Coyote REP Theatre Presents THE NEW NORMAL Thru 10/23

Coyote REP Theatre Company presents the world premiere of The New Normal by Donnetta Lavinia Grays (Playwright. Actor: Broadway's Well and In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play) and directed by Isaac Byrne (NYIT Award Winning Director), and staring Nell Mooney* (As The World Turns), Andrea Caban* (NYIT Award Winning Solo Artist), Emily Rossell* (The Civilians - Let Me Ascertain You) and Michael Mason Working Man's Clothes - New York is Dead). The New Normal is a groundbreaking original full-length play inspired by the life of 2009 Puget Sound Survivor of the Year, Anna Warren Schumacher. It is a hard hitting play that tells the unique story of how a young woman finds humor and grace in the unexpected challenges of survival.

The New Normal, developed by Coyote REP and penned by Ms. Grays, is about a 30-something funny and Frank Southern warrior, Anna (played by Mooney) living and thriving in Seattle with her rocker husband and 3 year old kid. As a mom, a wife and a survivor she's handled more than her fair share of drama, but nothing could have prepared her for this. The New Normal: Sometimes survivors need a survival guide.

The New Normal was featured as part of this years CBS 2 News Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wvrg0N5r5U

More detailed information on the history of The New Normal project: http://coyotereptheatrecompany.blogspot.com/2010/05/new-normal.html

The New Normal Company:
Donnetta Lavinia Grays (Playwright) Artistic Director and Founding Member of Coyote REP Theatre Company. Donnetta has written the cowboy is dying, her first solo play effort, which she performed with Coyote REP in 2008. Her play THE B FACTOR received a reading at Henry Street Settlement's Abrons Arts Center as a part of the 2002 Women of Color Arts and Film Festival and a reading with TOSOS Theater Company in 2009 as part of their Robert Chesley / Jane Chambers Playwrights Project. She has also presented her written work at Pride Goes East and with Kathleen Warnock's Drunken Careening Writers series at KGB Bar. Other works-in-progress include ABSENCE OF FAITH, and THE REVIEW (Working Title). Poetry featured on shortpoem.org.. Acting Credits: BROADWAY: In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play (Cover), Well (Cover). REGIONAL: NY Stage and Film, Hartford Theaterworks (2 Connecticut Critic Circle Awards- No Child...) Baltimore Centerstage, Huntington Theatre, Arena Stage, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, LA Women's Shakespeare Co. FILM: The Wrestler, Shook, Where do We Go From Here? TELEVISION: Rubicon, Mercy, Law and Order (all), The Sopranos. www.donnettagrays.com

Isaac Byrne (Director) has directed over a dozen premieres in NYC, including: GREEN, TO NINEVEH (2006 NYIT Award Outstanding Direction), and co-directed I USED WRITE ON WALLS, all by Bekah Brunstetter, ARMS AND THE OCTOPUS by Casey Wimpee, FRESH KILLS by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder, 52 MAN PICKUP by Desiree Birch, THE COWBOY IS DYING...by Donnetta Lavinia Grays, and A GRIMM REALITY. Isaac is the Artistic Director of THEATRE 4the PEOPLE.

Nell Mooney* (Anna) This is Nell's very proud debut with Coyote Rep. Theater: Diary of a Teenage Girl (New Georges), Hairspray, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Gateway Playhouse), Black Comedy (Barrington Stage), Orange Lemon Egg Canary (Actors Theater of Louisville), No 11 Blue and White (McGinn/Cazale), Gorilla Man (PS 122), HAIR (Studio Theater, D.C), My Children! My Africa! (Luna Stage). Movies: Enchanted, 9'11'01 (dir Mira Nair). TV: "Law and Order (CI)," "My Girlfriend is a Porn Star" (Comedy Central), "As the World Turns" (Spencer McKay), "One Life to Live." Much love to husband Iain and also much love and admiration to Anna Warren Schumacher.

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