Photo Coverage: Charles Messina's TENEMENT PLAYS

Shortened Attention Span is presenting "THE TENEMENT PLAYS", an evening of one acts by playwright Charles Messina at the 13th Street Repertory Theatre (50 West 13th Street) on Thursday, March 29 through Sunday April 1st. BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture opening night!

The evenings will include the award-winning “Merging” and “Fugazy”, and the World Premiere of “Sick Bastids”.

In "THE TENEMENT PLAYS" the NYC born and raised Messina takes us into the world of three disparate stories all taking place in one downtown tenement building.

In 'FUGAZY', which won the Audience Award for Best Play in 2009 at The Players Theater in Greenwich Village, the authenticity of an expensive watch calls into question the character of a deceased father.

'MERGING', which won Best One Act Play in the 2008 SAS Horror Festival, explores the world of an estranged couple whose child has inexplicably gone missing.

'SICK BASTIDS' brings its audience into the twisted and hysterical world of hypochondriacs and their unwillingness to get well.

The cast for “THE TENEMENT PLAYS” includes Maria DiDomenico, Nick Fondulis, Ivan Goris, Anthony Marino, Jackie Wolter, DJ Canaday, John Stagnari, John Pieza, Bill Krakouer and Susan Campanaro. The plays are being directed by Gina Ferranti, Carlo Rivieccio and Alan Gordon.

Charles Messina's plays present a world that is wholly New York. Best known for his deconstructive take on biographical subjects, Mr. Messina is currently working with rock & roll legend Dion DiMucci, writing a musical about the singer’s life entitled "The Wanderer." His play "A Room of My Own," about an Italian American family living in Greenwich Village in the 1970s, was just optioned for stage and screen by producer TEd Kurdyla with actors Ralph Macchio and Mario Cantone attached in the lead roles. Mr. Messina’s "Mercury: The Afterlife and Times of a Rock God" about the life of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury has also received across-the-board critical acclaim.

“THE TENEMENT PLAYS” are being presented at the 13th St Repertory Theater at 50 West 13th Street March 30 and 31 at 7:00pm and April 1 at 3pm. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased at ShortenedAttentionSpan.com.

Photos by Linda Lenzi

Ivan Goris

Maria DiDomenico

Nick Fondulis

Ivan Goris, Maria DiDomenico and Nick Fondulis

Anthony Marino

DJ Canaday and Jackie Wolter

DJ Canaday, Jackie Wolter and Anthony Marino

John Stagnari

Susan Campanaro

John Pieza

Bill Krakauer

John Stagnari, Susan Campanaro, John Pieza and Bill Krakauer

Carlo Rivieccio, Gina Ferranti and Alan Gordon

Charles Messina, Carlo Rivieccio, Gina Ferranti and Alan Gordon

Carlo Rivieccio, Charles Messina, Gina Ferranti, Jason Cerbone and Ernest Mingione

Robert R. Blume, Jim Dailakis, Carlo Rivieccio, Charles Messina, Jason Cerbone and TEd Kurdyla

Robert R. Blume and Jim Dailakis

Robert R. Blume, Jim Dailakis and Charles Messina

Bill Krakauer and John Stagnari

The cast and creative team of Tenement Plays