AUGUST 2008
THE THIRD FROM THE LEFT
{a dancer's journey into the world of Martha Graham}

a play by JEAN COLONOMOS
directed by JON LAWRENCE RIVERA
produced by DIANE LEVINE

"There are moments when you think that the play will become “Mommie Dearest” — such a denunciation could easily be written of Graham — and that one or more of these women will shake off the Graham yoke to become an independent adult. Instead, “The Third From the Left” transcends all this. At the end it shows the dancers meeting the challenges of the Graham technique and finally enjoying the glory not just of a successful performance but also of their families’ coming to appreciate Graham’s greatness and the dancers’ sacrifices."
-- NY Times

"...director Jon Lawrence Rivera's well-paced production and focus on the play's central theme, as well as the actresses' noteworthy efforts ... make The Third From the Left a very worthwhile watch. It will make you think twice the next time you are forced to choose between life and work (and whether there really is any line between the two at all). The Third From the Left is a reminder that anything truly worthwhile in life puts us through as much torture as joy, but, in the end, the reward really is worth the ride."
-- NY Theatre.com

In her new play, THE THIRD FROM THE LEFT, former Martha Graham dancer, Jean Colonomos, dramatizes the struggles five women face to find the emotional strength and physical endurance to master one of Graham’s highly challenging works.

starring Jill Marie Burke,
Kari Lee Cartwright, Paula Christensen, Amy Danielson, Fran de Leon

JEAN COLONOMOS (Playwright) – is a transplanted native New Yorkerwho began her career as a modern dancer. In the nineteen sixties she performed with The Martha Graham Dance Company. PRODUCTIONS - Los Angeles: PALM FEVER, PENUMBRA (Playwrights’ Arena); BLACK DAWN (The Ivar); GUMSIMAO (Los Angeles Theatre Center). New York: CARRIE (Citicorp); THE ELIZABETH STUART COMPANY PRESENTS (The Actors and Directors Theatre - Theatre Row). Regional: ZERO THE DIVINE (Santa Fe Playhouse); CRYSTAL GAZING (9th Annual Edward Albee Last Frontier Conference); THE THIRD FROM THE LEFT (Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland). GRANT: Los Angeles Partnership Grant. AWARDS: TREASURE HUNT (Drama-logue); PALM FEVER (Los Angeles Playwriting Award); THE NEXT STEP (Aspen Playwriting Award); BLACK DAWN (Citation from the City of Los Angeles).

JON LAWRENCE RIVERA (Director) has collaborated with Ms. Colonomos on four plays as a director: PALM FEVER (1994 and 2004), BLACK DAWN (1996), THE NEXT STEP (1998), THE THIRD FROM THE LEFT (2006). He most recently directed HILLARY AGONISTES by Nick Salamone (2007 NY International Fringe Festival Award for Outstanding Direction), THE DYING GAUL by Craig Lucas, OEDIPUS EL REY (Getty Villa Theater Lab) and HERO (Studio/Stage) both by Luis Alfaro, HAVANA BOURGEOIS by Carlos Lacamara (starring Tony Plana, 2008 GLAAD nomination), DOGEATERS by Jessica Hagedorn (Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre), CONJUNTO by Oliver Mayer, BAREFOOT BOY WITH SHOES ON by Edwin Sanchez. He is the founding artistic director of Playwrights’ Arena and his productions have garnered over 80 local and international awards.

DIANE LEVINE (Producer) began producing independent film, radio, and television commercials. She has programmed film series for Museums and Universities across the country and has lectured on the subject for audiences from UCLA to San Quentin Prison. Her theater credits include political dramas, contemporary comedies, musicals, and classics. She supervised production of a short play festival and Shakespeare in the Parking Lot and has worked in the LA public schools with Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre of London. Diane is on the Board of UCLA’s performing arts outreach program, Design for Sharing and the Royce Center Circle board of UCLA Live, one of the countries outstanding performing arts presenters.

