PROGRAM - The Park | axialtheatre

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Executive Producer Amanda Quinn Olivar, Axial Theatre,
the Lee Strasberg Creative Center and Zetland Media
Present a Staged Reading of "The Park" by Eric Conger
to Benefit the Entertainment Community Fund

The Entertainment Community Fund fosters stability and resiliency and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals throughout their lives. The Fund delivers national human services for people working in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio, and dance—on stage, on camera, and behind the scenes. Founded in 1882, the organization offers a deep understanding of the unique challenges of pursuing a life in the arts and provides critical resources to help individuals thrive in an often unpredictable industry.

GUEST HOST: FINOLA HUGHES

FINOLA HUGHES is perhaps best known for her Emmy Award-winning performance for Outstanding Lead Actress on General Hospital. She originated the role of Victoria the White Cat in the London production of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s musical Cats. Finola then came to the United States for her starring role in the motion picture Stayin’ Alive.

CREATIVE TEAM

ERIC CONGER’s plays have been produced at regional theaters including the Walnut St. Theatre in Philadelphia and the York Theater in NYC, and his one-act works have been presented in Happy Hour at the Ensemble Studio Theater, where he is a member of the Playwrights Unit. He has co-written short films with his daughter Sophia Conger, which have been accepted into major festivals, including Holly Shorts, Garden State, and Cincinnati. He is an Ohio native and a graduate of Wesleyan University and the University of Paris. Proud member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA, and Dramatists Guild.

CADY MCCLAIN is a three-time Emmy© Award-winning actor and the Artistic Director of Axial Theatre. As Artistic Director she produced every production by Axial Theatre since 2022, including ORSON'S SHADOW by Austin Pendleton at Theatre for the New City in NYC, 18 staged readings of new plays and 35 short plays. Her theatrical directorial credits include the full length plays NEVER THE SINNER by John Logan and PAINT MADE FLESH by Howard Meyer (supported by Sotheby’s), the one act play CENSUS by Susan Miller at the Glass Ceiling Breakers Festival and Youlim Nam's one act play JUST A YELLOW CAB IN NEW YORK CITY at The 2025 Chain Winter One Act Festival. Her feature length documentary film SEEING IS BELIEVING: WOMEN DIRECT received a special Jury Award the Newport Beach and the Audience Award at the SOHO Film Festival. Her short documentary on foster youth BURNT FEATHERS BROKEN WINGS won Best Short Film at Paramount Studios’ KITS Awards and the Mystic Film and Best Social Impact Film at the Santa Fe Film Festival. She has also directed the Emmy-nominated series VENICE THE SERIES (for which she has two Emmy© nominations for directing) and SWITCH, starring Olympia Dukakis (Best Pilot, Santa Fe Film Festival). She is proud to have directed "THE PARK" last year at Manhattan Theatre Club's Creative Center as part of the development process of this play.

McClain has directed seven short films which have been official selections in the Micheaux Film Festival, Raindance Film Festival, Hollyshorts Film Festival, Dances With Films, Heartland International Film Festival, St. Louis International Film Festival, Oxford Film Festival, SOHO Int'l Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival, Catalina Film Festival, Bozeman Film Festival, Macon Film Festival, Sedona Film Festival, NFMLA, LA Femme Int'l Film Festival, High Falls Film Festival, Socially Relevant Film Festival, March On Washington Film Festival, SaMo Film Festival, Artemis Women in Action Film Festival, DTLA Film Festival, Buffalo Film Festival, Miami Web Fest, Les Femmes Underground Int'l, Bahams Int'l Film Festival, Festival of Cinema NYC, Latino Short Film Festival, Mystic Film Festival, and the Santa Fe Film Festival.

THE CAST

JACK CAIN (George Zelinski): is a Los Angeles-based actor from Wisconsin. His previous theatre credits include DESCRIBE THE NIGHT (Steppenwolf Theatre) and TWELFTH NIGHT (8 Ball Theatre). He can be seen on-screen on RANSOM CANYON (Netflix), LOVE VICTOR (Hulu), and THE CHI (Showtime). Jack is an alumnus of USC’s BFA in Acting and is represented by Stewart Talent and Venture Entertainment.

WILL DIXON (Congressman Seaver /Wipple): has been working as a professional actor for 30 years. Currently recurring in the latest from Shondaland: THE RESIDENCE, as Secretary of State Peter Paris. His many television credits include recurring roles as Reporter Kevin on the hit show SCANDAL, Administrator Ferner on GENERAL HOSPITAL and Police Chief Pete on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Rob on the series TOTALY MEGAN and as Typhon in the series podcast I LOVE LUCIFER. Will has also appeared on such shows as SEINFELD, LAS VEGAS, CHARMED, 90210 and HANG TIME. Will’s film credits include horror classics SECRET SANTA and 13 FANBOY, comedy favorites I SEE YOU DOT COM with Beau Bridges and Rosanna Arquette, and I GOT THE HOOK UP, and action dramas THE RECKONING, FINAL DECISION, and RAW JUSTICE. But Will’s first home and love is the theater. His many, many, credits include MACBETH, in the title role in the park with New York Classical Theater, THE TEMPEST as Trinculo at the Met (LA), Hotspur in HENRY 4 PART 1, and Marc Antony in ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA with LA Classical Theater Co. Most recently Will appeared as Dr Dorn in Chekhov’s classic THE SEAGULL at the Odyssey theater, LETTERS FROM THE BLACK SEA by Oliver Mayer with LA’s own Latino Theater Co, and at the mighty Fountain Theater in hard hitting social impact story DETAINED, now more relevant than ever. Will also directed three films including writing and directing the award winning short TRAILER TALK, starring TV and film stalwarts Ron Canada, Grodon Clapp and James Parks. Will was born under the Big Sky in the great state of Montana and now lives, works, and often golfs, in Los Angeles Ca.

Catering and Wine
Donated Generously by

surladour.square.site

Special Thanks

SASHA KRANE

VICTORIA KRANE
MOLLY HART

JENNIFER GROSS- EVOLUTIONARY MEDIA

JON LINDSTROM

NATALIE FORD

JENNIFER QUINN GOWEY

CHEF DANIELLE REED

JOHN WOODMANSEE

ALAN SHAFFER

JENNIE GORN

RANDALL BLAZAK

MICHAEL M ALVA

LISA O' CONNER
CORINNA REPP

Songs in show:

"What Will Sorry Do?" by Traverton, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music

"Disco Music" by Triple Dee, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music

"70's Disco" by Solar Veil, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music