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Nominated for 4 IDGTF Gala Awards
(Dublin, Ireland): Doric Wilson Award for Intercultural Dialogue Micheál Mac Liammóir Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male: Leo Goodman Eva Gore Booth Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female: Amanda Jones Oscar Wilde Award for Best New Writing: David Stallings "The Baby Monitor asks courageous questions about gay parenting, race and discrimination from loved ones – And this tight-knit cast really do feel like a family, each performance echoing and bouncing off the others with a skill that makes the relationships depicted appear hauntingly real... Some in the LGBT+ community who have suffered discrimination from loved ones still love who have discriminated against them. We try to give people second chances, but it puts our safety at risk – and The Baby Monitor shows that, when we ask ourselves whether we should stop trying, there’s sometimes no easy answer." -Cassia Gaden Gilmartin, Gay City News (Dublin, Ireland) "If we learned anything from Ireland’s marriage referendum it is that many people still have misgivings about gay parents. Children were frequently used as a stick to beat the yes side with and the amount of misunderstanding and ignorance around the issue was shocking. This makes this play perhaps rather timely for Irish audiences as same sex couples are still fighting for equal rights when it comes to parenting... Extremely thought provoking this will no doubt reopen debates amongst some audience members about same sex parental rights and the complications of surrogacy. At 75 minutes it doesn’t outstay its welcome and for those not familiar with the complexities and prejudices that often accompany same sex parenting this will prove a very educational piece." -No More Work Horse (Dublin, Ireland) "Even in an era with an explosion of visibility for LGBTQ people in the media, few of those portraits have gone beyond “skin deep”. The Baby Monitor is unafraid to navigate into previously uncharted territory, particularly when it comes to tackling the issue of the deeply ingrained prejudices still faced by LGBTQ people– even as we enter 2019, even in “progressive” cities like the play’s setting of Boston, and even when it comes from people who call themselves our allies. Just as Stallings’ drama boldly taps into the feelings of its well-written, multi-faceted characters, it challenges the audience to do the same." -Jed Ryan, Lavender After Dark (New York City) “The Baby Monitor by David Stallings is a fascinating examination of how quickly our intimates resort to self-serving, backstabbing deception just when their loyalty is most needed. That it involves the relatively new phenomenon of gay parenthood gives it an added impact. That it is written with a thorough understanding of the complexities of gay parenthood vs. conservatives-in-liberal-clothing keeps it constantly edgy… Antonio Miniño’s direction not only keeps things flowing, but almost makes up for the lack of a set. He understands just how to bring out passions and uneasy silences when necessary.” -Joel Benjamin, Theater Scene (New York City) “5 Stars! Holiday gifts came early to the East Village this year... we were treated to a 5-star performance of Different Translation's The Baby Monitor at The Theater at The 14th Street Y... Although billed as a “workshop” of the play, the production is over-qualified to be called such. So check it out now, while it’s still priced accordingly" -Opplaud New York (New York City) “The plot centers around the suspicions a woman harbors concerning her gay cousin’s treatment of the toddler son he shares with his husband. By fleshing out this nightmare scenario with all-too-common misunderstandings stemming from distinctions in race, class and religion, playwright David Stallings has delivered something far richer than an issues play. It is a thoughtful examination of the ways in which simply tolerating differences rather than embracing them can cause irreparable damage to our societal fabric… Direction by Stallings’ husband Antonio Miniño is skillful, with an engaging blend of quiet touching moments and palpable strain.” -Cathy Hammer, The Unforgettable Line (New York City) |
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through The Field
through The Field
A finalist for the 2014 National New Play Network, The Baby Monitor was presented as part of the inaugural International Belgrade Pride Theater Festival in Serbia; at the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in Ireland (where it received four IDGTF Gala Award nominations, including the Doric Wilson Award for Intercultural Dialogue); in New York it received a workshop production at the Theater at the 14th Street Y as part of their season of War & Peace. Developmental readings at New York's Duo Multicultural Arts Center's Pride Week Festival and in Hollywood at The Blank Theatre's Living Room Series. Originally a short play, it received presentations at Planet Connections Theatre Festivity's Playwrights for A Cause and at Original Binding Productions' Naked Theater Festival.
