Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of The Dirty Blondes' THE TUNNEL PLAY at FringeNYC

By: Aug. 05, 2014
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The Dirty Blondes, a feminist theater company with a taste for provocation, present this brand new play by playwright and Artistic Director Ashley Jacobson, directed by Courtney Laine Self, in their first ever production in the New York International Fringe Festival. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast of THE TUNNEL PLAYS below!

This is the fourth original production by the The Dirty Blondes, who also produce three play-in-a-day festivals per year, as well as numerous presentations and collaborations. In its third year of producing, The Dirty Blondes have presented more than twelve theatrical events to more than 1,200 audience members and featured more than 100 artists. Known for their dark and chilling presentation of The American Play, an examination of the cult of fandom for Brett Easton Ellis's American Psycho, The Tunnel Play is poised to be the founders' greatest endeavor yet - an event exposing their brand of theater as an intensely subversive art form, dedicated to creating smart, feminist and striking work.

As the storm of the century threatens New York City, the stories of two women who live in a subway tunnel collide with Colin, a disgruntled everyman at the end of his rope. This new urban myth explores what it means to make dollars, have things, and live a valuable life.

In recent years, we have all seen that natural disasters are true levelers of circumstance - where no amount of money, power, or influence in this world will save you from an impending flood. Rich or poor, black or white, we all share the same earth space, and are ultimately vulnerable to its whimsy.

The play revolves around two worlds: one of the women in the tunnel, who we will see have created their own family unit and have done what they can to survive; and one of Colin, a man whose survival seems less precarious but is ultimately lost. Colin, who has the all the trimmings of a successful life in New York City: a job, an apartment, a comfortable salary but is unable to ask for what he wants; unable to identify what he wants. His obedience to a system that offers him little fulfillment is infuriating and the luxuries of conformity only bring about his own existential crisis.

Meanwhile, Birdy and Priddy lead their lives on the fringe of society - bereft of any really any comforts. Homeless and taking shelter in the subway stations - the only comforts they have are the ones they find in each other, the scraps left on the street. However, we see them fill their time with purpose and love for each other, chasing childlike dreams and finding beauty in garbage. We learn whether they chose to reject society or were driven to its shadows. We see how they both manage to survive as invisible - living in an alter-reality with nicknames and no histories.

The cast features LAURA BOGDANSKI, DONDRIE BURNHAM, BRETT EPSTEIN, RYAN GUESS AND CHELSEA WOLOCKO.

The design team includes MICHAEL O'CONNOR (LIGHTS), JACOB SUBOTNICK (SOUND), HOLLY CAIN (COSTUMES), AND STEPHEN M. CYR (SET/PROPS).

For more about THE DIRTY BLONDES, visit www.thedirtyblondes.org.

Photo Credit: Justin Hoch

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of The Dirty Blondes' THE TUNNEL PLAY at FringeNYC
Ryan Guess as COLIN

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of The Dirty Blondes' THE TUNNEL PLAY at FringeNYC
Dondrie Burnham as BIRDY

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of The Dirty Blondes' THE TUNNEL PLAY at FringeNYC
Chelsea Wolocko as PRIDDY

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of The Dirty Blondes' THE TUNNEL PLAY at FringeNYC
Ryan Guess as COLIN

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of The Dirty Blondes' THE TUNNEL PLAY at FringeNYC
Dondrie Burnham as BIRDY and Chelsea Wolocko as PRIDDY

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of The Dirty Blondes' THE TUNNEL PLAY at FringeNYC
Dondrie Burnham as BIRDY

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of The Dirty Blondes' THE TUNNEL PLAY at FringeNYC
Ryan Guess as COLIN

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of The Dirty Blondes' THE TUNNEL PLAY at FringeNYC
Chelsea Wolocko as PRIDDY

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of The Dirty Blondes' THE TUNNEL PLAY at FringeNYC
Dondrie Burnham as BIRDY

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of The Dirty Blondes' THE TUNNEL PLAY at FringeNYC
Ryan Guess as COLIN



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