Dear Reader of new works,

I hope you will consider for development my new play, Full Plate Collection, which just finished its premiere showcase at Barksdale Theatre in VA. It requires a cast of eight women (can be done with more) and a simple unit set. I have attached a few pages, a letter of recommendation, and two reviews. I have a video-recording available, should we get that far.

To hear musical selections from the play, click on the label "Music."

As for me, I'm an author, actor, playwright and producer. My previous play, Rules of the Lake, won the Mary Roberts Rinehart Award, and was produced by Theatre IV in Richmond, VA. I have written two books of fiction, and edited seven monologue anthologies published by Smith & Kraus books. I have extensive acting credits in regional theatre, and in film/TV (www.imdb.com). I produce Virginia Arts & Letters LIVE, where VA actors read short stories by VA writers.

Thanks for your time and your commitment to producing new work. I hope to hear from you.

Best,

Irene Ziegler

www.ireneziegler.com

MINDS WIDE OPEN: Virginia Celebrates Women in the Arts is the first statewide celebration of its kind. Between March and June of 2010, thousands of special events will occur to honor contributions by women to arts and culture. Any individual or group can participate by presenting at least one public program focused on women. Learn more by visiting www.vamindswideopen.org.



Thanks to our sponsors, Fruit 66, andElectric Power Incorporated!

Reviews of Full Plate Collection

Style Weekly

Full Plate Collection

by Mary Burruss

“In the words of that great philosopher, Mary Poppins, ‘A spoon full of sugar helps the feminism go down.’” —Irene Ziegler

The most common question people ask me as a theater critic is, “What is the most memorable or best play you have ever seen?” I am frustrated by the question because I never have a good answer. But now I know why. I simply had not yet experienced it. The answer to that question has shown itself in the form of an organic, locally grown play titled, “Full Plate Collection.”

I say “organic” because of collaborative process by which the play has evolved. Erin Thomas- Foley got the idea to create a play for women, about women by women when she learned of the Minds Wide Open celebration of women in the arts. She collaborated with Richmond’s top female talent: actress and teacher, Jenny Jones-Hundley; writer, Irene Ziegler; and director, Keri Wormald. Then she added a local design team, apprentices, and actresses.

The result is a play with a timely, clear, intelligent voice that simultaneously spoofs, supports and celebrates women.

The play opens with a shopping network style show featuring classic TV hostesses (Melissa Johnston-Price and Debbie Walton) whose names change throughout the show to reference classic female teams like Betty and Wilma, Cagney and Lacy, Lucy and Ethyl. They are selling a collection of plates depicting five female cultural icons. These are fictional characters except for Rosie The Riveter (Kimberly Jones-Clark) but their “real” counterparts are obvious. Throughout the first act each “plate” is introduced and a vignette played out to more fully identify the character. Betsy Crockpot (Lauren Leinhaas- Cook) is stuck in her outdated domestic role. Rosie the Riveter wants to serve her country in the military not on the home front (where she makes 75% of what a man would at her riveting job). Boopsie Bleep (the incomparable Lane Satterfield) is a one dimensional teen sex symbol. Babs the Anatomically Impossible Doll (Courtney McCotter) is well, anatomically impossible. Auntie JJ is bitter about her image of servitude. These icons are outdated and no one is buying them.

The second act is about the evolution these icons must make to become relevant to the times. They “keep what works and discard what doesn’t.” Ziegler delivers an important message while keeping the audience laughing throughout with clever lines and a couple of songs thrown in for good measure. The audience disintegrated into waves of laughter during “Rack ‘em up” a song that might possibly mention every phrase used to describe women’s breasts. Many issues about women and feminism are addressed but the message is also updated. The play ultimately tells women to succeed by using feminine gifts rather than assuming men’s traits. Throughout her play, Ziegler challenges women to “...raise the bar so high that men will wish they had ovaries, too.”

“Full Plate Collection” inspires us to look at ourselves and the world differently, to adapt and improve without preaching. So do the right thing, gather up your girlfriends and buy local because this is the MUST SEE show of the season.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Full Plate Collection at Theatre Gym

For WCVE – Public Radio, I’m John Porter.

If this were New York, recognition for the Tony Awards would fall mostly to the new plays presented every year. There would be great anticipation for a new play by a major playwright and savvy theatergoers would line up to get their tickets early.

Such is not usually the case in Richmond, although the last few years have given us plays by such talented writers as Doug Jones, Bo Wilson, and now a new work by Irene Ziegler. Full Plate Collection, which is playing in the Theatre Gym of Theatre IV is a wonderful new work exploring the roles and lives of iconic American women who never lived.

These symbols, easily recognizable even under their assumed names, speak volumes about America through their stories. In addition, they speak to the universal condition, and the efforts women have used to effectively change society for the better.

The event that triggers the stories is one of those televised shopping networks – you know the ones who sell knives designed to cut through rubber hoses and luggage that folds up to the size of a clutch purse. Tonight only they are selling a collection of plates in the images of these iconic women. Melissa Johnston-Price and Debbie Walton are our hosts and chief salespeople and they are extremely funny as they introduce each participant in tonight’s festivities.

