Cooking For Two
Book & Lyrics by Charlie O'Leary
Music by Karl Hinze
Directed by Tasha Gordon-Solmon
Music Direction by Karl Hinze
It's the first season finale of Food Network's latest, Tasty Time with Jenny and Brett - but as the cameras roll, the eponymous couple's cheery facade starts to crack. When Jenny tries to end the show in a desperate bid to save their marriage, Brett must confront a terrifying choice: relationship or career?
Setting
Present; a TV studio at Chelsea Piers
Cast
Jenny……………………………………………….…… Bettina Bresnan
Brett………………………..………………..…….…… Robert Berliner*
Nameless PA………………….……….………….….… Stephan Amenta
*indicates member of Actors' Equity Association
Scenes & Songs
“You Know What’s Coming” – Jenny & Brett
“It Takes Two” – Jenny & Brett
“Simplest Thing” – Jenny
“It Takes Two (Finale)” – Jenny & Brett
Musicians
Karl Hinze (keyboard)
Charlie O’Leary (Bookwriter/Lyricist, Cooking For Two) Charlie O’Leary’s plays have been developed with Project Y Theatre, Crashbox Theater Company, the BMI Workshop, 24 Hour Plays: Nationals, the Fornés Playwriting Workshop, the Flea Theater, Middle Voice at Rattlestick, Pipeline Theatre Company, Jersey City Theater Center, Loading Dock Theatre, the Dare Tactic, the Tank, the PIT, the Habitat, and the University of Notre Dame. He is a two-time finalist for the Seven Devils Playwrights Conference and three-time semifinalist for the O’Neill Playwrights Conference. Currently: Exposed Bone… (music by Karl Hinze) at the PIT Loft through June 2nd; Dying! (a nightmare) reading at the Tank June 3rd.
Karl Hinze (Composer & Music Director, Cooking For Two) is a composer and playwright in NYC. He has been a member of the BMI Workshop since 2013, and his original musical 210 Amlent Avenue was an Official Selection of the Next Link Project at the New York Musical Festival. Other collaborations include Are They Edible?, an experimental puppet show by Jeanette Yew at La MaMa, and Shackled Spirits, a multi-media dance drama by Lynn Kremer at the Bali Arts Festival. His musical comedy Exposed Bone… with Charlie O’Leary runs now through June 2 at the PIT Loft. Karl has a Ph.D. in Music Composition from Stony Brook University. karlhinze.com
Tasha Gordon-Solmon (Director) has directed and developed new plays at Dixon Place, EST, The Tank, The Flea, INTAR, The Brick, Project Y, Pipeline Theatre, InViolet, Brooklyn Museum, New York Clown Festival, Fire This Time Festival, New York Fringe Festival, Columbia University MFA Program, NYU Dramatic Writing MFA Program, Studio Tisch, Brooklyn Generator, Crashbox Theater Company, The Cell, The Claque, New York Madness and the Young Playwrights Festival at the O’Neill. As a writer, her work has been developed and produced at Actors Theatre of Louisville / Humana Festival, Clubbed Thumb, Ars Nova, and the Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival. She is the recipient of a Dramatist Guild Fellowship, a New Georges Affiliated Artist, a member of the BMI Advanced Workshop, a member of Directors Lab West, a VCCA Fellow and a proud 52nd Street Project volunteer.
Stephan Amenta (Nameless PA) is a NYC based actor, singer, and writer. Select credits include -- Off Broadway: Frankenstein (Write Act Repertory), Lili Marlene (Write Act Repertory). Regional: A Great Wilderness (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Dear Evan Hansen (Arena Stage), Good Boys and True (Retro Productions), Flights (The 24hr Plays: Nationals). Film/TV: PLANT: The Second Coming (Amazon), Earthly Delights (NewFest), On The Case With Paula Zahn (Investigation Discovery), and Rough Night (Sony Pictures). www.stephanamenta.com
Bettina Bresnan (Jenny) is thrilled to be a part of this awesome team! Recent Pace University Musical Theater graduate, credits include: Kira in Xanadu (Pace University), Laugh Track (New York Fringe Festival), The Light in The Piazza (Finger Lakes MTF), The Last Five Years (LMP), and Gossip Girl (CW Network).
Robert Berliner (Brett) After spending the last few years focused on writing and flying, Rob is grateful to be performing over his birthday weekend this year! His updated lyrics to “You’re the Top” have been performed by Ann Harada, Santino Fontana/Laura Osnes, and Alan Cumming/Liza Minnelli. (OK, Alan/Liza was just in rehearsal. But someday…!) As an actor, his best-known gigs include “One Life to Live,” "Devil Boys from Beyond" (fringeNYC and off Broadway), and a Hardee’s commercial from 1986. Proud member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Advanced Workshop, AEA, SAG-AFTRA, Disney Cast Member, Delta flight attendant, Northwestern alum. Thanks, team!
