Retro Productions
Encyclopedia
Retro Productions is a New York City
based Off-Off-Broadway
theater company. It's artistic director is Heather E. Cunningham, an actress and producer whose performance as Cheryl in the Retro production Still Life by Emily Mann
was recently named a Performance to Remember, 2007 by Marc Miller of Backstage Magazine.
Retro Productions' mission is to produce works of "Retro
Theater," mainly straight plays that take place between 1925 and 1985.
Following the production of Mrs. California, River Heights Productions was dissolved and renamed Retro Productions.
Since then the company has become a resident theater company of the Spoon Theater and produces two shows per year at the 38th street space in Manhattan. It has also acquired twenty-one company members who regularly perform in, design, direct, and stage manage the productions.
since the company was founded.
Six nominations were given in honor of their May 2010 production of The Desk Set
by William Marchant
. Included were nominations for Outstanding Set Design (Rebecca Cunningham), Outstanding Costume Design (Viviane Galloway), Outstanding Sound Design (Jeanne Travis), Innovative Design (Heather E. Cunningham and Casandera M.J. Lollar for Properties Design), and Outstanding Leading Actress (Kristen Vaughan).
In 2008, five nominations were awarded for their production of Mill Fire by Sally Nemeth. They included nominations for Outstanding Leading Actress (Lauren Kelston), Outstanding Leading Actress (Kristen Vaughan), Outstanding Lighting Design (Kerrie Lovercheck), Outstanding Set Design (Jack and Rebecca Cunningham), and Outstanding Sound Design (Amy Altadonna). Their sixth nomination that year was for Outstanding Costume Design (Rebecca Cunningham) for their production of What I Did Last Summer
by A.R. Gurney.
In November, 2008, Retro Productions produced the first major New York City
revival in over fifty years of the 1950s
sex comedy The Tender Trap
by Max Shulman
and Robert Paul Smith
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
based Off-Off-Broadway
Off-Off-Broadway
Off-Off-Broadway theatrical productions in New York City are those in theatres that are smaller than Broadway and Off-Broadway theatres. Off-Off-Broadway theaters are often defined as theaters that have fewer than 100 seats, though the term can be used for any show in the New York City area that...
theater company. It's artistic director is Heather E. Cunningham, an actress and producer whose performance as Cheryl in the Retro production Still Life by Emily Mann
Emily Mann (director)
Emily Mann, born April 12, 1952, is the multi-award–winning Artistic Director and Resident Playwright of McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey, where she has overseen over 85 productions....
was recently named a Performance to Remember, 2007 by Marc Miller of Backstage Magazine.
Retro Productions' mission is to produce works of "Retro
Retro
Retro is a culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, that has since that time become functionally or superficially the norm once again. The use of "retro" style iconography and imagery interjected into post-modern art, advertising, mass media, etc...
Theater," mainly straight plays that take place between 1925 and 1985.
History
The company was formed in 2005 under the original name River Heights Productions. Under this name the company produced two plays: Catholic School Girls by Casey Kurtti and Mrs. California by Doris Baizley. The production of Mrs. California was the New York City premiere.Following the production of Mrs. California, River Heights Productions was dissolved and renamed Retro Productions.
Since then the company has become a resident theater company of the Spoon Theater and produces two shows per year at the 38th street space in Manhattan. It has also acquired twenty-one company members who regularly perform in, design, direct, and stage manage the productions.
Productions and Awards
Retro Productions has been nominated for a total of twelve New York Innovative Theatre AwardsNew York Innovative Theatre Awards
The New York Innovative Theatre Awards were founded in 2004. These annual awards honor excellence in Off-Off-Broadway Theatre and help nurture and promote the Off-Off-Broadway community.-Mission statement:...
since the company was founded.
Six nominations were given in honor of their May 2010 production of The Desk Set
Desk Set
Desk Set is a 1957 American romantic comedy film directed by Walter Lang and starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn...
by William Marchant
William Marchant
William Marchant was a playwright and screenwriter. He is best known for writing the play that served as the basis for the 1957 Walter Lang movie, The Desk Set....
. Included were nominations for Outstanding Set Design (Rebecca Cunningham), Outstanding Costume Design (Viviane Galloway), Outstanding Sound Design (Jeanne Travis), Innovative Design (Heather E. Cunningham and Casandera M.J. Lollar for Properties Design), and Outstanding Leading Actress (Kristen Vaughan).
