Piper Theatre Founder John P. McEneny on Theatre for Young Minds, Jeremy Allen White, and the Edinburgh Fringe
John P. McEneny talks about Piper Theatre shows (performing soon at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival) and teaching drama in Park Slope schools for 25+ years (incl. former student Jeremy Allen White)
Piper Theatre Productions is dedicated to producing innovative and accessible theater, introducing young people to the theatrical arts, and providing opportunities for emerging artists to showcase their talent.
Great to connect with you John! I found out about all the wonderful work you do in educating the community and kids in the dramatic arts since the shoutout from your former student - Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) - who said you inspired him to take up acting when he was at Park Slope school M.S. 51! [Instagram]. I also discovered that you founded Piper Theatre which runs productions in the Park Slope community, including the Alice in Chaos at The Old Stone House which my family enjoyed last month.
Tell us more about you and your work in Park Slope.
I have been a drama teacher here in Park Slope at MS 51 for 24 years and last year at PS 118 Maurice Sendak School. I brought my theatre company, Piper Theatre Productions to Park Slope in 2005. Piper has produced more than 40 professional plays including Mother Sauvage (Tour Malta ‘23), Lincoln Dress (Tour Bucharest ‘22) Splitfoot (Edinburgh ‘15), Island of Doctor Moreau (Edinburgh ‘13) Winner of Six Star Broadway Baby’s Bobbie Award), We Should have Seen the Lights Already (Matei Visniec North American Premiere, Bucharest Tour ‘18) Wendy Darling, Nocturnes, Priscilla Queen of Desert, Hedwig and Angry Inch, Sweeney Todd, Xanadu, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Book of Liz, Miser, Frankenstein, Prospect Hill, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, Tempest, Taming of Shrew, Midsummer, Twelfth Night, Charlotte Lucas is 27 and Not Dead, Bomba and the Coquí. and produced the short films, Cold April and Come Zoom with Me.
Piper has also showcased new work by Matt Barbot, Chadwick Boseman, Timothy Braun, Christin Cato, Jane Elias, Emily Feldman, Meredith Hackett, Modesto Flako Jimenez, Melanie Jones, Annie Meek Montgomery, Garret Kim, Nikkole Salter, Lindsey Sproul, Lily Ali Oschatz, Mark A. Galinovsky, Gaven Trinidad, Diana Ly, Carolina Đỗ, Rohana Elias Reyes, Catherine Weingarten, Patti Veconi, and residency collaborations with Off the Page, TYA’s ReImagine Festival, Siena College, Theater in Asylum, and Un Teatru.
What inspired you to start Piper Theatre, and what is its mission?
Piper was started in 2000 by my sister, Rachel, and me in Untermyer Park, Yonkers. We put on free Shakespeare for five years. And then in 2005, was invited by Kim Maier to bring Shakespeare to Washington Park, which evolved thirteen years of musicals, and now we focus on developing new musicals, physical theater, play readings, and international travel.
Piper Theatre Productions is dedicated to producing innovative and accessible theater, introducing young people to the theatrical arts, and providing opportunities for emerging artists to showcase their talent.
(Video by Park Slope Pulse - free community performance of Alice in Chaos at Old Stone House)
Tell us about your shows which are currently running or about to run at The Gallery Players and in Scotland at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival!
Show details included below!
ALICE IN CHAOS Directed by Artistic Director John P. McEneny and featuring an original score by Rob Parker, Piper Theatre Productions presented "Alice in Chaos" as a traveling production throughout June. Audiences experienced the magic at various iconic venues, including Gallery Players (199 14th Street), Old Stone House (Washington Park), Greenwich House Senior Center, and Park Slope Center for Successful Aging. In addition, Piper hosted four student matinees free for DOE students from neighborhood schools, providing an invaluable opportunity for young minds to be inspired by the arts.
Piper Theatre Productions is thrilled to return to C Venues and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with the world premiere Horror Musical THE BLOODY BALLAD OF BETTE DAVIS. Step onto the set of the 1975 film "Burnt Offering," where the legendary Bette Davis grapples with age discrimination and clashes with the unruly spirit of "New Hollywood," embodied by Karen Black. As tensions rise, Davis contemplates tapping into mysterious dark powers to reclaim control and exact her revenge. Experience a whirlwind of physical theatre through the Merv Griffin set, the tumultuous world of Dan Curtis's cult film, and into the alcoholic stomach of Oliver Reed.
Written and Directed by Piper’s Artistic Director, John P. McEneny, with original music composed by Rob Parker, Piper hopes to create a fast-moving tale of Hollywood witchcraft (What if Bette Davis was a witch?) and a poignant exploration of ageism and resilience in the arts. The company of actors includes long-time Piper members: Annie Meek Montgomery as Bette Davis, Aaron Novak as Oliver Reed, and Laura Dillman Frank as B.D. Hyman, Connor Delves as Karen Black, and Eva Sheehy-Moss as Don.
THE BLOODY BALLAD OF BETTE DAVIS was previewed at Gallery Players 199 14th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215, on June 28 and 29.
Our Education productions will be performed at Gallery Players for free.
Thursday July 25
Through the Looking Glass @ 6 pm / Between the Lines @ 8 pm
Friday July 26
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory @ 6 pm / The Little MermaidMermaid @ 8 pm
Saturday, July 27
Through Looking Glass @ 10 am / Billy Ragamatag @ 11:45am / Charlie and the Chocolate Factory @1:30 pm / The Mermaid @ 3:30 pm / Between the Lines @ 5:30 pm / Ride the Cyclone @ 8 pm
Sunday, July 28
Between the Lines @ 12pm / Little Mermaid @ 3pm / Billy Ragamatag @ 5pm / Ride the Cyclone @ 7pm
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What is coming up next for Piper Theatre and your work in the community? How can the community support you and your team’s work?
They can join our PIP (Plays in Process) new works program where actors and writers come together to read new plays. Some of our plays will then be developed for the Spotlight Reading Series (such as Patti Veconi’s Nolan’s Wake and Jessica Phillips Lorenz’s Best Party Ever!) Please keep checking our website when dates/projects will be announced.
Piper is planning afterschool programming for young people in the Fall (2024), Winter (2025), and Spring (2025) at the Old Stone House. Please keep checking our website when dates/projects will be announced.
I’ve had the good fortune to teach some of the most magic children in the world, and they’re all growing up to change the world.
We would love to include a few of your reflections on your experience of teaching Jeremy Allen White in our article as the community would love to celebrate educators who have inspired and guided students who later become successful & well-known in their fields. Are there any memorable moments or qualities that stood out to you that you would like to share with the community?
Jeremy was an incredible person - intense, talented, and very committed. He was