 As part of the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity and benefiting Wild Horizons for Children, producers/directors David Lamberton and Allexandra Hall Van Schie present a free reading of DASH, written by John T. Hall. Reading will take place Friday, May 31st at 4pm, Robert Moss Theater (440 Lafayette Street, 3rd Floor). MTWorker RUSSELL JORDAN will play the role of Phil Collier. It is 1976 in war-torn Nigeria. An African-American envoy is on both a US trade mission and a personal mission to explore his racial identity. After witnessing the murder of an innocent hotel worker by a fellow American, he is forced into a crisis-of-conscience. This play is based on actual events. Although reading is free reservations are strongly recommended: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/9770800
 Name: Erin Solér Role: Duchess of Monmouth How did you get started in theatre:When I was three years old, my mom took me to see, Sesame Street -LIVE! When I was about four years old she took me to see a screening of the movie version of Annie, the musical. She says that she felt a little tug on her jeans after the movie and asked what I wanted. Apparently, my response was, "Mommy, when Annie-LIVE! comes to town, can we go see it?" Soon she found a community theatre production of Annie and took me to see that. I was later enrolled in children's acting classes there. What excites you about The Picture of Dorian Gray:Working on new pieces is exciting to me. In this case, we have some amazing, controversial source material. This adaptation explores the homosexual aspects of the piece, parallels to Wilde's life and the attitudes towards homosexuality in 1890's London. I believe it's only been in the past few years that Wilde's original text was published by Harvard Press as "The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray". The novel was used in court against Wilde, but it was later ruled that literary evidence was not admissible. Duality is a strong theme in the novel and that excites me as well. If you could have 5min with Oscar Wilde you would...
Five minutes isn't very much time, but I'd like to do something ridiculous with him and a bevy of beautiful boys. Ride a roller coaster. Or maybe skinny dipping in Washington Square Park fountain. Don't miss Rachel Dozier-Ezell's costume designs in MTWorks' THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. Adapted and directed by Glory Kadigan. Playing March 27th through April 14th, 2013 at the WorkShop Theater in Manhattan. To learn more visit the upcoming page on the site.
 Name: Rachel Dozier-Ezell Role: Costume Designer How did you get started in theatre:I started making costumes for a high school production of The Wizard of Oz, then performance in musical theater. What excites you about The Picture of Dorian Gray:Discovering the many textures and levels of each character while developing a sensual style for the play. If you could have 5min with Oscar Wilde you would......tell him thank you for the little Lord Fauntleroy suit and his daring personal style. Don't miss Rachel Dozier-Ezell's costume designs in MTWorks' THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. Adapted and directed by Glory Kadigan. Playing March 27th through April 14th, 2013 at the WorkShop Theater in Manhattan. To learn more visit the upcoming page on the site.
 Name: Eric Percival Role: Basil Hallward How did you get started in theatre:I have been playing pretend obsessively since I was at least 2 years old. When I found out that there were actual places where people would come together to build sets and create lighting and play other characters to act out all the great stories with me, and other people would come to sit and watch me have all this fun and applaud me for it, I could not have been more excited. What excites you about The Picture of Dorian Gray:Oscar Wilde has created a beautiful, iconic story with a variety of rich and memorable characters. At heart, the play is a masterful fantasy story with powerful lessons about love, relationships, obsession, and wish fulfillment that is deeply relevant - and possibly disturbing - to anyone who's ever been on the giving or receiving end of a romantic crush. Though I personally am a straight man, I can see pieces of myself (both good and bad) in so many of the characters - Dorian, Lord Henry, Sibyl, and of course Basil. It's always exciting to bring a story like that to life that touches so universally upon the human experience. Every time we run through the play I hear a new line that I had never noticed before, that makes me think of the play's themes in a new way. That's great writing, and great writing is always exciting to work with. If you could have 5min with Oscar Wilde you would...Observe him quietly from a distance so as not to disturb the course of history and prevent my own birth from occurring. Don't miss Eric Percival as Basil Hallward in MTWorks' THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. Adapted and directed by Glory Kadigan. Playing March 27th through April 14th, 2013 at the WorkShop Theater in Manhattan. To learn more visit the upcoming page on the site.
