26 Westwood Dr
In Production Now
Screen Play Awards
The Entertainer by John Osborne – June 2017
Meet Me In St. Louis - September 2017
About Screen Plays
What began as a love of classic Hollywood films is now a new, classical theater production company. Producer Karen Tuccio brings more than a decade of local theater and film experience to this exciting venture. Her company presents plays from Hollywood's Golden Age that were adapted into feature films. Past productions include: Desk Set, The 39 Steps – A live radio play, Parfumerie, Vintage Hitchcock, The Man Who Came to Dinner and Vivien Leigh: The Last Press Conference.
The Artistic Team
Marcy J. Savastano
(Linda) is delighted to be working with such a terrific group of individuals on her second production with Screen Plays (Vivien in Vivien Leigh: The Last Press Conference). Regional: Death of a Salesman (Geva Theatre Center) and All's Well in the Kingdom of Nice (Geva's Nextstage). Other theatre: Harper in Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Perestroika, Sylvia Plath...
(Linda) is delighted to be working with such a terrific group of individuals on her second production with Screen Plays (Vivien in Vivien Leigh: The Last Press Conference). Regional: Death of a Salesman (Geva Theatre Center) and All's Well in the Kingdom of Nice (Geva's Nextstage). Other theatre: Harper in Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Perestroika, Sylvia Plath in EDGE, and Alice in Closer with METHOD MACHINE; Alice in The Drowning Girls and Peaches / Sweetheart / Superkyle in Exit, Pursued by a Bear (Lady Parts Theatre Co.); Andy in Somewhere Under Wonderland with DVC; Callie in Stop Kiss (Out of Pocket Productions); Jackie in Hot L Baltimore (Blackfriars Theatre); Hamlet in Same Sex Shakespeare (The Shakespeare Players of Rochester). Film: Coming Home, AFTER, Fury. TV: "Modern Love (pilot),""Serial Killers: Arthur Shawcross." Marcy would like to thank family and friends for their inspiration and support.
Sean Michael Smith
(Johnny) is an actor and producer at Hearing Damage Studios. Smith recently received the Outstanding Achievement in Acting Award from the Theatre Association of New York State for his role in Gothic Tale. A proud Rochester native, Smith is also a trained Stanislavski method actor, who over the years, has worked on 32 films, 21 theatrical productions, 38 musical releases, and...
(Johnny) is an actor and producer at Hearing Damage Studios. Smith recently received the Outstanding Achievement in Acting Award from the Theatre Association of New York State for his role in Gothic Tale. A proud Rochester native, Smith is also a trained Stanislavski method actor, who over the years, has worked on 32 films, 21 theatrical productions, 38 musical releases, and several animated programs/ films. Currently Smith sings for a London based band called Azedia, and is directing a feature length film. His last film, Love Happened is still on a worldwide film festival circuit.
Sammi Cohen
(Julia) is delighted to be making her Screen Plays debut in Holiday! Other area stage credits include Beehive, the 60's Musical with Blackfriars Theatre, Handle With Care (Ayelet) with JCC CenterStage,
ROOMS: a rock romance (Monica) and Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Yischak) at the Rochester Fringe Festival, Disney's My Son Pinocchio (Blue Fairy) with TYKEs, and numerous productions with ...
ROOMS: a rock romance (Monica) and Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Yischak) at the Rochester Fringe Festival, Disney's My Son Pinocchio (Blue Fairy) with TYKEs, and numerous productions with DEEP Arts (formerly Rochester Children's Theatre), including the two Rochester workshops of Moses Man at the JCC and at Geva Theatre Center. Sammi holds a B.A. in Theatre Performance from Wagner College, where she appeared in The 25th Annual... Spelling Bee (Rona Lisa Peretti) and Disney's Beauty & the Beast (Mrs. Potts). When she isn't performing, Sammi runs a retro-inspired style blog called The Soubrette Brunette. For more, please visit www. sammicohen.com.
Bill Alden
(Edward) After 35 years directing local television and raising a family in Geneseo, Bill is now retired and has been seen around the Rochester theatre scene for the last few years. He is coming directly from the TANYS Festival, where he portrayed Mr. Raymond in The Receptionist, which earned him the Best Long Performance award. In 2015 he returned to the Irish International Theatre...
