Reviews

About Meredith
“I’ve wanted to be an actor since I was 4,” she said. “I fell madly in love with John Schneider (a.k.a. Bo Duke) … He was 19 at the time and beautiful. I decided that the only way I would ever get to meet him was to become an actor!”

Fortunately, she adds, it turned out that she actually really did like acting and being in plays, “and I’m not too shabby at it, either.”

Background
Attended SUNY Geneseo; bachelor of fine arts degree in acting from Adelphi University. She has appeared in or directed at least 20 shows in the past 10 to 12 years. One of her favorites is “Catholic School Girls.” She also wrote a play titled “The Hill of Victory.”

Hobbies and interests
Theater, writing, ballroom dancing, sewing, jewelry making, Zumba

In your own words
“The written word may move us, anger us, sadden us, or make us happy, but normally much less so than when we see the story happening in front of us. Theater allows us to relate to the characters, to feel for them, to imagine ourselves in their shoes … through mediums like theater, art and music we are able to relate to something outside our own egos and stay connected to the threads common to humanity across (most) cultures and languages.

“(In this show), I like having such a rich character to work with … she’s struggling with failed relationships and with the idea of where her place is in the world, where her “home” is … It’s just a joy to be in this production.”

THEATER: Rare Shakespeare (5/26-6/4) read city-news pic here

Hot tickets Written by Jeff Spevak D&C Staff music critic

The Multi-use Community Cultural Center, or MuCCC, as it’s fondly known, is in the midst of a two week celebration of is second anniversary. Here’s what’s coming up at the venue, and old church, at 142 Atlantic Ave.:

Performances of Tennessee Williams works benefit MuCCC

Daily News Online

ROCHESTER — A two-day celebration of Tennessee Williams’ birth will also serve as a benefit for the Multi-use Community Cultural Center, or MuCCC, a volunteer-run Rochester theater space used by multiple groups of performers.

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 tonight and Saturday at MuCCC, 142 Atlantic Ave.

March 26th is centenary of Tennessee Williams Birth. In celebration, actors for John W. Borek presented, will offer two staged readings of later, lesser-known works from Williams.

“In the Bar of a Tokyo Hotel” directed by Michael H. Arve , Friday, March 25th 7:30 PM. The play centers around a painter living in a hotel in, of course, Tokyo, who is desperately trying to reclaim his talent and his wife who is equally desperately trying to figure out a means of escape.

“In the Bar” opened at the off-Broadway Eastside Playhouse on the Upper East Side on May 11, 1969. Its cast included Donald Madden, Anne Meacham and Lester Rawlins.

Clive Barnes said in his New York Times review ” “The play seems almost too personal, and as a result too painful…This is Mr. William’s sad bird of loneliness…there is gold, gossamer and fire here…”

On Saturday, March 26th, on Mr. Williams 100th birthday, Meredith Powell will direct one of Mr. Williams best received later plays, “Small Craft Warnings,” a play that intertwines the lives of a group of itinerants in a Southern California Coastal Town. During the original New York run of this play, Mr. Williams took over the role of Doc, and Candy Darling, an ethereal blonde transsexual performer from the Warhol stable of superstars, played the role of Violet, a bewitching, trampy girl whom most of the male characters desire. Once again quoting Clive Barnes, ” I suspect it may survive better than some of the much touted products of his salad years.”

After each performance, there will be an open discussion of both the play and Mr. Williams’s work. After the Saturday, March 26th performance the company will sing Happy Birthday to Mr. Williams, serve cake, and have a Stella yelling contest with a special prize for the most convincing

Tickets available on line at www.muccc.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRRC’S BERMUDA AVENUE TRIANGLE WINS TANYS MERIT AWARDS MARCH 21, 2011

GRRC (Greater Rochester repertory Companies, Inc.) has been awarded 4 TANYS (Theatre Association of New York State) acting Merit Awards for their production of BERMUDA AVENUE TRIANGLE directed by Dr. Allan O’Grady Cuseo.

