BWW Stage Mag Prix Fixe: The Restaurant Plays - Theater for the New City Stage Mag
Theater for the New City
Crystal Field, Artistic Director presents:
 

PRIX FIXE: The Restaurant Plays
A Student Actor Showcase

Directed by
Michael Luggio and Lindsay Van Norman

 
Featuring plays by:

Nina Shengold, Richard Vetere, Theresa Rebeck,

Deborah Lynne Frokt, Greg Lam, and Vasanti Saxena
 

Performed by the student actors of Michael Luggio Coaching

 
               
 

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Prix Fixe

The Restaurant Plays
A student actor showcase
 

1. Lives of the Great Waitresses by Nina Shengold

Three waitresses, each with her own brand of zen, share the secrets of being one of the greats.

Yetta     Lussea Crepin
Kay     Molly Brodowski
Melissa     Emily McKeon

 

2. The Kid's Menu by Richard Vetere

When a set-in-his-ways restaurant owner meets modern mom Kat, tensions and calorie counts rise.

Carmine     Sean Connelly
Kat     Ali Christovich

 

3. Big Mistake by Theresa Rebeck

Have you ever run into your ex on a night out? … Yeah.

Brian     Dylan Castro
Paul     Rushi Birudala
Annie     Molly Brodowski
Lorna     Emily McKeon

 

4. Hard-Boiled by Deborah Lynne Frokt

An after-work drink turns into a battle of the sexes after Kramer, a female lawyer, is promoted above her male colleagues.

Jackson     Bradley Marco
Mickey     Bertrand Roy
Kramer     Alexandra Bruckner

 

5. Stick and Move by Greg Lam

On a first date, it's always good to have someone in your corner. It's rough out there, so keep your guard up

Anthony     Jace Palm
Haley     Lussea Crepin
Sully     Sean Connelly
Doris     Molly Brodowski

 

6. Closing Time by Vasanti Saxena

As closing time approaches, an ex-lover surges into one woman's restaurant seeking re-entry into both her bed and her heart.

Monica     Alexandra Bruckner
Fred     Johny Luong
Cass     Ali Christovich
 
Setting: Tonight in a New York restaurant.
 
Runtime 70 mins
No Intermission

Meet the Cast

Bradley Marco

(๐˜‘๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ฌ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ-๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ)
Bradley Marco - (๐˜‘๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ฌ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ-๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ) Always striving to bring characters to life by showing behaviors and feelings that are real, Bradley Marco works hard as a professional actor, stand-up comic, and show host. As a professional actor, Bradley is determined to expand his range through continuous training. Additionally, studying the words within the script, he finds moments to show both vulnerability and authenticity. In all his endeavors, Bradley Marco's dedication and love for his craft as a performer drives him to continuously grow.

Molly Brodowski

(๐˜’๐˜ข๐˜บ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜“๐˜ช๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜Ž๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ž๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ด, ๐˜ˆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜‰๐˜ช๐˜จ ๐˜”๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ , ๐˜‹๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฌ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜”๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ)
Molly Brodowski - (๐˜’๐˜ข๐˜บ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜“๐˜ช๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜Ž๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ž๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ด, ๐˜ˆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜‰๐˜ช๐˜จ ๐˜”๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ , ๐˜‹๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฌ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜”๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ) Molly Brodowski (she/her) is thrilled to be playing Kay/Annie/Doris in Prix Fixe: The Restaurant Plays. Molly is an actor, artist, and model based in New York. She has been involved in many theatre and film productions, including CNN's JEFFERSON: AN AMERICAN ILLUSION and THE CLOWNS(both forthcoming). When she's not performing onstage, she's involved in production as a set designer and stage manager. She is thankful to be a part of this appetizing production!

Sean Connelly

(๐˜Š๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜’๐˜ช๐˜ฅ'๐˜ด ๐˜”๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ถ, ๐˜š๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ญ๐˜บ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฌ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜”๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ)
Sean Connelly - (๐˜Š๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜’๐˜ช๐˜ฅ'๐˜ด ๐˜”๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ถ, ๐˜š๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ญ๐˜บ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฌ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜”๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ) Sean Connelly is delighted to be performing again at Theater for the New City. For many years, Sean directed his acting towards the courtroom where he acted โ€“ er-- argued cases for 32 years in New Jersey and New York. When a chance appearance in a film occurred in 2016, Sean's love of acting was rekindled. Sean studied with several instructors until good fortune led him to Michael Luggio in 2017. He most recently appeared in THIS RANDOM WORLD (Theatre for the New City). An accomplished horseman, Sean sang with the Metro-Lyric Opera for 10 years, plays the piano and harp, enjoys dancing, reading, good company and, of course, any spirited debate.

