Lovestreet Theatre presents Diminishe fifth : a new play
A new Play
by Julie S.Halpern*
Love Street Theatre proudly presents Diminished Fifth, a new play about women who were blacklisted.
Producers Club Theatres,
358 W. 44th St. NYC
June 22-July 3 2011.
All seats $18.00
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Last year marked the 60th anniversary of the original blacklist document “Red Channels.” This small pamphlet ignited a firestorm of mostly unfounded accusations which continued unchecked for years. Individuals identified as Communists, sympathizers or “fellow travelers” soon found their professional and personal lives in chaos, and many never fully recovered. Illness, substance abuse, shattered families and even suicide became the norm for many formerly successful artists and writers. One third of these artists were women.
Most material about this period focuses on Hollywood, and more specifically on men. While their suffering and that of their families should never be ignored or minimized, little has been written about blacklisted women, particularly those who made their careers in New York. While the Broadway community was certainly more congenial to blacklisted artists than Hollywood, many individuals believed a “graylist” was in practice. The majority of blacklisted women found themselves unexpectedly out of work, and were never able to fully reclaim their careers.
Diminished Fifth brings five high profile women together in a fictionalized setting. The events depicted here are historically documented, but certain details of the women’s relationships come from the imagination of the playwright.
Experience the personal and professional struggles of celebrated wit Dorothy Parker, writer Lillian Hellman, actress and broadcaster Jean Muir, director/actress Margaret Webster and writer/civil rights activist Eslanda Robeson as they find their reputations and personal freedom compromised almost overnight.
While the accusations leveled at these individuals seem ridiculous to us today, it could certainly happen again. Diminished Fifth urges us to realize that no matter how often a lie is spoken it is still a lie. Sadly, the fears of many people, no matter how unfounded created a firestorm that took decades to put out.
Please join us at Diminished Fifth
Opening night is June 22@8pm, continuing through July 3.
All seats are $18.00.
Please purchase tickets www.theatermania.com
or call 212-352-3101.
Our Cast:
Elaine LeGaro *as Margaret Webster
Mary McGloin *as Jean Muir
Ronalda Ay Nicholas* as Eslanda Robeson
Jacquelyn Poplar*as Dorothy Parker
Stacey Scotte* as Lillian Hellman
Our production Staff
John Simmons-Production Stage Manager
Seth Weine-Set Design
Maria Giorgio-Costume, Makeup and Hair Design
Alison May-Light Design
Jay Reisberg-Sound Design
Jewelry Design-Joanne Rogers
Bintu Conteh-Production Intern
Directed by Julie S. Halpern
Getchie Argetsinger-Dorothy Parker: Getchie's acting career spans over 30 years in New York theatre, regional repertory and national tours as well as television and film. She played Kathy in the New York revival of Parallel Lives: The Kathy & Mo Show at the Greenwich Street Theatre and Meg in A Lie Of The Mind, as well as Queen Elinor in King John at the Present Company and Marina in Uncle Vanya with the Barrow Group. Noteworthy performances include The Molly Bloom Soliloquy, a one woman show excerptingUlysses, for the New York Bloomsday Celebration and the female lead in Selections from Metamorphoses for The Hellenic Festival. Regional favorites include Mrs. Gill in See Rock City and Gulf View Drive at the New Main Street Theatre in Connecticut and Miss Prism in The Importance Of Being Earnest at the New Harmony Theatre in Indiana. Film appearances include a cameo on The Sopranos and the lead in the short film Broken. Getchie is also a professional storyteller, bringing to life timeless tales from around the world in libraries, schools and museums nationwide
Louise Flory-Jean Muir: Originally from the Midwest, Louise spent a year in the UK getting her Masters in Theatre before settling in New York. She has been seen on stage in Look After You (SoHo Playhouse, 2009 New York International Fringe Festival), The Oath (The ArcLight Theatre), Blue Surge (The Wild Project), Burial at Thebes (La MaMa E.T.C.) and the world premiere of Dorothy Fortenberry’s Burned Over. Film projects include the current award-winning festival short Elli and the Astronaut and the upcoming independent feature Fields of November. She can also be seen online in the complete first season of Issues: The Series. Louise is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and NYWIFT. www.louiseflory.com
nora hummel-Lillian Hellman: nora is pleased to be working with Julie again after having worked with her on productions of “The Trojan Women” and “A Winters Tale”. She just completed a reading of “Adolph & Andy” written by Ultra Violet and Alexander Motyl , and directed by Bernard Uzan. She can be seen in Native Alien’s production of “Destiny’s Roommate” playing Annie, a women being forced to move by her children.
nora is a proud member of Actors Equity.
Elaine Le Garo-Margaret Webster: Elaine’s regional credits include 4 seasons at the Hedgerow Theatre. She has worked on most NYC based television series and many films. She has taught theatre for 16 years, and is currently Director of The Unique Acting Workshop. Elaine studied with Uta Hagen, Bill Hickey, Warren Robertson and Milton Katselas. Elaine was the president of the N.Y. local of AFTRA, has served on its board of directors and chaired many committees. Proud member of AEA/AFTRA/SAG.
Joan Valentina-Eslanda Robeson: (AEA,SAG, AFTRA) Joan has worked extensively in New York and regionally at theaters such as La Mama, Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park, and The Kennedy Center. In the last two years she has worked regionally on "Well, " The Glass Menagerie," "Doubt," and two productions of "The Miracle Worker."
As always, she dedicates her performance to the memory of her late Mom "Lady Effie."
Julie S. Halpern-playwright:” Diminished Fifth”: is Julie’s third play about fascinating historical figures. “Singing in My Sleep”, a one-woman play with music presented the life of Golden Age opera diva Amelita Galli-Curci (featuring Julie as Amelita), and “Shining Days” chronicled the lives of members of the Golden Dawn, an elite occult society in Victorian London and Dublin. Julie has acted and sung off -Broadway and regionally, as well as appearing on all NYC based daytime dramas, “ Rescue Me”, “The Good Wife”, and the TV film “May the Best Man Win”, available on demand on IFC. Julie is the Artistic Director of Love Street Theatre. Proud to be a member of AEA/AFTRA/Dramatists Guild of America.
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*appearing courtesy of AEA
