#At Home at the Zoo

[ginger1982]

63th OBIES AWARDS (Off-Broadway Theater Awards) for "At Home At The Zoo". “I’m not sure I would have liked Edward Albee, but I adore his work” 😁

[notesonnewyork]

“You fight, you miserable bastard; fight for that bench; fight for your parakeets; fight for you cats; fight for your two daughters; fight for you wife; fight for your manhood, you pathetic little vegetable!”

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(Jerry to Peter in “The Zoo Story” by Edward Albee, 1958. Photo by Riff Chorusriff. The stage of the Signature Theatre between Act One and Act Two of Albee’s “At Home at the Zoo: Homelife & The Zoo Story.” February 17, 2018....

Seeing the show before didn’t prepare me for its stabbing finale. Even having played Jerry once was nothing compared to the punch I incurred while sitting in the audience. As he succumbed to his wound thanking Peter for delivering the blade, Jerry made me wonder if Albee wrote Peter as a closeted gay man.

Now that “The Zoo Story” is performed with “Homelife”--something Albee wrote in 2004--there’s more evidence for the idea. In “Homelife,” we meet Peter before his “Zoo Story” encounter with Jerry in Central Park. As he speaks with his wife Ann, Peter reveals that their twenty-year marriage is a “pleasant voyage on a safe ship.” But Ann wants something more: chaos. Although they made a “pact” to live an uneventful life together, Ann worries that they have become too civil. Moreover, Peter’s reluctance or inability to “hurt” her is the most worrying. Why? Well, after a sexual experience in college where he became “animalistic” and took a woman from behind, Peter vowed never to act that way again. In other words, he “tamed” himself for Ann, but she can sense his uneasy restraint. She tells him plainly, “You’re good at making love, but terrible at f**king.” 

Thanks to Jerry’s emotional and sometimes physical “nudging” later on that bench in Central Park, Peter unclasps his self-control. Suddenly, he becomes who he really is, releasing an unbridled aggression upon Jerry. Was it sexual tension? Did Peter’s “pleasant voyage” with Ann simply constitute a vessel in which to imprison it? Was that college incident too frightening to dwell upon since it brought him in touch with his true nature? Whatever the reason, the consequence of Peter’s outburst is left slacking on the park bench as the stage lights fade: Jerry’s lifeless cadaver.)

[frontmezzjunkies]

Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo: To Be or Not To Be An Animal or Vegetable.

#frontmezzjunkies reviews: #EdwardAlbee's #AtHomeAtTheZoo @SignatureTheatr #Homelife #TheZooStory #LilaNeugebauer #KatieFinneran #RobertSeanLeonard

The Review: Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo: Homelife & The Zoo Story

By Ross

Making his Off-Broadway debut back in 1959, Edward Albee gave American theater a jolting and surprising great gift in the form of his visceral, award-winning one-act play, The Zoo Story. The play, having been first rejected by numerous American producers was forced to be performed for the first time over in West…

[sweatytooothedmadman]

Can you guys believe that I saw Robert Sean Leonard on stage just two days ago?? I was three rows away from that bitch??? He was amazing and the show was hella. 

[ghostconch]

At Home at the Zoo - Edward Albee, Signature Theatre (2018)

[fuckyeahgreatplays]

I’ve only ever seen Zoo Story performed by awkward high school boys...can’t wait to see it with professional awkward high school boy Robert Sean Leonard

[larryland]

Pittsfield, MA – At an SRO ceremony held on the stage of the St. Germain Theatre at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, the Board of the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association presented the Berkshire Theatre Awards on the evening of Monday, November 6, 2017. This was the second year the awards have been presented to honor and celebrate the excellence and diversity of theatre in the greater Berkshire region.

Critics J. Peter Bergman and Macey Levin once again hosted the ceremony, which saw top honors for Best Play go to the Berkshire Theatre Group’s production of David Auburn’s Lost Lake, and a tie between Barrington Stage Company’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company and the Mac-Haydn Theatre’s production of Hello, Dolly! for Best Musical.

