ERIN LAYTON COMMENTING on ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS

As Artists Without Walls celebrates its fourth anniversary this month, we’ve asked members to share a few thoughts about their experience with the group. Here’s what actor and playwright Erin Layton wrote:

 

—–

.

Erin Layton
Erin Layton

“April 2015. New York City: I need to raise $15K to bring my one-woman play to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August. This feels insurmountable. I have a few ideas aside from crowd-funding in order to raise what I perceive as a struggling artist to be above and beyond any appropriate ask for a solo show. One of my ideas is to throw a benefit. I write an email to Charles Hale, co-founder of Artists Without Walls in a panic and suggest that maybe somehow could I possibly ask for Charles and Niamh to assist me with potentially putting on this benefit and kindly pool interest from the AWoW community… I’m sweating:

 

“Sure, Erin. What are you thinking?” Charles writes back.

 

Loyalty. This is word that most prominently comes to mind when I think of AWoW. No other community and its founders that I’ve ever encountered in my eleven year track as a struggling city theatre artist, have so championed, so supported, so stood behind and held up as a presence of strength, warmth, humility and perseverance as AWoW. I am honored to stand as one among a line of artists – musicians, poets, writers, singers, solo performers, dancers – who truly represent the cream of the crop. Bravo, Charles and Niamh. And thank you for making all of us feel like heroes.”

 

—-

 

Erin Layton, originally from St. Louis, MO,  is a writer and sole performer of a one woman play, MAGDALEN about the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland.  MAGDALEN premiered at the New York City International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC) in August 2012 and was listed as top FringeNYC reviewer pic in nytheatre.com’s Indie Theater Now.  MAGDALEN was also the recipient of the Best Documentary Script from The 2013 United Solo Festival. This past summer Erin’s performance of MAGDALEN received rave reviews at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe: “The highest level of performance” – The Public Reviews and “A well crafted, sympathetic piece of theatre” – The Scotsman. 

 

 

NANCY MANOCHERIAN'S, "HEY JUDE." REVIEW by ERIN LAYTON

Hey Jude

Written by Nancy Manocherian; directed by Kira Simring

Review by Erin Layton

 

Adam Weppler, Deborah Offner and Larry Cahn
Adam Weppler, Deborah Offner and Larry Cahn

As soon as you walk through the doors of Urban Stages Theatre where Nancy Manocherian’s family drama, HEY JUDE is currently playing through June 21st, you are immediately embraced by another dimension. If you grew up in the suburbs, it’s a familiar place filled with the sort of nostalgia that might remind you of your childhood home. There is a Christmas tree, a large, soft, comfortable sofa, the quiet mumblings of a television, even dad is there, fast asleep and snoring in his plush pajama pants. This stage picture is a sweet memory until the play begins. Dad doesn’t wake up and mom rushes into the picture, nervously tackling a large cardboard box and channeling her alter-personality.

 

Catherine Dupont and Deborah Offna
Catherine Dupont and Deborah Offner

HEY JUDE is rife with tension. Anna’s troubled. Henry, Anna’s husband is despondent and passive. Jude, Anna and Henry’s son is on the edge of adulthood, questioning his identity and seeking to draw closer to the truth – his truth. Jude is adopted. He’s a young man, eager to discover himself and understand more about his roots but it’s bad timing. Anna has slipped into some sort of delusional reality colored by Beatles songs and disturbing machinations which was possibly prompted by a religious conversion, which may have been prompted by regrets about her past. Henry doesn’t care and his health and mind are slipping as well. Jude is left to his own devices, trapped in a world that should be safe but is instead completely unhinged. Christmas cheer cannot bring joy to their story. The only way out is to acknowledge the truth but no one in this play is able to.  

 

Kira Simring and Nancy Manocherian
Kira Simring and Nancy Manocherian

Director, Kira Simring and her production team – set designer, Peiyi Wong, lighting designer,  Gertjan Houben and M. Florian Staab on sound, have crafted an environment that match Anna’s state of mind – a place as surreal as it is hyper-realistic. This clash is both disturbing and oddly comforting. Both the production design and performances (particularly Adam Weppler in his tragic portrayal as Jude and Larry Cahn as Henry) come together to expertly portray the reality of family dysfunction. Behind the walls of a broken home, you have two choices. You either fight the pain or you disengage from it altogether. While HEY JUDE is difficult to witness, it’s only because of its stunning accuracy. I applaud playwright, Nancy Manocherian’s bravery for transporting us there.

PHOTOS from "ERIN LAYTON'S MAGDALEN BENEFIT," PRESENTED by ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS

Eric Wolfe’s photos from “Erin Layton’s MAGDALEN Benefit” at The Cell Theatre, Sunday, May 31, 2015.

.

