Sugar Valley Theatricals Presents MUNCHED Reading to Benefit WORTH Today, 9/9

Sugar Valley Theatricals, Bryan Webster, artistic director, in association with Isaac H. Suggs, Jr., presents a special staged reading performance of MUNCHED by Kim Porter, directed by Petronia Paley, as a benefit for Women on the Rise Telling HerStory (WORTH).

In MUNCHED, a mother is convicted of an unthinkable crime. Twenty-five years later the daughter she's accused of hurting sits outside of her mother's front door with a big box of "why?" Kim Porter's powerful and provocative drama explores issues of reproductive rights, reunification and the impact of parental incarceration. Munched brings voice to the invisibility of women and the trauma experienced by families involved with the criminal justice system.

WORTH is an association of currently and formerly incarcerated women who have been empowered by our own experiences. Through leadership development, organizing, mentoring, mutual support and telling our stories. WORTH transforms the lives of women affected by incarceration and changes public perception and policy.

Support the work of this vital organization by attending the reading today, September 9, 2012, at 4:00pm. Welcoming refreshments will be served at 3:30pm, and a panel discussion and reception will follow the performance.

The reading takes place at Dr. Barbara Anne Teer's National Black Theatre, 2031 Fifth Ave (at 125th Street). Tickets are $25. Click HERE to purchase.

For more about WORTH, visit www.womenontherise-worth.org or find the group on Facebook.

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM:

Patricia R. Floyd *(MARYBETH PAXTON) is a proud native of Detroit, Michigan.

An accomplished actress and voice-over artist, she is a two-time AUDELCO Award winning in both the categories of acting and directing. She is also three-time Golden Earphones recipient. Her television credits include a recurring role as Judge Rochelle Desmond on Law & Order, appearances on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Rescue Me, The Onion News Network and The Chris Rock Show, as well as films such as 30 Years to Life and Remember Me. Her stage credits include Sojourner Truth in A Woman Called Truth, Ruth in A Raisin in the Sun, Sophie Washington in Flyin' West and an AUDELCO Award for her role as Martha in The American Menu. Formerly the Guest Director in Residence at Stamford Theatre Works, her credits include Luther-Bee-Hatchee, Intimate Apparel, A Walk in the Woods, Medal of Honor Rag, Crumbs from the Table of Joy and A Lesson Before Dying. She has worked as a guest director/teacher at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the New York Film Academy.

Tanya Everett (KATIE PAXTON)

is a proud resident of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn! She came to New York on a prestigious grant from Columbia University. After college she joined the Negro Ensemble Company's workshop, studying with Charles Wheldon. Favorite roles include Rosa Parks in The Rosa Parks Story, Queen Margaret in Richard III and Sylvia in Another Man's Treasure, (short). She most recently starred as the sword-wielding super heroine, Vespa. She played Lottie and various ensemble characters in the New York Workshop of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, directed by Christopher McElron. Her short film, Boys Like You won Best Men's Short at the North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival this summer. She attended the LAB Intensive Ensemble last summer which allowed her pen to ooze forth. Her original works have received staged readings at the Cherry Lane and Cherry Pit Theaters. She is also collaborating on an original web-series due online in 2013. www.tanyaeverett.com.

ALTHEA ALEXIS* (WOMAN)

Native of Washington, DC, graduate of Howard Universty. Stage credits include, Take Wings and Soar's production of Antony and Cleopatra, A Season in the Congo produced and directed by documentarian Rico Speight, Hostos Community College's production of 'No Child...', The Public Theatre's marathon production of Suzan-Lori Parks 365Days/365Plays, Classical Theater of Harlem's Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death by Melvin Van Peebles; Euripeds' Medea, the Alumni of the Negro Ensemble Company's tribute production of Blues in a Broken Tongue by Leslie Lee,and Solutions to all the Worlds Problems directed by Woodie King, Jr. In addition she's been seen in the films I am John Wayne, Freedomland, Sweeter Without Sugar which was featured on PBS, The Assimilation of Jenny, and the webisode Kindred, as well as several regional commercials. She has studied both stage and camera with Mary Boyer, Petronia Paley and William Esper's Professional Acting Conservatory.