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Preview of Stray Kats Theatre's Staged Reading of 'A Delicate Balance'

Staged reading will be presented at the brand new HealingNewtown Arts Space in Newtown

STRAY KATS THEATRE OPENS HealingNewtown ARTS SPACE with STAGED READING OF Edward Albee’s “A DELICATE BALANCE”

Saturday and Sunday, February 2 and 3, 2013

The Stray Kats Theatre Company, a not-for-profit professional theatre company will continue its 2013 season with a staged reading of Edward Albee’s Pulitzer Prize winning play, “A Delicate Balance”, at the brand new HealingNewtown Arts Space located at 5 Queen Street, Newtown.

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Managed by Newtown Cultural Arts Commission, supported by the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut and the Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA).  HEALING NEWTOWN was created to facilitate, support, and coordinate arts-focused efforts made on behalf of Sandy Hook and Newtown today, tomorrow and into the future. A website (HealingNewtown.org ) has been set up where artists can contribute ideas and offer programs. Ten percent of all proceeds from the reading of “A Delicate Balance” will benefit HealingNewtown Arts Space.

Stray Kats is Newtown’s only professional theatre company. Now in its third season, SKTC recently received rave reviews for its production of “Small World” by Fred Stroppel. “Stray Kats shows itself to be one of the many things that our town can be proud of, and it is definitely worth supporting" writes Julie Stern of the Newtown Bee. In her review of “Small World”, Joanne Greco Rochman of the Republican American and Hersam Acorn papers said of Stray Kats, “If this is an indication of what is to come, then do bring it on.”

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For this event, SKTC will return to a staged reading format, where professional actors read contemporary classics that challenge the mind and uplift the spirit, shedding light on the human condition. “To me, a play is successful if people walk out arguing about it, or if they wake up the next day thinking about it,” says Katcher.

The cast includes Barbara Rhoades, Chilton Ryan, E. Katherine Kerr, Nadine WIllig, David Rogers and Jodi Stevens. It will be directed by Kate Katcher, Stray Kats’ Artistic Director.

“ A Delicate Balance” premiered in 1966 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1967, the first of three Albee received for his work. It is a dark comedy, with witty dialogue covering issues of loss, fear and the desperate attempts people make to keep their balance in a life over which they obviously have no control.
                                                                      

BARBARA RHOADES started out as a dancer in NY appearing with Sammy Davis, Jr. on his TV show and on B’way with Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl. Under contract with Universal Pictures, she starred in Don’t Just Stand There with Mary Tyler Moore & Robert Wagner, Shakiest Gun in the West with Don Knotts, and other films including Harry & Tonto with Art Carney, The Goodbye Girl with Richard Dryfess, There Was A Crooked Man, Up the Sandbox and Serial. TV credits include continuing roles on SoapBusting Loose, Blue Knight, Joe Forester and You, Again?, as well as many guest appearances, including, of course, Law & Order. Last spring she appeared in "Love, Loss and What I Wore" off Broadway and just finished playing Irene Manning, the mother from Hell, on "One Life to Live".

CHILTON RYAN started his theatrical career as an apprentice at the Westport Country Playhouse.  That career has included stage, business and box office management, publicity, directing and producing.  During a five year stint at NBC TV as a writer, director and producer he started writing songs with Cy Walter.  Subsequently he has written lyrics for melodies by Gary McFarland, Otis Clements and Michel Legrand.  His voice-over and on-camera commercial work brought him full circle back to acting when he joined the Theatre Artists Workshop.  Locally, he has appeared at Stamford Theatre Works, Boston Post Road Stage Company, Stage 2 at Long Wharf, the Fairfield Theatre Company, the Westport Art Center and, of course, the Theatre Artists Workshop. 

