White Rabbit Theatre in association with John Chatterton/MITF and the Midwinter Madness Short Play Festival presents MEREDITH’S RING

A play written by and featuring
Andrew Rothkin with Amanda Szymczak as Meredith
Production directed by Jay Michaels

Limited Showings:
Dark Monday: February 27 @ 9 P.M.
After-Work: Thursday, March 1 @ 6 P.M.
Brunch: Saturday March 3 @ 2 P.M.

Roy Arias Theaters
300 W 43rd St, Suite 506
New York City
http://www.smarttix.com

New York – His 26-year romance lasted only a few months. Andrew Rothkin’s bittersweet play about two outcasts coming of age will have its first revival as part of MITF’s Midwinter Madness Short Play Festival at Roy Arias Theatres in Times Square.

The play centers on Alex, a nearing-40 office worker whose bad luck in love prompts him to vividly relive what he considers his happiest moments: a brief affair he had in 1986 with a reckless teen named Meredith. Along the way, we learn that her personal daring comes from her attempt to escape an abusive home riddled with drug addiction and abuse. Meredith’s dangerous ways transform Alex – not necessarily for the better.

Stage and screen actor, Andrew Rothkin, the play’s author, appears as Alex and his teen self, A.J., with Amanda Szymczak as Meredith. Ms. Szymczak, recognized for classical and musical theater, makes a dramatic turn in this two-character work. The play is directed by Jay Michaels, whose film “Slings & Arrows” premieres February 9.

Biographical material:

ANDREW ROTHKIN is an award-winning actor, director, playwright, and producer. Playwriting highlights include Danny, Voice, Paved with Gold, tryin’ t’ touch the sun, Bubby’s Shadow (Winner, “Outstanding Overall Production of a New Drama Play” Award, Midtown International Theatre Festival, 2008), and the initial production of Meredith’s Ring, which Andrew also staged (Winner, “Outstanding Overall Production of a One-Act Play” Award, The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, 2009). Andrew was last seen on stage in Jonathan Wallace’s Hummingbirds (Nomination, Best Supporting Actor Award, The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, 2011), is currently filming the short, Channel 99, and is in rehearsals for the web series, Analog Romance. Andrew is also writer of poetry and short fiction, a teacher/coach, and artistic director of White Rabbit Theatre.

AMANDA SZYMCZAK hails from the Central Coast of California and is a graduate of the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts. Most recently she appeared as The Ghost of Christmas Past in Village Light Opera’s production of Scrooge and Gilbert & Sullivan. Other favorite credits include: Helena/Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hot Box Dancer in Guys & Dolls (Genesis Repertory); Ethel Hotchkiss in 42nd Street (Narrows Theatre); Chloe in Arcadia, Sonia in Life x 3, Sound of Music (PCPA); Luciana in Comedy of Errors (College of Santa Fe); and Prostitute/Ensemble in Sweeney Todd (NY Arts Program at the Gerald Lynch Theater)

JAY MICHAELS (director): FILM/TV: “Heart of the Community” (documentary prod./editor); “Twelve Fingers,” “Color of Truth” (assoc. prod.); “Increase the Peace” (assoc. prod., television series); other film/TV credits include “Norman Normal;” “Beneath The Rock;” “Taking the Stand;” “L’elisir d’amour;” “The Silver Lining” (Five episodes, Phoenix Online); and numerous commercials. BROADWAY (production staff): original workshop of In The Rain at the Marriott Marquis’ Starlight Theater; revivals of Guys & Dolls (1992), Damn Yankees (1994) and The Vagina Monologues at Broadway’s Town Hall. OFF-BROADWAY: director of a series of popular modernized Shakespeare productions and premieres of three new musicals; productions for the HBO Summer Stage, New York International Fringe Festival, Midtown International Theater Festival, two Samuel French New Plays Festival winners. EVENT PRODUCER: co-producer, 2001 Midtown Theatre Festival; national tour manager, Cats, Les Miserables, Oliver, Edwin Drood; promotional manager, The Bronx Opera (five seasons and counting). In 1998, he and Mary E. MiCari formed Genesis Repertory, a stage production company dedicated to the classics – renaissance and American. In 2010, they formed Genesis Pictures as an outgrowth of the stage company. Mr. Michaels was recognized in National SDC, TheatreWorld, American Theater, and Crain’s and Cambridge’s Who’s Who. His productions have won ASCAP, Spotlight, and OOBR Awards, publishing from Samuel French Play Service, and NYIT, GLAAD, Spotlight, and Drama Desk nominations.