Finest Medication Rep, Gaithersburg’s skilled theater firm, is gearing up for its bold sixth season with 5 new comedies within the hopper: The Journey by Crystal V. Rhodes, Rapunzarella White by June Rachelson Ospa and Daniel Neiden, America’s Sexiest Couple by Ken Levine, and two performs by John Morogiello: Within the Gutter and Blame It On Beckett.
“Since that is in all probability going to be our final season at Lakeforest Mall, we’ve determined to extend our programming by 25%,” declares writer and Inventive Director John Morogiello. “It’s going to be a enjoyable season. The scripts show a variety of comedian topics and types. Our viewers will love them.”
THE TRIP
Kicking off Season 6 is The Journey by Crystal V. Rhodes. The story considerations 4 lifelong pals who embark on a pair of hilarious street journeys twenty years aside. Can they rebuild the bridge that related them with out drowning within the water beneath? The manufacturing runs September 9 – October 2, 2022. It’s a enjoyable, ensemble comedy directed by Yvonne Paretzky.
“We have been alleged to current The Journey final season,” observes director Paretzky, “however the omicron variant had different plans. We’re excited to get the chance to lastly mount this glorious play.”
Morogiello agrees, saying, “We’re excited that many of the artistic group from final season remains to be in place. They’re a tight-knit group and play off of one another properly.”
The Journey stars Hana Clarice, Erica Irving, Devin Nikki Thomas, and Jacqueline Youm, recent from her star flip in Nollywood Nights at Spherical Home, because the 4 pals.
RAPUNZARELLA WHITE
In time for the vacations, Finest Medication Rep tries one thing new: a household musical known as Rapunzarella White. Written by June Rachelson Ospa and Daniel Neiden, the play throws three totally different fairy tales into a comic book blender to nice impact. When an evil witch curses triplet women (Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Snow White), they’ll solely be rescued by three princes on this enjoyable musical for all ages. The manufacturing runs November 26 – December 11, 2022, on an all-matinee schedule.
“We had a few productions of this play in New York which have been wildly profitable,” explains co-author June Rachelson Ospa, “We stay up for bringing it to Gaithersburg.”
“It was fairly fortuitous,” provides Morogiello, “June got here to see final season’s manufacturing of Die, Mr. Darcy, Die! and I discussed that we have been searching for one thing enjoyable, like a British pantomime, for the vacations. The subsequent day, I had the script in my palms, beloved it, and right here we’re.”
Directing Rapunzarella White is Jacqueline Youm. “To go from performing in The Journey instantly into directing Rapunzarella White is rather a lot,” observes Youm, “however I prefer to preserve myself busy with as many theater initiatives as I can. They’re a lot enjoyable.”
AMERICA’S SEXIEST COUPLE
Within the new yr, Finest Medication Rep continues to rejoice the work of Emmy-winning author Ken Levine in our subsequent manufacturing, America’s Sexiest Couple. Levine’s tv credit embrace MASH, Cheers, The Jeffersons, Wings, Frasier, The Simpsons, Everyone Loves Raymond, and extra.
Morogiello can’t assist however gush. “Ken is a legend. We’re pleased with our affiliation with him and his work. His performs are humorous and convey folks collectively, and that’s what our theater is about.”
America’s Sexiest Couple is a few pair of ageing sitcom actors (suppose Ted Danson and Shelley Lengthy) who’re reunited to see whether or not the spark they felt of their youth was true or merely performing. It runs January 6 – 22, 2023, and might be directed by Kathleen Barth. Starring within the manufacturing are Fletcher Lowe, Kari Luther, and John Morogiello.
Writer Levine hopes to fly out to see the manufacturing in some unspecified time in the future, saying, “I get pleasure from John [Morogiello] as each a author and a performer, and I particularly get pleasure from that Finest Medication Rep likes my work.”
IN THE GUTTER
From February 24 – March 19, 2023, Finest Med will current the world premiere of John Morogiello’s Within the Gutter, directed by board member and viewers favourite Stan Levin. The play is a implausible parody of movie noir, with cash, homicide, and a nosy neighbor performed by one other viewers favourite Rebecca A. Herron.
“I’m all the time glad to be directing a Morogiello play; John is an outstanding author,” declares director Levin. “He’s captured the fashion, rhythm, and plot of a Nineteen Forties noir thriller completely, and turned it into one thing hilarious.”
“This was the play I wrote through the lockdown,” explains Morogiello. “I used to be watching plenty of Turner Basic Motion pictures and had nothing higher to do.” The script was developed as a part of the New Works Digital Pageant in Chicago. This might be its first manufacturing.
BLAME IT ON BECKETT
The season closes with one other play by John Morogiello, Blame It On Beckett. Set within the literary workplace of a regional theater, Blame It On Beckett is a comedy about workplace politics, ambition, and being pressured to learn unhealthy scripts. It runs April 28 – Might 21, 2023. Karen Fleming directs.
“Beckett is one thing we’ve all the time wished to provide,” jokes Morogiello, “It’s certainly one of my performs that has had a good diploma of success within the U.S. and UK. In truth, it was carried out by a neighborhood novice theater a number of years in the past. We figured that sufficient time has handed. I imply, if theaters can produce A Midsummer Evening’s Dream each single yr, they’ll put up with Beckett each seven.”
Tickets for Finest Medication Rep Theater Firm’s upcoming season are on sale now ($30 basic admission, $25 seniors) by way of bestmedicinerep.org. Finest Medication Rep performs at Lakeforest Mall, 701 Russell Avenue, Suite F115, Gaithersburg, MD (decrease stage).
Now in its sixth season, Finest Medication Rep is a nonprofit theater firm that focuses on new comedies. It’s devoted to the inventive, instructional, and cultural growth of the higher Gaithersburg space. For extra details about the firm, please go to bestmedicinerep.org.
COVID Security: All patrons should be masked and present proof of totally vaccinated standing. Finest Medication Rep’s full COVID coverage is right here (scroll down).