JILL MARIE BURKE (Amanda Cummings) Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jill is a full-time performer for stage and screen. This is her first time to the NY Fringe - having been to the Edinburgh Fringe twice - starring again in THIRD FROM THE LEFT. Much thanks to Jon and Jean! She began performing for the Walt Disney Company, portraying such characters as Princess Jasmine and Pocahontas. She entertained audiences onstage while traveling around the world with Norwegian Cruise Lines. Her theater credits include: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, THE HOT MIKADO, and two productions of SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD, one of which she was nominated for a L.A. Ovation Award. She frequently can be seen singing our National Anthem for the Anaheim Angels, Anaheim Ducks, and L.A. Lakers. Currently, she can be heard screaming the popular "Priceline Negotiator!" jingle, running nationwide. Read more: www.jillmarieburke.com

KARI LEE CARTWRIGHT (Fumiko Endo) a recent transplant from Seattle to LA, is so pleased to be apart of this piece! In LA, she has been seen with GuerriLA Theatre Company (OUT OF YOUR MIND, dir. Tony nom. Jane Lanier, writer Steven Kane “The Closer”), HartPulse Dance, Musical Theatre Guild (STREET SCENE), East West Players (PIPPIN) and The Bimbo's (an all-female singing/dancing/sketch group). Kari Lee has also performed in theatres across the country and in Asia. Favorites include SECRET GARDEN (Ayah), CATS (Rumpleteazer), MISS SAIGON (Gigi), ...FORUM (Tintinabula). TV: NBC's “Passions.” Commercial: Boeing, Albertson's, Car Toys. L2T.

PAULA CHRISTENSEN (Carmen Arroyo) Regional theater credits include: Matilde in THE CLEAN HOUSE (Ensemble Theatre Company), Juliet in ROMEO & JULIET (Colony Theater), as well as leading roles in PHAEDRA (Antaeus Company@The Getty Villa), THE ORANGE GROVE (Playwrights' Arena), THE SONG THAT KILLED THE SNAKE (Pegasus Rep./ L.A. Philharmonic), and MANNA: OR THE BOOK OF MADELINE (South Coast Rep.) directed by Anna D. Shapiro. Ms. Christensen also performs improvisational comedy at venues throughout L.A., including ImprovOlympic West, Westside Eclectic and the Groundlings Theater. Film: "La Casa de Azucar," "2 Dogs Inside," "Lily" (Fox Searchlab). Television: "The Bold and the Beautiful," "Justice," "Boomtown."

AMY DANIELSON (Lainie Jacobs) Born in San Antonio, TX, Amy graduated from Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor of Performing Arts degree. Currently, Amy can be seen in a music video on the canopy for the Freemont Street Experience in Las Vegas and in a music video for MSTRKRFT feat. NORE. Amy is a company member of Theatre of NOTE in Los Angeles. She is very excited to be performing in THIRD FROM THE LEFT in the NYC International Fringe Festival. She currently studies at the Brad Henke Acting Studio and teaches at Sheila Kelley’s S Factor. Most recently, Amy founded GENESIS: SARAJEVO, a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading dance throughout war-torn and economically-challenged countries, specifically Bosnia, Uganda, and Manila. www.genesissarajevo.org

FRAN DE LEON (Janet Delaney) is a native of Hollywood, CA. Recent TV credits: "Charmed" (WB), "Becker" (CBS), "Titus" (FOX), and "That's So Raven" (Disney). Theatre: DOGEATERS and the LA Finale of 365DAYS/365PLAYS (Center Theatre Group) , ROMEO & JULIET (LATC), A WOMAN’S HAND (Flagstaff Festival of the Arts), CANNED GOODS (LA-CAD), MERCHANT OF VENICE (UK/LA Festival), CANTN JAZZ CLUB (East West Players), A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (6th World Shakespeare Congress), As a solo performer, Fran has toured to over 45 states, including special performances for the United Nations Associations in California & New York. Her one-person show FACES OF AMERICA (co-written & directed by Colin Cox) continues to tour with different performers.

CSV Cultural and Educational
Center Flamboyan
107 Suffolk Street (Rivington and Delancy Streets)

Sat 8/9 7:45PM
Mon 8/11 5:45PM
Wed 8/13 9:45PM
Fri 8/15 3PM
Sat 8/16 4:45PM

For Information/Tickets visit: www.FringeNYC.org
or call 866-468-7619

Copyright 2008 Playwrights' Arena

Mission Statement | Who We Are
Where We Are | Playlist | Links