Huntington Hibernians To Host First Virtual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

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February 22, 2021

The Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is a beloved annual event that takes place every March in Huntington. Yet the ongoing coronavirus pandemic made a traditional event an impossibility for 2021, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians made the agonizing decision to cancel. In response to this, parade organizers have decided to host a virtual parade, billed as a direct result of Irish pride and yankee ingenuity.

Each year the parade serves as more than an enjoyable day on the town, it is also an important time for fundraising to fund the numerous scholarship programs and stocking of local food pantries that the Order of the Hibernians — which has organized the parade for 87 years — host every year with no government funding. In other words, every program the organization offers is funded by donations.

One of the key organizers is working actor Leer Leary, the composer of the P.C. Richard & Son “Whistle,” who noted that selling ads in the Parade Journal is the main way to raise funds. The online event is a way to continue the tradition of the parade and raise money to help people in the coming year which is likely to be gloomy, bleak, and financially difficult for many. The online event will feature a showcase of the organizers and sponsors as well as the Hibernians explaining who they are and what they do replete with bagpipes, history, and fun.

Leer Leary will serve as the MC, and he recently discussed the event with the Press.

What is your connection to Huntington and how did you get involved with the Huntington Hibernians? There is a long standing inside joke amongst Irishmen that you are either Shanty-Irish or Lace Curtain Irish … it’s the classic “Posh vs. Commoner” status stratus. It does not exist in America in the 21st Century. However, old timers like me like to kid others. When I was approached by Regis O’Neil to join, my first question was “Oh my, have they lowered the standards?” It was such an honor, I jumped at the opportunity eventually being sponsored by newly elected President John Broderick. So many of us in the United States are from multicultural backgrounds and sometimes one whole side of the family might be overlooked. In my family, with a very strong German mother, we were exposed to the language, the food and customs … I even have Lederhosen. Becoming a Hibernian allowed me to be immersed in what 47 percent of my DNA tells me what I am (thanks, 23 & Me) instead of the 43 percent Deutsch. The story of the Irish is inspiring to anyone who learns it — the challenges, the victories, the songs, the dance, the stories and most importantly: the laughs!

What are some of the most important programs that the organization hosts yearly? We award scholarships to young people going off to university as well as add support to five SEPTA programs at different high schools in our town. My personal favorite is the ongoing food drives throughout the year to keep local food pantries well-stocked. The best feeling in the world is being able to provide the town with over 250 full Thanksgiving meals: whole turkey, potatoes, vegetables, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, rolls and even pumpkin pie! Some we hand deliver to families that have written to their local church. As we hand over the food, laughter and tears abound on the front porches of those homes — classic Irish fun!

How did the pandemic impact your community service efforts in 2020? Interaction of any sort was virtually eliminated. That goes for fundraising as well as the community being able to contribute to us as we’d set up donation stations outside local markets. We had to look elsewhere.

How did you get the idea to create a virtual parade for 2021? As things closed down because of the pandemic, two things were occurring at the same time: the Dominican Sisters and Northwell Health were holding online fundraisers in lieu of their normal end of year dinners. We were of course interested in our Grand Marshal’s company and I was the host of the Homecoming Farm offerings. When it came down to the crushing decision of canceling our parade, the question on everyone’s mind was “What do we do now?” The success of the two events above made us think we might have an answer.

Who is going to be featured in this virtual parade and how long will it run for? We will have bagpipes of course and a smattering of “who we are and what we do” as Hibernians. Interwoven will be some raffles, recipes and fun with a dash of Irish history. The “parade” will be marching on YouTube for at least the length of National Irish History Month (March).

Is this event live, recorded, or a mix of both? All pre-recorded.

You’re an actor, so how does this influence your MC abilities? I will never forget learning that the biggest fear amongst humans is speaking in public. I have never felt nervous nor butterflies. Yes, I know it’s a blessing. It is this “gift of gab” (what some may call Blarney) that makes it very easy for me to stand in front of a group and inform/entertain. As long as I am prepared with a proper fact sheet or script and a wee bit of rehearsal everything should be fine.

