Who We Are
Two Noses Productions is dedicated to the development of original comedic plays. Founded in 1997 by Raquel Hecker and Ben Medley, their work has been presented in venues throughout New York, including Soho Rep in association with the Adobe Theater Co, HERE, the 2003 New York International Fringe Festival, Altered Stages, The Slipper Room, and Nada. Previous shows include: The Cockroach Show, Get Two Nose Us, and A Two Noses Retrospective. They are currently developing two new plays, Trailer and The Work Play.
How It All Began
Once upon a time, two actors set out on a voyage across the country and found themselves on a van teeming with actors for a bilingual Spanish/English musical. The drive across the Mojave being tedious and brain numbing, the strikingly beautiful Raquel Hecker and unusually handsome Ben Medley began brainstorming for ten minute play ideas to pass the time. Three months later, with absolutely nothing to show for their efforts, the two arrived back in New York and prepared to go their separate ways, until, in a moment of weakness Raquel uttered the fateful words, "Do you wanna write a show?" Ben's historic answer: "You betcha." One thing led to another and in Spring of 1997, The dynamic duo's first show previously over-titled "Kafka's Just Say No' The Cockroach Show" debuted in a workshop production at Soho Repertory in association with the Adobe Theater Company, and Two Noses Productions had begun. The goal: to present new and original comedic shows that attract, entertain and challenge a diverse urban audience.
So Why Two Noses?
Ben and Raquel were drawn to each other's brilliant sense of comedy and timing that reflected their interest in the art of clowning. Two Noses seemed to capture this charm and also reflected the prominence of one of their most admirable physical attributes: their noses.
|
|
|
|
 |
 In addition to her collaborative writing for Two Noses, Raquel wrote Weird Rhumba (Dixon Place, HERE) and helped create the musical revue Alamotion! (San Antonio, TX). For three years she produced and wrote shows for a political cabaret troupe at Oberlin College, where she received a BA in Psychology and Theater. Today Raquel writes for Heeb Magazine and happyrobot.net, the best website ever.
As a performer, Raquel was in the original cast of "Urinetown! (The Musical)" and appeared in Cameron Mackintosh's American premiere of the rock musical "The Fix". She has worked with such luminaries as Anne Bogart, Michael Mayer, Eric D. Schaffer, David Shiner and Bill Irwin. In "Condensed Classics" she played the illustrious roles of Lady Raquel, The Lady and The Tiger in "The Lady and The Tiger" and Pearl in "The Scarlet Letter". Most recently, she ate apple pie covered in blood in the film "Pie Chi" written by Rob Kutner (The Daily Show).
|
|
 Ben Medley holds a degree in Theater and English; has studied playwriting with Christopher Shinn at NYU and Neal Bell at Playwright’s Horizons; and has trained as an actor with the Michael Howard Studios in New York and The Royal National Theater in London.
As a writer, Ben co-wrote THE COCKROACH SHOW, which appeared at HERE and Soho Rep in association with the Adobe Theater Company; wrote ONE HIT WONDER, which appeared at Altered Stages, HERE, Musical Theater Works, the Actors Playhouse and the 2003 New York International Fringe Festival; and is currently developing a
new comedy entitled TRAILER. In 1999, he also frightened tourists and children alike performing BELA LUGOSI AND THE LEGEND OF DRACULA at the Ellis Island Museum of Immigration, which he wrote for the Hypothetical Theater Company.
As a performer, Ben has appeared off-off Broadway in theaters throughout New York and has appeared regionally in shows such as THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP (Lord Edgar/Jane) and THE WIZARD OF OZ (Scarecrow.) Ben has toured the country with the National Theater of Performing Arts, performed in the long-form improv group Slacks and has shared the stage with Jessye Norman. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America.
|
|
|