Joyce Szatkowski (Irondequoit) and Diane Chevron (Rochester) received Excellence in Acting Awards. Greg Ludek (Greece) received a Meritorious Achievement in Acting Award. Jack Simel (Rochester), Mary Quinlan (Brighton) and Rochelle Pray (Henrietta) were honored with a Meritorious Achievement in Ensemble Acting award.

PHOTO ATTACHED: l-r Top Row: Jack Simel, Mary Quinlan, Rochelle Pray

Front Row: Joyce Szatkowski, Greg Ludek, Diane Chevron

Improv comedy everywhere Posted by Ralph Meranto • February 26, 2011 • 10:18 am”Last night I watched a performance of Marc D’Amico and Beth Winslow in The Man Shee Chronicles at MUCCC on Atlantic Ave. It was the funniest and best crafted Improv I have ever seen in my life….”

Marc D’Amico and Beth Winslow dish it out in the ‘ManShee Chronicles’- D&C article

Stasz / Pruitt Productions Pumps Deflowering Waldo TV interview

by Brad Files

“Young Prince Hal” opens Wednesday

D&C December 19, 2010

from the dailynewsonline:

YOUNG PRINCE HAL: SHAKESPEARE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES: Through Dec. 28 at Multi-use Community Cultural Center, 142 Atlantic Ave., Rochester. The Shakespeare Company of Greater Rochester presents an original adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Henry IV, part one,” for young audiences. Running time is 1 hour. For times and ticket information, go to www.ShakeCo.com or www.muccc.org.

Finally, a ‘talk show’ worth catching

Jeff Spevak • D&C music critic • December 16, 2010

TV talk shows were once the essence of coolness. Miché Fambro, who is 54, certainly remembers the intellectualism of the imp Dick Cavett or the late-night edge of Tom Snyder, chatting about real things with real interesting people. If the guest was a musician, there’d be some music.

You know the talk format now. They all use it, sitting behind that big desk, acting like they’re provocative without actually being provocative. Or interesting. Or intellectually stimulating. “What talk shows have become is not people talking to each other, but promoting what they’re doing,” Fambro says. “They’re not providing insight.”

To combat this fatigue in his own small way, Fambro presents another edition of The Miché Fambro Show. The pair of shows Friday and Saturday will be live, although witnessed only by the audience at the MuCCC, the charming old former church in University Avenue’s Neighborhood of the Arts.

This weekend’s guests include Curtis Kendrick, the drummer and leader of Cabo Frio, the Rochester jazz-fusion group that came close to breaking big nationally a couple of decades ago. He’ll also be joined by the Present Tense Dance troupe and Glenn McClure, a hammered dulcimer player and composer who Fambro calls “a world traveler for the arts.” Suzi Willpower, a singer with the local band Velveteen Fox, will be on hand as much for uninhibited personality as her voice, alongside a fellow named Greg Fiorino, recruited pretty much solely for his uninhibited personality. As Fambro concedes: “These people know how to have fun.”

None of the guests is even remotely connected to each other — and that’s the point.

“I found there wasn’t a lot of cross-section in the arts,” Fambro says. “People in the music community were not aware of people in the acting community. The idea is to sort of put these folks together, and try to have some fun together.

“We’re all kind of out of our element. I don’t know anything about being a talk-show host; I don’t have any experience in broadcasting. You don’t want to think about this stuff too much. Because you always come up with some reason it can’t be done, it shouldn’t be done. continued…..

‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ almost sold out

Comedy features charming, murderous old ladies

December 2, 2010 democratandchronicle

‘Arsenic & Old Lace’ opens Thursday

The Daily News

‘The Zoo Story’ and ‘Miss Mary Dugan’ open Oct. 13 at MuCCC in Rochester

By L. David Wheeler, staff writer Messenger Post

THEATER: Fall performances (October)

Rochester CITY news – Edward Albee’s ”The Zoo Story” is paired with Manuel Igrejas’ ”Miss Mary Dugan” for five performances at the MuCCC (142 Atlantic Ave), Wednesday, October 13, through Sunday, October 17. The former play describes an unlikely interaction of opposites and a gradual shift during on a sunny day in Central Park, the latter focuses on the fabulous parties but lonely life of Mary Dugan, who has a crush on his handsome, mysterious neighbor, and must choose between the fantasy and the reality of a relationship. For tickets and more information, call 234-1254, or visit muccc.org. Wednesday’s performance is “pay what you can,” after that tickets cost $15 prepaid or $18-$20 at the door.

‘Dreamland Bus’ play has Sunday reading-dailynewsonline

Take a ride on ‘The Dreamland Bus’ Sunday at the MuCCC in Rochester Messenger Post

CITY CHOICE Theater: “Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom” (Through 9/25)

By Caitlin Shapiro on September 15, 2010

Zombie game thriller opens Method Machine stage season

thedailynewsonline.com

Rochester’s theater season full of traditional and off-beat works

Stuart Low • Staff writer • September 19, 2010

O nstage: Neighborhood 3: The Requisition (YNN)

The difference between what’s real and what isn’t is hard to define in Neighborhood 3: The Requisition. Jennifer Haley’s play is set in a suburban subdivision of identical houses.When neighborhood teenagers become addicted to an online horror video game with the same settings, fear sets in. David Henderson directs Method Machine’s rendition of Neighborhood 3.

“It’s all very much stereotypes: teens and parents that we all know and love, and hate. But it really uses extreme circumstances to bring out the drama, and sort of the obsession that teens can get video gaming and online,” said Henderson.

The show previews this weekend at Multi-Use Cultural Center on Atlantic Avenue in Rochester. It also runs the next two weekends. Performances begin at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights.

CITY FALL GUIDE 2010: Theater season listings

Plays from — and about — 1919 at the MuCCC

2010 Break a Leg Flyer

Read Thomas Warfield’s D&C Blog about The Boys in the Band HERE

‘The Boys in the Band’ opens at MuCCC

By L. David Wheeler, staff writer

Messenger Post

Posted Jul 28, 2010 @ 08:31 PM

He’s in the ‘Band’- Jason Juliano gets serious for role in groundbreaking play

By Ben Beagle bbeagle@batavianews.com |

watch CW 13-tv interview here

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is being performed at MuCCC in Rochester this weekend.

John Murphy, the musical director, and Audra Cramer, who plays Rona Lisa Peretti, joined us on the News 8 at Noon on Wednesday.

WATCH TV-8 Interview Here

Timeless “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” is Onstage Now (YNN)

CITY Newspaper

THEATER REVIEW: “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”By Eric Rezsnyak on June 22, 2010

Discover the value of local theater- read the letter to the editor by HENRY SCOVEL STEWART

GRRC opens Albee’s ‘Virginia Woolf’ on Thursday- Daily News Online

‘Bash’ play gives violence a face and voice MPN Now

Stage shows galore this summer

STAFF REPORTS • MAY 28, 2010

D&C Theatre Blog by Ralph Meranto

What is art? John Borek thinks he

has the answer

John Borek has launched an art movement.

Sort of. You decide.

JEFF SPEVAK • STAFF MUSIC CRITIC • MAY 23, 2010 Conceptual artist John Borek, 61, standing in his Rochester home, addresses the age-old question, what is art, with his projects. He says his conceptual-art credo is, “Think the illogical through to the logical.” (CARLOS ORTIZ staff photographer)

DOWNLOADING THE PROFESSOR OF RAP: THE ALBUM IS FREE UNTIL MAY 28TH!

‘Shakespeare’s Romances’ — Four readings from the Bard at MuCCC

By L. David Wheeler, staff writerMessenger PostPosted May 20, 2010 @ 04:43 PMRochester, N.Y. —

As a birthday gift to himself — and to the community — John Borek is producing a weekend of Shakespeare romances at the Multi-use Community Cultural Center, where he’s director of artist development.

