WHO'S WHO - TWO PEAS IN A POD


Shelley Lerea (author) has been performing onstage, intermittently , for the last 24 years. About 2 years ago she decided to switch from acting to writing. She took playwriting classes with Gabrielle Fox, at Howard Meyer's playwriting program and also created a  blog called storiesbyshelley.com. She is currently a member of Westchester Collaborative Theater.  Two Peas in a Pod, is the first play she has written that is being produced. A big thank you to Gary Simon and Elizabeth Moritz, for bringing Brad and Laura to life, and to Jim Petrillo for his wonderful direction.  She is grateful to HTM for choosing her play.


Jim Petrillo (director) has worked with many theater companies throughout Westchester and Putnam Counties.  He has experience in all fields of theater production including, being a past Board member and Treasurer for the Hand-to-Mouth Players, Production Management, Stage Management, Directing and of course, singing & acting.  He has most recently played the roles of Max in Lend Me a Tenor with Fort Hill Players, the Prompter in M&M Productions’ presentation of Barrymoore , Michael in HTM’s production of Double Date and Marty in the Fort Hill Players’ version of the comedy National Pastime. Jim directed The Two Noble Gentlemen of Venice by W Shakespeare for the HTM’s 2013 Playwright/Director’s Workshop.  He has also performed on stage with Spotlight Theater and YCP TheaterWorks and has sung with the Taghkonic Chorale.  Besides the arts, Jim is also a classic car enthusiast.  You can often find him at the Wednesday night Bear Mountain Car Cruise during the summer months.  Jim lives in Westchester with his beautiful wife Laura.


Elizabeth Moritz (Laura) - Elizabeth has acted on many different stages throughout Westchester.  She has a degree in theater and has studied acting professionally with various school/coaches throughout her career.


Gary Simon (Brad, Co-Artistic Director, Production Manager) Oh my, 25 years! The Playwright/Director's Workshop has long been a labor of love for Gary. The process each year begins in February and culminates with a whirlwind weekend of original innovative, poignant, dramatic, comedic, and sometimes experimental theatre. This year has been no different. Gary is the recipient of multiple TANYS and ESTA acting awards, and, most satisfyingly, has been the producer and co-award winning co-artistic director with the always glowing Anne Rodgers Pearl, for 13 wonderful years. May the PDW continue its tradition of producing original works so playwrights may realize their dreams of having their works produced in front of an audience. In real life, Gary is dentist to the stars in Cortlandt Manor, and proud father of Addison and Scott.