E. KATHERINE KERR is an actress, writer, teacher, director and workshop leader. As an actress E. Katherine Kerr won an Obie for her performance in Cloud 9 and was twice nominated for a Drama Desk award.  Her roles in films include Harriet Tollman in Songcatcher, Congresswoman Grace Comisky in Suspect, Gilda Schultz in Silkwood.  As a writer, her play, Juno’s Swans was presented at Second Stage in NYC and is published by Dramatist   She wrote and directed her play, Intelejunt Dezyne, at The Fairfield Theatre in CT.  She has taught acting and master classes at NYU, Sarah Lawrence, Queen’s College in Canada, and the International Study Center at Herstmonceux Castle in England.  For over 20 years taught classes privately in New York City as well as frequently conducting the two day Creative Explosion Workshop on which this book is based.  Her website is www.EKatherineKerr.com

DAVID ROGERS Acting: Broadway: "Funny Thing/Forum", George Abbott's "Broadway" "Doubles". Tour: Tommy Tune's "Grand Hotel," "Fame." Regionals:  Major theaters from Sarasota to San Jose in "Old Wicked Songs", "The Price," "Road to Mecca"  the autobiographical one man musical, "Naked on Broadway" and many others. Connecticut: Westport Playhouse, "Perfect Party," "Perfect Wedding"; Rich Forum, "Empire" Downtown Cabaret, Ivoryton Playhouse "Sunshine Boys”.  TV: All 3 Law and Order shows. Writing: 5 Broadway shows, ( Tony Nomination, "Charlie and Algernon"),4  shows  London West End, Publications: 45  plays and musicals , 5 novels. TV: Carol Burnett and Jackie Gleason shows.

NADINE WILLIG has performed Off Bwy’ at The Miranda, Synchronicity Space in “Bench Plays”, Pulse in “Touch of Madness”.  Indie Films:  Fred Stroppel’s  “Signs of Life” with Keir Dullea, Rosemary Foley’s “Oh Promise Me” (shown at New York’s Big Apple Film Fest). Nadine can be seen in JIB Production’s  “Play With Your Food” readings throughout CT and NY, as well as  in “ Momoirs, The Umbilical Cord Stops Here” - a performing company (momoirstheatre.com). She was heard in multiple roles, on the London BBC’s sci fi soap opera “Glowboys”.

JODI STEVENS most recently earned rave reviews as Hollywood film icon, Marlene Dietrich, in the Off Broadway production of Dietrich and Chevalier. On Broadway she starred in the original companies of Urban Cowboy and Jekyll & Hyde. Off Broadway favorites include, Claire Strider in Under Fire: The Musical, I Can Get it for You Wholesale, Eliot Ness in Cleveland, Body Shop, Antigone: The Musical and 27 Wagons Full of Cotton. Film credits include Pervertigo, The Funeral and The Narrow Gate. Ms. Stevens has also starred in many regional productions, such as Heaven Help Us: A New Rat Pack Musical: Harmony: the musical, by Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman , Dracula, the Musical by Frank Wildhorn and Christopher Hampton, Annie: the 20th Anniversary, Twelfth Night, The 1940's Radio Hour, Me and My Girl, Fen, The imaginary Invalid, Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean. On television she has quest starred in Conviction, Sex and the City, Central Park West, Guiding Light, All My Children and As The World Turns.Vocal Recordings include: her solo album Girl Talk , The Kurt Weill: Centennial, Johnny Mercer's: Dream (both for The Actor’s Fund), Rodgers and Leonhart (featured guest artist). Jekyll & Hyde (Broadway Cast Album) Her one woman show, A Broad's Way, is now booked at various locations thru 2011.  Jodi recently appeared opposite her husband, Scott Bryce, in Love Letter’s at Music Theatre of Connecticut, located in Westport, CT where she is a proud member of the Theatre Artists Workshop.

All Actors appear courtesy of Actors Equity Association.

Stray Kats Theatre Company will return to its home in the Alexandria Room at Edmond Town Hall in March for its next full production, Richard Dresser’s “Rounding Third” that follows the antics of two little league coaches through an entire season.

April will bring a profound work by seven award winning female playwrights (Paula Cizmar, Catherine Filloux, Gail Kriegel, Carol K. Mack, Ruth Margraff, Anna Deavere Smith and Susan Yankowitz) based on interviews with seven activists for women’s rights throughout the world.

“A Delicate Balance” plays Saturday, February 2nd at 8 p.m. and Sunday, February 3rd at 2 p.m.

For Tickets and information call 203-514-2221 or email info@straykatstheatrecompany.org

Ticketing Website: www.straykatstheatrecompany.org

Price:   $25 in advance; $30 at door without reservation

            Seniors: $20

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