In 1996, Ms Fiordellis, founder and Artistic Director of the producing company Cherry Lane Alternatives, revived The Cherry Lane, which was teetering on extinction. She stepped in where angels fear to tread, preserved the building, its storied and detailed history and founded the producing company, Cherry Lane Alternative, creating a number of innovative programs and partnerships to keep the doors open and launch the next generation of American playwrights. Her efforts have been nothing less than heroic.
To celebrate the 90th season Ms. Fiordellisi says, “We’ve chosen, To The Bone, by Lisa Ramirez, because it fits today’s needs for today’s audiences. Ms Ramirez, the author of the successful Off-Broadway production, Exit Cuckoo, has written a contemporary American drama about Latina immigrant poultry workers in the U.S. In the spirit of John Steinbeck’s, Of Mice and Men, it will give audiences a look inside the lives of the invisible work force that puts food on our tables. The work was inspired by interviews Lisa Ramirez conducted during a six-month period in New York State’s Sullivan County. The play will be directed by Lisa Peterson.”
Ms. Fiordellisi went on to say that she had, “chosen Lisa because of her special feeling for exposing the raw human condition with delicacy and consideration for the characters that she was responsible for. Her talent has shown in successful Off-Broadway productions including, An Iliad, by Denis O’Hare, Shipwrecked, by Donald Margulies and, Slavs! by Tony Kushner. Ms Fiordellisi continued, “This production carries on the Theatre’s time honored tradition of developing stage worthy plays.”
And a long tradition it is. Back in the day, I remember seeing a number of Sean O’ Casey plays featuring the Clancy brothers, who went on to become world-class folk singers. Irish tunes will always get ya and they were among the best at it. The Cherry Lane has long been a theatre landmark housing dramatic treasures dating back to the 20’s: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, Beckett, Albee, Pinter and many more.
To the Bone, is being presented as part of the second annual Theater: Village Festival, which presents a series of new plays in prominent West Village theaters. They are based around one playwright or a common theme. The collaborating partners for Theater: Village, along with the Cherry Lane are The Axis Company, The Ohio Theatre and The Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre. The plays will be presented under the title E PLURIBUS with the four plays celebrating the diversity of America. Angelina Fiordellisi proudly said, “Once again The Cherry Lane will be the designation for the new, cutting edge drama that will resonate, inspire and engage Village and then national audiences.”
The Cherry Lane Theatre is at 38 Commerce in the heart of Greenwich Village. “To The Bone,” is set to start previews on Sept 9th with opening night on Sept 17th. The production runs through Oct 4th.
Tickets are available at: www.cherrylanetheatre.org as well as Ovationtix.com, 866-817 -4111, or through http://www.theatrevillage.com .
The tickets range in price from $10-$40. There are also special packages for the four Theatre: Village plays for $95. One free ticket to preview performances (Sept 9 – 15), pending ticket availability, with valid 10014 ID, presented at the box office.
