“Maybe Never Fell” Premiers in Pleasantville

From Axial Theatre:

WESTCHESTER, N.Y. – “Maybe Never Fell,” a powerful and timely new drama by Howard Meyer, award-winning playwright and founding artistic director of Axial Theatre, will have a limited engagement world premiere in Pleasantville, New York November 4-20.

The full-length play looks unflinchingly and incisively at how generational burdens and atrocities – whether from our nation’s wartime history or from today’s war-torn world – can obstruct the possibility for lasting love.

"Howard Meyer's play Maybe Never Fell is a real beauty,” says Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Craig Lucas. “I have never seen a play about the American Jewish experience with Germany right down to today. I was glued to the action and completely surprised by each new arrival of another major linchpin in the structure. The play is ambitious and boldly conceived."

Mr. Meyer is an accomplished playwright and theater impresario who was honored by ArtsWestchester on its 50th anniversary in 2015 as one of 50 significant artists in Westchester.

The play is being directed by Jenn Haltman of New York Theater Workshop in Manhattan.

In Maybe Never Fell, Mr. Meyer’s protagonist is Max Webber, a middle-age American Jew whose earnest and often agonizing search for love, and for his spiritual and cultural identity, are sabotaged by landmines from the past.

Max will be played by David Lanson, who appeared in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street, has acted with Playwrights Horizons and SoHo Rep, and does standup at Comic Strip Live.

The female lead, Mathilde Schiller, will be played by Brooklyn-based film, stage and TV actress, and comedy writer Sara Hogrefe, whose credits include Law & Order: SVU and extensive work in regional theatre and Off Broadway.

Dominic Russo (in the role of Gunther Holt) has appeared in such productions as SPAM; Andronicus!, As You Like It (No Stone Theatre) and a new workshop presentation of Hekabe.

Mathilde’s father (Manfred Schiller) will be played by Spencer Aste, who was recognized by NYTheatre.com as one of 2012’s People of the Year. Spencer has appeared on stage in New York at such venues as Lincoln Center, Axis Theater, and La Mama; in the film Taking Woodstock (directed by Ang Lee); as the voice of Scratch in Toy Story; and on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire.

Production personnel includes stage manager Arysbells Figueredo; production manager Stanley Lee Ralph III; Tim McMuth, set design; Justin Partier, lighting; John McKenna, sound; Jessa-Raye Court, costumes; Joe Lipstein, projection.

Maybe Never Fell will run weekends November 4-20, 2016, at 8 Sunnyside Avenue, Pleasantville, N.Y. 10570. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., plus matinees on Saturday at 3 p.m., and Sunday at 4 p.m. Tickets are $27.50; $22.50 for students and seniors.

The Opening Night reception on Saturday, November 5, will include wine, hors d’oeuvres and sweet treats. Following that performance is a Meet& Greet and Talkback with the playwright, actors and director. Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-838-3006. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting AxialTheatre.org.

Images via Axial Theatre.