What is the best thing about organizing the parade? Not that long ago the sight of a bunch of Irishmen walking down Main Street would strike fear in the hearts of shopkeepers and community leaders! The parade to me is a classic demonstration of “You’ve come a long way baby!” Not many folks know that newspaper employment ads in New York City used to include the phrase “no Irish need apply.” Catholic churches were burned, priests hauled into the streets and beaten. That’s why the Hibernians were formed in America but now we’ve directed that spirit of friendship, unity and Christian charity to everyone in town. The parade brings everyone together. Anyone who is Irish and anyone who wishes they were (which is everyone else!). I walk down that street and think of my father saying “wow, they let us in the front door.”

How would you like to see the Huntington Hibernians expand their programming in the future? I would like us to go into schools during Irish History Month and share a program on Immigration … travels and travails and dot it with the vibrant Irish literature and songs/dance.

Do you think the next live parade — 2022 — will be an especially big party? Monumental! You’ll be able to see it from space.

To learn more, visit the official websites of The Huntington Hibernians, Huntington Town and Leer Leary.

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Spark Creative Works Launches Women’s Playwriting Project

By

Meagan J. Meehan

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February 5, 2021

142403263_10104185511228930_6363783484671334871_n — Spark Creative Works is turning playwright submissions into short films during the pandemic. Photo courtesy of Spark Creative Works)

Spark Creative Works, a Long Island-based, women-led nonprofit theatrical group dedicated to fostering opportunities for original female authors, is turning top submissions from its Women’s Playwriting Festival into big-screen motion pictures.

The call for writers attracted more than 350 short play submissions. Of those, the top 25 scripts were to be performed live in a new format so that the show can go on safely and will be turned into short films that will be shown at an outdoor venue during the summer of 2021. In addition, 100 plays that were in consideration for the Top 25 spots were selected for virtual showcases, which can be accessed through the group’s website.

While plays and short films are the current focus of the organization, improv performances, stand-up comedy nights, puppetry, music, dance projects, and more are also featured and welcome. Spark Creative Works is the parent company of Cherry Bomb Improv, LI’s first all-women’s improv and comedy troupe.

Spark Creative Works was founded by actress, writer, and director Jes Almeida who has more than 18 years of on-stage experience, including appearing at the renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She is a company member of the Long Island Children’s Museum Theatre and has started delving into the movie industry via work on several short films, independent films, and large-scale productions.

Over the course of her career, she noticed a dearth of opportunities for female directors and playwrights (especially in the local community) as well as a lack of quality roles available to women. She decided to make a change. With her longtime friend and colleague, Megan Toffolo, Almeida established Spark Creative Works Inc.—the name an allusion to sparking ideas and conversations.

Almeida recently discussed the organization, her career, and the Women’s Playwriting Project.

How did you discover your passion for theatre and how did you establish yourself in the industry? My passion for the arts was discovered pretty early on. My father was an on-air radio personality in Connecticut and most of my immediate family have always been supporters of the arts. My father was a fan of Broadway and music in general and absolutely passed that love down to my brother and me. We had a very musical household. Eventually, that led me to take opera lessons, flute lessons and audition for local community theatre programs at 12 years old. Most people would be very surprised if you told them now, but I used to be very shy as a kid! The arts really helped me open up. At that point, I gave up sports and joined my high school theatre group. My passion always ran strong! In addition to our high school theatre program, I sought out performance opportunities outside of school like roles in other regional theatre groups and on local short film projects that were close to home in Connecticut. I even began researching how to get more involved in the business at age 14 looking back on it… I was a comically committed kid! Admittedly, I’ve always been a bit ambitious and my parents (my father in particular) were very supportive of that. For this, I am very thankful because that isn’t always the case for many artists and I was never pressured to choose a profession that did not feel fulfilling.

I have always been torn over my love for theatre and film. I began my first year as an undergrad at Hofstra University’s as a theatre major where I considered switching my major to a production/film-related major. I decided to transfer to Western CT State University to pursue performance. To not feel like just a number in a huge department I wanted to have a smaller class size and in turn more hands-on opportunities. It was the right decision. With WestCon I had the opportunity to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland and took part in several NYC productions. In addition, I had the opportunity to compete at the KCACTF (Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival) three times in different areas of performance and production.

During my education I also worked in a featured background actor capacity on two large-scale SAG productions which earned me my SAG eligibility. After graduating I moved to Long Island due to its closer proximity to the city and I began establishing myself through auditioning for various theaters on Long Island. While attending college I also discovered a love for directing and made connections with fellow artists that I still maintain to this day. Some of which are working on this project! We would take part in 48-hour film festivals in which you have 48 hours to complete a short film from start to finish.

