Nick Garr – Artists Without Walls

ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' HOLIDAY SHOWCASE at THE CELL THEATRE, TUESDAY, 12/23, 6:45PM

“This is a note of thanks for supporting my efforts through pictures and words these past two years. I’ve been working as an actor for at least twenty five years now and I’ve never before been involved in anything quite like this. AWoW is a unique blessing. So happy to be a member.” Jack O’Connell, actor, New York

Ron Vazzano is a writer/poet who has read his work at The Cell on a number of occasions since becoming a member of AWoW. As an actor, at a recent Showcase, Ron performed at a monologue he’d written called, “Ten Totems of Obsolescence in Passing.” Tuesday night he will be reading one, as he says, “Seasonally appropriate, poem.” No doubt, humor will abound.

Ed Romanoff’s debut album was a Roots Radio Top 100, number 12 in Europe, and its opening song was voted Song of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association. Recently, at fifty years of age, Ed discovered that he’s not Russian as he’d always believed, but Irish. Ed is writing a book about uncovering his true identity as well as recording a followup CD. He will be performing a few of his tunes with, we’re sure, a story or two thrown in.

Singer/songwriter/producer Michael Sheahan will be performing Christmas songs from his three-time award winning Christmas Book, CD and Dance DVD “Mr. Holidays Presents The Roof Top Hop,” as well as songs from his latest Christmas CD, “Some Things Never Change.” Looking for some additional holiday music? Look no further.

“Paper Tigers” is a solo theatrical piece, which is currently being developed by Nick Garr. In “Paper Tigers”, Nick creates, or rather, “recreates,” a variety of characters from the underbelly of the familiar. With them, he explores our shared issues of love, sex, ambition, and self-image, in a world where things are often not as they appear. Nick will be performing a segment that shows Father Rodney, a teacher at an all boys Catholic high school, presenting his final religion class to a group of graduating seniors.

Playwright and writer Joseph Goodrich will present “The New Boy”—-a holiday reminiscence set in Minnesota, where Goodrich grew up. In “The New Boy,” Christmas 1970 is fraught with loss, anxiety, and an unexpected guest. We heard Joe present this piece at Ed McCann’s “Writers Read” recently. Brilliant.

Honor Molloy and Niamh Hyland will present “Christmas on an Island”–adapted from a Radio Eireann script written by Honor’s mother Yvonne Voight. This selection from “Smarty Girl – Dublin Savage” is set in the last days of 1954 when Noleen’s mother heads out to the wilds of Inish Maan for Christmas. Might this include a tune from Ms. Hyland as well?

Marion Stein is a graduate of the Sarah Lawrence MFA program. Her work appeared in Gordon Lish’s legendery Quarterly Magazine. You can catch her snarky television recaps at Happy Nice Time People. Marion’s available fiction includes “Loisaida” – a novel of gentrification and its discontents – as well as the new work she will be reading from at the Showcase.

And rounding out the evening’s performances will be a scene from Brona Crehan’s “Moonlight Sonata,” which will be performed by Grainne Duddy.

A number of artists will have CD’s and books for sale, so if you’re looking for last minute stocking stuffers you’ll find them at The Cell Theatre, 338 W23rd St, tomorrow night,Tuesday, December 23rd, 6:45pm

We hope to see you then.

BRILLIANT LINEUP ON TAP for ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' "SHOWCASE AT THE CELL" 8/26

Why attend an Artists Without Walls’ Showcase? Here’s what poet Connie Roberts said about a recent event. “It was a thrilling, life affirming night—life-affirming in the sense that an Artist Without Walls’ showcase highlights beautifully, often spectacularly, our shared humanity. In our fast-paced, rat-race lives, it is easy to feel disconnected from the world, from our fellow man/woman. But then you have a space like AWoW has created, where people bring their stories and share them—their hurts, betrayals and joys—in various mediums, with a bunch of other folks, who have their own stories. It’s as if by magic, the whole room experiences a sense of connectedness, real-time affirmation that we’re all part of a rich and complex tapestry.”

We have a great line up planned including Mark Donnelly who will perform the opening monologue from his new play No Dead End. Set in Los Angeles in the late 1980s, No Dead End explores the blurring of movie fantasies and reality through the friendship of a film librarian and an aging actor. Mark writes plays, poetry, short stories and nonfiction. Mark holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Brooklyn College and is an adjunct English professor at St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights.

Honor Finnegan is a Kerrville New Folk Song Contest Winner, and an accomplished vocalist. She will be sharing a couple of her songs, and covering one by Christine Lavin. Aviv Roth will accompany her on guitar. She will be peddling CDs so bring your spare change.

Renata Hinrichs, a Cannes Film Festival and Obie award winning actress, will present a section of Random Acts, a solo piece she wrote about growing up on the South Side of Chicago in the late 60s. Her father, a young Lutheran minister, wants to change the world, and her mother just wants to be the perfect pastor’s wife. Renata is performing in the United Solo Festival on Theater Row, Sunday, Oct 12th at 2 pm.

Singer/songwriter Warren Malone loves to sing, write songs and play guitar. “I love traditional folk music as much as I love a great pop song. The first record I ever put on was a Hank Williams’ record when I was four years old. As a kid I loved Elvis.” Joining Warren on the piano for some old time rock ‘n’roll will be his son Gibson Malone. If you haven’t heard these two play together you’re in for a treat.

