Ensemble Member, Patrizia Hernandez

New Ensemble Member, Patrizia Hernandez appeared in the feature film, Love Simple written and directed by another Ensemble Member - Mark von Sternberg.  The romantic comedy also featured Ensemble Members, Francisco Solorzano, John Harlacher and Advisory Board Member Israel Horovitz.  

PATRIZIA HERNANDEZ

Patrizia Hernandez hails from San Juan, Puerto Rico and has spent her life shuffling between that tropical island and the concrete jungle that is New York City.  Her love of acting began in fifth grade when she was cast as the Earthworm inJames and the Giant Peach.  Patrizia graduated from New York University/Tisch School of the Arts and the Stella Adler Studio of Acting.  She received a Best Actress nomination from the Feel Good Film Festival in Los Angeles (http://www.fgff.org/) for her starring role in Love Simple which also screened at film festivals in New York City and Orlando, Florida.  VARIETY wrote of her "shy charm" and SELF magazine proclaimed her a "breakout actress" and a "must watch star".  The Latin market took notice of one of their own and she has been interviewed by Univision, Cara a Cara, and 1440AM radio.  Patrizia's television credits include the pilot Possible Side Effects, written and directed by Tim Robbins opposite Ellen Burstyn and Josh Lucas and an episode of Law & Order, opposite Alana de la Garza and Jesse L. Martin.  Her most recent theater credits include Beirut Rocks and 6 Hotels: A Suite, both written and directed by Obie award winner Israel Horovitz 

Ensemble Member, Luke Leonard

...continuing our celebration of newest Ensemble Members - we welcome Luke Leonard who has appeared in numerous Barefoot Theatre Company productions including our 40th anniversary revival of Lanford Wilson's Balm In Gilead directed by Eric Nightengale.  

LUKE LEONARD

Luke Leonard is a director, actor, artist, and writer of theatre and film.  He holds a BFA in Acting from Brooklyn College and a MFA in Directing from the University of Texas at Austin.  Recent directing credits include: Mac Wellman and David Lang’s opera The Difficulty of Crossing a Field (nominated for eight 2010 Austin Critics’ Table Awards including “Best Opera”), and the first ever Italian translation of Israel Horovitz’s The Indian Wants the Bronx in Spoleto, Italy.  Additional credits include performance (The Art of Depicting Nature As It Is Seen By Toads, 2010, Austin, TX) and installation art (The Time it Takes, 2009, Austin, TX).  He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, and an Associate Member of the Dramatists Guild of America.

Ensemble Member, Alona Dadiani

Here's a closer look at another one of our newest members, Alona Dadiani.  Before moving to the West Coast - Los Angeles to be exact - Alona resided in New York and appeared in our American Playwrights Festival back in 2003.  Most recently Alona joined Ensemble Members, Victoria Malvagno, Dedra McCord-Ware, Francisco Solorzano and Christopher Whalen in our West Coast presentation of 6 Hotels by Israel Horovitz for the 70/70 Horovitz Project.  We are proud to have her join our family of artists.    

ALONA DADIANI

Alona was born in Israel and at age nine moved to New York.  Alona earned her BFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where she studied at The Atlantic Theatre Acting School, founded by David Mamet and William H. Macy. During her time at NYU, Alona took the opportunity to study theatre abroad in Dublin, Ireland’s Trinity College at the Samuel Beckett Theatre.  With a minor in English Literature and Irish Studies, Alona forayed into the world of fitness - a natural progression, by all accounts! (She did have an athletic background with penchants for soccer and long distance running). Alona is currently certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine with specialties in Sports Specific Training, Integrated Flexibility, Nutrition and Prenatal Training. For the time being, she is proud to be earning her living as a devoted private trainer. Alona holds a background in Modern Dance and choreography and had the chance to showcase both theatre and dance elements in the NYC Fringe Festival. She also had the privilege of bringing Frank McGuniess’ play ‘Carthaginians’ to NYC’s Irish Arts Center after her time in Ireland. In her spare time, she’s a budding mountaineer, an amateur documentary maker, avid runner, reader, essayist (but mostly essay reader)! writer and part time fundraiser for Beyond Shelter, a non-for-profit organization helping establish education and financial aid to homeless families throughout Los Angeles.

Ensemble Member, Gabe Fazio

We encourage you to stay in touch and witness all the exciting news and events in our 2010-2011, 12th Season.  Join us in welcoming all of our newest members.  

Here is our first of many close-up looks at our Ensemble:

GABE FAZIO

Gabe Fazio is happily married to Joanna Moskwa.  He grew up in Holtsville, Long Island, New York.  As an actor Gabe has worked with some of the most respected and well known actors in the business. He has appeared in several off -Broadway productions which include World- and NY-Premiers from prestigious authors as Edward Allan Baker, Tennessee Williams, and Israel Horowitz. He has acted in a few independent films along the way and appeared in ABC mini-series “The Path to 9/11” opposite Harvey Keitel, as well as an “Law and Order” episode.  Fazio is the recipient of prestigious Irene Ryan Award for Best Actor in The National Competition of The American College Theatre Festival, at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, representing Suffolk Community College. He was honored with The Outstanding Achievement Proclamation for Acting from New York State presented by Councilman, Steve Levy.  Gabe has co-directed/written “Joe Mover” and “Ten:Thirty One”, two short films. The latter film was awarded Best Live Action Short at the Appalachian Film Festival and with the Gold Award for Best Original Short at the World Fest Houston International Film Festival. “Joe Mover” was also awarded with a grant by the Doorpost Film Project. Both short films have been screened worldwide in over fifty film festivals. Ten:Thirty One was awarded the Best Actress Award for Eleonore Hendricks at Ourense International Film Festival. Gabe Fazio is keeping busy this summer: he is co-writing a feature film, will begin production of his third short and is adapting a Jack London Novel for the stage.  Gabe is an Actor Studio Member since 2001.

