Small Engine Repair

Frank, Swaino, and Packie, ex-high school friends who are now past their prime, get together one night during off-hours in Frank's remote repair shop for mysterious reasons that only Frank appears to know. Chad, a preppy, connected college jock, arrives and sparks a long-simmering animosity.{{Cite web|url=https://productionlist.com/production/small-engine-repair/|title=Small Engine Repair|date=2019-01-14|website= ProductionList.com |publisher= Film & Television Industry Alliance |language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-03}}

The play premiered in 2011, produced by Rogue Machine Theatre in Los Angeles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.artslant.com/ny/events/show/156633-small-engine-repair?tab=EVENT|title=exhibitions & events|last1=Angeles|first1=Rogue Machine in Theatre Theater 5041 Pico BoulevardLos|last2=Ca 90019|website=ArtSlant|access-date=2019-12-04}} The production was directed by Andrew Block. Playwright John Pollono and Block had previously collaborated on the FringeNYC 2010 play Lost and Found.{{Cite web|url=https://www.performingartslive.com/Events/SMALL-ENGINE-REPAIR-3152011133313|title=SMALL ENGINE REPAIR - Rogue Machine - Rogue Machine @Theatre Theater|website=www.performingartslive.com|access-date=2019-12-04}} David Mauer provided the set and lighting design, Jennifer Pollono was the costume designer and Tony Lepore was the sounds designer. The original cast consisted of Pollono portraying the character Frank, Michael Redfield as Packie, Jon Bernthal as Swaino, and Josh Helman as Chad.

The play first premiered at Theatre/Theater in Los Angeles on March 25, 2011. After critical acclaim, its limited run was extended until June 5. Following this run, the play transferred to the Beverly Hills Playhouse; this production was also extended after a successful run, running into September 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/rogue-machines-small-engine-repair-featuring-josh-helman-michael-redfield-and-donnie-smith-extends-limited-run-com-182099|title=Rogue Machine's Small Engine Repair, Featuring Josh Helman, Michael Redfield and Donnie Smith, Extends Limited Run|last=Gioia|first=Michael|date=August 27, 2011|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2019-12-04}} Actor Donnie Smith replaced Bernthal as Swaino when the play transferred.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stagescenela.com/2011/08/small-engine-repair/|title=SMALL ENGINE REPAIR|date=2011-08-21|website=StageSceneLA|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-04}} The production was generally well reviewed as well as popular, in part due to Bernthal's starring role on AMC's The Walking Dead at the time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stageandcinema.com/2011/04/07/small-engine-repair/|title=Theater Review: SMALL ENGINE REPAIR by John Pollono (Los Angeles)|website=www.stageandcinema.com|access-date=2019-12-04}}{{Cite web|url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/04/theater-review-rogue-machines-small-engine-repair-at-theatre-theater.html|title=Theater review: Rogue Machine's 'Small Engine Repair' at Theatre Theater|date=2011-04-14|website=LA Times Blogs - Culture Monster|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-04}} The LA Times and LA Weekly both named it a Critic's Choice and it won many Los Angeles theater awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/Rogue-Machine-Announces-New-Schedule-for-SMALL-ENGINE-REPAIR-20110523|title=Rogue Machine Announces New Schedule for SMALL ENGINE REPAIR|author=BWW News Desk|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-04}}

In June 2012, it was announced that MCC Theater intended to include Small Engine Repair in their 2012–2013 season. It was to be staged beginning in May 2013 with both Pollono and Bernthal attached to reprise their roles.{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/john-pollonos-small-engine-repair-with-walking-dead-star-completes-mcc-theaters-2012-13-season-com-194859|title=John Pollono's Small Engine Repair, With 'Walking Dead' Star, Completes MCC Theater's 2012-13 Season|last=Hetrick|first=Adam|date=June 19, 2012|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2019-12-04}} However, due to one or possibly both of the actor's filming schedules (both actors co-starred in the TNT miniseries Mob City which was in production beginning Spring 2013), the play was pushed to the 2013–2014 season, with previews beginning in October 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/mcc-theater-to-stage-john-pollanos-small-engine-repair-off-broadway-com-204350|title=MCC Theater to Stage John Pollano's Small Engine Repair Off-Broadway|last=Hetrick|first=Adam|date=April 12, 2013|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2019-12-04}} Ultimately, this schedule change conflicted with Bernthal's own filming schedule and in July 2013 it was announced that he had ceded his role.{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/john-pollanos-small-engine-repair-to-feature-james-badge-dale-james-ransone-and-keegan-allen-off-broadway-com-207291|title=John Pollano's Small Engine Repair to Feature James Badge Dale, James Ransone and Keegan Allen Off-Broadway|last=Hetrick|first=Adam|date=July 8, 2013|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2019-12-04}}

The play premiered off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York in November 2013. The play's creative team included director Jo Bonney, set designer Richard Hoover, costume designer Theresa Squire, lighting designer Lap Chi Chu, and sound designer Jill BC Du Boff.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M8RfCQAAQBAJ|title=Small Engine Repair|last=Pollono|first=John|date=2015-05-15|publisher=Dramatists Play Service, Inc.|isbn=978-0-8222-3142-4|language=en}} A limited-run production, the play began previews on October 30, 2013, opened on November 20, 2013, and closed on December 21, 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iobdb.com/Production/5546|title=Small Engine Repair|website=www.iobdb.com|access-date=2019-12-04}}

Pollono reprised his role as Frank while James Ransone took over the role of Packie, James Badge Dale portrayed Swaino, and Keegan Allen portrayed Chad.

{{main|Small Engine Repair (film)}}

Small Engine Repair is a film written and directed by John Pollono based on his play, and was released on September 10, 2021.

• Pollono, John. Small Engine Repair. New York: Dramatists Play Service, 2014. {{ISBN|978-0-8222-3142-4}}.

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Category:2011 plays