Salamander by Lisa VillaMil
Director
Workshop/Staged-Reading May 2018
Production September 2018
Philadelphia Fringe Festival 2018
Elephant Room Productions
Philadelphia, PA
Girl wishes she’d stayed in, but when you’re in college, you’re supposed to party, right? You’re supposed to go out. She downs a shot. Maybe two. Is she having fun yet? She thinks she’ll just leave early. Walk home in the crisp air, sober up – sticking to well-lit paths, of course.
Lady mourns her shift at the club, dancing for change tonight, since young boys don’t know how to tip. She’s tired. She’s so tired. Her head hurts. She can’t wait to crash in bed, but first she has to make it home without crashing the car.
Woman singes her grandson’s birthday cake. She was always better at pie, anyway. But cake is traditional… she musters up the gumption to walk to the corner store for Betty Crocker. Her husband grumbles disapprovingly. It’s late.
But nothing goes as planned, and Girl gets attacked, and Lady falls apart, and Woman loses her mind.
And then they go blank.
And no one knows if it’s a virus, or what.
But these females – and not just these females… aren’t female anymore.
They’re nothing, just skin and bones, no color, no hair, no feelings, no… parts.
Nothing.
And they certainly aren’t merciful.
September 5-9, 2018
Skinner Studio at Plays & Players
1714 Delancey Pl,
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Director
Workshop/Staged-Reading May 2018
Production September 2018
Philadelphia Fringe Festival 2018
Elephant Room Productions
Philadelphia, PA
Girl wishes she’d stayed in, but when you’re in college, you’re supposed to party, right? You’re supposed to go out. She downs a shot. Maybe two. Is she having fun yet? She thinks she’ll just leave early. Walk home in the crisp air, sober up – sticking to well-lit paths, of course.
Lady mourns her shift at the club, dancing for change tonight, since young boys don’t know how to tip. She’s tired. She’s so tired. Her head hurts. She can’t wait to crash in bed, but first she has to make it home without crashing the car.
Woman singes her grandson’s birthday cake. She was always better at pie, anyway. But cake is traditional… she musters up the gumption to walk to the corner store for Betty Crocker. Her husband grumbles disapprovingly. It’s late.
But nothing goes as planned, and Girl gets attacked, and Lady falls apart, and Woman loses her mind.
And then they go blank.
And no one knows if it’s a virus, or what.
But these females – and not just these females… aren’t female anymore.
They’re nothing, just skin and bones, no color, no hair, no feelings, no… parts.
Nothing.
And they certainly aren’t merciful.
September 5-9, 2018
Skinner Studio at Plays & Players
1714 Delancey Pl,
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Suicide Stories: Gallery of the Untold
(Playwrights include: Daryl Banner, Brian Grace-Duff, Bridget Munday, Dano Madden, Christopher G. Ulloth, Kat Wilson, Brittany Brewer, David Meyers, and Kevin White)
Director
September 2017
Philadelphia Fringe Festival 2017
Elephant Room Productions
Philadelphia, PA
How would you feel if your entire life was summed up by a single number? A suicide statistic. Elephant Room Productions presents Suicide Stories: Gallery of the Untold, an exhibit of living art that allows patrons to explore the stories behind the numbers.
This exhibit will be open for two hours and allow patrons to travel throughout the gallery as they please. This multidisciplinary production utilizes a wide range of art mediums such as paint, theatre, poetry, charcoal, mosaic, music, and more!
Suicide Stories: Gallery of the Untold is featured as a part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival and opens September 12 at 6pm at the Asian Arts Initiative at 1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA. and closes September 17.
You are not just a number; neither were they. Join us. Hear them. Help break the silence.