The five women who make up this iconic ensemble; Kimberly Jones-Clark, Lauren Leinhass-Cook, Laine Satterfield, Courtney McCotter, and Shalandis Wheeler-Smith throw themselves into the project with abandon. They deal with themes of feeling limited by the constraints of their world. Rosemary the Riveter wants to fly planes, not just build them, Betsy Crockpot wants to continue nurturing the family they way she always has, Boopsie wants to be redrawn to her specifications, Auntie JJ wants to become an executive in the company she represents. Only Babs, the Grown Up Doll with it all seems content with her place in life – after all, she’s popular and attractive and has already had 147 careers.

The rest of the ensemble is made up of four talented and funny women including Bridget Gethins, Stacie Rearden Hall, Elyse Thaler, and Hanna Clinton.

Director Keri Wormald, whom I openly admit is one of my favorite directors, has assembled a strong design team who just happen to be all women. Did I mention that this play is part of the Minds Wide Open – Women in the Arts celebration? Terrie Powers has put together a great set that lets the actors exist in both the world of the shopping network and in the world their characters would inhabit. Heather Hogg’s costumes are dead on, capturing the spirit of each icon, and Lynn Hartman’s Lights are solid.

One of the few non-women to work on the play is Musical Director and Composer Paul Deiss who uses his music to drive the play forward. He and Ziegler have composed a funny number that I think was called “Full Rack” or something like that that celebrates the world’s obsession with breasts.

It’s times like these when you realize just how much talent lives in this city. Richmond is truly blessed to have all of these wonderful artists practicing their craft and sharing it with us.

Excerpt from Full Plate Collection, by Irene Ziegler

SETTING: The set of a TV home shopping program called Impulse Buying at Home: Where Women Shop For Themselves.

AT RISE: Amid rousing MUSIC and LIGHT EFFECTS, our effervescent HOSTS enter and speak to the audience.

HOST 1

Hello!

HOST 2

Hello!

HOST 1

I’m Lucy!

HOST 2

And I’m Ethel!

TOGETHER

Welcome to Impulse Buying At Home—

HOST 1

Where women shop for themselves.

HOST 2

We want to thank our sponsors, Fruit 66 and Electric Power, Incorporated.

HOST 1

Thank you!

HOST 2

And we want to give a shout-out to the generous folks at Barksdale Theatre who kindly allowed us to be in The Little Theatre this evening.

HOST 1

I love to buy, don’t you, Thelma?

HOST 2

I certainly do, Louise, and where would we be without all those other buyers out there?

HOST 1

Facing a government take-over?

HOST 2

No, silly; we’d be daytime drinkers still getting our hair done in malls. Now, what do we have for our buyers today, Kate?

HOST 1

I’m glad you asked, Allie, because today, only on Impulse Buying At Home, we’re offering a remarkable collection of painted plates!

HOST 2

Tell me more, Wilma!

HOST 1

Love to, Betty! These plates were inspired by some of our most popular female cultural icons. On each collector plate is a painting of an influential woman who never existed! And our E-Z Pay Plan makes owning these plates, well, E-Z! Tell them about the EZ Pay Plan, Laverne.

HOST 2

Love to, Shirley. You can pay with a credit card, personal check, electronic banking service, money order, cashier’s check, or proof of womanhood.

HOST 1

Proof of womanhood! How does that work?

HOST 2

It’s E-Z! Along with your order, just send us a token from your personal female history.

HOST 1

Such as…

HOST 2

Your tenth-century Chinese foot bindings!

HOST 1

Your Victorian chastity belt!

HOST 2

Your whalebone corset—

HOST 1

Your dunking rope from the Salem witch trails—

HOST 2

Your training bra—

HOST 1

Your first at-home pregnancy test—

HOST 2

Your pink cancer ribbon!

HOST 1

And this is by no means a complete list, is it Ginger?

HOST 2

Oh, my, no, Mary Ann. I’m sure there are lots of folks at home with plenty of tokens from their own personal history.

HOST 1

So dig them up and send them in!

HOST 2

I’m ready to see the first plate, aren’t you, Snow White?

HOST 1

I am, Rose Red.

HOST 2

Remember, you can call, email, text, twitter, blither, blather, or channel your order, but do it now, because this collection is a limited edition.

HOST 1

And won’t last long.

HOST 2

May we see the first plate, please?

(BETSY CROCKPOT, in her 1930s

attire, is revealed.)

HOST 2

Of course you all recognize this paragon of domesticity, Betsy Crockpot!

HOST 1

Betsy Crockpot?! But I thought we were featuring plates with real American icons on them.

HOST 2

Yes, well, these plates are irregulars.

HOST 1

Irregulars?

HOST 2

For a special low, low price! And if you act right now, we’ll include a special bonus plate!

HOST 1

No!

HOST 2

Yes!