It’s a tough business and people tend to give up. Every artist gets discouraged at one point or another. I’ve learned to focus on positive outcomes and not fixate on the negative. I’m lucky to have had so many opportunities which I attribute to more than just luck. I had great teachers along the way who not only taught me to go out and seek those opportunities, but to create my own because very rarely do they ever just fall into your lap.

How did you first become aware of the lack of opportunities for women in theater and why do you think this dearth exists? Growing up in Connecticut, I was raised with a strong sense of gender equality by my parents, particularly my father, and had a very feminist (male and female) teacher support system. Coming into the real world and auditioning and applying for other theatre companies and film projects on Long Island and in New York I quickly came to the realization that with each connection I made and each step up the ladder I took, there were less women in the room with me making decisions.

Both theatre and film industries have an undeniable gender gap in leadership positions such as director, producers, designers, and other crew positions- not to mention actors! There are far more lead roles and supporting roles of substance for men compared to what is available to women. When they are available it is hard to avoid noticing how women are portrayed; killed off, pushed aside, and used as one-dimensional objects to tell a male narrative. For a contrasting example: Peaky Blinders (Netflix) uses the rape and murder of women as a foundation for the male character’s sense of morality instead of portraying these events from the female character’s perspective to build her character up. But The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix) beautifully captures the journey of a young woman in a man’s world of chess competitions during the 1960s. The men around her helped build her up and were fully realized characters themselves. The main character had profound struggles that felt grounded and not one murder or rape was necessary to add depth to her journey. It has me questioning, with so many stories left to tell…why do we keep telling the same ones?

Why do I think this dearth exists? Well, partly, because the industry perpetuates it. I think it is rare for women to be sought out in particular for leadership positions unless the subject matter pertains to women specifically. Often, we see males in leadership roles offer new positions that may open up under their leadership to fellow males. I don’t think these issues are always at the forefront of a decision maker’s mind and ingrained habits are difficult to break. We are still evolving as a society and it has taken us a long time to get as far as we are right now and it will take more time to get to a true place of equality regarding representation in the industry.

It’s worth noting that men are just as important to gender equality. It’s all about working together, side by side, to make sure opportunities are evenly distributed and that the work we’re putting out into the world represents stories and people in an appropriate and varying way.

Making a commitment to empowering women within our creative community is the first step towards equal representation.

How difficult was it to establish Spark Creative Works and keep it afloat? Establishing Spark took a lot of research, hard work, and some exceptionally long nights. Our VP Megan Toffolo and I established this group together and we have had our hand in everything from our initial nonprofit filing to establishing our logo, website branding, and marketing. We submit for our own grants and create our own programs. It has truly been a labor of love and a journey we have learned so much from. Keeping it afloat, like with many small arts companies has its challenges and this pandemic has not made it easy on any of us, as we haven’t been able to hold any live events this year. However, we are lucky that we are a bit of a nomadic group that functions on a project-to-project basis, which allows us to scale up or down as needed and we were able to switch gears with our project. In addition, our five board members have done an amazing job consulting with each other, making wise decisions together and keeping us afloat. I am truly thankful to have such a dedicated team of professionals on board; Megan Toffolo (Vice President), Jackie Massé (Treasurer), Nikki Silva (Secretary), and Gianna Zuffante (Board Member/Marketing & Events Coordinator) work fervently beside me providing support, expertise, and new ideas to make sure we are fulfilling our mission as a nonprofit arts company.

I am so grateful to have such a wonderful team, and more than that, we’ve all become greater friends in the process.

How did you select the 125 plays to produce out of more than 350? What, specifically, did you seek? Well, we ended up getting a lot more submissions than anticipated and we attribute some of that to the initial Covid-19 shutdown. Writers needed an outlet and we were happy to provide one. We organized reading groups over Zoom that lasted 3-to-4 hours a night for five days a week for two months to get through all of the submissions and I actually read all of them! Every single one. These readings always had at least two of our board members present and a group of actors.

We would read each play then discuss them briefly after which the group would assign it a score. This sparked (pardon the pun) some great discussions. Many of the actors involved loved the process as it gave them something to keep their skills fresh and to work on since our community cannot perform live yet.