(Playwrights include: Daryl Banner, Brian Grace-Duff, Bridget Munday, Dano Madden, Christopher G. Ulloth, Kat Wilson, Brittany Brewer, David Meyers, and Kevin White)
Director
September 2017
Philadelphia Fringe Festival 2017
Elephant Room Productions
Philadelphia, PA
How would you feel if your entire life was summed up by a single number? A suicide statistic. Elephant Room Productions presents Suicide Stories: Gallery of the Untold, an exhibit of living art that allows patrons to explore the stories behind the numbers.
This exhibit will be open for two hours and allow patrons to travel throughout the gallery as they please. This multidisciplinary production utilizes a wide range of art mediums such as paint, theatre, poetry, charcoal, mosaic, music, and more!
Suicide Stories: Gallery of the Untold is featured as a part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival and opens September 12 at 6pm at the Asian Arts Initiative at 1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA. and closes September 17.
You are not just a number; neither were they. Join us. Hear them. Help break the silence.
Ventilator Blues by Robert Kerr
Director
April 2017
Elephant Room Productions
New York City, NY
Elephant Room Productions is proud to present a staged reading of the new play Ventilator Blues by New York based playwright, Robert Kerr. Please come out and join us for an afternoon of thought provoking theatre! There will be talkback/ feedback session following the production.
Caught in the alternatively ominous and absurd machinery of an impersonal, high-tech, largely automated (and possibly malfunctioning) police state, a mother and daughter fight to maintain their bond with each other while seeking a way to gain their freedom. As the conditions of their detention become more and more intolerable, their loyalty to each other is tested and the true reason they are under investigation is revealed.
Performed on April 9th at the Drama League Studio in New York City, NY
Director
April 2017
Elephant Room Productions
New York City, NY
Elephant Room Productions is proud to present a staged reading of the new play Ventilator Blues by New York based playwright, Robert Kerr. Please come out and join us for an afternoon of thought provoking theatre! There will be talkback/ feedback session following the production.
Caught in the alternatively ominous and absurd machinery of an impersonal, high-tech, largely automated (and possibly malfunctioning) police state, a mother and daughter fight to maintain their bond with each other while seeking a way to gain their freedom. As the conditions of their detention become more and more intolerable, their loyalty to each other is tested and the true reason they are under investigation is revealed.
Performed on April 9th at the Drama League Studio in New York City, NY
Elephant Ears Reading Series
Artistic Director / EERS Curator
Ongoing process since July 2016
Elephant Room Productions
Philadelphia, PA
The Elephant Ears Reading Series is a new initiative at Elephant Room Productions to provide a process-oriented program for playwrights. One of the hardest parts of being a playwright is often the lack of availability for readings and collaboration early on in the writing process. With Elephant Ears, we aim to get shows read out loud in a private setting early so that playwrights can use their time more efficiently while creating their next work. Any playwright is welcome to submit their shows to us. After receiving your submission, we will be in touch to discuss the vision of the show so far. One of the project heads will write up a series of questions with the playwright's input and approval, bring in a collection of actors to read the show, record the reading, ask each actor the questions created for this production, and send all the results back to the playwright.
These readings are going on once a month in both Philadelphia and New York City; that's two readings a month giving playwrights plenty of opportunities to have their plays read.
Artistic Director, Lauren M. Shover, leads the Philadelphia readings and Company Manager, William Gwyn, leads the New York City readings. Please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] for more details.
Artistic Director / EERS Curator
Ongoing process since July 2016
Elephant Room Productions
Philadelphia, PA
The Elephant Ears Reading Series is a new initiative at Elephant Room Productions to provide a process-oriented program for playwrights. One of the hardest parts of being a playwright is often the lack of availability for readings and collaboration early on in the writing process. With Elephant Ears, we aim to get shows read out loud in a private setting early so that playwrights can use their time more efficiently while creating their next work. Any playwright is welcome to submit their shows to us. After receiving your submission, we will be in touch to discuss the vision of the show so far. One of the project heads will write up a series of questions with the playwright's input and approval, bring in a collection of actors to read the show, record the reading, ask each actor the questions created for this production, and send all the results back to the playwright.
