Desperate Writers, a new comedy, will make its East Coast premiere when it begins performances on Monday, May 16 at the Union Square Theater (100 East 17th Street at Park Avenue South). Directed by Kay Cole, Desperate Writers is written by Joshua Grenrock & Catherine Schreiber and starring Maddie Corman (Broadway’s Next Fall) and Jim Stanek (current Off-Broadway revival of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Broadway’s The Story of My Life, Lestat, …Forum) with Bob Ari, Angel Desai, Christopher Durham, Kelsey Nash, Susan Louise O’Connor, Vayu O’Donnell, Catherine Schreiber and also starring Pauletta Washington (Off-Broadway’s Love, Loss and What I Wore). The official opening for Desperate Writers is set for Monday, June 6.
Produced by Carnegie Hill Productions and James Spry. Executive Producer: Lynn Shaw.
For tickets, please visit www.Ticketmaster.com, or call (800) 982-2787 or visit the Union Square Theater box office (beginning Friday, May 13) at 110 East 17th Street, at Park Avenue South, off Union Square.
A NEW COMEDY ARRIVES OFF-BROADWAY!
PRESS RELEASE
“A delightfully scathing send up… will tickle anyone… intrinsic playfulness!” - LA Times
"A zany, roller coaster of fun" - Entertainment Today
"A wild, hilarious ride, side-splitting screwball comedy" - Geri Windsor, Kaleidascope Radio
“Desperate Writers puts laughs on life’s struggles that most can relate to, especially in recent economic conditions.
Desperate Writers is filled with great one-liners and witty comedy. The results are situation comedy at its best." - SoCal.com
May 24, 2011 - Hour 2
Joan Hamburg chats with actress Pauletta Washington, wife of Denzel Washington, mother of 4, including a NFL athlete and Yale student about juggling it all, and her new project, starring in the Off-Broadway comedy DESPERATE WRITERS.
Feature
Washington's Heights
Desperate Writers star Pauletta Washington talks about her career and life with husband Denzel Washington.
By: Iris Wiener · May 26, 2011 · New York
Pauletta Washington began performing over 30 years ago, and has shared the stage with such greats as Phyllis Newman, Chita Rivera, and Leslie Uggams. But most people know her from sharing her life with her husband, Tony and Oscar winner Denzel Washington. She is now back on the boards as Vanessa, an endearing literary agent, in the new Off-Broadway comedy Desperate Writers at the Union Square Theater. Washington recently spoke to TheaterMania about her offstage life.
Inside Ink, May 13, 2011
What's happening in New York theater
GETTING ‘DESPERATE’
Few things define “desperation” as much as a would-be screenplay writer trying to get a script read and produced in Hollywood. (Ever met anyone like that? True story: I once had a cab driver hand me a copy of his long and unproduced screenplay when he found out I wrote for Show Business.) And so the title of Joshua Grenrock and Catherine Schreiber’s new comedy is quite apt: Desperate Writers, a comedy about a couple of, um, desperate writers, with the baby-clock ticking and their home about to be sold out from under them, who are driven to, um, desperate measures to get their script read, bought and made. A screwballer that pokes fun at the crazy film biz, Desperate Writers stars Pauletta Washington, Maddie Corman and Jim Stanek, with direction by Kay Cole (the original Maggie in A Chorus Line, for trivia buffs) and performances begin this week at Union Square Theater. For more info, visit www.DesperateWriters.com.
Palisadian Schreiber Honored for Supporting 'Scottsboro Boys'
By Danielle Gillespie, Staff Writer
2011-05-26
Pacific Palisades resident Catherine Schreiber received the key to the city of Scottsboro, Alabama, in March for her support of the Scottsboro Boys Museum.
Kay, Oh!
Desperate Writers helmer Kay Cole shares her philosophy on directing.
By: Jonathan Cerullo · Jun 2, 2011 · New York
Kay Cole made her Broadway debut in the original production of Bye Bye Birdie and was last seen on the Great White Way as Maggie in the original New York company of A Chorus Line. In recent years, Cole has successfully transitioned from being a performer to become a recognized director and choreographer, and is now making her Off-Broadway directorial debut with the zany comedy, Desperate Writers, now in previews at the Union Square Theatre.
