Thomas Vincent Kelly, JD Cullum, Ann Noble, Ron Bottitta in Rogue Machine’s CORKTOWN 39 written by John Fazakerley
“...Kelly is terrific as a man who may be too principled and good-natured to hold a woman like Kate.”
“...Thomas Vincent Kelly is memorably persuasive as Tim, the one person willing to question Sean’s plans.”
“Brilliantly helmed by Steven Robman, CORKTOWN’39 will have the audience sitting on the edge of their chairs as the tale based on real-life incidents unfolds. Aided by talented and experienced actors who know their business and understand their characters, CORKTOWN ’39 slowly envelops the Keating family, ardent fighters for Irish independence, while a burgeoning romance also develops to heighten the tension building in all quarters.
CORKTOWN ’39 is exciting, thought-provoking, riveting, and entertaining – a must-see for audiences who want it all: Fazakerley’s excellent writing, Robman’s insightful direction, powerful thought-provoking interpretations by an especially talented ensemble cast, Mark Mendelson’s perfect scenic design – and the list could go on. Rogue Machine does it again and hits the ball out of the park. If you love good theater, don’t miss this production.”
“For anyone who believes theater should do more than entertain or reassure, Corktown ’39 offers something essential. It refuses the comfort of historical distance. It denies us the luxury of judgment without implication. Instead, it asks us to sit with uncomfortable recognition—that the forces that possessed these characters haven’t vanished but evolved, that the damage ideology inflicts on intimacy hasn’t healed but metastasized. In an age when political identity increasingly determines personal relationships, Fazakerley’s examination of belief’s wreckage isn’t just relevant. It’s urgent. This isn’t theater that sends you home with answers. It’s theater that follows you home, dragging the unresolved behind it.”
Jeff Lorch, Thomas Vincent Kelly, Ann Noble, Tommy McCabe in CORKTOWN 39
Corktown ’39
Rogue Machine Theatre
Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Avenue
Fri, Sat, and Mon at 8 (dark May 12); Sun at 3
1 hour 45 minutes, no intermission
ends on May 25, 2025
for tickets ($15-$60), call 855.585.5185 visit Rogue Machine
SEND ME WINGS
Tom recently filmed SEND ME WINGS, a short film based on Bobby Cyrus’ book produced by Christian Faith Publishing
SEND ME WINGS location
On set in Alva, Ok shooting SEND ME WINGS with Rachel Cannon
"There is, in particular, a terrific performance: as the dapper but lonely Joey, Kelly is a marvel, soft-spoken yet with a tell-tale southside accent, poised yet always making us aware of the oversized pistol on his belt, lost but searching for something to make his life livable... Kelly is quiet, contained, compelling. Kelly was pure brilliance..."
REVIEWS
"Huff’s taut two-hander remains a stellar vehicle for two accomplished actors. Sal Viscuso and Thomas Vincent Kelly are undeniably that." LA TIMES - Kathleen Foley
"...Kelly is incredible as Joey. For those of us who grew up in Chicago, his accent is spot on, and his mustache appearance is not a caricature. His emotional performance is so genuine it really feels as though he's reciting his lines from actual experience, for the first time. He is raw, conversational, and such a good- natured teddy bear guy you'll want to leap from your seat and give him a hug."
"Kelly provides the perfect counterbalance, subtly fleshing out Joey's complex relationship with his partner and best friend." LA WEEKLY - Mayank Keshaviah
"This is enthralling and will stick with you long after you leave the theater, like all good theatre should. There is nothing left to say so get going to the Odyssey before this sells out. If your not completely blown away then please send me a comment so we can have a little talk." - THE LOS ANGELES POST - Rose Desena
"... Kelly brings humanity to the deceptively weaker Joey. They play off each other very well, making it all the more tragic to witness their relationship disintegrating in a series of betrayals." BLOG CRITIC - Kurt Gardner
"...Kelly portraying Joey...has yet to find a special someone or start a family, but may have his eyes set on someone. A Steady Rain was a great reminder as to why I love theatre; we, the audience, were in a small room watching only 2 men in folding chairs yet by the end of the evening, you could hear a pin drop or people gasping at what they were hearing be revealed." ALONG COMES MARY BLOG - Mary Farquhar
"... know that Huff, Perry, Kelly and Viscuso take you (gently at first) on this rocket ride into a land most of us will never see close up and will be grateful for the ride anyway. This is theatre at its best: emotional, thoughtful, humorous and very, very sad. All the elements of good, or even great, art. Go. Stay. Enjoy. And be prepared to weep on the way home." STAGE HAPPENINGS - Dale Reynolds
"... Kelly's Joey is a more realistic person, the kind of caring Midwesterner who will always put his family first - and although it takes him awhile to find the right person, we know his commitment to her is more secure." BROADWAY WORLD - Shari Barrett
"What stands out beyond the recognizable tale is the crisp, authentic and occasionally poetic dialogue and two extremely fine performances from these two leading men." ARTS BEAT LA - Pauline Adamek
"Actors Thomas Vincent Kelly and Sal Viscuso masterfully embody the two characters, Joey and Denny. From dialect to movement, there is no question that the actors are fully equipped." PLAY WRITING IN THE CITY - Armando Huipe
"Thomas Vincent Kelly and Sal Viscuso get that grating Chicagoan loyalty down to a heartbreaking reality in this dynamic, cop-buddy play gone all kinds of wrong." TOLUCAN TIMES - Natasia Lewin