Running Time: 75 Minutes with no intermission
Presented in English and Spanish
This show contains partial nudity
Suitable for ages 16+
Who's Who
RACHEL DENISE APRIL (She/Her/Hers) (Production Stage Manager, DT Creative Partner) has studied Theatrical Design and Stage Management at the City College of New York. Select Credits include: The Hole (Zhailon Levingston), Neptune (Timothy DuWhite), The Genesis Plays (The In[heir]itance Project), Anaïs Nin Goes to Hell (MTWorks), Macbeth (of the Oppressed) (Fab Marquee Productions), and The Fire This Time Festival 2015 (The Kraine Theater). Member of AEA. racheldeniseapril.com
MEL HOUSE (She/Her/Hers) (Shelly) has played roles from Shakespeare to Ibsen, working Off-Broadway, regionally, and internationally, as well as originating roles for the web, film, and TV. She recently played a contemporary Lady M in the series Stratford Falls, and a mother with SMA in the award-winning short Marina (Cannes 2018). After producing Meir Ribalow’s Shrunken Heads at Playwrights Horizons, Mel co-founded a lab for playwrights, screenwriters and actors. She directed Break Like You, a short documentary about Hip Hop influencer and activist Emile Jansen in Cape Town, South Africa. And recently worked with Per Brahe doing mask-based performance in Bali, Indonesia. She is a member of the Actors Center Company and is currently developing a darkly comedic digital series called Hot Angry Mom. Follow @hotangrymom and www.melhouse.com.
AMANDA JONES (She/Her/Hers) (Claire) New York: Walking Down Broadway at the Mint Theatre; Anais Nin Goes to Hell with Manhattan Theatre Works; Cymbeline with Boomerang Theatre Company; Marie Antoinette: Color of Flesh with Earl Productions; Alison’s House, The House of Mirth, Nowadays, Under the Gaslight and The Contrast with Metropolitan Playhouse; Cyrano with Hudson Warehouse; five seasons with Jean Cocteau Repertory including Candida, The Maids, Uncle Vanya, and Dona Rosita the Spinster. Regional: Engaged and Arsenic and Old Lace at the Depot Theatre; Bell, Book and Candle and Picnic at Sierra Repertory; The Magnificent Ambersons at Oldcastle Theatre. Amanda is thrilled to be working with David and Antonio again. She is also a voiceover artist and a talented and/or enthusiastic water color artist and knitter. More at www.amandajones.biz
GRETA QUISPE (She/Her/Hers) (Soledad) is a SAG/AFTRA/AEA actress of Peruvian descent who was raised in Brooklyn, NY. Ms. Quispe has studied at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute as well as at Stella Adler's Studio of Acting. She has had co star as well as recurring roles in both cable and network television shows. Amongst some of her most recent credits are supportive roles in two feature films, Son of Shaft with Samuel L. Jackson and After the Wedding with Julianne Moore. Ms. Quispe is eternally grateful to all who have helped her along her journey. She is also a woman of faith who gives God all the glory for her many blessings.
