“NEW WORKS AT NEW PHOENIX” PRESENTS “TOLLEY’S PLACE”

Betsy Bittar Managing Director The New Phoenix Theatre on the Park, Inc. betsybittar@aol.com - 716-430-1333 or

Richard A. Lambert Executive Director The New Phoenix Theatre on the Park, Inc. newphnxtheatre@aol.com - 716-998-2169

“NEW WORKS AT NEW PHOENIX” PRESENTS “TOLLEY’S PLACE”

BUFFALO, NY: The New Phoenix Theatre on the Park announces the second offering of its Sunday showcase series entitled, “New Works at New Phoenix” with the staged reading of the new play, “Tolley’s Place” written by area writer, activist and actor Shirley Sarmiento. The performance will take place Sunday, November 10th, at 3:00.

“New Works at New Phoenix” showcases area playwrights, actors, musicians, writers, and poets. The “Pay-What-You- Can” program has been developed to make new WNY arts programming accessible to all.

“Tolley’s Place” is the experience of four African-American women dealing with unexpected loss, family, lovers, and life challenges; and their journey of acceptance, healing, and moving onward, as they are aided by a wise, determined woman and a man who have seen it all.

Sarmiento’s play features Valeria Aldridge, Joyce Carolyn, Mary Coleman, Charles Everhart, Sr., and Sandra Gilliam. It is directed by founder of the series, Buffalo native and Artie Award Winner, Verneice Turner, performance artist and Artie award winning actor. She has performed in numerous productions in WNY as well as in New York City and Washington, D.C. as an actor, singer, dancer and poet. She ran the art space Buffalo East from 2009 to 2013.

The New Phoenix Theatre is located at 95 Johnson Park in Buffalo, NY. Admission is “Pay-What-You-Can”. There will be a meet and greet with the playwright.

The New Phoenix Theatre’s mission is to present both classical and contemporary plays in ways that speak to our community, to rediscover the theatrical experience through the spirit of collaboration, and to revitalize the neighborhood in which our theater stands. The theatre is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The Historic Home of The New Phoenix Theatre was built in 1884, on land deeded to Buffalo by Ebenezer Johnson, Buffalo’s first mayor, and originally served as a lecture hall for the Buffalo Seminary, a “séance house,” a vaudeville house, and finally a soup kitchen, until New Phoenix founder Richard A. Lambert restored the space, with the assistance of many grants over the years from NYSCA, Erie County, The City of Buffalo, the Rupp Foundation, M & T Bank, the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, and the Golden-Goldman Foundation.

For further information call 716-853-1334 or visit www.newphoenixtheatre.org