2012 BOLD HOPE

May 3 – May 27

Alyson Mead (Los Angeles, CA)

Punk Rock Mom does capture what the music meant and how it made you feel—like the world was all yours to hold in your leather-studded fist. -Jayne Blanchard, DC Theatre Scene

An author, playwright and practicing psychic, Mead, who now lives in Los Angeles, says she was inspired to write the piece after digging up old diaries recounting past days of seeing acts such as Sonic Youth. -Topher Forhecz

Alyson Mead attended Boston College, the Slade School of Art in London, and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She has worked in publishing as an editor and ghostwriter, and in film development at New Line Cinema, Sony Pictures, Village Roadshow, and the Buena Vista Motion Picture Group.  She has also produced a documentary on mandated medical care, featuring Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon.

Appropriate for Adults only.

                                        Punk Rock Mom

What is it?  A domestic explosion of punk rock music and rebellious bliss reaches new levels when a conservative daughter decides to have a child on purpose.

                                How is it hopeful?  Parental love finds the way.

October 4 – October 28

Fengar Gael (New York, New York)

Ms. Gael has had workshops and productions at various theatres including the Sundance Playwrights Lab, New York Stage and Film Company, the InterAct Theatre of Philadelphia, the Moxie Theatre Company, New Jersey Repertory, Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey, the Utah Shakespearean Festival, the Seanachai Theatre of Chicago, the Kitchen Dog Theatre of Dallas, New Voices of Santa Ana, and in New York City: MultiStages, The Abingdon Theatre Company, and Collaborative Arts Project 21.

Appropriate for Adults only.

                                    Devil Dog Six

Featuring Kelsey Painter

What is it?  A racetrack play.  A female jockey attempts to ride the devil.

How is it hopeful?  It has a triumphant ending.

November 28 – December 23

Sean O’Leary (Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia)

Sean is the 2007 winner of The University of Alabama at Birmingham's Ruby Lloyd Apsey Award for plays confronting racial and ethnic issues.  He has won a National Endowment for the Arts "Access to Artistic Excellence" grant. POUND, about the poet Ezra Pound, premiered at The Washington Stage Guild in Washington, DC and recently won the Ostrander Award as Best New Play of the 2006 – 2007 theatre season in Memphis. Between them POUND and RAIN (CLAUDIE HUKILL) have won or been finalists in more than a dozen national playwriting competitions.

Appropriate for all ages.

                                    Claudie Hukill

What is it?  A simpleAppalacian family living in an extraordinary situation.

                                 How is it hopeful?  Family bond triumphs, and also there is a prophetic rabbit on

                                 stage.

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March 22 – April 14

Vigil Ant "Wanted" Posters with local business links

Rand Higbee (Red Wing, Minnesota)

"He's bravely creative, writing about diverse subject matters that I don't see anyone else tackling. And I love that he writes shows that are appr

opriate for younger audiences. He earns his laughter without having to resort to foul language or grotesque imagery."

--Dawson Moore, Cooridnator of the Last Frontier Theatre Conference

A Girl Named Destiny by Rand Higbee is for the romantic living inside of everyone. Two actors play multiple roles on an euphoric and comic journey fueled by love at first sight. Will Destiny be able to execute her plan for vigilante justice, or at least get out of a dud relationship with Frank? Will Joe be able to fish without turning it into a humiliating debacle, or at least adjust to Chuck's public urination?

Joe and Destiny are going about their routines. Coping. Then they see one another and the whole world looks different. Literally.

Destiny: "Our eyes met. Maybe it was only a second, like you said, but in that second there was magic. It was like I was staring at the greatest joy my life will ever know."

A Girl Named Destiny by Rand Higbee is the first of a selection of four brand-new plays in the Venus Theatre 2012 Bold Hope Season. Each play offers a bit of hope or triumph. Venus tips her hat and continues to pay respect to those that were lost on C Street in the boating accident at Sandy Point in December. To the ones they left behind, we celebrate love and joyful life moments that are eternal and stronger than loss. Love wins. Always.

Destiny is an all ages show that is sure to warm the heart.

Shows run Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm with 3pm Saturday matinees and two 3pm Sunday matinees on March 25 and April 1. March 22 - April 14. Box Office: 866.811.4111.
PRESS: Always welcome. Dedicated Press Performance on Saturday March 24th at 3pm.
The playwright will be in attendance during week two of the run. It's his first visit to the East Coast.

Directed by Deborah Randall
Performed by D. Grant Cloyd and Ann Fraistat
Set Design by Amy Rhodes
Lighting Design by Kristin Thompson
Costume Design by Marilyn Johnson
Sound Design by Neil McFadden
Graphic Design and Promotion by Laura Matteoni Schraven

Venus Theatre is the only independent professional storefront blackbox theatre in Prince Georges County, MD. Venus is a 501c3 professional nonprofit theatre company committed to staging new works with empowering roles for women. Thursday March 22nd will mark the opening of the 29th script and 302nd performance for Venus on C Street as year seven approaches. Venus has spent the past six months hosting the Laurel Arts District Exploratory Committee (LADEC). Venus is at the center of a newly rezoned arts district in Laurel, Maryland and dreams of the day a move from the Venus Theatre Play Shack to the Venus Green Theatre happens. 

                      A Girl Named Destiny

Featuring Ann Fraistat and D. Grant Cloyd

What is it?  A two-hander that takes its audience on a wonderful journey driven by love at first sight.

How is it hopeful?  Romantic love finds the way.



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Actors:

CURRENTLY CASTING

March 26 - May 27

Male 22-28
Male 38-45
Male 40-48


Aug 27 - Oct 28

African American Male, very fit
Male, very fit
Male, very fit
Male, very fit


Oct 22 - Dec 23

Woman, 62
Girl, 11
Woman, 30's (tentatively cast)
Male, 60's
Woman, late 20's
Male, late 20's


Venus Theatre is a professional theatre company.  We appreciate potential at every level.  The talented people that take our stage have already been trained and qualified to do the work professionally.

If you'd like to fund a project or actor or anything at all... please remember that Venus is a 501c3 nonprofit tax-deductible organization.  We'd love help with this beautiful FLIGHT!