HIT HOUSE CREATIVE AND HOWLAND CULTURAL CENTER ANNOUNCE THE U.S. PREMIERE OF RED SILK: A PLAY IN TWO ACTS
The play, a riveting fictionalized drama, centers on the complex—and controversial-- relationship between the deeply troubled, Pulitzer-prize-winning poet Anne Sexton and two of her psychiatrists.
Hit House Creative, in partnership with Beacon LitFest at Howland Cultural Center, is thrilled to present the US premiere of psychiatrist and playwright Lois Achimovich’s Red Silk, March 8, 9, and 10, 2024.The play is a riveting exploration the complex relationship between the iconic and deeply troubled poet, Anne Sexton and two of her psychiatrists.
Red Silk is a fictionalized drama centered around the wry, brilliant, and impulsive Sexton and the two male psychiatrists who treated her during her lifetime. Named for the identifiable red silk wrap dress she wore for her public readings, the play is set in 1967, immediately following her Pulitzer Prize win for her poetry collection: Live or Die.
In its electric exploration of psychiatry and mental wellness, the play deftly reveals the complications and hypocrisies surrounding the rights of women, the rights of the mentally ill, and the rights of all who have been marginalized by a biased and systemically corrupt society.
“I’m excited to bring this play to life and honor the work of the playwright while highlighting the legacy --both as writer and woman--of Anne Sexton herself,” stated Ms. Killoran.
Red Silk will be directed by multi-award-winning writer and generative director, Bronwen Carson. The cast features Beacon actors, John Hartzell and John Blesso, with Hit House Creative Founder and Producer, Shane Killoran, in the title role of poet Anne Sexton.
Tickets for Red Silk performances for the evenings of Fri, Mar 8, Sat, Mar 9, and a Sunday Matinee on Mar 10, are available to the public in advance or at the door.
The play, a riveting fictionalized drama, centers on the complex—and controversial-- relationship between the deeply troubled, Pulitzer-prize-winning poet Anne Sexton and two of her psychiatrists.
Hit House Creative, in partnership with Beacon LitFest at Howland Cultural Center, is thrilled to present the US premiere of psychiatrist and playwright Lois Achimovich’s Red Silk, March 8, 9, and 10, 2024.The play is a riveting exploration the complex relationship between the iconic and deeply troubled poet, Anne Sexton and two of her psychiatrists.
Red Silk is a fictionalized drama centered around the wry, brilliant, and impulsive Sexton and the two male psychiatrists who treated her during her lifetime. Named for the identifiable red silk wrap dress she wore for her public readings, the play is set in 1967, immediately following her Pulitzer Prize win for her poetry collection: Live or Die.
In its electric exploration of psychiatry and mental wellness, the play deftly reveals the complications and hypocrisies surrounding the rights of women, the rights of the mentally ill, and the rights of all who have been marginalized by a biased and systemically corrupt society.
“I’m excited to bring this play to life and honor the work of the playwright while highlighting the legacy --both as writer and woman--of Anne Sexton herself,” stated Ms. Killoran.
Red Silk will be directed by multi-award-winning writer and generative director, Bronwen Carson. The cast features Beacon actors, John Hartzell and John Blesso, with Hit House Creative Founder and Producer, Shane Killoran, in the title role of poet Anne Sexton.
Tickets for Red Silk performances for the evenings of Fri, Mar 8, Sat, Mar 9, and a Sunday Matinee on Mar 10, are available to the public in advance or at the door.
RED SILK - CREATIVE TEAM
Shane Killoran (Producer and Anne Sexton)
Shane Killoran is an actor, writer, dramaturg, and founder of the production company Hit House Creative. She received her B.F.A in Acting from New York University with a heavy concentration in Women’s Studies. After acting for several years in New York and Los Angeles, she realized she enjoyed the rehearsal process more than performing. This realization took her to the University of London where she pursued her post-graduate studies in devised theatre, including her Doctoral candidacy. From 2012-2019 she was the Literary Manager and Dramaturg-in-Residence for The Private Theatre. Shane served as Co-Creator and Dramaturg for the Private Theatre's site-specific production of Strindberg's, Playing with Fire, at The Box in NYC. She adapted and served as production dramaturg for the Indian play, Sakaram Binder, at MAD Playhouse Theater. She conceived, co-created, dramaturged and produced the play, Nepenthe (which focused on the brothel at Auschwitz), and premiered at the Women and War Festival in London, United Kingdom, in 2016. In 2018, Shane was an artist in residence at the Marble House Project with the Private Theatre for dramaturgy. With a dedication to creating locally, she’s currently based in Beacon, developing 2 new theatrical works as she continues expanding the scope of Hit House Creative. Hit House is a mulit-disciplinary collective specializing in copywriting, dramaturgical services, producing, and offering cinematic programming initiatives via Hit House Film. Shane brought two successful sold-out performances of the Vagina Monologues to the Howland Cultural Center in early 2023. She is expanding upon those successes and bringing to life a new play reading series at Reserva Wine Bar in Beacon.
