| "Maiden Mother Crone" – A Duet of Solo Shows Unveiling Uncharted Narratives | |
| Posted by: Official_Press_Release 11:47 am EST 01/13/25 | |
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| SUGARCOATED Jen Ponton takes audiences on a visceral journey through the polished facade women are often forced to wear. With biting humor and profound vulnerability, Sugarcoated strips away societal expectations, revealing raw truths about trauma, survival, and self-empowerment. Best known for her role on AMC's Dietland, Ponton has made waves in TV, film, and theater. Sugarcoated, which premiered at the Denver Fringe Festival, is a testament to her fearless approach to storytelling and her commitment to exploring the untold narratives of women. THE LONGER MY MOTHER IS DEAD, THE MORE I LIKE HER In this deeply personal and universally relatable piece, Deborah Unger invites audiences into the lifelong battle and posthumous reconciliation with her mother. Blending humor and heartbreak, Unger's journey explores the unspoken dynamics of mother-daughter relationships. As Mom gets to speak her peace as well–albeit from the grave–the play transforms into a moving meditation on love, understanding, and letting go. Deborah Unger is a seasoned performer whose career spans film (Motherless Brooklyn, Birdman), television (Gotham, Orange Is the New Black), and theater. Her decades of storytelling culminate in this work—a creative endeavor 15 years in the making. This compelling double bill is an ode to resilience, self-discovery, and the intricate threads of human connection. Whether you're drawn to tales of empowerment, familial complexities, or raw emotional truths, Maiden Mother Crone promises an evening of theater you won't forget. The production features lighting design by Hayley Garcia Parnell and Chelsea Rodriguez is the stage manager. Publicity by Katie Rosin/Kampfire PR. MAIDEN MOTHER CRONE plays the following schedule through Sunday, February 23: Preview Performances: February 12 & 13 at 7 PM Opening Night: February 14 at 7 PM February 15 (2 PM & 7 PM, with matinee talkback) February 16 (2 PM) February 19–21 (7 PM) February 22 (2 PM & 7 PM, with matinee talkback) February 23 (2 PM) Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at maidenmothercroneshow.com or in person at the theater ½ hours before the performance. Venue: The Pete at The Flea, 20 Thomas Street, New York, NY 10007 Running Time: 2h15 mins (with intermission) Website: maidenmothercroneshow.com BIOGRAPHIES JEN PONTON (writer/performer SUGARCOATED) returns triumphantly to the New York stage with Sugarcoated, her autobiographical solo show, in its New York premiere. Last seen off-Broadway in Halley Feiffer's How To Make Friends and then Kill Them (Rattlestick, 2013), Jen has spent the past decade building a vibrant career in film and television. Highlights include Dietland, 30 Rock, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Orange is the New Black, Law & Order: SVU, and Blue Bloods, among many others. Jen also starred in Ash Christian's Love on the Run alongside Frances Fisher, Annaleigh Ashford, and Steve Howey. She has since appeared in Rebecca Miller's She Came to Me and Todd Solondz's Wiener-Dog opposite Greta Gerwig and Kieran Culkin. Off-screen, Jen is a passionate creator. Her works include the storytelling podcast All the Fucks with co-host Lillian Bustle, a nostalgia-packed puppet sitcom, and her TEDx Talk, "Hollywood's Fatphobia Problem.” Her collaboration with Sugarcoated director Tessa Slovis began with Tessa's film Pizza Party, wherein the two found an immediate connection through their commitment to bold activism through storytelling. Explore more about Sugarcoated at jenponton.com. DEBORAH UNGER's (writer/performer THE LONGER MY MOTHER IS DEAD THE MORE I LIKE HER) artistic journey has been as dynamic as it is enduring. She began her career with dreams of musical comedy stardom, crafting and performing cabaret shows in the vibrant Village scene. From there, she transitioned to film and television, debuting in Ragtime and continuing with roles in 911: Lone Star, FBI: Most Wanted, and her personal favorite, Olga, the Penguin's Russian maid in Gotham. Her film credits include acclaimed projects such as Motherless Brooklyn, Eighth Grade, and the Oscar-winning Birdman. Now, Deborah has returned to her theater roots with The Longer My Mother is Dead the More I Like Her, a deeply personal work 15 years in the making (with a healthy dose of self-therapy along the way). After its successful debut at the Spark Theatre Festival, Deborah brings this poignant and darkly funny piece to The Flea Theatre for its off-Broadway premiere. TESSA SLOVIS (Director of SUGARCOATED) is an Actor, Director, and Educator. She is a proud alumna of Barnard College at Columbia University and received her MFA in Acting from the University of Southern California, where she now teaches acting, film, and digital media. She began acting professionally at nine and has performed off-Broadway and regionally over the past twenty years. Tessa has appeared in recurring and guest star roles on The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Lived, Grey's Anatomy, New Amsterdam, and Law and Order: SVU, as well as Cooper Raiff's SXSW-winning feature, Shithouse. As a MFA candidate, Tessa wrote her short film Pizza Party, a magic realist retelling the night before the Larry Nassar trials began. Pizza Party went on to screen at 25 national, international, and academy-qualifying film festivals. It was awarded Special Jury Mention at the Ashland Film Festival, the Female Gaze award at the Portland Film Festival, and nominations at the Academy Qualifying Florida Film Festival, Indy Shorts, Cinequest, and Rhode Island Film Festival. Her three subsequent films have screened at festivals around the country and she is currently in development to direct her first feature. Most recently, Tessa directed Luis Alfaro's award-winning Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles with the MFA and BA theater students at Cal State Los Angeles. After a hit run at the Denver Fringe Festival this past summer, Tessa is ecstatic to again be directing actress Jen Ponton in her poignant solo play Sugarcoated at The Flea Theater. She is forever motivated to create art with a strong center on activism. Tessa spends her "off" time developing work with screenwriters and has an insatiable passion for producing and directing female and queer-led storytelling. tessahopeslovis.com DOMINICK LARUFFA JR (director THE LONGER MY MOTHER IS DEAD THE MORE I LIKE HER) recently wrapped the Off-Broadway world premiere of ‘TIL Death, starring opposite Tony winners Judy Kaye and Robert Cuccioli, just after doing double duty—simultaneously leading the world premiere of Powerhouse (A.R.T NY) Off-Broadway and producing The Kite Runner on Broadway. Dom is most commonly known for his film and television work, with more recent credits including Paul on the long-running hit CBS/Paramount+ legal drama Bull, a recurring role on Gravesend (Amazon), the Martin Scorsese epic The Irishman (Netflix), and soon to be co-starring in the psychological thriller feature, Abandoned Heights. His work as a Broadway producer has garnered him six Tony Award nominations. Favorites include All The Way, You Can't Take It With You, On The Town, Deaf West Theatre's Revival of Spring Awakening, The Realistic Joneses, China Doll, Six Degrees of Separation, American Son, The Lifespan of a Fact, and Betrayal. bluecollarartiststudio.com |
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