2010-2011 Season Announced!

This year is coming along nicely and will be very exciting. Exact Dates and Locations will be announced as we get closer to the events. Stay tuned for dates on our Welcome Bash for new members and to the Fall 2010!!! We are proud to announce the two full productions: Emergency Used Candles written and performed by Ensemble Member Chiara Montalto (developed in 1st Annual bareNaked Reading Series and Workshop Series) directed by our very own Victoria Malvagno; then in the Spring we bring you Ensemble Member Joseph Sousa's Teeth of the Sons (developed with us and featured in first ever bareNaked Reading Series) and will feature Sousa along with Ensemble Member Will Allen and Barefoot Family member: Jessica Langer.

More casting and director info TBA soon! We bring you this new season as well as several additions to our Barefoot Family. You're all sure to get a year to remember. If you thought 70/70 Horovitz Project was an awesome year...well...you just wait and see...and become a part of!

We will also bring you our 2nd Annual bareNaked Reading Series featuring some exciting new works from some of the best established and emerging playwrights around.

2010-2011 (Oct 2010 - June 2011)
FALL 2010
The World Premiere of Emergency Used Candles
written and performed by Chiara Montalto
directed by Victoria Malvagno
Oct/Nov 2010 @ The Cherry Lane Theatre
(The Studio Theatre)
(pictured: Chiara Montalto in workshop presentation)



SPRING 2011
The New York City Premiere of Teeth of the Sons
by Joseph Sousa
featuring
Will Allen, Joseph Sousa and Jessica Langer.
directed by TBA
March/April 2011 @ The Cherry Lane Theatre
(The Studio Theatre)
(pictured LtoR: J. Langer, W. Allen, J. Sousa during rehearsal break for bareNaked Reading of Teeth of the Sons)

2nd Annual bareNaked Reading Series
(no sets, no props, just words)
free drinks and live music following readings.
Oct-Nov 2010 / March-April 2011
will include new awesome works by Stephen Adly Guirguis (Jesus Hopped The A Train, Our Lady of 121st Street), Lucy Boyle (ABC's HUGE), Mike Riess (The Simpsons), Israel Horovitz (The Indian Wants The Bronx, Sins Of The Mother, Widow's Blind Date), Joe Pintauro (Raft Of The Medusa, Snow Orchid, Metropolitan Operas), MJ Halberstadt, Stephen Gracia (Fast Food Strategies, Next!), Richard Vetere (One Shot, One Kill, Carravaggio), Marcia Jean Kurtz, Steve Zuckerman, Billy Finnegan, Randall Colburn, and South Side High School Students in Long Island to name a few
@ The Cherry Lane Theatre (The Studio Theatre)

In addition to the above we will be presenting Workshop Productions (staged readings)throughout the year.

Thank you all for your continual support and we look forward to seeing you soon!!!
* all info re: artists and dates are subject to change.

New Ensemble Members Announced!!!

This August 2010 we welcome our newest Ensemble Members as we head into our 12th Season: 2010-2011. The talent that joins us is astounding and we welcome then with open arms. This promises to be a year to remember!

Joining the Barefoot Theatre Company Ensemble are: Tala Ashe, Lucy Boyle, Alona Dadiani, Stonie Darling, Danelle Eliav, Gabe Fazio, Cristina Fernandez, Lydia Gladstone, Dan Graff, Patrizia Hernandez, Lanna Joffrey, Kenneth King, Aidan Koehler, Jessica Langer, Luke Leonard, Thomas James Lombardo, Roderick Nash, Mark von Sternberg, Jennie West, and Jason Zimbler.

We gathered at our new offices and rehearsal space last week to toast and welcome everyone. Pictured from Left to Right: Jason Zimbler, Francisco Solorzano, Lorraine Rodriguez, Mark G. Cisneros, Gil Ron, Luke Leonard, Luca Pierucci, Gabe Fazio w Bottom Row: Nicole Haran, Tala Ashe, Victoria Malvagno, and John Gazzale.

a little good press...

Here's an interview where Barefoot Theatre Company got a mention for their work.

From an interview of Louis Salamone, Owner/Creative Director, Theatres at 45 Bleecker.

"There are these kids who rent with us—the Barefoot Theatre Company, a small nonprofit who are the smartest kids off the block, I think, turning Dog Day Afternoon into a play. I feel the problem is smart stuff can’t advance because of the way Equity has things set up."
http://www.clydefitchreport.com/?p=3599