New Theater Company.
Robert Massimi.
THE SHOW MUST GO ON!
NEW THEATER COMPANY
HAND FORGED FICTION
LAUNCHES INAGURUAL SEASON
WITH A 9-PART GRAPHIC AUDIO DRAMA
BROTHER, MINE
WRITTEN BY KC KEENE AND ERIC DENTE
ORIGINAL SCORE BY MATT PARKER
SOUND AND SPATIAL DESIGN BY WILL PICKENS
ILLUSTRATORS MARISSA DONAPEL AND HOLLY SALERNO
DIRECTED BY ERIC DENTE www.triviscompany.com.
FEATURING
DREW DRAKE AND ROB KARMA ROBINSON
WITH ELIZABETH BREWSTER, ROB HILLE AND ANDREW KAEMPFER
PREMIERES ONLINE BEGINNING NOVEMBER 13, 2020
WITH NEW INSTALLMENTS EACH MONTH THROUGH JUNE 18, 2021
New York, NY (November 5, 2020) — Hand Forged Fiction (Eric Dente, Artistic Director), a newly formed theater ensemble forged by displaced New York City professionals determined to continue engaging the national dialogue through art, launches its inaugural season of new inventive work with the 9-part graphic audio drama Brother, Mine written by KC Keene and Eric Dente. Under the direction of Mr. Dente, the 5-member cast features voice artists Drew Drake as Malcom O’Brien and Rob Karma Robinson as Raymond Aurum, with Elizabeth Brewster as Sarah O’Brien, Rob Hille as Anthony O’Brien and Andrew Kaempfer as Kenneth O’Brien.
Part One in the 9-part series of Brother, Mine kicks off Friday, November 13, 2020, followed by Part Two on Friday, November 27, 2020. The series will continue with monthly installments through Friday, June 18, 2020.<
A preview trailer is available at www.handforgedfiction.com
A Press Advanced Preview of Episode One is available:
Private Press Link: https://vimeo.com/474686293
Press Password: Press1 (Case Sensitive)
The new 9-part serial graphic audio drama, Brother, Mine written by KC Keene and Eric Dente, explores the confluence of dramatic, aural, musical, graphic and illustration artistry.
Part One begins with Malcom O’Brien, a young man adopted into a life of privilege returning to the neighborhood of his birth seeking credibility from a father he has never known. In determining his own destiny and applying his privilege to a greater cause, he finds himself at odds with everyone he’s ever called family both old and new.
“A hard-hitting contemporary parable, rendered with passion and urgency,” — Steven Levenson, Tony Award-winner Dear Evan Hansen.
What is graphic audio? An homage to the golden era of 45 record story books brought into modern motion with a fully realized soundscape, extraordinary voiceover actors, and poignant visual imagery. Portable, episodic storytelling in the solitude of your own earbuds. A transportive and revelatory artform amplifying the immersive experience.
Release schedule for upcoming installments is:
Friday, November 27, 2020: Part 2
Friday, December 25, 2020: Part 3
Friday, January 29, 2021: Part 4
Friday, February 26, 2021: Part 5
Friday, March 26, 2021: Part 6
Friday, April 23, 2021: Part 7
Friday, May 21, 2021: Part 8
Friday, June 18, 2021: Part 9 (Final Episode)
ABOUT THE CAST
Drew Drake (Malcolm O’Brien) is an actor, poet, MC and educator hailing from Huntsville, Alabama. Last seen in the National Coors Seltzer “For the Rivers” commercial (October 2020), the independent film Privilege (May 2020) and the NY Time Critics Pick TJ Love Sally Forever (Jack Theatre, February 2020). Regional theater credits include Spunk (Signature Theatre), and The Winter’s Tale (Folger Shakespeare Theatre). Learn more at www.thedrewdrake.com
Rob Karma Robinson (Raymond Aurum) is a Brooklyn/Houston native. He received his BFA form The University of Evansville, and MFA from The National Theater Conservatory. Most notable credits include: The Blowin’ of Baile Gall by Boston Playwright Ronan Noone (The Vineyard Playhouse, Martha’s Vineyard), as well as the world premiere of Expedition Six written by and directed by Bill Pullman (The Kennedy Center). Some of his most recent work has been with such and coming theater companies as Amios. Last year he was seen in Ricardo Khan’s Satchel Page (Saint Louis Rep), and The Kansas City Swing (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park). He also played Tom Robinson in Montana Repertory Theater’s National Tour of To Kill a Mockingbird to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the book. He is glad to be working to live rather than to work as so many are in these trying days!
