Design Team Announced for FRIENDS

Donis Productions presents "Friends" by Peter L. Levy, Off Broadway at Theater 3, 311 West 43rd Street  3rd Floor (home of the Mint Theatre company - off 8th Avenue).  The play is directed by Jerry Donis and stars Harlan Tuckman and Judy Spiegel.  Previews begin on October 7th and the Opening is Thursday, October 14th.   www.friendstheplay.com/

Eric J. Steding, Jacques Rosas (Set Design) via their company Shop Studios are known world-wide for stunning museum designs, one-of-a-kind events, product launches, fashion shows, production design for film and TV.  Their clients include: ABC, CBS, NBC, Time Warner, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, NYC Parks Department, Rockefeller Center, Yves St. Laurent, Sony and many more Fortune 500 companies.

Steve O'Shea (Lighting) credits include: Macbeth, Twelfth Night, The Tempest, Chaos Theory, Ladies In Retirement (Pulse Ensemble Theater); Carmen, Tristan Und Isolda, The Magic Flute, Norma and Le Nezze di Figaro (Teatro de la Opera, San Juan, P.R.); Mere Mortals (Two Rivers Theater Company); SubUrbia (Montclair State University; Last Easter (Drew University); Blade To The Heat, Aloha Say The Pretty Girls, 12 Ophelias (Baruch College).

Ruth Appfelbaum and Max Horowitz, both in their seventies, meet on a bench in Central Park.  Max, a widower, an intellectual, who used to devise crossword puzzles for a living, is existing on the edge because of his limited finances; and, Ruth, is a dreamer who never experienced true love.  Their chance encounter gets off to a rocky start.  Ruth finally condescends to allow Max to temporarily stay in her apartment, but says, "there will be no hanky panky."  As certain revelations are disclosed one can only wonder whether this relationship will survive.

Peter L. Levy (Playwright) has had numerous plays performed throughout the US, many of them prize winners.  Some of his work includes Oscar, New York Performance Works; The Jerusalem Syndrome, Actors Theatre of Santa Rosa, CA; Obsession, ITN Theatre, NYC; Troika, 13th Street Reparatory Theatre, NYC, which was also taped for Russian TV; as well as two screen plays, many one-act plays and short stories.

Jerry Donis (Director/Producer) theatrical career spans 36 years.  He began as an actor with the Marlboro Acting Company in New Jersey (Henry II, The Lion In Winter; Otto Frank, A Diary of Anne Frank; many musical featured roles: Herbie, Gypsy; Rooster, Annie).  Over the past 15 years he has devoted most of his time to directing.  His credits include: Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver, Cinderella and numerous children's productions.  Since 2005 he has been writing, developing and directing theater in Florida and New Jersey. The past two summers he has been a drama director in Camp Wayne (Preston Park, PA).

Harlan Tuckman (Max Horowittz) has had varied professional acting careers.  He studied at The Neighborhood Playhouse and then went on tour with Myrna Loy in the pre-Broadway production of There Must Be A Pony.  He also appeared in several episodes of the Mr. Novak television series with Burgess Meredith.  He has been active in dinner and regional (Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Fagin in Oliver, Norman in On Golden Pond, and Nat in I'm Not Rappaport).  Judy Spiegel (Ruth Appfelbaum) has been performing in area theaters for over 25 years.  She has twice been nominated for a Perry Award by NJACT: 2006, Best Supporting Actress, Karen, Jake's Women; 2007, Best Actress, Kate, Brighton Beach Memoirs.  Other roles include: Real Women Have Curves; Beau Jeste; The Cemetery Club; and Busybody.

Performances are Thursday - Saturday at 8:00 pm, with matinees at 2:00 pm Wednesday and Saturday.  There is a special performance on Tuesday 10/12 at 8:00 pm.  Tickets are $40.  Box Office: (212) 315-9703   Groups (20+ people): $32    Email:  jerdonis@aol.com

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