ZOE COMES HOME A Dark Comedy Announced At Tusten Theatre

ZOE COMES HOME, a dark comedy about depression, backyard junk, art, and one errant pooch, written by Melissa Bell and directed by Laurie A. Guzda, will have a premiere production at the Tusten Theatre in Narrowsburg, NY, on Friday, October 7, and Saturday, October 8, at 7pm.

Zoe arrives home for a rare visit and finds her estranged mother Gloria, once a respected sculptress, creating monuments from discarded objects in her backyard-distressing the new neighbor. Buried deep in the strange statuary lies a trauma that must be recognized if Zoe and Gloria are ever to heal.

ZOE COMES HOME, produced by the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (DVAA), is presented in tandem with a community art installation titled "A Piece of Garbage." Artists are asked to create a "little" sculpture from recycled and found objects which is added to make a "BIG" sculpture, evolving into something bigger and more beautiful. Once complete, the tapestry will be transported to the Tusten Theater to become part of the set. "A Piece of Garbage" is a Community Tapestry NEPA project sponsored by the DVAA and Pocono Secrets.

ZOE COMES HOME features cast, creatives, and artists living and performing in the Western Catskills Region: Jess Beveridge, in the title role of Zoe, has created roles with Farm Arts Collective and NACL Theatre, such as TAVERN AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD and COURAGE. Susan Mendoza plays Gloria, an artist suffering from depression. Susan is a founding member of the comedy troupe Up & Coming/Comedy Tribe, appeared in the Deep Water Literary Festival '22, and has appeared in numerous film, tv and stage productions both in the US and Canada, and is a voiceover artist for animation, TV & radio. Scott Porter, another member of Up & Coming/Comedy Tribe, plays cousin Fred. Thomas Cambridge, also active with Comedy Tribe, recently completed shooting the new Indie feature thriller "An Angry Boy," appeared in the Deep Water Literary Festival, plus many film and TV roles, plays the role of Randall Geoffrey, the neighboring art critic. Amber Schmidt, a member of the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop, serves as Production Stage Manager.

Director Laurie A. Guzda is an artist, director, and actor with theatre roots in comedy. A co-founder and director of Up & Coming/Comedy Tribe, Laurie also co-founded Curtain Call Inc., a theatre arts company in Stamford, CT, providing performance and education. She has directed numerous theatrical productions in CT, NY, TX and CA. Actor, artist, and Creative Director for LAGuzda Creative Arts & Services. www.LAGuzda.com

Guzda was attracted to ZOE COMES HOME because "it's a story about mothers and daughters. It's about an aging woman artist who has been discounted, discarded, and overlooked. It asks how the opinion of one critic who deems her work "garbage" can alter and affect not just the artist but those closest to her. It celebrates the courage to create despite the haunting demons of doubt, and that faith in your vision can only thrive through the healing power of love."

Playwright Melissa Bell writes plays that explore women's agency as they navigate their power and repression. Co-writer on NACL's COURAGE (Honored Finalist, Women in Arts & Media Coalition Collaboration Awards 2019), she is a playwright and ensemble member with Farm Arts Collective. Her play LADY CAPULET, nominated for "Best Adaptations & Modernizations" of 2020 &2021 by New York Shakespeare and Henley Rose Finalist 2017, premiered by Barefoot Shakespeare in Central Park and is upcoming with classic regional theatres. ZOE COMES HOME received early development from 29th Street Playwrights Collective and CreateTheater. www.TheMelissaBell.com

DVAA serves as a home in the Upper Delaware Valley and Sullivan Catskills Region, giving artists platforms to share their voice in our galleries, on our stages, or at our festivals. DVAA funds local creatives and cultural organizations through our role as the Arts Council of Sullivan County.

A mere 2 hours northwest of NYC, the historic Tusten Theater sits on the Delaware River in Narrowsburg, NY, listed in Travel & Leisure's "15 Towns to Visit," and is home to the Big Eddy Film Festival every September.

ZOE COMES HOME by Melissa Bell

Performances: Friday, October 7, and Saturday October 8, at 7pm.

Tusten Theatre, 210 Bridge Street, Narrowsburg, NY

Tickets are $25 / $20 for DVAA members in advance, $30 / $25 for DVAA Members at door. Kids 12 and under - FREE.

To reserve TICKETS or to submit to "A Piece of Garbage" community tapestry go to https://delawarevalleyartsalliance.org/ or call (845) 252-7576.