In terms of material, we were looking for original short play scripts under 21 pages. When selecting plays we were looking for scripts that portrayed layered women that were not one-dimensional characters. We were looking for work that spoke to the female experience and female issues across the board. Of course, the most important requirement was that each piece must be written by a woman.

How did you choose the 25 plays to be turned into short films? There was a lot to consider. We took the top 50 highest-scoring plays and took a look into which locations seemed feasible given the current health restrictions. We had to consider the number of actors and crew members we could have on each set due to the pandemic. Most importantly we asked ourselves, “What stories best highlight women’s issues?” “What stories present women as individuals with a well-rounded narrative?” and “What stories do we need to hear?”

Where do you envision the live film festival taking place? Since our initial expansion of the project, we have always envisioned and planned for an outdoor venue where people could come and enjoy our event safely and distanced. We are still uncertain as to what restrictions will be like come early September so we are at the mercy of the current health guidelines as is the rest of our industry. We stand by those guidelines. We want to make sure everyone involved and our audience members are able to view our work safely.

Which plays stood out to you in particular and why? Oh my goodness, hard question! One of them that really stuck with me was a virtual play that we just streamed during our first showcase called The Cleaning Ladies written by Clinnesha D. Sibley. The play takes place on the same day as the assassination of Malcolm X at the Audubon theatre where it happened. The playwright was researching the topic and found that there were three cleaning ladies that were sent to clean up the scene of the murder that day. Without much info on the real cleaning ladies, Clinnesha envisioned the characters of Thelma, Melanie, and Stephanie. She constructed (and beautifully so) a play that tackles the issues of being a black woman at the time of the assassination and what that moment meant to the black community. Clinnesha was also amazing to work with! She answered questions and left room for discussion, exploration, and the process. This play is a prime example of how the arts give a platform to issues that need to be highlighted. It’s important to discuss race even if it makes us uncomfortable. The play holds so much relevance to the current climate of racial injustice and it’s important to acknowledge the past and work to make the world better for everyone in it. I hope it has so much success beyond our festival.

How do you determine which plays will run in each specific month? We have a list of the plays we’ve selected to be presented virtually and we work to create balance in our showcase. Many factors are weighed by our committee such as which issues are to be highlighted, comedy vs. drama, and length of pieces which collectively need to fall under three hours in length. All of these factors help us create our virtual showcase line-up each month. We are rooting for the success of all of our playwrights!

Might this become an annual event? We would love to make this an annual event! Producing original work is a truly fulfilling experience for all involved. The original format of the festival was envisioned as a live performance however due to the circumstances beyond our control we adapted quickly and productively to expand the festival to virtual and film formats. We are grateful for the trust each playwright, actor, director, and crew members have given us in the making of this festival. So, in the future Spark Creative Works will continue to adapt and provide the space and platform for female voices to be heard.

How do you hope your career evolves and expands from here? My definition of success might differ from many, but personally, I just want to keep creating good work and work that is important to me. As long as I can keep doing that and help extend those opportunities to others, I will consider myself very fulfilled. One goal of mine has always been to start my own theatre and film production company which I am working towards currently despite a global pandemic. Thinking about that feels wild and I’m so proud of what this group has been able to accomplish during this time.

What projects are coming up for you soon and is there anything else that you would like to mention? This festival will be keeping us busy until the end of the summer. Beyond, Spark Creative Works has the intention to produce live events as soon as we are able. This will include classical works with a fresh spin, plays by established female authors and more opportunities to showcase new works. We would also like to send a huge thank you out to The Huntington Arts Council as they have been very flexible in regard to working with their grant projects during the course of the pandemic.

If anyone is interested in our mission and getting involved with us you can find more info at sparkcreativeworksli.org. If you are looking for ways to support what we do, we have opportunities for business sponsorships. In addition, we are a nonprofit organization so any donations to our project are tax deductible and will go towards our current project and creating future opportunities for women artists.

To learn more about the Women’s Playwriting Project and/or Spark Creative Works, visit their official website, Facebook, and follow the, on Instagram via @spark_creative_works

For more entertainment coverage, visit longislandpress.com/category/entertainment

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Live It Up: Donna Drake Show Debuts New Studio on Long Island

By

Meagan J. Meehan

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January 22, 2021

Motivational weekly talk show The Donna Drake Show: Live it Up! that has inspired audiences nationwide and around the world for more than a decade is now airing from a new studio on Long Island.

