Events

Local Produce Readers Theatre, Stissing Center

Reading from my newest play

June 18, 2023 - 12:00 am  |  Stissing Center, Pine Plains, NY

A reading of Scene 1 of my new comedy Apocollapse, along with other work by Howl Playwrights.…

Fertile Ground with The New Yorker

March 24, 2023 - 7:00 pm  |  Ukrainian Institute of America

I will be joined by Daniel Lombroso of The New Yorker in conversation about the films of Nadia Parfan, in particular “I Did Not Want to Make a War Film” and “The Heat Singers.”…

Fertile Ground film series hosted by Dean Temple

Hosting Fertile Ground: Earth is Blue as an Orange

I curate a film series for the Ukrainian Institute of America most months. I say most months because Ukraine coping with a genocidal war waged by Russia, so some months, logistics to get films and speakers together can be difficult. This month’s film is Iryna Tsylik’s The Earth is Blue as an Orange, winner of the director award at Sundance. Iryna will be joining us for a short talk.

Synopsis:
To cope with the daily trauma of living in a war-zone, Anna and her children make a film together about their life in the most surreal surroundings.

The Fertile Ground / Родюча Земля Film Series:
Fertile ground is the foundation of Ukraine’s culture, its folk traditions, its agricultural tradition. In the midst of hundreds of years of colonial oppression, Ukraine has produced great artists, musicians, and writers/poets. Since independence, and particularly since the Revolution of Dignity, Ukraine has buzzed with creativity. Kyiv is among the most dynamic arts capitals in Europe. Political freedom is growing. Economic development was underway before the war. In the arts, writing, filmmaking, Ukraine blossoms even when under attack. Fertile Ground highlights this new generation of creative thinkers and makers contributing to a modern Ukrainian Renaissance.…

Fertile Ground Film Series curated by Dean Temple

Fertile Ground Film Series Opens this Sunday, Oct 9, 2pm

October 9, 2022 - 2:00 pm  |  Ukrainian Institute of America

This year the Ukrainian Institute of America asked me to curate a film series and I developed Fertile Ground for them. For our first film in this monthly series, we will be screening My Thoughts are Silent by Antonio Lukich with an introductory talk by Ukraine World Editor in Chief Volodymyr Yermolenko.

The Fertile Ground Film Series celebrates Ukrainian creativity and thought. Even in the face of hostility, Ukraine is experiencing a new renaissance. This series invites modern Ukrainian voices to give short talks that give our audiences context and perspective for the films we screen every month.

Vadim just got his lucky break and a shot at his dream job, but he’ll have to survive a roadtrip with his mother first. The most streamed film in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. With an introductory talk by philosopher, analyst, and Ukraine World editor-in-chief Volodymyr Yermolenko.

Everyone Has the Right directed by Dean Temple

Everyone Has the Right NYC Theatrical Premiere, Oct 8, 11am

October 8, 2022 - 11:00 am  |  Village East by Angelika

This animated short film created with Richard Prouse makes it’s big screen premiere as part of the Soho Intl Film Festival this Saturday. The film is about Eleanor Roosevelt’s effort to create the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and I wrote and directed it for the FDR Presidential Library in 2021.

11 AM
Village East by Angelika
181-189 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10003

Here is the trailer produced for the festival:

Ex-Gar Bar at ArtsWestchester

Ex-Gar Bar at ArtsWestchester

August 27, 2022 - 2:00 pm  |  ArtsWestchester, White Plains, NY

Come see me play the role of Doctor Doctor – a conversion therapy doctor who doesn’t have his patients’ best interest at heart.

Synopsis: Comic drama set in a sports bar for the ex-gay crowd. Three ex-gay friends in a bar meet up with a young survivor of an ex-gay conversion therapy concentration camp. Part satire, part modern day horror, Ex-Gay Bar explores the shame and conflicting impulses that threaten to rip the heart out of the gay community. Written by David Simpatico (Disney’s High School Musical; Twelve Angry Men the musical)…

Tale hosted by Harmon Leon

Tale at the Red Room

Come see me tell my story about being a Ukrainian American when Russia is trying to destroy a country where you have friends and family, and where people who’ve shown their sense of humor throughout also need the space to cry about it.

No hokey gimmicks. No dumb themes – TALE brings you the best in NYC’s storytelling!

Hosted by Harmon Leon (The New Yorker, This American Life)…

Ex-Gar Bar by David Simpatico

Ex-Gar Bar at the Stissing Center

June 26, 2022 - 3:00 pm  |  Stissing Center, Pine Plains, NY

Come see me play the role of Doctor Doctor – a conversion therapy doctor who doesn’t have his patients’ best interest at heart.

Synopsis: Comic drama set in a sports bar for the ex-gay crowd. Three ex-gay friends in a bar meet up with a young survivor of an ex-gay conversion therapy concentration camp. Part satire, part modern day horror, Ex-Gay Bar explores the shame and conflicting impulses that threaten to rip the heart out of the gay community. Written by David Simpatico (Disney’s High School Musical; Twelve Angry Men the musical)