Morgan Ludlow
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LAWFULLY WEDDED

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When Bill and Jason decide to get married, they confront all the familiar challenges any newlywed couple must face as they plan a wedding, meet their in-laws, buy a house, mix with the neighbors, have a child and deal with the calamity of a major illness.   LAWFULLY WEDDED is a timely collage of scenes and stories that reveal the American struggle for marriage equality.

Cast: 4 men, 4 women. Multiple locations.  120 minutes.

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Kat Kneisel and Brian Martin in the Wily West Production. Photo by Jim Norrena.
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Gabriel Sedgeway, Addie Keller, Jeremy Behrens & Eric Olsen in the Arouet Theatre production in Seattle. Photo by Roy Arauz.
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Philip Goleman & Wesley Cayabyab in the Wily West Production of LAWFULLY WEDDED. Photo by Jim Norrena

GORGEOUS HUSSY: 
An Interview With Joan Crawford

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When an ambitious young journalist sneaks into Joan Crawford's Beverly Hills Hotel suite, he thinks he is about to get the interview of his career.  But the aging movie star has questions of her own and in a strange twist of vodka and make-up, the tables are turned and the interviewer becomes a full participant, revealing the woman behind the icon...

Cast:  1 man, 1 woman. Multiple locations -- simple set. 95 minutes.

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Susan Jackson & Ryan Hayes in the San Francisco production of GORGEOUS HUSSY. Photo by Jim Norrena
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Ryan Hayes and Susan Jackson in the BATCC Award-Winning Production of GORGEOUS HUSSEY: An Interview with Joan Crawford

RUTH AND THE SEA

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Ruth has terminal cancer and wants to see the ocean one last time before she dies. Her family believes she's on the path to remission. But Ruth knows she's running out of time. When her heroin-addicted grandson, Noel, offers her a ride to the coast the adventure begins!

Cast: 2 men, 3 women.  Multiple locations -- simple set.  90 minutes.

"One of the TOP 10 Shows of 2010 in the Bay Area!"
--SF BAY TIMES



"I'm a fan of Wily West Productions and it was a pleasure seeing RUTH AND THE SEA."
--Jim Strope, SF EXAMINER.COM

"Excellent. RUTH AND THE SEA explores the family ties that bind, positing that love can find a way to win, even in the most dysfunctional of families.  Recommended!"
--Tom Kelly, SF BAY TIMES

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Michelle Jasso as Mona singing an aria. Photo by Bill Boice.
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Ruth McRee & Geoff Finney in the Pacific Play Company production in Seattle!
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Gwyneth Richards and Ryan Hayes in the sold out production of RUTH AND THE SEA in San Francisco. Photo by Bill Boice.
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Linda Wang as a Dolly Parton impersonator, Jamie. Photo by Bill Boice.
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Ryan Hayes, as Noel, injects his grandmother Ruth, played by Gwyneth Richards. Photo by Bill Boice.
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Eleanor Moseley & Geoff Finney in the Pacific Play Company production

THE WIDOW WEST

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It’s 1850 and San Francisco is in the throes of Gold Fever. Billy, a naive prospector, is trying to make his fortune.  In a city of 30,000 men all clobbering each other to get ahead how does a young man on his own survive?  By becoming a woman of course!  

Cast: 4 men, 3 women.  Simple set.  130 minutes.

"The Wild West the way I have always wanted to see it!!!!" 
--GOLDSTAR MEMBER


"This was a really amazing play that I am still thinking about. It was so funny my ribs ached but it had an added dimension of being a warmhearted tale of acceptance.  I think this play could become something very big." 
--GOLDSTAR MEMBER

"It was GREAT! I laughed and cried, and I was not alone in my reactions."
--GOLDSTAR MEMBER

"A new myth for San Francisco!" 
--Nick Hornby on YELP

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Nate Levine as Billy in the world premiere of THE WIDOW WEST in San Francisco. Photo by Michael Behrends.
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Nate Levine as Miss Emma in THE WIDOW WEST. Photo by Michael Behrends.

MAIDRID'S BOW: An Amazon Tale 

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Drawn by a force she does not understand, the Amazon girl Maidrid secretly befriends Fars, a boy from across the river. Soon the couple is hunted in a battle of the sexes that threatens the foundation of their society.Can young love survive the fury of the Goddess? 

Cast: 4 men, 4 women.  Multiple locations.  120 minutes.