Johny Luong

(๐˜๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜Š๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜›๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ)
Johny Luong - (๐˜๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜Š๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜›๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ) Johny is excited to be a part of Prix Fixe - The Restaurant Plays. He studies acting under the tutelage of Michael Luggio. He's also a martial artist and bodybuilder. He wants to thank his family, friends, classmates, and teachers for being on this journey with him.

Alexandra Bruckner

(๐˜’๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ ๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ, ๐˜”๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ข ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜Š๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜›๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ)
Alexandra Bruckner - (๐˜’๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ ๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ, ๐˜”๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ข ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜Š๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜›๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ) Alex is very excited to be making her NYC debut in Prix Fixe: The Restaurant Plays. Her most recent work includes playing The Bakerโ€™s Wife in Arizona Repertory Theatreโ€™s production of INTO THE WOODS. In her free time, Alex loves to write poetry, explore coffee shops, and bask in the sun like a little lizard. Besides her current pursuit of acting for stage and film, Alex has vocally trained in opera, classical, and musical theatre voice for 15 years. Thank you to my family for the love and support from coast to coast, and my boyfriend Matthew.

Rushi Birudala

(๐˜—๐˜ข๐˜ถ๐˜ญ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜‰๐˜ช๐˜จ ๐˜”๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ)
Rushi Birudala - (๐˜—๐˜ข๐˜ถ๐˜ญ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜‰๐˜ช๐˜จ ๐˜”๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ) Rushi discovered his love for acting while pursuing a film minor in college, and what started as a hobby quickly turned into a full-fledged passion. Recently, Rushi's latest project, Magnolia Pictures' "The Time for Doing Something Has Passed", hit theaters to critical acclaim. This indie film not only solidified his love for the world of independent cinema, but also his love for comedy.

Dylan Castro

(๐˜‰๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ข๐˜ฏ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜‰๐˜ช๐˜จ ๐˜”๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ)
Dylan Castro - (๐˜‰๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ข๐˜ฏ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜‰๐˜ช๐˜จ ๐˜”๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ) Dylan is very excited to be a part of Prixe Fixe: The Restaurant plays at Theater for New City. He's recently worked on two commercials for Spectrum and Netflix. Dylan studied theatre at UMass Amherst, where he received a BFA, and attended the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University. For fun Dylan enjoys the gym, and working with Experience Camps organization to provide resources for grieving kids. Dylan would like to thank his mother and family, along with his friends, the Experience Camps Organization and his Manager TJ Stein.

Bertrand Roy

(๐˜”๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ๐˜บ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ-๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ)
Bertrand Roy - (๐˜”๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ๐˜บ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ-๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ) Bertrand is a New York based actor born and raised in Haiti. He is very excited and pleased to be part of such an amazing Theatre production. He graduated from the prestigious Lee Strasberg theatre and film institute. He can last be seen in the Haitian film Freda nominated at the Cannes film festival in 2021. Bertrand would like to thank Lindsay and Michael for their guidance and support.

Ali Christovich

(๐˜’๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜’๐˜ช๐˜ฅ'๐˜ด ๐˜”๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ถ, ๐˜Š๐˜ข๐˜ด๐˜ด ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜Š๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜›๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ)
Ali Christovich - (๐˜’๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜’๐˜ช๐˜ฅ'๐˜ด ๐˜”๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ถ, ๐˜Š๐˜ข๐˜ด๐˜ด ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜Š๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜›๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ) Ali is thrilled to be back onstage for her official NY debut! Her last speaking role was Mrs. Winsley in Stop Kiss, but she is best known for her ensemble acting work, playwriting, singing, and terrible puns. Ali studied theatre at College of the Holy Cross and later graduated from NYU Tisch with an MA in Performance Studies. When she's not "pre-fixed" with acting (see? terrible), she can be found singing Hamilton at a karaoke bar. Ali would like to thank her partner Travis and her mentor Michael for their continued support and reminders to relax.

