The Tank Presents SWITCHING ROLLS 12/20

"Switching Roles" Sunday, December 20, 2009; 7:30pm - $10
Location: The Tank at 354 W. 45th Street, New York, NY 10036

Meet Lenny. All his life, he's tried to act 'manly'. However, after meeting the girl- er - woman of his dreams, Lenny finally has to look at what society expects from him and what his heart is telling him to do.

As Lenny's two guide posts- his brute of a roommate Patrick and his level headed therapist- try to press their views, Lenny's world is flipped upside down, his reality is altered, and roles are about to be switched.

When you think of young actors in Hollywood, some things that come to mind are fame, fortune & paparazzi. The Pro-FRESHionals are here to change that. The Pro-FRESHionals are a young up & coming theatre group dedicated to producing fresh, homemade works built upon the foundation of past true theatrical pieces. Their emphasis is on presenting reality & art rather than profit and commercialization.

Their first piece, Switching Roles, comes from one founding member William Coffing. Switching Roles is a comedy based on society's gender roles- an issue that affects many youth today. What is man enough? What does it mean to be a feminist? This piece explores this serious issue while teaming up with some hilarious gender stereotypes.

Presale tickets are available at:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/92645

Current members of The Pro-FRESHionals:

Daniel Alexander was born in Hawaii into a family of bean planters. His first New York City performance was in the off-off broadway production of Macbeth playing Young Siward at La Tea Theatre less than a year after graduating the New York Film Academy's One Year Acting Conservatory. Soon after Daniel played the role of Danny in Sexual Perversity in Chicago directed by Mary Workman at the Abingdon Theatre. Later that year he found his way back to the La Tea this time playing the lead role of Ralph in a production of Lord Of the Flies that ran for three weeks. This past summer, Daniel wrote and starred in the first episode of a web series entitled "Pool Boys" while participating in a production of David Ives' Foreplay, Or Art of the Fugue as Chuck I with Chelsea Rep Lab. Daniel is currently in the production of filming the Pool Boys series and an independent feature film. Danny has a very strong dislike of clowns and all they stand for.

Dave Beede was born in Providence, RI. Dave attended Hofstra University Honors College where he majored in Film Studies & Production. For six seasons Dave was a cast member in Thursday Night Live, Hofstra's live sketch comedy show. Dave also starred in a number of Hofstra student films including The Curious Lives of Bottom Dwellers, Lobster Man & The Apology. Dave is currently working on a comedy web series entitled "Pool Boys" and a feature film with Daniel Alexander. Dave hates carrots. But only cooked carrots.

William Coffing wishes he could claim the he was raised in the jungles of the Amazon or the culture nexus of Italy. However, he was born and raised in the state of Ohio. Deciding that Ohio was getting to adventurous for his taste, William moved to Michigan to attend Eastern Michigan University to study speech and theater. While at Eastern Michigan University, William Coffing joined the National Speech League and became quite successful in The categories of Duo Interpretation, Prose, Poetry, After Dinner Speaking, and Impromtu. Not only did William explore his performance side, but he began taking classes in playwriting. With this combination of both theater and writing, William gained both a Major in Creative Writing: Playwriting and Communication/Theater Arts. William has since moved to New York City and has completed a year of performance training at the New York Film Academy. He's performed in several showcases along with a show presented at the Player's Club.

Alex McIsaac is a native of Billerica, MA. His previous roles include Fagin in a Billerica production of Oliver Twist. Alex had the option of pursuing a musical education at Berklee College of Music in Boston or continuing his acting training. Alex chose acting and attended a 14 week acting course at C.P. Casting in Boston. In January 2009 Alex enrolled in the New York Film Academy's 1 Year Acting Conservatory. He completed his courses in August.

Emily is a Michigan native, but now calls the Big Apple her home. She is a recent graduate from The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, School for Film and Television where she completed the Two-Year Professional Training Program for Film and Television Performance. She believes that in order to follow your dreams, you can't have a back up plan. Emily is a very passionate and artistic individual who is continuously striving to work on her craft. NYC credits include: Film - Nutmeg (Megan), Deep Score (Model), Crowne Plaza Hotel (Tourist) Theatre - WET: Shakespeare (Dancer,Wallis Knot Productions), Story Park (Linda, Youth On Target), Happy Hour (Ensemble, Michael Chekhov Theatre), Anything Goes (Dancer, Break Out In Song!), GirlPower: Survival of the Fittest (Self, EstroGenius 2009), and The Middletown Murder (Andrea, The Pro-FRESHionals) Emily has also produced and performed in a Musical Theater Showcase, sung at The Reprise Room, done voice over work for Exit 12 Dance Company, and has performed and original piece for an event to speak out about child's rights at the United Nations in NYC.

Melissa Ximena is a native of Red Bank, NJ. She attended the Pennsylvania State University where she received her Bachelors in Public Relations & Minor in Theatre. While at Penn State, she participated in performances both on campus & off- some of these include "The Vagina Monologues", "Katrina/Sankofa" & "Henry V." She has spent the past year in New York on film during her one year Acting For Film conservatory at New York Film Academy. She has also recently starred in "Loyalties", a one act show, at The Players Club in Gramercy Park, NYC.

About The Tank
Founded in 2003, The Tank is a non-profit arts presenter whose mission is to provide a welcoming, creative, collaborative, and affordable environment for artists and activists engaged in the pursuit of new ideas. Through a wide range of low-cost, high-concept arts and public affairs programming, The Tank seeks to cultivate a new generation of audience for live performance, civic discourse, and the work of emerging artists.

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