The Mid-90's

The New Cockpit Ensemble began life as the Cockpit Players with a workshop production of UNHINGING, written and directed by Frank J. Avella, at the Sanford Meisner Theatre, NYC, in late 1993.

UNHINGING explores how the lives of seven Manhattanites are forever changed by the placing of a personals ad.

The workshop starred Gita Reddy, Greg Kapuscinski, Paul Salvatoriello, Brian Smith, Jackie Jarosz, James Michael King and Michael Mamatz.

One year later an equity showcase of UNHINGING was launched at the now-demolished Judith Anderson Theater along theatre row in NYC. It starred most of the same cast as the workshop with Richard Freda taking over the role of the protagonist. The director was Jhon Velasco.

UNHINGING has since been updated, given a radical new ending and through a number of readings, the response has been tremendous.

1995 saw FJA’s boldest play, 3 CAINS premiere at the Bank Street Theatre in Greenwich Village, blending the real and and surreal, 3 CAINS explores what happens when a 35 year old writer has a mental breakdown and himself at the ages of 25 and 15 come out of theatrical air to help him cope. The ‘3 Cains’ were played by Matthew Mazzaroppi, Richard Freda and David Kachoui, respectively. Andrea Grano made her Cockpit debut as Cain’s devoted but fed up wife, Jen. Christy Schurmann took on the role of Jen at 25 and Jackie Jarosz played her zany and annoying best friend, Pam. Rounding out the cast, as then insane game show host/trial judge was Michael Mamatz.

3 CAINS was highly ambitious and audiences howled with laughter as the characters onstage trying to breathlessly make sense of Cain’s deranged life.

Immediately, following CAINS was a well-received showcase of monologues and one acts titled, SCREAMS FROM THE COCKPIT which premiered at the Producer’s Club in June of 1996. All the work was written by, directed by and starred Cockpit Ensemble members including: Andrea Grano, Louise Barile, Joe Casapulla, Joe Capozzi, Jackie Jarosz, Gita Reddy, Michael Guzzo, Christy Schurmann, Michael Mamatz and Frank J. Avella.

Ms. Jarosz play, LAST CALL, which opened in September of 1996, would mark the Cockpit’s final show.

But the New Cockpit Ensemble would roar back with great fanfare a few years later with MICHAEL’S #`1 FAN…