Theater 178: Lights Out
Synopsis:
Allison and Mark have been best friends since grade school. Now, they’re fortyish. Allison is a married suburban mom with three kids. Mark is single and gay. Allison has a lifelong fear of the dark. Just what happens when it’s Lights Out?
Writer
Michael A. Buzzelli
Michael A. Buzzelli is the playwright. He’s a stand-up comedian who has performed at such famous venues as the Ice House, The Improv, and The Comedy Store. He is the author of two books, All I Want for Christmas and Below Average Genius. Based near Pittsburgh, he is a theatre and arts critic, He is also an actor and Moth Grand Slam Storyteller.
Michael A. Buzzelli
Director
Bernadette Armstrong
Bernadette Armstrong moved to Los Angeles to work in film in the late 1990’s and after her first two films went to festivals she took a short hiatus from writing until she fell in love with small theater. Since 2008 she has had several successful theater projects produced in No Hollywood. Her play The Reading Group was named Pick of the Week by LA Weekly Magazine and in 2017 her play Simple Lives was nominated for Outstanding Writing of an Original Play or Musical by the Valley Theater Awards (the only woman nominated).
Bernadette Armstrong
Cast
Cynthia Gravinese Brown as Allison
Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, Cynthia attended the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts, and made her way to NYC where she studied at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She began working in a variety of Off-Broadway and regional theatres. In
Los Angeles, Cynthia had the pleasure of performing in one of her most memorable roles as Rose Weiss in A Shayna Maidel. In the comedy world, Cynthia became a member of the famed CANDID CAMERA improv troupe of actors pulling pranks and catching people. off guard across the U.S. For 13 years she had the pleasure of running around the halls of Greystone Mansion in a red flapper dress, boa and high heels causing mayhem and havoc as the “saucy, hilarious, scheming British dance hall trollop”, in the smash hit, long-running show, THE MANOR, based on the Doheny family’s infamous rise and devastating fall. Her love for dance and the diverse people she encountered at the local YMCA prompted Cynthia to write, produce and star in the award-winning, hit web series “MEET ME AT THE BARRE”. Currently streaming on YouTube, the series stars Cynthia, Pete Gardner, (from the Golden Globe award-winning show, My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), former Broadway dancer, Malinda Farrington, and Cheryl Harrington (Tulsa King). Cynthia will be seen in the upcoming Russo Brothers Film “Something’s More Than One Thing.”
Cynthia Gravinese Brown
Matthew Scott Montgomery as Mark
Matthew Scott Montgomery has theater background: Stage Kiss (The Geffen Playhouse); YELLOW (Best Actor winner at the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, The Coast Playhouse); Dead Boys (writer/star, West Hollywood One City One Pride Excellence in LGBT Theatre Winner; The Blank Theatre, Celebration Theatre); I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Musical (El Cid, Three Clubs); Anchorman: The Musical (El Cid); A Walk to Remember: The Musical, The OC Musical, BROLESQUE (Rockwell Table & Stage); Definitely Not Clue: A Live Murder Mystery Musical for Twitch (After Hours Theatre Company). His film, television, and web include the following: Southern Baptist Sissies; Jane the Virgin (CW); White Famous (Showtime); Sonny With a Chance; So Random!, Shake it Up!, Austin & Ally (Disney Channel); SMOSH (recurring); and Nasty Habits. AEA & SAG/AFTRA. You can also follow Matthew on Instagram: @matthew_scott_montgomery
Matthew Scott Montgomery
Noelle Evangelisti as The Nurse
Noelle earned an MFA in Acting from California Institute of the Arts. She has worked on major motion pictures including: Terminator Two: Judgement Day, LA Confidential, The Babysitter and Pacific Heights. Noelle has performed in numerous theaters in Los Angeles and Chicago. Three of her favorite and most memorable roles were: Prudence in Beyond Therapy at Ruth Page in Chicago, Liz in The Philadelphia Story and The Nurse in Romeo and Juliet at Hillside Rep in Los Angeles. She still loves working on commercials and voiceovers and had a great time doing a radio play pre-Covid with the Screen Actors Guild. She feels blessed to work with Bernadette and everyone at Open Door!
Noelle Evangelisti
Sound Production:
Oak House Recording Studio in Pasadena, CA with Sound Engineer David Peters.
