LIVELABS: ONE ACTS
WEDNESDAYS AT 5:30
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 WILL BE OUR FINAL LIVELAB IN THIS SERIES. DON’T MISS OUT!
We began our life at MCC almost 35 years ago with the One Act Festival, so as we embark on another beginning – the birth of MCC Virtual Events – we wanted to pay homage to our roots, by hosting a series of One Act play readings. Act readings will be between 25 – 45 minutes in length, and will be read and live streamed for free to the MCC Theater audience.
JUNE 24: WHEN
by C.A. JOHNSON
directed by TAYLOR REYNOLDS
featuring KECIA LEWIS, ANTOINETTE CROWE-LEGACY
Maribel loves costume dramas and her daughter Jessie loves her. On any given day, their daily Downton Abbey watch is punctuated by the plunking of piano keys and the flurry of strings, but today there’s so much more on the menu. Maribel really wants to fix her daughter’s love life. And despite her mother’s many diversions, Jessie wants her mother to face the real music: the world is changing, and they could both use a little fresh air.
The event will also feature a talkback with the creative team following the reading.
All LIVELABS will be streamed FREE on the MCC YouTube page. Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications to get reminders for our upcoming readings! To get a reminder emailed to you, register below.
If you sign up, you’ll receive a reminder about the reading with a link to the event on the day of.
WEDNESDAYS
5:30PM EST
PRESENTED VIRTUALLY
RUN TIME: 25-45 MIN
If you sign up, you’ll receive a reminder about the reading with a link to the event on the day of. PLEASE NOTE: If you previously registered for this event, you will need to register again to receive the email reminder for the event.
Anyone who registers with eventbrite will be sent a link to access the event, it will also be available on the MCC YOUTUBE CHANNEL. The readings will be live on WEDNESDAY evening and available to stream for 3 days until SATURDAY at 11:59PM EST.
TIPS AND TRICKS TO TROUBLESHOOT LIVESTREAMING
Please Note:
You do not need a YouTube account to watch these readings, just click the link provided or head to the MCC YouTube channel.
If your screen freezes or you experience errors during the event, try refreshing your browser.
PARTICIPATING PLAYWRIGHTS
AZIZA BARNES
AZIZA BARNES
Aziza Barnes is blk & alive. Z’s play BLKS has been produced at Steppenwolf Theater, Woolly Mammoth Theater and MCC, and was nominated for the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding play. Z has participated with residencies such as Sundance, Ojai Playwrights Conference, Center Theater Group Playwriting Workshop, Callaloo and Cave Canem. Barnes’ play NANA, was commissioned by Williamstown Theater Festival. Z lives in LA.
C.A. JOHNSON
C.A. JOHNSON
MATTHEW LOPEZ
MATTHEW LOPEZ
Matthew Lopez is the author of The Inheritance, which premiered at London’s Young Vic in 2018 and transferred to the West End later that year. It opened on Broadway last autumn. The Inheritance is the most honored new play in West End history, winning an unprecedented five “Best Play” awards, including the Olivier Award, the Evening Standard Award, the London Critics Circle Award, the WhatsOnStage Award, and the Southbank Sky Arts Awards. His play The Legend of Georgia McBride was produced by MCC Theater in 2015. Other plays include The Whipping Man, Somewhere, Reverberation, and Zoey’s Perfect Wedding. He is currently writing the musical adaptation of the classic film Some Like it Hot with Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. In 2019 he received the Literature Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
TALENE MONAHON
TALENE MONAHON
Talene Monahon is thrilled to return to MCC, where she last appeared in Robert Askins’ Permission. Talene’s play, How to Load a Musket, an interview-based exploration of historical reenactors, premiered January 2020 at 59E59, produced by Less than Rent and directed by Jaki Bradley. Her play All in Good Fun was produced at the Peterborough Players and toured various academic institutions across New England. Her plays have been produced with Cape Cod Theater Project, Northern Stage, 24-Hour Plays, and Play-Per-View. As an actor, Talene has performed in productions at the Roundabout Theater Company, Playwrights Horizons, the Atlantic, MCC, New Georges, Encores! Off-Center, Red Bull, La Jolla Playhouse, the Huntington Theater Company, Gingold Theater Group, Partial Comfort and Les Freres Corbusier as well as selected film and television. Her satire writing can be found on McSweeneys and Points in Case. B.A: Dartmouth College.
