Emerson Theatre Collaborative Announces Production of The Spitting Image

November 10, 2011, Mystic CT…Emerson Theatre Collaborative (ETC) announces the production of Sophie Klein’s The Spitting Image, directed by Joshua Lee Ramos and produced by ETC’s Camilla Ross.  The Spitting Image is a modern story of metamorphosis, inspired by the ancient myths of “Orpheus & Eurydice” and “Pygmalion & Galatea.”  A painter and his model use one another to access the dark secrets hidden in her portrait.  It’s a journey of self-discovery through the reflection of art.

Performances run from November 10th  – November 20th, 2011 at the First United Methodist Church in Mystic, CT. Performance information and tickets for The Spitting Image can be obtained by visiting www.EmersonTheaterCollaborative.org. Tickets are $25 ($20 for students and seniors). Special discounted tickets can be purchased at Mystic & Shoreline Visitor and Information Center in Olde Mystic Village.
   
Emerson Theater Collaborative’s mission is to serve youth, under-represented communities and artists with an emphasis on diversity, by producing innovative and exhilarating theater in Southeastern Connecticut.  ETC explores timely themes and issues through new, original works and modern theatrical classics. The company develops and nurtures both emerging and professional artists, and collaborates with the Emerson College network of alumni and students.  ETC’s goals include reaching inner city youth through educational theatrical programming and to support local communities by providing free admission to low-income families and donating profits to humanitarian causes.  For more information, visit EmersonTheaterCollaborative.org. 

Sophie Klein (Author) is a resident of Boston MA.  Sophie’s first play, A State of Jello, received the "Gold Award for Excellence in Writing (Dramatic Script Category)" at the 1998 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. The Court of Ladies was accepted as her honor's thesis at Brown University (2003). Dido was produced by Brown’s Production Workshop (2003) and by the Scratch Theater Company (2005). Per Chance won the Firefly Production Company's 2005 Nancy Weil New Play Search. It was also a finalist for the Alarm Clock Theater Company's 2005 New Play Competition and Lark Playwrights’ Week 2007. The Spitting Image was a finalist for the 2009 Arthur W. Stone New Play Award. It was produced by Manhattan Repertory Theatre (2009) and by the Happy Medium Theatre Company (2011), and it was presented at the 35th International Comparative Drama Conference, hosted by Loyola Marymount University, this past March. Her one-acts have been performed in Providence, RI (Java Theater Company), Boston, MA (Playwrights Platform), Vancouver, BC (Two Trees Theatre Company), and North Yorkshire, England (Harrogate Theatre). Sophie is a member of the Lark Play Development Center in New York and a member of the Dramatists Guild. She is currently working towards a Ph.D. in Classical Studies at Boston University.

Joshua Ramos (Director) is a native of Hartford, CT and a graduate of University of Hartford where he received a BA in Drama and Film.  In 2008, he made his professional theatre directorial debut with Princebury Productions directing A. R. Gurney's "Love Letters " in Massachusetts. He also did the lighting design for that show that would express the changes in time and compliment the change in emotions. The show earned him critical praise for these elements as well as his direction. Joshua brought the revival of Maria Irene Fornes' "The Conduct of Life" to the Off-Broadway June Havoc Theatre as part of the Midtown International Theatre Festival in summer of 2008 as the director, lighting designer and sound designer. Additional regional professional credits include working as a director for "New Works New Britain Theatre Festival," as well as having been a lighting designer for CONNetic Dance in Hartford and for their regional tour. For his first show of 2010 he directed "Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans" for the Hartford Children's Theatre. Other credits include working with the Emerson Theatre Collaborative (etc.) as Artistic Director taking on numerous projects such as Melanie Greenhouse’s “Chestina Vanessa Poulson”, stage manager for "Harriet2", director for Bill Corbett's and Kira Obolensky's "Hate Mail" and director of A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters”.  He first worked with etc. as director of a very successful run of Rebecca Gilman's "Spinning into Butter" for etc. in Fall 2009.  Ramos also directed three very well received productions of Jacques Lamarre’s “Gray Matters”, Off-Broadway for the 11th Annual Midtown International Theatre Festival in 2010 followed by two subsequent runs of the show in Mystic, CT and Hartford, CT (etc.’s first Hartford appearance).  “Working with Emerson Theater Collaborative has been real, educational, humbling and most of all fun”- Ramos.  For more on Ramos visit www.joshualeeramos.webs.com

