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Emerson Theatre Collaborative Announces Hartford Premiere of Jacques Lamarre’s Gray Matters
Emerson Theatre Collaborative (ETC) announces the production of Manchester, CT-native Jacques Lamarre’s Gray Matters, direct from its New York premiere at the New York Midtown International Theatre Festival in July 2010 and its Mystic, CT engagement in August 2010. Gray Matters, produced by ETC’s Camilla Ross,is a topical new comedy that focuses on what happens to an uninsured, unemployed actor when she loses her memory. The New York City cast will be joined by Hartford-area native Debi Freund in performances from September 9 - 12 at the Charter Oak Cultural Center in Hartford, CT. This production will make its debut under the direction of ETC veteran director Joshua Lee Ramos and will feature professional Actors Equity Association members Jen Anaya, Kathryn Kates, and Steve Sherman and regional favorite, Debi Freund. Performance information and tickets for Gray Matters be can be obtained by visiting EmersonTheaterCollaborative.org. Tickets are $25 ($23 for students and seniors).
In the play Gray Matters, we find acclaimed actress Sarah Gray in a predicament familiar to many Americans. After an emergency hospitalization, she finds herself with no insurance, no job and no prospects. Worse, she has a faulty memory. Surrounded by a well-meaning but tough agent and two self-centered young upstarts, Sarah must discover if it is possible for an actor with an Etch-a-Sketch for a brain to get back to what matters.
Gray Matters is written by Connecticut playwright Jacques Lamarre and was selected as one of the thirty plays for inclusion in the 11th Annual Midtown International Theatre Festival. Jacques is the Director of Communications for The Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, CT. His professional experience includes stints at Hartford Stage, Yale Repertory Theatre/Yale School of Drama and TheaterWorks Hartford. He has co-written seven shows for international drag star Varla Jean Merman including The Loose Chanteuse, currently running at the Art Theatre in Provincetown, MA. His short play Stool was selected for the inaugural New Works New Britain and was a top ten finalist for the 2009 NY 15 Minute Play Festival. He has written two children’s plays that were produced and toured by the American Stage Festival in Milford, N.H. For Charter Oak Cultural Center, Jacques directed the workshop of David Lally’s Dream House and the Connecticut premiere of Eve Ensler’s They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy.
Emerson Theater Collaborative’s mission is to serve youth, under-represented communities and artists with an emphasis on diversity, by producing innovative and exhilarating theater in Southeastern Connecticut. ETC explores timely themes and issues through new, original works and modern theatrical classics. The company develops and nurtures both emerging and professional artists, and collaborates with the Emerson College network of alumni and students. ETC’s goals include reaching inner city youth through educational theatrical programming and to support local communities by providing free admission to low-income families and donating profits to humanitarian causes. For more information, visit EmersonTheaterCollaborative.org.
Joshua Lee Ramos (Director) is a native of Hartford, CT and a graduate of University of Hartford where he received a BA in Drama and Film. In 2008 he made his professional theatre directorial debut with Princebury Productions directing A. R. Gurney's Love Letters. Joshua brought the revival of Maria Irene Fornes' The Conduct of Life to Off-Broadway’s June Havoc Theatre as part of the Midtown International Theatre Festival in summer of 2008 serving as director, lighting designer and sound designer. Additional regional professional credits include working as a director for New Works New Britain Theatre Festival, as well as having been a lighting designer for CONNetic Dance in Hartford and for their regional tour. In 2010, he directed Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans: A Salsa Fairy Tale for the Hartford Children's Theatre. For Emerson Theater Collaborative, he directed Spinning Into Butter and Hate Mail, as well ass serving as Assistant Director for the premiere of Chestina Vanessa Poulson and Stage Manager for Harriet2. For more information, visit joshualeeramos.webs.com
THE CAST:
Debi Freund (Sarah Gray) is quite familiar to Hartford audiences. She has appeared regularly with the Little Theatre of Manchester where she has appeared as Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker, M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias, Eleanor in The Lion in Winter, Annie Wilkes in Misery. She is a three-time winner of LTM’s Best Actress in a Play award for her roles in Noises Off (Dotty), Two Rooms (Lainie) and The Remarkable Thing about Stardust (Diana). Last season she starred as Bella in Lost in Yonkers for Playhouse on Park, and has appeared elsewhere as Marjorie in Extremities, Sara in Sisters Rosensweig, Susy in Wait Until Dark, and Sally in Lips Together, Teeth Apart. In New York, Debi starred in William Saroyan’s Hello Out There at the Little Church Around the Corner. She is also the resident actor for the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford, CT where she portrays Stowe. She is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and a 2009 inductee into the Manchester Arts Commission’s Hall of Fame for her contributions to the field of drama.
Steve Sherman (Scott Leeds) has been a member of ETC since it's inception in 2008. Previous ETC roles include Father Flynn in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Doubt, Picasso in Steve Martin's Picasso At The Lapin Agile, and Ross Collins in Rebecca Gilman's Spinning Into Butter. Off-Broadway credits include Claymont (Emerging Artists Theatre) and Tony 'N Tina's Wedding (Corcoran Productions). Tour credits include The Who's Tommy (Dodger) and Aladdin (AFT). Steve has been seen regionally in Bye Bye Birdie and Little Shop Of Horrors (The St. Louis Muny). He has appeared in the independent feature films Dawg's Eye View, Morning Glory, and You Fit The Description.
Jen Anaya (Deja Smith) is thrilled to be a part of this great cast performing this fantastic play! Thanks to the ETC for bringing her on board. Jen won the Midtown International Theatre Festival’s Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her turn as Princess Aleysha in Eighty-1 at the 2008 MITF. Jen has been seen on the New York stage bringing new roles to life in musicals including Angels and No Volvere. Favorite roles include Frida age 25 in the debut of Casa Blue: The Last Moments in The Life of Frida Kahlo, and Maria in West Side Story. She received a BM from Arizona State University and can be seen in the new web series, “How To Make It To 30” (howtomakeitto30.blip.tv).
Kathryn Kates (Miriam) has recently returned to New York after spending over 25 years in Los Angeles where she was a Founding Member (and producer, actor and co-general manager) of the award winning Colony Theatre. She has many stage, television and film credits but is probably best known for her recurring role on Seinfeld as The Babka Lady. Since relocating to New York, she has appeared in over 15 plays. Kathryn is a member of Rising Phoenix Rep.
Key Dates and Information
What: Emerson Theatre Collaborative’s production of Gray Matters
When: September 9 - 11 at 8:00 PM, and Sunday, September 12 at 4 PM.
Where: Charter Oak Cultural Center, 21 Charter Oak Ave, Hartford, CT 06106
How: Tickets are $25 ($23 for students and seniors) and can be obtained online at www.emersontheatercollaborative.org
Additional information is available at www.EmersonTheatreCollaborative.org or by calling (860) 705-9711
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