Where does one’s story end and another’s begin?
COLLECTED STORIES Explores the Passionate, Complex Bonds between Writers in Intimate East Village Production
Directed by LORI KEE
with GRACE KILEY*
CHRISTINA TOTH*
EAST VILLAGE BASEMENT
321 E 9th St, NEW YORK
MAY 4-18th
This May, the vibrant heart of the East Village becomes home to Donald Margulies' captivating drama Collected Stories, featuring acclaimed performers Grace Kiley and Christina Toth in an intimate theatrical experience that delves into the rich, complex relationship between two extraordinary writers. The limited engagement runs May 4 – 18, with opening night slated for Thursday, May 8 at 7pm at The East Village Basement. Award winning director Lori Kee directs.
“Collected Stories invites audiences to witness the intimate dance of two powerful creative minds. It’s a beautiful exploration of how artists find inspiration, negotiate creative terrain together, and ultimately discover their authentic voices.”
Synopsis & About
When aspiring writer Lisa becomes the personal assistant to her literary idol, celebrated author Ruth Steiner, what begins as mentorship blossoms into a profound creative partnership. Over six transformative years, their relationship evolves through moments of inspiration, vulnerability, and shared passion for their craft.
But as Lisa finds her voice and begins to soar while Ruth faces her own creative challenges, the delicate balance between them shifts. When the boundaries between personal connection and artistic inspiration blur, both women must confront difficult questions: Where does one's story end and another's begin? Can the creative process honor both ambition and loyalty?
Collected Stories was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 1997, played off-Broadway from 1997 to 1999, and premiered on the West End in 1999. In 2010 the play had its Broadway Premiere at Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. This production strips away theatrical artifice to focus on the raw emotional journey of two complex women navigating the passionate, sometimes treacherous landscape of literary creation. Far from a simple tale of rivalry, Collected Stories examines the warmth, love, and deep connection that can exist alongside artistic struggle.
Biographies
Donald Margulies (Playwright)
received the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Dinner with Friends and was a finalist twice before for Sight Unseen and Collected Stories. The play received numerous awards, including the American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award, the Dramatists Guild/Hull-Warriner Award, the Lucille Lortel Award, and the Outer Critics Circle Award. In addition to his adaptation of God of Vengeance, his many plays include The Country House, The Model Apartment, The Loman Family Picnic, Brooklyn Boy, What’s Wrong with This Picture?, and Time Stands Still.
Lori Kee (Director)
is an award-winning director & experienced collaborator on new work.
Recent: The Great Debate by Lori Goodman, A Daughter's Garden Peter Garcia, , A Dream Beyond This Pain by Jonathon Ward, Zeph and Violet by Krystle N. Adams, 5 One Acts by John Patrick Shanley at the Actors Studio.
Favorite Projects: The premiere of Pulitzer Prize winning playwright John Patrick Shanley’s play Candlelight. The Listening Room/with I. Dumeng (Michela Jeffrey), The Chaplin Plays (Don Nigro), Luft Gangster (off bway, Assoc Dir w/Austin Pendleton), The Big Funk (John Patrick Shanley), Paper Dragon (Alisha Silver), over 60 one acts & other new work including by: John Patrick Shanley (The Lost Years, Brooklyn Laundry, Tennessee, French Waitress, & Japanese Porno), Lyle Kessler, Craig muMs Grant, Webb Wilcoxen, Kristina Poe, Florencia Lozano, Maggie Diaz Bofill, Melissa Skirboll, James McLindon, Arlene Hutton.
Associate SDC, Actors Studio PDU. Resident Director/Member of Nylon Fusion for a over a decade. She is an Associate Professor of Theatre at CUNY BMCC. www.lorikee.com @thelorikee
Grace Kiley (Ruth)
is an award-winning actor, director, and playwright known for her compelling work in theater and film. As the founder of Kiley Ensemble, she has directed acclaimed productions, including The Baby Dance and Time Stands Still. Her solo show, Grace Kelly: Longing for Grace directed by Austin Pendleton, received multiple awards at the United Solo Festival, and was featured at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and 59E59 Theaters in New York. Grace’s screen credits include Daddy Issues, receiving numerous Best Actress awards internationally, Patricia Says Goodbye, Silver Stream (wrote, directed, and produced). Her stage roles span classics like All My Sons, Death of a Salesman, Shirley Valentine, and Six Degrees of Separation. Grace teaches directing at NYU’s Tisch Kanbar Institute for Film & TV and teaches acting at Grace Kiley Acting. She is a member of the Playwrights/Directors Unit (PDU) at The Actors Studio, AEA and SAG-AFTRA. Therapeutic Coach for Creatives, with a private practice based in New York City. www.gracekiley.com
Christina Toth (Lisa)
is best known for her work as Annalisa Damiva in Netflix's series Orange is the New Black. Her performance in Revry's STRUT was considered for a 2022 Primetime Emmy Award. Theatre highlights include David Bowie’s LAZARUS directed by Ivo van Hove, Candlelight by John Patrick Shanley and The Woolgatherer, a revival production directed by Chazz Palminteri. Christina's short film Talk to Me in Silence was awarded 2 Best Short Films, received 3 Honorable Mentions, and screened globally at over 15 film festivals, most recently at the Oscar Qualifying Cleveland International Film Festival. Christina is a proud alumni of The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, a member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA, Television Academy and a Lifetime Member of The Actors Studio. www.christinatoth.com
The creative/production team includes Giovanni Valleri (light & sound design), Josie Underwood (prop coordinator), Carol Brodsky (costume coordinator), Akash Inti Katakam (set coordinator), Judith Feingold (graphic design), and stage management by Elias Husiak. Produced by Steve Held, Grace Kiley and Mark Pinals.