#Dev Bondarin

[writemarcus]

Dev Bondarin is directing a reading of my kitchen-sink dramedy TUMBLEWEED with the UP Theater Company (www.uptheater.org). The reading will take place on Sunday, January 21st at 3pm at Ft. Washington Collegiate Church located at 729 W. 181st St. (1 train to 181st).

Kirby Fields, artistic director of the UP Theatre Company recently spoke with the Manhattan News recently about their Dead of Winter series: ‘Fields says it is particularly gratifying to establish relationships with writers. Marcus Scott, who wrote the third play in the series, “Tumbleweed,” came to a staged reading last year. Then he sent Fields a number of his own plays.

“This guy is just bursting with ideas,” said Fields. “He’s pulling from philosophy, pop culture…he’s culling from all different racial dynamics on stage and putting them all together.” Directed by Dev Bondarin, the play revolves around a young Black woman with “hair like a tumbleweed” who tries to reconcile different standards of beauty.’

👩🏾‍🦱👩🏿‍🦱👩🏽‍🦱👩🏾‍🦱👩🏿‍🦱👩🏽‍🦱👩🏾‍🦱👩🏿‍🦱👩🏽‍🦱👩🏾‍🦱👩🏿‍🦱👩🏽‍🦱👩🏾‍🦱👩🏿‍🦱👩🏽‍🦱👩🏾‍🦱👩🏿‍🦱👩🏽‍🦱

Read the story: Manhattan Times

[avocadohamilton]

Raisin

Okay, so I’m guessing y’all read A Raisin in the Sun at some point in school? 

Maybe it was just my school, but I’m here to tell you about Raisin.It’s a musical based on the play

Book: Robert Nemiroff and Charlotte Zaltzberg 

Music:  Judd Woldin

Lyrics: Robert Brittan

Director: Dev Bondarin

Synopsis from APAC:

“ Raisin is a musical adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry’s revolutionary A Raisin in the Sun, and has a book co-written by the executor of her literary estate, Robert Nemiroff. In segregated 1950s Chicago, Walter Lee Younger and his mother Lena fight over the spending of insurance money. He wants to start a business with friends, while she is eager to move the family out of the south side and into Clybourne Park. Pulsing with the musical beat of the city, Raisin depicts a black family’s struggle in the face of change. “

Now here’s my opinion on it. 

I. Love. It.

I was first introduced to it by my mother when I was looking through her record collection. I quickly listened to the entire the entire cast album and I’m instantly hooked.

Let me tell you, Walter Lee is WILD 

One of my favorite songs “Not Anymore” is about basically things that white people “don’t do anymore” when colored people move into white neighborhoods. it’s a whole extremely sarcastic song and I find it soooo clever (CW: references to KKK and lynching) 

Walter Lee (in my mind) relates to Hamilton a lot (I’ll probably be making some edits with his lyrics) In the fact that he’ll do anything just to move up in the world.

Favorite/Defining Quotes (Walter):

“No way I’m ever gonna be a man of means swimming with sardines”

“It’s always been money, we just didn’t know it. That’s all.” (In response to “Freedom used to be life”)

“The top of the mountain is easy when you’ve got the fare.”

”There’s the good and the bad but the good always come up the fools!”

I’m talking about this now because it seems like this musical has disappeared off the face of this earth? I’ve found hardly any lyrics, videos or much discussion at all. 

Raisin has won 2 Tony’s (Best Musical and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Virginia Capers)) and was nominated for 9!!!

Raisin also won a Grammy for the Best Musical Theater Album!!!

Now I don’t really know what I’m trying to prove by writing this but I just want more people to know about this amazing musical! Message me if you want to talk about it! I’m also trying to transcribe lyrics to make it more accessible, I’ve already got some up on Genius but I still need help with lyrics and entire songs! 

I hope this convinced you to listen to Raisin, and thanks for reading all of this! 

[newyorktheater]

Below is the list of nominations for the 13th annual New York Innovative Theater Awards, which celebrates the best of the city’s independent theater  — aka Off-Off Broadway. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on September 25th, 2017.

In The Room

Minor Character: Six Translations of Uncle Vanya at the Same Time

Men of Tortuga

The Red Room

The Underpants Godot

The Woman Who Was Me

Whales

Raisin

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE

Matt Harrington, Suzy Jane Hunt, Chelsea Melone, Susan Neuffer, Jacob Perkins, Rob Karma Robinson In the Room, Kelli Giddish with Slant Theatre Project, in association with Wheelhouse Theater Company

Michael Broadhurst, Curzon Dobell, Ken Forman, Benim Foster, Allen McCullough Men of Tortuga, Living Room theatre

Brittany Allen, Vinie Burrows, Ugo Chukwu, Constance Cooper, Milo Cramer, Fernando Gonzalez, Jonathan Gordon, David Greenspan, Tommy Heleringer, Chris Henry, Veronica Hunsinger-Loe, Hannah Mitchell, Caitlin Morris, Craig Mungavin, Jeanna Phillips, Madeline Wis Minor Character: Six Translations of Uncle Vanya at the Same Time, New Saloon Theater Co. in association with Emily Kaplan & Immediate Medium

Maia Bedford, Aaron Casey, Shabazz Green, Chris Gwynn, Marcie Henderson, Greg Horton, Brandi Knox, Billy Lowrimore, Ebony Marshall-Oliver, Sarita Amani Nash, Warren Nolan, Jr., Chinua B. Payne, Tony Perry, Joi Danielle Price, Vanessa Robinson, Alicia Thomas, Cartreze Tucker Raisin, Astoria Performing Arts Center

Adam Baritot, Jefferson Behan, Amber Dewey, Samuel Floyd, David Fuller, John Jeffords, Zack Krajnyak, Samantha Kronenfeld, Lorinne Lampert, Tom McDonough, James Neufeld, Chrysten Peddie, Catherine Purcell, Mary Thorne, Tyler Whitaker Sweeney Todd, Theater 2020

Raquel Chavez, Shannon Condon, Kate Eastman, Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy, John Hardin, Patrick Harvey, Brian Demar Jones, Joe Jung, Peter Molesworth, Catherine Mullins, Andrew L. Ricci, Sam Richardson, Nora Rickey, Kate Ross, Will Sarratt, Caroline Smith, JT Stocks, Corey Whelihan The Tempest, Smith Street Stage

OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE

Dandy Darkly   Dandy Darkly’s Myth Mouth!, Dandy Darkly

William DeMeritt   Origin Story, Old Sound Room

Mariah MacCarthy Baby Mama: One Woman’s Quest to Give Her Child to Gay People, Caps Lock Theatre

Christine Renee Miller   Such Nice Shoes, FrokieCo.