Four directors and casts will present staged readings of the Bard’s four final plays Friday through Sunday at the MuCCC: “4 From the Bard: Shakespeare’s Romances.” They’ll present various interpretations, from a straight reading of “The Tempest” directed by Michael Arvé to an adaptation of “The Winter’s Tale” from area performance group Soy Lo Que Soy; some in full and some with cuts for time and clarity.

These plays were mostly classified as “tragedies” at the time, though later Shakespearean scholars consider them “romances” due to a number of common factors, including elements of the fantastic, a plotline that leads to redemption and reconciliation, and a lyrical nature.

continued……

CITY Choice Event THEATER:

Shakespeare Marathon Weekend (5/21-23)

Political farce from David Mamet in final weekend

Watch 1 minute trailer video for “November” at MuCCC HERE

Presidential politics in play in MuCCC production

ON STAGE: A capsule look at area theater shows

A small price to pay to preserve the spirit of community

POSTED BY JEFF SPEVAK • APRIL 21, 2010 • 11:32 AM

Enjoy the new venues for stage shows D&C

Community theaters find audiences, volunteers

Stuart Low – MATT WITTMEYER staff photographer,

2 top local actors share commitment to their craft Stuart Low – Staff writer

Community theaters find audiences, volunteers

Stuart Low

read the MPN story By Staff reports Messenger Post Posted Mar 25, 2010 @ 10:24 PM

ON STAGE: ‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’ at MuCCC

For Penfield alumni, a ‘Primeval’ reunion

By L. David Wheeler, staff writerMessenger Post

Mature & Provocative II

Craig Thornton

Craig Thornton, a playwright from Watertown, found inspiration for his comedy “The Sweet Life” from a visit to Oliver’s Candies in Batavia. The play gets a staged reading Sunday in Rochester.

By Ben Beagle bbeagle@batavianews.com

Review: ‘Moose Murders’ good for silly laughs

JEFF SPEVAK • D&C STAFF MUSIC CRITIC • FEBRUARY 21, 2010

A “cool space for cool people” celebrates an anniversary

Posted at: 02/19/2010 2:25 PM | Updated at: 02/19/2010 8:53 PM
By: Janet Lomax | WHEC.com

A year ago Douglas Rice decided to renovate an old church on Atlantic Avenue into a theatre.

He says “what we wanted to do was create a cool space for cool people to do cool things in the creative arts community”.

Of ‘Moose’ and mirth: an Arthur Bicknell celebration at MuCCC

By L. David Wheeler, staff writer

Messenger Post

Posted Feb 17, 2010 @ 06:22 PM

Two locals add songs to turn Broadway bomb into camp JEFF SPEVAK • STAFF MUSIC CRITIC • D&C FEBRUARY 11, 2010

One of the oddest theater stories of the millennium soon returns in a weekend dubbed “What is Art?” Each night revolves around readings of three plays by Art himself, Arthur Bicknell, at the South Wedge theater MuCCC. What is Art? will debut on Feb. 19, followed by Moose Murders on Feb. 20 and My Great Dead Sister on Feb. 21. continued…..

PHOTO: Anthony Lovenheim Irwin, left, and Joe Fox-Boyd wrote music for the revived play Moose Murders. (ANNETTE DRAGON)

Controversial and lauded ‘Spring Awakening’ opening at Auditorium Theatre

Based on banned play, lauded musical ‘Spring Awakening’ brings young rebels to Auditorium stage

STUART LOW • STAFF WRITER • FEBRUARY 7, 2010

MPN ARTICLE- SPRING IT ON!

A commitment to his craft Rochester-area theater veteran honored at TANYS Festival

Michael H. Arve, director of development for the Greater Rochester Repertory Companies Inc., has been awarded the Mary Eva Duthie Award for outstanding contributions to theater in New York State.

TANYS Endowment Awards

Community Service Award, Douglas Rice, for renovating a former church into the MuCCC Theater (Multi-Use Community Cultural Center), 142 Atlantic Ave., Rochester.