The Berkshire Theatre Group captured both of the Outstanding Direction awards, with Eric Hill winning for his production of Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo, and James Barry for his direction of the musical Million Dollar Quartet.

Joel Ripka took home the award for Outstanding Solo Performance in Chester Theatre Company’s production of Duncan Macmillan’s Every Brilliant Thing, directed by Daniel Elihu Kramer. That production was also honored as Outstanding New Play of the season. The Oldcastle Theatre Company production of Shipwrecked!… directed by Eric Peterson, won for Oustanding Ensemble Performance for actors John Hadden, David Joseph, and Carla Woods.

The Larry Murray Award for Community Outreach and Support through Theater went to WAM Theatre and Artistic Director Kristen van Ginhoven for their innovative double philanthropic mission whereby they donate a portion of the box office proceeds of every major production to a non-profit organization that benefits women and girls. Since its founding in 2010, WAM Theatre has donated more than $41,500 to thirteen nonprofit organizations.

In addition to the awards, Charles Guiliano and Gail M. Burns gave a special tribute to the Berkshire Theatre Association founder, the late Larry Murray, who passed away in March of this year. Kristen van Ginhoven presented a monologue entitled The Last Activist Standing.  

2017 Berkshire Theatre Awards (winners appear in Boldface) 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play: Nominees: Jessica Hecht – The Clean House – Williamstown Theatre Festival; Ella Loudon – The Tempest – Shakespeare & Co; Medina Senghore – Intimate Apparel – Shakespeare & Co; Zoë Laiz – 4000 Miles – Shakespeare & Co.

Jessica Hecht in a scene from the Williamstown Theatre Festival’s production of “The Clean House” by Sarah Ruhl. Photo by Daniel Rader.

Jessica Hecht

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play: Nominees: Joey Collins – At Home At the Zoo – Berkshire Theatre Group; Mark H. Dold – This – Barrington Stage Company; Carson Elrod – Taking Steps – Barrington Stage Company; Rocco Sisto – The Birds – Barrington Stage Company

Joey Collins (left) and David Adkins both took home awards for their performances in Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo at the Berkshire Theatre Group. Photo by Emma K. Rothenberg-Ware.

Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play or Musical: Nominees: Riccardo Hernandez – The Clean House – Williamstown Theatre Festival; Randall Parsons – Arsenic and Old Lace – Berkshire Theatre Group; Brian Prather – Ragtime – Barrington Stage Company; Kristen Robinson – Company – Barrington Stage Company

Brian Prather’s award-winning set for Barrington Stage Company’s production of Ragtime can be seen in all its glory in this scene featuring Frances Evans & J. Anthony Crane. Photo by  Daniel Rader.

Outstanding Choreography: Nominees: Jeffrey Page – Company – Barrington Stage Company; Freddy Ramirez – Mamma Mia – Capital Rep; Sebastiani Romagnolo – Hello, Dolly! – Mac-Haydn Theatre; Shea Sullivan – Ragtime – Barrington Stage Company

The Waiters’ Gallop exemplifies Sebastiani Romagnolo’s award-winning choreography for Hello, Dolly! at the Mac-Haydn Theatre.

Outstanding Direction of a Muscial: Nominees: James Barry – Million Dollar Quartet – Berkshire Theatre Group; Joe Calaraco – Ragtime – Barrington Stage Company; Trey Compton – Godspell 2012 – Theater Barn; John Saunders – Hello, Dolly! – Mac-Haydn Theatre

James Barry, director of Million Dollar Quartet” at the Berkshire Theatre Group.

The cast of Million Dollar Quartet. Photo by Emma K. Rothenberg-Ware.