Drake specializes in interviewing professionals who work in in a wide range of industries in the areas of Long Island, New York City, and beyond on her 30-minute show broadcast in 25 countries on CBS’s WLNY-TV channel 10/55 and can be seen on Dish and DIRECTV as well as YouTube, Syncbak’s Vuit, Apple TV and Roku. It focuses on topics which both entertain and educate and revolve around instilling feelings of hope, happiness, optimism, motivation, resilience, and empowerment in viewers. To date, the show has produced more than 600 episodes and over 7,500 interviews with such celebrity guests as including Jay Leno, Howie Mandell, Mel Brooks, Tony Bennett, Gloria Estefan, Rita Moreno, and Tom Selleck.

The show has long held a studio on Long Island, but 2021 marks a new era with a brand-new full-service production studio in Melville on the site of the former CBS/WLNY TV 10/55 studio space. This is full circle for Donna, who started her New York media career working in the promotions department of WLNY in 1997, eventually overseeing the entire department as Creative Services Director before leaving to create The Donna Drake Show in 2009. Now her studio is in the very same space.

The 3,000-square-foot space is also available for rent for productions and podcasts. As part of the redesign, multipurpose grid-lit studios with technology upgrades, green screens, cyc wall, additional hard scenery; accent furnishings will be added, along with a renovated greenroom, a guest area and a full-service podcast studio. Donna also intends to turn the studios’ hallway into a gallery where local artists can exhibit art on a rotating basis.

In mid-January, I met Drake in person at the new studio. Warm, welcoming, and easy to talk to, she has carefully designed her studio to make guests feel at ease. From a 1950s-style kitchen to a comfortable seating area, the space is designed to elicit feelings of being in a cozy home, a safe space. A meticulous decorator, Drake even has her childhood television set installed in the studio’s sitting area, an ode to her past.

Yet for all the coziness of the backstage spaces, the actual filming set is very large, technologically equipped, and versatile. Wheeled backdrops make it possible to easily assemble almost any backdrop and there is a green-screen section. Sound stages, a podcast center, an audio room, and an editing center are also part of the complex as is a complex lighting system. Donna is also proud of the number of props she has been able to fit into the space, leaving room for an abundance of opportunities to change the aesthetics, giving viewers a new set to enjoy as they watch each episode.

“We film The Donna Drake Show one day a month,” Drake explained. “We then have time to edit the segments into episodes that we and our guests are proud of.”

Perhaps as a direct result of her own acting experiences, Drake is passionate about helping filmmakers. She is happy to rent her space to other creatives, such as directors who are looking for spaces in which to shoot movies. Donna is also interested in hosting cultural events, such as a forthcoming Irish Heritage Day.

“I have been singing since I was little growing up in Saint Louis and I know many classic Irish songs,” she said before kindly sharing a few lines of Irish Lullaby. “I would be happy to include some of those songs in the episode but we are still working out all the details.”

Although she has interviewed everyone from museum directors to Jerry Springer, Donna remains passionate about finding and fostering up-and-current talent. To that end, she recently partnered with the Paramount Theater in Huntington, a beacon of the arts that is connected with the Spotlight Gallery, to highlight local artists and their works created during quarantine through “Betwixt: Thanks 4 U” a social media awareness campaign.

“I love to meet people and make connections,” Drake said. “I like helping people and all that good karma has returned over and over again. People need to help one another and that message of positivity and collaboration is what my show is all about.”

Perhaps no story illustrates this better than that of AJ Espinoza, a young girl who aspired to be a master of the culinary arts. After losing her home in Superstorm Sandy, AJ gained weight after eating mainly fast foods, a direct result of having no kitchen or way to prepare her own meals.

“The other kids at her school would laugh at her and ask how she was going to be a chef when she didn’t even have a kitchen—just awful cruel statements,” Drake said. “I knew I had to help her so I had her come on the show and surprised her with a range Sub Zero had donated. We had a kitchen set up and filmed her making empanadas. Her goal was to sell enough to get money to attend a private school where she could escape the bullies. Not only was she successful, but we won a Telly Award for the episode. I have one of the statues and the ceremony organizers were nice enough to give AJ one, too.”

This story truly highlights what The Donna Drake show is all about: creativity, caring, learning, growing, and uplifting oneself and others. Perhaps the show’s strongest asset is its versatility. It has segments that will appeal to people of all backgrounds and ages.