PROFILE: Pandora Boxx

By Eric Rezsnyak on January 26, 2010

Marriage spoof ‘Ping’ opens Thursday (D&C)

listen to act 1 of James Howard Kunstler’s “Big Slide” performed at MuCCC by GRRC

James Howard Kunstler’s “Big Slide” was first performed as a staged reading on January 9, 2010 in Rochester, NY, as part of the Multi-use Community Cultural Center’s American Playwright series. HTTP://MUCCC.ORG To see Mr Kunstlers page of that performance, click HERE

Wonder of the World in MPN Now

Stasz/Pruitt Wonder of the World on WROC-TV story and video

TANYS awards 2009 in Daily News Online

MuCCC 2010 WinterSeason

MPN interview with James Howard Kunstler

Big Slide in Batavia Daily News

The year in A&E: 2009 By L. David Wheeler, staff writer Daily Messenger excerpt:

For small performance groups, a new go-to spot

WHAT’S UP? A new venue for area performance groups — particularly those without a home of their own — opened up in March, when Doug Rice converted an old Rochester church into a theater. The “Multi-use Community Cultural Center” (MuCCC), at 142 Atlantic Ave., has hosted theatrical performances from the likes of Method Machine, Geomantics Dance Theater and the Greater Rochester Repertory Companies, as well as readings, concerts and improv comedy. According to John Borek, director of artist development, the MuCCC has hosted 16 companies since it opened.See Messenger article from March 2009 .

WHAT’S BEEN Built in 1887 as the East Rochester Baptist Mission, the building later became a Baptist Church and, in the 1970s, the Prayer House Church of God by Faith. The congregation eventually outgrew the building; Rice — stepping down as ArtWalk director after a decade — bought it and quickly renovated the building. Method Machine inaugurated the venue March 14 with its one-woman play “Edge,” starring Marcy Savastano as troubled poet Sylvia Plath. Rice recently was recognized by the Theater Association of New York State with the Outstanding Community Service award, only the fifth time the award has been given in more than 50 years.

WHAT’S NEXT? Author James Howard Kunstler will introduce a staged reading of his “Big Slice” Jan. 9 as the MuCCC continues its American Playwrights Series. Also coming up: a fully staged presentation of Nancy Pres-ton Stark’s “Ping” by GRRC; and the Post Capitalist Art Festival presenting “Moose Murders,” billed as the worst-reviewed play ever.

ART REVIEW: Rochester Contemporary Members Exhibition (CITY newspaper)

–

GRRC (Greater Rochester Repertory Companies, Inc.) announces that Diane Chevron and Dr. Allan O’Grady Cuseo have been recognized for their stellar work in the GRRC production of LOVE LETTERS. The production was directed by Michael H. Arve

Excellence in Ensemble Acting Award has been presented by TANYS Roving Adjudicator to Diane Chevron as Melissa Gardner and Allan O’Grady Cuseo as Andrew Makepeace Ladd III. She had this to say about their performances: “Diane Chevron and Alan O’Grady Cuseo brought A. R. Gurney’s Love Letters to life with compassion and dignity. These two talented actors swept the audience into the lives of the characters with their hearts, voices and facial expressions. Ms. Chevon and Dr. Cuseo should work together more often.”

photo credit: Gerry Szymanski

For further information please contact:

Michael H. Arve

CITY newspaper reviews “CLOSER”

MuCCC founder Doug Rice awarded TANYS award

TANYS Awards Community Service Award to Douglas Rice

Doug Rice, the founder of ARTWalk, an award-winning outdoor art museum in

Rochester, New York, has received the Theater Association of New

York State Award for Community Service for his latest arts enterprise, the MuCCC Theater (Multi-Use Community Cultural Center) at 142

Atlantic Avenue, Rochester, New York. The award is given to someone in the State of New York who has done outstanding work to further the growth of community theatre in New York State. This is only the fifth time in the Theater Association’s more than fifty year history that the award has been given.

