Axial Theatre's The Rest of Your Life Premieres Oct. 18; Drama Desk Winner Josh Hecht Directs; Pleasantville Resident has featured role

         Drama Desk Award-winner Josh Hecht is returning to Axial Theatre in Pleasantville, NY, to direct the professional theatre company’s first production of the 2013/14 season, the premiere of “The Rest of Your Life” by Megan Mostyn-Brown, a multiple award-winning playwright whose work has been produced and showcased by over 25 companies across the nation including The Public Theater, the Guthrie Theater and Cherry Lane.  Pleasantville resident Jess Erick creates the role of “Maria”, the sole provider of her family and the mother of a challenging teenage daughter.  

       Opening Friday, October 18th  and running Thursday through Sunday until November 2nd, “The Rest of Your Life” tells the complex story of a disheartened young dancer frustrated by her failure to make it in the ultra-competitive Big Apple. She returns to her hometown and takes an underpaying job babysitting for a precocious, over-managed nine-year-old who isn’t allowed to be just a kid.           

        Mostyn-Brown’s work has been produced by The Guthrie Theater, The Cherry Lane Theater, Union Station Theater, Carleton College, NYC International Fringe Festival, MadCat Theater, The 52nd Street Project and The Actor’s Theater of Louisville apprentice program.  She has also been showcased in numerous workshops produced by various theatre production companies and organizations including The Public Theater, The Tribeca Theater Festival, and The HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, CO.       

            Howard Meyer, Axial Theatre’s founder and artistic director, says, “We know that the themes of the play will resonate with both Westchester and NYC audiences on many levels. Producing ‘The Rest of Your Life’ is in keeping with our mission and commitment to bring the new voices of our moment to the stage. It is very hard for talented, emerging playwrights to find places that will take a chance on them. We feel it is important to be one of those places.  It’s what keeps live theatre vital and still very affordable.  

          ”We are most fortunate to have a director of Josh Hecht’s stature return to us. In this production Josh lives up to his Drama Desk Award for creating a Unique Theatrical Experience.” Hecht directed Axial’s acclaimed “The Clearing” by Jake Jeppson in 2012.                  

           In addition to Axial Theatre Company members, the cast includes three accomplished performers with stage, television and screen credentials.  Flora Diaz, who The New York Times recently compared to the “Carrie” character in an Off-Broadway play reminiscent of Sex and the City; creates the lead role of “Dizzie”.  Colin DePaula creates the role of the precautious nine-year-old “Franklin”.  Colin won the best actor award from the NY Fringe Festival in 2009 and recently appeared on “America’s Got Talent”.  In 2012, he created the scene-stealing role of the urchin Gavroche in the national tour of “Les Mis”. Mackenzie Lansing, an accomplished young actor of TV, stage and screen, brings to life the complex teenage role of “Bethany”.        

             Axial Theatre supporters will recognize the return of Axial Company members Ann Gulian of Ossining, Jess Erick of Pleasantville, Adam Glatzl of Mount Kisco; and Ryan Mallon of Yorktown Heights.                     

             Pleasantville resident Jess Erick has been a student, performer and teacher at Axial Theatre Company. She is a versatile actor, singer and songwriter, musician, playwright, teacher, coach, and director.  She is also an assistant art teacher at The Karafin School in Mt. Kisco.                      

             The production will be staged at the Pleasantville-based theatre company’s playhouse at 8 Sunnyside Drive on the campus of St. John’s Episcopal Church.  Evening performances are $20, $15 for students and seniors.  Visit www.axialtheatre.org for tickets or call (914) 962-8828.