‘FALLING STARS’
NONE OF THE ABOVE THEATRE COMPANY
‘OLD SKOOL PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL’
AT AMERICAN THEATRE OF ACTORS
Three-Week Manhattan Festival Presents a Powerhouse Double-Bill of Staged Readings: Broadway Veteran Elaine Lynn Stars in James Anthony Merolla’s ‘Maggie & The Witch,’ Paired with Jay Michaels Portraying Orson Welles in Alan Kanevsky’s ‘Eating with Orson’
Festival Runs October 6–25, 2026, Alongside Showcases of Robert Liebowitz’s ‘The Julia Variations’ and ‘Coulda Woulda Shoulda’

NEW YORK, NY — None of the Above Theatre Company, a landmark New York theatrical incubator dedicated to nurturing new American voices and developing vital stage works, proudly marks its milestone 45th season with the presentation of the Old Skool Playwrights Festival. Running October 6 through October 25, 2026, the festival takes over the historic stages of the American Theatre of Actors (ATA), located at 314 West 54th Street in Manhattan.

Spanning three weeks of bold, character-driven storytelling, the festival bridges New York theatre history with daring contemporary voices. Among the festival’s most anticipated centerpieces is a compelling, back-to-back staged reading double-bill examining the burdens of legendary screen icons, the price of fame, and the raw pursuit of artistic survival, immediately followed by an interactive audience talkback.

THE DOUBLE-BILL PRESENTATION & TALKBACK
Maggie & The Witch by James Anthony Merolla
Starring: Broadway and classic television veteran Elaine Lynn as Margaret Hamilton
Synopsis: A poignant and haunting one-act drama delving into the intimate final days of Margaret Hamilton—the gentle, former kindergarten teacher whose portrayal of cinema’s most terrifying villain in The Wizard of Oz defined generations of childhood fears. Confined in her elder years, Hamilton confronts an attendant harboring unresolved childhood trauma, exposing the delicate, often painful line between celebrated screen monstrosity and the vulnerable human being behind the greasepaint.

Eating with Orson by Alan Kanevsky
Starring: Acclaimed actor and veteran producer Jay Michaels as Orson Welles
Synopsis: An audacious, sharply observant, and bittersweet look behind the curtain at the tempestuous final act of cinema titan Orson Welles. The play chronicles Welles’ relentless, exhausting battle to secure independent financing for his cinematic vision, laying bare the tragic compromises, artistic obstinance, and profound personal toll exacted on an uncompromising genius fighting to maintain his dignity.
An insightful post-show Talkback with the playwrights, directors, and cast will take place immediately following the readings.

Company includes: Elaine Magidson, Jay Michaels, Heather Preston, Jake Minter, Ted Doyle, Alex Silverman, Chris Connolly, Adam Lyons, Joy Foster

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Elaine Lynn (Performer, Maggie & The Witch): Began her career as a youth performer on Broadway (Plain and Fancy, Annie Get Your Gun alongside Margaret Hamilton) and classic TV (The Ed Sullivan Show, The Jack Benny Show). A 20-year member of the Soho Loco improv troupe, she also founded Dial M Productions and leads Creative Counseling-Consulting. She recently appeared in the musical workshop Daisy and received a NYS Teacher of the Year Award for developing the special education drama program D.R.I.V.E.

Jay Michaels (Performer, Eating with Orson): Before his producing and promotional career, Michaels built an extensive stage and screen resume. Stage roles include the Broadway workshop of In the Rain; Rosencrantz in Raymond Gasper’s landmark production of Hamlet (Lion Theatre), Nachum in Fiddler on the Roof (Lincoln Center), the Old Actor in The Fantasticks, and Orson Welles in War of the Worlds. A frequent collaborator with None of the Above, he originated roles in Coulda Woulda Shoulda, Wisdom that Men Seek, and The Check Is in the Mail, with screen credits including Norman Normal, Tango Shalom and Beneath the Rock.

James Anthony Merolla (Playwright, Maggie & The Witch): A Rhode Island native, veteran critic with 400+ reviews, and director of over 55 productions, Merolla has penned 19 plays and two musicals. His comedy When Adams Slept with Franklin won Nomad Theatre’s national contest, while Poetry on the Menu and Maggie & The Witch were adapted into radio dramas starring Broadway’s Anne Cooper for LA’s Open Door Playhouse. He holds a B.A. in Literature from Harvard University.

Alan Kanevsky (Playwright, Eating with Orson) Alan has contributed original works to Sage Theater Festival, Spotlight On Festival, Midtown International Theater Festival and others. In addition he has directed, produced and created light, sound, and set designs. Alan served as house manager for Where Eagles Dare Theater and resident lighting designer for the Jean Rimsky Theater – Landmark on Main Street in Port Washington. As a producer he had a reading series featuring F. Murray Abraham for Actors Legacy Group.

FESTIVAL & VENUE DETAILS
Event: Old Skool Playwrights Festival – Celebrating 45 Seasons of None of the Above Theatre Company
Dates: October 6 – October 25, 2026
Performance Venue: The American Theatre of Actors (ATA), 314 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019
Featured Double-Bill: Maggie & The Witch by James Anthony Merolla / Eating with Orson by Alan Kanevsky (Followed by Artist Talkback)
Ticket Information: Reading series tickets and full festival passes are available online at https://ticketstripe.com/old-skool.

Industry Reservations & Press Inquiries:
For reservations, press comps, and further information,
please contact: Jay Michaels Global Communications
Email: info@jaymichaelsarts.com
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