Semicontinuous

Around The Block / Al Doblar La Esquina

Presents

"Semicontinuous"

Written By: Carlos Jerome

Directed By: Ivette Dumeng

Produced By: 

Veronica Caicedo 

Carlos Jerome

Starring:

John Maria Gutierrez

Pedro Saint Morillo

Marc Reign

Iris Ruberte

Deanna Tarraza

Set Design

Maria Luisa Portuondo Vila

Stage Manager

Charles C. Casano

Synopsis: Out-of-work math and systems contractor Sonia has come to work as an adjunct at Lower East Side Community College, where her some-time lover Ruben is a Theatre faculty member. While struggling to educate students and help them find their way against poverty and racism, they battle over their semicontinuous commitments. With Sonia leaving for a consulting contract, and Ruben once more deciding he must forget her, is there no hope for continuity? Ask their students.

This project is made possible in part with funds from Creative Engagement, a re-grant program(s) supported by:

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council    

 The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs 

Howard Gilman Foundation 

Our program is also made possible with the help of

Charles Schwab   

 For More Information:    info@aroundtheblock.org

The thing to do,  the place to be…

Development History

• This play began in 2006 with C. Jerome's ten-minute play, Semicontinuous, with many of the same elements as what is now the full-length play.  Around The Block did a couple of staged readings of it in branches of the New York Public Library.
• During 2018-2019 he expanded the original 10-minute play into the full-length Semicontinuous getting feedback and suggestions at Times Square Playwrights.
• In May 2019 Ivette Dumeng directed a staged reading of the play at Actors Studio Playwrights/Directors Unit. 
• Jerome's ten-minute play, Counting Pedestals, based on scene 2 of Semicontinuous, was produced by Metropolitan Playhouse (NYC) as part of its East Village Chronicles, June 13-23 2019, and at Santa Cruz Actors Theatre in January – February 2020 as part of its 8 Tens @ 8 program https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM_ID8I7mJw. It was a finalist in the Negro Ensemble Company's 2020 Ten Minute Play competition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SfB4UMl4uQ&t=11s. It was published in The Best 10-Minute Plays, 2021  (Smith & Kraus).

• His ten-minute play, Cada Loco, based on scene 5 of Semicontinuous, was chosen for  the Mid-America Theatre Conference (Chicago): the 10-Minute Play Competition focused on character. In August 2020 it was selected and performed for the Orange County (NY) 10-Minute Play Festival. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIYeBSfFIdo&t=22s  It was published in the 2021-2022 Journal of the Pirandello Society of America.