“When I secured this studio, I could have been selfish and said it’s for my uses only but I didn’t want to do that,” Drake said. “I want to be able to share this space with other creatives. Artists need to help each other and, together, we can help continue Long Island’s legacy as a haven of the arts.”

A marketing, advertising, and communications expert as well as a TV wiz, Drake has partnered with brands such as Green Mountain Coffee, Coca-Cola and The Melting Pot as well as professional sports teams and celebrities. Drake Media Network provides expert strategies for brands via broadcast, promos, commercials, print, social media, storytelling and events. Moreover, Drake Media Network is also the creator of The Online Trade Show Network (OTSN) and Virtual Gala Network which aim to help companies and nonprofits promote their services and fundraise.

For her contributions to media, Donna has won many awards including two Telly Awards, a British Airways “Face to Face” award for best entrepreneur, the Goddess Artemis Award from the Euro-American Women’s Council, and a Global Citizenship award from the United Nations. 2020 marked twelve years of the iconic show’s premiere and plans are currently underway for much bigger endeavors in the near future. Over the past dozen years, she has interviewed entertainers, sports stars, journalists, entrepreneurs, authors, motivational speakers, medical professionals, wellness experts, beauty and fashion icons, chefs, nonprofit groups and everyday heroes who share their stories of triumph, inspiration and perseverance.

Drake was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Her career began at Technisonic Studios where she selected music and sound effects for radio and television commercials. She went on to produce and host numerous television, film, and multimedia projects. Around this time, she launched her own public-access show titled “Indies Insider” and the art-focused podcast “After Party.”

She is the daughter of a painter and the mother of Matthew Dunninger, Andrew Drake, and sculptor Elise Drake, which gives her a strong affinity for the arts. Aside from her work in communications, Donna is an actress and narrator who has appeared on both the stage and screen.

Her career also opened academic doors. She is a former college professor who specialized in new media and broadcasting with experiences lecturing at Five Towns College, New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), Hofstra and Long Island University (LIU). She presently tours as a TEDx speaker promoting her self-developed principles of FOCUS (Figuring Out Consistent Unique Strengths). These opportunities also allow her to discuss her 2006 book titled “Got Cancer? Just Roll Over and LIVE” which is a heartfelt memoir dedicated to her second husband, Tom LaScala. More recently, she penned a featured chapter in the best-selling book, “Manifesting Your Dreams Inspiring Words of Encouragement, Strength, & Perseverance” as collected by Marla McKenna.

Drake is heavily involved with the arts and she is credited with creating the Huntington Arts Council’s “Laff-Off Comedy Competition” and “Got Talent?” Competitions. She is an active member of Futures of America, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. In 2020, Long Island Business News (LIBN) named her among the Top 50 Most Influential Business Women.

To learn more, follow The Donna Drake Show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

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Theatre Three Keeps Arts Alive With Off-Stage/On-Line Series

By

Meagan J. Meehan

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June 17, 2020

Nothing Lasts with names — Nothing Lasts is one of the twice-weekly Zoom-based plays that Theatre Three in Port Jefferson is posting online this summer to keep the venue active through the pandemic.

Theatre Three in Port Jefferson is keeping the arts alive despite being closed due to COVID-19 with a series of virtually presented plays entitled Off-Stage/On-Line.

Each play is 15 minutes or fewer, garnered from writers across the world, and are posted to Theatre Three’s YouTube channel. They are free to view.

Presenting plays in such an original way can prove challenging, so playwrights were asked to create work that was specifically intended to take place via Zoom, which is the system of communication and recording that the actors and directors use to bring the plays to life.

The genres presented have run the gauntlet from dark comedies to serious drama, and characters have ranged from fireflies, to vampires, to players in a noir-themed audiobook. By using the constraints of the internet platform to find a way to tell a story, the writers have essentially created a new genre of theater: remote, accessible to everyone who has an internet connection, and extremely creative and entertaining.

Off-Stage/On-Line debuted on May 3 with a comedy entitled Taking Sum Lumps, by Ken Preuss, starring Michelle LaBozzetta and Brian Smith. Since then, a new play has premiered every Sunday and Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on YouTube, Facebook, and Theatre Three’s website. As of this post, additional plays are officially scheduled into August. To date, Theatre Three has received more than 400 script submissions and the call is still open.

