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Avellino, a senior at Fox Lane High School, will have the lead female role in "Towards The Moon," which makes its American debut at the 59E59 Theater in New York. The play opens off-Broadway on Tuesday, Nov. 19 and runs through Dec. 1. More information about dates and tickets can be found online or by calling 212 753 5959 ext 102.
The play is being presented by the Infinity Repertory Theatre Company of Mount Kisco. Avellino has been part of the group for four years, and is in her second year as the group’s artistic director. She has performed in numerous productions with Infinity and was even part of a previous show at the East 59th Street Theatre. Her role in Towards The Moon as Mags is her biggest challenge so far in her budding career.
“I’m ecstatic, I can’t wait to get started,’’ Avellino said. “But it’s also scary, knowing there will be reviewers. Having already experienced performing in New York before, I know how to go into it but it’s still scary.”
Andrew McGregor, a native of Scotland, wrote Towards The Moon for the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It was there that Paul Perez, Infinity’s Executive Director, saw the play. Infinity was granted the rights to produce the play in the United States.
It follows the story of a boy who wants to leave a small town and become a great writer. His journey is a tale of angst-filled creativity and lost and found friendships. Liam Nelligan plays Bobby, the play’s central character. Ricky Romano, Elene Rnigomez, Lindsay Wund and Elizabeth Price Davies are the other students who appear on stage. Infinity is an all-student company that educates and involves children of all backgrounds and ages in the theater arts.
“Mags is the best friend of the main character,’’ Avellino said. “She’s a hippie, kind of weird, does her own thing and is in love with Bobby. It’s a character that’s a bit out of my comfort zone. She’s older and has a lot more life experience than I have. But it’s a challenge and I’m enjoying it.”
Avellino, who plans to study musical theater in college, captured the lead in an audition earlier this year. She saw the production in Scotland and loved the script. “It’s a beautiful show,’’ she said. “It moved all of us when we saw it. It’s unique because it’s a musical, but it doesn’t move like a musical. It feels like a drama. You feel good after watching it. It’s very relatable, and very real.”
As the artistic director, Avellino is heavily involved in the production of all the plays at Infinity. Her role in Towards the Moon might be her most anticipated task since she joined the organization. “ I’m anxious to get started and get going,’’ she said.
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