Elizabeth Brewster (Sarah O’Brien) is an actress living in NYC. Her body of work includes improv, stage, television, commercials, industrials, print work, voiceovers and film. She worked on the production side of the reboot of “The Murphy Brown Show” (Kaufmann Studios). Elizabeth has performed at Upright Citizens Brigade in NY and in independent films such as James Franco’s In Dubious Battle. Last year she had the opportunity to develop her one-woman show, The Dedication on Page 285 (Directed by Seth Barrish, The Barrow Group). www.elizabeth-brewster.com
Rob Hille (Anthony O’Brien). Regional theater credits include Denver Center Theater Company and The Actor’s Theater of Columbus. Rob is a founding member of The Amios Theater Company, where he served as artistic director, and whose monthly one-act festival, “Shotz,” has produced more than 300 original works. www.robhille.com
Andrew Kaempfer (Kenneth O’Brien) has appeared on “Blue Bloods,” “Happy!,” “Madam Secretary,” “God Friended Me,” “Law & Order, SVU,” “The Blacklist,” “Gotham, Turn: Washington’s Spies,” “Bull,” “The Michael J. Fox Show,” “Cadillac Records,” “The Squid and the Whale,” and “The Sopranos.” He will be seen in the 2021 release American Carnage starring Eric Dane, Jorge Lendeborg, Jr., and Allen Maldonado. www.andrewkaempfer.com
THE CREATIVE TEAM
KC Keene (Writer) is the co-author of Brother, Mine. After earning her undergraduate degree in theater and dance from West Virginia’s College of Creative Arts, KC entered the New York theater world to explore here passion for playwrighting. Stage plays include Langress & Munger (developed by the Director’s Company and presented at Manhattan Theatre Club), Bennett House — A Musical (developed at WVU and publicly presented at The McKittrick Hotel, NYC), The Reanimators (produced by The NY Theatre Arts Center), Sandy Shores Shenanigans, A Loser’s Hand (winner at The National Tennessee Williams Festival), Homecoming Hullabaloo, and On The Road to Canterbury. In addition to working as a playwright, KC is a teacher completing her Master’s Degree at The Citadel Military College in South Carolina. Currently, KC is working on a new play, Weepin’ Wounds. With this new work, she brings a personal perspective examining societal perceptions of military-related PTSD, the American warrior class, and their families.
Eric Dente (Writer/Director) is a multidisciplinary artist. An opportune meeting at formidable moment with an inspired playwright bellowed life into Brother, Mine. Writing credits include the novels Like Witches Into The Flue, and The Ascension of Beckford Keene. Playwriting includes Langress & Munger, Bennett House — A Musical, Brother, Mine, The Reanimators, Sand Shenanigans, A Loser’s Hand, Homecoming Hullabaloo, Apartment X, Three Men in Search of a Pair of Shoes, Twelve Nights — A Musical, and On The Road to Canterbury. In addition to writing and directing, Eric spent ten seasons with the New York City vanguard immersive experience, Sleep No More.
