Black Box: Week Two

Black Box New Play Festival

Feb. 24 – Feb. 27, 2022

Thurs – Sun @ 7:30pm EST

Black Box New Play Festival

The 25th annual new play festival will feature world premieres of short plays written specifically for Zoom, to view online from the comfort of your own home. Performances will be streamed online at 7:30pm EST Thursday through Sunday each week (link to be provided) – no downloads necessary!

Second Week: February 24 – 27

  • Perspective by Bara Swain
    Directed by Trent Dawson

    Diaper explosions, Meryl Streep, Chicken McNuggets and Mark’s deceased father-in-law are woven into the story when he prepares for a job interview, with the assistance of his mother-in-law, Ruth, who gives him perspective — and confidence.

    Trent Dawson (Director) has directed Deana and Paul, Decade by Decade, Macbeth, and Love Me, Love My Work at Gallery Players. He is the Founding Artistic Director of Katonah Classic Stage, where he has directed Oleanna and performed Thom Pain (based on nothing). As an actor he has appeared on Broadway, Off Broadway, and at regional theatres across the country. He has guest-starred on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, NCIS, NCIS-LA, Homeland, The Good Wife, Castle, and General Hospital. He received three Emmy Nominations for his work on As the World Turns.

    Sharron Kearney (Rachel) A theatre enthusiast since she was a child, Sharron Kearney is an attorney who currently works for the Department of Homeland Security. In prior years, Sharron was both a New York City and federal prosecutor. After honing her skills as a trial attorney and running multi-national criminal investigations for years, Sharron decided to apply her unique skillset to running a theatre company. She is the Executive Director of Katonah Classic Stage.

    Noelle McGrath (Ruth) Two-time nominee for the NY Innovative Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Featured Role, Noelle was last seen as Fonsia in The Gin Game at Revelation Gallery in the Village. Other favorite roles include Mrs Codliver in Self at Metropolitan Playhouse, Miss Havisham in Great Expectations at Mill Mountain Theatre, Amanda in The Glass Menagerie at Episcopal Actors Guild, Lizzy Sweeney in Philadelphia, Here I Come! at T. Schreiber Studios, and several memorable roles at Gallery Players such as Big Mama in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit and Marge in Fugitive Colors. Noelle is delighted to be a part of this Black Box Festival.

    Drew Reilly (Mark) is a Brooklyn-based actor and teaching artist. Past roles include: Callum Holes, Ectoplasm (Spit and Vigor), Male Actor #3, And Away We Go (Gallery Players); Jared, Body Awareness (Dandelion Theatre, Chicago); Rosencrantz, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Cat’s Cradle Theater Company, Chicago). www.drew-reilly.com.

    Bara Swain’s (Playwright) and monologues have been staged in 185+ venues in 28 states and abroad (UK, Ireland, UAE, Canada, Australia, Ukraine), as well as 45+ virtual performances. NYC theatres include Urban Stages, Abingdon, Barrow Group, Symphony Space, Primary Stages, Sam French, Westside Theatre, Artistic New Directions, Planet Connections and Gallery Players. Selective awards include First Place Winner, Shawnee Playhouse One-Act Play Festival 2020-21 for The Wonder of You, Standing Ovation Awards for I Love Lucy and Can You Hear Me Now? (Smith & Kraus), and City Theatre National Award Finalist for Extraordinary and The Hotel Lobbyist (FL), www.BaraSwain.com

  • Love Me, Love My Work by Glenn Alterman
    Directed by Trent Dawson

    Jane is furious because she believes that Ned told Sarah that he hated her new play. Ned totally denies that he did. Soon we discover the truth about this, and the unique relationship between Ned, Jane, and Sarah.

    Glenn Alterman (Playwright) is probably best known for his many published original monologues and 10-minute plays. With over 1500 published monologues and thirteen books of published monologues, he is listed in at RecordSetter.com as “The Author of The Most Published Original Monologues For Actors.” glennaltermanplaywright.com

    Trent Dawson (Director) has directed Deana and Paul, Decade by Decade, Macbeth, and Love Me, Love My Work at Gallery Players. He is the Founding Artistic Director of Katonah Classic Stage, where he has directed Oleanna and performed Thom Pain (based on nothing). As an actor he has appeared on Broadway, Off Broadway, and at regional theatres across the country. He has guest-starred on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, NCIS, NCIS-LA, Homeland, The Good Wife, Castle, and General Hospital. He received three Emmy Nominations for his work on As the World Turns.

    Kate Fox Marcum (Jane) is thrilled to be performing in her fourth production with Gallery Players since making her debut in Deanna and Paul (directed by Trent Dawson). She completed her actors training at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, moving on to perform in professional film, music, and theater productions across the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Alongside acting, Kate has been working as a backup singer for independent recording artists since moving to NYC in 2016.

    Drew Reilly (Mark) is a Brooklyn-based actor and teaching artist. Past roles include: Callum Holes, Ectoplasm (Spit and Vigor), Male Actor #3, And Away We Go (Gallery Players); Jared, Body Awareness (Dandelion Theatre, Chicago); Rosencrantz, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Cat’s Cradle Theater Company, Chicago). www.drew-reilly.com.