The Alzheimer's Association and Needham Goes Purple Present a Benefit Performance of The Net Will Appear
Virtual Presentation Available Beginning July 19
NEEDHAM, Mass., July 17, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Alzheimer's Association in partnership with Needham Goes Purple will present a virtual presentation of The Net Will Appear, Erin Mallon's touching comedy starring legendary, Emmy-nominated actor Richard Masur and star of the upcoming Disney+ feature Flora and Ulysses Matilda Lawler. The performance will be available online at http://TheNetWillAppear.org from July 19, 2020 - July 24, 2020. All donations made will benefit the Alzheimer's Association.
"Those most affected by the pandemic have been people who live alone, particularly our older population. The Net Will Appear is about reaching across the spaces between us to discover what connects us. The physical distance between us right now may feel great, but the emotional distance doesn't have to be," said Mallon.
The Net Will Appear is a "tender and quite beautiful play" (NJ.com) about two eccentric characters, Bernard, a 75-year old man dealing with the declining cognition of his beloved wife, and Rory, his 9-year old neighbor working through her own struggles. This special performance reunites Masur and Lawler who originated the roles of Bernard and Rory in the play's highly acclaimed 2017 debut at Mile Square Theatre. Masur points out that his character Bernard's care for his wife speaks directly to the mission of the Alzheimer's Association and Needham Goes Purple.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease – the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 16 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer's and other dementias.
The Alzheimer's Association offers a number of virtual education programs and support groups that can help those living with Alzheimer's and their families. Additionally, the Alzheimer's Association free, 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900) offers around-the-clock support for caregivers and families impacted by Alzheimer's and all dementia. For a complete list of resources visit alzhereforyou.org.
About the Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's®. Visit http://www.alz.org/MANH or call 800.272.3900.
About Needham Goes Purple
Needham Goes Purple originated in 2015 as a team supporting the Alzheimer's Association's Longest Day initiative, and incorporated in 2020 to continue as a local community organization fighting this global disease. Our mission is to increase Alzheimer's disease awareness, to raise critical funds for research and to support those affected by the disease. Currently, we offer the Needham community multiple ways to show their support for the fight against Alzheimer's through events, sponsorships and donations.
Richard Masur (Bernard) has been well known to film and television audiences for almost 45 years. Masur has starred in more than 50 feature films, including Who'll Stop the Rain, Risky Business, The Thing, My Girl, Heaven's Gate, Forget Paris, Heartburn, Under Fire, Tumbledown, Don't Think Twice, and most recently, The Lonely Boys. He has appeared in over 45 television films, three of which—Adam, Fallen Angel and When The Bough Breaks—are among the top-ten rated TV movies of all time, and he received an Emmy nomination for his performance in the TV film The Burning Bed. Other television movie credits include roles in HBO's much-heralded And The Band Played On, Showtime's Hiroshima, It, and HBO's 61*. Masur has also starred in numerous popular TV series, including The Hot l Baltimore, One Day at a Time, Rhoda, Empire, Picket Fences, and guest starred on countless TV comedy and drama series, including HBO's Bored To Death, and Girls, CBS' The Good Wife and The Good Fight, Netflix' Orange is the New Black, TV Land's Younger, and Amazon's Red Oaks, and Transparent. On Broadway: The Tony nominated productions of David Storey's The Changing Room, Nora Ephron's Lucky Guy, and Michael Frayne's Democracy; and Off-Broadway in the Culture Project's production of The Exonerated; MTC's world premiere of Sarah, Sarah, by Daniel Goldfarb; The Public Theatre's production of Rinne Groff's The Ruby Sunrise; Playwrights Horizon's world premiere of a feminine ending by Sarah Treem; the New Group's production of Mike Leigh's 2000 Years; Make Me, by Leslie Ayvazian at the Atlantic, Roger Rosenblatt's The Oldsmobile's at The Flea, Charles Busch's Olive and The Bitter Herbs at Primary Stages, the world premiere of Fetch Clay, Make Man by Will Power at the McCarter and then at the NY Theater Workshop, and The Net Will Appear, by Erin Mallon at Mile Square Theater and 59E59. Masur is a past National President of Screen Actors Guild. First elected to the SAG Board in 1989, he then served as SAG 3rd National Vice President, SAG President and again on the National Board until April 2012. He worked for over 20 years to help effect the merger of SAG and AFTRA, and is proud to have also been a National Board member of SAG-AFTRA.
Matilda Lawler (Rory) is a series regular on Station Eleven, an upcoming limited series for HBO Max based on Emily St. John Mandel's best-selling novel. Matilda portrays young Kirsten, the story's protagonist. Last summer, Matilda starred in the feature Flora and Ulysses for Disney+. Matilda plays the titular role of Flora in the original movie that is set to premiere this fall. Last year, Matilda originated the role of Honor Carney on Broadway in The Ferryman written by Jez Butterworth and directed by Sam Mendes which won the 2019 Tony Award for Best Play. Her performance received rave reviews and Theatermania included her in their list of the 11 Best Broadway Debuts of 2018. Matilda made her professional stage debut in Erin Mallon`s play, The Net Will Appear starring opposite Richard Masur. She is thrilled to be reunited with her great pal, the wonderful Richard Masur for this very meaningful event.
Erin Mallon (playwright) is a playwright, author, and narrator of nearly 500 audiobooks. Her debut romantic comedy novel Flirtasaurus is landing in July 2020. Erin's plays have been presented with Urban Stages, New Georges, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, The Collective, Cherry Picking, Great Plains Theater Conference, Samuel French #OOB Short Play Festival, Project Y Theater, Dreamcatcher Rep, Mile Square Theatre and more. Erin's play Branched (dir. Robert Ross Parker) premiered with InViolet Theater at HERE Arts Center in NYC and is in print with Original Works Publishing. Her play, The Net Will Appear is an Honorable Mention on the 2016 Kilroys List and had its Off-Broadway Premiere at 59E59 Theaters in NYC starring the great Richard Masur. Other full-length plays include: Good Riddance, Hand Me Down, Stunning Displays of Prowess, Skin Hungry, The Other White Meat, Come Find Me and These Walls Can Talk, which can now be enjoyed as an audio play on Audible.com. Along with writer Bixby Elliot, Erin is the founder and co-curator of The Brooklyn Generator (a playwriting engine that creates "plays in less-than-30-days") and one half of The Theater Husband / Theater Wife Project.
SOURCE Alzheimer's Association
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