Andrew W. Smith   The Gun Show (part of the Women in Theatre Festival), Project Y Theatre Company

Liz Stanton The Woman Who Was Me, Convergences Theatre Collective

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A LEAD ROLE

Jack Horton Gilbert Marian, Or The True Tale of Robin Hood, Flux Theatre Ensemble

Nico Grelli The Jamb, Hard Sparks

Michael Kingsbaker The Red Room, The Shelter

Warren Nolan Jr. Raisin, Astoria Performing Arts Center

Jeremy Tardy Dark Night Bright Stars, Yara Arts Group in association with La MaMa ETC

R. Scott Williams Boys of a Certain Age, Willow Theatricals

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A LEAD ROLE

Carla Briscoe Wine and Spirits, Red Shark Productions

Arlene Chico-Lugo Evensong, Astoria Performing Arts Center

Ashley Griffin Hamlet, A.N.O.N. Productions

Meghan E. Jones The Red Room, The Shelter

Sarah K. Lippmann Three Sisters, Obvious Volcano in association with Maggie Cino

Moira Stone Three Sisters, Obvious Volcano in association with Maggie Cino

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE

Christopher Borg And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, Retro Productions

Zachary Clark King Lear, The Secret Theatre

Griffin Hennelly Koalas are Dicks, Randomly Specific

Zack Krajnyak Sweeney Todd, Theater 2020

Jacob Perkins In the Room, Kelli Giddish with Slant Theatre Project, in association with Wheelhouse Theater Company

Jason Pintar The Underpants Godot, The Secret Theatre

Matthew Trumbull Marian, Or The True Tale of Robin Hood, Flux Theatre Ensemble

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE

Ivanna Cullinan Three Sisters, Obvious Volcano in association with Maggie Cino

Sharvari Deshpande The Queen, Aman Soni in association with Juggernaut Theatre Co. and Theater for the New City

MarieLouise Guinier Evensong, Astoria Performing Arts Center

Hannah Mitchell Minor Character: Six Translations of Uncle Vanya at the Same Time, New Saloon Theater Co. in association with Emily Kaplan & Immediate Medium

Samantha Schiffman You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Gallery Players

Kara Young In the Event of My Death, Stable Cable Lab Co. in association with IRT Theater

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY / MOVEMENT

Hettie Barnhill The Cabaret At The End Of The World, Hard Sparks

Tamrin Goldberg Raisin, Astoria Performing Arts Center

Lucia Knell For Annie, The Hearth

Rocio Mendez Marian, Or The True Tale of Robin Hood, Flux Theatre Ensemble

Sarah Sutliff Old Turtle and the Broken Truth, Rebel Playhouse

Jeremy Williams The Woman Who Was Me, Convergences Theatre Collective

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR

Dev Bondarin Raisin, Astoria Performing Arts Center

David Drake The Jamb, Hard Sparks

Morgan Green Minor Character: Six Translations of Uncle Vanya at the Same Time, New Saloon Theater Co. in association with Emily Kaplan & Immediate Medium

Ashley Griffin Hamlet, A.N.O.N. Productions

Adam Knight In the Room, Kelli Giddish with Slant Theatre Project, in association with Wheelhouse Theater Company

Emma Miller For Annie, The Hearth

Jeremy Williams The Woman Who Was Me, Convergences Theatre Collective

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN

Russ Bockemhuel & Luther Frank Titus, New York Deaf Theatre

Joe Cantalupo The Red Room, The Shelter

Catherine Clark Koalas are Dicks, Randomly Specific

Scot Gianelli #liberated, The Living Room

Kate Jaworski The Woman Who Was Me, Convergences Theatre Collective

Marika Kent Now is the Time, Little Lord in association with Abrons Arts Center

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN

Joseph Blaha The Queen, Aman Soni in association with Juggernaut Theatre Co. and Theater for the New City

Karen Boyer Now is the Time, Little Lord in association with Abrons Arts Center

Izzy Fields Anais Nin Goes to Hell, Manhattan Theatre Works (MTWorks) in association with Goode Productions

Jason E Frey Hedda (Gabler), Wandering Bark Theatre Co.

Emily Oliveira Minor Character: Six Translations of Uncle Vanya at the Same Time, New Saloon Theater Co. in association with Emily Kaplan & Immediate Medium

Jeannipher Pacheco Raisin, Astoria Performing Arts Center

Emily Rose Parman Much Ado About Nothing, Hudson Warehouse

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN

Christopher Bowser The Red Room, The Shelter

Jack and Rebecca Cunningham And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, Retro Productions

Meg McGuigan Koalas are Dicks, Randomly Specific

Lawrence E. Moten III Raisin, Astoria Performing Arts Center

Frank Oliva #liberated, The Living Room

Reid Thompson Empathitrax, Colt Coeur

OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN

Aidan Meyer The Red Room, The Shelter

Matt Otto Empathitrax, Colt Coeur

John Salutz The Cabaret At The End Of The World, Hard Sparks

Daniel Steffey Titus, New York Deaf Theatre

Jeanne Travis The City that Cried Wolf, State of Play Productions Inc

Emma Wilk Raisin, Astoria Performing Arts Center

OUTSTANDING INNOVATIVE DESIGN

Lianne Arnold for Projection Design Such Nice Shoes, FrokieCo.

David Bengali, John Erickson, Reid Farrington, Jorge Garcia-Spitz, David Mauro, Dan Monceaux, Leegrid Stevens for Video Design & Animation The Dudleys!, Loading Dock Theatre Company

Samantha Blain, Kristopher Dean, Claron Hayden, Casey Scott Leach, Carli Rhoades, Mikayla Stanley for Puppets Whales, Hit The Lights! Theatre Co.

Russ Bockemhuel & Luther Frank for Video Design Titus, New York Deaf Theatre

Karen Boyer for Puppets Now is the Time, Little Lord in association with Abrons Arts Center

Sara Slagle for properties And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, Retro Productions

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL MUSIC

Melody Bates & Rebecca Hart The Cabaret At The End Of The World, Hard Sparks

Samantha Blain, Kristopher Dean, Claron Hayden, Casey Scott Leach, Carli Rhoades, Mikayla Stanley Whales, Hit The Lights! Theatre Co.

Rachel Blumberg, Dandy Darkly, Bryce Edwards & Adam Tendler Dandy Darkly’s Myth Mouth!, Dandy Darkly

Deepali Gupta Minor Character: Six Translations of Uncle Vanya at the Same Time, New Saloon Theater Co. in association with Emily Kaplan & Immediate Medium

Julian Kytasty Dark Night Bright Stars, Yara Arts Group in association with La MaMa ETC

Daniel Steffey Titus, New York Deaf Theatre

Clara Strauch The Tempest, Smith Street Stage

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SHORT SCRIPT

Ryan King Antares Returning a part of The Spring Fling: Rebound, F*It Club

Dan Moyer All Is Bright a part of The Spring Fling: Rebound, F*It Club

Charlie O’Leary Precious Body a part of Landmarks & TRANSformations, Project Y Theatre Company

Junshin Soga One Fine Day, Junshin Soga

Christopher G. Ulloth Bi-Cycle a part of Landmarks & TRANSformations, Project Y Theatre Company

Kathleen Warnock How to Get Married in 5 Steps Over 17 Years a part of Landmarks & TRANSformations, Project Y Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL FULL-LENGTH SCRIPT

Melody Bates The Cabaret At The End Of The World, Hard Sparks

William DeMeritt & Elia Monte-Brown Origin Story, Old Sound Room

Lawrence Dial In the Room, Kelli Giddish with Slant Theatre Project, in association with Wheelhouse Theater Company

Mariah MacCarthy Baby Mama: One Woman’s Quest to Give Her Child to Gay People, Caps Lock Theatre

Morgan McGuire The Red Room, The Shelter

Aditya Rawal The Queen, Aman Soni in association with Juggernaut Theatre Co. and Theater for the New City

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE ART PRODUCTION

Dandy Darkly’s Myth Mouth! Dandy Darkly

The Infinite Wrench New York Neo-Futurists

Kevin!!!! Recent Cutbacks

Landmarks & TRANSformations Project Y Theatre Company

Now is the Time Little Lord in association with Abrons Arts Center

Rules The New Stage Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee The Secret Theatre

The Astonishing Times of Timothy Cratchit The Workshop Theater

Old Turtle and the Broken Truth Rebel Playhouse

Ragtime The Gallery Players

Raisin Astoria Performing Arts Center

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown The Gallery Players

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A PLAY

Hamlet A.N.O.N. Productions

King Lear The Secret Theatre

And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little Retro Productions

Much Ado About Nothing Hudson Warehouse

The Tempest Smith Street Stage

Three Sisters Obvious Volcano in association with Maggie Cino

OUTSTANDING PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF A PLAY

In the Room Kelli Giddish with Slant Theatre Project, in association with Wheelhouse Theater Company

Minor Character: Six Translations of Uncle Vanya at the Same Time New Saloon Theater Co. in association with Emily Kaplan & Immediate Medium

The Red Room The Shelter

The Underpants Godot The Secret Theatre

The Woman Who Was Me Convergences Theatre Collective

Whales Hit The Lights! Theatre Co.