These readings are going on once a month in both Philadelphia and New York City; that's two readings a month giving playwrights plenty of opportunities to have their plays read.
Artistic Director, Lauren M. Shover, leads the Philadelphia readings and Company Manager, William Gwyn, leads the New York City readings. Please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] for more details.
Beautiful American Soldier
by Dano Madden Director Workshop Weekend 2016/ Staged Reading Elephant Room Productions Philadelphia, PA Two sisters, unexpectedly lost along a quiet roadside in war-torn Iraq, find a friend in a man peddling junk. Back in America, a veteran of the war in Iraq discovers that he has much more in common with a homeless man than he wants to believe. Beautiful American Soldier rides the never ending ripple effects of war as shattered hearts, half a world away from each other, must find a way to deal with the consequences of war. Performed on Memorial Day in New York City, NY |
Captive by Lauren M. Shover
Playwright of Captive
Workshop Weekend 2015/ Staged Reading
Elephant Room Productions
Philadelphia, PA
Elephant Room Productions strives to encourage new works to be created each season. To do this we work very closely with selected playwrights to workshop their creations. This year we are presenting two plays by two company members, Artistic Director Lauren M. Shover and Phil Czekner:
What does it mean to be addicted? Can it be stopped or is it inevitable? If you try it just once because everyone else is doing it, will you regret it? Once you’re addicted, is there any hope of breaking free or will you be lost forever? Captive takes you on a journey through the dark and twisted mindset of an addict as she tries to explore her way back to reality. Is this real? Can she go back? Does she have to live this way? Alice must find it in herself to accept the choices she’s made and the path they’ve taken her on. The question is, once she finds the answers she’s been looking for, will she choose to stay or will she break free of the chains holding her captive?
Playwright of Captive
Workshop Weekend 2015/ Staged Reading
Elephant Room Productions
Philadelphia, PA
Elephant Room Productions strives to encourage new works to be created each season. To do this we work very closely with selected playwrights to workshop their creations. This year we are presenting two plays by two company members, Artistic Director Lauren M. Shover and Phil Czekner:
What does it mean to be addicted? Can it be stopped or is it inevitable? If you try it just once because everyone else is doing it, will you regret it? Once you’re addicted, is there any hope of breaking free or will you be lost forever? Captive takes you on a journey through the dark and twisted mindset of an addict as she tries to explore her way back to reality. Is this real? Can she go back? Does she have to live this way? Alice must find it in herself to accept the choices she’s made and the path they’ve taken her on. The question is, once she finds the answers she’s been looking for, will she choose to stay or will she break free of the chains holding her captive?
Foothills Park by Dano Madden
Director
Workshop Weekend 2014/ Staged Reading
Elephant Room Productions
Philadelphia, PA & New York City, NY
Lisa, a New Yorker turned Idahoan, finds herself pulled into a neighborhood battle over who is to blame for recent playground vandalism. Her new friend Tabby believes it is the refugee children from Iraq. The fight that ensues will force Lisa to reevaluate her friendship with Tabby, her marriage, her place in Idaho and her own deeply buried prejudice about Muslims. Foothills Park is a story about a community coming face to face with the source of its fear and prejudice, and the struggle of one New Yorker trying to find her place in a far away land called Idaho.
Director
Workshop Weekend 2014/ Staged Reading
Elephant Room Productions
Philadelphia, PA & New York City, NY
Lisa, a New Yorker turned Idahoan, finds herself pulled into a neighborhood battle over who is to blame for recent playground vandalism. Her new friend Tabby believes it is the refugee children from Iraq. The fight that ensues will force Lisa to reevaluate her friendship with Tabby, her marriage, her place in Idaho and her own deeply buried prejudice about Muslims. Foothills Park is a story about a community coming face to face with the source of its fear and prejudice, and the struggle of one New Yorker trying to find her place in a far away land called Idaho.