Erin performing a scene from MAGDALEN
Erin performing a scene from MAGDALEN

 

Erin pictured here with the playwriting, producing collective, The Geese.
Erin pictured here with the playwriting, producing collective, The Geese.

 

Charles R. Hale delivers a moving and powerful testimony
Charles R. Hale delivers a moving and powerful testimony

 

David Fahy and Bernadette Fee warming up the audience.
David Fahy and Bernadette Fee warming up the audience.

 

Honor Molloy
Honor Molloy waits in the wings

 

Volunteers Misti Wills and Julie Layton man the raffle table.
Volunteers Misti Wills and Julie Layton man the raffle table.

 

Honor Finnegan and Carl Money performing Joanie Mitchell's "Magdalen Laundry"
Honor Finnegan and Carl Money performing Joni Mitchell’s “Magdalen Laundry”

 

Actor Jack O'Connell with Erin Layton and director Julie Kline
Actor Jack O’Connell with Erin Layton and director Julie Kline

 

Solo actress/playwright, Rhonda Musak and actor, Anthony Rapp.
Solo actress/playwright, Rhonda Musak and actor, Anthony Rapp.

ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS: MEMBERS ON THE TOWN the WEEK of 2/22/15

Brona Crehan
Brona Crehan

Ever wonder what your life would be like if you’d made one different choice? An unplanned pregnancy sets off a chain of events in the lives of three people in Pillow on the Stairs. What follows creates a web of secrets and denials that binds this trio of ordinary, flawed individuals together for a lifetime. Every decision has lasting consequences in this intimate story about love, loyalty, betrayal, and trust.

 

Brona Crehan’s Pillow on the Stairs runs from February 25 – 28 at The Cell – Wednesday – Friday at 7pm with an additional performance on Feb 28 at 7pm. Tickets are $30.00.  Click here for tickets.

 

 

Honor Finnegan
Honor Finnegan

 

Honor Finnegan with Aviv Roth on guitar – Sunday, February 22nd, 4:00 pm.  Empty Nest House Concerts. Private residence, Maplewood, NJ.  Price: $20 suggested donation.  RSVP to: emptynestconcerts@hotmail.com

 

 

Erin Layton
Erin Layton

 

 

 

Erin Layton’s one-woman show “MAGDALEN will be presented by the Irish Studies Dept. of Hofstra University on Wednesday, February 25 at 7:30PM at The Spiegel Theatre on campus. Free Admission! Click here for directions to the Spiegel Theatre at Hofstra.

 

Richard Stillman
Richard Stillman

 

 

Richard Stillman will be presenting his “Italian Carnevale Show ” on Sat. Feb. 28th at 1 pm at the Kip Center. The show combines Italian & Italian American songs sung and played on the mandolin, guitar, bagpipes & concertina with storytelling and tap dancing. The Kip Center is located at 55 Kip Ave. Rutherford, NJ. For information call 201 460 1600.

 

 

LOTS of GREAT CHOICES for NYC ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT

Looking for something to do in NYC tonight?

 

Emiko
Emiko

How about Emiko C-Music at The Bitter End. Emiko, who performed at Artists Without Walls most recent Showcase, will be appearing with her band, Friday at 8pm. You won’t be disappointed. Click here to check out the event.  

 

 

 

Michael Brunnock
Michael Brunnock

 

Tonight at 10:30pm Michael Brunnock will be at the Woodhaven House, 63-98 Woodhaven Boulevard, Rego Park, NY 11374. Joining Michael Brunnock will be Deni Bonet, Ryan Vaughn, Mark Marshall and Skip Ward 718-8945400

 

 

 

Irish Film New York
Irish Film New York

 

 

 

.

Beginning tonight, Irish Film New York is back with its fourth annual slate of top-notch contemporary Irish cinema, with all films screening at the Cantor Film Center of NYU on E. 8th St. Oct 3rd -Oct 6th. Tickets: IN-NYC discount $10 tickets. AWoW discount code: OFIO www.irishfilmnyc.com/tickets/

 

 

 

Erin Layton
Erin Layton

.

Tonight is the last performance of, MAGDALEN a compelling one person, multi-character play written and performed by Erin Layton, directed by Julie Kline, about the women and girls who labored as unpaid slaves in commercial laundries operated by nuns in mid-twentieth century Ireland.   TICKET INFO: Tickets are $18 and available online here: https://www.telecharge.com/Off-Broadway/United-Solo-Theatre-Festival/Overview?&aid=ven000193900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS: MEMBERS' UPCOMING EVENTS

Alexander A. Wu and Sasha Papernik
Alexander A. Wu and Sasha Papernik

Tonight, Tuesday, September 30th, join pianist and singer/songwriter Sasha Papernik and pianist and arranger Alexander Wu for an intimate performance at the Cornelia Street Cafe, 29 Cornelia Street, NYC, at 6:00pm Doors open @ 5:45 pm – Cover $10 + $10 drink minimum. For Reservations: 212-989-9319

 

On Thursday, October 2nd, Sasha and Alexander will be performing on the Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium stage at 7:30pm. It’s a free event on a first come basis http://atrium.lincolncenter.org & http://atrium.lincolncenter.org/index.php/2014-all4one

 

“Wu and Papernik are an uncommonly attractive and entertaining pair. ”   The Washington Post Review – Joan Reinthaler

  

—–

.

