Tickets $26
Torn Page
and
JBR Productions
present
Laugh While You Can
By Celine Carroll and Fiona Looney
Directed By Ray Yeates
CAST
JACK: Joe Grifasi
RUBY: Cass Morgan
VICKY: Kathleen Warner Yeates
DANNY: Ben Becher
SARAH: Sara Jean Ford
MONA: Ryah Nixon
KATE: Alma Cuervo
A workshop presentation of “Laugh While You Can,” a new musical by Celine Carroll and Fiona Looney directed by the internationally celebrated director Ray Yeates. Taking place at Torn Page, the Chelsea townhouse where Yeates – the Dublin City arts officer and former artistic director of axis: Ballymun – is an artist in residence, “Laugh While You Can” explores the touching and often funny experiences of people living with dementia and their caregivers.
WHEN: February 1st 3PM; 8PM | February 2nd 8PM
WHERE: Torn Page, 435 West 22 St (Bet 8 & 9 Ave)
SUBWAY: Subway C/E to 23 St
CAST & CREATIVE TEAM
Favorite credits include the B’way national tour of “9 to 5” (Doralee), “Moonshine: That Heehaw Musical” (Lulu), Legally Blonde (Paulette), and “Rent” (Maureen). Proud Carnegie Mellon School of Drama grad. Ryah can be heard on the cast recording of LIZZIE for Broadway Records. Next up, Ryah is starring in the world premiere of “Other World”, by the team who brought you “[title of show]”. @ryahnixon
Sara was most recently seen playing Jellylorum in the Broadway revival of CATS. Other Broadway credits include: Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera, Smitty in How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, Petra in A Little Night Music and Finian’s Rainbow. Off Broadway: Sara starred as Louisa in the The Fantasticks and can be heard on the original revival cast recording. National Tours: Wicked (Glinda/Nessarose cover), The Phantom of the Opera (Christine Daaé).Most recently, Sara produced and starred in her own adaptation of Calamity Jane at Feinstain’s/ 54 Below, making its New York City debut! Sara can be heard on Michael Jackson’s HIStory album, Harry Connick Jr.’s When my Heart Finds Christmas and the Finian’s Rainbow Revival Cast Recording. She attended Carnegie Mellon University’s prestigious Drama program. Sara currently lives in NYC with her four-year-old daughter, Annie.
Kathleen Warner Yeates has worked in stage, TV and film for over 35 years in New York, throughout the U.S., as well as in Dublin, Ireland where she now resides. Most recently, Kathleen has appeared as Aunt Carroll in the BBC One/PBS Masterpiece Theatre mini-series opposite Angela Lansbury. In film she has had the leading role in three independent feature films and many short films, as well as working as a Voice Over Artist in commercials and animation. Kathleen trained in the Master’s Program at Villanova University and works is a professional actor, director, theatre maker, acting coach and writer with her company Flying Turtle Productions in Dublin, Ireland. (www.flyingturtleproductions.com)
Ben Becher is a native New Yorker who works in theater, film and television. Ben has worked in NY theater at the Living Theatre, The Tank, The Brick and many others. Ben was most recently seen in the Sundance hit film BEFORE YOU KNOW IT along side Judith Light and Alec Baldwin. Regionally he has worked at the Long Wharf Theater and is currently back and forth from Argentina working on a new play. Ben just starred in the feature film AMERICAN THIEF, debuting in 2020.
Composed the musicals Dodsworth (starring Hal Linden & Dee Hoty) and Time After Time with collaborator Stephen Cole. Composed music for the documentary film In My Hands (directed/produced by Ann Reinking). He has written and arranged special material for: Chita Rivera, Christine Baranski, Rosie O’Donnell, Dorothy Loudon, Joel Grey, Bebe Neuwirth and others. As a music director and pianist, his Broadway credits include Allegiance, (starring Lea Salonga and George Takei), End Of The Rainbow (Broadway and LA productions), Sister Act, Chicago, Kiss Of The Spider Woman, Into The Woods, Sunday in the Park with George, The Secret Garden, The Rink, and A Chorus Line. Off Broadway: Milk And Honey, A World To Win: the songs of Sheldon Harnick (both at the York Theatre), The Fantasticks, Lucky Stiff.
Ray Yeates began directing and acting at University College Dublin in the late 70’s. He started directing at the Abbey Theatre in 1983 and was appointed Deputy Artistic Director in 1985 at the age of 24. He emigrated to New York in 1992 where he was a resident teacher at The Irish Arts Centre and The American Academy of Dramatic Art, and was Artistic Director of The Shades of Green Arts Festival in the Bronx. He returned to acting in New York performing Dermot Bolger’s ‘In High Germany’ and in The Steppenwolf/Long Wharf production of ‘The Playboy of Western World’ as well as ‘The Poetry of Stone’ by Larry Kirwan.He returned to Ireland and was appointed Director of Axis Ballymun a multi purpose Arts Centre (2004-2011). With Axis Ray has toured to America, the UK, Belgium, Poland, South Africa and around Ireland. Recent directing credits include Dermot Bolger’s ‘From These Green Heights’ (Best New Play 2004, Irish Times/ESB Theatre Awards), Executive Producer of ‘The Mental’ and ‘Out of the Silence’, Arts in Mental Health Festival in Ballymun and Donegal (2006), ‘The Townlands of Brazil’ by Dermot Bolger (2006), Festival Director for ‘Borradh Buan’ (2004 – 2008), an annual Arts in Irish Festival, ‘Walking the Road’ by Dermot Bolger (2007) ‘Our National Games’ by Gerard Humphreys (2008) and ‘The Consequences of Lightning’ by Dermot Bolger (2008).
Celine Carroll is a Singer, Songwriter, Composer and Performer from Dublin, Ireland. She has recorded and self-released three albums to date. Her musical influences are vast and varied. From the Great American Songbook, to the Beatles, to Bacharach & David and and everyone in between! Based on her own personal experience, Celine is the author and composer of the musical, ‘Laugh While You Can’ .