The Dirty Blondes Theater Company
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  • What We Do
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  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • Past Productions
The Dirty Blondes Theater Company
The Dirty Blondes presents

DETROIT, NY

June 19-22, 2014
4th Street Theatre
The Dirty Blondes presented DETROIT, NY a collaboration between artists in Detroit and New York City. Seven playwrights were selected to write short plays around the theme of “What is Detroit?”

​The evening featured seven ten-minute plays by Detroit based playwrights, directed by New York based directors and starring New York based actors. The plays were complemented by live music, and theatrical interludes. The goal of the project is to let Detroit speak for itself.
The mission of the festival is multifaceted. At its core, it is a direct response to the off-the-cuff, soapbox proclamations of the “problem with Detroit” by well-intentioned, but uninformed New Yorkers; it is a defense of the need for art, art makers, story tellers, and theater even in the most dire economic circumstances; it is an opportunity to shed a spotlight on the stories and storytellers of America’s beloved but neglected city. It is an opportunity for New York theater goers to think outside of themselves and hear stories they just aren’t hearing firsthand. The most important part of the mission of DETROIT, NY is to give Detroit artists the opportunity to speak for themselves. We should all be talking about Detroit, and when we do, we should keep in mind the people and the artists that continue to call Detroit home. ​

PRESS

StageBuddy caught up with co-producer Elizabeth Sarkady, who shared her thoughts on putting the festival together, "ruin porn," and how the festival can help the city of Detroit.

-StageBuddy

THE PLAYS

GHOST TOWN by Shawntai Brown
OLD CITY APARTMENTS by Mike McGettigan
RUIN PORN by Maureen Paraventi
TAILYPO by Micealaya Moses
CAN I GET THERE ON MY BIKE? by Melissa Clay
PARIS OF THE WEST by David MacGregor
DO YOU SEE IT COMING? by the Matrix Theatre Writers' Circle
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Read the full program online here

CREATIVE

PRESENTER, The Dirty Blondes
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Elizabeth Sarkady
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, Ashley J. Jacobson
FESTIVAL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, Darren Johnston
LIGHTING DIRECTOR, John Wilder
STAGE MANAGER, Melanie Aponte
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, Stephen M. Cyr
PIANIST, Eric Thomas Johnson

ARTISTS

​PLAYWRIGHTS
Shawntai Brown
Melissa Clay 
David MacGregor
Matrix Theatre Writers' Circle
Mike McGettigan
Micealaya Moses 
Maureen Paraventi
​DIRECTORS
Rod Gailes OBC 
Courtney Harge
Neal Kowalsky
Molly Beach Murphy
Courtney Laine Self
Cezar Williams
​ACTING COMPANY
Ayomide "Ayo" Akinsanya
Andi Foster
Ryan Guess
Derrick Marshall
Violeta Picayo
Bello Pizzimenti
LaTonia Phipps
Glenn Quentin
Antwon Smallwood
Chelsea Wolocko
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Thank you to all of you who were compelled to donate to bringing the voices of Detroit to New York City. We could not have done it all without you. Our sincerest gratitude to our supporters and friends.

SUPPORTERS

Justin & Heather Barksdale
Alexandra Biss
Laura Bogdanski
Margaret Breed
Dondrie Burnham
Melisa Camacho
Lalita Chemello
Katherine Cleverly
Amanda Cowper
Stephen Cyr
Brandon Ferraro
Nadine Friedman-Roberts
Tamar Halevi
Dani Heinemeyer
Arti Ishak
Evelyn Jacobson
Dawn Johnston
Deanna Kohler
Shannon Kozibroda
Amanda LaPergola
Marie Loizzi
Sarah Mischner
Jennifer Nix
Maureen Paraventi
Ariel Pellman
Gwendolyn Pointer
Jennifer Rajotte
Jeffrey Sarkady
Cheryl Scaborough
Christopher Singleton
Kyle Skelly
Edna Smith
Leeann Tester
Monica Trausch
Sarah Underwood
Margaret VanTongeren
Alexandra White
Anonymous (6)

SPECIAL THANKS

3 Voices Theatre
BAM
Melanie Berg
Philip Bucaro
Sam Byron
Lalita Chemello
Stephen Cyr
Founders Brewing Co.
Evelyn Jacobson
Michael Lopetrone
Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company
Dominique Morisseau
New York Theatre Workshop
Megan Sass
Smith & Nephew
Swift Hibernian Lounge
Tectonic Theater Project
T Tara Turk
Jenn Tufaro
© Dirty Blonde Productions, LLC