Productions
The Sanford Meisner Center for the Arts produced several full run (6 weeks+) plays per year from 1995-2005. Highlights include work with the great Lynn Mamet, legendary writer/director Larry Cohen, and Grammy/Tony Award winning writer Steven Sater. The bulk of our memorabilia and mementos were lost when the Theater Company disbanded, and so this is what we've been able to salvage so far. Big thanks to Don Agnelli and Mona Nash for some fantastic photos. I love you for being here. -KN
The Sanford Meisner One Act Festival - May, 1995
We opened with an ambitious Nine Play One Act Festival. Fridays: "After the Party" by Bill Everman, "The Great Nebula in Orion" by Lanford Wilson, "The Reality of Doing" by Brian Kraft. Saturdays: "A Tantalizing" by William Mastrosimone, "Kitchen Duty" by Victor Bumbalo, "Home Free" by Lanford Wilson. Sundays: "A Young Lady of Property" by Horton Foot, "I'm Still Crying" by Martin Barter, "Bird Bath" by Leonard Melfi.
"God's Country" by Steven Dietz - September 1995
Directed by Martin Barter. With the Oklahoma City bombing fresh in our minds we chose "God's Country" because it went in depth into the White Supremacy movement in a visceral documentary style approach.
"Farnsdale Christmas Carol" - December 1995
Those of us who stayed in town over the Holidays put up this hilarious send up of "A Christmas Carol" in a hot minute.
"In the Company of Friends" by Lynn Mamet -
March 1996
"The Job" Directed by Mamet, starring Kelly Nelson, Kirk BR Woller, Wylie Small, Danny Neiman, Don Agnelli, Kelli Maguire, Carl Calhoun, Steven H. Vaughan, Trey Alexander. "The Divorce" Directed by Mamet, starring Amity Janow, Casey Payden and Danny Neiman.
"Into the Fire" by - June 1996
An evening of two One Acts: "Dark of the Woods" by Scott Davis Jones directed by Allan Vint, starring Wylie Small, Don Agnelli, Kirk BR Woller; and "Going Out of Business" by Bart Baker directed by Joshua Ravetch starring Trey Alexander, Casey Payden, Danny Neiman, Kelly Nelson.
"Carbondale Dreams" by Steven Sater - March 1997
Directed by Martin Barter. Nice collaboration here as Sater went on to win a Tony Award and a Grammy Award for his work. Starring Casey Payden, Kelli Maguire, Bob Solo, John Burrish,
"The Next Stage" - July 1997
Four One Acts that we developed in house: "Niagara Falls" written/directed by Kelly Nelson starring Alex Sohn and Allison Christian, "Blackout" written/directed by Will Etheridge, "Till Death do us Part" written/directed by Alex Sohn, and "Litany" written/directed by John Desiderio starring Kelly Nelson, John Burrish, Trey Alexander, Mark Atienza.
"In Search of Lost Wings" - November 1997
Directed by Marting Barter. A 4 vignette first act: "Tibetan Tango" starring Wylie Small, Kimberly Dennison; "Restitution" starring Allison Christian, John Desiderio; "Echo and Narcissus" starring Patrick Wood, Kimberly Dennison; "Highballs at Sunset" starring Don Agnelli, Kelli Maguire. With "Checkers" by Steven Sater, directed by Susan Fenichell batting clean up. Starring Mark Atienza, Casey Payden, Attickus Travis
"The Next Stage" II - April 1998
Four more One Acts that we developed in house: "Bimbo and Brick" written/directed by Kelly Nelson, starring Kimberly Dennison and Andrea Adams, "Baseball, Whiskey and Dreams" written/directed by Steven H. Vaughan, starring Chet Leonard and Don Agnelli. "There is a God" written/directed by Steven H. Vaughan, starring Cesar Lomeli, Alex Sohn, Kelly Nelson, Will Etheridge.
"Adam and the Experts" by Victor Bumbalo - June 1998
Directed by Martin Barter, starring Mark Atienza, Trey Alexander, Wylie Small, Les Williams, Wylie Small, Kelly Nelson,
"Altered Egos" - October 1999
And evening of two One Acts. "Freak in a Wheelchair" directed by Chris Mitchell, and "Treading Water" directed by Martin Barter. Starring Sean Carville, Nicole Rainier, Greg Adler, James Saxenmeyer, Danni Blair.
"On Your Worst Behavior" - December 2001
Three more One Acts that we developed in house: "Jake and the Angel" written by David Caprita, directed by Chris Mitchell, starring Shane Elliott and Chris Pauley, "Can I Buy You a Drink?" written by John Burrish, directed by Tommy Everman, starring Matt Dugan, Heidie Pease. "The Vet" written by David Caprita, directed by Colleen Gallion, starring Greg Adler, Kelly Nelson, Trevor Boelter, Catherine Perkins.
"Women Speak" by Christine Scowley - February 2002
Directed by John Burrish. Starring Shelly Gant, Carla Hiresh, Melanie Milton, Kimmin O'Donnell, Heidie Pease, Catherine Perkins, Gillian Shure.
"Modigliani" by Dennis McIntyre - May 2002
Directed by Martin Barter. Notworthy because two dynamic casts were utilized. Champagne Cast: John Burrish, Alex Taylor, Shelly Gant, David Caprita, Matt Dugan, Chris Pauley . Caviar Cast: Andrew Katos, Greg Adler, Jacque Mittendorf, Kelly Nelson, Catherine Perkins, Frank Krueger.
"Larry and the Werewolf" by Jeff Goode -
November 2003
Directed by Martin Barter. Starring Chris Pauley, Russ Jones, Carl Hajic, Andrew Katos, Jacque Mittendorf, Bodie Olmos, Emily Finnelly, Zach Fisher, Frank Krueger, Heidie Pease, Tea Mindeli, Taira Soo, Amy Elna, Lawrence Thomas, David Caprita, Adrian A. Cruz.
"Barefoot in the Park" by Neil Simon - Summer 2004
Directed by Trevor Boelter. Starring Frank Krueger, Melanie Milton, David Caprita, Ellen Rae Littman, Chris Pauley, Shane Elliott.
"Waiting for Lefty" by Clifford Odets - June 2005
The Group Theater Classic and our final production. Directed by Martin Barter. Starring John Burrish, Tea Mindeli, Matt Weiberg, John Zipperer, Rhoda Cerny, David Caprita, Dany Perez, David Otero, Lawrence Thomas, Jashub Absher, Andrew Katos, Alex Taylor, Chris Pauley, Greg Adler, Anthony Gamez, Natalie Richter, Kelly Nelson, Carl Hijak, Seth Miller, Wylie Small, Trevor Boelter, Dino Shorte, John Phillips, Frank Krueger, Carla Hiresh.
