When the COVID-19 pandemic brought New York theatre to a standstill, husband-and-wife team Elise Milner and Chris Berlino began reconsidering where and how they wanted to continue creating.
After years of producing original Off-Off Broadway productions in Manhattan, the couple returned to Westchester and found a new local home for Hanging Cow Productions. Today, they continue presenting original work in New York City while bringing interactive dinner theatre to audiences in Peekskill.
“When COVID brought the world to a standstill, it gave Chris and I an opportunity to reflect on the kind of life we wanted to build,” Milner said. “We had loved living in Manhattan for years, but long before the pandemic I used to tell Chris, ‘If something ever changes the world, I’d love to come back to Westchester.’”
Milner and Berlino met through Love@AOL in 1999 and founded Hanging Cow Productions in 2002. Since then, the company has produced more than 450 performances, ranging from original dramas and musicals in New York City to interactive comedies that make audiences part of the story.
Milner serves as the company’s writer, director, producer and artistic director, while Berlino assists with technical and production responsibilities and acts as a creative sounding board. Together, they handle nearly every part of their productions, including scripts, costumes, props, marketing, ticket sales and community outreach.
“From the very beginning, my dream was never simply to create a job for myself,” Milner said. “It was to build a creative life, one where Chris and I could make a living doing what we love while giving other artists opportunities to perform and grow.”
The company’s unusual name originated years earlier from a typo. While completing a mock wedding project for a high school class, Milner jokingly wrote “Hanging Low Photographers.” Her mother misread it as “Hanging Cow Productions,” and the name remained with Milner as she continued writing plays, comedy sketches, poetry and parody songs.
Following their return to Westchester, the couple staged “Angels Among Us” at Yorktown Stage in 2022, their first production after the pandemic. Milner then began contacting local venues in hopes of bringing back the company’s interactive dinner theatre shows.
One of those calls was to Anthony, the owner of Taormina’s Restaurant in Peekskill.
“I loved the location, the intimate party room, and the idea of combining great food with live, interactive theatre,” Milner said.
The partnership began in 2023 with “Who Killed Mama Souprano?” and has continued with one to two productions each year. The restaurant’s intimate setting allows actors to move throughout the room and interact directly with guests.
Milner describes the format as “scripted improvisation.” Although the interactions may feel spontaneous, the actors rehearse how to involve guests while adapting to each audience.
“What I love most is watching people surprise themselves,” Milner said. “Someone who walks into the room insisting they’ll ‘just watch’ often finds themselves dancing, laughing, wearing a costume, accepting an award, or even playing a character by the end of the evening.”
Audience participation is always optional, and actors are trained to recognize each guest’s comfort level.
Hanging Cow Productions will return to Taormina’s on Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. with “Greased Lightning: A Wydell High School Comedy Reunion,” an interactive parody inspired by the world of “Grease.”
Set years after graduation, the show invites guests to become honorary Wydell High School alumni. Throughout the evening, actors mingle with the audience while revealing what became of characters including Dannie Duko, Candie Olson, Grizzo and other familiar-inspired personalities.
The production will include dinner, comedy, music, dancing, contests and awards. Some guests may even become part of the story or be named prom king or queen.
“From the moment guests walk through the door, they’re treated as fellow Wydell High alumni,” Milner said. “Our cast mingles, jokes, dances, sings, and reminisces with the audience.”
The couple’s return to Westchester also helped them become more involved in the local arts community. Through their connection with Scarlet Antonia of Antonia Arts, they have served as volunteer assistant producers for the Ozland Arts Festival.
“We don’t look at other artists as competition,” Milner said. “I look at them as collaborators.”
Twenty-four years after founding Hanging Cow Productions, Milner and Berlino continue creating original theatre while working to provide opportunities for performers and bring audiences together.
“Theatre may begin with a script, but it only comes to life because of the incredible people who choose to be part of it,” Milner said. “It truly takes a village to create live theatre, and Chris and I never forget that.”
“Greased Lightning: A Wydell High School Comedy Reunion” will be presented Saturday, Aug. 1, at 7 p.m. at Taormina’s Restaurant in Peekskill.