NYIT Award Nominees 2017: Off-Off Broadway’s Finest Below is the list of nominations for the 13th annual New York Innovative Theater Awards, which celebrates the best of the city’s independent theater  — aka Off-Off Broadway.

[writemarcus]

Gingold Theatrical Group to Present SPEAKERS' CORNER New Play Development Workshops

Featuring: Karma Sutra Chai Tea Latte, Vigil-Aunties, There Goes The Neighborhood, and Howl From Up High.

by Chloe Rabinowitz May. 18, 2022  

Gingold Theatrical Group, now in its 17th Season, is continuing its new play development with the Plays-In-Progress AEA-approved Showcases of this year's SPEAKER'S CORNER Writers Group. This season, writers Aeneas Sagar Hemphill, Divya Mangwani, Marcus Scott and Mallory Jane Weiss are developing works in response to prompts from the revolutionary activist humanitarian writings and precepts of George Bernard Shaw. These Actors Equity Association approved 29-hour workshops culminate with a presentation as an opportunity for each playwright to assess where they are with their work and to determine the next steps to be taken. These invitation-only presentations will take place at ART-NY Studios (520 8th Avenue). Space for each final presentation is extremely limited and reservations must be made, so to request the opportunity to attend any of these events please email info@gingoldgroup.org This year's showcases will be:

Howl From Up High

by Mallory Jane Weiss, Directed by Lily Riopelle Thursday May 19th at 6pm Purva Bedi, Tori Ernst, Jacqueline Guillen, Sarah Rose Kearns, Adam Langdon, Collin McConnell; Assistant Director, Margaret Lee

Vigil-Aunties

by Divya Mangwani, Directed by Arpita Mukherjee Friday May 20th at 7pm Anya Banerji, Aadya Bedi, Sayali Niranjan Bramhe, Rahoul Roy, Mahima Saigal, Salma Shaw, and Rita Wolf; Assistant Director, Sara Vishnev

There Goes The Neighborhood

by Marcus Scott, Directed by Dev Bondarin Friday June 3rd at 7pm Phillip Burke, Shavanna Calder, Anthony Goss, Ashley Jossell, Olivia Kinter, Monique Robinson, David Rowen, Cliff Sellers; Stage Manager Elliot J. Cohen.

Karma Sutra Chai Tea Latte

by Aeneas Hemphill, Directed by Arpita Mukherjee, Monday June 6th at 2pm Shawn, Jain, Sean Devare, Salma Shaw, Khyati Sehgal, Mahima Saigal; Stage Manager Elliot J. Cohen

"Among the many programs we've developed over the last 17 years, developing new plays with the intent to produce and publish, has always been the most ambitious dream of all of us at Gingold. While we continue to produce our annual full off-Broadway productions of plays by George Bernard Shaw, we plan to add at least one new play to our schedule to share with our devoted patrons," said David Staller. Named after the corner of London's Hyde Park where George Bernard Shaw and other political speakers have delivered speeches since 1855, GTG's SPEAKERS' CORNER brings together six to ten writers each year who will spend the year exploring a specific Shaw play and writing individual new plays in response to that text and Shaw's forward thinking humanitarian ideals. Speakers' Corner members meet bi-monthly, and GTG will host showings of the works that Speakers' Corner develops at the end of the season. The group's members were identified through an open application process under the guidance of Becker, GTG Artistic Director David Staller, and this season's Speakers' Corner Readers and Advisory Committee: Ilana Becker, Stephen Brown-Fried, Ralph B. Peña, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Sharon Washington, along with Speakers' Corne alumni Hank Kim, and Lorenzo Roberts.

WRITERS:

Aeneas Sagar Hemphill (he/him) is an Indian-American playwright and screenwriter based in NYC and DC. Weaving through many genres, his work builds new worlds to illuminate our own, investigating the ghosts that haunt our lives and communities with passion, pathos, and humor. He was a 2019 Resident Artist with Monson Arts Center and 2017-2018 Playlab fellow at Pipeline Theatre, as well as semi-finalist for the 2019 Princess Grace Award, semi-finalist for the 2019 Mabou Mines Resident Artist Program, and finalist for the 2017 Many Voices Fellowship. His plays include: Black Hollow (Argo Collective, Dreamscape Theatre), The Troll King (Pipeline), Childhood Songs (Monson Arts), The Republic of Janet & Arthur (Amios), The Red Balloon (Noor Theatre), A Stitch Here or There (DarkHorse Dramatists, Slingshot Theatre), A Horse and a Housecat (Slingshot Theatre). MFA Playwriting, Columbia University. Divya Mangwani is a writer and theatre artist from Pune, India, based in New York. She examines the absurdities of the social, political and mythical. Her work focuses on global identity and belonging. Divya was the founder and Artistic Director of Moonbeam Factory Theatre, where she wrote, directed, and produced plays in India, Singapore and Glasgow. In New York, she has developed work with UNICEF, Soho Rep, New York Theatre Workshop, Gingold Theatrical Group, Rattlestick Theatre, Mabou Mines, Hypokrit Theatre, The Flea, Project Y, Pipeline Theatre, Rising Sun, and Governors Island. Divya is a recent fellow of the Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab and the Gingold Theatrical Group Speakers Corner and was a NYTW 2050 Artistic Fellow, Hypokrit Theatre Tamasha playwright, Project Y Writers Group and Playlab fellow at Pipeline Theatre. Divya has also worked as a journalist and editor at The Times of India, ESPN, Crisis Response Journal, and Daily News & Analysis. Marcus Scott is a dramatist & journalist. Selected work includes Tumbleweed (finalist for the 2017 Bay Area Playwrights Festival; semifinalist for the 2022 Eugene O'Neill Theater Center National Playwrights Conference, the 2022 Blue Ink Playwriting Award & the 2017 New Dramatists Princess Grace Fellowship Award), Sibling Rivalries (finalist for the 2021 Seven Devils Playwrights Conference; semi-finalist for the 2022 Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival, the 2021 Blue Ink Playwriting Award & the 2021 New Dramatists Princess Grace Fellowship Award) and Cherry Bomb (recipient of the 2017 Drama League First Stage Artist-In-Residence). He was commissioned by Heartbeat Opera to adapt Beethoven's Fidelio (Librettist/Co-writer; The Met Museum; NY Times Critic's Pick). Recently developed at Gingold Theatrical Group (Speaker's Corner), Zoetic Stage (Finstrom Festival Of New Work), Queens Theatre (New American Voices series) and The Road Theatre Company's Under Construction 3 Playwrights Group and Cohort 2 of the Southern Black Playwrights Lab at the Mojoaa Performing Arts Company. Scott is a 2021 NYSAF Founders' Award finalist and a 2021 Doric Wilson Independent Playwright Award semi-finalist. His articles appeared in Architectural Digest, Time Out New York, American Theatre Magazine, Playbill, Elle, Out, Essence, The Brooklyn Rail, among others. MFA: GMTWP, NYU Tisch. Mallory Jane Weiss's plays include Big Black Sunhats (The O'Neill National Playwrights Conference 2022; Clubbed Thumb Biennial Commission finalist 2020), Lights Out and Away We Go (Clubbed Thumb reading June 2022), The Page Turners (The O'Neill National Playwrights Conference finalist 2021), Pony Up (Princess Grace Finalist 2019; SPACE on Ryder Farm semi-finalist 2020), Howl From Up High (in development with Gingold Theatrical Group), Evermore Unrest (Red Bull Short New Play Festival 2020), Dave and Julia are stuck in a tree (Playing on Air's James Stevenson Prize 2020), and Losing You, Which Is Enough (workshop readings at The Lark and Cherry Lane Theatre). She is a member of Clubbed Thumb's Early Career Writers' Group (2021-2022), The COOP's Clusterf**k vol. 2 (2021), Gingold Theatrical Group's Speakers Corner, and Fresh Ground Pepper's BRB Retreat (2019). Mallory earned her B.A. from Harvard University and her M.F.A. in playwriting from The New School. She also works as a Senior Writer for Ethena, where she creates harassment-prevention training in the form of short-form articles, graphic novels, audio plays, and more. In addition to Speakers' Corner, GTG's on-going play development also includes PRESS CUTTINGS, which, in recognition of Shaw's career as a theatre critic, supports the development of new plays written by theatre journalists. Press Cuttings has commissioned new plays by Jeremy McCarter, Robert Simonson, and David Cote, and, in June of 2017, presented an AEA workshop of David Cote's Otherland directed by May Adrales. This fall, GTG returned to live, in person performance with the acclaimed revival of Bernard Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession starring Robert Cuccioli, David Lee Huynh, Alvin Keith, Nicole King, Raphael Nash Thompson, and Tony® Award winner Karen Ziemba as Mrs. Warren, which recently completed its acclaimed Off-Broadway engagement at Theatre Row, directed by David Staller. Terry Teachout, reviewing Mrs. Warren's Profession in The Wall Street Journal, declared "Mr. Staller, who knows everything there is to know about Shaw, has not only staged the play but edited the text with his accustomed skill. All the more reason, then, to praise David Staller, the artistic director of Project Shaw, a long-running series of semi-staged concert readings of the playwright's 60-odd shows. In addition to Project Shaw, Mr. Staller's Gingold Theatrical Group presented fully staged small-scale off-Broadway versions of Heartbreak House in 2018 and Caesar and Cleopatra in 2019, and now they're doing Mrs. Warren's Profession. The production is completely satisfying... Sprinkled with tart, school-of-Wilde epigrams ('There are no secrets better kept than the secrets everybody guesses') and overflowing with glittering talk, it's a foolproof vehicle for six accomplished actors and a director who, like Mr. Staller, knows better than to let the play become a static chat-fest. Instead, he keeps the actors moving and the pace brisk, and the results are immensely pleasurable." GINGOLD THEATRICAL GROUP creates theater that supports human rights, freedom of speech, and individual liberty using the work of George Bernard Shaw as our guide. All of GTG's programs are inspired by Shaw's humanitarian values. Through full productions, staged readings, new play development, and inner-city educational programs, GTG brings Shavian precepts to audiences and artists across New York, encouraging individuals to breathe Shaw's humanist ideals into their contributions for the future. Shaw created plays to inspire peaceful discussion and activism and that is what GTG aims to accomplish. GTG's past productions include Man and Superman (2012), You Never Can Tell (2013), Major Barbara (2014), Widowers' Houses (2016), Heartbreak House (2018), and Caesar & Cleopatra (2019). Founded in 2006 by David Staller, GTG has carved a permanent niche for the work of George Bernard Shaw within the social and cultural life of New York City, and, through the Project Shaw reading series, made history in 2009 as the first company ever to present performances of every one of Shaw's 65 plays (including full-length works, one-acts and sketches). GTG brings together performers, critics, students, academics and the general public with the opportunity to explore and perform theatrical work inspired by the humanitarian and activist values that Shaw championed. All comedies, these plays boldly exhibit the insight, wit, passion and all-encompassing socio-political focus that distinguished Shaw as one of the most inventive and incisive writers of all time. Through performances, symposiums, new play development, and outreach, as well as through our discussion groups and partnerships with schools including SUNY Stony Brook, Regis, the De La Salle Academy, and The Broome Street Academy, GTG has helped spark a renewed interest in Shaw across the country, and a bold interest in theater as activism. Young people are particularly inspired by Shaw's invocation to challenge the strictures society imposes, to embrace the power of the individual, to make bold personal choices and to take responsibility for these choices. GTG's new play development lab, Speakers' Corner, created to support playwrights inspired by Shaw's ideals, is now in its second cycle. Through monthly prompts and feedback, writers develop work inspired by or in response to a specific Shaw text. Plays developed through Speakers' Corner will be nurtured in workshops and readings with the expectation that GTG will publish or produce them. GTG encourages all people to rejoice in the possibilities of the future. All of GTG's programming is designed to inspire lively discussion and peaceful activism with issues related to human rights, the freedom of speech, and individual liberty. This was the purpose behind all of Shaw's work and why GTG chose him as the guide toward helping create a more tolerant and inclusive world through the exploration of the Arts. For more information about the Workshops or any of Gingold Theatrical Group's projects, please call 212-355-7823, email info@gingoldgroup.org, or visit online at www.gingoldgroup.org.

[writemarcus]

Prospect Announces Full Line-up For 11/17 RULE OF THREE Musical Theater Lab, In Concert

The performance takes place on Wednesday, November 17th @ 7:30pm.

by Stephi Wild

Nov. 11, 2021  

Prospect Theater Company has announced the full cast for a special one-night-only concert performance at NYC's Symphony Space (2537 Broadway @ 95th Street). On Wednesday, November 17th @ 7:30pm the company will present RULE OF THREE, a concert evening featuring hot-off-the-presses offerings generated in its annual Musical Theater Lab.

Three is the magic number. Three strikes and you're out. Third time's the charm...

Prospect's annual Musical Theater Lab returns with a line-up of original short musicals created by a cadre of up-and-coming artists. This year, the lab brings together writers to investigate the "rule of three": a writing principle that suggests a trio of events or characters is more humorous, satisfying, or effective than other numbers.

The writing teams selected for the 2021 Musical Theater Lab are: Laura Barati & Danny Ursetti; Danny K Bernstein; é Boylan; Dorie Clark & Marie Incontrera; Dante Green; Durra Leung; Angela Sclafani; Marcus Scott, Charles Turner & Sean Mason; Dani Shoulman & Erin Hoerchler; and Kate Thomas & Joey Contreras. A full list of writer bios are available at https://www.prospecttheater.org/rule-of-three-writer-bios.

The cast for RULE OF THREE will feature a line-up including Broadway and Prospect alumni artists and new comers: Niki Afsar, Shannon Amiry, Gina Naomi Baez, Genesis Adelia Collado, Alexandra de Suze, Jovan E'Sean, Hillary Fisher, Mia Gerachis, Kat Griffin, Sarah Hamaty, Dickie Hearts, Amy Jo Jackson, Travis Kent, MinJi Kim, Austin Ku, Margaret J. Leisenheimer, Rosemary Loar, Sharaé Moultrie, Toren Nakamura, Jay Paranada, Allison Posner, Luis Ramos, Brian Charles Rooney, David Rowen, Logan Rozos, Tonilyn A. Sideco, Lauren Singerman, Martín Solá, LaDawn Taylor and Tatiana Wechsler.

The concert evening is directed by Dev Bondarin, Prospect's Associate Artistic Director. Music Directors are John Bronston and Anessa Marie. The Stage Manager is Michelle Navis, the Assistant Stage Manager is Allison Spann, and the COVID Safety Manager is Meghan McVann. Samuel Norman is the Production Associate, and ASL Interpretation is provided by Tim Smith. The musical theater lab is curated by Dev Bondarin & Cara Reichel.

