actors temple theatre

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CLOSED Oct. 2, 2013: “Siren’s Heart: The Marilyn Monroe Musical”

“Siren’s Heart: : The Marilyn Monroe Musical” by Walt Stepp opened  at Actors Temple Theatre on August 5, 2012 and closed on October 2, 2012 . It was directed by Lissa Moira and starred Louis Bradshaw.

About the play: “Siren’s Heart is not the familiar victim narrative about Marilyn Monroe. She is still a living icon in the hearts and minds of millions, but in her own time, Norma Jean was suffocated by the mask of Marilyn & the weight of living up to that impossible ideal of beauty, crushed her. Siren’s Heart, imagines another place where we see Marilyn, or Norma Jean, as she might have been; as she wanted to be: the well-rounded, unhaunted person she couldn’t be in her all-too-brief life.”

Sirens Poster Image

“Louisa Bradshaw is riveting! Her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe, frozen in time, excites as I’ve rarely seen happen on stage. Lissa Moira’s direction & dramaturgy are stunning. It perfectly captures the thoughts of playwright Walt Stepp, on a side of Marilyn never expressed before.” – Joe Franklin, Bloomberg Radio

“The great success of the show is that Louisa Bradshaw presents Monroe as a rather ordinary woman who just cannot figure out why she became so famous. She looks at her from the outside & sees a plain & troubled woman hurled into a worldwide stardom that she could not handle.”– Bruce Chadwick, History News Network

“In Walt Stepp’s Siren’s Heart we witness a provocative, intelligent, soul-searching woman. Louisa Bradshaw gives a tour-de-force performance… she does not attempt to impersonate Marilyn; she embodies Norma Jean & shares her life with us. Lissa Moira directs with verve & purpose!”– Bill Bradford, Hi! Drama

“Caldi applausi a tutti!”
– Mario Fratti, Oggi

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CLOSED July 20, 2013: “Rain Pryor’s Fried Chicken and Latkes”

“Rain Pryor’s Fried Chicken and Latkes” starred Rain Pryor and was produced by Edmund Gaynes in Association with Daryl Sledge/Mother’s Boy LLC.  Fried Chicken & Latkes  first preview date was July 21, 2012  and opened officially on August 6, 2012  at the Actors Temple Theatre .  It CLOSED on July 20, 2013. ( for information on future bookings please contact Gaynes Theatrical Booking )

About the Play: Fried Chicken & Latkes, written and conceived by Rain Pryor, is a hero’s journey from the standpoint of a person born into a world of “Us vs. Them” – but not quite an “us” and not quite a “them”. Told through heavy characterization and a few songs, the story takes us on a journey of racial identity, family, spiritual growth and love. She gives us a glimpse into the universe that was her childhood and is her life, morphing effortlessly, into the people around her, we all end up completely identifying with her story.

Rain Pryor grew up Black and Jewish in Beverly Hills. The year was 1969, the year was of shout and protest against mans inhumane spirit. Through hate, racism, fear, loss and love – Rain dives into her search for heritage and meaning by “becoming” her grandmother Bernice – discussing everything from her shana madel’s marriage to the black comedian Richard Pryor, to the fact that Jews have been Jews for six thousand seven hundred and sixty six year. She equally inhabits her other grandmother, Mamma – discussing “niggers”, white folk, and running a whore house in Peoria, IL, : these were two cultures that helped her to triumph over racial lines and stereotypes. Rain’s father, legendary actor/comedian, Richard Pryor, gave her a sharp sense of timing and character. Her mother imbued her life with political consciousness to stand up for what you believe in! Fried Chicken & Latkes, teaches us that living an authentic life is not about “where do I stand”- it’s about “ Here, I stand.” It will take you back in time and move you forward making you laugh, think and cry. [CLOSED]

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CLOSED Sept. 15, 2012: “Bronte: A Portrait of Charlotte”

The Alloy Theatre Company’s off-Broadway production of “Bronte: A Portrait of Charlotte” opened on  Aug 1, 2012 at Actors Temple Theatre and closed on September 15, 2012 due to the recent pregnancy of the solo show’s star, Maxine Linehan. Written by William Luce and directed by Timothy Douglas, Bronte: A Portrait of Charlotte played 21 performances at the Actor’s Temple at the time of closing.