Lussea Cress

(๐˜ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ต๐˜ข ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜“๐˜ช๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜Ž๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ž๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ด, ๐˜๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜บ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฌ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜”๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ)
Lussea Cress - (๐˜ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ต๐˜ข ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜“๐˜ช๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜Ž๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ž๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ด, ๐˜๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜บ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฌ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜”๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ) Lussea is very excited to be a part of Prix Fixe at the Theater for the New City. She recently joined the coaching classes of Michael Luggio and has studied at the NewYork Combat for Stage and screen school. Coming from Paris, France, Lussea is honored to be able to perform here in the big Apple and showcase her passion for the art. Her comedy videos can be found at @Lussea on IG.

Emily McKeon

(๐˜”๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ด๐˜ข ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜“๐˜ช๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜Ž๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ž๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ด, ๐˜“๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜‰๐˜ช๐˜จ ๐˜”๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ)
Emily McKeon - (๐˜”๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ด๐˜ข ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜“๐˜ช๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜Ž๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ž๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ด, ๐˜“๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜‰๐˜ช๐˜จ ๐˜”๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ) Emily McKeon is from Southern New Jersey and has been studying with Michael Luggio since October 2023. Previous independent film credits include HOME BY NOW and STEALING CARS. This is Emilyโ€™s New York City stage debut, and she is excited to continue practicing and growing within the industry.

Jace Palm

(๐˜ˆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜บ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฌ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜”๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ)
Jace Palm - (๐˜ˆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜บ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฌ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜”๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ) I am thrilled to take on the role of Anthony in Stick And Move. Being Anthony in this scene relives and recreates the thrilling, confusing, and ultimately fun experience of hopping on a first date with someone I'm attracted to. That's what I like about acting! That blend of anticipation and awkwardness. I started working with Michael Luggio in Jan 2023. A big step I've crossed is to learn to be within contact with myself and be bold enough to come up with brilliant ideas. After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, I'm navigating the early stages of my acting career, trusting in the process and enjoying every step. Cheers!

Michael Luggio

Director
Michael Luggio - Director Directing credits include: AD & NED, ORPHANS, DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, A HARD RAIN(US Premiere, Theatre for the New City). Most recently directed a production of THIS RANDOM WORLD by Steven Dietz at Theatre for the New City. Michael began his teaching career in 1999 at the Third Street Theatre in Los Angeles. Since that time, he has directed and taught at various theaters and schools in both Los Angeles and New York, including The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. He began teaching privately in 2008, and currently teaches scene study and on-camera acting classes to intermediate and advanced actors in NYC. michaelluggio.com

Lindsay Van Norman

Co-Director
Directing/Producing credits include AD&NED (Theater for the New City), A HARD RAIN (US Premiere, Theater for the New City) and multiple student showcases for Michael Luggio Coaching(MLC). Stage credits include THIS RANDOM WORLD, BRILLIANT TRACES, DOG SEES GOD, and LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT. BFA Musical Theater from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. In addition to acting and directing, Lindsay teaches On-Camera Acting classes for the students of MLC. Thank you to this excellent cast who have made this show come alive!

Set and Design Crew:

Johny Luong Bertrand Roy
Bradley Marco Sean Connelly
Emily McKeon  

 

Special thanks to: 

Crystal Field
Emily Pezella
Alex Bartenieff

 

 

PRIX FIXE presented with the cooperation of: 

Theater for the New City was founded in 1970 by Crystal Field, George Bartenieff, Larry Kornfeld and Theo Barnes. Now in its 53rd year, Theater for The New City is dedicated to producing established and emerging playwrights and to presenting the work of small developmental theater companies, all of whom experiment with new forms; and to expand theater accessibility and enhance the cultural dialogue though our Community Programs.

 

Michael Luggio, founder of Michael Luggio Coaching, works with actors continuing their training at the professional level.  Established in 2008, he applies over 25 years of experience to his work the classroom teaching acting for the stage and camera. Offering classes for intermediate to advanced actors in Scene Study, Character Development, and a variety of On-Camera classes, students at Michael Luggio Coaching develop their skills in class and on stage to take the next steps in their careers.  www.michaelluggio.com

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