Movies TV Mayhem is a new play coming to New York City April 23rd to May 9th at Theater Row. It's the theatrical review of production designer now playright Dean Taucher. It stars Jason Donavan Hall, Grant Neal and Oneika Phillips and is directed by Richard Calliban.
Dean wrote the play based on his vast years of experience in TV and entertainment. And I mean REALLY vast, Dean has worked as a production designer on nearly 500 episodic TV shows, including notable titles like Miami Vice, Law & Order: SVU, New York Undercover, season one of The Sopranos, and more. Earlier in his career, Dean worked at the crew level as a scenic artist on films such as The Blues Brothers, Trading Places, Neighbors, Annie, 9 1/2 Weeks, The Cotton Club, Manhunter, Fatal Attraction, and season five of Saturday Night, among others.
Now, he's taken all that knowledge and turned it into a dark comedy about what really goes on in show biz. I had the honor or interviewing him about this new show, and he fills us in on how it came to be and what to expect from it.
Suzee: Being in entertainment, and experiencing what goes on "Behind the scenes", I can't wait to see your play. When did you decide to write this? Was there one experience that prompted you to write this? How long did it take?
Dean Taucher: No one experience set me to writing. It was more an accumulation of idiocy, illegality and "the slings and arrows of outrageous co-workers". My play is about and for the self obsessed who can't see beyond their own needs and the blind complicity that allows for really bad behavior on set.
Sorta like the complicity of the Republican Congress.
Suzee: Tell me about your writing process.
Dean Taucher: I write by hand in bad architect printing after having conceived and recited major segments of my stories while sailing. Followed by lots of rewrites. I've rewritten some today after rehearsal.
Suzee: Though I know these things take time and never even get off the ground, how did you assemble your team to get it into a NYC theater?
Dean Taucher: I've seen many works directed by Richard Caliban, who ran Cucaracha Theater for 14 years. When he told me that he was interested in directing, Movies TV Mayhem, I was thrilled.
I immediately got him in touch with Joe Doran from Equilateral Theatre who is producing the show. Joe co-produced work with my wife the director/choreographer Gabrielle Lansner.
Between the Richard and Joe, they put the creative team together. Stephanie Klapper is the casting agent. The three actors are, Jason Donovan Hall, Grant Neale and Oneika Phillips.
I couldn't be happier or more excited to have them all as collaborators.
Suzee: Tell me about your education, your first job and what you might consider your big break.
Dean Taucher: I have an associates degree in set design from the Goodman School of Drama when it was a school of The Art Institute of Chicago.
My first jobs in the mid '70's were in Chicago's off-loop theater scene, including St. Nicholas Theater founded by William H Macy and David Mamet, The Organic Theater with the actors Joe Mantegna and Dennis Franz, at Victory Garden's Theater with William Petersen and more...
Later I worked on the Michael Mann movie Manhunter as an assistant art director that William Petersen starred in. A few months later I became the designer of Miami Vice, Season 3. That was some break.
Suzee: Give me an elevator pitch to get people to see the show.
Dean Taucher: My play is a must see dark comedy for anyone, like me, in the business or anyone that's at all intrigued by the strange, hilarious and often messed up reality behind the glitz and glamour of film and TV.
You'll meet homicidal teamsters, a clueless starlet, harassment seminars that are more foul than informative and cash obsessed writers and producers whose actions range from questionable to criminal. In other words , fun for the whole family.
Now about you:
3 Favorite Plays
Dean: Hard to just pick three ...
Kneehigh Theater's Production of
Tristan and Yseult at St. Anne's Warehouse
directed by Emma Rice
River Deep, A Tribute To Tina Turner
Peter Jay Sharp Theater
directed by Gabrielle Lansner
Leni's Last Lamment
directed by Richard Caliban
still touring
Last 3 series you binged
Foundation
Andor
I didn't binge The Sopranos but I was the production designer on season 1.
I created many of the permanent sets as well as the sign/ logo of the Bada Bing and the concept drawing of The Sopranos logo. It's on exhibit through May 31 at The Museum of the Moving Image.
3 Favorite Movies
The Third Man
Amelie
Godfather II
New York or LA
New York with a side of LA .
LA over San Francisco anyday.
How do you destress?
I have a small sailboat in Sag Harbor. A mellonseed skiff.
Most of the play came to me while sailing.
What brings you joy?
Gabrielle Lansner, we've been together almost 27 years ... ... feels like days.
Tell me a funny or unusual story regarding an actor you may have encountered, or an incident onset.
I think you need to see my play. Plenty of funny f 'ed up and unusual stories, people and events that were my life for 50 years. It might not all be true but it is all Mayhem...Movies TV Mayhem
FOR MORE ON DEAN TAUCHER:
Movies TV Mayhem
@moviestvmayhem
Ticket Link: Theatre Row – opens 4/23 – May 9
https://bfany.org/theatre-row/shows/movies-tv-mayhem/
All Tickets $25.00
MORE ON THE PLAY:
Movies TV Mayhem is produced by Equilateral Theatre Company
Performance Schedule and Ticket Information
Movies TV Mayhem runs from April 23 to May 9, 2026, at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street, New York, NY. Performances are scheduled Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM, with matinees on Sundays at 2:00 PM.
Tickets are available at www.theatrerow.org or by calling the Theatre Row box office at 212.714.2442 x.45