music by SIMON GRAY and book and lyrics by STACIE LENTS and direction by DAVID HILDER featuring ANGIE PEREZ, ROSS HEWIT, NORMAN PAYNE, STEPHANIE TORNS, BETHANY JAMES, and REBECCA LIEB WALSH.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) and Back Stage will host the networking panel, I'll Create an Educational Program and I'll Get Funding … Won't I?, on Wednesday, October 22 at 7:30pm at The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street (below W. 3rd Street), NYC.

The award-winning VITAL THEATRE COMPANY, is pleased to announce that its 2008-2009 Family Programing will include 4 original musicals for children and families, performed by adults, 'DAISY IN DISGUISE,' 'THE KLEZMER NUTCRACKER,' 'THE PRINCESS OF RIVERSIDE DRIVE,' and 'THE FROG AND THE WITCH.' Public performances run Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00am and 1:00pm, October 11, 2008 through April 26, 2009.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce that its production of 'PINKALICIOUS, THE MUSICAL' will move to the BLEECKER STREET THEATRE on November 1st. The production, with book and lyrics by ELIZABETH KANN and VICTORIA KANN, and music, lyrics and orchestrations by JOHN GREGOR, is based on the popular children's book PINKALICIOUS by Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann. The musical adaptation is directed by TERESA K. POND with musical direction by JAD BERNARDO.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce its upcoming production of THE BULLY, a revival of the original musical for children with music and lyrics by JOHN GREGOR and book by DAVID L. WILLIAMS, directed and choreographed by TROY MILLER. Performances run Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 1 pm, September 13th - 28th, with Special Holiday Performances on Tuesday, September 30th and Wednesday, October 1st at 1 pm.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce its upcoming production of THE BULLY, a revival of the original musical for children with music and lyrics by JOHN GREGOR and book by DAVID L. WILLIAMS, directed and choreographed by TROY MILLER. Performances run Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 1 pm, September 13th - 28th, with Special Holiday Performances on Tuesday, September 30th and Wednesday, October 1st at 1 pm.

VITAL CHILDREN'S THEATRE is pleased to announce the return of 'PINKALICIOUS, THE MUSICAL' at NEW WORLD STAGES August 2nd - September 21.

A selection of 40 short plays, chosen from over 450 submissions by playwriting workshops, university theatre programs, and professional companies nationwide will be presented at the 33rd Annual Samuel French Inc.Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival on July 15th.