Jim Tierney Presents MUSH At NY International Fringe Festival 2011, 8/13-8/27

Jim Tierney presents Mush, directed by Dina Epshteyn, as part of the 15th NY International Fringe Festival. The festival will take place Aug 12th through 28th

After John is left half brain dead from a self inflicted drug overdose, his father - Gary - drags John on a tour of local grammar schools to "Just Say No." As Gary spreads his anti-drug message to hoards of students, he battles his own demons and starts an addiction of his own.

The production stars Ralph McCain* as Gary (John's father); BranDon Jones* as John/Young John; Brantley Brice as Joseph/Young Joseph; Alexis Braxton as Maria (John's mother); Cash Tilton* as Ray, Andy Schneeflock as Doctor/Principal #1, Judy Stone as Joanne/Nurse/Principal #2.

Production Management provided by Jenna Lazar, Lighting Design provided by Christopher Weston.

NY International Fringe Festival 2011
SAT 8/13 @ 5; MON 8/15 @ 4; FRI 8/19 @ 8; THU 8/25 @ 2; SAT 8/27 @ 2:15

La Mama's First Floor Theatre, 74A East 4th Street, between Bowery & 2nd Ave

Advanced Tickets $15, General Admission $18. For tickets and info visit http://www.fringenyc.org or www.mushtheplay.com

BIOGRAPHIES

JIM TIERNEY (Playwright) A former Marine Corps reservist and actor, Jim Tierney has spent the last eight years writing, with plays produced in both New York and Los Angeles. Past written and produced one-acts include "Dirt", "Carry On", "Loose", "Shitbird" and "Lynching St. Thomas." His play, "Monkey", was the winner of the 2009 Shotgun Theater Festival and had two subsequent runs Off-Off Broadway. In August of 2010, Tierney's "Banshee of Bainbridge" debuted at the NY International Fringe Festival. Most recently, his full-length version of "Carry On" premiered at the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity in June of 2011.

DINA EPSHTEYN (Director) has directed various NY readings and productions, including "Visionaries and School Romance" (MITF); "The Boys Own Jedi Handbook" and "The Clockmaker" (readings, Urban Stages); "George the Fourth" (Fringe Festival); "Ori & Addison", "Wrong Planet", "Cupcakes", and "Tumble Jumble" (Manhattan Theatre Source); "Ghost Light" (reading, ABroad Stage); "No Applause Please" (Strawberry Festival); and many others. She also dramaturged Tongue-in-Cheek's NY Premiere of "Dead White Males". Regionally, she recently directed "Still the River Runs" at Bloomington Playwrights Project and has assistant directed at Capital Rep ("Oxford Roof Climber's Rebellion"), Two River ("Heartbreak House"), Westport Country Playhouse ("Mary's Wedding" and the World Premiere of "Sedition"), and Baltimore's CENTERSTAGE ("Hearts"). Additionally, she did dramaturgy for "Ah, Wilderness!", "The Three Sisters", "Things of Dry Hours", "Death and the Maiden", "Trouble in Mind", and "The Boys from Syracuse" at CENTERSTAGE. Her first play-a short entitled "No Blueberries"-won the 2009 $7,500 Grand Prize in Manhattan Theater Club's REALationships National Playwrighting Competition, and was staged at their City Center Off-Broadway space. Ms. Epshteyn graduated with distinction from McGill University. www.dinaepshteyn.com

RALPH MCCAIN* (Gary) recently appeared in "The Right Reverend Dupree In Exile" at the Billie Holiday Theatre. Other stage credits include "Nobody Knew Where They Was", "The Winter View", "Banshee of Bainbridge", "The Etymology of Bird", "Box Seats", "Sun Down Names and Night Gone Things" (AUDELCO nominated Best Ensemble), "No Place To Be Somebody", "God's Trombones", "The Piano Lesson", "Fynin' West", "Twelve Angry Men", "Whose Life Is It Anyway". Television credits include One Life To Live, Another World, Guiding Light, The Sopranos, and an independent film, Flowers (SXSW Film Festival). Thank you again Jim Tierney for another great role.

BRANDon Jones* (John/Young John) BranDon Jones recently starred as Brendan in Jackie Alexander's "The Right Reverend Dupree in Exile" at the Billie Holiday Theatre. Originally from Paris, KY, Brandon has worked in theatre, film and voiceover. Recent NY credits include "Tales From The Tunnel" (Off Broadway), "Race Music" (Off Broadway), "river: post-futurists" (Cherry Lane), "Jump Jim Crow: How to Produce Your Own Minstrel Show" (Subjective Theatre Company), "Cold Keener" (Target Margin Theatre). Regional credits include "ReEntry" (American Records Theater Co.), "Lobby Hero" (Whaler's Warf Theater), "Jitterbug" (Universal Theater), "References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot" (Garson Theatre Co.), "Othello", "King Lear", "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and "To Kill A Mockingbird" ( all at Lexington Shakespeare Festival). Film credits include "Brothers Incorporated", "Mildred Richards", "Trust22", and "Pvt. Francis of Williamsburg". Voice over credits include McDonald's, Pierre Foods,Kentucky Historical Society, US Navy, Joint Services Wiring Action Group, LMR Marketing, MTV and Howcast.com. Brandon would like to thank God for the blessing of this opportunity, his family and friends for their support. Brandon is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association.

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