HOST 1

What female cultural icon who never really existed is on the special bonus plate?

HOST 2

That’s a surprise.

HOST 1

I love surprises! So that’s six plates for the price of five?

HOST 1

That’s right!

TOGETHER

And they can be yours!

(MUSIC swells. BETSY CROCKPOT comes to life.)

Contribute to Full Plate Collection

A list of our generous contributors (as of Feb. 3, 2010) appears below.

We are enormously grateful to have the corporate support of Electric Power, Inc and Fruit 66. And we need the help of friends and family. Of course, any contribution will make us ecstatic, but we’d like to offer a special incentive to those who feel particularly magnanimous.

For your tax deductible contribution of $100, we will provide two complimentary tickets to our special invitation-only event on Saturday, March 13th. A pre-event reception begins at 7:00 pm, and after the show, you’re invited to stay and meet the cast and crew, who will raise a glass in your honor and offer to paint your house. ☺

We hope you can help, even if it’s just $10. And if you can't, we know you wish us success. We hope you will join us for the play, and in celebrating women in the arts.

Porcelain Sponsor ($2500 - $6500)
Electric Power, Incorporated
Fruit 66

Full Plate Collection ($500 - $2499)
The Martha Hill Newell Playwrights Fund

Place Setting ($100 - $499)
Paul Saunders Roofing
William Davis
William Jones
Dan and Diane Foley
Michael and Lisa Mullens
David Hulbert and Sherry Finneran
Mark Williamson TTEE
Pam Arkin
Carl and Dawn Westbrook-Boyd
Holmquist and Associates
Gail and Bernard Hogg
Ron and Del Ziegler
Nola and Raymond DeStephen
Barbara and Ron Lester
Tom and Gwen Farmer
Su Carlisle

Hand-Painted Plate ($26 - $99)
Charles Wheeler
Duke and Janet Lafoon
Edward Mitchell
Emogene Wetherington
Lois Battle
Liz Hopper
Karen Ziegler
Kyle Hogg

Tupperware Plate ($11 - $25)
Howard and Karen Owen
Virginia Pye
Nancy Bain
Beth Siek
Jacqui O'Connor
Wayne and Geri Ziegler
Nancy and Ralph Haga
Kathy Messick

Paper Plate (to $10)

Groups of 15 or more enjoy a discounted ticket price of $15 per person.
To make arrangements, please contact Erin Thomas Foley at 539-7439.

For general ticket information, please call the box office at 344-8040.

Music

Full Plate Collection is a play with music, as opposed to a musical. This means that music contributes significantly to the play, but is not a major component, as in the case of a traditional musical.

The wildly talented Paul Deese created the music for the three songs featured in the play, as well as the important incidental music.

To hear a bit of Paul singing Betsy Crockpot's song, "Cookin' With Gas," click here. (You won't leave the site.)

A complete list of our contributors appears below. Thanks to all for your support!

We are grateful to Electric Power Inc. and Fruit 66 for their corporate sponsorships, and to Barksdale Theatre for loaning us The Little Theatre, and acting as fiscal agent.

In order to pay artists and cover the cost of materials, we also need the help of friends and family. Any contribution will make us ecstatic, of course, but we’d like to offer a special incentive to those feeling particularly magnanimous.

For your contribution of $100 or more, we will provide two complimentary tickets to our special invitation-only event at Theatre IV on Saturday, March 13. A pre-event reception begins at 7:00, and after the play, you’re invited to stay and meet the cast and crew, who will raise a glass in your honor and offer to paint your house. If you can't make it to this event, you are certainly welcome to attend the play on whatever date suits you best, March 11 - 27.

We hope you can help, even if it’s just $10.

And if you can't contribute, we know you wish us success.

Please send your tax-deductible contribution to Barksdale Theatre (our fiscal agent), c/o Full Plate Collection, 114 W. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23220. It helps to put “FPC contribution” on the memo line.

Our Contributors

Gold Plate Sponsor ($2500 and up)
Electric Company, Incorporated
Fruit 66

Porcelain Sponsor ($251 - $500)
The Martha Hill Newell Fund for Playwrights

Full Plate Collection ($100 - $250)
Paul Saunders Roofing
William Davis
William Jones
Dan and Diane Foley
Michael and Lisa Mullens
David Hulbert and Sherry Finneran
Mark Williamson TTEE
Pam Arkin
Carl and Dawn Westbrook-Boyd
Holmquist & Associates
Gail and Bernard Hogg
Ron and Del Ziegler
Ray and Nola DeStephen

Place Setting ($26 - $99)
Charles Wheeling
Duke and Janet Lafoon
Edward Mitchell
Emogene Wetherington
Lois Battle
Liz Hopper

Hand-Painted Plate ($11 - $25)
Howard and Karen Owen
Virginia Pye
Nancy Bain
Beth Siek
Jacque O'Connor
Wayne and Geri Ziegler
Nancy and Ralph Haga

Paper Plate ($1 - $10)