The Shelter Debuts Trio of One-Acts: NIGHT WINDOWS, May 5-15

Every apartment window offers glimpses of the lives inside. In the dramatic anthology Night Windows, The Shelter presents three one-act works each with a nocturnal look at the inhabitants of one apartment at different places in time: people forced to face a moment of great change, whether they want to or not. Based on Edward Hopper's famous and haunting painting of the same name, Night Windows will be performed at the WorkShop Theater Company's Main Stage venue, located at 312 West 36th Street.

In Melinda Smart's Perfume and Maple, Dottie is a beautiful, foul-mouthed good time girl, constantly high on pills, booze and faded memories of things that never happened. She's also on the payroll of the mob. But now she's pissed off the wrong people and a burly enforcer named Whistle has been sent to deal with her. Yet instead of following orders, and hiding a deep, dark secret, Whistle tries desperately to save Dottie in spite of herself. Can either of them face the truth about who they really are in time to get out alive? Or will dreams of cherry blossoms, beach houses and sexy clothing destroy them both? Directed by Beth Jastroch (assistant director: Michael Kingsbaker), the cast of Perfume and Maple features Emily Robin Fink and Paco Lozano.

In Freak Closet, thirty-something Meghan returns from a trip to find her New York City apartment trashed by her illegal tenant, the slovenly and seemingly irresponsible Zach. Meghan wants Zach gone so she can start returning things to the normalcy and cleanliness she highly prizes. But Zach's got no intention of leaving, stunning Meghan with the highly personal details he's learned of her life. And underneath Zach's annoying attitude lurks a kernel of truth Meghan may not want to hear in this tale of tolerance, loneliness and two people who go together like Cheez-its & peanut butter. Written by Beth Jastroch and directed by Meghan Jones, the cast of Freak Closet features Ginger Kearns and Michael Kingsbaker.

Night of the Living looks at the unraveling and re-stitching of a marriage in a New York City of the future. Mia & Marshall face a common problem for married couples -- not having enough time together -- especially when juggling a sick child, soon-to-visit relatives and 9-to-5 jobs. But when things go horribly wrong with the world outside, each will become both the other's greatest strength and greatest weakness as they struggle to survive while learning just how strong they can be. Written by Dave Lankford and directed by Olivia Killingsworth (assistant director: Michael Bernstein), the cast of Night of the Living features Belle Caplis and Dave Lankford*.

The technical director for Night Windows is Jonathan Ashley, scenic designer is Brandon Hardy and the lighting designer is Jake Fine. Night Windows is an Equity-Approved Showcase.

Edward Hopper (1882-1967) was born in Nyack, New York to a middle-class family and decided early on he wanted to be an artist. In 1895 he finished his first signed oil painting, Rowboat at Rocky Cove, and later studied at the New York School of Art and Design. In 1913 he took up residence in New York City's Greenwich Village, where he would live for the rest of his life. After many years of struggle, during which time he made a living as a commercial illustrator, his career as an artist began to take off in 1923, his works eventually ending up in such places as the Whiney Museum of the American Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He finished Night Windows in 1928, which is now in the Museum of Modern Art.

The Shelter is a family of writers, directors, and actors creating authentic theatre for the New York stage. The Shelter produces all original work, and all productions are written, directed, and acted by their members. Of equal importance is the fact that each piece is workshopped during the company's "Shelter Sundays" series and reflects the feedback provided by Shelter Sunday participants. Wherever possible, from lights to postcard design, Shelter members are employed during the production process. Past productions by The Shelter include Motel and F***ing Christmas (both in 2010) and 3:56 AM (2009).

Running through May 15th, Night Windows will be performed at the WorkShop Theater Company's Main Stage venue, locaated at 312 West 36th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues) on the Fourth Floor. (The theatre is wheelchair accessible.) Show times are Thursday-Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $18.00, $16.00 for students and seniors and for all tickets purchased in advance on line. Reservations: www.theshelternyc.org.

 

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