Screenplay Reading
On July 23, 2008, PureJem Pictures LLC produced a casual and fun screenplay reading event at Chashama, a theatre/art gallery space located at 217 East 42nd Street in New York City. Attended by film/distribution companies, designers, industry professionals and investors, the reading was performed by professional actors and supported by a crew who donated their time to make the event a success.
This project has continued to attract energetic, talented and generous support by everyone from actors to directors and production assistants to camera men who overwhelmingly support the script and its message.
Cast:
Wayne
Clark (Mr. Lodge) Born in Beautiful
Downtown Burbank, CA, Wayne performed
in the World Famous Lamplighters
Gilbert & Sullivan Theatre Company
of San Francisco. Suddenly, he was
thrust into the awaiting arms of
Fate and was cast as the “Adult
Patrick” in the National Company
of AUNTIE MAME starring Virginia
Mayo. Fame beckoned him and in no
time he was whisked away to New York
City to perform alongside Carol Channing
in the original production of HELLO
DOLLY. As a producer, he has
nurtured five Off-Broadway musicals
written by his life partner, Ronnie
Britton, into long-running classics.
He is most honored and thankful to
help bring this wonderful project
to life!
Lauren “CoCo” Cohen (Melinda, multiple roles) In LA, Lauren
served as Head of Musical Development
for her award-winning theatre company,
Neurotic Young Urbanites (a gaggle
of fellow NYU grads) for the past ten
years. Her musical collaborations
with writing partner, Lauren Bowles,
Curtis Moore and Amanda Green garnered
critical acclaim. You may have seen
her in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, THE HITCHER,
LEGALLY BLONDE II or SECRETARY. On
the small screen: DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES,
MONK, ER, HOUSE. But if you are
7-12 years old, you know her as Yolanda
on THE SUITE LIFE OF ZACK & CODY. Whee!
Patricia
Dell (Mrs. Evelyn Lodge) has a career
that has taken her throughout the
US performing in concert, recital,
opera, musical theater and cabaret.
She studied with Marni Nixon and
Regine Crespin in NYC as well as
Gerard Souzay in France. With the
Center for Contemporary Opera (NYC),
she created the roles of Mrs. Stevenson
in the world premiere of Jack Beeson's
SORRY, WRONG NUMBER (released on
CD, Albany Records) and Doll in the
NY premiere of Daron Hagen’s
VERA OF LAS VEGAS. Musical theater:
Mame Dennis (MAME) Dorothy Brock
(42nd STREET), Ruth Stein (MILK AND
HONEY), Desiree (A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC),
and Anna (THE KING AND I), and recently
Madame Florence Foster Jenkins in
SOUVENIR. Debut CD: “Sing Happy!
The Musical Genius of Kander and
Ebb” (CDBaby.com). She is currently
on the voice faculty at the Tisch
School of the Arts, NY Univ/member
AEA/ www.patriciadell.com
David
Drumgold (Felina, Fred) College in
London for Fashion Design and Costume
History; singer for commercials and
backup vocals for young pop-artists;
formed band with remnants of the
band The Undertone; toured with Chris
Rea and Thomas Dolby; recorded on
John Peel's album showcasing new
talent; commercial modeling/runway
shows in Paris, London Milan, Florence,
Tokyo; TO WONG FOO, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING,
JULIE NEW-MAR, STONEWALL, DRUNKS;
DAVID DRUMGOLD: LIVE Western Europe
tour ending at Edinburgh Festival
(Perrier Award); four summer residences
at Club Q, Ibiza; SEX IN THE CITY;
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADAME ALBERTA at
Cherry Lane Theatre.
Tom
Gualtieri (Paul, multiple roles)
is a playwright, lyricist, director
and actor. Film: FADE TO WHITE, RUBBERNECK,
BLINDING GOLDFISH, THAT’S ALL
SHE WROTE. Theatre: HAY FEVER (Joanne
Woodward) SOUTH PACIFIC (Marin Mazzie,
Rob Marshall), RIGHT YOU ARE (Tony
Randall, Penny Fuller) PRIVATES ON
PARADE, DRAGAPELLA!, A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS
DREAM, THE RIVALS, CLOUD 9, NAKED BOYS
SINGING (Orig NY Cast). Most recently
appeared in BAIT (Best Actor, National
Gay & Lesbian Theatre Fest).
