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The Life of Leo Wool by Nina Alvarez
Directed by P. Gibson RalphPerformance Dates:
May 10*, 11, 17**, 18 at 7:30 PM
May 18*, 19 at 2:00 PMAll performances at the East End Theatre
727 East Main Street, Rochester, NYThe Life of Leo Wool is scheduled to premiere on May, 10, 2013 and will feature Jack Simel, Diane Chevron, Jessica Drew-Cates, Jason Alexander Holmes, and Nancy Berg.
Literature is dying, and so is Leo Wool, the last American superstar literary critic. When he is visited in his study by the ghost of his dead wife portending the visit of three writers with bones to pick, Leo must confront the real life he has led and what he may have sacrificed in search of the sublime.
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Click here to read an article about Nina Alvarez posted on the Democrat & Chronicle's HerStory.com.
*Discussion with the author immediately following performance.** In honor of writers and writing, the performance of Friday, May 17th will be dedicated to Writers and Books, and will be followed by a discussion with the author and director on the twin topics of writing and producing plays. Members and students of Writers and Books will be on hand for what promises to be quite a lively discussion.
Rochester’s most exciting emerging playwright, Nina Alvarez (shown left), is a published poet and short fiction writer, and writing workshop instructor at Writers & Books, the venue for last year’s Fringe Festival staged reading of The Life of Leo Wool.
A native Rochesterian, Nina credits the warm and literary-minded community in Rochester for igniting her passion for writing plays. "I think Rochester is an exciting place to write," Alvarez says, “The city has a rich literary history with outstanding literary and theater communities.”
Alvarez is excited that the GRRC is producing the world premiere of her show. "GRRC is one of the finest production companies in Rochester. They have brought in an incredible director and a top-notch cast. When this opportunity arose I couldn't have been more thrilled. I hope it's the beginning of a great partnership between me and GRRC."
Alvarez wrote the play with local veteran actor, Jack Simel (shown right)l, in mind to play the titular role. Simel, who recently delighted audiences as Mushnik, the florist, in RAPA’s Little Shop of Horrors, introduced Alvarez to Sandi Henschel, who directed the staged reading of The Life of Leo Wool for the 2012 Fringe Festival. The play was well-received, playing to nearly packed houses for both nights of the show.
“Leo Wool addresses the timeless truths of the written word's relationship to the human condition, made genuinely interesting and broadly accessible by Ms. Alvarez." Jeremy Sniatecki, Illustrator and Graphic Designer
“There is a little bit of Leo Wool in all of us. We all feel like Leo sometimes, that need to decipher high brow from low brow, good from bad. Though Leo’s behavior is sometimes reprehensible, we all have the capacity to behave in such a way. That’s why he’s relatable.” Raquel Pidal, Editor
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