In 2008, five nominations were awarded for their production of Mill Fire by Sally Nemeth. They included nominations for Outstanding Leading Actress (Lauren Kelston), Outstanding Leading Actress (Kristen Vaughan), Outstanding Lighting Design (Kerrie Lovercheck), Outstanding Set Design (Jack and Rebecca Cunningham), and Outstanding Sound Design (Amy Altadonna). Their sixth nomination that year was for Outstanding Costume Design (Rebecca Cunningham) for their production of What I Did Last Summer
What I Did Last Summer
What I Did Last Summer is a play by the American playwright A.R. Gurney.It is written as a memory play, as an older Charlie Higgins looks back on the summer he was 14, during World War II, when he vacationed on Lake Erie with his mother Grace and older sister Elsie...
by A.R. Gurney.
In November, 2008, Retro Productions produced the first major New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
revival in over fifty years of the 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
sex comedy The Tender Trap
The Tender Trap
The Tender Trap can refer to:*The Tender Trap , a 1954 Broadway play by Robert Paul Smith and Max Shulman, starring Robert Preston*The Tender Trap , a 1955 movie based on the play, starring Debbie Reynolds and Frank Sinatra...
by Max Shulman
Max Shulman
Max Shulman was an American writer and humorist best known for his television and short story character Dobie Gillis, as well as for best-selling novels.-Early life and career:...
and Robert Paul Smith
Robert Paul Smith
Robert Paul Smith was an American author, most famous for his classic evocation of childhood, Where Did You Go? Out. What Did You Do? Nothing....
.
List of Productions
- Catholic School Girls by Casey Kurtti (as River Heights Productions), March 2005
- Mrs. California by Doris Baizley (as River Heights Productions), March 2006
- Still LifeStill lifeA still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
by Emily MannEmily Mann (director)Emily Mann, born April 12, 1952, is the multi-award–winning Artistic Director and Resident Playwright of McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey, where she has overseen over 85 productions....
, March 2007 - What I Did Last SummerWhat I Did Last SummerWhat I Did Last Summer is a play by the American playwright A.R. Gurney.It is written as a memory play, as an older Charlie Higgins looks back on the summer he was 14, during World War II, when he vacationed on Lake Erie with his mother Grace and older sister Elsie...
by A.R. Gurney, November 2007 - Mill Fire by Sally Nemeth, May 2008
- The Tender TrapThe Tender TrapThe Tender Trap can refer to:*The Tender Trap , a 1954 Broadway play by Robert Paul Smith and Max Shulman, starring Robert Preston*The Tender Trap , a 1955 movie based on the play, starring Debbie Reynolds and Frank Sinatra...
by Max ShulmanMax ShulmanMax Shulman was an American writer and humorist best known for his television and short story character Dobie Gillis, as well as for best-selling novels.-Early life and career:...
and Robert Paul SmithRobert Paul SmithRobert Paul Smith was an American author, most famous for his classic evocation of childhood, Where Did You Go? Out. What Did You Do? Nothing....
, November 2008 - When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder? is a play by Mark Medoff.The setting is Foster's Diner, a New Mexico rest stop that lost most of its clientele when a new highway bypass opened. Employees include restless cook Stephen , mousy waitress Angel, and their no-nonsense boss Clark...
by Mark MedoffMark MedoffMark Medoff is an American playwright, screenwriter, film and theatre director, actor, and professor. His play Children of a Lesser God received both the Tony Award and the Olivier Award...
, May 2009 - Holy Days by Sally Nemeth, November 2009
- Women and War by Jack Hilton Cunningham, May 2010
- The Desk Set by William MarchantWilliam MarchantWilliam Marchant was a playwright and screenwriter. He is best known for writing the play that served as the basis for the 1957 Walter Lang movie, The Desk Set....
, May 2010 - Benefactors by Michael FraynMichael FraynMichael J. Frayn is an English playwright and novelist. He is best known as the author of the farce Noises Off and the dramas Copenhagen and Democracy...
, November 2010 - Dear RuthDear RuthDear Ruth is a 1947 romantic comedy film starring Joan Caulfield, William Holden, Mona Freeman, and Edward Arnold. It was based on the Broadway play of the same name by Norman Krasna. A teenage girl has a soldier for a pen pal, but uses her older sister's name and photograph...
by Norman KrasnaNorman KrasnaNorman Krasna was an American screenwriter, playwright, and film director. He is best known for penning screwball comedies, melodrama, and early films noir. Krasna also directed three films during a forty-year career in Hollywood...
, May 2011