Logan Festival of Solo Performance 2022
July 28-August 7, 2022
Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me but Banjos Saved My Life
Written and performed by Keith Alessi
In this award-winning musical one-man show Keith tells the story of his meteoric rise in the boardroom, and the startling news that changed his life forever. He candidly reveals how he used that obstacle to find a new passion in music and a cathartic outlet in storytelling.
There will be a Talkback with Keith Alessi following each performance.
Spanking Machine
Written and performed by Marga Gomez
Marga performs her by turns funny, intense, and heart-rending memoir of growing up brown and queer in Washington Heights. Devil Dogs, sadistic nuns on poppers, childhood pranks, assault, and suppressed memory play their parts in Marga’s shift across gender, latitudes, and generations.
This production features MATURE CONTENT.
Wanda’s Way
Written by Caleen Sinnette Jennings
The first of 1st Stage’s Commissions of Solo Work to premiere at the Logan Festival. Based on real interviews, Wanda's Way explores the journey of a Black female police officer as she explains how and why she got into law enforcement. This intricately woven tale is one of corrupted dreams, seemingly impenetrable systems, and the extreme consequences of both acting and failing to act.
Mlima’s Tale
September 15 - October 2, 2022
By Lynn Nottage
Directed by José Carrasquillo
Pulitzer Prize Winner and Macarthur Genius Grant Winner Nottage gives us the story of Mlima, an elderly “big tusker” elephant from a protected reserve in Kenya. When Mlima is poached for his glorious ivory tusks, those tusks begin a journey across the world, introducing us to a string of characters, each with their own goals and struggles surrounding the ivory trade. In every scene, Mlima’s magnificent presence hovers in the background, lending the weight of his history to this beautiful story.
Photos by DJ Corey Photography
The Rainmaker
November 17 - December 18, 2022
By M. Richard Nash
Directed by Deidra LaWan Starnes
Not only is the Curry family farm being paralyzed by a devastating drought, but Lizzie Curry, to the chagrin of her father and brothers, is unmarried with no viable prospects. A charming, confident trickster named Starbuck comes to town and promises to bring rain in exchange for $100, setting off a series of events that enable Lizzie to see herself in a new light
Photos by Teresa Castracane
Mojada
April 20 - May 7, 2023
By Luis Alfaro
Directed by Elena Velasco
Alfaro takes the chilling ancient Greek tale of Medea and re-imagines it in a Los Angeles Mexican-American immigrant community. After sacrificing nearly everything to begin this new life, Medea and her family weigh their love for each other against their drive to succeed. Mojada is an intense and passionate play, full of romantic fervor, magical realism, and a tense, gripping sense of foreboding that drives the characters ever forward towards irreversible acts of love and violence.
The Last Match
June 8-25, 2023 -EXTENDED THROUGH JULY 2!
By Anna Ziegler
Directed by Alex Levy
Played out under the bright lights of the U.S. Open Semifinals, The Last Match pits rising Russian star Sergei Sergeyev against American great Tim Porter in an epic showdown that follows two tennis titans through pivotal moments in their lives both on-and-off the court. This deep and intimate exploration of humanity and motivation serves as a perfect parallel to the back-and-forth play of life’s wins and losses.
This production runs 90 minutes with no intermission.
Meet the Team
-
Drew Kopas*
Tim
-
Lynette Rathnam*
Mallory
-
Ethan Miller
Sergei
-
Fabiolla Da Silva
Galina
-
Chloe Lateulere
Understudy
-
Patrick Joy
Understudy
Design Team
Alex Levy
Director
Jessica Alexandra Cancino+
Scenic Design
Cindy Jacobs
Props Designer
Kenny Neal
Sound Design
Danielle Preston+
Costume Design
Alberto Segarra+
Lighting Design
Lorraine Ressegger
Intimacy Coordinator
Sarah Usary
Stage Manager
Adrienne Nelson
Dialect Coach
*Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association+Denotes member of United Scenic Artists