(Edward) After 35 years directing local television and raising a family in Geneseo, Bill is now retired and has been seen around the Rochester theatre scene for the last few years. He is coming directly from the TANYS Festival, where he portrayed Mr. Raymond in The Receptionist, which earned him the Best Long Performance award. In 2015 he returned to the Irish International Theatre Festival and won best actor for his portrayal of Bull McCabe in The Field. Last year he received the best supporting actor award for John in Shining City. Other recent roles include: Gloucester in King Lear, Bottom in Midsummer Night's Dream and Brutus in Julius Caesar with the Rochester Shakespeare Players. Bill is delighted to be joining this wonderful cast and taking part in his first production with Screen Plays. He would like to thank his beautiful wife Amie and daughters Brandy and Kristina for putting up with his "dramatics" all these years.
Tyler Lucero
(Ned) has enjoyed the continuing challenge of being cast against type in his debut with Screen Plays, having recently played Death (Death Takes a Holiday, First Light Players), a con-artist's accomplice (Sam Nightingale, Leap of Faith, FLP), and a young Irish thug (Tadhg, The Field, Irish Players of Rochester). In real life, he is trained as a geologist, historian, and teacher, and...
(Ned) has enjoyed the continuing challenge of being cast against type in his debut with Screen Plays, having recently played Death (Death Takes a Holiday, First Light Players), a con-artist's accomplice (Sam Nightingale, Leap of Faith, FLP), and a young Irish thug (Tadhg, The Field, Irish Players of Rochester). In real life, he is trained as a geologist, historian, and teacher, and works daily with young people in an outdoor classroom as a naturalist-educator at Helmer Nature Center in Irondequoit.
Nancy K. Fancher
(Susan) is a native of Western New York, Nancy studied dance and psychology at Keuka College and SUNY Brockport. She has taken on nearly every job in the theatre over the past few decades with numerous organizations, primarily in the Northeastern US. As an artist particularly enamored with the creative process, she gravitates toward new or seldom performed works and is thrilled...
(Susan) is a native of Western New York, Nancy studied dance and psychology at Keuka College and SUNY Brockport. She has taken on nearly every job in the theatre over the past few decades with numerous organizations, primarily in the Northeastern US. As an artist particularly enamored with the creative process, she gravitates toward new or seldom performed works and is thrilled to be making her Screen Plays debut in this production of Holiday. Among her favorite projects include; Out of Pocket Production's Palmer Park (Kate); Method Machine's ShakesBLOOD and Neighborhood III: Requisition of Doom; GRRC's The Dreamland Bus (ZeeZee); and InFusion Action Theatre's production of the one-woman show Jackie (Jackie Kennedy Onassis). Beyond theatre, Nancy has done a variety of film, vocal, and commercial work, and extends deep gratitude to her daughter, Esabella Cesarini for her continued patience and support.
Kevin Sweeney
(Nick) is appearing in his first production with Screen Plays. He is a native of Boston and was last seen this past September as Colonel Nathan Jessep in A Few Good Men at Blackfriars Theatre where he had his Rochester debut 17 years ago as Sherlock in The Mask of Moriarity. Favorite roles in other area productions include Tilden in Buried Child for Out of Pocket, Soldiers Heart & Frozen for Shipping Dock...
(Nick) is appearing in his first production with Screen Plays. He is a native of Boston and was last seen this past September as Colonel Nathan Jessep in A Few Good Men at Blackfriars Theatre where he had his Rochester debut 17 years ago as Sherlock in The Mask of Moriarity. Favorite roles in other area productions include Tilden in Buried Child for Out of Pocket, Soldiers Heart & Frozen for Shipping Dock Theatre, and Mercy of a Storm at Bristol Valley Theatre. Kevin has also appeared on television, in film, and in several industrials. Kevin wishes to thank his daughters for the inspiration they provide him. A big thank you to director Jean Gordon Ryon, producer Karen Tuccio, Stage Manager Amanda McFaul, and this incredible cast for this fun and professional collaboration.
Gretchen Woodworth
(Laura Cram) is thrilled to be back on Geva's Fielding Stage performing for Screen Plays. In December 2014, Gretchen appeared as Lorraine in Screen Plays' The Man Who Came to Dinner. She has performed in numerous shows with Limelight Productions, The Mystery Company, Penfield Players & Black Sheep Theatre. Favorite productions include: Black Sheep's Sordid Lives & Almost,...
(Laura Cram) is thrilled to be back on Geva's Fielding Stage performing for Screen Plays. In December 2014, Gretchen appeared as Lorraine in Screen Plays' The Man Who Came to Dinner. She has performed in numerous shows with Limelight Productions, The Mystery Company, Penfield Players & Black Sheep Theatre. Favorite productions include: Black Sheep's Sordid Lives & Almost, Maine; Limelight's November, Doubt, and The Psychic; Rochester Community Players' All My Sons; Shipping Dock Theatre's The Exonerated; Penfield Players' Fox on the Fairway, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, & Steel Magnolias; Wild Wimmin Etc.'s Catholic School Girls & Radio TBS with; and Process Productions' I … Write to Discover … , a one-woman play about famed Southern author Flannery O'Connor by local playwright Ed Scutt. Gretchen would like to thank Jean Gordon Ryon for her insightful direction, the rest of the cast for being so talented and easy to work with, and her husband David for his unwavering support.
