News
Please scroll down...2017I am proud to announce that the Indy-feature film “THIRSTY” is still making the rounds at film fests in the U.S. and abroad and continues to pick up awards (our lovely director Margo Pelletier sadly passed away on Nov. 27, 2016). Here is an on-set photo as well as some links to the 2017 festivals (see the 2016 entry below for a full description of the film plus more photos as well as links to the 2016 festivals & awards).
From left to right: Margo Pelletier (Director), Alexandra Sandra Amirov (Choreographer), Scott Townsend (a/k/a THIRSTY Burlington), Cole Canzano (young Scotty) and me with dyed hair as Scott’s Uncle Gene - a 70’s lounge singer. July 2017 - “THIRSTY” to be screened at the Closing Night Ceremony of QFest (Houston, TX)
http://www.workersunitefilmfestival.org/wuff-blog/
https://www.facebook.com/ThirstyMovie/
2016This has been an extraordinary year for me in relation to film festivals. I'm proud to announce that two films I participated in, "SHEPHERD" and "THIRSTY", have been official selections at various U.S. and U.K. festivals: September - "SHEPHERD" had its East Coast premier screening at the Golden Door International Film Fest of NJ. This dramatic short was produced by Trinity Productions, written & dir. by Keith Lynch and DP David Kaptein. I play Shepherd, an ex-convict who concocts a dangerous scheme to mend a broken relationship with his daughter by enlisting the help of a wayward vagrant played by Nick Calhoun of “Boardwalk Empire”.
Festival link: http://goldendoorfilmfestival.org/ Below are photos of me and Courtney Renee Stallings
(June-Oct.): A feature-length, independent film I worked on called "THIRSTY" (dir. by Margo Pelletier & written by Laura Kelber) made its rounds in the U.S. and the U.K. and picked up an “AUDIENCE AWARD” in NY!: LONDON! 24th Raindance Film Fest: http://calendar.raindancefestival.org/films/thirsty
NEW YORK! Woodstock Film Fest: http://www.woodstockfilmfestival.com/festival2016/details.php?id=35192
NEW YORK! Harlem Int'l Film Fest - "THIRSTY" took home the AUDIENCE AWARD (out of 99 films from 37 countries):
Awards Page: http://harlemfilmfestival.org/2016-awards/ Festival: http://harlemfilmfestival.org/2016-line-up/ MASSACHUSETTS!
“THIRSTY” is based on the life of Scott Townsend who survived unspeakable bullying during his childhood/school years, as well as an estranged father and alcoholic mother (played by Deirdre Lovejoy of “The Wire” & “Girls”). Scott went on to become the revered drag performer “Thirsty Burlington” (specializing in Cher impersonations). I am very proud to be part of this film and its message which emphasizes survival and self-acceptance. I play Scott’s uncle Gene, a womanizing, lounge-singer who, in the 1970’s, encouraged young Scotty to become an entertainer. See photos below (I am unrecognizable due to the hair-dye & weight loss for the role). Also, here are some links to the trailer: https://www.facebook.com/ThirstyMovie/
May – I had a blast creating five different characters for a reading of a new, funny and very touching screenplay entitled “I DID NOT DIE” written by the talented Ms. Kim Dooley Kittay (well-known for her TV commercial & VO work) which featured some fierce actors such as Jessica Phillips (of “LAW & ORDER” & B-way’s “PRISCILLA”) as well as Paul Urcioli, Leo Kittay and Phoebe Jonas (all of whom have appeared in TV, Cable & film productions) – I was in great company! Sat. March 19 – Below is a shot of me singing at The Public Theater / Joe’s Pub (NYC) in honor of Roy Niederhoffer’s 50th birthday celebration. Roy is a hedge fund manager, philanthropist, a great supporter of the arts and, by the way, can play about 14 different instruments! He is the founder and President of R.G. Niederhoffer Capital Management, Inc.
Sun. March 13 – I was heard on the WBAI Radio’s “EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN” singing an acapella birthday message to the legendary Liza Minnelli in honor of her 70th birthday celebration, hosted by the incomparable David Kenney. If you are not a Minnelli fan then you probably won’t understand my song selection where I combined “My Best Girl” from the musical “MAME” along with the ending of Liza’s standard song “My Mammy” (with some alternate lyrics to suite the occasion). Here is the 90 second song clip with Mr. Kenney’s intro and post-comments: WBAI Radio ClipFeb. - Worked on my second Lombardi & Lombardi Law commercial (see 2015 below) but this time only my voice was heard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5lKJJPgCm8 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR PREVIOUS YEARS – THANKS! 2015Dec. - Here are some on-set photos from an Indy-Short “ANOTHER KIND OF HAPPINESS” (written & dir. by Matthew Bunker) where I co-starred with the fabulous Kathryn Kates (of “Orange is the New Black”, “Small Miracles” and “Seinfeld”) which should be completed sometime in 2016.
Nov. - A feature-length, indy-film I worked on called "THIRSTY" had its Trailer/Teaser release (see 2016 above for links and Festival updates). Oct. 27, 2015 – SAG Foundation NY Short Film Showcase selected “A NEW MAN” - a film I worked on in 2013 which won a 2nd place award for our director Hughes William Thompson at CANNES LION in 2014. The film was Co-Funded by the Kevin Spacey Foundation. Visit the FILM page on this website to view a clip.
