Published on March 1, 2016 | Silive.com | Written by Lauren Steussy
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — We’ve all got some thoughts about the Staten Island Ferry.
Whether it’s the iconic (and free) rides to Manhattan or the nights waiting for what feels like forever to get back home, the ferry is a frequent muse among Staten Islanders.
It inspires feelings of nostalgia, adventure, rage, monotony — all perfect material for one-act plays, wouldn’t you say?
Sundog Theatre Co. would agree, and that’s exactly what they’ve done for the past 13 years with their series, “Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry.” The series accepts six original one-act plays about life on the historic orange boats. The plays will be performed at the New Dorp Moravian Church Theatre on 2205 Richmond Rd.
Here are the winning plays, with bios below:
“Lovin’ The Boat” by Chip Bolcik
“The Losers” by Theo Gallagher
“Uncomfortable” by Michelle Giusto
“Lost and Found” by Helene Montagna
“Tourists” by Matt Morea
“The 5:30 Fairy” by Michael J. Veasey
Chip Bolcik is thrilled to return to Sundog. His play, Staten Island Fairy Tale premiered here two years ago. Other playwriting highlights include The Blizzard awarded best play at the Strawberry One-Act Festival, In The Third Person, winner of the Manhattan Rep One-Act competition and The Writer, winner of The Seven Festival in Albuquerque, NM. A Rocky Relationship, Suit Yourself, and Ferry Limbo are all playing in NYC now.
Theo Gallagher grew up as a baby boomer in suburban Philadelphia. He lived through the fifties, survived the sixties and became part of the establishment in the seventies. He spent 30 years teaching high school chemistry/physics and retired in 1999. He is spending the new century pursuing a quest to become a Renaissance Man. In that quest he has recently turned to playwriting. He now lives in York County, Pennsylvania.
Michelle Giusto is a teacher, Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology, and writer. Previous shorts include Seeing Purple People (2012), Biting Tongues (2013), Acceptance (2014), Lump (2014), A Real Slice of Pizza (2015), and Mourning Glory (2015). Michelle teaches a fifth grade class in Little Neck and is an adjunct lecturer at Queens College, CUNY. She lives in Great Neck, NY with her husband, Stephen, and daughter, Maria.
Helene Montagna is a writer and a ‘Scenes’ regular. Sundog has produced her plays Momentary Blindness, The Intervention, Shiny Things, For Better Or For Worse, and Under Medusa’s Curse. Helene was a Romulus Linney Playwriting Scholar at the 2014 Sewanee Writers Conference and serves as Sea View Playwright’s Theatre’s Playwright in Residence.
Matt Morea writes, produces and performs comedy around New York. He’s created programming for PITtv, the online channel for the People’s Improv Theater, and is an experienced improviser and voice actor. He has lent his voice to productions for GE, Staples, and Intel, to name a few. Matt also recently produced his first audiobook. He is originally from Brooklyn.
Mike Veasey is a local actor/writer/comedian who has performed with several local theater companies. He is currently a member of Cherub Improv, a group that brings entertainment to populations that need it. Mike has also written and performed stand-up comedy. As a producer at Staten Island Community Television, he produces various programs including his own Mike’s Alternate Reality Show.
— Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for students/seniors. Performance dates: Saturday, March 12, 8 p.m. Sunday, March 13, 3 p.m. Friday, March 18, 8 p.m. Saturday, March 19, 8 p.m. Sunday, March 20, 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.sundogtheatre.org.
