BLACK NATIVITY Rehearsal Day 1 55

starts tomorrow.

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

Contact: LaNeshe Miller-White
                fortheloveoftheater@gmail.com
                203-522-0615

For immediate release:

Regional actress Mattilyn Rochester goes national on HBO – yet holds local ties in Philadelphia production.

Philadelphia, PA – 25 October, 2010 – Barrymore Award nominee actress Mattilyn Rochester made her debut  appearance on Martin Scorsese’s Boardwalk Empire on HBO on Sunday, October 24 at 9pm. Although she has reached this  national platform on a major cable network, Rochester is also keeping her local roots, starring in Theatre Double’s holiday presentation of Black Nativity, “a Holiday Musical Spectacle” at Saint Mary’s Chapel, 1831 Bainbridge St., Philadelphia, PA, 19146 – December 1- 31.

Boardwalk Empire is set in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era. This period drama follows ‘Enoch "Nucky" Thompson’ (played by Sopranos star star  Steve Buscemi). “Nucky” (based on the historical Enoch L. Johnson) interacts with several historical figures, including mobsters- namely Al Capone, politicians, and government agents. The government takes an interest in the bootlegging industry and other illegal activities in the area, sending agents to investigate possible mob connections and taking a close look at the lavish lifestyle “Nucky” lives to be a county politician.

Regional starlet Mattilyn Rochester appears as babysitter for “Margaret Schroeder,” played by Kelly MacDonald. One of the only African American characters to be seen in the entire episode, Rochester’s character plays an important role in revealing key information about the relationship between “Nucky” and Ms. Schroeder.

Outside of her upcoming role on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and Theatre Double’s production of Black Nativity Rochester’s credits include the film Beloved staring Oprah Winfrey and television programs such as Law and Order, Cold Case, The District, and Law and Order: SVU.

To see Rochester in her upcoming Philadelphia performance: tickets range from $25-$35 (with discounts for students and seniors). Tickets can be purchased at theatredouble.net or by phone at 267-575-4888. Shows are Dec. 1 – 31, Wednesday- Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 4pm. Saint Mary’s Chapel, 1831 Bainbridge St. Philadelphia Pa 19146

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Mattilyn Rochester: Mattilyn Rochester received a Barrymore Award nomination for Ozzie Jones’ Black Nativity in addition to nominations for the Otto Haas Emerging Artist Award and a NAACP Image award. She will be featured in the sixth episode of Martin Scorsese’s hit HBO drama Boardwalk Empire. She has also made appearances in television as well as both feature and independent films including Beloved staring Oprah Winfrey,  Law and Order, Cold Case, The District, and Law and Order: SVU. Ms. Rochester was featured in the BBC’s Crossing the Color Line where she was interviewed by Harvard Professor Skip Gates along with Samuel Jackson, Nia Long, Chris Tucker .

Performance credits outside of the screen include Disneyland Tokyo’s Big Band Beat, a show featuring Ms Rochester with a 19 piece orchestra. She recently created (wrote, developed and starred in) A Song for My Father, a triumphant look at the resilience of the human spirit and a personal journey to freedom. A moving and delightful view of the world from childhood to adulthood, the play has been staged in California; plans for a U.S. tour are currently in development.