Paper Birch Productions in association with the Anna L. Weissberger Foundation present ASHES & INK
Starring Kathryn Erbe in a three-week off-Broadway engagement
Paper Birch Productions
in association with
The Anna L. Weissberger Foundation
presents
ASHES & INK
When to take flight, When to let go
Written by MARTHA PICHEY
Directed by ALICE JANKELL
Starring KATHRYN ERBE
A THREE WEEK OFF-BROADWAY ENGAGEMENT
OCTOBER 16TH – NOVEMBER 3RD, 2024
AT AMT THEATER
OPENING NIGHT IS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2024
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Paper Birch Productions, in association with the Anna L. Weissberger Foundation, is pleased to announce the Off-Broadway engagement of Martha Pichey’s ASHES & INK, directed by Alice Jankell. A moving tale about a mother’s unconditional love of her child, ASHES & INK will play for three weeks only at Off-Broadway’s AMT Theater (354 West 45th Street, New York, NY, 10036). Performances begin Wednesday, October 16, and continue through Sunday, November 3. Opening Night is Friday, October 18 (7:00 p.m.). Tickets are $39.99-$49.99 and available at https://ashesink.ludus.com/index.php.
Widowed Molly has been slowly getting her life back on track. The pain of losing her husband two years ago hasn’t stopped her from finding new love, and she never stopped encouraging her talented son to realize his big dreams. Quinn – a recovering addict – is a promising actor who will soon audition for a place at one of the world’s best drama schools. Her boyfriend Leo is devoted to her, his young son Felix adores Quinn, and their quiet country life is a breath of fresh air.
But over one heart-wrenching week, Molly realizes she is not out of the woods — with Quinn’s addiction deepening and her sister’s new diagnosis. In her guilt and frustration, Molly turns her back on the help and comfort she desperately needs from patient and grounded Leo. There is one thing she turns to again and again to keep the grief and sadness at bay: her abiding love of birdsong. Headphones always within reach, Molly escapes into the soothing sounds of a sweeter past. But when she’s down on her knees with nowhere left to turn, will Molly finally realize that she too deserves happiness?
"ASHES & INK exposes a mother's fears and challenges in trying to save her addicted son," says playwright Martha Pichey. "It’s about all families torn apart when addiction and overdose threaten to swallow them whole. I wanted to confront the painful questions about how far a parent will and should — or should not — go to protect their child. This play is a space to talk about our fears, our grief, and our hopes—so we don't have to feel so alone."
The production stars Kathryn Erbe as Molly. Erbe rose to prominence as Detective Alexandra Eames in Law and Order: Criminal Intent, leading the show through its first ten seasons and featuring in 142 episodes. Javier Molina was most recently seen in Reminiscence with Hugh Jackman (HBO) and is Co-Artistic Director of The Actors Studio in NYC. The production additionally stars Julian Shatkin (Like Sunday Like Rain; graduate of Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow, Scotland) as Quinn and Tamara Flannagan (The Syringa Tree) as Molly’s sister, Bree. The role of Leo’s young son, Felix, will be played by Rhylee Watson.
ASHES & INK features scenic design by Tim McMath, costume design by Kaitlin Feinberg, sound design by Alexis Attalla, and lighting design by Paul Hudson. General Management by Sharon Fallon Productions. Publicity and Marketing Consulting by Katie Rosin/Kampfire PR.
ASHES & INK plays the following regular schedule through November 3rd:
Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
Thursdays at 7 p.m.
Fridays at 7 p.m.
Saturdays at 7 p.m.
Sundays at 2 p.m.
The production has an additional matinee on Saturday, November 2nd.
Tickets are $39.99-$49.99 and are now available online at https://ashesink.ludus.com/index.php.
Running Time: 90 minutes
BIOGRAPHIES
KATHRYN ERBE (Molly) is best known to television audiences for her starring roles on LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT and OZ, as well as her recurring roles on HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET, THE SINNER, HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, POSE, INVASION, CITY ON A HILL, and the upcoming BLACK RABBITT. Her television films include BREATHING LESSONS, NAKED CITY, and GEORGE WALLACE.
Her feature film credits include WHAT ABOUT BOB?, RICH IN LOVE, THE ADDICTION, KISS OF DEATH, DREAM WITH THE FISHES, MISTRESS AMERICA, ASSASSINATION NATION, NO ALTERNATIVE, THE GOOD HOUSE, RED PILL, 3 BACKYARDS, D2: THE MIGHTY DUCKS, STIR OF ECHOES, and the award-winning short films DON'T PICK UP and THE WRONG ROAD.
Erbe made her Broadway debut in THE GRAPES OF WRATH and has also been seen in A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY, THE FATHER, and THE SPEED OF DARKNESS, for which she received a Tony Award nomination. Her off-Broadway credits include THE MY HOUSE PLAY, DOWN THE SHORE, YOSEMITE, ODE TO JOY, AZAK, CHECKERS, NIKOLAI AND THE OTHERS, and the award-winning SOMETHING CLEAN. She is also an ensemble member of the Atlantic Theater Company and the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, where her appearances include CURSE OF THE STARVING CLASS, MY THING OF LOVE, and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE.
MARTHA PICHEY (Playwright) currently resides in New York City. Before entering the world of playwriting 10 years ago, Martha was an editor and writer at Scholastic Inc and Travel & Leisure magazine. She has freelanced for a wide variety of publications, from The New York Times to Vanity Fair and design website Remodelista. She has written a guide to Naples & Campania for the prestigious Blue Guides publishers. As editor at non-profit FilmAid International, she revamped their annual reports magazine-style for maximum exposure. Nothing if not versatile, she also holds a degree in wooden toymaking from the London College of Furniture. Martha is a member of The Actors Studio Playwrights and Directors Workshop, the Beehive Collective and the Dramatists Guild. She holds a Masters in Screenwriting from University of the Arts, London. ASHES & INK is her first play. www.marthapichey.com
ALICE JANKELL (Director) is Artistic Director of Philipstown Depot Theatre. Previously, Alice developed Broadway musicals for Disney, was Associate Artistic Director of Williamstown Theatre Festival, and Creative Director of F.A.B Women @The Barrow Group. A director and writer, Alice has worked around the country in theater, film, and television. A collection of her plays is published by Leicester Bay Theatricals. Member: The Actors Studio PDW, Theatre Now International Music Theatre Writers Lab, New York Theatre Workshop Usual Suspect, and co-founder of Putnam Theatre Alliance. https://www.alicejankell.com AEA/SAG-AFTRA/Dramatist Guild
The ANNA L. WEISSBERGER FOUNDATION, a patron of theater arts since the 1980s, supports contemporary playwrights, productions, and not-for-profit theaters. Through a partnership with the Williamstown Theater Festival, they fund the annual L. Arnold Weissberger New Play Award and the Jay S. Harris Commission, which support emerging artists. In 2024, the Foundation expanded its mission to support exciting new works in and around New York City, beginning with Ashes & Ink.
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