"Come see this beautiful actor's play!"
--Jim Strope 
SF EXAMINER

"This play covered territory that is near and dear to my heart: The battle of the sexes, patriarchal versus matriarchal values, and the effect of spirituality on societies. It had witty comedy, highly affecting drama, outstanding costuming, and spot-on performances by the actors."
--Goldstar Member

"A quirky and amusing fantasy..."
--Molly Rhodes 
SF Weekly

"Great play; funny but powerful & relevant for our times. A great adult fairy tale. Great writing, acting, music, costumes."
- Goldstar Member


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Jason Jeremy as the Magora, Priestess of the Amazons! Photo by Bill Boice.
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Celeste Russi and Linda Wang in the Wily West Production of MAIDRID'S BOW. Photo by Bill Boice.
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Lauren Umansky, Celeste Russi and Gwyneth Richards in the 2009 production. Photo by Bill Boice.
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Linda Wang and Nancy Bower fight with daggers in the Wily West Production in San Francisco. Photo by Bill Boice.

THE SCRATCH

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Three generations of women wrestle with the boogie man invading their lives.  Ledith is pregnant and must confront "The Sandman" who seduces her each night in her sleep. Arlene is trying to capture the ghost of her father, whom she sees flickering in the eyes of her boyfriend when they make love. Estelle must face the ultimate battle of her life with "The Scratch". Driving down the highway in her station wagon with the dug up bones of her daughter and mother, she is ready.
Cast: 3 women.  Simple sets representing multiple locations.  45 minutes. 

"The Scratch, in the Bay Area One-Acts Festival, written by Morgan Ludlow and directed by Jon Tracy, was set on the stage with three women, who portrayed three generations of women and a heart wrenching tale of abuse and the cycle upon which it inevitably repeats itself.  The actors: Maria Grazia Affinito, Jennifer Jovez, and Angelique Wilkie, were well chosen for their specific roles and the monologues that were delivered: powerful and provocative.  I was quite moved by this performance." 
-- YELP


DROWNING KATE

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This play is a ghost story.  Dr. Harry Onslow brings his recently drowned wife back to life, using scientific techniques they had previously been developing together.  What comes back to life, however, is nothing like what they expected.  How do we come to terms with mortality?  When does science, in the name of "progress" go too far?  These are some of the ever-troubling questions posed in this suspenseful new play. 

Cast: 1 man, 2 women.  Unit set.  95 minutes

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Colleen Egan and Scott Cox in DROWNING KATE. Photo Jim Norrena
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Genevieve Perdue, Colleen Egan and Scott Cox in the Wily West production of DROWNING KATE
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Chris Morrell plays Dr. Harry Onslow in the Wily West presentation of DROWNING KATE in San Francisco. Photo by ML

NYMPH O' MANIA

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A modern twist on A Midsummer Night's Dream set in a redwood forest in Northern California.  When Jack agrees to sell his land, several thousand acres of prime redwood forest, to a multinational lumber company all hell breaks loose at his wedding party.  Throw some hallucinogens into the punch bowl and Jack finds himself in the custody of a beautiful tree nymph while being pursued by the wedding party, which includes his jilted bride. 


An outrageous romp in the woods ensues, settling the fate of the forest, and the lovers, once and for all.

Cast: 3 men, 3 women.  Two sets.   80 minutes.

"NYMPH O' MANIA is delightful! "
--SF BAY TIMES  

"A happy diversion for a midsummer's night"
--BAY AREA REPORTER


RAVE REVIEWS FROM THE AUDIENCE:

"NYMPH O' MANIA's cast totally owned the script of this play.  They were funny, skillful and poignant, with great timing.  I would see it again and again! Morgan Ludlow's story touched me throughout and he had my complete trust by the end of the play.  I would watch anything he writes.  The set was amazing and I hear was built on a shoestring, which makes it even more wonderful to see.  The sound, lighting and Stage Werx itself were perfect for this production.  
Go SEE IT!" --YELP


"Absolutely fabulous!"
--GOLDSTAR MEMBER

"I saw NYMPH O' MANIA last week with my mother and what a hoot!  She and I both loved the production wildly.  The audience was laughing hysterically throughout the show and the seats were almost all sold-out..."
--YELP

"This play is very, very funny! But it also turns on a dime, switching to dead serious. And back. That audience members were both crying and laughing (during very different scenes) is evidence that this is very well-written." 
--GOLDSTAR MEMBER