Tickets are $25 and are available at www.ProspectTheater.org or by calling Symphony Space's box office, 212-864-5400. Audience members must be fully vaccinated and masks are required. To access Symphony Space's full COVID Safety protocols, visit: https://www.symphonyspace.org/your-visit/what-you-need-to-know.

The performance will be open captioned. Anticipated running time: 95 minutes, no intermission.

[writemarcus]

Forever and a Day | Across a Crowded Room (2020 edition)

About the show: In Forever and a Day; or, Wild Blue Yonder, boy genius Corey and his smarty-pants best pals Dimitri and Dakota are triggered by viral videos of young black people dying and ultimately go on a journey to discover The Fountain of Youth, also known as The Elixir of Life. Corey and his friends come to the conclusion that by creating the cure for eternal youth and immortality, they might circumvent and combat the rampant violence brought on against young black people. 

The Cast & Crew

Corey as Cartreze Tucker

Dakota as Emma Claye

Dimitri as Gheremi Clay

Corey's Mom as LaDonna Burns

Newscaster as Karen Joy Pangantihon

Director: Dev Bondarin

Concept & Music: Steven Silverstein

Concept, Book & Lyrics: Marcus Scott

Video/Zoom: Micah Joel Nordtvedt

Set list and Vocals

“Forever and a Day” [Dakota + Dimitri, Corey, Newscaster]

“The Elixir of Life” [Corey; Dakota and Dimitri back-ups]

“Holy Grail” [Dakota + Dimitri]

“The Talk” [Mom]

“The Elixir of Life” (reprise) [All]

[writemarcus]

The Civilians Announces Tenth Annual R&D Group

The Civilians will present the newest members of The R&D Group, marking the Group's 10th season, and The Civilians 20th Anniversary Season. The R&D Group is comprised of playwrights, composers, and directors who work together as a writing group for nine months to develop new plays and musicals. The season culminates in the Findings Series, a works-in-progress reading series anticipated taking place in June 2021. The artists were selected from a competitive application process. The open call received a record number of 268 applications, a 60% increase from last year.

The members of The Civilians' 2020-21 R&D Group are Galia Backal, Nana Dakin, Isabella Dawis, Jacinth Greywoode, Jaime Lozano, Emily Lyon, AriDy Nox, Reynaldo Piniella, Tylie Shider, Tidtaya Sinutoke, Rachel Stevens, Ken Urban, and Noelle Viñas.

Led by R&D Program Director Ilana Becker, the artists share work as it develops, discuss their creative processes, and provide a community of support for one another. Each project develops according to its unique methods of creative inquiry, offering new approaches to the idea of "investigative theater." Methods may include interviews, community engagement, research, or other experimental methods of inquiry. The artists will meet twice a month, virtually.

"The sheer talent and curiosity we encountered in this year's applicants proved exceptionally heartening. This season's R&D Group artists, in particular, inspired us with their visionary and deeply personal approaches to questions that demand illumination," said Becker. Artistic Director Steve Cosson added, "I am overjoyed to mark the 10th Anniversary of The Civilians' R&D Group with these exceptional artists; I'm immensely excited as they embark on the process of developing these vital new projects."

Ken Urban's project, THE MODERATE, joins the group through The Civilians' new work development program; his play is commissioned by the EST/Sloan Project, developed by The Civilians, and will receive its first reading at EST. This season, Cosson and Becker will also hold two virtual roundtable sessions with Finalist Directors in order to better get to know their work, and to expand community.

The 2020-21 R&D Group projects are as follows:

SUNWATCHER

Libretto by Isabella Dawis, Music by Tidtaya Sinutoke, Directed by Nana Dakin, with support from Producer/Cultural Consultant Ikumi Kuronaga

SUNWATCHER, a Noh-inspired musical, is the story of astronomer Hisako Koyama (1916-1997) - intertwined with the ancient Japanese myth of the sun goddess Amaterasu, in a retelling inspired by the structure of classical Noh theatre. Hisako was a woman with no formal scientific training - also a survivor of the 1945 US air raid of Tokyo, the deadliest bombing in history - who managed to rise to the stature of Galileo. She did so by drawing the sun in painstaking detail every day for 40 years, a landmark achievement for solar science. SUNWATCHER is a celebration of Hisako's extraordinary dedication to ordinary observation, reminding us how seemingly small acts can have an immense impact over time and space.

BLACK GIRL IN PARIS

Music by Jacinth Greywoode, Book and Lyrics by AriDy Nox

BLACK GIRL IN PARIS is a musical about one of the most famous and least known black women in the American historical canon: Sally Hemmings. It hones in on her years spent in Paris, a point in her life where she both had the most access to freedom ever afforded her and the beginnings of the relationship that would forever define her legacy. Black Girl in Paris seeks to explore the inherent contradictions of an enslaved young black woman held in bondage in a city where slavery has been outlawed, under a man widely considered to be one of the architects of one of the greatest articulations of the necessity of freedom in the western world. It also centers an ensemble cast of Ancestors who chide and guide Sally along her journey, interweaving fables and history to craft the nuanced world Sally is forced to grapple with. At the heart of this musical is the question "What does it mean to be free?", a question black Americans have been grappling with since the original kidnapping and enslavement of Africans for The American Project.

DESAPARECIDAS (Working Title)

Lyrics and Music Jaime Lozano, Directed by Rachel M. Stevens, Co-Created by Lozano and Stevens

Told through the lens of Mexican folklore, our story explores the psychology behind societal suppression and the strategic erasure of female voices in the fight to end gender-based violence and the killing of women and girls. A female ensemble assumes a community of characters in a tapestried play of dramatized accounts, fictionalized scenes and musical sequences to unearth and dismantle the moral behind the 'myth' of violence against women.

DISSENTARY

Written by Reynaldo Piniella, Directed by Emily Lyon

Tasked with escaping your neighborhood, you inevitably run across environmental hazards that impede your progress. Especially if you're Black, Indigenous or Latinx. Dissentary takes inspiration from the classic game The Oregon Trail and adds an environmental justice lens; your group can do one of two things - leave in pursuit of clean air, water and healthy food, or stay and defeat the corporations focused only on profits. Dissentary will both be a participatory theatrical piece as well as an accompanying card game that will allow people to play the game off-line themselves, thus giving access to people who normally don't have access to the arts.

RESET: RACE and CULTURE CONTACTS in the MODERN WORLD

Written by Tylie Shider

an investigative work of theatre

about how incidents between police and black Americans

continues to reset race relations in the country.

THE MODERATE

a new play by Ken Urban, directed by Steve Cosson, commissioned by the EST/Sloan Project and developed by The Civilians.

ACCEPT. ACCEPT. REJECT. ACCEPT. REJECT. For a minimum of eight hours a day, with a target of at least 2,000 videos a day, Frank evaluates the videos and photos uploaded on the world's largest social media site. What Frank sees, he can't un-see, but he soon realizes he has the power to change the world. Playwright Ken Urban and director Steve Cosson will interview scientists, researchers and policymakers in order to dramatize the hidden human cost of the internet and imagine a future when a free exchange of knowledge and information is possible again. This project is an EST/Alfred P. Sloan Science & Technology Project Commission.