2014
2013
Also wrapped on "THE BIG LAKE" an avant-garde thriller, short-film, directed by NYU Tisch's Matthew Jacob Rosenbaum (2014 release). September marked the release of "A NEW MAN" (a dark comedy) directed by Hughes William Thompson of Panoptica Films and supported by The Kevin Spacey Foundation (KSF), (see FILM CLIPS page). In August I played Philip in a reading of a new, exciting play "MEMORIAL" by Irving Benig and directed by Tom Ferriter for STAGEPLAYS THEATRE COMPANY. In July, an Indy-film I participated in, "PARTISAN", directed by Jake Holm (Holmmade Films/Utopia Films) received five awards at the LOS ANGELES CINEMA FESTIVAL OF HOLLYWOOD: Best Short Narrative, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Lead Actress. In November PARTISAN had it's NYC premier at the BROWNFISH FILM FESTIVAL. I play an unsavory Polish farmer turned Nazi sympathizer in Nazi-occupied Poland 1941-43 (See FILM CLIPS page).
2012
In November I appeared at the Lucy Lockett Cabe Theatre, Wildwood Park For The Arts, Little Rock, Arkansas as "Reginald" in Richard G. Pellegrino's new play "MARGINALIA" directed by Roger Hendricks Simon. Last May I was seen on WINDY CITY LIVE's Mother's Day Special (ABC 7 Chicago) singing "Mama A Rainbow" (visit the FILM CLIPS page to view clip). In March I completed an independent film entitled "PARTISAN" directed by Jake Holm of Utopia Films, where I play Felek Trulsky, an unsavory Polish farmer/Nazi conspirator in war torn Poland 1941-43 (release date TBA).
2011I was privileged to work with Broadway veteran playwright Murray Schisgal on two staged readings of his new play "WALL STREET FANDANGO" directed by Stephan Morrow which was seen both at The Actor's Studio and the Theater For The New City, NYC . Later in the year I took time off to travel and visit family. 2010
In April I sang at a benefit concert for Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries/Metro Baptist Church entitled "FROM BROADWAY WITH LOVE" to raise funds for underprivileged children's after-school programs and other community services, dir. by Kathleen Conry & musical direction by Brett Kristofferson and sang at several NYC open mic. cabarets/clubs such as Birdland's Cast Party hosted by Jim Caruso, Dopo Teatro Cabaret hosted by Ken Lundie and Dale Badway, and La Mediterranée French Bistro with William Zeffiro at the piano in preparation for "BROADWAY JUBILEE" (a tribute to the Golden Age of Broadway) where I teamed up with singer Martina Vidmar and musical dir. Woody Regan performing at Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences, NJ and Temple Israel in So. Merrick, NY. More performances to follow. I was also fortunate to record a few songs for a demo CD of a new musical entitled “WHAT A TIME FOR LOVE”, composed by an exciting, young, award-winning songwriter, Samuel Kalcheim.
2009In March I was seen in "Slip Away" at the Kent Film Festival, CT, dir. by Michael McCormick. In April/May I participated in a workshop of "The Artifacts", a play by Steven Fechter. On Aug. 9 a selection from my CD was heard on David Kenney's WBAI radio show "Everything Old is New Again". Also in August I was seen in "The August 9th Project/The Atom Bomb" a piece dir. & compiled by Elizabeth Mozer, based on testimonies of Hiroshima/Nagasaki survivors (a benefit for NJ Peace Action). Currently I have a local commercial running in Syracuse, NY for CBA (see FILM CLIPS page), and in the Fall I commenced work on a feature-length film entitled "FINDING HOME" dir. by Savanna Washington, AardvarkAlley Prods. (2010 release). 2008
For my portrayal of Ned Lowenscroft in "Elizabeth Rex" I received an outstanding actor nomination by the NY Innovative Theatre Awards (see REVIEWS page). 2008 also marked the release of 3 indy short films I participated in "Out of Service", "Mother's Milk" and "Me & You" which made the rounds at film fests throughout the U.S. & abroad (see FILM CLIPS page).
2007I traveled to Utah’s Sundance Film Fest where I was seen in the short “The Dawn Chorus”, and debuted two new plays in NYC: Linda Selman’s “The Bunner Sisters” (based on E.Wharton’s novella) and Deirdre MacNamara’s “Accent-Chu-Ate the Positive”. My debut CD “Another Look” was released in Sept., and selections were heard on WMNR Fine Arts Radio CT/NY. CD info at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/mdigioia (see CD Audio Page). A heartfelt THANK YOU to those who have shown their support, I am truly grateful & blessed!
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(Aug /Sept) An independent film shot last October called “SHEPHERD” (formerly “SHEPHERDS DRIFT” – see 2014 below) is currently making rounds at film fests. I play Shepherd, an ex-convict who concocts a dangerous scheme to mend a broken relationship with his daughter by enlisting the help of a wayward vagrant played by Nick Calhoun of “Boardwalk Empire”. 
Marks the completion of three eclectic indy films and roles (release dates 2012-2014): (1) "JIHAD" dir. by Solon Quinn, of Solon Quinn Studios / 7053 Prods., I play a psychotic police officer; (2) "FINDING HOME" dir. by Savanna Washington, AardvarkAlley Prods., I portray a man battling premature alzheimers; and (3) "JOSIE & JOHN" dir. by Joe Skinner, a NYU Tisch Film Grad, I play John, who is going through a mid-life crises. 
The Canadian play "Elizabeth Rex" by Timothy Findley marked it's NYC premiere at the Nicu's Spoon Theater in April and in light of favorable reviews moved to Off-Broadway's Center Stage Theater in the Fall. 
