no Bull With Raging Robert.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE

AMAS MUSICAL THEATRE
TO PRESENT A VIRTUAL PRESENTATION OF
“HOME SWEET HOMELAND”
A PLAY IN ONE ACT
WRITTEN BY JOANNA RUSH

DIRECTED BY LYNNE TAYLOR-CORBETT

FEATURING: JONATHAN BRODY, ROBERT CUCCIOLI, JAMES RANA, LAILA ROBINS, JOANNA RUSH, CHUJA SEO, SOPHIA STZOUGROS AND MIA MEI WILLIAMSON

STREAM LAUNCH BEGINS MARCH 29

New York, NY (3/15/21) – Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer) will present a virtual presentation of “Home Sweet Homeland” a one-act play by Joanna Rush. It will launch online beginning March 29, 2021 and will be available on demand through April 4, 2021. Tickets are free, but reservations are required at www.amasmusical.org. All proceeds will benefit Amas Musical Theatre’s education programs.

Trapped in a building across the street from the World Trade Center on 9/11, Home Sweet Homeland is the story of a family and the Angel of Stand-Up Comedy who watches over them. Based on Joanna Rush's own experience, they work to take control of their lives and find a way back to the new normal.

Directed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, the cast features Jonathan Brody (A Bronx Tale, Amazing Grace), Robert Cuccioli (Jekylll & Hyde, Les Miserables), James Rana (The Band’s Visit, The Government Inspector), Laila Robins (The Herbal Bed, The Apple Family Plays), Joanna Rush (KICK!, Accidental Mummies), Chuja Seo, Sophia Stzougros and Mia Mei Williamson (Once on This Island). The stage manager is Brian Lawton. The assistant stage manager Benjamin A. Vigil. Casting by Carol Hanzel.

“This year marks the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 though sometimes it seems like yesterday,” states Donna Trinkoff, Amas Producing Director. “The City emerged from that tragedy with strength and resiliency. This story has such resonance for today and for all the despair and fear we are all going through during this time of Covid. Home Sweet Homeland gives us heart in knowing that we will come through this, as well.”

Bios

Jonathan Brody (Eddie/Guard) Broadway: A Bronx Tale, Amazing Grace, Spamalot, Titanic, Sally Marr...and her Escorts, Me and My Girl. Tours: Mary Poppins, Spamalot, Funny Girl, My Fair Lady. Off-Broadway: Pirates!, Theda Bara and the Frontier Rabbi, Eating Raoul. Regional: 39 Steps, Diary of Anne Frank, Lost in Yonkers, Animal Crackers, Hamlet.

Robert Cuccioli (Ben) Broadway: Jekyll & Hyde (Tony nomination, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, FANY and Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Awards), Les Miserables, and Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. Off-Broadway: 2019 season Robert was seen in the Red Bull Theatre production of The White Devil and as Caesar in The Gingold Group’s production of Caesar & Cleopatra. Both were the NY Times’ Critic’s Pick. Pre-COVID shutdown, Robert was rehearsing A Touch of the Poet for The Irish Rep. It did not make it to the stage yet, however this past September filming was completed on the play. It aired late October 2020 and again recently as part of The Irish Rep’s Winter Festival. Robert has spent much of this past year performing in live and recorded events to benefit struggling theatres and institutions such as The Actors’ Fund. Television: “The Sinner,” “Elementary,” “White Collar,” and the soon to be filmed Web Series “Tradecraft: On the Run.” Film: Celebrity, The Stranger, The Rest of Us, Impossible Monsters, Columbus on Trial. Robert is extremely proud to be member of this resilient community of artists and is eager for the day when we can all support one another in person, once again. www.robertcuccioli.com.

James Rana (Faisel Ashan/Fredo/Policeman) Broadway: The Band's Visit (also National Tour). Off-Broadway: The Government Inspector, Serendib, Shogun Macbeth, Marat/Sade, Mother Courage, As You Like It. International: Love's Labor's Lost (Royal Shakespeare Company), Macbeth (Bonn Biennale). Regional: Shakespeare Theatre Co., CATF, Luna Stage, Shakespeare & Co., East Lynne Theater. Television: “SVU,” “Chicago Fire,” “Madame Secretary,” “The 72nd Tony Awards.”

