Adamwas released in theaters last July, 29. The story follows Adam a twenty something man as he struggles to keep his job, move on from the death of his father, and operate day to day with Asperger’s Syndrome. Adam’s regimented schedule is thrown off when he discovers his beautiful new neighbor Beth. Their love story is unlike any other, as Beth discovers what it means to have Asperger’s and Adam learns how to adjust to having a girlfriend. The tale is beautifully told by the amazing acting of Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne. Catch this film while it is still in theaters, it is well deserving of your support.
The 2009 Summer Play Festival runs from July 7th to August 2nd and will feature seven new plays and one new musical for only $10!! The productions include:
The ChimesbyKevin Christopher Snipes, directed byAdam Immerwahr Departure LoungebyDougal Irivine, directed byChristopher Gattelli The Happy Sad byKen Urban, directed byTrip Cullman ReborningbyZayd Dohrn, directed byKip Fagan The SacrificesbyAlena Smith, directed bySam Gold TenderbyNicki Bloom, directed byDaniella Topol We Declare You A TerroristbyTim J. Lord, directed byNiegel Smith WhorebyRick Viede, directed byStephen Brackett
Tickets are available atThe Public Theater box office, 425 Lafayette Street in Manhattan, on Sunday and Monday from 1PM-6PM and Tuesday through Saturday from 1PM-7:30PM (212-967-7555). Tickets also are available for purchase online at theSummer Play Festival website ( www.spfnyc.com).
Leslie Ayvazian has done it for a second time. Her new full length screenplay, entitled Make Me, has been brought to life on Atlantic Theater’s second stage under the direction of Christian Parker. The play follows three story lines involving 6 people who are at a turning point in their relationships. All, consciously or subconsciously, are effected by each other and drawn to grey the lines between day-to-day patterns, power, and control.
The highly talented and stage savvy cast played believably between each other and alone. Jessica Hect was lovable and relatable as the wife and mother, Connie. Her presence with the audience was vivid yet natural and her slight awkwardness was almost comforting to watch. Others including Anthony Arkin, Candy Buckley, and Richard Masur graced the stage with understanding and depth. Even still, Ellen Parker and J.R. Horne were both believable and touching as Sissy and Hank, the retired couple next door, the perhaps nosey couple, the sweet and nurturing couple and together the two shared the most precious moment of the production. The two are seated on the couch and in a moment of complete silence, all emotion is completely understood.
Make Me opened last night, Sunday May 31st and will continue it’s run at the Atlantic Stage 2 through Sunday, June 14th. The limited engagement will go by quickly and it is one you should place close to top on your must see Off-Broadway productions.
In a world that is currently plagued with budget cuts and job loss it was incredibly refreshing to experience something new and exciting. The Obie Awards went down last night like a crazy runaway circus, in a good way, and for the first time ever running tandum to the Village Voice theater Awards was the Creative Block. The Creative Block was a sort of showcase for artists, and performers and gave the Obie’s that extra umpth to set it apart from all other award shows.
Martha Plimpton and Daniel Breaker co-hosted the awards portion of the night, Plimpton claimed the venue brought back memories of her first cocaine use and losing her virginity. Presenters like Anne Hathaway and Karen Olivo gave out awards to Stephen Sondheim for Music and Lyrics, David Cromer for Direction of Our Town, and Francois Battiste for Performance in The Good Negro.
Hot shirtless men walked around showcasing artwork by Michael Breyette, musical performances by Joey Arias, and Project Jenny Project Jan, burlesque so hot and steamy it made the venue smell like dirty crotch, a woman who could fling herself around on a rope, two girls called “Gravity plays favorites” that could pole dance like non other, made up some of the acts to keep the night going.
Webster Hall was enthusiastically charged and rightfully so. The OBIES celebrate the countless talent of all those involved in off-broadway productions. It’s a night to remember, a night to dazzle, and a night to inspire.
The corporate world is known neither for excitement nor fun. Leave it to Academy Award winning film maker Ethan Coen to make it undeniably hysterical. Offices opened last night at Manhattan’s Atlantic Theatre Company where it will enlight and entertain audiences through June 7th.
The hour and thirty minute production is brimming with character as three, one-act plays take life on stage. In these separate offices, home life and the workplace don’t always mesh and “climbing the ladder” appears misanthropic and alienating. The cast, under the fabulous direction of Neil Pepe, is sensational. Aya Cash takes on three separate roles with ease and agility while F. Murray Abraham is uproariously entertaining as the bum in “Struggle Session”. His character had to be one of my favorites. Philosophical and paradoxical with a dialogue you would never dream of falling asleep to, but really, would you expect any less from our Coen brother? I think not.
Prospect Theater Company is celebrating 10 years of existence with a spectacular theatrical collaboration. Collage-like in essence, The Dome encompasses three separate story lines, monologues, solos, and inspiration from the very space in which the performance takes life.
