New play on the Milford stage

MILFORD — Jerry Beaver and the Milford Theater will present a professional staged reading of "Catfish Goes the Distance," a new play by John Klemeyer, on Friday, March 30 at 8 p.m., and Sunday April 1 at 3 p.m.

The public is invited. There is no admission fee. The reading will be directed by George Demas and will feature Heidi Schreck as April/Jennifer and Alex Podulke as Jason/William.

George Demas (Director) is a director, actor, writer, and producer. As Founding Artistic Director of Whatmanwhatcar Theater Company, he has produced 33 works in New York City over the past 14 years. As an actor, George has appeared in stage venues of all sizes in NYC, including the Off-Broadway hits Orson’s Shadow and Theater for a New Audience’s Henry VI, directed by Royal Shakespeare Company fellow Barry Kyle. He has had principal roles in feature films starring Frank Whaley, Ethan Hawke, Peter Dinklege, Josh Hamilton and Anna Thompson. He can next be seen in the feature film Henry May Long, directed by Randall Sharp. As a writer, George’s play Maverick, co-written with Frank Beacham, is an investigation of the life of Orson Welles, and his legendary battles with the commercial forces in Hollywood. George has a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Heidi Schreck (April/Jennifer) Heidi Schreck’s recent credits include "Circle Mirror Transformation" at Playwrights Horizons, "The Language Archive" at The Roundabout Theater, and "How The World Began" at The Women’s Project.

Her T.V. and film credits include "The Good Wife," "Law and Order SVU," "Hedda Gabler," and "Perfidia." Heidi is an artistic associate with New Georges, Clubbed Thumb and Two-Headed Calf and is a member of Manhattan Theater Club’s young artists committee. She travels internationally with Outside The Wire’s project Theater of War, which tours Ajax and Philoctetes to U.S. Military bases. She has received two OBIE Awards, a Drama Desk, and The Theatre World Award .

Alex Podulke's credits include (Jason/William) Regional Theatre: "Behind the Eye" at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park (World Premiere); "Misalliance" at Olney Theatre Center; "Betrayal" at Seattle Repertory Theatre; "Titus Andronicus" at the Shakespeare Theater; "Pride and Prejudice" at Portland Center Stage.

Television credits include: Guiding Light; in film: "Welcome to Cosmos." and in other Theatre: Podulke’s one-man show "DNA and the Dancing Fool" has been produced in festivals regionally and in Canada.

John Klemeyer is the author of "Twice Removed" (2003) produced by the Butchers Guild Players in Middletown, N.Y. He is also the author of "Island Girl," "Just Result," "Profit for Prophets" and "Height of Ignorance." His most recent work, "Negatives" was first produced by SCDW in Sullivan County, N.Y. and then was chosen for the TANYS Theater Festival in 2007 where it won seven awards. It was one of only three full length plays chosen from all of New York State for that festival. In 2009 it was presented in a showcase run at Theatre Row on 42nd Street in NYC. Klemeyer is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America. As an actor, some of his favorite roles are Claudius in "Hamlet" (BGP), Marc in "ART" (SCDW), Hanrahan in "Below the Belt," Eddie in "Negatives," Sydney in "Deathtrap" (SCDW), The Mayor in "The Visit" (BGP), and Gangster No. 1 in "Kiss Me Kate" (PP).