Trapped in a Room with a Zombie (Room Escape Adventures)
Associate Producer
[email protected]
Philadelphia, PA
~FOLLOW THE CLUES
~SOLVE THE PUZZLES
~FIND THE KEY
~ESCAPE THE ROOM
~DON’T GET EATEN
You have 60 minutes to escape the room. There is a hungry zombie chained to the wall. Every 5 minutes a buzzer sounds & the chain is released another foot from the wall!
Prepare to be locked in a room with up to 11 other people and a Zombie that is chained to the wall! Hidden in the room is a key that will unlock the door to your freedom. To find the key you must locate numerous clues and solve riddles. Every five minutes the hungry Zombie’s chain will be released another foot. Within an hour, the Zombie will be able to reach you. You have 60 minutes to the find clues, solve the puzzles, unlock the door and escape the room without getting eaten! Are you smarter than a Zombie? Find out!
Associate Producer
[email protected]
Philadelphia, PA
~FOLLOW THE CLUES
~SOLVE THE PUZZLES
~FIND THE KEY
~ESCAPE THE ROOM
~DON’T GET EATEN
You have 60 minutes to escape the room. There is a hungry zombie chained to the wall. Every 5 minutes a buzzer sounds & the chain is released another foot from the wall!
Prepare to be locked in a room with up to 11 other people and a Zombie that is chained to the wall! Hidden in the room is a key that will unlock the door to your freedom. To find the key you must locate numerous clues and solve riddles. Every five minutes the hungry Zombie’s chain will be released another foot. Within an hour, the Zombie will be able to reach you. You have 60 minutes to the find clues, solve the puzzles, unlock the door and escape the room without getting eaten! Are you smarter than a Zombie? Find out!
First Snow by Christopher G. Ulloth
Director
Workshop Weekend/Staged Reading
March 2014 & February 2015
New York City, NY
First Snow is set against the backdrop of a nearly abandoned town, ravaged by a mine fire. During the first snow of winter, two teenagers on the cusp of making important decisions enter the town seeking clarity in their lives. Between a freezing sky and burning earth, the occurrences therein have these two individuals thinking about life in ways neither had anticipated.
Director
Workshop Weekend/Staged Reading
March 2014 & February 2015
New York City, NY
First Snow is set against the backdrop of a nearly abandoned town, ravaged by a mine fire. During the first snow of winter, two teenagers on the cusp of making important decisions enter the town seeking clarity in their lives. Between a freezing sky and burning earth, the occurrences therein have these two individuals thinking about life in ways neither had anticipated.
Missed Connections and Curiosities
Production Assistant
Simpatico Theatre Company's Second Stage Series
November 2013 – June 2014
Featuring dramatic readings and devised movement based off some of the wackiest, raunchiest, and most hilarious postings from Philadelphia’s craigslist performed and directed by local Philadelphia talent. This evening will be underscored by selections from Gabriel Kahane’s Craigslistlieder, “a song cycle in eight movements taking its texts from the eponymous classified ad web site."
Production Assistant
Simpatico Theatre Company's Second Stage Series
November 2013 – June 2014
Featuring dramatic readings and devised movement based off some of the wackiest, raunchiest, and most hilarious postings from Philadelphia’s craigslist performed and directed by local Philadelphia talent. This evening will be underscored by selections from Gabriel Kahane’s Craigslistlieder, “a song cycle in eight movements taking its texts from the eponymous classified ad web site."
Bad Husband by Dano Madden
Assistant Director (under the direction of Melissa Firlit)
Artful Conspirators
November 2013 New York City, NY
Open Rehearsal Workshop with the Artful Conspirators on Dano Maddens' play "Bad Husband".
Assistant Director (under the direction of Melissa Firlit)
Artful Conspirators
November 2013 New York City, NY
Open Rehearsal Workshop with the Artful Conspirators on Dano Maddens' play "Bad Husband".