Shane Killoran is an actor, writer, dramaturg, and founder of the production company Hit House Creative. She received her B.F.A in Acting from New York University with a heavy concentration in Women’s Studies. After acting for several years in New York and Los Angeles, she realized she enjoyed the rehearsal process more than performing. This realization took her to the University of London where she pursued her post-graduate studies in devised theatre, including her Doctoral candidacy. From 2012-2019 she was the Literary Manager and Dramaturg-in-Residence for The Private Theatre. Shane served as Co-Creator and Dramaturg for the Private Theatre's site-specific production of Strindberg's, Playing with Fire, at The Box in NYC. She adapted and served as production dramaturg for the Indian play, Sakaram Binder, at MAD Playhouse Theater. She conceived, co-created, dramaturged and produced the play, Nepenthe (which focused on the brothel at Auschwitz), and premiered at the Women and War Festival in London, United Kingdom, in 2016. In 2018, Shane was an artist in residence at the Marble House Project with the Private Theatre for dramaturgy. With a dedication to creating locally, she’s currently based in Beacon, developing 2 new theatrical works as she continues expanding the scope of Hit House Creative. Hit House is a mulit-disciplinary collective specializing in copywriting, dramaturgical services, producing, and offering cinematic programming initiatives via Hit House Film. Shane brought two successful sold-out performances of the Vagina Monologues to the Howland Cultural Center in early 2023. She is expanding upon those successes and bringing to life a new play reading series at Reserva Wine Bar in Beacon.
Bronwen Carson (Director)
Bronwen Carson is an award-winning writer and generative director. She’s a New York International Fringe Festival Excellence in Directing award recipient (April’s Fool), a member of the 2023-24 playwriting cohort at The Dramatist’s Guild, recipient of the 2023 Goddard Engaged Artist Grant, the 2022 Unleash Press Book Award, and the 2021 Rona Jaffe Breadloaf Scholar Award. Her debut novel, Magpie, published in March 2023 (Unleash Press) is currently nominated for the National Book Award and the PEN/Hemingway Award. She’s a two-time Drama League generative writer-director finalist and her work has been supported by The Director's Lab at The Actors Studio, Sarasvati Creative Space, Irondale, The Ross Foundation, The Rona Jaffe Award, NY Int’l Fringe Festival, The Ailey Center, Skirball, The Watt Family Foundation, Meetinghouse Literary Journal, Unleash Press, TÉA Artistry, Duke Films, GRASP, The Private Theatre, The Dramatist’s Guild, and The Sundance Institute. Her next film, Has Anyone Seen Bill? was shot in North Carolina in January 2024. SDC, SAG-AFTRA, AG.
Bronwen Carson is an award-winning writer and generative director. She’s a New York International Fringe Festival Excellence in Directing award recipient (April’s Fool), a member of the 2023-24 playwriting cohort at The Dramatist’s Guild, recipient of the 2023 Goddard Engaged Artist Grant, the 2022 Unleash Press Book Award, and the 2021 Rona Jaffe Breadloaf Scholar Award. Her debut novel, Magpie, published in March 2023 (Unleash Press) is currently nominated for the National Book Award and the PEN/Hemingway Award. She’s a two-time Drama League generative writer-director finalist and her work has been supported by The Director's Lab at The Actors Studio, Sarasvati Creative Space, Irondale, The Ross Foundation, The Rona Jaffe Award, NY Int’l Fringe Festival, The Ailey Center, Skirball, The Watt Family Foundation, Meetinghouse Literary Journal, Unleash Press, TÉA Artistry, Duke Films, GRASP, The Private Theatre, The Dramatist’s Guild, and The Sundance Institute. Her next film, Has Anyone Seen Bill? was shot in North Carolina in January 2024. SDC, SAG-AFTRA, AG.
John Blesso (Martin)
John Blesso is a writer, performer, musician and storyteller. He created the storytelling series Adult Stories With John Blesso, before serving as one of the producers of The Artichoke Storytelling Series. John previously performed The Un-Hollywood Ending, a one-man show in Paris, and is the author of the memoir, Sharehouse Confidential. John, who lives in Beacon, is thrilled to be returning to live theater.
John Blesso is a writer, performer, musician and storyteller. He created the storytelling series Adult Stories With John Blesso, before serving as one of the producers of The Artichoke Storytelling Series. John previously performed The Un-Hollywood Ending, a one-man show in Paris, and is the author of the memoir, Sharehouse Confidential. John, who lives in Beacon, is thrilled to be returning to live theater.
John Hartzell (Ted)
John Hartzell is an actor and aerialist, was thrust into the spotlight at birth when his parents started a theatre company. He started acting at the age of 6 and decided after his first curtain call that entertaining was going to be a part of his life. John has thrilled thousands both off-Broadway and internationally in critically acclaimed shows like De La Guarda, Blue Man Group and Fuerza Bruta, The Ring Cycle at the Metropolitan Opera, and more. He is thrilled to be a part of Red Silk, diving into such an intimate production. In his spare time John is an aerialist, a founding member of an aerial company, an avid Paddle-boarder / surfer and a homeowner. Much love to his family.
John Hartzell is an actor and aerialist, was thrust into the spotlight at birth when his parents started a theatre company. He started acting at the age of 6 and decided after his first curtain call that entertaining was going to be a part of his life. John has thrilled thousands both off-Broadway and internationally in critically acclaimed shows like De La Guarda, Blue Man Group and Fuerza Bruta, The Ring Cycle at the Metropolitan Opera, and more. He is thrilled to be a part of Red Silk, diving into such an intimate production. In his spare time John is an aerialist, a founding member of an aerial company, an avid Paddle-boarder / surfer and a homeowner. Much love to his family.
Patricia Cornwell (Production Manager, Hit House Creative)
Patricia A Cornwell has always been interested in the mechanics of what makes the Show happen. Production Assistant for Billy Vine at the now Defunct Concord Resort and Woodstock '94 at Bethel. Stagehand work with Scott Ashley at Lincoln Center and John Nichter at Rockland Performing Arts. Electrician for PAC at Suny Purchase. Happy to be back, working backstage.
Patricia A Cornwell has always been interested in the mechanics of what makes the Show happen. Production Assistant for Billy Vine at the now Defunct Concord Resort and Woodstock '94 at Bethel. Stagehand work with Scott Ashley at Lincoln Center and John Nichter at Rockland Performing Arts. Electrician for PAC at Suny Purchase. Happy to be back, working backstage.
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