World Premiere of MISTER MISS AMERICA starring Neil D’Astolfo at the Rattlestick Theater Company
All For One Theater has announced the world premiere of Mister Miss America, written and performed by Neil D’Astolfo and directed by Tony Speciale. Mister Miss America will perform at the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater (224 Waverly Place) from July 6th to 31st, 2022 with opening night scheduled for Monday July 11th at 7pm. Tickets are available now at www.afo.nyc.
This evening. Is. That. Night. Her. It’s the 86th annual Miss Southwestern Virginia Pageant, and Derek Tyler Taylor (D’Astolfo) is fighting tooth and nail manicure to win the crown. But when the road to victory is bumpier than a sock full of Skittles™, Derek must decide just how dirty he is willing to play to make his lifelong dream come true.a??a??
“Neil gives a truly heartbreaking performance as Derek Tyler Taylor,” says Michael Wolk, AFO’s Artistic Director. “With wit, bite and amazing grace, Derek (Neil) beautifully redefines what it means to be a winner.”
“At a time when being queer is once again under attack in America, Neil’s uplifting and defiant performance feels like a powerful antidote,” says AFO’s Executive Producing Director, Nicholas Cotz. “Derek Tyler Taylor is inspirationally upbeat and kind-hearted, but also determined to be his most fabulous self, no matter the obstacles that come his way. His silliness and generosity make him a real role model for all of us. “
“It really is a dream to come back on stage with something so close and dear (and weird),” says D’Astolfo. “This character is exactly the fierce and fearless friend and/or older cousin I wished I had growing up, and I’m so grateful to AFO for the opportunity to share his story and sensibility.”
BIOS
Neil D’Astolfo (him/her) (playwright/performer) is a New York-based actor, comedian and author. Neil is a series regular on Paramount Plus’ Emmy-nominated Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out the News and appeared as Anthony Fauci on Showtime’s Our Cartoon President (also executive produced by Stephen Colbert). Other TV appearances include Comedy Central’s upcoming animated feature film Washingtonia and Hulu’s High Fidelity and The Path. Notable plays include “The Comedy of Errors” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Classic Stage Company) and “Family” (Pershing Square Signature Center Studio). Neil was resident artist at The Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) from 2018-2020, where he appeared on Maude Night’s first all-queer and/or female sketch teams (Glamor College and Peach). He currently creates and hosts SH!T SHOW, a monthly comedic storytelling game show at Caveat. Neil’s writing for film and television has been recognized by the Film Independent and the Nashville Film Festival. He has an MFA from Columbia University and is an adjunct professor at Pace University. www.neildasstolfo.com
Tony Speciale (H/H) (Director) is the founder of Plastic Theater – the creator, co-writer and director of the Off-Broadway/World Premiere of Unnatural Acts (Classic Stage Company-Drama Desk Award nominee, GLAAD Media nominee Awards) . From 2015 to 2018 he was Artistic Director of the Abingdon Theater Company, an off-Broadway theater company dedicated to the development and production of new American works. NYC Credits: Abingdon, Classic Stage Company (CSC), Dixon Place, HERE, The Gym at Judson, La MaMa and Westside Theatre. Regional: Actors Theater of Louisville, Ahmanson Theatre, Alliance Theater, Bay Street, Hartford Stage, Kirk Douglas, Laguna Playhouse, Old Globe, Philadelphia Theater Company and St. Louis Rep. Tony has developed new work at the Atlantic Theatre, Berkeley Rep. The Goodman Theatre, Primary Stages, Sundance Theater Lab and Public Theater’s Under the Radar Festival. He spent four seasons at CSC as Associate Artistic Director, where he helped found, direct and teach their award-winning education and outreach initiative, The Young Company. He has an MFA in Directing from Columbia University and is the proud recipient of a Princess Grace Theater Honorary and a Suzi Bass Award. Tony is currently on the theater department at SUNY New Paltz. tonyspeciale.com
The creative team includes scenic design by Se Hyun Oh, costume design by Hunter Kaczorowski, lighting design by Kate McGee, sound design by Sun Hee Kil and choreography by Christopher Campbell. TaTyana Smith will serve as Production Stage Manager and Sheree V Campbell will serve as Assistant Stage Manager.
Mister Miss America will play July 6-31, 2022 with performances on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday at 8:00 p.m.; with matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
All For One’s ticketing initiative allows access for all with tickets ranging in value from $10 to $100 to all performances, available online at www.afo.nyc.
All For One is dedicated to producing and developing exceptional solo theater and creating opportunities for solo artists to enjoy sustainable careers. Exceptional solo theater is unique in its ability to tell life-changing stories. It speaks with a passion and intimacy that compels us to lean in, learn, relate, and revel while offering a range of themes and experiences as diverse as humanity itself. Since 2011, The Universe presents For One Theater acclaimed full-length solo plays Off-Broadway. We also founded the AFO Solo Collective (AFO|SoCo) to nurture and develop some of the brightest writing, performing and directing talent in the solo world.
Mister Miss America was developed by the AFO Solo Collective and is presented by special arrangement with Rattlestick Playwrights Theater. Mister Miss America is not a Rattlestick Playwrights Theater production. The Rattlestick Playwrights Theater is a non-profit corporation. Income from the theater rentals is used to promote the work of the Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre.