ABOUT THE PLAY: William Luce wrote Brontë first as a radio play for Julie Harris to perform on Masterpiece Radio Theatre, Elinor Stout directing. Entitled Currer Bell, Esquire (Charlotte’s nom de plume), this production won three broadcasting awards: The Peabody Award, Columbia University’s Armstrong Award and the Ohio State Award. Miss Harris next recorded the play for Caedmon Records, directed by Ward Botsford. With the new title of Brontë, the play’s third presentation became Irish Television’s movie version, directed by Delbert Mann and filmed on location in the moor country of County Wicklow. The film premiered in Lincoln Center, followed by Public Television presentations in North America and the UK. Brontë‘s final incarnation was Luce’s current stage version with Harris being directed by Kristoffer Tabori and subsequently by Charles Nelson Reilly. Brontë has had theater productions throughout the United States, Canada, Scandinavia, South America, Europe and Japan. [CLOSED]


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CLOSED July 29, 2012: “Tin Pan Alley: The Original i Tunes”

Edmund Gaynes, in association with David Gersten presented “Tin Pan Alley (The Original iTunes)” which will officially opened at Actors Temple Theatre March 19, 2012 and closed on July 29, 2012. ( For information on future bookings please contact Gaynes Theatrical Booking )

ABOUT the PLAY: “The original iTunes, TIN PAN ALLEY is a stroll down musical memory lane, featuring classic song-and-dance tunes, a winning cast and a sunny vibe that helps make the production feel fresh. With hits that have become ingrained in our collective memory like “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “It Had To Be You,” and “Give My Regards to Broadway,” don’t be surprised if you catch yourself singing along with the cast. Filled with great songs and toe-tapping dance numbers, TIN PAN ALLEY is one street on which you’ll want to stay for an evening of musical enjoyment.”

Gene Castle and Karla Shook
Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg

“…the real thrill of the evening is Castle’s choreography. It’s expert and beautifully executed. Tap dancing and marvelous moves like this don’t grow on many stages.” -Peter Filicia

Loni Ackerman, Gene Castle, Karla Shook and Brad Bradley
Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg

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CLOSED May 3, 2012 : “Innocent Flesh”

INNOCENT FLESH is a haunting one-act play written by KENYETTA LETHRIDGE about teen prostitution and human trafficking in America presented by MZL LLC in association with Diana C. Zollicoffer, Michael Mann and Kenyetta Lethridge. INNOCENT FLEAH made its Off-Broadway premiere at Actors Temple Theatre on March 15, 2012 and CLOSED May 3, 2012.

ABOUT THE PLAY: “Innocent Flesh is a stage play that follows the lives of four teenage girls as they experience and expose the hardship and realities of the sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking of children in America. Innocent Flesh is written in a multi-layered style that uses poetry, dance, and a modern take on the classic Greek Chorus to express the many struggles and obstacles that young girls face. Lethridge unveils the secrets of how girls from all walks of life can find themselves on the streets, their bodies being sold to men.”

“It is vital that we take notice and not turn our backs on what is ugly.”

 

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CLOSED March 21, 2012: One Night Only! Special Performance “After Anne Frank”

After Anne Frank! One Night Only!
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012 (CLOSED)

For more information, please visit the website and Facebook page for After Anne Frank!
Show length: 90 minutes.
“a masterpiece of theatre”
– nytheatre.com
“entertaining, touching and provocative”
– Backstage. Critic’s Pick!
“Best Bet”
– Newsday

ABOUT THE PLAY: “March. 1973. Dear diary, I borrowed The Diary of Anne Frank from the library today, but I can’t bring myself to open it. And so begins 32 years of Carol Lempert ducking Anne’s legacy, but something keeps pulling her back. Again and again and again. And then that ‘something’… transformed her. Come and meet Carol’s Uncle Bill, Fran the dentist, Matilda the Star Trek fan, plus 20 other funny and wise characters who changed Carol’s life forever. And be transformed yourself.”

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Closed Dec 18, 2011: “Harry & Eddie: The Birth of Israel”

 “HARRY & EDDIE: The Birth of Israel” opened off-Broadway at St. Luke’s Theatre on August 25,  2011 and moved to Actors Temple Theatre October 12, 2011. It CLOSED at Actors Temple Theatre December 18, 2011 after playing a total of 42 performances.   The play was written by Mark Weston, directed by Bob Spiotto and produced by Jessimeg Productions and  featured RICK GROSSMAN, DAN HICKS & LYDIA GLADSTONE

 Dan Hicks (as Harry S. Truman) & Rick Grossman (as Eddie Jacobson)
Photo credit: Carol Rosegg

ABOUT THE PLAY : “HARRY & EDDIE: The Birth of Israel” tells the largely-unknown story of how President Harry S. Truman’s friendship with his former business partner, Eddie Jacobson, leads to the creation of Israel in 1948. Eddie Jacobson, a Jewish haberdashery salesman, and Harry Truman initially bonded during World War I where the Missouri men were put in charge of a struggling army canteen.  The success of that venture leads to their joining forces after the war to open a haberdashery store in Kansas City, MO.  When the depression hit and their store failed, Harry went into politics and Eddie went back on the road as a traveling salesman.  In 1948, as the Zionists were struggling to convince President Truman to support the United Nation’s recognition of Israel, Eddie was asked to push their unlikely friendship to the breaking point. [CLOSED]