Theatre, Comedy and More!
On June 8th at 7:00pm come laugh with local stand-up comedian Andy Forrester! Director Lyman Collins will present “A Blooming of Ivy” by Garry Williams. Actors Gilly Conklin and Jeffery Nugent will be performing in this one act play. Finally, listen to the tale of Stephan Platzer in his book “Bringing E Home”, a sailing voyage on the historic schooner Ernestina in 1982.
The performance will be held upstairs at The Wake Forest Coffee Company. Wine and beer are available. A $5 per person donation is suggested to support these great artists and their work. Cash only. Seating is limited.
The Neck of the Woods Performance Series is a variety art show featuring the work of local performing artists. For two years this unique event has provided a stage for local musicians, writers, dancers, actors and comedians. Come out and enjoy performance art in your neck of the woods! Visit our facebook page here!
Featured Artists:
Andy Forrester’s brand of off the wall humor has made him one of the fastest rising comedians in the Southeast. His high energy and animated comedy has landed him spots working with some of the biggest names in comedy like Kevin Pollak, Greg Giraldo, Tom Arnold, Marc Maron and many more. It’s his original and appetizing humor that always leaves audiences begging for more. His likeable, self-deprecating, fun and easy going style is friendly to everyone as he walks you through the mind and life of the man many call BiG”A”. Family, movies, his love for food and living with his two little girls is a treat for everyone to hear about the funny life of this family man. In 2008 Andy won the title of Ultimate Comic at the Idiot Box in Greensboro, NC and in April of 2013 won the Louisville, KY satellite of the World Series of Comedy in hopes to take it all in Vegas in September.
Gilly Conklin has been acting in shows since 1969. Having performed primarily in the Virginia/DC/Maryland area, she and her family moved to North Carolina in 2007 and she has performed with Theatre in the Park, Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy, Temple Theatre, Cary Players and Towne Players in Garner. Favorite roles include Mame Dennis in “Mame”, Dolly Levy in “Hello Dolly”, Miss Mona in “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and Agnes in “I Do, I Do!” She just finished playing a 72 year old woman in Cary Player’s production of “Mornings at Seven”. She is very excited to be bringing “Ivy” back to the stage.
Jeffrey A. Nugent : Jeff has been active in the Triangle theater scene, both onstage and in the shadows, since 2001. He has ‘played’ with the Towne Players of Garner, Cary Players, Neuse Little Theater, Theatre In The Park, and, most recently, OwlTree Theater for the People. Jeff Is delighted to perform with Gilly and Lyman again in this heartwarming show. Special ‘THANKS’ to each of you for supporting the arts.
Lyman Collins: Since 1999 Lyman has served as the Cultural Arts Manager for the Town of Cary. From 2006 until 2011 he directed Cary Players’ Love Bits & Bites when he first helped Ivy bloom. It is a pleasure to be revisiting this delightful work for a third time, and he is privileged to work again with Gilly & Jeff. Thanks to his at-home-bloomers, Don, Sheba & Echo for indulging him in this bit of gardening.
Local author Stephan J.W. Platzer tells the story of an international crew united by a common love for a historic vessel to overcome obstacles of language, culture, calms, and squalls to bring the historic schooner Ernestina back from Africa to USA, where she was originally built in 1894 as a fishing boat. It is now recognized as a National Historic Landmark. It has had several incarnations: as an Arctic explorer and training ship for young, 
wealthy college students; as a World War II navy ship bringing scientists to Greenland; as a South Pacific cruising vessel; and as a Cape Verdean packet ship carrying immigrants and goods between the Cape Verde Islands and New England. Stephan, who is a chemist by day with over 60 US Patents, loves adventure – especially on the high seas. He has been stuck in the ice on a sailing voyage to Greenland, sailed a replica Viking ship from Norway to England, and been around Cape Horn backwards in their winter months. “Do I ever get afraid?” Stephan was asked recently. “No. The ocean is vast, enormous. It can devour you if it wants to, swallow you up at any time. If it’s your time, well, then, you’ll become part of the ocean. Thus far, it’s been kind to me.”