Outstanding Costume Design of a Play or Musical: Nominees: Tyler Kinney – Cymbeline – Shakespeare & Co; Govane Lohbauer – Emilie… – WAM Theatre; Bethany Marx – Hello, Dolly! – Mac-Haydn Theatre; Sara Jean Tosetti – Ragtime – Barrington Stage Company

Bella Merlin sports one of Tyler Kinney’s award-winning costumes for Shakespeare & Company’s production of Cymbeline. Photo by Stratton McCrady

Outstanding Solo Performance: Nominees: Kyle Branzel – Buyer & Cellar – Weston Playhouse; Ed Dixon – Georgie – Barrington Stage Company; Joel Ripka – Every Brilliant Thing – Chester Theatre; Oliver Wadsworth – The Tarnation of Russell Colvin – Dorset Theatre Festival

Joel Ripka, winner of the Outstanding Solo Performer award, interacts with an audience member in the Chester Theatre Company production of “Every Brilliant Thing” by Duncan Macmillan. Photo by Elizabeth Solaka.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical: Nominees: Ellen Harvey – Company – Barrington Stage Company; Rachel Rhodes-Devey – Hello, Dolly! – Mac-Haydn Theatre; Madison Stratton – Spamalot – Mac-Haydn Theatre; Zurin Villanueva – Ragtime – Barrington Stage Company

Ellen Harvey as Joanne in Barrington Stage Company’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company.” Photo by Daniel Rader.

Ellen Harvey

Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play or Musical: Nominees: Mike Baldassari – Children of a Lesser God – Berkshire Theatre Group; Chris Lee – Ragtime – Barrington Stage Company; David Weiner – Where Storms Are Born – Williamstown Theatre Festival; Robert Wierzel – A Legendary Romance – Williamstown Theatre Festival

David Weiner’s award-winning lighting illuminates Arnulfo Maldonado’s set for Where Storms Are Born at the  Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical: Nominees: Gabe Belyeu – Hello, Dolly! – Mac-Haydn Theatre; Gil Brady – Mamma Mia – Capital Rep; Roe Harftrampf – A Legendary Romance – Williamstown Theatre Festival; Paul Urriola – Guys and Dolls – Theater Barn

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical winner Roe Harftrampf and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical nominee Lora Lee Gayer in A Legendary Romance at the  Williamstown Theatre Festival. Photo by Daniel Rader.

Outstanding Direction of a Play: Nominees: Eric Hill – At Home At the Zoo – Berkshire Theatre Group; Kenny Leon – Children of a Lesser God – Berkshire Theatre Group; Regge Life – God of Carnage – Shakespeare & Company; Rebecca Taichman – The Clean House – Williamstown Theatre Festival

Scott Killian, winner of the Berkie award for Outstanding Sound Design for his work on the Berkshire Theatre Group production of David Auburn’s “Lost Lake.”

Eric Hill, winner of Outstanding Direction of a Play for Edward Albee’s “At Home at the Zoo” at the Berkshire Theatre Group.

Outstanding Sound Design of a Play or Musical: Nominees: Scott Killian – Lost Lake – Berkshire Theatre Group; Ryan Rumery – The Legend of Georgia McBride – Dorset Theatre Festival; Alex Sovronsky – The Last Wife – WAM Theatre; David Thomas – The Birds – Barrington Stage Company

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical: Nominee: Lora Lee Gayer – A Legendary Romance – Williamstown Theatre Festival; Emily Kron – Sweeney Todd – Mac-Haydn Theatre; Elizabeth Stanley – Ragtime – Barrington Stage Company; Monica M. Wemitt – Hello, Dolly! – Mac-Haydn Theatre

Emily Kron as Mrs. Lovett in the Mac-Haydn Theatre production of “Sweeney Todd.”

Emily Kron

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical: Nominees: Darnell Abraham – Ragtime – Barrington Stage Company; Mark Hardy – Sweeney Todd – Mac-Haydn Theatre; Jeff McCarthy – A Legendary Romance – Williamstown Theatre Festival; Aaron Tveit – Company – Barrington Stage Company

Darnell Abraham

Darnell Abraham and members of the cast of Barrington Stage Company’s production of “Ragtime.” Photo by Daniel Rader.

