Ed Asner, Bobby Cannavale, Peter Gallagher, Elizabeth Ashley, Daphne Rubin-Vega and others star in two shorts about fatherhood, and fathers who don’t always enjoy a smooth ride. In the comic and heartbreaking 2 Dads by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner David Auburn ( Proof), two strangers at a resort (Bobby Cannavale, Peter Gallagher) reveal to one another their pride and distress regarding their kids.
2 Dads was recorded live and directed by trailblazing filmmaker, Claudia Weill ( Girlfriends, “Girls”). It features multiple Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale (“Vinyl,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “Will & Grace,” Annie, Ant-Man, Chef, Blue Jasmine, The Station Master) and Peter Gallagher (Sandy Cohen in “The O.C.,”“Californication,” star of Broadway’s On the Twentieth Century, Guys and Dolls, and film’s Sex, Lies and Videotape, American Beauty, Mr. Deeds).
In New York Story by Mike Reiss (“The Simpsons”), Ed Asner is a master of the one-liner to his public, a pain-in-the-neck to his son (Peter Jacobson), a total charmer to his new lady friend (Elizabeth Ashley), and a pinch-hit babysitter for a frenzied mom (Daphne Rubin-Vega).
New York Story is directed by Michael Wilson. He is a former Artistic Director of The Hartford Stage and on Broadway has directed Enchanted April, The Best Man, The Trip to Bountiful among others. It features seven-time Emmy winner, Ed Asner (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Lou Grant,”) who voiced the leads in Up, and Elf; Elizabeth Ashley who won the Tony Award for Take Her, She’s Mine; and Tony nominations for Barefoot in the Park, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Peter Jacobson who played Dr. Chris Taub on ”House M.D.” appeared on “Law & Order” and in the films As Good As It Gets and Good-night, and Good-luck; and Daphne Rubin-Vega who starred in the original Broadway productions of Rent and Anna in the Tropics.
Original music for both shorts composed by Tom Kochan. After each short, host Claudia Catania moderates conversation with playwright, director and cast about what just happened.