ALBANY- Not only will Harbinger Theater bring their 10th consecutive Capital Region premiere, but this fall’s show is extra special to the Harbinger team. We will be presenting you with a WORLD PREMIERE of Brian Sheldon’s “Custom Cuts”!
Not only is Sheldon a native of Upstate New York, as he grew up in the Goose Hill neighborhood of Schenectady, but he is also made himself familiar with the local theater community. For those who know Harbinger’s history, Sheldon directed our production of “The Motherf**ker with the Hat” by Stephen Adly Guirgis. Sheldon also helped with our co-production of “Dig” by Theresa Rebeck, as the Executive Director of Sand Lake Center for the Arts.
“Harbinger continues to impress me. I am growing more and more fond of what they are doing. When they said they wanted to do a full production of Custom Cuts when I was hoping for a table read, I was floored! I am extremely proud of Harbinger’s willingness to try a never before seen play. It is yet another example of how they are setting the bar higher for other Capital Region theaters,” said Sheldon.
In a show inspired by Sheldon’s life in a dining room of a small Schenectady apartment, shared with his son Anthony, Danny struggles to sweep up the remnants of his failed salon business. Anthony, a full-time cosmetology student, plods along in his dad’s footsteps while working a full-time factory job. Danny, through a careful facade of sass and jokes, is well-loved by his remaining clients. Yet even with Anthony’s support, Danny walks a financial tightrope between maintaining the business he has always wanted and the social indulgences that he craves. The tumultuous and imbalanced relationship between father and son is exposed as the debts pile up and tensions run high. After recently vacating the family apartment, Anthony’s sister Jo wishes to have both her father Danny and stepfather Al walk her down the wedding aisle. But Danny’s vain and domineering pride is too ironclad to give in to his daughter’s request. The great divide between Danny and Al tests Anthony’s love and loyalty, cracking open the door to his own personal and professional freedom.
“Custom Cuts is about learning who you are and having the courage to trust yourself,” said Sheldon.
This show will be directed by Angela Ledtke, with the assistant director, Olivia Walton, produced by Amy Hausknecht, and stage managed by Lisa Bryk. The cast for the show is FIVE new people that will be making their debut with us and joining the Harbinger family: Aaliyah Al-Fuhaid as “Jo”, Debby Bercier as “Janet”, Tyler Cardona as “Anthony”, Peter Delocis as “Danny”, Gabriel Fabian as “Matt” and Jason Stewart (Stone) as “Al”.
SAVE THE DATE! We will be premiering “Custom Cuts” THIS FALL from September 21st to the 30th at the Albany Barn, with all shows starting at 7:30 p.m. A FREE preview will be on September 20th with Talkback Fridays on September 22nd and 29th.
Tickets are available for purchase on Harbinger Theatre’s Eventbrite here.