Since March 2009, the MuCCC has presented the works of 14

theater or performance companies. Among companies who have

received recognition for the work mounted at MuCCC are GRRC

(Greater Rochester Repertory Company), Method Machine and

Geomantics Dance Theater.

• Method Machine opens its run of Patrick Marber’s “Closer” at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, at the Multi-use Community Cultural Center (MuCCC), 142 Atlantic Ave., Rochester. An exploration of the struggle for intimacy, it tells the story of four people — played by Jonathan Ntheketha, Marcy Savastano, Jill Rittinger and Michael Francis O’Connor — whose lives intertwine over four years. It’s performed in the round and directed by David Henderson. Upcoming shows are 8 p.m. Dec. 4-5 and 10-12, with a 2 p.m. show Dec. 6. Thursday’s preview performance is pay-what-you-can; the others are $20 ($10 students/seniors). Details: www.methodmachine.org.

• St. Fortune Productions, a new performance company, will present “Strychnine” — billed as “a Neon Science Thriller Comedy” at 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, and Monday, Dec. 7, in the MuCCC, 142 Atlantic Ave., Rochester. (Next weekend, Dec. 13-15, it moves to the VIP studios in the Village Gate Square, 274 N. Goodman St., Rochester.) According to St. Fortune, it’s set in The Lone Star bar in the middle of nowhere, Texas, where two troubled, complex men find the Heart of the Stars in a woman “who is totally an alien.” Written by Janszoon Gasper and directed by Gavin Price, it stars Jamal Abunnasir, Jeff Andrews, Norma Butikofer and John Thompson. Admission: $10 ($7 students/seniors). Details: www.stfortuneproductions.com

http://www.mpnnow.com/entertainment/x1682948519/ON-STAGE-Whats-opening-this-weekend-at-area-theaters

GRRC’s MICHAEL ARVE Receives TANYS award press release

TRUE WEST WINS ACTING AWARDS AT FESTIVAL 2009

GRRC’s highly praised and critically well reviewed production of TRUE WEST was given even more praise this past week-end at the TANYS Festival 2009. GRRC announces that Louie Podlaski and Jeff Zielinski were both honored with OUTSTANDING acting awards as well as being voted “audience favorites” for their brilliant portrayals of Lee and Austin in Sam Shepard’s harrowing TRUE WEST.

The production had already been honored by TANYS in June when it was first presented. Excellence in Acting Awards and a Meretorious Direction Award for Michael H. Arve were bestowed on the company.

TRUE WEST then became eligible to be considered for Festival and on November 1st was chosen from a very large field to be one of 7 productions from across New York State to perform at Festival and be adjudicated by Nationally renowned adjudicator, Steven Willis.

Please contact Michael H. Arve for further information.

MuCCC to accept TANYS “Special Service” award Nov 21, 2009 at the TANYS annual convention held this year in Batavia. This award is given to people or organizations who have contributed greatly to the improvement of Community Theatre in the State of New York.

TANYS Festival 2009- Welcome to “50 Years of Festival!” TANYS is excited to be celebrating 50 years of theatre festivals in New York State November 20, 21, 22, 2009 at Genesee Community College in Batavia, NY. Michael Park will be our celebrity chair. Join us for great theatre, BMI Technical Design Competition, workshops and much, much more. Become an Early Bird and save until October 15th. See you at Festival! More info click here

October 5, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TWO GRRC PLAYS BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR TANYS FESTIVAL 2009

GRRC has been informed that two of their productions from their 2009 season have become eligible for inclusion in this year’s TANYS FESTIVAL 2009 – 50 YEARS OF FESTIVAL.

The productions are Sam Shepard’s TRUE WEST and Maxim Mazumdar’s OSCAR REMEMBERED, which were, performed this past June and September, respectively in Rochester’s newest performance space MuCCC.