 We have some special events during and related to our mainstage production of The Picture of Dorian Gray we would not want you to miss. Wednesday, March 27th at 8pm
MTWorks' World Theatre Day CelebrationNot only is this night the first performance of The Picture of Dorian Gray but it is also World Theatre Day. MTWorks has joined the NYC World Theatre Day Coalition on this momentous day and MTWorker Kathleen O'Neill (pictured) will deliver this year's International Message by Pulitzer and Nobel prize winning Italian playwright Dario Fo. This will take place right before the performance. Monday, April 1st at 10:30pmMTWorks' "Leather and Lace" Cast PartyJoin the cast and crew of MTWorks' The Picture of Dorian Gray after the Monday, April 1st performance at Houndstooth Pub, just a block away from the theater (520 8th Avenue, corner of 37th St). We will be in the downstairs area toasting the talented team that has worked arduously and whole heartedly on making this vision a reality. "Leather and/or Lace" attire encouraged yet not required. Monday, April 8th at 10:00pm
MTWorks' Talk-back with Glory KadiganJoin us for a talk-back with writer/director Glory Kadigan right after the Monday, April 8th performance of The Picture of Dorian Gray. The talk-back will be moderated by Dr. Ann Marie Yali, Chair of MTWorks' Board of Directors. Wednesday, April 10th at 6pm-7pm
MTWorks' Tea & Dessert AuctionMTWorks' Board of Directors cordially invite you to an evening of tea and dessert auction before the Wednesday, April 10th performance of The Picture of Dorian Gray. Dress in your finest Victorian garb (optional), sip some tea and delight your taste buds with scrumptious desserts baked with love and flair by our MTWorkers. Cheesecakes, Almond tarts, cupcakes and other delectable delights. The tea is complimentary. Auction hosted by Julie Griffith, Vice-Chair of MTWorks' Board of Directors. All proceeds to benefit MTWorks and our dedication to discovering new plays that challenge our perception of diversity (ethnic, economic, gender, sexuality or creed). We hope you join us at these wonderful events. MTWorks' THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY
Adapted and directed by Glory Kadigan
Playing March 27th through April 14th, 2013
WorkShop Theater in ManhattanTo learn more visit the upcoming page on the site.
 Get to know the show running in rep with MTWorks' The Picture of Dorian Gray at the WorkShop Theatre Mainstage - produced by Ego Actus. Ego Actus presents an Equity approved Showcase Code production of I Know What Boys Want, a new play by Penny Jackson, directed by Joan Kane†, at the WorkShop Theater, 312 West 36th St, 4th Floor. A prep school girl discovers that this week's Internet sensation is a video of her having sex. Her feminist mother wants to help, but Vicky insists she can handle the crisis alone. Can Vicky free herself from the Internet, or will she always be caught in its web? Featuring Sara Hogrefe*, Dara O’Brien*, Janice Amano, Kimberly Diamond, Lauren D. Salvo, Liam Rhodes*, Teddy Lytle, and Nick Vennekotter. The show opens March 28th and performs Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00pm and Saturdays at 3:00pm through April 13th. All tickets will be $18 and are available at IKnowWhatBoysWant.brownpapertickets.comSet by Starlet Jacobs, costumes by Cat Fisher, lighting by Bruce A! Kraemer, sound by Ian Wehrle, stage manager Kim Marie Jones*, fight choreographer Andrew Kenneth Moss, Graphics by Alexis Camp, press representative Scotti Rhodes Publicity, 212 260 8052There will be a talkback moderated by Martin Denton of nytheatre.com after the Saturday, March 30th, 3:00pm matinee. There will be another talkback moderated by noted brain scientist Heather Berlin after the Thursday, April 11th, 8:00pm show. † member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers
*appears courtesy of Actors Equity Association.