WHEN
C.A. JOHNSON
Playwright
C.A. JOHNSON
Playwright
C.A. Johnson hails from Metairie Louisiana, but currently lives and writes in Queens, NY. Her plays include ALL THE NATALIE PORTMANS (MCC Theater), THIRST (2017 Kilroys List,The Contemporary American Theater Festival), THE CLIMB (Cherry Lane Mentor Project), AN AMERICAN FEAST (NYU Playwrights Horizons Theater School), and I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW. She is currently the Tow Playwright in Residence at MCC Theater and a Core Writer at the Playwrights Center. She was previously the 2018 P73 Playwriting Fellow, The Lark’s 2016-17 Van Lier Fellow, a Dramatists Guild Fellow, a member of The Civilians R&D Group, a member of The Working Farm at SPACE on Ryder Farm, a Sundance/Ucross Fellow and a 2018 Sundance Theatre Lab Fellow. In addition to her theater work, C.A. also writes for television. BA: Smith College MFA: NYU
TAYLOR REYNOLDS
Director
TAYLOR REYNOLDS
Director
Taylor Reynolds is a New York-based director from Chicago and one of the Producing Artistic Leaders of OBIE-winning The Movement Theatre Company. She has worked as a director, assistant, and collaborator with companies including Clubbed Thumb, Page 73, Baltimore Center Stage, Signature Theatre Company, Ars Nova, MCC, and The 24 Hour Plays. Selected directing credits: Richard & Jane & Dick & Sally (Baltimore Center Stage/Playwrights Realm), Tough (AADA), Plano (Clubbed Thumb, Drama Desk nom for Best Director), Songs About Trains (Radical Evolution), ALLOND(R)A (New Georges Audrey Residency), Think Before You Holla (creator/deviser). She is a New Georges Affiliated Artist, 2017-2018 Clubbed Thumb Directing Fellow, Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab alum, and member of SDC. www.iamtaylorreynolds.com
KECIA LEWIS
KECIA LEWIS
Kecia is celebrating 36 years in the entertainment industry. She made her Broadway debut at 18 years old in the original company of Dreamgirls, directed by Michael Bennett. Her other Broadway credits include The Gospel at Colonus (with Morgan Freeman), Big River, Ain’t Misbehavin’(standby for Nell Carter), Once on This Island (OBC), The Drowsy Chaperone(OBC), Chicago, Leap of Faith(OBC), Cinderella (as Marie/Fairy Godmother)and most recently Children of a Lesser God (directed by Kenny Leon). Off Broadway she has starred in the title role of Mother Courage, The Skin of Our Teeth (Obie Award) Dessa Roseat Lincoln Center (Drama Desk award nomination), and Marie and Rosetta (Lortel & Drama League nominations/ Obie Award winner ). Her television credits include Guest Star and recurring roles on Law & Order, Law & Order SVU(recurring), Madam Secretary, Royal Pains, Limitless, Conviction, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Blue Bloods, SMILF, The Blacklist (recurring), The Passage(recurring), Mad About You (recurring) and the Hulu series, Wu-Tang: An American Saga (recurring). As a vocalist Kecia has performed in Canada, Switzerland, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Russia.
ANTOINETTE CROWE-LEGACY
ANTOINETTE CROWE-LEGACY
PUES NADA
AZIZA BARNES
Playwright
AZIZA BARNES
Playwright
Aziza Barnes is blk & alive. Z’s play BLKS has been produced at Steppenwolf Theater, Woolly Mammoth Theater and MCC, and was nominated for the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding play. Z has participated with residencies such as Sundance, Ojai Playwrights Conference, Center Theater Group Playwriting Workshop, Callaloo and Cave Canem. Barnes’ play NANA, was commissioned by Williamstown Theater Festival. Z lives in LA.