Camilla Ross (Producer) Outside of producing great theater, Ms. Ross is the current president and founder of the Emerson Theater Collaborative, and a graduate of Emerson College in Boston. Ms. Ross has produced Doubt, By John Patrick Shanley, Introducing Mr. Charles Dickens, Harriet2 (Pronounced Harriet Sqaured), Picasso at The Lapin Agile by Steve Martin, Hate Mail By Bill Corbette and Kira Obolensky, Chestina Vinessa Poulson By Melanie Greenhouse, Gray Matters, By Jacques Lamarre, and many others for the Emerson Theater Collaborative. She is the theatrical advisor and acting coach for the SPAG Players at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich, CT. Camilla is a former board member and acting instructor for the Writer’s Block, Ink of New London, CT. Camilla is currently a part-time business faculty member of the Three Rivers Community College, teaching a variety of business courses. She currently sits on the Emerson Alumni Board, and is the president of the CT Alumni Chapter. As an actress, she was seen most recently in Jacob and Daniel Seligmann’s new, original musical The Big Bank in the role of Mabel, and continues to play in the recurring role of Harriet Tubman in Harriet Tubman’s Dream by Lisa Giordano.

THE CAST:

Kelly Riley (Oliver) is excited to make his ETC debut with The Spitting Image! Originally from Missouri and now based in New York, Kelly graduated magna cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis, where he studied acting and psychology. Off-Off Broadway credits include: Smart (EndTimes Productions), Gray Water, Photography, and Between the Doors (Fifty7 Productions), and A Night in Vegas (Alternative Theatre Co.). Kelly has also performed in student and independent films, as well as in several improv/sketch comedy shows. Thanks to friends and family for their support, ETC for this opportunity, and to you for being here with us tonight! For more info about Kelly and his upcoming work, visit www.kellyrileyactor.com.

Julia Blauvelt  (Ella/Anonymous) hails from the small country town of Great Barrington, MA and earned a B.A. in Theatre from Regis College.  Julia has worked as an actor in Boston, Los Angeles, and, currently, New York City.  Regional credits include:  Brighton Beach Memoirs (Nora), Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hermia), and Rumors (Chris Gorman).  Off-Off Broadway acting credits include:  Love Creek Brief Acts Festival and Left Hip 48 Hour Play Festival (Winner: Best Original Production).  In film and television, Julia can be seen in ABC’s new show Pan Am and alongside Meredith Baxter in Airline Disaster (Asylum Films).  Recently, Julia produced and starred in an original web-series pilot Scene of the Rhyme that was an official selection of the Beverly Hills New Media Festival.  She is thrilled to be working with Emerson Theatre Collaborative for the first time.

Alex Taylor (Phil) Born and raised in Brisbane, Australia, Alex has always had a passion for acting. Favorite roles include Christy Mahon in “The Playboy of the Western World”, Man in Tennessee William’s “Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen”, and Sweetie in “ Paper Thin” which had a run and the Player’s Club in New York last spring. Alex has just completed an Acting for Film course and is living in New York City.

Key Dates and Information

What:  Emerson Theatre Collaborative’s production of The Spitting Image
When:  November 10 - November 12 and November 14 – 19 at 8:00 pm; November 12 at 2 pm and November 13 & 20 at 4 pm.
Where:  First United Methodist Church, 23 Willow St., Mystic, CT
How:  Tickets are $25 ($20 for students and seniors) and can be obtained online at www.emersontheatercollaborative.org or at the Mystic & Shoreline Visitor and Information Center for a 10% discount.


Additional information is available at www.EmersonTheaterCollaborative.org or by calling (860) 705-9711