Caffrey Girl Production Launched to Produce Plays Written by Women, for Women in February and May at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts
Caffrey Girl Production has recently been created by founder and actress, Chris Caffrey, to produce plays written by women, for women.
Save the Date! Caffrey Girl Production’s first play will be “Parallel Lives” written by Mo Gaffney and Kathy Najimy and will be performed on Friday night, February 26 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, February 27th at both 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, February 28th at 2:30 p.m. at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, 4th and Guadeloupe in Carmel-by-the-Sea (831) 624-7491. Sales from the concessions at all performances will be donated to the Gathering for Women. Tickets are $20 and will be available in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com or at the door at the Carl Cherry Center.
According to the Pacific Grove-based founder Chris Caffrey, “I started Caffrey Girl Production in 2015 after viewing the season’s offering of plays and auditions in the area. I was dismayed by the lack of plays by women playwrights. In addition, the roles for women, especially mature women, were even more dismal. I wanted to be able to showcase women at their best, whether it’s writing a great play or performing in roles that are not defined by a secondary role to a male lead. I want to be able to give women directors a platform to showcase their directorial talents. Women have so much to offer the theater community and I plan on giving them that platform to showcase their talents!”
About “Parallel Lives”
by Mo Gaffney and Kathy Najimy
In the opening scene, two Supreme Beings plan the beginning of the world. Once they decide on the color scheme of the races, a little concerned that white people will feel slighted being such a boring color, they create sex and the sexes. From this moment, the audience is whisked through the outrageous universe of Kathy and Mo, where actresses will play men and women struggling through the common rituals of modern life: teenagers on a date, sisters at their grandmother’s funeral, a man and a woman in a country western bar. With boundless humor, PARALLEL LIVES reexamines the ongoing quest to find parity and love in a contest handicapped by capricious gods or in this case, goddesses. –Variety
The cast for Parallel Lives features Chris Caffrey, Pamela Crane, Linda Dale, Diamond Gaskins, Starla Reynolds, Jennie Sawyer, Elizabeth Schrey, Gwen Woods. Producer-Chris Caffrey and Director-Elizabeth Schrey.
Also coming up on May 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 2016, A Caffrey Girl Production will have its second production, “Motherhood Out Loud”.
About “Motherhood Out Loud”
Conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein
Written by Leslie Ayvazian, Brooke Berman, David Cale, Jessica Goldberg, Beth Henley, Lameece Issaq,
Claire LaZebnik, Lisa Loomer, Michele Lowe, Marco Pennette, Theresa Rebeck, Luanne Rice,
Annie Weisman and Cheryl L. West
When entrusting the subject of motherhood to such a dazzling collection of celebrated American writers, what results is a joyous, moving, hilarious, and altogether thrilling theatrical event. Utterly unpredictable, MOTHERHOOD OUT LOUD shatters traditional notions about parenthood, unveils its inherent comedy and celebrates the deeply personal truths that span and unite generations.
About Chris Caffrey
Born in Cleveland, Ohio to a prominent Irish family, the 59-year old Chris Caffrey is dedicated to helping women, especially those in theatre, seniors and homeless women. She recently retired from a 33-year management career at AT&T. Chris is a comedian and has performed for several years with the local improv troupe Mirth-o-Matics. She is also an actress and has performed as Kate in the play, “Sylvia”, at the Paper Wing Theatre, one of the Sisters in “HMS Pinafore”, Bruce Arliss Wharf Theater, the Wicked Witch of the West for Directors Showcase at MPC and the mother in “Picnic”, Directors Showcase, MPC. In addition to A Caffrey Girl Production, Chris also owns Channels of Energy, where she teaches Adaptive Yoga for the Flexibly Challenged. She is a Certified Massage Therapist and was trained in Asian Body Work at the Five Branches University in Santa Cruz and San Jose. Her focus is to bring holistic stress management at an affordable price. Chris is also a fabulous Vegan Cook....with an emphasis on what taste good.
Also part of A Caffrey Girl Production are Elizabeth Schrey, Director of “Parallel Lives”, and Lynette Winter, Director of “Motherhood Out Loud”.
About Elizabeth Schrey
Originally from Lafayette, CA, Elizabeth graduated from Southern Oregon University in Ashland Oregon, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, with a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts. After graduation, she returned to the Bay Area to work at several theatre companies including California Shakespeare Theater, Town Hall Theatre and San Leandro Players. In addition to designing and stage managing a number of local productions, Elizabeth has held administrative positions for several arts organizations, providing administrative, marketing, fundraising and event support. Elizabeth took a brief break from the arts to work with the University of Oregon’s Holden Center, where she worked in supporting leadership development and Greek programming. Now year round with the Carmel Bach Festival, Elizabeth also serves on the Film Review Panel for the Ashland Independent Film Festival, is a Site Coordinator for the Carmel International Film Festival and served as a film reviewer for the Eugene International Film Festival. Elizabeth enjoys a great movie, better wine, spoiling with her nieces and nephew, learning the art of photography and making chocolate!
About Lynette Winter
Lynette Winter has recently moved to the Carmel area and will be joining Chris as director of “Motherhood Out Loud.” She began her acting career in Hollywood as Larue in the “Gidget” series and had roles in other classic movies and t.v. shows such as the original “Parent Trap” “Petticoat Junction” and “Family Affair.” In her twenties she turned her focus to the stage and in the years that followed has acted in over 30 plays, directed 20, and founded two theatres-the Abbey Players n Louisiana and the Bodwin Theatre in Cleveland both still going strong. Her busy life has also included teaching acting workshops around the country. She is looking forward to the spring production and working with Chris both as a producer and an actress.
About the Carl Cherry Center for the Art’s Cherry Hall Theater
The Center’s Cherry Hall is a 50-seat theater that provides Monterey County with a venue for challenging and original theater, with productions staged by the Cherry as well as by visiting and local theater companies. The Center also hosts concerts, recitals, lectures, readings, film series, workshops, and panel discussions
To arrange an interview with Chris Caffrey, contact Wendy Brickman at (831) 633-4444 or email [email protected]. For more information, go to www.acaffreygirlproduction or call (831) 238-2399.