WHITNEY WHITE
Director
WHITNEY WHITE
Director
Whitney White is a director, writer, and musician originally from Chicago based in New York. She is a believer of alternative forms of performance, multi-disciplinary work, and collaborative processes. Her directing projects include: New York Times Critic’s Pick and twice extended Our Dear Dead Drug Lord by Alexis Scheer (WP Theatre and Second Stage), New York Times Critic’s Pick What To Send Up When it Goes Down by Aleshea Harris celebrating black lives who have been lost to racialized violence (The Movement Theatre Company, Woolly Mammoth, American Repertory Theatre and The Public), and James Baldwin’s classic; The Amen Corner (Shakespeare Theatre DC), and LA Times Critic’s Choice Canyon (IAMA, LA). She is an Associate Artist at The Roundabout, a recipient of the Susan Stroman Directing Award and is currently a part of the Rolex Protegé and Mentorship Arts Initiative. BA Northwestern University, MFA Brown University /Trinity Rep. www.whitney-white.com
THE SENTINELS
MATTHEW LOPEZ
Playwright
MATTHEW LOPEZ
Playwright
Matthew Lopez is the author of The Inheritance, which premiered at London’s Young Vic in 2018 and transferred to the West End later that year. It opened on Broadway last autumn. The Inheritance is the most honored new play in West End history, winning an unprecedented five “Best Play” awards, including the Olivier Award, the Evening Standard Award, the London Critics Circle Award, the WhatsOnStage Award, and the Southbank Sky Arts Awards. His play The Legend of Georgia McBride was produced by MCC Theater in 2015. Other plays include The Whipping Man, Somewhere, Reverberation, and Zoey’s Perfect Wedding. He is currently writing the musical adaptation of the classic film Some Like it Hot with Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. In 2019 he received the Literature Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
REBECCA TAICHMAN
Director
REBECCA TAICHMAN
Director
REBECCA TAICHMAN (Director). 2017 Tony Award for Best Director of a Play, Obie, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Indecent written by Paula Vogel (Yale Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, The Vineyard Theater, Broadway at The Cort Theatre). Rebecca has directed on and off Broadway, new plays and classics, musicals and opera. She has worked with writers Jocelyn Bioh, Sarah Ruhl, Danai Gurira, Enda Walsh, Brian Selznick, Kirsten Greenidge, Nico Muhly, David Adjmi, and Stephen Karam among others. She has worked at theaters such as The Roundabout Theatre, Lincoln Center Theatre, The Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, MCC, The Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Old Globe Theatre, ART, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, McCarter, Woolly Mammoth, and others. Rebecca is a resident director at The Roundabout Theatre in NYC, a Henry Crown Fellow at The Aspen Institute, and a graduate of the Yale School of Drama. www.rebeccataichman.com
JANE ALEXANDER
Alice
JANE ALEXANDER
Alice
Ms. Alexander has a distinguished stage career. She has performed in more than 100 plays, been honored with numerous awards including her Tony Award for “THE GREAT WHITE HOPE”, and Obie, Drama League, Drama Desk and Theatre World awards, and was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame in 1994. Jane starred at Long Wharf Theater in the world premiere of Matthew Barber’s play “FIREFLIES”. Recently, Jane starred on Broadway in Bess Wohl’s GRAND HORIZONS, directed by Leigh Silverman.
A four-time Oscar nominee for “TESTAMENT”, “KRAMER vs KRAMER”, “ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN”, and “THE GREAT WHITE HOPE”, Ms. Alexander has appeared in over 70 screen and television roles.
On television, Jane won Emmy Awards for “PLAYING FOR TIME”, and WARM SPRINGS”, and a Television Critics Circle Award for her portrayal of Eleanor Roosevelt in “ELEANOR AND FRANKLIN: THE WHITE HOUSE YEARS”. Jane has been seen in recurring roles recently on “BULL”, “THE BLACKLIST”, “ELEMENTARY”, and “THE GOOD WIFE”. Jane stars in the final episode of the new Amazon series “MODERN LOVE”, and shot a recur role on the new Fox 21/Amazon series TALES FROM THE LOOP.
In 1994, President Clinton appointed Ms. Alexander Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, a position she served for 4 years. Her book “COMMAND PERFORMANCE: AN ACTRESS IN THE THEATRE OF POLITICS” documents her tenure.
Jane has been active as a wildlife conservationist for many years and sits on the national board of the Audubon Society, the Global Advisory Group of BirdLife International, and co chairs the Conservation Council of Panthera.
DENÉE BENTON
Kelly
DENÉE BENTON
Kelly
DENÉE BENTON most recently starred as ‘Eliza’ in Broadway’s Tony Award winning musical Hamilton. She received the 2017 Tony Award nomination, Drama League Distinguished Performance Award nomination, Theatre World Award, and Lilly Award for her portrayal of ‘Natasha’ in the Broadway production of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. She had previously played the role of ‘ Natasha’ at the American Repertory Theater. Other credits include Nabulungi in the West End and U.S. national tour of The Book of Mormon. She starred as ‘Ruby’ in season 2 of Lifetime’s hit television series UnREAL and filmed the pilot 25 for CBS. She also stared along side Dakota Johnson, Casey Affleck, and Jason Segel in the independent feature film, The Friend . Upcoming, she will star in HBO’s highly anticipated series, The Gilded Age.
KATRINA LENK
Christa
KATRINA LENK
Christa
Katrina Lenk currently stars as Bobbie in the revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Company and is the first woman to play the role on Broadway. She previously starred as Dina in The Band’s Visit, for which she earned Tony, Grammy, and Lucille Lortel Awards. She also received nominations from OCC, Chita Rivera Awards, Drama League, Theatre World Award’s Dorothy Louden Award, and a Clarence Derwent Award (Breakout Female of the Year). Other Broadway credits: Pulitzer Prize winning Indecent (OCC nomination), Once, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, The Miracle Worker. Additional theater credits: Indecent (Vineyard, LaJolla Playhouse, Yale Rep), iWitness (Mark Taper Forum), Lost Land (Steppenwolf), Caucasian Chalk Circle (South Coast Rep), Lovelace: A Rock Opera (L.A./Edinburgh). She can currently be seen in CBS’ “Tommy.” Other TV credits: “The Village,” “The Good Fight,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Get Down,” “Elementary,” The Blacklist.” Lenk is the ringleader of the band/performance art piece, moxy phinx. @TheKatrinaLenk
PRISCILLA LOPEZ
Waitress
PRISCILLA LOPEZ
Waitress
Ms. Lopez last appeared on Broadway in GRAND HORIZONS in the role of Carla, which she created at WTF. She joined the WTF family 2017 in THE CLEAN HOUSE by Pulitzer winner Sarah Ruhl. She was In the Broadway Tony Award revival of PIPPIN, as Berthe, the trapeze flying Granny and toured the USA and Tokyo with fellow 1972 PIPPIN alum John Rubinstein. In Lin Manuel Miranda’s IN THE HEIGHTS, she originated the role of Camila Rosario. She appeared in Nilo Cruz’s Pulitzer Prize ANNA IN THE TROPICS on Broadway. She received a Tony Award as Best Featured Actress for her portrayal as Harpo Marx in A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD A NIGHT IN THE UKRAINE and her performance as the original Diana Morales in A CHORUS LINE led to an OBIE Award and Tony Nomination, where she introduced the songs “Nothing” and “What I Did For Love”. Her film credits include “Maid in Manhattan” “Center Stage” “Revenge of the Nerds2” “Tony and Tina’s Wedding”
PREVIOUS LIVELABS
FRANKIE & WILL
by TALENE MONAHON
directed by JAKI BRADLEY
PREMIERED ON MAY 13, 2020
RYAN SPAHN
FRANKIE
RYAN SPAHN
FRANKIE
Off-Broadway: Mr. Toole (59E59), How To Load A Musket (59E59), Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow (MCC and Williamstown), Daniel’s Husband (Westside Theatre, Primary Stages, and Penguin Rep), Summer and Smoke (Classic Stage and Transport Group), Still at Risk (TFTNC), Exit Strategy (Primary Stages and Philadelphia Theatre Company), Gloria (Vineyard Theatre and Goodman Theatre). Film: He’s Way More Famous Than You (co-writer), Grantham and Rose (writer), Woven (writer). Playwright: Inspired By True Events (developed at Vineyard Theatre and NYSAF), Nora Highland (semi-finalist for the O’Neill Playwrights Conference), Blessed and Highly Favored (developed at Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse, EST, and Hangar Theatre). Ryan is a graduate of Juilliard, and will appear in the film Shirley (Sundance, 2020).
MICHAEL URIE
WILL
MICHAEL URIE
WILL
MICHAEL URIE Michael recently appeared on Broadway in Bess Wohl’s Grand Horizons at 2nd Stage and produced Drew Droege’s Happy Birthday Doug at Soho Playhouse. NYC Theater: Tony Kushner’s A Bright Room Called Day, Harvey Fierstein’s Torch Song, Buyer & Cellar, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, High Button Shoes, The Government Inspector, Homos, or Everyone in America, Shows For Days, Angels in America, The Temperamentals. As director, Michael helmed Bright Colors and Bold Patterns on stage, He’s Way More Famous Than You and The Hyperglot on film. He produced Happy Birthday Doug and co-produces Pride Plays. Regional: The Shakespeare Theater, The Old Globe, Seattle Rep, The Folger, South Coast Rep, Barrington Stage, and Center Theater Group. Film: Lavender, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, The Decoy Bride, Such Good People, Abducted. TV: Modern Family, The Good Fight, Younger, The Good Wife, Hot in Cleveland, Partners, Workaholics, Almost Family and Ugly Betty. Training: Juilliard.
JAKI BRADLEY
Director
JAKI BRADLEY
Director
Jaki is a Brooklyn-based director. Recent projects: White Noise (Berkeley Rep), Radio Island, Good Men Wanted (New York Stage and Film), House Plant, 1969: The Second Man (NYTW Next Door), How to Load a Musket (59e59), Mama Metallica (Denver Center), and Playing Hot (Ars Nova/Pipeline). She has developed and presented work with The Public, Williamstown, Soho Rep, Clubbed Thumb, the O’Neill and Arena Stage. Jaki has been a member of the Civilians R&D Group, an Artist-in-Residence at Ars Nova, a Drama League Artist-in-Residence and TV/Film Fellow, a member of the Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab, Williamstown Directing Corps, Lincoln Center Director’s Lab, and a U.S. Fulbright Scholar. Her screenplay Detox made the 2019 HIT List and is in development with XYZ Films. www.jakibradley.com
TALENE MONAHON
Playwright
TALENE MONAHON
Playwright
Talene Monahon is thrilled to return to MCC, where she last appeared in Robert Askins’ Permission. Talene’s play, How to Load a Musket, an interview-based exploration of historical reenactors, premiered January 2020 at 59E59, produced by Less than Rent and directed by Jaki Bradley. Her play All in Good Fun was produced at the Peterborough Players and toured various academic institutions across New England. Her plays have been produced with Cape Cod Theater Project, Northern Stage, 24-Hour Plays, and Play-Per-View. As an actor, Talene has performed in productions at the Roundabout Theater Company, Playwrights Horizons, the Atlantic, MCC, New Georges, Encores! Off-Center, Red Bull, La Jolla Playhouse, the Huntington Theater Company, Gingold Theater Group, Partial Comfort and Les Freres Corbusier as well as selected film and television. Her satire writing can be found on McSweeneys and Points in Case. B.A: Dartmouth College.