The West End Theatre on Manhattan’s upper west side has worked with Prospect since 2003 and is closely linked to the church residing within the same building. The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul has housed various religious communities in need of space. After gaining landmark status in the 1980′s the interest to develop the theater space grew but questions on how to fund the process became a major concern. Benevolently enough, Paramount Pictures found the space and wanted to shoot the movie “Keeping The Faith” there which was a solution to the financial situation. The architecture of the building became a major model for which The Dome was built on. Cara Reichel, artistic director, expressed that the space is “designed both to allow us to escape ourselves, and to make us aware of our humanity” which coincides with the themes of universe and birth that saturate the performance and cause the audience to contemplate philosophies of the world all around us.
I was continually impressed by the manor in which the very separate story lines and solo scenes flowed so naturally, as if we the audience were sitting on the outside of earth, looking in. Was the audience sitting in the perspective of god, empathetically watching lives unfold where time and space all meshed into one or were we just a part of the bigger picture asking the unanswerable along with the characters in which we observed? All that is certain is that life, whatever it may be, is the heart that continues to beat, beat… beat.
The Dome is playing through March 1st at the West End Theater. Get tickets, period.
Exit The King, Le Roi se meurt, is a drama of absurdity where King Berenger the First struggles to come to terms with his 400 year reign coming to an end. Berenger was at one point able to command nature and force his will upon others, but when the audience meets Berenger he has been made aware that death is around the corner, his powers are slowly dwindling and his kingdom is falling. Geoffrey Rush is unbelievably endearing as the king, personifying a sort of irritating distress while remaining unquestionably lovable. Susan Sarandon and Lauren Ambrose, as the two queens of the king, maintain their polarized demeanors, creating continual depth and understanding.
Exit the King sets itself apart from “the Berenger Cycle” in that as the play progresses the characters start to dwindle, where in every other play by Euguene Ionesco progression leads to more and more characters and objects on stage. Ionesco has said he wrote Exit the King while he was sick and frightened of death which could atone for its break away from the avant-garde and its lean more towards the classical.
Under the direction of Neil Armfield and music by John Rodgers, stars like Geoffrey Rush, Susan Sarandon, Lauren Ambrose and Andrea Martin, hands down, make the 14 week engagement one you don’t want to miss.
The New York Times claimed The Garden of Earthly Delight “ one of the most eerily hypnotic spectacles of flesh in motion ever put on a New York stage.” Martha Clarke brings Hieronymus Bosch’s painting to life. Through dance, theater, and music the cast of The Garden of Earthly Delight tells the story of creation, sin, damnation and salvation. This show is an experience you don’t want to miss. Closing night is March 1, 2009.
Two bookcases, a desk, and a few chairs adorn the modest stage. As the hour nears 8pm, the 99 seats of the Algonquin Theater fill up quickly. An audience always carries a heightened sense of excitement in more intimate theaters. No seat goes without a close and in person view of the set and characters coming to life.
Dr. Peterson is a psychiatrist dealing with individuals from “all slices of life.” Sunshine is an alcoholic, Mary is abused by her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Murphy fight constantly, Milton is a Bob Dylan impersonator trying to be anything but himself, and Leila is a sassy gal filled with self-doubt. The characters are fairly stereotypical and over exaggerated but there is one who stole the show. Scott Richard Foster, who plays George Preston, is an absolute talent. His acting is spot on while his voice creates the chills.
Albert M. Tapper’s musical Sessions opens at the Algonquin Theater January 14th. Tickets are $50 or $20 if you are a student or senior, well worth it even if it is only to see Scott Richard Foster work the stage.
A married couple tries to set up their friends, what should have been a harmless deed takes an interesting turn in this witty, romantic story. Gina Gionfriddo is no stranger to the Broadway theater scene. Becky Shaw will be her 3rd play to run in New York. The play began to create buzz at the Humana Festival of New American Plays at the Actors Theater of Louisville back in April, and just 9 months later it is now previewing at The Second Stage Theater. The official opening is set for January 8th, 2009. This is not a ticket you want to wait around to buy, the show is only on until February.
Adam was released in theaters last July, 29. The story follows Adam a twenty something man as he struggles to keep his job, move on from the death of his father, and operate day to day with Asperger’s Syndrome. Adam’s regimented schedule is thrown off when he discovers his beautiful new neighbor Beth. Their love story is unlike any other, as Beth discovers what it means to have Asperger’s and Adam learns how to adjust to having a girlfriend. The tale is beautifully told by the amazing acting of Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne. Catch this film while it is still in theaters, it is well deserving of your support.
Hot shirtless men walked around showcasing artwork by 
Webster Hall was enthusiastically charged and rightfully so. The OBIES celebrate the countless talent of all those involved in off-broadway productions. It’s a night to remember, a night to dazzle, and a night to inspire.
Exit The King
Two bookcases, a desk, and a few chairs adorn the modest stage. As the hour nears 8pm, the 99 seats of the 
A married couple tries to set up their friends, what should have been a harmless deed takes an interesting turn in this witty, romantic story. Gina Gionfriddo is no stranger to the Broadway theater scene. Becky Shaw will be her 3rd play to run in New York. The play began to create buzz at the 