JACOB SUBOTNICK (He/Him/His) (Sound Design) is an NYC based composer and sound designer who has designed over 100 Off and Off-Off Broadway productions. Selected Off-Broadway: A Midsummers Night Dream (Masterworks Theater); Donkey Punch (SOHO Playhouse); InnerVoices 2014 (TBG Theater); Any Given Monday (59E59). Selected Off-Off-Broadway: The Elephant Man (Nominated: Outstanding Original Music NYITA 218); The Ballad of Rodrigo (Nominated: Outstanding Original Music NYITA 2015); Virus Attacks Heart (Nominated: Outstanding Sound Design PCTF 2014); Tulpa or Anne and Me (Winner: Outstanding Sound Design PCTF 2011); The Picture of Dorian Gray (Nominated: Outstanding Sound Design PCTF 2010. Selected Regional: Hair (Mount Washington Valley Theater: Nominated for Outstanding Sound Design NHTA 2010). www.jacobsubotnick.com
ANTONIO MINIÑO (My Pronoun Is My Name) (Director, DT Founder & Creative Partner) is a Jonathan Alper Directing Fellow (MTC, 2019 & 2020). International directing credits include David Stallings’ The Baby Monitor (Ireland & Serbia), Edward Albee’s The Zoo Story (Dominican Republic), Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest (Dominican Republic), and Rafael Morla’s Joan (Dominican Republic). New York directing credits include David Stallings’ The Baby Monitor (Different Translation), Gabrielle Fox’s Hooters (PFAC), Richard S. Sargent’s Coffee at Compton’s (Box Wine), David Stallings’ Anaïs Nin Goes to Hell (MTWorks), Riti Sachdeva’s Scene/Unseen (Midnite’s cHild - Outstanding Director Nominee, PCTF), David Stallings’ The Family Shakespeare (MTWorks), Desi Moreno-Penson’s Devil Land (Parsnip Ship) and Bodega Cat (Step 1); and solo shows The Shadow Project and Moon Child (APAP). Antonio was assistant director to Mark Brokaw for Signature Theatre’s revival of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train. Other assistant directing credits include Paul Zindel’s And Miss Reardon Drinks A Little (Shay Gines), and Slawonir Mzoret’s Emigrantes (Gabriel Paulino). Two-time SDCF Observer, alumnus of Directors Lab North (Canada) and Directors Lab West (Los Angeles). Antoniominino.com | @AntonioMinino
KIA ROGERS (She/Her/Hers) (Lighting Design) is a New York City based lighting designer for Theatre and Dance. Recent designs: 3LD Art & Technology Center, BAM Fisher, Cherry Lane Studio, Gural theatre at ART/NY, Gym at Judson, and Theatre 511 at ARS NOVA. International credits: Associate Lighting Designer for Slutforart/98.6 in Gothenburg, Sweden with Muna Tseng. West coast designs: El Portal's Monroe Forum Theatre, Los Angeles and Z Space, San Francisco. Dance designs: Flamenco Vivo National tours, Forward Motion, Kinesis Project Dance Theatre. Awards: Outstanding Lighting Design for Jane The Plain with the NYITA, 2014 and nominated in 2016 for Rizing. MITF 2016 Outstanding Lighting Design for Mr. Toole. Kia is a member of Rising Phoenix Repertory and a Creative Partner with Flux Theatre Ensemble. krogersld.com
DAVID STALLINGS (He/Him/His) (Playwright, Damon, DT Creative Partner) is the Director of Arts & Culture at the Theater at the 14th Street Y. The author of 15 full length plays and numerous shorts, David's plays focus on diversity and marginalized voices and have reached audiences across the US. His play Barrier Island received its regional debut at Acadiana Repertory Theatre in Louisiana. His play about the Louisiana oil spill, Dark Water, was the proud recipient of the New York Innovative Theater Award for Best Original Full Length Script. Other plays include Anais Nin Goes to Hell, The Family Shakespeare and Leonora. As a theater artist, he has worked with several theater companies including La MaMa, The Culture Project, Prospect Theater Company, Boo-Arts, and Oberon Theater Company as well as having had productions and readings of his work across the country from Las Angeles to Tulsa, Oklahoma and Boston, Massachusetts. Acting credits include: An Ideal Husband (Lord Goring), The Picture of Dorian Gray (Lord Henry), Macbeth (Lady Macbeth), Ripcord, Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, Sweet Sweet Spirit, Big Love, and A Home Across the Ocean among others. In 2006, he co-founded Manhattan Theatre Works (MTWorks) with his play Folie a Deux: Insanity in Pairs as their inaugural production. The company was focused on original work that inspired social change. He served as the Artistic Director for MTWorks for ten years. stallingswrites.com
ANN MARIE YALI (She/Her/Hers) (DT Creative Partner) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the City College of New York, where she teaches social, health, and positive psychology. She served as chair of the board of directors for MTWorks (2010-2016) and co-presented their flagship festival of new plays The National Newborn Festival. She produced and conceived Cabaret, A Hair-Raising Event, a benefit for Wigs for Kids at Teatro LATEA. Film: Where We Danced: The Story of American Social Dance (associate producer). She has previously performed and choreographed aerial silks, hammock, and static trapeze.