CLICK here to read more....
Kay Cole
(© Michael Lamont)
READER REVIEWS
Denzel Washington's Wife Returns to Stage
By Michael Arceneaux
Posted: 05/26/2011 08:02 PM EDT
Maddie Corman: Acting ‘Desperate’
Maddie Corman grew up doing theater in Irvington, where her mother was key to the revitalization of the Irvington Town Hall Theater, now a fixture on the arts scene in Westchester.
She lives in Dobbs Ferry, married to Jace Alexander, an in-demand TV director whose work ranges from “Rescue Me” to “Raising Hope” to “Prison Break.” He is the son of the actress Jane Alexander, who lives a stone’s throw away. Corman and Alexander have three kids: Isabelle Moon and twins Mac and Finn.
Catherine Schreiber Loves the Proactive Life
By Simi Horwitz
June 3, 2011
Photo by Carol Rosegg
Catherine Schreiber launched her career as an actor, before branching into writing and producing. Wearing these different hats is the joy of "being creative," she asserts. Schreiber insists she never turned to writing to create roles for herself or thought of her scripts as steppingstones to other goals. "Desperate Writers," which she co-wrote with Joshua Grenrock, is a case in point. Now playing Off-Broadway at the Union Square Theatre, the show began life as a film script. When it failed to make it to the screen, Schreiber turned it into a stage play, producing it first in Los Angeles before setting up shop in New York. She also gave herself a role, admitting it would be delightful if the play now found its way to becoming a movie in which she'd co-star, but it's just fine if that doesn't happen, she says. After all, she's having so much fun right now.
A MOM”S ACTINGCOMEBACK ON STAGE AFTER 20 YEARS: ANYTHING BUT DESPERATE
by Raina Seitel Gittlin
When I met Catherine Schreiber at this time a year ago, we were both getting buffed and puffed in anticipation of that night's big event...The TONY Awards.
INTERVIEW: CATHERINE THE GREAT.
BROADWAY PRODUCER, WRITER AND ACTRESS CATHERINE SCHREIBER, on the eve of The Tony Awards, sits down with me to discuss her catapult towards the top of the Broadway arena, the great joy and frustration that comes with working in the theatre, and a word of advice to promising talent - everywhere.
Desperate Writers
by Ellen Wernecke
There’s something refreshingly analog about Joshua Grenrock and Catherine Schreiber’s "Desperate Writers," now playing at the Union Square Theater. In a more contemporary-minded universe, Los Angeles writers David (Jim Stanek) and Ashley (Maddie Corman), also a couple, would face different counsel as the rejections for their historical rom-com "God’s Mouth" come rolling in from big-shot Hollywood producers.
Desperate Writers Cast Holds Opening Night Bash (photos)
By Iris Wiener, June 14th, 2011
Maddie Corman (Next Fall) and Jim Stanek (The Story of My Life, Lestat) star in Desperate Writers, a new comedy about a couple facing the hardships of selling their work in Hollywood. The play jabs at the film industry against a farcical backdrop.
The GREEN point of view.
Desperate Writers: Review
Posted on June 16, 2011
I absolutely love New York City. The culture, the art, the buildings, the crowds, the lifestyles, the hustle, the flow, and everything else (except muggings, those will bring you down). One major thing about the good ‘ol NY is the tremendous amount of plays. As a guy, the idea of going to see a play just turns me off. Immediately I think, “is there at least a bar nearby?” However, because you must give things a try, I went to see an Off-Broadway play and lo and behold I found myself laughing and engaged in the performances (and I only had one beer!).
Pauletta Washington Stars In "Desperate Writers"
PIX11.com
June 20, 2011
Pauletta Washington began performing over 30 years ago, but most people know her as the wife of Tony and Oscar winner Denzel Washington. She's now back on-stage as Vanessa, an endearing literary agent, in the new Off-Broadway comedy "Desperate Writers" at the Union Square Theater.
Our Tamsen Fadal met up with her for a look at her life both on and off stage
© 2011. All Rights Reserved. Catherine Schreiber Productions, LLC.
WELCOME | ABOUT | CAST | CREATIVE | CELEBRITY WALL | FUN | SPECIAL OFFERS | PRESS | CONTACT