“Last night was the closing of this curiously in-depth ultra modern look at a dance around Midsummer Night's Dream, "Nymph O Mania."  Bringing elements of an ever intriguing Shakespearean play to present day was nothing short of hysterical.  Every character was fully engaged, not a one stealing the show but all impressive in their focus and message to be delivered.  The message for me was don't forget to stop and think about what is truly important--our hearts, our souls and truth.   Don't hide from anything, be who you are, live through your pain, wow. Not only did I laugh myself silly I felt thoughtful when I left. The last scene faded to black perfectly, with one of the lead characters left to reflect the new freedom he felt in his heart, seemingly a new man.  Bravo! The house was full, and the energy perfect.”  
--YELP

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Linda-Ruth Cardozo, Andrew Calabrese, Lance Fuller, Ben Ortega and Kat Kneisel in the world premiere of NYMPH O' MANIA. Photo by Bill Boice.
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Linda-Ruth Cardzo and Andrew Calabrese in the San Francisco production.
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This picture made the SF Chronicle! Ben Ortega as Jack and Linda Wang as the Nymph in the San Francisco production. Photo by Bill Boice.

ARRIVEDERCI ROMA

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The Godfather
 meets Trannyshack in this hilarious transgender mafia story.  When mafioso boss, Alfredo Reggiano, is invited to dinner by his competitor and rival, Roma Asiago, to talk "business" Alfredo knows he should be prepared for anything.  But nothing has prepared him for the shock he is about to face when Roma reveals her ultimate reason for meeting him. 



Cast: 3 women, 2 men.  Multiple locations.  75 minutes.

"Stuffed with ultimatums and revelations and Jewish-Italian home cooking..."
--Amber Adrian, 7X7 Magazine

"We all left with huge smiles and repeating great lines from the show!  Another Wily West cavalcade of talent showcasing beautiful work from all ends."  
--Goldstar Member

"A wild and melodramatic send-up of the mafia genre."
 --Nirmala Nataraj, SF Chronicle

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Gabrielle Patacsil as Roma in the world premiere of Arrivederci Roma
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Cover of the SF CHRONICLE arts and entertainment!
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Christopher Morrell as Grigio and Gabrielle Patacsil as Roma
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Keith Jefferds as Alfredo in the San Francisco production

THE SPIDER'S BANQUET

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Everson, an international assassin, must make a choice on his last deadly mission to the desert.   Will he be able to reprogram and retrain his protégé, Adam, or will he execute him?  Will he free his colleague from her exile or will he leave her there to diminish?   Will his photography capture "the essence of all things" on film or will it eventually become the chronicle of his own death as he foresees? 
Cast: 4 men, 1 woman.  Multiple locations.  90 minutes.

AGE OF ANXIETY

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When Katharine Wellman takes over as president of the National Christian Council she is determined to carve out a conservative “new philosophy” for U.S. families.  Meanwhile her own family is struggling with the very issues that divide the country.  Her son, Robert, has become an atheist; her grandson has announced he has a boyfriend and her granddaughter, Molly, is long-time survivor of AIDS.  This play examines the meaning of “family” within the context of the American political landscape.
3 men, 5 women.   Multiple locations.  150 minutes.

THE MONTANA STAR

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Ben and Helen are a brother-sister team producing some of the hottest movies in Hollywood.  He directs.  She acts.  Together they can face anything -- except their mother!  When they decide to shoot their latest film on location, at their mother's ranch in Montana, old tensions heat up, old friends arrive, musical beds ensue and a lot of secrets are revealed. 
3 men, 3 women.  Multiple locations.  120 minutes.

"The play is often absorbing, particularly at the end when some real twists surprise everyone.  Though filled with the snappy, self-absorbed, bi-sexual chic of LA and its effects, the play is really Montana mom's.  (Played by Diane Henderson) she is the most interesting and most genuine character." 
--David Pace
The City Weekly





THE CAMPUS ROSE

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When James gets a football scholarship into college he takes a room at Peter’s house off-campus.  We follow James as he maneuvers through a menagerie of colorful characters:  Jane the neo-feminist who has entered the campus beauty contest, Simon a math genius who loves sports, Carol a wannabe Jewish princess, who cleans houses on the side and advises all the sorority girls on what to wear, Peter the gleaming president of student affairs on campus who suffers from alcoholic rages, Judy the college drama star whose career is quickly taking over her studies and Mary “the campus whore” who has psychic capabilities that surprise everyone.  
4 men, 5 women. Unit set. 125 minutes.

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