Photo Flash: Neal Mayer Stars In Premiere Of WHO IS JAMES K. POLK?

Last night was the premiere of "Who Is James K. Polk?" - a new play by Kevin J. Alcock, and here are the first photos of the production. Directed by Anne Connolly and starring Neal Mayer (Les Misérables on Broadway, American Premiere of The Hunchback of Notre Dame), this one-person show focuses on the 11th President of the United States, James K. Polk. The first public performance was at the Teaneck Public Library Stage as the creative team prepares to tour various venues throughout the East coast.

Alcock's play humorously presents the former President as he attempts to defend his legacy to a modern audience who barely knows his name. The only U.S. President to have first acted as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Polk may have only served for one term, but in those four years, he waged the Mexican-American War, and added Texas, California and the Oregon Territory to the United States. He also indirectly led us into the U.S. Civil War. "Who Is James K. Polk?" explores the many facets of this "dark horse" candidate who unexpectedly went on to become one of the most hands-on executives ever to occupy the White House.

Neal Mayer, who portrays Polk in this one-hour piece, has appeared on television in "Blue Bloods", "All My Children," "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon," and "Late Night". In addition to appearing in the Broadway production of Les Misérables, Mayer has toured the country with Priscilla Queen of the Desert, starred off-Broadway in Mark Felt, Superstar and Forbidden Broadway and acted at many of the premiere U.S. regional theaters including La Jolla Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Arena Stage, Goodspeed, and Bay Street Theater. He can be also be heard as St. Aphrodisius on the Studio Cast Recording of Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz's The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Neal is appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.

Anne Connolly, Director, has worked in theaters throughout the New York area as director, actor and writer. Most recently she directed Betsy Newberry's one-woman show "On Becoming a Marine," a finalist in 2017's Strawberry Festival. She started directing with the educational theater company Good Clean Fun, which toured NY-area schools. Like Polk, Anne also toured throughout Tennessee, but as an actor with the Chamber Theater Ensemble.

Kevin J. Alcock, Author, has written numerous one acts that have been performed throughout the tri-state area. "Who is James K. Polk?" is his first biographical play. Kevin is currently working on a full-length play about Theodore "Ted" Kaczynski, known to the world as the Unabomber. Kevin has worked in film, television and theater in every area from acting to production to catering.