MPAT Open Stage 2009 - May 2009
The Empty Chair by Tim Kelly

Seven teens in a rehab program react to the empty chair as they learn one of their number has died in a drug overdose since they last met.

Cast and Crew of The Empty Chair

Speaker 1: Laura Wood
Speaker 2: Lizzy Stapula
Speaker 3: Jesse Eftis
Speaker 4: Monica Ollander
Speaker 5: Amanda Corbett
Speaker 6: Courtney Washington
Speaker 7: James Harden
Group leader: Maggie Ollander

Director - Kathy Rhem
Stage Manager - Nick Dillon
Tarmac - a staged reading by Suzie Celentano*Talkback featured after the performance*

Tarmac is a compelling new play that examines and celebrates the often untold stories of 'heroes who serve at home,' --  military family members.  Directed by Jennifer Williams, this new work was inspired by the experiences of Lorton resident/playwright Suzie Celentano, MFA, whose husband was deployed to Southwest Asia in 2006 - 2007. With grit and at times, humor, she has incorporated her own journals from that year with the inspiring and heartfelt often true stories of other unsung heroes who quietly serve at home. We hope you will join us for this reader's theatre performance in May 2009; with your presence and feedback, you will become part of the collaborative process of molding this new play into a full-scale production.

"I really didn't set out to write this play; it wrote itself. It simply grew out of the journals I wrote during my husband's deployment, into a mosaic of stories of several real, intriguing military spouses. We were humbled to receive submissions from throughout the world, all of whom shared their funny, poignant, and moving stories with us.  It really has been an honor to weave them together into this play -- to give audiences at least a glimpse beyond what the public sees on tarmacs and docks and fields -- that is, a glimpse into our unique military lifestyle. So many spouses I have met over the years have been resilient, strong, dedicated, powerful and funny -- and I hope to honor all of them with this play. It was a strange and beautiful coincidence that we chose to present the play, as a work in progress, on National Military Spouses Appreciation Day." – Suzie Celentano, playwright and military spouse since 1993.

Cast and Crew of Tarmac

Suzie - Kay Hawkins
Amy - Stephanie Jones
Lois - Wanda Smith-Goshorn
Sylvia - Beth Wilson
Sue - Robin Dorsey
June / Lynda - Stephanie Gaia Chu
Suzanne - Gail Seavey
Amanda - Amanda Mascia
Ron / General / Reporter - Evan Hawker

Director - Jenn Williams
Flight of the Lawnchair Man Photo Gallery
Production Team of Open Stage 2009

Producer - Danilo Stapula

Show at a Glance - Open Stage 2009

The Empty Chair
By Tim Kelly
Directed by Kathy Rhem
Stage Managed by Nick Dillon

Tarmac, a staged reading
By Suzie Celentano
Directed by Jenn Williams
Performance Venue:
The Sanctuary @ Convergence
1801 North Quaker Lane
Alexandria, VA 22302
Performance Dates:
May 8, 2009 | 7:30 pm
May 9, 2009 | 7:30 pm