EL CÓNDOR MÁGICO

Written by Noelle Viñas, Directed by Galia Backal

El Cóndor Mágico examines the events of Operation Condor, the US-backed campaign of right-wing dictatorships and repressive regimes in South America throughout the 1970s-80s via oral history, research, and satire. It will also explore the American fascination with magical realism, a Latin American narrative tool rooted in history in a region where people have been known to "disappear," problems miraculously go away, and corruption can serve as a curtain behind which history does tricks. Research will unravel how the political imprisonment of over 400,000 people, varied intimidation/torture tactics taught by the US, and unknown thousands of "disappeared" people set a precedent for relations between the US and Latin America that haunt us today. With an eye on Operation Condor's long shadow and impressive wingspan, it asks: who is the magician behind the "magical realism" when it comes to the relationship between Latin America and the US?

FINALISTS

In honor of the overwhelming amount of talent and curiosity displayed amongst this year's applicants, The Civilians are pleased to share the exceptional finalists considered for this season's R&D Group:

Finalist Projects were proposed by Calley N. Anderson; Masi Asare; Helen Banner; Aaron Coleman; Sara Cooper & Kira Stone; Annalisa Dias; Dominic Finocchiaro & Stephen Bennett; Franky D. Gonzalez; Suzy Jane Hunt; Rachel Gita Karp, Ben Hoover & Jacob Russell; Divya Mangwani & Kate Moore Heaney; Talene Monahon & Adam Chanler-Berat; Brett Robinson; Dominique Rider & Nissy Aya; Marcus Antwan Scott, Ryan Kerr, & Dev Bondarin; David B. Thomas, Nick Hatcher, & Sheridan Merrick; Xandra Nur Clark; and Sim Yan Ying "YY" & Alvin Tan.

Finalist Directors are é boylan, Britt Berke, Matt Dickson, Joan Sergay, Noam Shapiro, Emerie Snyder, Leia Squillance, Alex Tobey, and Michael T. Williams.

[writemarcus]

SPEAKERS' CORNER New Play Development Plays-In-Progress 29-Hour Equity Workshops to Continue

Coming Up: Karma Sutra Chai Tea Latte by Aeneas Hemphill, Directed by Arpita Mukherjee; and There Goes The Neighborhood by Marcus Scott, Directed by Dev Bondarin.

by Chloe Rabinowitz May. 31, 2022  

Gingold Theatrical Group, now in its 17th Season, is continuing its new play development with the Plays-In-Progress AEA-approved Showcases of this year's SPEAKER'S CORNER Writers Group. This season, writers Aeneas Sagar Hemphill, Divya Mangwani, Marcus Scott and Mallory Jane Weiss are developing works in response to prompts from the revolutionary activist humanitarian writings and precepts of George Bernard Shaw. These Actors Equity Association approved 29-hour workshops culminate with a presentation as an opportunity for each playwright to assess where they are with their work and to determine the next steps to be taken. These invitation-only presentations will take place at ART-NY Studios (520 8th Avenue). Space for each final presentation is extremely limited and reservations must be made, so to request the opportunity to attend any of these events email info@gingoldgroup.org. This year's final two showcases will be:

There Goes The Neighborhood

by Marcus Scott, Directed by Dev Bondarin Friday June 3rd at 7pm Phillip Burke, Savanna Calder, Broderick Clavery, Anthony Godd, Ashley Jossell, Olivia Kinter, Monique Robinson, Cliff Sellers Stage Manager: Elliot J. Cohen.

Karma Sutra Chai Tea Latte

by Aeneas Hemphill, Directed by Arpita Mukherjee Sunday, June 5th at 5pm Rajesh Bose, Shawn Jain, Mahima Saigal, Salma Shaw, Khyati Sehgal, Imran Sheikh Assistant Director: Sarah Vishnev Stage Manager: Elliot J. Cohen

This season's two previous showcases, Vigil-Aunties by Divya Mangwani, directed by Arpita Mukherjee, and Howl From Up High by Mallory Jane Weiss, directed by Lily Riopelle, were held in May. "Among the many programs we've developed over the last 17 years, developing new plays with the intent to produce and publish, has always been the most ambitious dream of all of us at Gingold. While we continue to produce our annual full Off-Broadway productions of plays by George Bernard Shaw, we plan to add at least one new play to our schedule to share with our devoted patrons," said David Staller. Named after the corner of London's Hyde Park where George Bernard Shaw and other political speakers have delivered speeches since 1855, GTG's SPEAKERS' CORNER brings together six to ten writers each year who will spend the year exploring a specific Shaw play and writing individual new plays in response to that text and Shaw's forward thinking humanitarian ideals. Speakers' Corner members meet bi-monthly, and GTG will host showings of the works that Speakers' Corner develops at the end of the season. The group's members were identified through an open application process under the guidance of Becker, GTG Artistic Director David Staller, and this season's Speakers' Corner Readers and Advisory Committee: Ilana Becker, Stephen Brown-Fried, Ralph B. Peña, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Sharon Washington, along with Speakers' Corner alumni Hank Kim, and Lorenzo Roberts.

WRITERS:

Aeneas Sagar Hemphill (he/him) is an Indian-American playwright and screenwriter based in NYC and DC. Weaving through many genres, his work builds new worlds to illuminate our own, investigating the ghosts that haunt our lives and communities with passion, pathos, and humor. He was a 2019 Resident Artist with Monson Arts Center and 2017-2018 Playlab fellow at Pipeline Theatre, as well as semi-finalist for the 2019 Princess Grace Award, semi-finalist for the 2019 Mabou Mines Resident Artist Program, and finalist for the 2017 Many Voices Fellowship. His plays include: Black Hollow (Argo Collective, Dreamscape Theatre), The Troll King (Pipeline), Childhood Songs (Monson Arts), The Republic of Janet & Arthur (Amios), The Red Balloon (Noor Theatre), A Stitch Here or There (DarkHorse Dramatists, Slingshot Theatre), A Horse and a Housecat (Slingshot Theatre). MFA Playwriting, Columbia University. Marcus Scott is a dramatist & journalist. Selected work includes Tumbleweed (finalist for the 2017 Bay Area Playwrights Festival; semifinalist for the 2022 Eugene O'Neill Theater Center National Playwrights Conference, the 2022 Blue Ink Playwriting Award & the 2017 New Dramatists Princess Grace Fellowship Award), Sibling Rivalries (finalist for the 2021 Seven Devils Playwrights Conference; semi-finalist for the 2022 Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival, the 2021 Blue Ink Playwriting Award & the 2021 New Dramatists Princess Grace Fellowship Award) and Cherry Bomb (recipient of the 2017 Drama League First Stage Artist-In-Residence). He was commissioned by Heartbeat Opera to adapt Beethoven's Fidelio (Librettist/Co-writer; The Met Museum; NY Times Critic's Pick). Recently developed at Gingold Theatrical Group (Speaker's Corner), Zoetic Stage (Finstrom Festival Of New Work), Queens Theatre (New American Voices series) and The Road Theatre Company's Under Construction 3 Playwrights Group and Cohort 2 of the Southern Black Playwrights Lab at the Mojoaa Performing Arts Company. Scott is a 2021 NYSAF Founders' Award finalist and a 2021 Doric Wilson Independent Playwright Award semi-finalist. His articles appeared in Architectural Digest, Time Out New York, American Theatre Magazine, Playbill, Elle, Out, Essence, The Brooklyn Rail, among others. MFA: GMTWP, NYU Tisch. In addition to Speakers' Corner, GTG's on-going play development also includes PRESS CUTTINGS, which, in recognition of Shaw's career as a theatre critic, supports the development of new plays written by theatre journalists. Press Cuttings has commissioned new plays by Jeremy McCarter, Robert Simonson, and David Cote, and, in June of 2017, presented an AEA workshop of David Cote's Otherland directed by May Adrales. This fall, GTG returned to live, in person performance with the acclaimed revival of Bernard Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession starring Robert Cuccioli, David Lee Huynh, Alvin Keith, Nicole King, Raphael Nash Thompson, and Tony® Award winner Karen Ziemba as Mrs. Warren, which recently completed its acclaimed Off-Broadway engagement at Theatre Row, directed by David Staller. Terry Teachout, reviewing Mrs. Warren's Profession in The Wall Street Journal, declared "Mr. Staller, who knows everything there is to know about Shaw, has not only staged the play but edited the text with his accustomed skill. All the more reason, then, to praise David Staller, the artistic director of Project Shaw, a long-running series of semi-staged concert readings of the playwright's 60-odd shows. In addition to Project Shaw, Mr. Staller's Gingold Theatrical Group presented fully staged small-scale off-Broadway versions of Heartbreak House in 2018 and Caesar and Cleopatra in 2019, and now they're doing Mrs. Warren's Profession. The production is completely satisfying... Sprinkled with tart, school-of-Wilde epigrams ('There are no secrets better kept than the secrets everybody guesses') and overflowing with glittering talk, it's a foolproof vehicle for six accomplished actors and a director who, like Mr. Staller, knows better than to let the play become a static chat-fest. Instead, he keeps the actors moving and the pace brisk, and the results are immensely pleasurable." GINGOLD THEATRICAL GROUP creates theater that supports human rights, freedom of speech, and individual liberty using the work of George Bernard Shaw as our guide. All of GTG's programs are inspired by Shaw's humanitarian values. Through full productions, staged readings, new play development, and inner-city educational programs, GTG brings Shavian precepts to audiences and artists across New York, encouraging individuals to breathe Shaw's humanist ideals into their contributions for the future. Shaw created plays to inspire peaceful discussion and activism and that is what GTG aims to accomplish. GTG's past productions include Man and Superman (2012), You Never Can Tell (2013), Major Barbara (2014), Widowers' Houses (2016), Heartbreak House (2018), and Caesar & Cleopatra (2019). Founded in 2006 by David Staller, GTG has carved a permanent niche for the work of George Bernard Shaw within the social and cultural life of New York City, and, through the Project Shaw reading series, made history in 2009 as the first company ever to present performances of every one of Shaw's 65 plays (including full-length works, one-acts and sketches). GTG brings together performers, critics, students, academics and the general public with the opportunity to explore and perform theatrical work inspired by the humanitarian and activist values that Shaw championed. All comedies, these plays boldly exhibit the insight, wit, passion and all-encompassing socio-political focus that distinguished Shaw as one of the most inventive and incisive writers of all time. Through performances, symposiums, new play development, and outreach, as well as through our discussion groups and partnerships with schools including SUNY Stony Brook, Regis, the De La Salle Academy, and The Broome Street Academy, GTG has helped spark a renewed interest in Shaw across the country, and a bold interest in theater as activism. Young people are particularly inspired by Shaw's invocation to challenge the strictures society imposes, to embrace the power of the individual, to make bold personal choices and to take responsibility for these choices. GTG's new play development lab, Speakers' Corner, created to support playwrights inspired by Shaw's ideals, is now in its second cycle. Through monthly prompts and feedback, writers develop work inspired by or in response to a specific Shaw text. Plays developed through Speakers' Corner will be nurtured in workshops and readings with the expectation that GTG will publish or produce them. GTG encourages all people to rejoice in the possibilities of the future. All of GTG's programming is designed to inspire lively discussion and peaceful activism with issues related to human rights, the freedom of speech, and individual liberty. This was the purpose behind all of Shaw's work and why GTG chose him as the guide toward helping create a more tolerant and inclusive world through the exploration of the Arts. For more information about the Workshops or any of Gingold Theatrical Group's projects, please call 212-355-7823, email info@gingoldgroup.org, or visit online at www.gingoldgroup.org.

[writemarcus]

Queens Theatre's Developmental Play Reading Series to Continue With AS I WAS NOT AS I AM

A hip, contemporary play about queer roommates, headaches, clubbing, upstairs neighbors, arson, and washing machines.

by Chloe Rabinowitz

Mar. 25, 2022  

Saturday, March 26th at 8pm ET, the Spring 2022 season of Queens Theatre's popular play reading series New American Voices (NAV), will continue with "AS I WAS NOT AS I AM" by Alice Hakvaag.

"AS I WAS NOT AS I AM," directed by Hannah Postlewait and featuring local actors Eryn Barnes, Heather Birmingham, Nazlah Black, Lauren E. King and Christine Vapsva is a hip, contemporary play about queer roommates, headaches, clubbing, upstairs neighbors, arson, and washing machines that follows the story of twenty-something Laurel who is sick. Her roommates want her to get better, but how do you help someone who can't afford health care? Does it involve setting a car on fire?

For playwright Alice Hakvaag, who identifies as queer, "AS I WAS NOT AS I AM" is personal.

"The play was written out of love for my friends. All of us are worried about how we are going to afford taking care of ourselves as we reach adulthood, and realize that traditional casting is not made for this next generation of queer, racial-minority theatre artists," said Hakvagg. "I wanted to reflect the vibrancy and joy in these communities, even when faced with the hardships and sorrow that life brings us."

New American Voices Spring 2022 concludes with "TUMBLEWEED" by Marcus Scott on Saturday, April 23rd at 8pm. Directed by Dev Bondarin, "TUMBLEWEED" is a slice-of-life drama about an interracial family, in which the natural hair of a young girl named Willow stirs up heated controversy in the household. This timely play explores beauty standards both in and out of the Black community, ethnic relations, the mixed-race family, coming of age, interracial marriage, parenting, womanist identity and the visibility of black men in the family dynamic.

As I Was, Not As I Am: https://queenstheatre.org/event/new-american-voices-as-i-was-not-as-i-am/

This reading will also be live streamed from the Queens Theatre studio and must be viewed live. Replay after the performance will not be available.

Tumbleweed: https://queenstheatre.org/event/new-american-voices-tumbleweed/

For more information about New American Voices visit www.queenstheatre.org.

All guests 5 years of age and up must present proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon arrival at the Queens Theatre facilities and patrons over the age of 18 must also show a valid form of ID. Masks are required, regardless of vaccination status. Learn more about our COVID Safety Protocols here.

About the Playwrights

Alice Hakvaag is a queer playwright originally from rural Pennsylvania, currently based in Philadelphia. She holds a BA in Theater from Temple University and is a proud Ring of Keys member. Her work has been seen through Elephant Room Productions, The Women's Theatre Festival, Mal-Adjusted Theatre Company, Mad Cow Theater, Richmond Triangle Players, and Wings of Paper Theater Company. Her play As I Was, Not As I Am was nominated for a Susan Smith Blackburn Award, and was a semi-finalist for the Princess Grace Fellowship Award. Most recently, her play But Not Uncle Vanya premiered in Philadelphia with Aporia Artist's Collective, of which she is a founding member. She has also worked internationally as a director, actor, and sound designer. When she isn't writing, she's probably doing something else in theater, and when she isn't doing that, she's probably playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Marcus Scott is a playwright, musical theatre writer & journalist. His work includes "Tumbleweed" (finalist for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival & Festival of New American Plays at Austin Playhouse; semi-finalist for the New Dramatists Princess Grace Fellowship Award), "Sibling Rivalries" (finalist for the Seven Devils Playwrights Conference & the ATHE-KCACTF Judith Royer Excellence In Playwriting Award; semi-finalist for the Blue Ink Playwriting Award & the New Dramatists Princess Grace Fellowship Award), "Cherry Bomb" (New York Theatre Barn New Works Series; recipient of the Drama League First Stage Artist-In-Residence). He was commissioned by Heartbeat Opera to adapt Beethoven's "Fidelio" (Libretto; Baruch Performing Arts Center, The Met Museum, Mondavi Center, The Broad Stage, Scottsdale Center for The Performing Arts; called "poignant" by NY Times). Residencies & retreats: Prospect Musical Theater Lab, María Irene Fornés Playwriting Workshop, JACK Governor's Island Artist Residency, Catwalk Artist Residency, The Center at West Park Virtual Performance Residency, Gingold Theatre Group Speaker's Corner Writer, Liberation Theatre Company's Playwriting Residency Fellowship, Athena Theatre Company's Athena Writes Playwriting Fellowship, the inaugural LIT Council at the Tank, Fresh Ground Pepper Artist-In-Residence BRB Retreat, One Co. Writers' Residency at Little Farm & Goodspeed Opera House Retreat. Scott is a 2021 NYSAF Founders' Award finalist and a 2021 Doric Wilson Independent Playwright Award semi-finalist. His articles appeared in Architectural Digest, Time Out New York, American Theatre Magazine, Playbill, Elle, Out, Essence, The Brooklyn Rail, among others. MFA: NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

