WINE AND SPIRITS Begins 6/1 at The Playroom Theater

Red Shark Productions presents WINE AND SPIRITS, a new comedy by Thomas Ott directed by Mel Williams at The Playroom Theater (151 W.46th St.) running June 1st through 19th. Jennifer Yadav is producer. The cast features Carolyn Seiff*, Carla Briscoe*, Christine Seisler*, Zoe Anastassiou, Hailey Heisick, Ryan Salvato and Scott Zimmerman*. *(member of Actors Equity)

Felicia and her three dissimilar daughters, Selina, a married psychologist, Beth, a former party girl turned real estate agent and Kate, a struggling artist, have come together for what appears to be a final family gathering at Felicia's suburban home. Each of the girls has brought wine to ease a potentially difficult evening of sisterly bickering. The usual tension between them turns to amazement, however, when they are made to realize Felicia's long held secret. A series of clues motivates them into taking an eye opening journey through their past where more startling surprises lie in store for them.

Thomas Ott's plays and short stories focus on someone dealing with the consequence of choices they've made regarding a pivotal event in their life and the resulting repercussions that impact the lives of people around them. WINE AND SPIRITS was first performed as a staged reading in May of 2015 at Access Theater to an enthusiastic audience. Ott's play Til Death Do Us Part was recently performed as part of the Love Drunk series at The Drama League.

Mel Williams has been directing and training actors for more than four decades. Once a student of Sanford Meisner at The Neighborhood Playhouse he went on to intern with Lee Strasberg at The Actor's Studio. He began his directing career under the guidance of Ellen Stewart at La Mama ETC where he directed the award winning play Keep Back 200 FT. His many credits include Zoo Story at Lincoln Center, Corner Wars 47thStreet Theatre and A Soldier's Play at Paul Robeson Theatre.

Producer Jennifer Yadav is an actress/singer and founder and Managing Director of Shakespeare Without Fear. She performed Off Broadway in The Jackie Mason Musical for four years and received a Best Actress Award in the West Village Musical Theater Festival for a new work by Sheldon Harnick.

Founded by Scott Seisler, a former professional water skier and stuntman, Red Shark Productions is passionate about producing projects that encompass and unite all performance-based mediums. Whether re-imagining a classic or revealing new work RSP is committed to creating a safe space for actors, directors and designers to explore and expand their creativity. They debuted with Macbeth in 2011 and then produced shows in festivals around NYC including Much Ado About Nothing at Fringe Al Fresco, Medea: A Rock Cantata in the Short Play Lab and Hold at Planet Connections Theatre Festivity which was awarded Outstanding Overall Production of a Solo Show. In 2013 Red Shark produced their first music video titled My Brother's Chair andwill be releasing an EP later this year.

WINE AND SPIRITS previews on Wednesday June 1st at 8PM and opens on Thursday June 2nd at The Playroom Theater (151 West 46th Street, 8th Floor between Broadway and 6th Avenue). The regular performance schedule is Thursday thru Saturday evenings at 8PM and Sunday matinees at 3PM thru June 19th. Tickets are $18 (plus $1.50 surcharge) and $14.50 for seniors/students. For tickets go to https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/955386 or call 866-811-4111. For more information go to www.redsharkproductions.com.