The series is directed by Theatre Three’s Artistic Director Jeffrey Sanzel. Technical production is by Tim Haggerty and Eric J. Hughes. They are very proud of this ongoing online festival which is made possible by a generous sponsorship from Alan Schelp and features plays from writers as local as Setauket and as far as New Zealand.

Sanzel spoke with the Press about this series, his experiences working as an artistic director during a global pandemic, and more.

What was it like to be at the helm of a theater when the pandemic hit? It was strange and a bit disorienting. We were towards the end of our Joseph run; Steel Magnolias was two weeks to tech; this year’s One-Act Festival was three weeks to tech. There was a children’s show running and another going into rehearsal. And then, in just a few days, we had to stop everything. I don’t think we fully understood what was to come. At first, we all assumed we’d be shut down for a month, six weeks at most. As those first few weeks played out, we realized the severity of the situation.

Who came up with the idea to put a series of plays online and how tough has it been to record them, edit them, and get the costuming and props for them? At first, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do to keep our presence out there. I saw that theatres were doing interview shows and mini-concerts and many of them were doing those things very well. I also went to a number of virtual readings — some worked, some didn’t. I know that when I get a video link and I see that it runs 40 minutes or longer, I am very unlikely to watch it. If I see that it runs ten to 15 minutes, I’ll find the time. We’ve had a great success with our annual Festival of One-Act Plays so I thought that would work best for us. I put out a call and got a huge response right away. We’ve done all of the rehearsing on Zoom as well as the taping. The theatre’s sound designer, Tim Haggerty, has been doing all of the editing. He spends hours after we tape working on the pieces, sometimes doing up to five drafts. He’s done incredible work. We’ve only had a few specialty prop and costume pieces so it hasn’t been much of an issue. They’re predominantly realistic plays done in real time.

You received a huge number of submissions. How do you decide on the ones you will feature? That’s a hard question. It’s like with the One-Act Festival. I read them and go for a visceral reaction. If I think they have a possibility, I pass them on to my co-producers, Douglas Quattrock and Melissa Troxler, to read. Then we meet online and discuss them. There have been some we immediately agreed upon and others that we put in the “maybe” folder and come back to later. Many of the submissions have been good plays but ones that don’t translate to the medium. Zoom requires a very specific kind of piece and I think some of the authors didn’t take into account the limitations, especially when people cannot be in the same room.

You have such a diverse range of themes here. Have any of the plays stood out to you personally? It’s not nice for a parent to favor one child over another!

This series is popular and brilliant. Might you keep it going even after COVID is over? I don’t think we could do two a week but it’s something we would consider. It’s been a good challenge and a way to connect with our actors. What’s been nice is that there are actors who haven’t been able to work for us for a while because of schedules or distance so there are some faces who haven’t appeared at Theatre Three in years. Two of the actors who are doing this aren’t even in-state. Ed Breese, who will be appearing in Funeral Arrangements, lives in Tennessee; he actually appeared in this piece when we did it as part of our Festival in 2001. Sarah Markowitz, who hasn’t worked for the theatre in over ten years, is appearing in Lifestyle Content; Sarah currently lives in Israel.

How do you think a global platform like YouTube can help raise awareness of the theater across the globe? Absolutely. There is so much online work being done. Large theatres like The National Theatre are releasing plays weekly. There are groups all across the country doing a range of productions — from full Zoom plays to short pieces for children.

What are your plans for the theater upon reopening? Right now, we’re in a holding pattern and waiting to see when we get to phase four. We are planning on a Recapturing the 50th Season with Steel Magnolias opening in March 2021, followed by Grease. If we can get going before then, we will. It might mean intimate productions that are presented to small audiences that are social distanced. We just have to wait and see what the guidelines handed down from both New York State and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Plays in the Off-Stage/On-Line series can be viewed on the Theatre Three’s YouTube channel. To submit a play for consideration, find guidelines on the Theatre Three website.

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Industry Makers in Huntington Hosting Online Art Auction Fundraiser

By

Meagan J. Meehan

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May 6, 2020

Industry Makers, a labyrinthine art gallery in downtown Huntington, will hold a live virtual benefit for musicians and artists auctioning their works off to the public from the safety of their own homes.

