Yellow Roses In Pictures

My one act drama Yellow Roses just had three performances by the New York Theater Festival at the Hudson Guild Theater on June 5, 7, and 8, and I’m thrilled to see another of my works performed off-off-Broadway. I was at the June 5 debut and I was impressed by what the actors brought to their roles, they expressed the frankness and sometimes emotional rawness of their character’s wants. Director Johnny Culver’s staging brought more movement to the action and made it less static. I didn’t get video of any of the performances, but fortunately photographer Frank Asencio preserved some of the action in pictures.

Therese McGinn as Reina and Kevin Allen as the Bartender, the two mainstays of the neighborhood pub. All Reina wants is someone to buy her a drink, but the Bartender has a business to run.
Juan Perez as Jerry and Carrie Wesolowski as Celia, a couple who were happy in the beginning but their differing goals are tearing their relationship apart.
Joseph Harrington as Lou and Ana Joh as Tommie, Lou wants his old job back so he goes to Tommie, a former co-worker still at the old job, but there’s only so much she can do.
Conflict coming to a head between Jerry and Celia.
The Bartender breaking up their fight and keeping the peace.
Celia unsure what do next as the Bartender reminds her of the gift that Jerry had brought.
At last, the yellow roses find a happy home.
Curtain call.

Big thanks to Carrie, Juan, Therese, Kevin, Ana, Joseph, Johnny the director, and Bill Buehler who ran the lighting board without a mistake. It’s a bittersweet moment when a play’s run comes to an end, but this is not the end of Yellow Roses, Johnny has arranged another performance this November at the Dramatist’s Guild. The show goes on!

Photographs by Frank Asencio

©2025 Robert Kirkendall

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