FOUNDATIONS
Written + Directed by 
Kurt Schneiderman

January 25 - February 10, 2007
At the New Phoenix Theatre on the Park

     To kick off our 2007 Season, we went all out to bring to life the world-debut of a bold new work by our own Founder & Artistic Director, Kurt Schneiderman.
     By far our most ambitious undertaking to date, the play FOUNDATIONS is a powerful working class epic -- a three-act blue-collar drama involving an eleven-character ensemble, an elaborate construction site set, and a climactic demolition scene that was an incredible challenge -- both technically and artistically -- to mount.
     FOUNDATIONS is a modern day story of one disheveled group of construction workers during one dismal day on the job.  When a Black worker on the site declares himself on a "one-man strike", work comes to a screeching halt and this unionized crew is quick to turn on each other.  Ultimately, these self-described "Hard Hat Whores" are forced to face up against all of the bigotries that keep them apart -- the racism, sexism, the corruption in their own Union, and much, much, more.

Click below for more info...
-- About the Author -- About the Cast -- About the Crew -- About this Play's Production History -- View Press Photos -- Read Review: Buffalo News -- Read Review: Online Buffalo -- Return to the FOUNDATIONS mainpage

      In his three-star review, Buffalo News Critic Ted Hadley declared: "Foundations" is really a pro-union valentine of sorts to blue-collar construction workers, a gritty tale of a day on the job by people who work with their hands... Impressive work... Schneiderman creates some fascinating characters. The words he puts in their mouths, their commentaries on the world-at-large, their insults, the knifing ethnic slurs by a few, their vulgar nicknames, come out sounding real. There is enough billingsgate for a dozen plays." 
     Augustine Warner of Online Buffalo added: "When Kurt Schneiderman was writing "Foundations" he clearly wasn't looking for soft, feelgood entertainment.  His "Foundations" is a slash and burn attack on every who doesn't like Unions... a local play with a much larger message."
     Sadly, our production was beset by a thousand difficulties.  Severe illnesses in the cast -- as well as an ill-timed blizzard and many other calamities beyond our control -- forced us to cancel several performances.  It was very painful to come away with so little after so much hard work . . . and worst of all, to have to turn away so many of our dedicated audience members. 
     But the few performances we managed of FOUNDATIONS were a great success.  Directed by the author himself, this production was a thrilling combination of powerful drama and searing polemic -- a latter-day outcry against prejudice and capitalism -- an impassioned tribute to the struggles of working people everywhere.
     Here's the list of who did what:
     

Director . . . . . . Kurt Schneiderman* Asst Director . . . .  Virginia Brannon* Stage Manager . . . Virginia Brannon* Asst Stage Manager . Kevin Morrison Set Design . . . . . . . . . .  David Butler Costume Design . . . . . . .  Tessa Lew Sound Design . . . . . .  Brian Wantuch Lighting Design . Kurt Schneiderman* Props Master . . . . .  Kevin Morrison Poster Design . . . . .  Michael Sprada Fight Choreography . Andrew J. Liegl Fight Captain . . . . . . . . . Andy Moss Benedetti . . . . . . . . . Dennis Keefe* Sheppard . . .  Willie W. Judson, Jr.* "Hard-On" . . . . . . . . . . Andy Moss "Blow Job" . . . . . . .  Chris Standart Dugan . . . . . . Lawrence Rowswell* Diaz . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandra Gilliam* Moss . . . . . . . .  Hasheen DeBerry* Olsen . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Keith Elkins Wolford . . . . . . . . . Victor Morales 1st Policeman . . . . . . . Tom Scahill* 2nd Policeman .  Marshall Maxwell* House Manager . . . . .  Tom Scahill* House Manager . . . Michael Fanelli* Publicity . . . . . . . .  Michael Fanelli* Newsletter . Jeanette Schneiderman* * = members of the Subversive Theatre Collective

This production was made possible in part thanks to a grant from the Buffalo & Erie County Arts Council as well as individual contributions from the following magnanimous patrons (in no particular order):

GARGANTUAN THANK YOUS TO ONE AND ALL!!!

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