Hoard at Off The Wall Productions

Viv is the lead character in Lissa Brennans stunning new play, Hoard. Claire is the hired help who has been employed by Vivs daughter to clean up her moms house. And you guessed it, Vivs a hoarder.Starring off the WALL productions Executive Artistic Director Virginia Wall Gruenert and Associate Artistic Director Erika Cuenca, local playwright Lissa Brennan has crafted a story written precisely for these two actresses. Brennan says, I knew who I was writing for, so I knew not only their strengths but the things that they often got stuck doing because of type casting. I wanted to do something that was going to showcase, not only what everyone knows that they can do, but what I know that they can do, which is maybe a little less on the radar.This play is not for the faint of heart; Brennan has done her research. Both Viv and Claire have emotional skeletons in their closets, though some are more visible than others. Vivs things in her house serve to protect her just as the'walls' in Claire's heart. Each woman is wounded, guarding her pain, neither wishing to reveal it until it is unwillingly pried out of her fingers. Brennan skillfully unravels the story of these two strangers with wit, compassion and venom.Directed by Kira Simring, Artistic Director of Nancy Manocherians the cell theater in New York City with Brian Reager acting as Co-Director and Dramaturg, Hoard is a collaborative project with the New York-based production company. The show will open March 6th at off the WALL productions at Carnegie Stage with a three-week performance cycle, continuing on April 2nd in New York City for another three-week run.