MEL HOUSE (She/Her/Hers) (Shelly) has played roles from Shakespeare to Ibsen, working Off-Broadway, regionally, and internationally, as well as originating roles for the web, film, and TV. She recently played a contemporary Lady M in the series Stratford Falls, and a mother with SMA in the award-winning short Marina (Cannes 2018). After producing Meir Ribalow’s Shrunken Heads at Playwrights Horizons, Mel co-founded a lab for playwrights, screenwriters and actors. She directed Break Like You, a short documentary about Hip Hop influencer and activist Emile Jansen in Cape Town, South Africa. And recently worked with Per Brahe doing mask-based performance in Bali, Indonesia. She is a member of the Actors Center Company and is currently developing a darkly comedic digital series called Hot Angry Mom. Follow @hotangrymom and www.melhouse.com.
AMANDA JONES (She/Her/Hers) (Claire) New York: Walking Down Broadway at the Mint Theatre; Anais Nin Goes to Hell with Manhattan Theatre Works; Cymbeline with Boomerang Theatre Company; Marie Antoinette: Color of Flesh with Earl Productions; Alison’s House, The House of Mirth, Nowadays, Under the Gaslight and The Contrast with Metropolitan Playhouse; Cyrano with Hudson Warehouse; five seasons with Jean Cocteau Repertory including Candida, The Maids, Uncle Vanya, and Dona Rosita the Spinster. Regional: Engaged and Arsenic and Old Lace at the Depot Theatre; Bell, Book and Candle and Picnic at Sierra Repertory; The Magnificent Ambersons at Oldcastle Theatre. Amanda is thrilled to be working with David and Antonio again. She is also a voiceover artist and a talented and/or enthusiastic water color artist and knitter. More at www.amandajones.biz
GRETA QUISPE (She/Her/Hers) (Soledad) is a SAG/AFTRA/AEA actress of Peruvian descent who was raised in Brooklyn, NY. Ms. Quispe has studied at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute as well as at Stella Adler's Studio of Acting. She has had co star as well as recurring roles in both cable and network television shows. Amongst some of her most recent credits are supportive roles in two feature films, Son of Shaft with Samuel L. Jackson and After the Wedding with Julianne Moore. Ms. Quispe is eternally grateful to all who have helped her along her journey. She is also a woman of faith who gives God all the glory for her many blessings.
JACOB SUBOTNICK (He/Him/His) (Sound Design) is an NYC based composer and sound designer who has designed over 100 Off and Off-Off Broadway productions. Selected Off-Broadway: A Midsummers Night Dream (Masterworks Theater); Donkey Punch (SOHO Playhouse); InnerVoices 2014 (TBG Theater); Any Given Monday (59E59). Selected Off-Off-Broadway: The Elephant Man (Nominated: Outstanding Original Music NYITA 218); The Ballad of Rodrigo (Nominated: Outstanding Original Music NYITA 2015); Virus Attacks Heart (Nominated: Outstanding Sound Design PCTF 2014); Tulpa or Anne and Me (Winner: Outstanding Sound Design PCTF 2011); The Picture of Dorian Gray (Nominated: Outstanding Sound Design PCTF 2010. Selected Regional: Hair (Mount Washington Valley Theater: Nominated for Outstanding Sound Design NHTA 2010). www.jacobsubotnick.com