Larry Ploscowe
(Seton) is thrilled to once again be in a Screen Plays, Hollywood's Golden Age on Stage production. His previous work for Screen Plays include 39 Steps Radio Play & The Desk Set. Other productions he has been in include Everyone's Theatre Company's
Titanic the Musical, Check Please, Hostage, The Interview, & Grease; Black Sheep's Take That Cupid; Limelight Productions' The Psychic; ...
Titanic the Musical, Check Please, Hostage, The Interview, & Grease; Black Sheep's Take That Cupid; Limelight Productions' The Psychic; and The Penfield Players' The Best Man, Three Men on a Horse, & The Curious Savage. He recently appeared in the Fringe show called Bully Bully, and the special one acts showcase at MuCCC by Louie Podlaski called Another Broken Machine. He has also been seen around town performing in various The Mystery Company dinner theatre plays. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with this talented team. Let's rock the house!!!
Roger Sutphen
(Henry) was first was bitten by the acting bug in high school when he won the Don Knott's summer acting internship from West Virginia University. As life happens, he drifted into a conservative banker's life and left acting behind. He picked it up again in his later years to help found the Improve Comedy group "Left For Dead" which bills itself as the "oldest" Improve group in America comprised of senior...
(Henry) was first was bitten by the acting bug in high school when he won the Don Knott's summer acting internship from West Virginia University. As life happens, he drifted into a conservative banker's life and left acting behind. He picked it up again in his later years to help found the Improve Comedy group "Left For Dead" which bills itself as the "oldest" Improve group in America comprised of senior citizens. The group tours the East Coast performing at various comedy festivals. This is Roger's second consecutive year playing a butler, John in Screen Plays The Man Who Came to Dinner last December. He always wanted to be a butler and now he is one!
TIM SHEA
(Charles) became involved in theater through friends he has met as a five year member of the LEFT for DEAD Improv team and its involvement with the Rochester Improv community. Last December, he portrayed Dr. Bradley in Screen Plays production of The Man Who Came to Dinner. As the servant in Holiday, he has prior experience waiting on people from growing up in a family of ten with one...
(Charles) became involved in theater through friends he has met as a five year member of the LEFT for DEAD Improv team and its involvement with the Rochester Improv community. Last December, he portrayed Dr. Bradley in Screen Plays production of The Man Who Came to Dinner. As the servant in Holiday, he has prior experience waiting on people from growing up in a family of ten with one bathroom.
Kathy Dauer
(Delia) This marks Kathy's second performance with Screen Plays. Last December, she fulfilled a dream come true portraying Harriet in The Man Who Came to Dinner. Kathy has appeared in several shows with groups including the Rochester Community Players, Shakespeare Players, Blackfriars, Penfield Players, Arden, Irish Players, ShakeCo, and Burning Barn Theater. When not acting, she is...
(Delia) This marks Kathy's second performance with Screen Plays. Last December, she fulfilled a dream come true portraying Harriet in The Man Who Came to Dinner. Kathy has appeared in several shows with groups including the Rochester Community Players, Shakespeare Players, Blackfriars, Penfield Players, Arden, Irish Players, ShakeCo, and Burning Barn Theater. When not acting, she is busy designing and building sets with her husband Ken.
Amanda McFaul
(Stage Manager) is thrilled to be making both her Geva and Screen Plays debut! A relative newcomer to the theatre scene, Amanda has managed shows for Bread and Water Theatre (BWT), GRRC, MUCC, Elephant Productions and her "home" company, Limelight Productions of Rochester. Most recently, she returned from managing Limelight Productions production of The Receptionist at the 2015...
(Stage Manager) is thrilled to be making both her Geva and Screen Plays debut! A relative newcomer to the theatre scene, Amanda has managed shows for Bread and Water Theatre (BWT), GRRC, MUCC, Elephant Productions and her "home" company, Limelight Productions of Rochester. Most recently, she returned from managing Limelight Productions production of The Receptionist at the 2015 TANYS Festival awarded for Best Long Production. She has worked in the Fringe Festival for three years and for last year's TANYS Festival. Sometimes Amanda likes to see how the other side lives and has been seen onstage in three BWT productions, Troilus and Cressida, The Arsonists and Lifting Belly. She wants to thank Limelight Productions for their support and understanding all these years, Jean and Karen for their patience -- and this amazing, talented, and thoughtful cast and crew of wonderful new and incredible old friends!