The Enchanted Pig
by Jonathan Dove
Princess Gonda
Directed by James Goode
Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble
July 2013 Bloomsburg, PA
King Gorgeous III commands his three daughters to stay out of a forbidden room while he’s away. So what do they do? You guessed it! He’s barely out of town before their hands are on the door knob. What they find inside about their future husbands is good news for two of the princesses. But, alas! Princess Eulalie Irene learns she’s destined to marry a pig! Too bad she doesn’t know the title of the plays she’s in, ‘cause then she’d know that he’s an enchanted pig.
It’s a delightful fairy tale for all ages, as Eulanie Irene embarks on a quest to break the spell on her piggy husband. A little bit kooky and a little bit spooky, but all ‘round wondrous fun.
by Jonathan Dove
Princess Gonda
Directed by James Goode
Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble
July 2013 Bloomsburg, PA
King Gorgeous III commands his three daughters to stay out of a forbidden room while he’s away. So what do they do? You guessed it! He’s barely out of town before their hands are on the door knob. What they find inside about their future husbands is good news for two of the princesses. But, alas! Princess Eulalie Irene learns she’s destined to marry a pig! Too bad she doesn’t know the title of the plays she’s in, ‘cause then she’d know that he’s an enchanted pig.
It’s a delightful fairy tale for all ages, as Eulanie Irene embarks on a quest to break the spell on her piggy husband. A little bit kooky and a little bit spooky, but all ‘round wondrous fun.
The Last Plot in Revenge
by Brian Grace-Duff
Assistant Director (under the direction of John Clancy)
Brat Productions
June 2013 Philadelphia, PA
This June, Brat gives you dinner theatre like you’ve never experienced it before. The Last Plot in Revenge takes you to Revenge, Montana, a land where the wild rule, the whiskey runs, the whores are tired, the guns are smokin’ – and there is only one cemetery plot left in the whole town. Let the Scrapfields and the MacGruels duke it out, because when the Nameless Gunman enters, who knows who will be left standing? After all, revenge is a dish best served with a plate of spaghetti.
by Brian Grace-Duff
Assistant Director (under the direction of John Clancy)
Brat Productions
June 2013 Philadelphia, PA
This June, Brat gives you dinner theatre like you’ve never experienced it before. The Last Plot in Revenge takes you to Revenge, Montana, a land where the wild rule, the whiskey runs, the whores are tired, the guns are smokin’ – and there is only one cemetery plot left in the whole town. Let the Scrapfields and the MacGruels duke it out, because when the Nameless Gunman enters, who knows who will be left standing? After all, revenge is a dish best served with a plate of spaghetti.
The Underpants
by Carl Sternheim & adapted by Steve Martin
Assistant Director (under the direction of David A. Miller)
Make-up & Hair Designer
April 2013
Bloomsburg University Bloomsburg, PA
Theobald Maske has an unusual problem: his wife's underpants won't stay on. One Friday morning they fall to her ankles right in the middle of town-a public scandal! Mortified, Theo swears to keep her at home until she can find some less unruly undies. Amid this chaos he's trying to rent a room in their flat. The prospective lodgers have some underlying surprises of their own. InThe Underpants, Steve Martin brings his comic genius and sophisticated literary style to Carl Sternheim's classic 1910 farce.
by Carl Sternheim & adapted by Steve Martin
Assistant Director (under the direction of David A. Miller)
Make-up & Hair Designer
April 2013
Bloomsburg University Bloomsburg, PA
Theobald Maske has an unusual problem: his wife's underpants won't stay on. One Friday morning they fall to her ankles right in the middle of town-a public scandal! Mortified, Theo swears to keep her at home until she can find some less unruly undies. Amid this chaos he's trying to rent a room in their flat. The prospective lodgers have some underlying surprises of their own. InThe Underpants, Steve Martin brings his comic genius and sophisticated literary style to Carl Sternheim's classic 1910 farce.