Tony Blake was born and raised in Brooklyn; graduated from Hunter College in New York City B.A. in Theater. Before turning to writing he taught elementary school in New York City, then worked as an actor in NYC while waiting tables and tending bar. Playwright training at New Dramatists in New York City. Has written five full length and three one act plays, among them “Sunday Dinner” a family drama - world premiere January of 2020 at Theatre 40, Beverly Hills. The play, that one reviewer termed “An Italian ‘August: Osage County’”, broke attendance records. His play A Marriage of Inconvenience, about a young Jewish career woman who marries an Asian man and is disowned by her family, was selected for Ensemble Studio Theater/L.A.’s 2019 Winterfest. Tony has also written for television with numerous produced one-hour prime time episodes to his credit. He has served on several non-profit boards and is married with 2 daughters, and 2 little dogs and currently splits his time between New York City and Los Angeles.
Plays
Family loyalty, betrayal, sexual orientation and the teachings of the Catholic Church are all in the crosshairs in “Sunday Dinner,” a heart-wrenching drama laced with humor that focuses on a dysfunctional working class family in the Bronx.
A young career woman struggles to break free from her domineering and controlling mother who insists she cannot marry out of her religion.
A woman seeks out the priest who sexually abused her 25 years ago. His denial of her accusations, claiming that trauma conflates memory, gives her doubt about her memory until she finds an damning piece of evidence that makes her realize he's been gaslighting her, once again, and the victim now turns predator.
Successes
"Sunday Dinner" was produced in 2020 - Broke attendance records at Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills. One Critic: "An Italian August Osage County."