'The Last Silver Zephyer' at the Connelly Theater

Zephyer Productions present the comedy The Last Silver Zephyer, by Bill Svanoe, as part of the NY International Fringe Festival from the 21 - 28 Aug at the Connelly Theatre.

The Last Silver Zephyer is a contemporary three-character comedy drama about the risks and rewards of real human connection. It takes place on a late summer afternoon in an old railroad diner on the edge of the Colorado River in the early years of the twenty-first century. It is the day of the last run of the Silver Zephyer, the legendary passenger train that winds through the historic, and magical American west.

Connie is an ageless, seen almost everything waitress, who may be something more. Henry is a much too successful, controlling man, who hopes he can find what he is looking for. Anne is a beautiful, smart woman who is running from her past, and mistakenly thinks she can control her future. These three people find themselves at the old Silver Zephyer Caf� one afternoon. Is it by design, fate or something else?

The Last Silver Zephyer is directed by Blake Bradford and stars Joan Darling (Connie), Mike Wiley (Henry) and Melissa Herion (Anne)

Biography:

Bill Svanoe (playwright) screeenwriting includes television movies 'Miles to Go,' which won a Christopher Award, 'Terror onthe Beach,' 'Returning Home,' 'Superdome,' 'The Cardboard House,' 'The Dreammakers' and 'Sparks.' Films include 'Waltz Across Texas,' starring Anne Archer, and 'Fatal Beauty,' starring Whoopi Goldberg. His first play, 'The Newstand,' won New Playwright Awards in New York and Holland. His scripts 'The Black Duck' and 'Punch and Judy' have been published.

Joan Darling (Connie) appeared for four years in the award-winning improvisational production, 'The Premise' with Gene Hackman and George Segal, and played Viola in 'Twelfth Night' for the American Shakespeare Festival. She became one of the first female TV directors to be steadily employed on various series and her credits include Spielberg's 'Amazing Stories' series, 'Magnum PI,' 'Doogie Howser,' 'MASH,' 'Rhoda,' 'Phyllis,' 'Doc,' 'Rich Man Poor Man' and 'Voices of Sanover.'

Melissa Herion (Anne) is a recent graduate of University of North Carolina , where she studied acting with Darling and David Hammond. She has appeared in several regional productions with PlayMakers Rep (NC) and Orpheus Theatre (NY).

Mike Wiley (Henry) is a graduate of University of North Carolina's PATP graduate and currently tours the nation with his original one-man shows about African-American historical figures and heroes.