Also wrote and performs THAT PLAY,
a solo Macbeth.
Jem
Jender aka James O'Connor-Taylor (KK Summerset/Steve) is President & Founder
of PureJem Pictures LLC. MORE THAN
A WOMAN marks Jem’s first screenplay.
He co-wrote the book for the musical
hit DIVA DIARIES. As a performer
Jem danced with the Ballet Trockadero
de Monte Carlo and has done too many
film, television and guest appearances
globally to fit into 50 words or
less. Check out www.jemjender.com.
James
Palacio (Ginger) is a Native NYer
with an extensive theatre/ dance
background who in 1988 was the 15th
elected Empress of The Imperial Court
of NY. He appeared in the last 5
seasons of HBO’s
hit series OZ (role of resident transvestite).
He was featured in the film STONEWALL
(role of blond bombshell); as an L.A.
Show Girl in TO WONG FOO, THANKS FOR
EVERY-THING, JULIE NEWMAR and in the
publications Lets Play Dress Up and
Persona. As a model, he has strutted
his stuff in fashion shows (Ultra Pink
Jr. Sportswear, Guess Jeans, Cotler
Jeans, Goya Products, MTV). He enjoyed
dancing in the hit off-off Broadway
show PENNY ARCADES BITCH! DYKE! FAGHAG!
WHORE! “Life is what you make
of it, make mine a double!!”
Greg
Ryan (Mr. York, multiple roles) recently
reenlisted in the acting world. Greg
has been doing print work and industrials,
recent work has been for Velocity
Delivery Systems and the Pepsi Bottling
Group. Greg is a member of AEA and
AFTRA, contact number 917-453-0723.
Cheers to Jem and MTAW.
Kirsten
Sinclair (Misty Black, multiple roles)
Bouncing between BirdCliff's production
of A MIDSUMMER’S NIGHT DREAM
as Hermia, reporter extraordinaire
Kathy Carmicheal on ONE LIFE TO LIVE
and writing for Marvel Comic's The
Fantastic Four often leave Kirsten
questioning not only where she is but "Hey
what century is this?" Her training
from The Lee Strasberg Institute
makes her quick on her feet though
and most say she makes a very convincing
girl...
Alex
Valente (Teddy) was raised in NYC
and is a graduate of Trinity College
in Hartford, CT. He has performed
in numerous NYC locales such as The
Sanford Meisner Theatre, The American
Globe Theatre, The Producer’s
Club and others. Alex currently plays
the role of Mitch the Barista regularly
on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS. He
has also performed in many independent
films as well as appearing regularly
as Jerry the Bartender on AS THE
WORLD TURNS and in skits on THE LATE
SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN. Alex trained
at the Maggie Flanigan Studio in
NY and currently studies with Susan
Giosa at The Santa Monica Playhouse
in LA. See more at www.alexvalente.com.
Wendy
Woods (Narration)
Michael
Ziegfeld (Madame, Charles) co-starred
in THE TEN with Winona Ryder where
he played duel roles & 27 DRESSES
opposite Katherine Heigl. In 17 year
comedy career, he opened for James
Brown, The Pointer Sisters, Wynonna
Judd, seen on Comedy Central & THE
TONIGHT SHOW, held an audience with
Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth
II, headlined from Las Vegas to Monte
Carlo and voted "Act of the
Year" by
Atlantic City Magazine. An extensive
voiceover career (Coca Cola, Disney,
TV Funhouse) and puppetry career
(Jim Henson, Pixar, MTV) have lead
to his Off-Broad-way, one-man show,
ZIEGFELD’S
FOLLY: MY RISE TO THE MIDDLE OF SHOW
BUSINESS. www.MichaelZiegfeld.com
Special Thanks To
Risa Shoup and Darryl Hell of Chashama, Michael Heinl, John Mercurio, Marlo Hunter, Oswaldo Muniz, Philip Kohl, Ben Feldman, Arnold J. Civins, CPA partner at Citrin Cooperman & Company, Stephen Wagner, Erin Levy