The Script in the Closet
Written and Directed by Joyce Griffen
The discovery of untitled pages to a mystery screenplay launches the misadventures of a Pulitzer Prize-winning, husband-and-wife writing team. Suspicions, accusations and jealousies pile up as the wife assumes her husband has taken a new writing partner-- a move tantamount to infidelity.
This comedy plays on the humorous aspects of the creative process, the eccentricities of authors and the challenges of the literary world. Jealousy goes hand-in-hand with creativity, and just about everybody in the play is infected with it!
Photos by Steven Pisano
Written and Directed by Joyce Griffen
Alex Moore – Lighting Designer
Boris Nazarov – Sound Designer
Joyce Griffen – Scenic/Costume Designer
Jen Varbalow – Set Design Assistant
Ruth Kavanagh – Poster/Postcard Design
Joyce Griffen – Producer
CAST: Ruth Kavanagh*, Mark De Rocco, Kristin Johansen*, Tom Staggs*, Carrie Wilder, Patrick Huang, Tina Harper, Charlotte Jones, Isaiah Stannard, Jada Delgado
Roundabout Theatre
Technical Crew & Set Construction Assistants
Press Representative: Jonathan Slaff & Associates
*appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association
This is an Equity-approved showcase.
Back home! Joyce Griffen adds director/playwright at La MaMa to cabaret actress and Cotton Club Soubrette; after Toronto (Let My People Come) and Istanbul (singing Turkish). Joyce describes herself as an Actress, Jazz Vocalist, Writer, Audio book Narrator, and Director, “Like many native New Yorkers, being exposed to all the wonderful industries and career possibilities in vibrant NYC as a child, participating in multiple worlds is irresistible. Hard work and lots of “woodshedding” has paid off in ongoing simultaneous careers, from which I derive immense personal and professional satisfaction.”
"Starting out as a dancer, it wasn’t long before the demands of the New York City theater world had me earning union memberships as an actor in Actors Equity, AFTRA, and SAG; working as an actress, singer, and dancer. My most favorite performances in the theater were as the lead in John O. Killens’ COTILLION, with the New Federal Theater and as Woman One in FROM THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA, produced by the Negro Ensemble Company. As a Columbia University School of the Arts, Writer’s Guild of America East Foundation, Harlem Arts Alliance Screenwriting Workshop Fellow, I've written a screenplay, entitled PO’ ROBIN and UNCLE BAY, currently being submitted by a literary agent. My one-act play entitled FORMERLY KNOWN as SARAH received an Arthur Miller Fellowship from the Lunch Hour Theater at Gramercy Park’s Players Club in 2006. The play was first presented as part of the Ensemble Studio Theatre’s festival GOING TO THE RIVER 2006, A Celebration of African-American Women Playwrights. In 2008 it was presented by the Maxine Greene Foundation in Manhattan, at the Museum of the City of New York on 5th Ave, and at the Paul Robeson Theatre in Brooklyn. The first 2009 production was at St. John’s University’s Queens Campus. I began directing at the request of famed playwright Ed Bullins. my directing credits include Spinning into Butter at the Schoolhouse Theater, Croton Falls; Zora Speaks, at the Theater at Riverside Church; Chuleta, by Lillian Santos, and her own Madame C.J. Walker - A Musical Biography at the Museum of the City of New York. I currently work as a Teaching Artist for both the Lincoln Center Institute and American Ballet Theatre. Also a jazz singer, my duo jazz CD with guitarist Howard Post, ALONE TOGETHER."
ALEX MOORE – Lighting Designer
New York based lighting and visual designer, artist, photographer. Alex’s work has been viewed on Broadway, Off Broadway, and internationally. And has included Americas Next Top Model.
DAVID WRIGHT – Lighting Designer
An 11-time “VIV” AUDELCO Award winner for excellence in Sound Design, David has won film and radio awards as well. Thankful to Olodumare, Gbogbo Egun, and Gbogbo Orisa for his success.
RUTH KAVANAGH – Actress
Ruth trained at Arts Educational Drama School, London; NYC credits include: Till Death, Talking Heads, BritBits. Ruth is also a Voice-Over Artist More info: www.ruthkavanagh.com
CARRIE WILDER – Actress
Out of retirement for this production, Carrie appeared in 3 Broadway shows, Onward Victoria, Show Boat with Donald O'Connor and Oliver with Patti Lupone and Ron Moody. Off Bwy, regional, cruise ships and dinner theatres galore!