Michael Brunnock
Michael Brunnock

Michael Brunnock will be at the Woodhaven House, 63-98 Woodhaven Boulevard, Rego Park, NY 11374, Friday, October 3,10:30pm. Joining Michael Brunnock will be Deni Bonet, Ryan Vaughn, Mark Marshall and Skip Ward 718-8945400

 

.

 

 —–

 .

 

Deni Bonet
Deni Bonet

You can watch Deni Bonet live in concert from her home, Sunday, Oct 5. Here’s what photographer Mitch Traphagen said about Deni. “Mere words aren’t sufficient to describe the sheer talent, intensity and passion that Deni Bonet brings to her music.”

 

Deni Bonet has performed at the White House — now she can perform at *your* house.

 

Tickets $5  https://www.concertwindow.com/shows/8897-deni-bonet-live-from-my-living-room-in-nyc

 

—– 

.

Irish Film New York
Irish Film New York

Irish Film NY is back with its fourth annual slate of top-notch contemporary Irish cinema, with all films screening at the Cantor Film Center of NYU on E. 8th St. Oct 3rd -Oct 6th.

 

Tickets: IN-NYC discount $10 tickets. AWoW discount code: OFIO www.irishfilmnyc.com/tickets/

 

 .

 

Erin Layton
Erin Layton

 

—– 

 

 

.

MAGDALEN is a compelling one person, multi-character play written and performed by Erin Layton, directed by Julie Kline, about the women and girls who labored as unpaid slaves in commercial laundries operated by nuns in mid-twentieth century Ireland.  MAGDALEN will perform for the last time in New York City at the UNITED SOLO FESTIVAL on Thursday, October 2 – 7:30PM (SOLD OUT!) and Friday, October 3 – 6PM  

.

TICKET INFO: Tickets are $18 and available online here: https://www.telecharge.com/Off-Broadway/United-Solo-Theatre-Festival/Overview?&aid=ven000193900

 

 —–

.

Renata Hinrichs
Renata Hinrichs

Renata Hinrichs will be performing her one-woman show Random Acts on Sunday October 12th and 18th. The 12th is sold out but there are tickets available for October 18th at 6 pm. https://www.telecharge.com/Off-Broadway/United-Solo-Theatre-Festival/Overview?&aid=ven000193900

 

  —–

.

Serena Jost
Serena Jost

Serena Jost will be at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3, Thursday, November 6th, 8 pm.  This is a full band show with Julian Maile, Rob Jost & Robert DiPietro. $10 plus one drink www.rockwoodmusichall.com   

Advance tix highly recommended: 

http://www.ticketfly.com/event/660209

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BRILLIANT PERFORMANCES at ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' SHOWCASE 9/23/2014

Emiko, Steve Murphy, Deni Bonet, Bruno Esrublisky
Emiko, Steve Murphy, Deni Bonet, Bruno Esrublisky

“I wanted to thank you so very, very much for having me perform at your showcase. I had a wonderful time meeting everyone and I must say, I’m beyond elated to know that your organization and showcase exists. It’s such a pleasure to see live music and art alive and well in New York — and being so well received in such a right, proper venue. As a touring artist in the pop world (although I come from a classical concert background), I experience all different sorts of venues on a regular basis, but by far, the showcase at the Cell, totally took the cake! So thank you!”  Emiko

 

 

Joseph Goodrich
Joseph Goodrich

Joseph Goodrich opened the evening with a powerful reading from S. N. Behrman’s The Worcester Account. He captured all the finely-shaded emotions of Behrman’s prose and brought to vivid life the story of a boy’s intimations of mortality.

 

 

 

 

 

Deni Bonet and Mundy
Deni Bonet and Mundy

Fiery redhead Deni Bonet was joined by her full band of Steve Murphy on guitar, Bruno Esrubilsky on cajon, and Emiko on keyboard. Deni premiered two very exciting songs from her upcoming instrumental CD, which the audience adored. Then she sang an energetic cover of the Cameo hit “Word Up.” She wrapped up her showcase joined onstage by multi-platinum Irish recording star Mundy (who had popped in for a visit) on his international hit “Galway Girl.” A brilliant, lively segue into the intermission.

