A Warren area optometrist is using his passion for producing to fund some philanthropy.
Dr. Dan Casamento is combining his love of the arts and his longtime interest in fundraising through "Oy Vey", a play currently running at the Lion Theatre on Theatre Row.
Theatre Row is a collection of renovated historic theaters in New York City's Times Square area at 410 West 42nd Street.
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Dr. Dan Casamento
Fifty percent of proceeds from "Oy Vey" will be going to Just Us Friends, a charity working to provide free vision services in Africa.
A press release promoting "Oy Vey" describes it as, "A hilarious new comedy about a wealthy widow, her three daughters, her son, her rabbi and the handsome stranger who enters their lives."
Casamento is a Jamestown native who brought his family to Warren in 1977 and established Eye Care Professional Associates in Warren and Bradford.
In his free time, Casamento is a musician and performer who has taken on an active role as a producer. Besides "Oy Vey", he is involved in production on two movies, "Dead Border", a vampire movie currently in editing, and "Turf the Movie", a production in casting in Hollywood.
Casamento's association with Just Us Friends stretches back to previous humanitarian efforts. Just Us Friends approached Casamento after hearing about his time providing voluntary eye care services in Central America. Just Us Friends approached Casamento in an effort to open an eye clinic in Tanzania.
Through "Oy Vey", Casamento found the opportunity to combine his efforts in the arts with his humanitarian connections.
"Oy Vey" opened Nov. 23 and is slated to run at the Lion Theatre through Dec. 16.
The play is written by David Silberg and directed by Sue Lawless.
Tickets are available by visiting www.oyveytheplay.com, www.telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200.
The play's website lists tickets at $18.