Trafford's Theatre Factory to debut play this weekend at Pittsburgh New Works Festival

Patrick Varine, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.
·2 min read

Aug. 29—When Josette Kurey realized she would be directing actors Ron and Mary Ferrara of Vandergrift as part the world premiere of a new play about a married Italian-American couple from Queens, N.Y., she knew things were on the right track.

"They're almost playing themselves, married Italian grandparents. It's very funny, but it also made their relationship something I didn't need to direct very much," said Kurey, a Penn Township resident. "On top of that, I'm Italian-American and I lived in Queens for a long time."

Kurey, the Ferraras and actor Parker Stephens will stage the world premiere of "Frank & Frannie, With Love," written by New York City playwright Nick Rafello. It tells the story of an older married couple and how they deal with a man who arrives to rob them.

It will premiere on Aug. 31, part of the second weekend of the Pittsburgh New Works Festival, which runs through Sept. 24.

This weekend, "Frank & Frannie, With Love," will be one of three plays debuting at Duquesne University's Genesius Theater.

"The story really attracted me, as well as the 'produce-ability' of it," said Kurey, a board member at the Theatre Factory in Trafford. "Being in a space like the Genesius, you need something that's not too prop-heavy or set-heavy. It's a small space."

In addition to the Trafford-based Theatre Factory, the Iron Horse Theatre Company of Ambridge and Prime Stage Theatre of Greensburg will also stage world premieres this weekend. The festival runs for five weekends, with performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Each weekend will include a new group of plays and three world premieres.

At its heart, Kurey said "Frank & Frannie, With Love," is about family and acceptance.

"Family's always been very important to me," she said. "And part of it is also about the family you choose, and not necessarily the family you're given."

In all, 15 local theater companies will take part in the festival, which is in its 32nd year. Each September, new one-act plays are produced by regional theater companies. Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 at the door for individual performances and $60 for a festival pass.

The Theatre Factory has been participating in the festival since its inception.

For more, see PittsburghNewWorks.org.

Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Patrick by email at pvarine@triblive.com or via Twitter .