The Petrified Forest Dir. by Michael McGee @ The Terra Cafe

(Photo L to R: Tyrone Ward, Steven Maurice, Taryn Murphy, Astaris.)

The Terra Cafe and Michael McGee present THE PETRIFIED FOREST, the classic American play by Robert E. Sherwood. (Humphrey Bogart later portrayed escaped gangster, Duke Mantee, in the popular film version.) Written in 1936 during the Depression when Fascism was rising in the world, the play is entirely set at the Black Mesa Bar-B-Q, a family-owned cafe in the Arizona desert. Dead wood has turned to stone in the nearby Petrified Forest. In a world out of balance, Gabby must fight through fear, danger, and chaos to catch her dreams. (complete budget is attached below)

We will perform the play in a “site-specific” location, set in, "No Time", at the Terra Cafe, at 101 E. 25th St, in Baltimore, the renowned café and music venue owned by Chef Tee who is a respected force of good for music and artists in the community.

Performances are scheduled for 4 consecutive Monday nights, August 18 to Sept 8 show at 7:30 pm, Terra Cafe, at 101 E. 25th St, in Baltimore, doors will open prior for food and drink before the show. The cast of thirteen DC and Baltimore area actors led by Taryn Murphy as Gabby, Devon Floyd as Squier, Astaris as Boze, Steven Lebens as Duke Mantee, Steven Maurice as Gramp, and Tyrone Ward as Jason, including, Timothy Lidard, Jaylen Milton, Shaawan Francis Keahna, Jamie Virostko, Michael Barrett, Ricky Green and Rebekah Mason. Asst Prod. Stg. Mgr. Mariel Ferry (In Photo above from L to R: Tyrone Ward, Steven Maurice, Taryn Murphy, Astaris.)

A bulk of funding for this project is slated for actor stipends of $200 each, (Complete Budget is attached below). Tickets will be priced affordably for everyone; nobody will be turned away for lack of funds, only for lack of seats.

Michael McGee, (SAG-AFTRA, AEA), actor, director, producer, and new to Baltimore, has previously launched several independent productions in Los Angeles and other cities. McGee developed and directed Gorky's THE LOWER DEPTHS performed on an L.A. Skid Row parking lot at 5th and San Julian. Produced by the Homeless Writers Coalition at the Stages Theater in Hollywood, the project utilized both homeless artists and professional actors. While working on Skid Row, McGee founded, Row Actors Workshop (RAW) for homeless artists. The participants performed their original pieces developed in the workshop with the Visions Project at LACE Theatre, produced by Scott Kellman and funded by the Los Angeles Cultural Arts Department. On that same Skid Row lot Michael McGee played Polonius in Bruce Beatty's production of HAMLET with actors Don Cheadle, Jesse Borrego, Michael Boatman and others. The production traveled to several venues in Los Angeles. Additionally, McGee directed/produced and acted in Matt Benjamin's CHINESE FUNERAL MARCH with William “Stan” Stanford Davis of ABC’s ABBOTT ELEMENTARY. McGee has received nominations for L.A. acting awards in film and theatre including Best Solo Performance in ST. NICHOLAS written by Conor McPherson and directed by Scott Paulin. He also received the LA Weekly Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in WAY TO HEAVEN by Juan Mayorga and directed by Ron Sossi at the Odyssey Theatre. Most recently, McGee appeared on THE MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN filmed in Pittsburgh.

BUDGET

Artist Funds:

$200 X 13 Actors = $2600.00 – Rehearsals + 4 performances

$200 X 2 =$400 – 2 musicians 4 Rehearsals 4 performances

$300 – Stipend for Stage Manager / Assistant Producer

$3300.00 – Total Artist Funds

Material Funds:

$200 – Props

$200 – Media – Posters, Flyers, Progams

$70 Costumes - 2 Army hats / 1 football jersey

$300 – Incidentals

$95.00 Scripts

$35.00 - 2 baby monitors

$ 900.00– Total Material Funds

$4300.00 Total Expenses

Estimated Income:

Ticket Income – $10 at the door / pay as can

Advance Tickets - $12

Max seating 40

4 performances

Ticket Income Uses: Proceeds plan after budget is fullfilled.

$200 Stipend to Michael McGee Directing/Producing

50% to the Terra Café

50% to Donation “Next Act” Juvenile Inmate Teen Drama Program at the Center Stage Theatre in Baltimore