Erik Resnyak of City Newspaper had this to say about TRUE WEST “…….is a smart, sometimes funny, ultimately brutal play brought to life through equally smart staging and a fantastic cast.” Of Louie Podlaski’s performance as Lee, he said: “ I can’t imagine Lee portrayed any other way.” He was equally impressed wiith Jeff Zielinski’s performance as Austin and he found that

Zielinski’s acting was “……totally captivating, and felt true, not like fiction at all. Zielinski carried that level of craft throughout the play,

The production received production and acting awards from TANYS.

Maxim Mazumdar’s one man examination of the life of Oscar Wilde as told through the eyes of Lord Alfred Douglas”was also honored with an OUTSTANDING actor merit award for Kevin Indovino as well as an Excellence in direction nod for Michael H. Arve

During the Festival window TANYS adjudicates over 150 show across the state and then the adjudicators choose the eligible groups and then narrow those down to between 7 and 8 shows to be performed at their annual festival. Those 7 or will be chose on November 1, 2009.

This year’s Festival will be held at GCC’s(Genesee Community College) STUART STEINER theatre in Batavia

November 20 – 22. Broadway and Television Actor and former Rochester resident Michael Park is this year’s “celebrity host”.

Production photos available on request.

–

CITY Newspaper LITERARY EVENTS: Poetry Reading (10/3)

By Jen Graney on September 30, 2009

And if you miss the Poetry Connection, there’s another poetry open mic you might want to catch. ImageArt’s Open Mic Poetry and Art Auction event takes place Saurday, October 3, at MuCCC (142 Atlantic Ave). The open mic runs 7-9 p.m., and the art auction follows 9-10 p.m. One audience choice award of $200 will be given to one of the poets. Seeimageout.com for details on how to enter.

View YNN News Story on Rochester Stories:

Rochester Stories, Told Through Acting, Dance, Film By: Chelsea Eggleston

A local theatre company’s upcoming performances celebrate Rochester and its 175th anniversary.

The Flour City Theatre Company presents ‘Can of Worms: Rochester Stories.’ It features references to Rochester culture, including the traffic on I-490 and the city’s most famous dish, The Garbage Plate.

“There’s so much to write about and be inspired by,” said performer Ruth Childs. “I’ve just lived in Rochester for 8 years, but it’s been a really great place for me to work as an artist, live and raise a family, so I don’t think people had trouble coming up with something to write about.”

To learn more about the city, its people and stories, you can catch ‘Can of Worms’ ?Friday and Saturday night and next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 7:30 p.m.

All shows are at MuCCC at 175 atlantic Avenue.

Call (585) 732-4709 for more information or click on the link below.

Flour City Theatre Company

THEATER: “Can of Worms” CITY Choice Event (9/24-10/2) read the city choice listing here

Our fair city continues to celebrate its 175th anniversary with various events and exhibits around town. The local Flour City Theatre Company gets in on the action with an evening of theater, dance, and film. “Can of Worms: Rochester Stories” consists of three short plays, two short dance pieces, two short films, and three songs, each written or developed by a Rochesterian, or related to Rochester in some way.

“Can of Worms: Rochester Stories” will be staged Thursday-Saturday, September 24-26, and Wednesday-Friday, September 30-October 2. All shows start at 7:30 p.m. at MuCCC (142 Atlantic Ave). Tickets cost $15, $10 for students with ID. Go to muccc.org or go to flourcitytheatre.orgfor more info.

See the D&C’s “Panorama” on MuCCC click here

Playwright-publicist talks shop in discussion series

Friday, September 4, 2009 5:18 AM EDT

ROCHESTER — Manuel Igrejas, who has had careers as both a playwright and theater publicist, will share his experiences as part of a discussion series at the MuCC Theater, 142 Atlantic Ave. His progam is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/articles/2009/09/04/entertainment/doc4aa04fa80645d266127021.txt

SANKOFA Theatre Festival 8/21/2009 CITY newspaper Choice Event

CITY CHOICE:

THEATER: “Ping” (8/17-8/18)

http://rochestercitynewspaper.com/events/choice/2009/08/THEATER-Ping-8-17-8-18/

By Kathy Laluk on August 12, 2009

“Ping” will be performed Monday, August 17 and Tuesday, August 18 at MuCCC.

