Horse Trade in association with
Grayce Productions Present

"SAY YOUR PRAYERS, MUG!"

By Todd Michael

"...a brisk, mirthful hour." - AJ Mell, Backstage.com

"...a brisk, mirthful hour..."
AJ Mell, Backstage.com

"…it would be tough to not have a good time at this show."
Martin Denton,nytheatre.com

Mr. and Mrs. Matinee themselves, Skip Rayburn and Dottie Haines, host the 1950s television show “Sunrise Cinema” and eagerly present the long-lost thriller, “Say Your Prayers, Mug!”  In between the bubbly hosts’ banter, the 1935 gangster flick comes to life on stage, complete with fist-swingin’ cops and fast-talkin’ mobsters.  A parody within a parody, SAY YOUR PRAYERS, MUG! Playfully sends up not one, but two genres of yesteryear.

Founded in 2001, Grayce Productions exclusively presents parodies and satires of 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s film, theater, and television.  Last year’s parody of 1930s film, featured in the 10th Annual New York International Fringe Festival, VICE GIRL CONFIDENTIAL, not only earned the FringeNYC Award for Outstanding Acting Ensemble, but sold-out its run and garnered critical acclaim.  NYTheatre.com called the production “smart, laugh-inducing, and perfect,” while Talkin’ Broadway dubbed playwright Michael’s “crackling way with words… a true pleasure.”.

Other past productions include Psycho Sorority Girl (Red Room, 2002), The Poverty Row Double Horror Show (Red Room, 2003), Bad Dames Go To Hell! (Red Room, 2004), Damaged Dames (Under St. Marks, 2005), The Greatest B-Movie Ever Told (Fringe Festival, 2005), and The Adventures of Jock Jupiter (Red Room, 2006).

After hoping the boarder from Canada, to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Sarah has performed in many Off and Off Off Broadway productions. Some favorites include: “The Stranger” (DM Thatrics), The OBIE award-winning “Benten Kozo” (The Flea Theatre) and “The Cask of Amontillado” (Present Company) and most recently the 10th Annual FringeNYC Festival’s “Vice Girls Confidential”. Thank you to my family and friends for always being supportive. For my sweetheart, Phil. And my little angel, Sadie Bunker

Thom Brown, III: Skip Rayburn

Thom Brown, III (Skip) - A native of Baltimore, MD, Thom is honored and enthused to be a part of this premiere production of Say your Prayers, Mug!  His memorable regional roles include Gaston in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Rutledge in 1776, Cinderella's Prince in Into the Woods, and Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Much to his wife's chagrin, scotch, cigars and Orson Welles' radio theatre served as the integral preparation for this performance.  Thanks and congrats to Todd, Walter, and the Cast and Crew of Say your Prayers, Mug!.  All my love to Emily, my beautiful wife.

Walter J. Hoffman-Walter was born and bred in New York City. He will, unquestionably, spend the rest of his natural life here. Recently, Walter has taken part in several theater projects: The Bald Soprano (The Sanford Meisner Theater),  A fantastic presentation of Our Town (The Gene Frankel Theater, dir. Lance Hewitt), Kryptonite Hearts (Theater for the New City), Danielle Steel Writes Children’s Novels (The Looking Glass Theatre, dir. Erin Winebark), Todd Michael’s Vice Girl Confidential at the 2006 New York International Fringe Festival (Winner- “Best Ensemble Cast”, 2006 Fringe Festival Awards), CouchFullaLove (The Looking Glass Theatre), and Orange Alert (404 Studios, dir. Jimmy Schwatzman). Walter has taken part in several independent films, including: High Grace (dir. Roz Coleman), Happy Sauce (dir. Rohan Sen), Michael and Me (dir. Carlo Nicoletta), and Big Shea Social Club (dir. Ed Chow).  Walter has studied acting with the wonderful Robert McCaskill, as well as with the most excellent Harry O’Reilly.

Lawrence Lesher: Inspector McTavish, Big Dutch

Lawrence Lesher is an grizzled veteran of the off-off Broadway scene having theatrically soldiered through the jukebox-at-the-adjoining-bar noises, basketball-games-at-the-adjoining-gymnasium noises, and Harley-Davidsons-directly-outside-for-30-minutes noises of many a blackbox space.  And yet somehow, miraculously, he still enjoys it.  He's acted/directed/toured in all 50 states with shows like "Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" and "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" and once actually gave a guy a seizure with his performance in "Waiting for Godot".  Take from that what you will. 

Patrick McColley is originally from Minnesota and graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead.  He moved to New York with his wife, Dawn, two years ago.  New York theatre credits include: Peter in Sad Sack Sally,  Shakebag in Arden: The Lamentable Tragedy of a DUMBO Real Estate Broker,  Jason in Once Upon a Time in Times Square, and Kevin in Sunday's Times, Thursday's Voice.  He's also a member of Monkeys in the Atrium ( www.monkeysintheatrium.com ), a sketch/improv comedy group based out of the Comedy Cellar. 

Todd Michael: Dottie Haines

Ryan Stadler*: Postman Pierre, Sonny Rocco

Credits include: Dinner at Precisely Eight-Thirteen, Man of La Mancha, Candide, Murder on the Nile, Kiss Me Kate, Threepenny Opera, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Working, Bye Bye Birdie, and Fiddler on the Roof. Opera: La Traviata, Abduction from the Seraglio, Albert Herring, Il Trittico, Ariadne auf Naxos, and Yeoman of the Guard. Film: “Perfect Silence” and “A Day From Hell.” TV: “Guiding Light” and HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords.” Graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore. Proud member of AEA www.ryan-stadler.com

Jill Yablon: Platinum Kane

Jill Yablon:  Off Broadway: Grandma Sylvia’s Funeral (Soho Rep), The Co-op (La Mama), A Tragedy You Can Dance To (Ohio Theatre) Australia (E.S.T.), 10th Annual NYC Fringe Festival’s Vice Girl Confidential (Winner- “Best Ensemble Cast,” 2006; Cherry Lane Theatre). Other Favorites: Galleria Degli Angeli (The Independent), All the Little People (La Tea), Yorkville Rep., Edinburgh Fringe, Currican, Circle Rep. All Seasons Theatre Group. TV: Fashion Fiction (Comedy Central), Law & Order, Guiding Light, Young and Restless. Film: Lead role in Lower Than Angels, Bookie’s Lament, Charlie Primitive, A Gun for Jennifer.  Jill served as the assistant director of True West at the Edinburgh Fringe Fest. and several staged readings. Her play Four Questions premiered at EST’s Octoberfest.