(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Black Box PAC, a theater company making its home in Englewood, NJ is partnering with the Dwarf Artists Coalition, a program dedicated for people of short stature, for a staged reading of Li’l, an original screenplay on August 30th. A portion of the tickets for the evening will be donated to the organization which is supported by Little People of America (501(c)3).
Li’l is written by New Jersey writer Vinnie Nardiello and will be directed by Sofiya Cheyenne. Sofiya serves as a chair of the Dwarf Artists Coalition and has appeared as a regular on the Amazon Prime Series, Loudermilk. The staged reading will feature several little people actors in key roles.
Li’l is the story of Gage (Colin Buckinham), a college student who helps manage his family’s business of Little People performers with him and his father Bill (Sean Allison) taking stage as the stars of the troupe. Bookings are down due to the changes in our culture and he’s ready to move on but he can’t leave and allow his father to feel obsolete and unappreciated after years of sacrifice. His brother Darryl (Mark Riccadonna), average sized and a filmmaker, has returned to town with the intention of making a documentary that he promises won’t be exploitative. Gage isn’t sure he can trust his brother, but coming along with Darryl is his production assistant, Vera (Lucy Pratt), whose presence makes Gage consider the possibility of a world outside his family.
The event will be held August 30th with a 7:30pm start time. Event tickets can be purchased at blackboxpac.com or at the Black Box PAC, 49 East Palisade Ave, Englewood, New Jersey.
Black Box Performing Arts Center (BBPAC), a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in Teaneck 2015 and relocated to 49 East Palisade Avenue in Englewood in 2019, and Black Box Studios (BBS), which has operated in Bergen County since 2007, together form Northern NJ’s premiere theater and performing arts school combo. BBPAC is a working professional theater run by The Black Box Rep Company, a group of collaborative artists engaging in collaborative, cutting-edge theater. The tight-knit community self-generates full seasons of cutting edge theater, reviving classics both old and newer, while also developing original works for the intimate stage.
The Dwarf Artist Coalition is a program specifically dedicated for people of short stature interested in the visual and performing arts. We are supported by the non-profit organization of Little People of America, Inc. (501(c)3). The DAC membership is open to LP artists of all ages ranging from children, young people (teens and students), recreationists and professionals.