 

 

Erin Layton
Erin Layton

Playwright/performer, Erin Layton performed a riveting scene from her award winning, multi-character one woman play, MAGDALEN, portraying the most extreme pairing of her eight characters – a severe nun and a loud prostitute. Erin transitioned between her characters with such ease that is was almost like witnessing two separate actors onstage.

 

 

 

Ashley Bell
Ashley Bell

Ashley Bell wowed everyone once again with a beautiful performance of a rarely heard version of  “Ave Maria” written by the 16th century Italian composer Caccini. Ashley shifted to musical theatre  and provided a thrilling rendition of “How Could I ever Know?” from the Secret Garden.

 

 

Devon McCarthy and Terry McCarthy
Devon McCarthy and Terry McCarthy

Singer Songwriter Terry McCarthy performed three songs from his latest release The Charm. With the help of Devon McCarthy on lead guitar, Terry sang “Gotham Ghosts” “Sorrow Salsa” and “Just Today”.  Click here for Terry’s music 

 

 

Artists Without Walls next Showcase will be on Wednesday, Oct 22nd, 7pm, at The Cell Theatre, 338 W23rd St. 

 

.

 

Photos by Vera Hoar and Mitch Traphagen

 

 

PHOTOS from ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' "SHOWCASE at THE CELL THEATRE"

Vera Hoar and Mitch Traphagen’s photos from Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre, Tuesday, September 2013. The names of the photographed appear above the photo. 

 

Joseph Goodrich

DSC_0099

Mitch Traphagen

DSC_0079

Ashley Bell

Artists Without Walls Showcase New York September 2014

Erin Layton

Artists Without Walls Showcase New York September 2014

Noel Lawlor

DSC_0085

Niall McKay

Artists Without Walls Showcase New York September 2014

Devon McCarthy and Terry McCarthy

DSC_0240

Emiko

L1000463-092314awow

Mundy, Deni Bonet, Charles R. Hale and Niamh Hyland

DSC_0238-2

Larry Fleischman

Artists Without Walls Showcase New York September 2014

TONIGHT'S SPECTACULAR LINEUP for AWoW'S "SHOWCASE AT THE CELL THEATRE"

President Barack Obama and Deni Bonet
President Barack Obama and Deni Bonet

You’ll want to get to The Cell Theatre early tonight for what promises to be a great show. Deni Bonet, pop/rock singer/songwriter and classically trained violinist who has recorded and performed with R.E.M., Sarah McLachlan, Cyndi Lauper, Scissor Sisters, and Warren Zevon, will be back once again. Deni has performed at Lilith Fair, Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, and just recently performed at the White House for the President, First Lady and Vice-President of the United States. Her music has been featured on HBO, NBC, American Airlines, several film and modern dance projects, and has been described by the Wall Street Journal as like “Sheryl Crow meets the B-52’s”.

 

Joe Goodrich
Joe Goodrich

 

We’re thrilled that playwright and author Joseph Goodrich, who’s currently working on a book about the writer S.N. Behrman’s 40-year relationship with The New Yorker Magazine, will be reading at The Cell. Actually, “reading” is a poor choice of words; if you’re acquainted with Joe you know the more accurate word is “performing.”

 

 

Niall McKay
Niall McKay

 

 

Award wining filmmaker Niall McKay, Executive Director of Irish Film New York, will be on hand to introduce and discuss the IFNY Film Festival, which begins on October 3rd,  and three of Jim Sheridan’s three  award-winning films, which will be screened during the festival.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erin Layton
Erin Layton

Erin Layton is a solo performing artist and award-winning playwright. She will present a scene from her one woman, multi-character play, MAGDALEN about the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland. MAGDALEN will be performed as part of the United Solo Festival on Thursday, October 2 and Friday, October 3 at Theatre Row in NYC.

 

 

 

Emiko
Emiko

First time Showcase performer, Emiko, a three-time featured performer of the Songwriters Hall of Fame New Writers Showcases, will be performing tonight. Emiko has graced the pages of Billboard Magazine, FM Sound, Music Connection, and other mainstream music publications. She’s an award winning songwriter whose credits include SONY/ATV, Famous Records/Universal Music Group, and a myriad of licenses to film and TV all over the world.

 

 

Ashley Bell
Ashley Bell

Ashley Bell began performing at the age of 9 as a member of the Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus. She made her Off-Broadway debut at 16 in the world premiere of the musical The Golden Touch. Ashley has since performed as a soloist in the United States, Italy, Spain, France and Russia. If you heard Ashley’s  performance at an earlier Showcase you know why we’re very excited she’s performing again.

 

 

Terry McCarthy
Terry McCarthy

Rounding out the evening will be another first time Showcase performer, Terry McCarthy, whose music spans the gamut from quiet acoustic to full out rock; anti-folk meets pure-pop. Terry will be performing with Devon McCarthy.

 

All that and more. The fun starts at 7pm at The Cell Theatre, 338 W23rd St.