Greater Rochester Repertory Companies combines both the comedy and the drama of modern-day relationships for its latest production, a staged reading of the play “Ping” by Nancy Preston Stark. Following on the heels of the popular show “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” (which played for an unprecedented eight years at the Downstairs Cabaret Theatre), “Ping” tells the story of Edith, a married women who runs to her divorcee neighbor/best friend, Lil, when she starts having problems with her husband Dick and his, well, dick.

The staged reading is a benefit for the MuCCC space, and features Denise Bartalo, Diane Chevron, and Peter Elliot and will be performed Monday, August 17, and Tuesday, August 18, at MuCCC, 142 Atlantic Ave. The first performance is already sold out, so reserve your tickets now by calling 234-1254. For more info, visit muccc.org.

VIDEO: Fairport production of ‘Rent’ opens Wednesday

By Denise M. Champagne, staff writer

Fairport-ER Post

Posted Jul 28, 2009 @ 09:25 AM

The production of “Rent” by Fairport Summer Performing Arts has a new look and will open tonight at the Multi-use Cultural Community Center (MuCCC) in Rochester. continued at this link:

http://www.mpnnow.com/towns/fairport/x1543603781/VIDEO-Fairport-production-of-Rent-opens-Wednesday

Worth going: ‘Rent’

JULY 18, 2009 Fairport Summer Performing Arts finally has found a venue for its production of the musical Rent. The new Multi-use Community Cultural Center (MuCCC) at 142 Atlantic Ave. will host the show at 7:30 p.m. July 29 to Aug. 1. Previous musicals by Fairport Summer Performing Arts were held at Fairport schools, and organizer Linda Murphy had hoped the same for Rent despite its controversial content. The musical updates the opera La Boheme with contemporary themes of drug use, homosexuality and AIDS.

Murphy’s group intended to use a toned-down version, but Fairport school authorities still felt it was inappropriate for a district facility, and was counter to the mission of the program.

MuCCC founder Doug Rice met with officials from Fairport Summer Performing Arts and arranged for the upcoming performances. “It’s a great partnership,” he says.

continued at http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200907180300/LIVING/907180314

June 24 True West

http://rochestercitynewspaper.com/entertainment/stage/2009/06/THEATER-REVIEW-True-West/

Local Students Write about Prejudice Reported by: WROC-TV Monday, Jun 8, 2009 @08:15am EDT

Some local high school students have been recognized for sorting out their differences.
It was all part of the the James Rice Memorial Essay Contest. Teenagers were asked how they would try to put an end to prejudice.
Former Contest Judge Naresh K. Chawba says,” We try to teach peace and live together. We can always find a common ground with everybody and get along in life. We try to put this in the childrens’ minds, highschool children because if they learn they can propagate the idea because they are the future of any nation any community.”
Five area students were recognized for their essays on stopping prejudice. They were from Brighton, Webster-Schroeder and Fairport high schools.

June 16, 2009 at 11:45am DANCE: Geomantics Dance Theatre’s “Your Life Is Not Your Own”

http://rochestercitynewspaper.com/events/blog/2009/06/DANCE-Geomantics-Dance-Theatres-Your-Life-Is-Not-Your-Own/

Listen to “Pantheon’s Edge” playwright M. Allan Davis on the Bob Smith-1370 Connection radio program, wxxi 1370 am, Tuesday May 19 at 12 noon.

‘A Little Happy Mess’

Local playwrights think new show will resonate with 20-somethings

Emily Shearing
Metromix
April 23, 2009

Happy Little Mess

Reported by: WROC-TV
Tuesday, Apr 21, 2009 @01:00pm EST

EDGE:

THEATER REVIEW: “Edge” Indicting the world with her work

http://www.scene4.com/archivesqv6/may-2009/html/nedbobkoff0509.html

Recession can’t close curtain on four Rochester-area theater projects