Outstanding New Play or Musical: Nominees: Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan, Daniel Elihu Kramer, director – Chester Theatre, producer; I and You by Lauren Gunderson, Kristen Van Ginhoven, director – Chester Theatre, producer; A Legendary Romance by Timothy Prager and Geoff Morrow, Lonny Price, director – Williamstown Theatre Festival, producer; Where Storms are Born by Harrison David Rivers, Shaheem Ali, director – Williamstown Theatre Festival, producer

Joel Ripka interacting with audience members in the Chester Theatre Company production of Duncan Macmillan’s “Every Brilliant Thing,” directed by Daniel Elihu Kramer. Photo by Elizabeth Solaka.

Daniel Elihu Kramer, Artistic Director of the Chester Theatre Company

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play: Nominees: Lynnette R. Freeman – Lost Lake – Berkshire Theatre Group; Diane Prusha – Wharton Comedies – Shakespeare & Co; Lauren Ridloff – Children of a Lesser God – Berkshire Theatre Group; Kim Stauffer – Emilie… – WAM Theatre

Lynnette R. Freeman, winner of the award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a play for her performance in David Auburn’s “Lost Lake” at the Berkshire Theatre Group

Lynnette R. Freeman and Quentin Maré in the Berkshire Theatre Group’s production of David Auburn’s “Lost Lake.” Photo by Emma K. Rothenberg-Ware.

Outstanding Ensemble Performance: Nominees: Baskerville – Dorset Theatre Festival; God of Carnage – Shakespeare & Company; Shipwrecked!. . . – Oldcastle Theatre; Skeleton Crew – Chester Theatre

Carla Woods, John Hadden, and David Jospeh, winners of Outstanding Ensemble Cast for their performances in Donald Marguilies’ “Shipwrecked!…” directed by Eric Peterson at the Oldcastle Theatre Company. Photo by Erika Floriani.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play: Nominees: David Adkins – At Home At the Zoo – Berkshire Theatre Group; Quentin Maré – Lost Lake – Berkshire Theatre Group; Nigel Gore – The Tempest – Shakespeare & Company; Oliver Wadsworth – Emilie… – WAM Theatre

The Larry Murray Award for Community Outreach and Support through Theater: Nominees: Julianne Boyd, Barrington Stage Company; Mandy Greenfield, Williamstown Theatre Festival; Kate Maguire, Berkshire Theatre Group; Kristen Van Ginhoven, WAM Theatre

Kristen van Ginhoven, co-founder and Artistic Director of WAM Theatre.

On November 5 WAM Theatre presented their thirteenth beneficiary, Soldier On Women’s Program, with $9,000 – a portion of the box office receipts from their production of “The Last Wife” by Kate Hennig. Photo by Emma K. Rothenberg-Ware.

Outstanding Production of a Musical: TIE VOTE! Nominees: Company – Barrington Stage Company; Hello, Dolly! – Mac-Haydn Theatre; A Legendary Romance – Williamstown Theatre Company; Sweeney Todd – Mac-Haydn Theatre

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Outstanding Production of a Play: Nominees: The Birds – Barrington Stage Company; Children of a Lesser God – Berkshire Theatre Group; The Clean House – Williamstown Theatre Festival; Lost Lake – Berkshire Theatre Group

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2017 Berkshire Theatre Award Winners Announced! Pittsfield, MA - At an SRO ceremony held on the stage of the St. Germain Theatre at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, the Board of the…

[13mtm80]

[CC] Deaf West's Facebook Live: Backstage @ #AtHomeAtTheZoo

See Edward Albee's "At Home at the Zoo", March 7th-26th, 2017.

Buy tickets here [25% off code- DWT]: [X]

Director: Coy Middlebrook Assistant Director: Sandra Mae Frank

Cast-

Peter: Troy Kotsur

Jerry:

Russell Harvard [March 7th-15th]

Tyrone Giordano [March 16th-26th]

Ann: Amber Zion

Voice of Peter: Jake Eberle

Voice of Jerry: Jeff Alan-Lee

Voice of Ann: Paige Lindsey White

[ladyluthien]

Hey so my friend has always wanted to start a theatre production company and this is their first show, but they don’t have capital to buy lights and props and costumes for it to get the ball rolling. They are very cool people and if you are in Denver I encourage you to use this site to preorder tickets. 