AnneMarie Giannandrea
(Assistant Stage Manager, Sound Design) is pleased to be working with Screen Plays for the third time. She studied Theater at SUNY Brockport, where some of her favorite shows included Black Comedy, The Cover of Life, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. She has also worked with NTID's theater department and the Penfield Players while occasionally designing lights and sound.
Jean Gordon Ryon
(Director) serves as New Plays Coordinator at Geva Theatre Center where, among other duties, she produces the Regional Writers Showcase and the Young Writers Showcase. She has been the dramaturg for many Geva productions, including 1776, Almost Maine, The Music Man, Company, Perfect Wedding, Wait Until Dark, Little Shop of Horrors,...
(Director) serves as New Plays Coordinator at Geva Theatre Center where, among other duties, she produces the Regional Writers Showcase and the Young Writers Showcase. She has been the dramaturg for many Geva productions, including 1776, Almost Maine, The Music Man, Company, Perfect Wedding, Wait Until Dark, Little Shop of Horrors, Spamalot, Red, and Geva's current production of A Christmas Carol. Jean holds a degree in drama from Tufts University and a Master's degree in Arts Administration from Goucher College. Her directing credits in the community include Grace and Glorie, Master Class, Blithe Spirit, Pride's Crossing, and The Gin Game for Blackfriars, The Chosen and The Immigrant for JCC's CenterStage, Juno and the Peacock, Da, Translations, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, Waiting for Godot, The Kings of the Kilburn High Road, Dancing at Lughnasa, Faith Healer, The Hostage, Love in the Title, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Dublin Carol, A Moon for the Misbegotten and The Field for RCP's Irish Players, Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing for RCP's Shakespeare Players, and The Man Who Came to Dinner for Screen Plays. Jean is also the Artistic Director of The Geriactors, a traveling troupe of mature actors.
By Director Jean Gordon Ryon
Holiday, written in 1928, was one of Philip Barry's most successful plays (The Philadelphia Story was the other one) --- not only in terms of its box office success and subsequent Hollywood treatment, but in the way that it used Barry's particular talent for romantic comedy to touch on one of his favorite themes: what happens in 20th century America when a person makes an unconventional choice about the use of money and time. The theme was close to Philip Barry's heart: born in 1896, here in Rochester (a graduate of East High), Barry was expected to enter the family marble and tile business, but disappointed his family's expectations when he chose to study playwriting instead. Many of his plays, including You and I, The Youngest, The Jilts, and Holiday, explore this choice: a young man is torn between the materialism of the age and his own plans for a worthwhile life. Perhaps a reason Holiday continues to be produced to this day is that these issues have not gone away. Money is still
a touchstone in society: how one earns it and how one uses it reveal a lot about a person. It's interesting to be doing this play next door to a production of A Christmas Carol, that perennial holiday story that asks the same questions: what is the purpose of amassing wealth? What is the best way to live one's life? How much money is enough?
In 1927, Barry and his family lived for a time in France, where they hobnobbed with the likes of Picasso, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and their close friends, Gerald and Sara Murphy. Gerald and Sara Murphy were renowned not so much for accomplishments of their own, but for the choices they had made in life. Both from wealthy families and so financially independent, they elected not to devote their lives to careers and money-making, but to living well. They established households in the south of France, and befriended and entertained the most prominent artists and writers of the day, many of them other American expatriates.
Philip Barry was one of their circle. They were known to be generous friends and creative, enthusiastic lovers of life, who put the quality of their time above material concerns. They were a profound influence on Barry, as successful examples of the kind of life to which he aspired. The characters Nick and Susan Potter, in Holiday, are based directly on them: a still-young couple, enjoying life to the fullest, using money without squandering it, and setting an example of an alternate lifestyle. (In the 1938 film version of Holiday, the characters have been changed considerably from the original script: they have become a middle-aged college professor and his motherly wife.
Perhaps the deliberate reference to Gerald and Sara Murphy would have been lost on a wider audience that was living through the Depression.) Hindsight is 20/20. We know, as Barry did not, that only a year after the writing of Holiday, the materialism and high living that had gripped the country for a decade would lead to its own collapse.
The stock market crash of 1929 would vindicate Barry's stated values. Although Barry is best remembered as a writer of comedies about the most affluent class, underneath the light tone, there was always a serious theme. As critic Brooks Atkinson wrote of Barry, "he liked the role of prophet."
Screen Plays-Hollywood's Golden Age On Stage © 2020