Laila Robins (Paula) Broadway: The Herbal Bed. Off-Broadway: The Apple Family Plays (Drama Desk Award, OBIE Award), Lady from Dubuque (OCC nom., Richard Seff Award) Mrs. Klein (Jefferson Award and Helen Hayes nom.), A Midsummer Night's Dream (The Public's Shakespeare in the Park), Antony and Cleopatra, Sore Throats (Lortel nom.), Tiny Alice, Merchant Of Venice (Calloway Award). Regional: _ A Streetcar Named Desire (Steppenwolf, Jefferson Award) productions at the Guthrie, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, McCarter, George Street, Williamstown, Barrington Stage. Film/TV: The Good Shepherd, Side Effects, An Innocent Man, Planes Trains and Automoblies, A Call to Spy, Too Big to Fail, The Boys, The Blacklist, The Bold Type_, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Deception,” “Homeland,” “Bull,” “New Amsterdam,” “In Treatment,” “Bored to Death,” “Sopranos,” “The Equalizer,” “The Rest of Us.” MFA: Yale Drama School.

Joanna Rush (Playwright/Mimi) KICK! (Off Broadway Alliance OBA Award nominee), Home Sweet Homeland, Accidental Mummies (Lynne Taylor- Corbett, director), Sex and Power, Dust. Screenplays: Irish Whiskey (co-author, “Best Screenplay" winner Temecula Valley Film Festival), America’s Queen, a historical drama. Acting credits, Broadway: Pousse Café, Shirley MacLaine at the Palace, A Chorus Line (Shubert Theater, Los Angeles.) Off-Broadway, Regional, Movies and TV.

Chuja Seo (Chin Sun/Maxine) is a native of Seoul, South Korea based in New York. Theater credits include: Wild Goose Dreams (Theatre Royal, Bath: UK Premier), Salt Pepper Ketchup (InterAct & Passage Theater Company, Barrymore Awards nom. Outstanding Leading Performance), Wit (Playhouse on Park), Prometheus Bound (Getty Villa), Intruder (Edinburgh Fringe), (Dixon Place), A Week at the NJ Shore (Bushwick Starr), Cookin’ (Edinburgh Fringe, Islington Festival, New Victory Theater, Minetta Lane Theater). Film: The Skin of the Teeth, Dog Walker, Architect, Gravidity, Joyce, Blink. TV: “Blue Bloods” (CBS). BA: Brooklyn Collage, MFA: CalArts.

Sophia Stzougros (Tess/Guard) Originally from Southeastern Wisconsin, Sophia is a recent graduate of Wagner College. In 2014 she was a finalist in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. Theatre credits: Resident company member at Mac-Haydn Theatre (2017), Impossibly George (Reading), “Celebrate the Moment” (nightclub revue at The Laurie Beechman Theatre). Since the pandemic she has performed virtually in two musicals: the new musical Heartbreak County, and the 50th Anniversary production of Two by Two. Learn more at sophiatzougros.com

Mia Mei Williamson (Frankie) is grateful to be part of this moving piece. Broadway: Once on this Island. Off Broadway: Bedwetter (workshop), Mandela (reading and workshop). TV: “Nos4a2,” “The Blacklist.” Thank you to our director, Donna, the cast, crew, my Innovative team, especially Jessica Gordon and Barbara Coleman.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer) is a non-profit, multi-ethnic theatrical organization founded in 1968 by Ms. Rosetta LeNoire. Amas (“you love” in Latin) is devoted to the creation, development and professional production of new American musicals, the celebration of cultural equity and minority perspectives, the emergence of new artistic talent, and the training and encouragement of inner-city young people. Amas celebrates its impact in pioneering multi-ethnic casting in the American Theatre and reiterates its commitment to this reflection of our diverse society.

Richard Hillman PR, Broadway, off Broadway, Dramatists Guild, Drama League, Amas Theater.