[noexitpursuedbyabear-blog]

At Home at the Zoo by Edward Albee

Second Stage

[larryland]

by Macey Levin

Edward Albee burst onto the theatre scene in 1957 with his stark and multi-layered The Zoo Story leading into a celebrated career that includes Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Tiny Alice, A Delicate Balance, Seascape, The Goat and many others. He is known for his thematic concepts regarding the relationship amongst families, communication or lack of it and analytical introspection.  Many of his characters are unsympathetic.  The audience may understand their perspectives but not empathize with them.  This is the case in At Home at the Zoo currently at Berkshire Theatre Group’s Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge, MA.

Almost since The Zoo Story was written people have wondered where Peter was before he arrived at the park for the impending confrontation with Jerry.  This play is in two acts: the first is entitled Home Life, which shows Peter earlier that day;  The complete The Zoo Story is second.

Joey Collins is Jerry.

Tara Franklin is Anne.

David Adkins is Peter.

Home Life opens when Peter’s (David Adkins) wife Ann (Tara Franklin) enters the living room and says “We should talk.”  Being absorbed in a text book his company has published, he doesn’t respond.  As she urges him to speak about their marriage they reveal secrets of their past lives and insights into their relationship.  Peter is more reluctant to discuss their issues while Ann’s ferocity pushes him into confronting the ailments within their marriage.  This upper middle class couple with two daughters and two parakeets living in an expensively decorated high-rise apartment building don’t know each other’s needs.  Becoming agitated but hiding his emotion, Peter leaves to go sit and read on his favorite bench in a deserted spot in Central Park.

The second act opens with Peter reading on his bench when Jerry (Joey Collins) encounters him and says, repeatedly, “I went to the zoo today.”  Peter is at first polite and carries his part of the conversation until Jerry becomes more and more argumentative.  He delivers a 17-minute monologue where he tells Peter about his derelict life currently centered on a dog who lives in the same shabby apartment house.  Similarly, Jerry is as forceful as Ann in confronting Peter, something he finally cannot tolerate.

Both plays invoke Albee’s constant themes of family, communication and self-inspection.  In this production they are heightened by the masterful work of director Eric Hill, who has the ability to elicit nuanced performances and to plumb the demands of the script and the author’s intention.  He is abetted by his cast who propel both plays into deep emotional experiences.

Adkins’ Peter spends a great deal of time listening, especially to Jerry.  Though he may not saying anything, the actor is fully involved in each scene. He maintains a softness tempered by moments of anger in both plays.  This is expert acting.  Ann is a woman who feels trapped despite her love for her husband.  Franklin brings a  force to this woman that springs from somewhere deep inside as she tries to define her needs and her pain.  The most psychotically damaged character is Jerry.  Collins plays against this by not shrieking or stomping using a quiet intensity to precipitate the conflict and striking ending.

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Randall Parsons’ scene design for both acts is simple using minimal pieces to portray the ambience of each setting.  Lighting by Solomon Weisbard and the costumes by David Murin enhance the tone and defining elements of the production.

This is a dynamic and searing production of a master playwright at work.

At Home at the Zoo (Zoo Story) By Edward Albee; Directed by Eric Hill; Cast:  David Adkins (Peter) Joey Collins (Jerry) Tara Franklin (Ann); Scenic design: Randall Parsons; Costume design: David Murin; Lighting design: Solomon Weisbard; Sound design: J. Hagenbuckle; Stage Manager: Chandalae Nyswonger; Running Time: Two hours; one intermission ; Berkshire Theatre Group, Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge, MA; 7/19/17; closing 8/26/17

    REVIEW: “At Home at The Zoo” in Stockbridge by Macey Levin Edward Albee burst onto the theatre scene in 1957 with his stark and multi-layered…

[passportphotograph]

At Home at the Zoo. WWU Theatre.

[cherrry]

Two Splendid Reviews!

"At Home at the Zoo" received 2 great reviews after opening weekend.  Yay!

Encore

Examiner

Come see the show!

[ginger1982]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfkP3bplHyl/

[ginger1982]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfUgjZPFpfN/