This Wide Night, a play by Chloe Moss, will be presented by Speck of Light Productions, at The John Drew Theatre of Guild Hall, East Hampton, from March 17 – March 26, 2016.
Can a friendship forged in prison survive the wide black abyss of freedom? Upon her release from prison, Lorraine heads straight to Marie’s – her former cellmate’s – apartment, having nowhere else to go. But the friendship that once protected them now threatens to smother their fragile freedom.
The play has been described by The Times (London) as “Heartrending… beautifully written; comic, colourful, full of pain and tenderness and truth”
This Wide Night was commissioned and first produced by Clean Break at Soho Theatre, London on Wednseday 30 July 2008. It was the winner of the Susan Blackburn Prize in 2009.
Starring Chloë Dirksen* and Jessica Mortellaro*, the East Hampton production will be directed by Joe Minutillo* with an original score by Felix Bird. Lighting design is by Jose Santiago, set design by John Raynor.
Tickets are available via thiswidenight.brownpapertickets.com or at 1-800-838-3006, with $28 in advance, $35 cash at the door.
ABOUT THE CREATIVES:
Chloë Dirksen* (Producer/Lorraine):
Chloë is proud to be producing her first play. Most recently Chloë performed in Berlin with the Neo-Political Cowgirls in their original performance piece, Voyeur. In July 2014 she starred in the world premiere of Kurt Vonnegut’s Galapagos at the Parrish Art Museum. Chloë has performed frequently at the John Drew Theatre at Guild Hall including Sharpies, Night with Guests, In a Roundabout Way, Eastern Standard, Tongues Will Wag, Night with Oscar, Biloxi Blues, Crimes of the Heart. Last April Chloë created and directed The April Fools’ Show as part of the JDTLab. At Bay Street Theater, she understudied (and performed) for Sarah Paulson in the World Premiere of Conviction by Carey Crim. She has also appeared at Bay Street Theater as Jean Louise/Narrator in To Kill a Mockingbird, Miep in Diary of Anne Frank, as Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible, and in the staged reading of The Orchard Play as part of the New Works Festival. Chloë began her theatre career in her native Toronto. Selected Canadian credits: Mary’s Wedding (Lighthouse Festival Theatre), Blithe Spirit (Theatre Aquarius/Theatre at the Centre), Original Workshop cast of EvilDead: The Musical, Noises Off (Stage West/ Theatre Aquarius), Steel Magnolias (Waterloo Stage Company), Romeo & Juliet (Alumnae Theatre). Chloë completed Circle in the Square Theatre School’s 2 year Professional Actors’ Workshop program on Broadway and holds a BA in English Literature and Linguistics from the University of Toronto. www.chloedirksen.com
Jessica Mortellaro* (Producer/Marie):
Jessica is thrilled to be producing her first ever professional staged production. She first began making her own work in college when she produced and starred in an all female production of Glengarry Glen Ross, and later produced a staged reading of Absurd Person Singular at Joria Productions in NYC. As an actress, Jessica’s home base is NYC, but she grew up on Long Island and in the last few years has become very involved in the rich theater community of the East End. She played Anne in The Diary of Anne Frank and Mayella in To Kill a Mockingbird in Bay Street Theater’s Literature Live Program. Jessica has performed in many staged readings as part of Guild Hall’s JDT Lab including Biloxi Blues, Eastern Standard, and Crimes of the Heart which she also directed. In 2014 she participated in a performance art adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s Galapagos at the Parish Art Museum. Other acting credits include: Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (Gateway Playhouse), Debbie in The Real Thing (Syracuse Stage), Mercedes in Count of Monte Cristo (Bleecker Street Theater), Love Slap (June Havoc Theater). Jessica has also performed in numerous concerts including Bay Street’s Black Out Series, and will be performing in Love Songs, a valentine’s day concert at 54 Below this February. She is a BFA graduate in Acting from Syracuse University. www.jessicamortellaro.com
Joe Minutillo* (Director):
Joe Minutillo (known as Min to his students and friends) has dedicated his past 34 years to educational theatre and has recently retired from his school district, Eastport South Manor (ESM). He is one of the founding members of the New York State Theatre Education Association (NYSTEA) and has assisted with the NYS Assessment in Theatre and the development of the NYS teacher certification in Theatre. In 2012 Joe was proud to receive the NYS highest honor in Theatre Education, The “Rod Marriot Award” for his work in Theatre Education. During his tenure as a Theatre Educator he has not only directed more than 130 productions at his school District (ESM), but has directed numerous shows at the Gateway Playhouse, Bay Street Theater, and for the Young American Writers Project (YAWP) for Emma Walton and Will Chandler through Stony Brook University. “Michael In Room 2” marked Joe’s return to the stage after 20 years, and he now works closely with Scott Eck’s “Leadership Masters” as a performer.
* This production is being presented under the auspices of The Actors’ Equity Association’s Members’ Project Code.