 Name: Kelly Zekas Role: Sibyl Vane How did you get started in theatre:When I was six I flitted around as a fairy in Midsummer Night's Dream at a summer camp in Vermont. It wasn't long before I began to love the words as much* as the fairy wings. *Almost as much. Let's be honest: there are few things more awesome than fairy wings. What excites you about The Picture of Dorian Gray:I love Oscar Wilde. He's a genius of wit and examines humanity in a way that I think few writers have. In this particular novel and our adaptation, we are exploring something darker - this is no light comedy of manners. I am excited for the audience to see this gothic side of Wilde. Considering the amount of male nudity in the production, I could have answered this question very badly. If you could have 5min with Oscar Wilde you would...Gift him with things: A good cat video on youtube. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. A copy of Out Magazine. An iPod stocked with the best songs of the last 100 years. A picture of Ben Whishaw - you know, just to assure him that men continued to be beautiful in the future. This would undoubtedly change the course of history, but I think it could be worth it. Don't miss Kelly Zekas as Sibyl Vane in MTWorks' THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. Adapted and directed by Glory Kadigan. Playing March 27th through April 14th, 2013 at the WorkShop Theater in Manhattan. To learn more visit the upcoming page on the site.
 MTWorkers Madalyn McKay and Susan Wallack will appear in a free reading of two time MTWorks' National NewBorn Festival winning playwright Duncan Pflaster's play Light and Noise and Bees and Boys on Wednesday, March 20th at 7pm at The Church of St. Luke in the Field (487 Hudson Street). The reading is part of The Fresh Fruit Festival's " From Vanilla to Tutti-Frutti", a developmental reading series of works by, for or about the LGBTQ community. The free sit-down reading will be followed by a Q&A between the playwright and audience. About the play: An older woman has had a stroke and has gone to live with her son and his wife in Boca Raton. Thirty years of memories have been erased. She does not remember that she’s now a lesbian in a committed relationship with a woman. She does not know that woman is trying to find and rescue her.Starring Simon Feil*, Madalyn McKay*, Christine Seisler*, Kea Trevett, Susan Wallack*, Viet Vo * indicates member of Actors' Equity Association
 Name: David Stallings Role: Lord Henry How did you get started in theatre:When I was five I begged my mother to let me audition for the production of Alice in Wonderland at the local community theater. She was nervous as I was very shy (still am). My dad took me and to their surprise I was cast as the Doormouse. They got the call as I was in the next room writing my first play (told with pictures). They were even more shocked when they heard me from the next room be more alive than I ever was before. I have lived in Wonderland ever since. What excites you about The Picture of Dorian Gray:I love doing a work that has been censored from its inception, written by a man who went to prison for his sexuality. The play uses the dialogue from the novel, woven beautifully by Glory Kadigan who boldly approaches the piece for what it really is about. Her Dorian is not a morality piece, but a piece about repression. It's a play about gay men. The novel was used against Wilde in his trials, and even though he cut and changed and veiled the story, the heart lived on. Even with all its wit and light and air, Dorian is a dark piece. It is a tragic piece. It is a piece about repression. I also like that Dorian is given an opportunity at happiness with a man, Basil, but turns it down as he does not think happiness is his due. He is not a "villain" because he is gay, he is a "villain" because he refuses to show what is in his soul--not that I personally think he is a villain at all. And to play Henry... I have no words. A dream come true. If you could have 5min with Oscar Wilde you would...Thank him. I would also probably cry. Don't miss MTWorks' Artistic Director David Stallings as Lord Henry in MTWorks' THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. Adapted and directed by Glory Kadigan. Playing March 27th through April 14th, 2013 at the WorkShop Theater in Manhattan. To learn more visit the upcoming page on the site.
 Name: Will Schnurr Role: James Vane How did you get started in theatre:In high school, the musical my junior year was OKLAHOMA! and it was down to me and another guy for Curley but they picked him because he was a senior. I had a great time regardless and continued on at UNCSA and now here in New York. What excites you about The Picture of Dorian Gray:I'm excited by the wonderful work everyone has been doing and for the opprotunity to be a part of such a cool piece of theatre! If you could have 5min with Oscar Wilde you would...Ask him to sign my copy of The Importance of Being Earnest and pick his brain about the craft of acting and theatre in general. Don't miss Will Schnurr as James Vane in MTWorks' THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. Adapted and directed by Glory Kadigan. Playing March 27th through April 14th, 2013 at the WorkShop Theater in Manhattan. To learn more visit the upcoming page on the site.
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