ANTONIO MINIÑO (My Pronoun Is My Name) (Director, DT Founder & Creative Partner) is a Jonathan Alper Directing Fellow (MTC, 2019 & 2020). International directing credits include David Stallings’ The Baby Monitor (Ireland & Serbia), Edward Albee’s The Zoo Story (Dominican Republic), Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest (Dominican Republic), and Rafael Morla’s Joan (Dominican Republic). New York directing credits include David Stallings’ The Baby Monitor (Different Translation), Gabrielle Fox’s Hooters (PFAC), Richard S. Sargent’s Coffee at Compton’s (Box Wine), David Stallings’ Anaïs Nin Goes to Hell (MTWorks), Riti Sachdeva’s Scene/Unseen (Midnite’s cHild - Outstanding Director Nominee, PCTF), David Stallings’ The Family Shakespeare (MTWorks), Desi Moreno-Penson’s Devil Land (Parsnip Ship) and Bodega Cat (Step 1); and solo shows The Shadow Project and Moon Child (APAP). Antonio was assistant director to Mark Brokaw for Signature Theatre’s revival of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train. Other assistant directing credits include Paul Zindel’s And Miss Reardon Drinks A Little (Shay Gines), and Slawonir Mzoret’s Emigrantes (Gabriel Paulino). Two-time SDCF Observer, alumnus of Directors Lab North (Canada) and Directors Lab West (Los Angeles). Antoniominino.com | @AntonioMinino
KIA ROGERS (She/Her/Hers) (Lighting Design) is a New York City based lighting designer for Theatre and Dance. Recent designs: 3LD Art & Technology Center, BAM Fisher, Cherry Lane Studio, Gural theatre at ART/NY, Gym at Judson, and Theatre 511 at ARS NOVA. International credits: Associate Lighting Designer for Slutforart/98.6 in Gothenburg, Sweden with Muna Tseng. West coast designs: El Portal's Monroe Forum Theatre, Los Angeles and Z Space, San Francisco. Dance designs: Flamenco Vivo National tours, Forward Motion, Kinesis Project Dance Theatre. Awards: Outstanding Lighting Design for Jane The Plain with the NYITA, 2014 and nominated in 2016 for Rizing. MITF 2016 Outstanding Lighting Design for Mr. Toole. Kia is a member of Rising Phoenix Repertory and a Creative Partner with Flux Theatre Ensemble. krogersld.com
DAVID STALLINGS (He/Him/His) (Playwright, Damon, DT Creative Partner) is the Director of Arts & Culture at the Theater at the 14th Street Y. The author of 15 full length plays and numerous shorts, David's plays focus on diversity and marginalized voices and have reached audiences across the US. His play Barrier Island received its regional debut at Acadiana Repertory Theatre in Louisiana. His play about the Louisiana oil spill, Dark Water, was the proud recipient of the New York Innovative Theater Award for Best Original Full Length Script. Other plays include Anais Nin Goes to Hell, The Family Shakespeare and Leonora. As a theater artist, he has worked with several theater companies including La MaMa, The Culture Project, Prospect Theater Company, Boo-Arts, and Oberon Theater Company as well as having had productions and readings of his work across the country from Las Angeles to Tulsa, Oklahoma and Boston, Massachusetts. Acting credits include: An Ideal Husband (Lord Goring), The Picture of Dorian Gray (Lord Henry), Macbeth (Lady Macbeth), Ripcord, Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, Sweet Sweet Spirit, Big Love, and A Home Across the Ocean among others. In 2006, he co-founded Manhattan Theatre Works (MTWorks) with his play Folie a Deux: Insanity in Pairs as their inaugural production. The company was focused on original work that inspired social change. He served as the Artistic Director for MTWorks for ten years. stallingswrites.com
ANN MARIE YALI (She/Her/Hers) (DT Creative Partner) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the City College of New York, where she teaches social, health, and positive psychology. She served as chair of the board of directors for MTWorks (2010-2016) and co-presented their flagship festival of new plays The National Newborn Festival. She produced and conceived Cabaret, A Hair-Raising Event, a benefit for Wigs for Kids at Teatro LATEA. Film: Where We Danced: The Story of American Social Dance (associate producer). She has previously performed and choreographed aerial silks, hammock, and static trapeze.