Tony-winning Actress Tonya Pinkins Joins the Cast of The Play Project

Just announced, Tony winning actress Tonya Pinkins (Jelly’s Last Jam and Caroline, or Change) joins the cast of the 2017 Play Project cast at The Studios of Key West. Beginning May 18, The Play Project brings a seasoned playwright, director and equity actors from New York to collaborate with actors from Key West, and gives audiences a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how theater is made. All-access passes are now on sale at The Studios at tskw.org or 305-296-0458.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, this year’s Play Project features playwright Cassandra Medley, award winning author of American Slavery Project, Cell, and Noon Day Sun. Medley’s newest play, Coming Up For Air, centers on Joyce Mitchell, an African-American elementary school science teacher from a small town in Ohio, who suddenly finds herself becoming an environmental activist. Her newfound courage threatens her relationship with the rest of her family.

New York’s Victor Lirio directs the play, and a stellar lineup of actors includes Key West’s own Joy Hawkins and Mook J, as well as New York actors Ivan Moore and Hope Harley. Tonya Pinkins, well known for her roles on Broadway and as Livia on All My Children, also joins the cast.

An all-access pass gives audiences the flexibility to attend as many or as few of the three open rehearsals as they’d like. Pass holders are invited to attend the first rehearsal on Thursday, May 18 at 8pm, when the cast assembles and gets to work for the first read through. Then, on Tuesday, May 23 at 4pm, audiences can check in to see how the play has taken wing and changed over several days of intensive rehearsal. Afterwards, the audience enjoys wine and cheese with the cast, asks questions, and gets personal insights into the process.

Finally, on Saturday, May 27 at 8pm, the cast presents a staged reading of the piece. The actors explore the newly blocked, three-dimensional world of the play during the staged reading. Adding movement leads to an intriguing new level of character development, as actors discover their physical space, and continue to deepen their relationships to one another, and to the work. Afterwards, enjoy sweets and a glass of wine with the cast and crew.

The Play Project is a perfect chance for theater lovers and those who are curious about the process to see how play is made. Pass holders can come to the first rehearsal on May 18, the open rehearsal with wine and cheese on May 23, the final staged reading on May 27, or all three! All-access passes $30/$25 mbrs and are available at The Studios at tskw.org, or 305-296-0458.

The Play Project is the brainchild of Murphy Davis and Wendy Hammond and is made possible by Blake Hunter.