Axial Theatre Presents “Ode to Joy” by Craig Lucas
Westchester, New York – Axial Theatre will present a workshop reading of Axial Advisory Board Member and multiple award-winning playwright Craig Lucas‘s Ode to Joy on Saturday, September 23 at 7 pm. at St John’s Episcopal Church, 8 Sunnyside Ave, Pleasantville, NY. Axial Theatre ensemble members Sandy Rooney, Marisa Lowe, and Duane Rutter are featured in the cast with stage directions read by Missy Flower. The workshop reading will be directed by Nathan Flower, Axial’s Associate Artistic Director. The event is produced by Axial Artistic Director and three-time Emmy-winner Cady McClain. Tickets are $10 students (registered in high school or college); $25 general seating, available at axialtheatre.org
The New York Times called the play a “straightforward look at people battling with the ogres of contemporary life through alcohol, drugs, sex and, finally, 12-step self-analysis.”
Lucas, a three-time Tony nominee, will take home the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his work, which includes plays Prelude to a Kiss and Reckless. As a librettist, his Broadway credits include Light in the Piazza, recently revised by New York City Center Encores!
He received an Obie Award for his direction of Harry Kondoleon‘s Saved or Destroyed at the Rattlestick Theater and the 2003 New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay for The Secret Lives of Dentists. His Small Tragedy was awarded an Obie as Best American Play in 2004. Lucas’s other awards include the Excellence in Literature Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters; the PEN/Laura Pels Theater Award; and Outer Critics Circle, L.A. Drama Critics Circle, Drama-Logue and Lambda Literary Awards.
He was nominated for the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Prelude to a Kiss.
ABOUT CADY MCCLAIN (Producer)
Axial Theatre Artistic Director was recognized by Deadline for being a history-making three-time Emmy© winner, acting as three unique characters on three different daytime shows. Cady studied theater directing with legendary artistic director of Ensemble Studio Theater, Curt Dempster, and acting for eight years with Michael Howard. Her theatrical directorial debut was with Axial Theatre in Paint Made Flesh by Axial Founder Howard Meyer, shown at The Cell in NYC. Her film documentary on female directors, Seeing is Believing:Women Direct, won multiple awards, including the Audience Award at the SOHO Film Festival and a Jury Prize at the Newport Beach Film Festival. It was released on regional PBS stations nationwide and the educational platform Kanopy. She currently plays “Jennifer” on Days of Our Lives. cadymcclain.com
ABOUT NATHAN FLOWER (Director)
Founding Artistic Director: Hudson Valley Moving Company (HVMCo). Head of Movement Training: Terry Knickerbocker Studio in Industry City, Brooklyn. Associate arts professor – NYU. Currently Program Director for the MSNR Studio @ Tisch Drama. Served for three years as Associate Chair of Tisch Drama. Certified Williamson Practitioner – spending 20 years developing uniquely integrated process for movement training and physical performance, role-preparation and on-set coaching for actors. Directing/performance credits include: BAM Fisher, Judson Church, Center for Performance Research, Julia Crockett Group @ 99 Scott, Aquila Theatre Co, Clark @ Lincoln Center, Lucille Lortelle, The Acting Company, Classic Stage Company, Duanjun Theater at Shanghai Theatre Academy (China), Shakespeare Festival Neuss (Germany), Festival at Syros (Greece), Crossroads Theater, Hangar Theater, Vermont Stage, Shakespeare in Delaware Park, National Shakespeare Co., Westchester Collaborative Theater, Axial Theater Co., Aery 20/20 Festival & Ariane Festival @ Depot Theater.
ABOUT AXIAL THEATRE
Axial Theatre is a 24-year-old not-for-profit institution founded by playwright/director Howard Meyer. It is dedicated to supporting the professional development of the independent voice through audience involvement and is committed to presenting challenging and relevant theatrical experiences. The company and its productions have been reviewed in The New York Times and are supported by the William T. Morris Foundation and ArtsWestchester among others. axialtheatre.org
About Axial Theatre
Axial Theatre’s mission is to create and produce professional relevant, original plays in collaboration and to cultivate theatre artists through year round educational programming. We are committed to involving our audiences in the process of play development and accomplish this by presenting new works in the form of staged readings, workshop performances, and fully mounted professional productions. At the end of every workshop presentation we solicit our audience’s feedback in question and answer sessions. All classes, rehearsals for shows, and invited workshops take place at Axial’s home: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 8 Sunnyside Ave., Pleasantville, NY 10570-3125 For more information please visit www.AxialTheatre.org Email: AxialTheatre@gmail.com Phone: (914) 286-7680
Axial Theater is a twenty one year old not-for-profit institution dedicated to supporting the professional development of the independent voice through audience involvement and a commitment to presenting challenging, intelligent, and culturally relevant theatrical experiences