Part art gallery, part antique store, and part music venue, Industry Makers hosts poetry slams and art classes as well as live musical performances. Unfortunately, the venue is currently experiencing hard times due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We have monthly operating expenses, and we also have loans to pay off,” said Mano, who curates the business. “We decided to launch this auction to help raise funds for our space and our artists. It will be conducted entirely online so everyone is staying safe and not violating the emergency health codes.”

The auction will include work from various artists — more than 70 are currently associated with Industry Makers — in an array of styles. Proceeds will go to the artists and Industry.

“I see this as an opportunity for community members to help each other,” Mano said. “The fastest way for local economies to get back on their feet is to have people spend money locally to support small businesses like ours. In the long run, that kind of community support is much more helpful and effective than relying solely on the state.”

Industry has faced unique challenges. It has largely fallen through the cracks when it comes to attaining federal aid. Many small businesses around Huntington — and on Long Island in general — are facing similar challenges and are turning to crowdsourcing websites.

Industry recently started a GoFundMe campaign to help raise awareness of their plight. It raised more than $14,000 of its $35,000 goal as of Wednesday. Industry’s musicians and artists put together the live event to do something unique to advance efforts to raise funds.

“I’ve seen crowdsourcing be very effective but given that we are an art gallery I think an auction will interest our typical patrons more,” Mano said. “I’m hoping that this is a virtual event that will be beneficial to artists, buyers, and our guild.”

The auction will be live streamed from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, May. 7. It is free to enter. The link can be found here.

Industry Makers is located at 344 New York Ave. in Huntington. It can be reached at 631-697-9676 or industrymakers.art

For more arts and entertainment coverage, visit longislandpress.com/entertainment

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Long Island St. Nicks Talk Up Local Appearances

By

Meagan J. Meehan

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December 16, 2019

49028123_10219337384008969_3431748254700666880_n — Santa Claus meets a child at Hicks Nurseries.

Santa Claus is coming to town!

From the Old Bethpage Village’s Candlelight Evenings holiday festivities to the Jones Beach Magic of Lights show, Long Islanders seemingly have as many options to visit Santa as his list of naughty and nice children is long.

“Interacting with the children and spreading joy wherever I go is the best part of the season,” says the Santa Claus at Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, arguably one of the busiest Santas on Long Island. “Unconditional giving to those in need makes this season magical.”

As Long Island’s biggest mall, Roosevelt Field boasts a beautiful Winter Wonderland display featuring a rideable train, glitzy trees, elf helpers, a Toys-For-Tots collection, and a chance for St. Nick to play his guitar. Santa stays to hear from boys and girls through Christmas Eve, even taking photos with pets and Disney characters on select dates and times.

One of Santa’s most luxurious local stops is Old Westbury Gardens, which was built in 1906 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Vintage ornaments adorn every room and cookies and cider are offered to celebrate Santa’s arrival. Kris Kringle sits in a large golden chair near a cozy fireplace befitting the opulent abode.

A similarly historic atmosphere fills the air at St. James’ General Store, which also hosts an annual meet-and-greet with Santa. Countless Christmas gifts have been purchased at the shop, which has been in operation since 1857.

Another popular stop for jolly old St. Nick is Hicks Nurseries in Westbury, which offers a wealth of seasonal decorations and immersive displays. Although Hicks is known for presenting family friendly events all year long, December is a special month since Santa arrives to take pictures and sample the delicious cookies, fudge, and other pasties that are available at Hicks’ Gardener’s Cafe.

“I love going to Hicks and making all types of people feel special and loved,” Hicks’ Santa says. “The most memorable moments are when they ask me to bring something to the less fortunate. Sometimes children even ask for younger siblings and pets. I tell them that’s not my department. I’ve also had three different couples get engaged while sitting on my lap!”

Bayville’s Winter Wonderland, another frequent Santa stop, has in recent years added a haunted Christmas house to its usual holiday offerings. Among the haunted Christmas stars is Krampus, who punishes the children on Santa’s naughty list.

Possibly the most sensational and memorable Santa Claus appearance is Fire Island’s Flying Santa. Taking a break from his sled, Santa flies via plane — not reindeer — above the Fire Island Lighthouse just east of Robert Moses State Park.

When asked what he would like to relay to readers, the Fire Island Santa proclaimed: “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!”

Meagan J. Meehan

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Industry Makers in Huntington Hosting Online Art Auction Fundraiser

Long Island St. Nicks Talk Up Local Appearances

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