Nicholas Garr has appeared in film, TV and Broadway. “Lobsterman” is an excerpt from his solo play, Paper Tigers. Nick appeared at a Showcase earlier in the year and meshed his great physicality and comedic skills with piped in sounds as diverse as spraying mouthwash, bullets flying through the air and screams to create an intense piece of theater.

Martin Kleinman, a native New Yorker, who was born and raised in The Bronx, returned in 2010, after living in Manhattan, Jackson Heights and, for 25 years, in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Over the years, he has written a novel, screenplays and a recently published collection of New York-centric short fiction. Martin will read a short section from that collection, from the story called “Home Front.”

The Cell's Artistic Director, Kira Simring and Steven Simring — **The Cell’s Artistic Director, Kira Simring and Steven Simring**

Steve Simring is a forensic psychiatrist with more than a passing interest in theater. In his quest to understand his long deceased mother, he has attempted to channel her and explore her long and problematic marriage to his father. He’ll be doing just that on stage this Tuesday.

And maybe a short film and an additional song or two. So join us Tuesday, August 26, 7pm for a great night of entertainment and conviviality at The Cell Theatre, 338 W23rd St., NYC. See you there.

ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' FIRST ANNIVERSARY SHOWCASE at THE CELL, TUESDAY, 1/28/14

“What’s been needed so desperately is what AWOW gives us, a loving ear to witness. That room, that audience of art friends, people that really understand and want to see you express it. Wonderful!” Mary Tierney, actress

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And we expect more of that tomorrow night, Tuesday, January 28th, 7pm, at The Cell Theater in NYC.

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Nicholas Garr has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and around the U.S. in productions of A Streetcar Named Desire, A Doll’s House, Godspell, Brigadoon, Orpheus Descending, West Side Story, and Jerome Robbins’ Broadway. His television credits include Law and Order, Dream On, Another World, and Loving; and independent films Joey and Mike and Doctor’s Intentions. Nick is also the founder of City Theatre Project, a not for profit group, which teaches young teens theatre arts in the South Bronx. Nick will performing a piece titled “Action Hero” from his solo show Paper Tigers.

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Seanchai JimHawkins will be making his first appearance at an AWoW Showcase. Jim will be telling “The White Cat,” a story of one of Ireland’s great storytellers, Eamon Kelly, and singing a song “The Liar” that was written and sung by the great Tommy Makem of the “Clancy Brothers and Makem” fame. Jim will accompany the song on the Irish drum, more accurately known as a bodhran. (bow-ron)

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Actors Mary Tierney and DJ Sharp will be performing a scene from Joe Davidson’s play “Looking for Cans.” In the scene, the butler Phillip (DJ), is attempting to extort money from Ms. Wellsworth (Mary) through the revelation of a strange encounter thirty years earlier with a now homeless veteran. Joe’s play will be performed at both the Manhattan Veterans Hospital and Northport Veterans hospital and the ultimate goal is a fundraiser for the Wounded Warrior Project.

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One of the evening’s highlights is sure to be Afro-Peruvian guitarist Yuri Juarez, who will be joined by the great Peruvian percusionist Jhair Sala, one of the most sought after percusion players in the city. Yuri, who was named the 2009 Latin Jazz Guitar Player of the Year, has crafted a distinct approach to jazz harmony and improvisation, placing it carefully among Afro-Peruvian rhythms.

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Singer/songwriter Michael Brunnock and actor John Duddy, who is seamlessly making his way from being a champion boxer to a top notch actor, will be performing an excerpt from Michael’s highly anticipated new work, a musical drama highlighting the life and legacy of Irish Nationalist hero Roger Casement. Of his award winning album, Orchard, one reviewer said, “…encapsulated by the slow build-up of rich, warm harmonies, uplifting melodies, and beautiful folk instrumentation.”

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AWoW member Mary Lannon will be making her first reading in front of an AWoW audience. Mary will be reading from her finished, young adult novel An Explanation of the Fundamentals of the Derivation of Dilapidated Brown Station Wagon Theory aka How I Became A Scientist and Discovered the Truth About Getting Stuck in the Wrong Universe by Miranda J. McCleod (Yes, that is the title…I confirmed it…twice) and sharing a little about publication strategies.

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Actress Aedin Moloney, who has had great success in the last few years in her roles in Dancing at Lughnasa and Air Swimming, and most recently in her brilliantly reviewed A Most Dangerous Woman about the life of George Eliot, asked if her presentation could be a “bit of a surprise.” Why not? Whatever Aedin comes up with is bound to be incredibly special. We’re honored to have her.

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Aedin Moloney in "A Dangerous Woman." — **Aedin Moloney in “A Dangerous Woman.”**

And closing out what is sure to be a great evening will be actor and voiceover artist Andy Baldeschwiler. Andy’s recent stage credits include work with The Pearl Theatre Company, Shakespeare on the Sound, The Glass Eye, and the Accidental Shakespeare Company; he has also appeared in a few short films and web series. A lover of words and storytelling, Andy said “I’m excited to be sharing with the AWoW audience some humor and wit from one of my favorite writers.” Can you guess whom that might be?

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The fun begins at 7pm–please arrive on time–at The Cell Theater, 338 W23rd St., NYC. Hope to see you there.