Archive: Author: Mikey

Co-founded by Carol Becker and David Henry Hwang, this marquee annual festival presents readings of three plays by living international playwrights alongside conversations with the playwrights and translators. Now in its third year, the 2020 edition of the festival will be held as a series of podcasts.

Taxi Radio

Written by Nophand (Thailand)

Translated from Thai by the playwright

Directed by Aya Ogawa

On a stormy night in Bangkok, four beings are stuck in traffic. Accompanied by karaoke hits, Taxi Radio is a dark comedy that conjures the afterlife and calls upon higher powers to critique cycles of corruption. This soulful play highlights the absurdity of navigating one’s own life in the maelstrom of expectations and statuses. GPS, Google, and Facebook won’t help you out of these dead ends. 

Working on this Podcast Play during the pandemic has been such a wonderful process. The cast was amazing and we were wonderfully directed by Aya. Once the podcast drops I will place the link below!

What if the supervolcano under Yellowstone National Park erupted? 

When an earth-shattering supereruption interrupts Steve and Christina’s one-on-one date on a reality dating show, they are forced into an extreme situation where they might actually have to get to know one another.

I had such a blast working on this podcast. Give it a listen and let me know what you think!

I am thrilled to announce that I am working with Pioneer Theatre Company on a new play by Ted Malawer called The Anatomy of Love as part of their Play-by-Play Reading series. Artistic director Karen Azenberg directs.

About the Play:

Danny and Laura are a typical modern couple. She is a dedicated, hard-working lawyer while he, an underemployed actor, is a stay at home dad. Their marriage has been shifted to auto pilot as both of them strive for the American dream. But all is brought to a dead, frightening stop when their seven-year old daughter’s teacher suggests that the child is most likely transgender. What follows is a fierce and sometimes hostile battle with Danny and Ms. Spencer advocating acceptance and pre-emptive reassignment and Laura adamantly refusing either action. This highly relevant issue is the battleground for this emotional and heartbreaking story of fierce love and dreaded loss.

I am so excited to be working on such a timely piece of theatre that will, undoubtedly, start many conversations.

For more information please visit the Pioneer Theatre Company website.

I recently had the opportunity to work on Fox’s Prodigal Son. I was directed by both Glen Winter and executive producer Adam Kane. It was such a joy to be on such a welcoming set, work with Tom Payne and have special effects makeup done by Ben Bornstein.

My episode is called “Wait and Hope” and I can’t wait for you all to see it!

I had a wonderful time working on the new play The Cucuy Will Find You by Jaymes Sanchez. The Cucuy, in Mexican-American folklore, eats bad children. But what does it mean to be a good child? For a successful 30-something, like REY/REYNA, who has a fraught family history and lives far away from home, the answer is complicated. When the Cucuy shows up and disrupts Rey’s life, and the very fabric of reality, Rey must prove that they are a good child. But even if they succeed, the ordeal might still consume them.

I’m lucky enough to have played the Cucuy in this amazing new work that makes you ask questions about family, life and death.

Here are some photos from the rehearsal process:

I am thrilled to announce that I will be doing a workshop in conjunction with Yale University. I will be working on Benjamin Benne’s new play the waavvves. Sarah Ruhl will mediate and direct. I had the opportunity to work with Benjamin at the O’Neill festival. I worked on his play #nowall now known as Alma. It was a joy to work with him then and I’m sure this process will be just as lovely. I’m so excited to be able to perform and collaborate at such an amazing institution!

I am delighted to announce that I will be playing the role of Sabine during the summer 2019 production of the Three Musketeers at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. I’m excited to be back at a theatre where I was treated like family. I’m also thrilled to be able to hone my swordsmanship skills and really delve into learning some new instruments! En Gaurd!

UPDATE:

Sadly during the first preview of this show I broke my foot on stage. I took “break a leg” literally. The time I had with this amazing company is one that I will cherish forever. Everyone from the director to the fight director my scene partners and company have been the kindest in helping me do what is best for my health. They have brought me much joy in this time of grief. I’m hopeful that, in the future, I will be able to work along side these beautiful souls again.

I am delighted to announce that I will be helping direct this year’s Talent Showcase. As a 2014 Alum, the exposure I got was amazing. It helped me get into rooms and network with people that I knew I deserved to meet. However, the biggest take-away was meeting the fabulous casting department at ABC. Marci Phillips will always be a mentor I value and cherish. To be able to work along side her will be a joy!

UPDATE: The Showcase was a success. My scenes went off without a hitch and everyone had a great time! It was my pleasure to take part in this wonderful rollercoaster from the other side of the table.

“Things keep happening while you’re upstairs, ya know.
The world doesn’t stop just because you’re upstairs.”

I’m thrilled to announce that I will be performing the roll of Shelly in Buried Child at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Paul Mullins will direct. This Pulitzer Prize-winning drama marks the first time that Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will present a play by Sam Shepard who sadly passed away last year. A stunning allegory about America, Buried Child is a darkly funny and disturbing depiction of the American dream gone wrong. I am thrilled to help bring this modern American classic to life.

For more information please click here.

UPDATE:

We have gotten rave reviews for this show! So excited to share some highlights:

“Perhaps the Roundabout Theatre Company’s upcoming revival of his“True West,” which stars Paul Dano and Ethan Hawke and opens in January, will have better luck. If it’s as good as Shakespeare Theatre’s “Buried Child,” it’ll deserve to do well.” – Terry Teachout at The Wall Street Journal

“Morales brings a level of vivacious confidence to Shelly that I’ve rarely seen. More than ever, she seems a Yankee cousin to Ruth, the seductive intruder in Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming. She also strangely suggests J.M. Barrie’s Wendy, a character poised uncomfortably between mother/sister figure and gamine object of desire.” – Cameron Kelsall at BroadStreetReview.com

“BURIED CHILD by Sam Shepard at The Shakespeare Theatre of NJ is Captivating and Stunning” – Marina Kennedy at Broadway World

“…excellent production of his devastatingly powerful “Buried Child” at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey” – Jay Lustig at NJArts.net

“The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey production is a rousing success” – Allen Neuner at OutInJersey

I’m so excited to be a part of this years National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center. I’ll be performing in a new play called #nowall written by Benjamin Benne and directed by Elena Arroz. I’m sure it’ll be an experience of a lifetime!

“The National Playwrights Conference’s process of public, script-in-hand staged readings pioneered the model for new play development, establishing an industry standard now seen in theaters around the world and continues innovating today. NPC strives to create a supportive environment that empowers playwrights to their own process and to experience the play with a professional company. The 2018 National Playwrights Conference will be held June 29th through July 28th, 2018.”

Please find more information here.