Matt Parker (Original Score) was born in Florida and moved to New York City in 1999. He got his start as a member of the Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau Band, touring the U.S. and abroad. Parker has release two records under his name, both receiving Albums of The Year recognition form Downbeat Magazine. He arranged, recorded, and performed in the film John Wick. He can also be seen and heard on “The Real Housewives of New York City,” and “Power.” For the past decade, he has performed and is currently the musical director for the NYC premiere burlesque supper club, Duane Park. www.mattparkermusic.com
Will Pickens (Sound and Spatial Design). Broadway credits include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (US Associate Sound Designer), Julie Taymor’s M. Butterfly (Sound Designer), Mike Nichols’ Death of a Salesmen (Associate Sound Designer), That Championship Season, The Importance of Being Earnest, Bronx Bombers, and Present Laughter. Off-Broadway: Cherry Lane Theater, Signature Theatre, The Public Theatre, Classic Stage Company, MCC, PS 142, and New York Theatre Workshop. He also has been able to work with influential immersive creators including Fornicated From The Beatles, an immersive concert created with Mikhael Tara Garver. Will is a member of the Woodshed Collective which has produced such shows as Empire Travel Agency and KPOP.
Raelle Myrick Hodges (Dramaturg). Born in North Carolina, raised in Washington, D.C., and educated internationally, Raelle is a graduate of Ealing College of Humanities London, and the University of Southern California. Artistically mentored by George C. Wolfe and Joseph Haj, respectfully. She is the founder of Azuka Theatre in Philadelphia. Raelle has worked with artists such as Geoffrey Arend, Meryl Streep, Jeffrey Wright, Mos Des, Tony Kushner, April Mathis, and Keith David, among others. Her work as a performance art creator/curator has been at the DeYoung Museum, Red Poppy Art House, Feroz Gallery (Germany), Theater Minnot (Beirut, Lebanon), and Ami Gallerie (Paris). As a producer/curator, her programming ranges from regional artists to high profile internationally known ensembles and performers in music, dance and theater — including artists such as Denis O’Hare, The Rude Mechanicals, Sam Green, Double Edge Theater, Arturo Sandoval, and Joe Arias, among others.
Adam E. Simms (Graphic Artist and Production Engineer) is a designer, musician, audio engineer, and Brooklyn native. Spending most of his days as a freelance designer and his evenings (Pre-COVID) as a live sound engineer, he still finds time in between to practice and play guitar.
Holly Salerno (Illustrator) is a freelance NYC based illustrator, animator & visual development artist. She has a BFA in Illustration from The Fashion Institute of Technology. Her work is inspired by pop surrealism, fantasy, Sci-Fi, fiction and folklore. Holly love to bring anything obscure to life! www.hollyjanesalerno.com
Marissa Donapel (Illustrator) is an early career graphic designer and illustration artist. A recent graduate of Drexel University. www.Mdonapelillustration.com
Chelsea Harper (Cover Artist) is a freelance artist living in California who loves to travel, experiment with artistic mediums, and write tear jerking stories. She has been working in art-related fields from board games to video games, as well as, plying her trade as a merch artist, sequential artist and an illustrator. A long time participant of Light Grey Art Lab, she enjoys diving into artistic challenges and teach in programs. Thanks to her history of being a thespian, she also loves working as part of a team and performs easily as a passionate storyteller. She loves opera, D&D, and succulents. Portfolio: http://chelseaharperart.portfoliobox.io/
Cheryl Zhu (Cover Artist) is a freelance illustrator based in the perpetually cloudy Pacific Northwest. She grew up loving animation first, picked up graphic design along the way, and culminated all that creative energy into becoming the Indie Merchandise Designer she is now. When she isn’t pushing pixel, you can expect to find her tearing through the local food scene, or a (ballroom) dance floor. Portfolio: http://cargocollective.com/shengqian
HAND FORGED FICTION is an ensemble of New York City theater and live entertainment professionals displaced by the shuttering of Broadway, NYC live music venues, and the immersive production of Sleep No More. In the true spirit of “The Show Must Go On!” the group has rallied, reimagined, and got back to the work of engaging the national dialogue through art.
the drewdrake.com, www.robertmassiminj.com, www.triviscompany.com, Robert Massimi, Soho Rep, Soho Playhouse, google.book.com, Cheryl Zhu, Audra McDowell, “Betrayal”, “Frankie and Johnny”, Tony Awards, Broadway.
