September 2016 - Let Us Entertain You: The Gavones of Philadelphia
Local playwright, investigative journalist, and photographer, Joseph Sorrentino says, “The Gavones of Philadelphia started out as a drama about a family gathering for the funeral of the patriarch. I was living in Philadelphia at the time I was writing the first drafts, and the play contains several references to Philly. Although the original versions of the play had some comedic elements, they were very dark. As I rewrote it, I kept taking out the dark elements and adding comedic ones. Following a workshop production in 1996, it became clear to me that the darker elements were no longer working, so I reworked it as a comedy.” Sorrentino has lived in New Mexico for three-and-a-half years. Two of his previous plays, as well as a collection of 18 short plays called The Frankenharry Plays (named after the two main characters), have been published and produced.
James Cady is well known for directing some of America’s best-loved, classic plays (Eugene O’Neill’s A Moon For The Misbegotten and All My Sons, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, Carson McCullers’ The Member of the Wedding, as well as The Front Page, The Philadelphia Story, and The Diary of Anne Frank; and his own unique version of Hamlet). Now, he is enjoying working with a living playwright!
Set in Philadelphia—a comedy—an Italian American family—combining funerals, bookmakers, a bank robbery, family loyalty and disloyalty, embezzlement, family secrets, and food, lots of food! The six roles will be played by Art Tedesco as Tony; Meredith Gray (his wife); Riley Carson Lewis (their son); Ed Chavez and Owen Reed (Mary’s two brothers); and Marc Lynch (Danny, an enforcer for a local bookie).
The Gavones of Philadelphia opens Friday, August 26 and plays 4 weekends through Sunday, September 18, 2016. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm, with a “Pay What You Will” performance (proceeds are shared between the cast and crew) on Thursday, September 8, at 7.30pm. Tickets are $17 general, seniors and students $15. Reservations 505-898-9222 x 1 or online at www.adobetheater.org.