A Sunnyside Mixtape - Press Release
For Immediate Release:
SUNNYSIDE SHINES AND WT THEATRE CO.
PRESENT
THE WORLD PREMIERE OF
A SUNNYSIDE MIXTAPE
Written by Cary Gitter, Esther Ko, and Christopher Torres
Music by Ivan Anderson
Musical Direction and Songs by Jayson Reyes
Direction by Callie Nestleroth
Performances at 4:00PM and 6:00PM on Tuesday, June 21, in Lowery Plaza
as part of the Make Music New York Festival
June 13, 2016 - Executive Producer Rebecca Crigler is pleased to announce the world premiere of the site-specific, music-theatre piece, A Sunnyside Mixtape, presented by Sunnyside Shines and WT Theatre Company (co-founded by Daigoro Hirahata and Rebecca Crigler). A Sunnyside Mixtape was born out of an idea to create an entertaining blend of hip hop and family-friendly theatre to celebrate the diverse culture of Sunnyside, Queens. It also supports Sunnyside Shines' initiative to promote cultural programming in Sunnyside's public spaces.
A team of talented Queens-based playwrights (Cary Gitter, Esther Ko, and Christopher Torres) were commissioned to create a story that follows a diverse cast of characters from the neighborhood as their lives intersect in Lowery Plaza. The distinct musical voices of Ivan Anderson and Jayson Reyes added another dimension to the text by contributing music and songs pulsing with the rhythms of the city.
Helmed by NTI-alum Callie Nestleroth, the cast will feature Lea McKenna-Garcia* (REX) as Sara, Paco Lozano* (The Public Theater's Mother Courage and Her Children) as Perico, Michael Lloret (54 Below) as Charlie, Robin Johnson (Half Hearted) as Mina, Katie Sexton* (Company, Angelina Ballerina) as Laura, and Viet Vo* (national tour of Miss Saigon) as John.
The play follows Sara, the matriarchal fixture of the plaza, as she guides the audience into the lives of Mina and Charlie, best friends trying to find their place in the world after high school, and Perico, a chess-playing busboy trying to make money to support his children in Ecuador. John and Laura (Manhattan-dwelling transplants) join the Sunnysiders as they try to find the perfect Sunnyside cuisineto feature in their food/travel vlog.
Showtimes are 4:00PM and 6:00PM in Lowery Plaza (at 40th Street and Queens Boulevard) on Tuesday, June 21. Running time is approximately 55 minutes. There will be a musical intermission--coordinated by Ivan Anderson--between the two performances. Admission is free. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and make a 100% tax-deductible donation to us via Fractured Atlas! www.wttheatre.org/sunnyside #asunnysidemixtape @asunnysidemix
*A Sunnyside Mixtape is an Equity Approved Showcase. These Actors are appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.
Actors' Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 50,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org
WT Theatre Co. was founded by Daigoro Hirahata and Rebecca Crigler in 2015. The company was developed to foster a community of artists to help create new and exciting work that reflects contemporary society. WTTC seeks to challenge its artists and audiences, push the boundaries of theatre, and cultivate the new theatrical voice.
Sunnyside Shines is a business improvement district (BID) covering all properties fronting Queens Boulevard from 38th Street to 50th Street, as well as Greenpoint Avenue from Queens Boulevard to mid-block between 42nd and 43rd Streets. The Sunnyside Shines BID was born out of the desire of neighborhood stakeholders to have a direct impact on the community. Its mission is to invigorate and enrich the economic life of the neighborhood by creating a safe, welcoming and dynamic commercial district in Sunnyside, Queens. Sunnyside Shines was signed into law in 2007.
Make Music New York Inc. is a NYC-based nonprofit that organizes two annual participatory musical celebrations. Now in its tenth year, Make Music New York, "the largest music event ever to grace Gotham" (Metro New York), is a unique festival of 1,00+ free concerts in public spaces throughout the five boroughs of New York City, all on June 21st, the first day of summer. MMNY takes place simultaneously with similar festivities in more than 700 cities around the world - a global celebration of music making.