1act.1idea.
1act. 1idea is an offspring of TEDxAsburyPark, expanding the notion of ideas worth spreading to original short plays. Conceived as a laboratory to give voice to the work of playwrights around the world, the project also provides ways for the many talented actors, directors, and designers in our midst to express themselves. Plays are selected on the basis of originality, simplicity, and artistry with universal themes that prompt thought and conversation.
Thus far, the project has received over 700 submissions, nine of which have been produced for Zoom to enthusiastic audience response. Three more will be selected soon for a January presentation by way of a November read-in of some of the more promising short plays. The goal is to continue to perform three plays a season, gathering company members who will grow into a theatre group ready to go to live performances, as circumstances permit, perhaps as early as Spring 2022.
For New York and New Jersey performing artists this is an opportunity to follow one’s passion for the theatre while doing other things. The company welcomes new volunteers who can imagine being a part of this adventure by reading submissions, producing, directing, acting, editing, marketing or any of the other myriad facets that make a joyous theatrical production.
Watch the recorded performance by clicking on the posters below:
1act.1idea
Honey… She’s Home is a playful but dark comedy involving a middle class American couple, Fred and Eugenia and their disconnection with their daughter Sylvie.
Sylvie comes home from rehab to find her parents throwing her a party! But one thing is missing: any acknowledgment of her addiction or the work she has done to overcome it.
The Cast- Honey….She’s Home Ariel Salerno (Sylvie)
Ariel is a New York based actor, singer/songwriter, and dancer. She began acting when she was 8 in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ as the “Red Lollipop Kid”. She has original EPs/Albums on all streaming services under the artist name Arieliza and is excited to release new music soon. Recently, Ariel has played “Ariel” in ‘The Little Mermaid’, “Fantine” in ‘Les Miserables’, and “Estrella” in ‘Life Is A Dream’. She worked as a lead actor in the TV Pilot ‘PCTV’ and in the films ‘She’s The Anchor’ and ’S.A.M.’. Her training includes NMTI at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center and a Musical Theater/Economics degree at Connecticut College. She has worked with many great talents, including David Dorfman, Deidre Goodwin, Aimee Steele, Susan Blackwell, Carmel Dean, Tonya Pinkens, and Michael John LaChuisa. Ariel intends to spend her life performing in theater/film and as anindie pop singer and songwriter. You can find her original music @arieliza on all streaming platforms and @arielizamusic on Instagram/TikTok!
The Cast- Honey...She's Home Tara Geraghty (Eugenia)
Tara has spent over 23+ years in leadership development leading a team of women across the nation. She holds a degree in theater, has a background in improvisation and is both Counseling Practitioner and REBT certified. She is the founder of Hey Girl, You Can a community of 36,000 women from around the world. Tara is a sought after Top 5 Asbury Park TEDx speaker, a TEDx Play Series Performer, the Author of Making Cancer Fun: A Parent’s Guide (Amazon #1 New Release), and has been featured on MSNBC, GMA, 5280 & Reader’s Digest to name a few. She is a contributing author on Every Entrepreneur’s Guide to Running your Own Business, a contributor to Conquer Magazine: The Patient’s Voice, and can be heard on podcasts worldwide. Tara lives in NJ with her miracle kid daughter Emily Grace. You can find Tara online at www.heygirlyoucan.com and www.makingcancerfun.com
The Cast- Honey...She's Home Miguel Angel Acevedo (Fred)
Miguel, a NYC public school teacher, is also a veteran actor, singer, and director, having worked throughout and within New York City, Westchester County, and Connecticut. “Honey…She’s Home” marks Miguel’s debut performance experience as part of 1act.1idea and TedxAsbury Park. Aside from his recent virtual performances workshopping other original works, Miguel‘s recent credits include, pre-Covid featured performances in local and regional theater productions, including, Violet and The Full Monty, with Actor’s Conservatory Theater (Yonkers, NY), Smokey Joe’s Café with Clocktower Players (Irvington, NY), Baby with the Armonk Players (Armonk, NY), Mamma Mia with Yorktown (NY) Stage, and Curtain Call’s Inc. (Stamford, CT) production of Comedy of Tenors. He has made his operatic debut in New Rochelle Opera’s, The Merry Widow”, as well as his on-stage “professional” debut in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, at the “now permanently closed” Westchester Broadway Theater. Miguel will be returning to the “live” stage, this coming October, in ACT’s (Yonkers, NY) production of The Shawshank Redemption- this work was adapted for the stage and making its Westchester regional debut.
The Cast- The Next Ivan Sharansky James Neufeld (Carl)
James is an actor, singer, and improviser from Pelham, NY. A lifelong lover of the arts, he has performed in countless plays, musicals, concerts, comedy shows, and now Zoom performances in the greater New York and Boston areas. He resides in Astoria, NY and is looking forward to getting back on stage very soon.
The Cast- The Next Ivan Sharansky Mackenzie English (Ida)
Mackenzie English has been acting since age 5 in New York and Los Angeles. That young All-American freckled face was always sampling something delicious in commercials, or on the back of cereal boxes, Quaker oatmeal boxes, and Banquet dinner boxes to name a few! You may have even seen some life-size cutouts of her in the supermarket promoting Cheetos, and in clothing stores sporting the latest kids and teens fashions.
While in California, Mackenzie and her writing partner and best friend Celeste Tomasulo started their own production company, Miss Cheeky Productions. They collectively wrote, produced, acted in, edited, directed and cast 6 short skits and videos that you can enjoy on their YouTube channel, Miss Cheeky Productions.
Some credits over her career include Guest Star roles in the CBS hit show “Mom,” Fox’s “House, M.D.” and Unsolved Mysteries, and more. She appeared in over 75 National commercials, and played some fun parts in hit movies such as Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back, Riding In Cars With Boys, Double Parked, Marvin’s Room, and as Kristen Stewart’s stunt double in Panic Room.
Mackenzie is so excited to be part of the TedX Asbury Park adventure, and working alongside some amazingly talented people!
The Cast- You Still There? Bonnie DeBouter (Gigi)
Presently, Bonnie DeBouter works as a grade 2 teacher in Rutherford, NJ. The road to the present has not been a straight one. After graduating from Rutgers University with a BFA in Theater, Bonnie spent a scholarship year in England studying acting. She has a long friendship with Joe Mancuso and Sally Vagias, having “played” with both of them in an off-off-Broadway show and The Shoestring Players Children’s Theater company. Bonnie spent 17 years as a professional singer in and around NYC, before going into teaching. Bonnie sings karaoke whenever possible, and is thrilled to be able to “play” with Joe and Sally again on this fantastic play!
The Cast- You Still There? Sally Vagias (Rosie)
Sally Vagias graduated from Rutgers University. She worked with the children’s theater company, The Shoestring Players, as a performer in the first local touring company as well as the first National Tour. She also was part of the company appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Later, she took on the role of Managing Director and then Educational Director. Some of her favorite acting roles were in productions of Talking With, Burn This, Born Yesterday and Picnic. Currently, she teaches 2nd grade in Jersey City and has been for over 20 years. It has been so much fun working with dear friends, Joe Mancuso and Bonnie DeBouter, on this project.
Click on image below to watch our 1act.1idea plays from May, 2021
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