About the Directors

Hannah Postlewait (She/Her) is a NYC based Theatre Artist & proud graduate of Temple University's BA Theatre Program in Philadelphia. Apart from her Directing work, Hannah is a Play Licensing Associate with Broadway Licensing and has also spent a significant amount of time working in New York's Casting Industry: assisting with auditions for Broadway shows, National Commercials and Regional Theatres across the country. Recent Directing Credits include BUT NOT UNCLE VANYA (Aporia Artists Collective / Philly Theatre Week Festival), ACUTE EXPOSURE (Richmond Triangle Players); and EURYDICE by Sarah Ruhl (TTSS/Pig Iron Theatre Company) among others. Hannah is also the founder of The Aporia Artists Collective, which has put up both in-person; Zoom productions, as well as 75 Zoom Readings since May 2020.

Dev Bondarin is a theater director and Associate Artistic Director of Prospect Theater Company. For six seasons, Dev served as Artistic Director of Astoria Performing Arts Center where her credits include the NY premiere of Marguerite (with Tony Award- winner Cady Huffman, Broadway Records cast album), Merrily We Roll Along and Raisin (which both earned NY Innovative Theatre Awards for Outstanding Musical), Caroline, or Change (AUDELCO Award for Outstanding Musical Revival), Follies, In The Bones, and readings/workshops of plays and musicals. Other selected directing: Rule of Three (Prospect Theater Company's 2021 musical theater lab), A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (upcoming) and Little Women (Festival 56), King Lear (American Bard), and seven tours with TheaterWorksUSA. Dev has been nominated for two AUDELCO Awards and an NYIT Award, and received an Alumni of the Year Award from the Theater Department at Brooklyn College, where she earned an MFA. She is thrilled to be collaborating with Marcus Scott for the seventh time and working with Queens Theatre. devbondarin.com @devbondarin

About Queens Theatre

Queens Theatre (QT) is a performing arts center located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY. Its mission is to provide high-quality performances and programs that are accessible to the residents of Queens, the most diverse county in the nation. The Theatre's work reflects and celebrates its community. QT presents dance companies, produces, presents, and develops new works of theatre, family programming, community engagement events and initiatives, and offers a range of education programs onsite, in schools and in senior centers. In 2016, QT launched, and has since expanded, Theatre For All (TFA), a ground-breaking initiative to advance the inclusion of disabled people in the performing arts. Since COVID-19, QT has produced a range of digital programming - readings of new plays, wellness checks with performances for seniors, original dance showcases, a Storytellers series, an online round of its TFA training program for Deaf/Disabled actors, and more.

[writemarcus]

Queens Theatre Presents New Season of 'New American Voices'

—Play reading series introduces three new writers—

Erin Clarke,

NeighborPosted Wed, Feb 2, 2022 at 5:52 pm ET

(Queens, NY)— Queens Theatre (QT) announces the 2022 season of its New American Voices (NAV) in-person play readings reading series, featuring three evenings of performances. "EIGHT TALES OF PEDRO" by Mark-Eugene Garcia on Saturday, March 5th at 8pm ET, AS I WAS NOT AS I AM by Alice Hakvaag on Saturday, March 26th at 8pm ET, and TUMBLEWEED by Marcus Scott on Saturday, April 23rd at 8pm. The series marks the first time playwrights Garcia, Hakvaag and Scott will have their work presented at Queens Theatre.

EIGHT TALES OF PEDRO, directed by Rodrigo E. Bolanos, begins in 17 Century Mexico, as Pedro and his companion travel from a small port town into the fabled Veracruz, telling stories while following Pedro's one true love. Meanwhile, in the present day, in a van full of Mexican immigrants, Peter crosses a border into an unfamiliar country, while his companions tell him stories to chase away his fears. The two storytellers risk everything as their lives and plots intertwine.

AS I WAS NOT AS I AM, directed by Hannah Postlewait is a hip, contemporary play about queer roommates, headaches, clubbing, upstairs neighbors, arson, and washing machines that follows the story of twenty-something Laurel who is sick. Her roommates want her to get better, but how do you help someone who can't afford health care? Does it involve setting a car on fire?

TUMBLEWEED, directed by Dev Bondarin is a slice-of-life drama about an interracial family, in which the natural hair of a young girl named Willow stirs up heated controversy in the household. This timely play explores beauty standards both in and out of the Black community, ethnic relations, the mixed-race family, coming of age, interracial marriage, parenting, womanist identity and the visibility of black men in the family dynamic.

"Queens Theatre's new play development program is our longest-running series. Supporting playwrights and creating opportunities for audiences to engage with artists at the readings enables us to reflect and serve our diverse and evolving communities," said Queens Theatre Executive Director, Taryn Sacramone. "We are proud to help facilitate the creation of new works, spark dialogue, and foster community."

"I am extremely excited to introduce three terrific writers to Queens Theatre audiences," said Queens Theatre Director of New Play Development, Rob Urbinati. "Each new play is unique, yet the audience should expect the same high quality of writing that Queens Theatre has come to be known for."

All performances are free, but advance reservations are strongly recommended. Tickets can be reserved by calling 718.760.0064 or by visiting: www.queenstheatre.org. All guests 5 years of age and up must present proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon arrival at the Queens Theatre facilities and patrons over the age of 18 must also show a valid form of ID. Masks are required, regardless of vaccination status. Learn more about our COVID Safety Protocols here.

About the Playwrights

Mark-Eugene Garcia is a Mexican/Honduran playwright and a proud member of the Dramatists Guild and A.S.C.A.P. He is a graduate of the City College of New York and studied book and lyric writing with the Academy of New Musical Theatre and the BMI Lehman Engle Musical Theatre Writing Workshop.

Playwriting Awards include: 2021 Jerry Harrington Award For Outstanding Creative Achievement in Musical Theatre Winner, 2018 UnFringed Festival Best of Festival Award Winner, 2016 Vancouver Ovation Award for Outstanding New Work nominee, 2013 Planet Connections Outstanding Book of a New Musical nominee, 2012 Jacob Weiser Playwriting Award for a Fully Realized Drama

Productions include EIGHT TALES OF PEDRO (The Secret Theatre) STANDBY (Towle Theatre, New York International Fringe Festival- Encores Selection, New York Musical Theatre Festival, Next Link Selection), THE HOLY COWS OF CREDENCE SOUTH DAKOTA (Planet Connections Theatre Festival, Puzzle Theatre Festival) FACING EAST: A NEW MUSICAL (Jericho Arts Center) and UNMISSED CONNECTIONS (Planet Connections Theatre Festival)

Other Plays include FLAKE OF SNOW, WITH BATED BREATH, WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR , ONE NIGHT AT THE GOLDEN BOOT, INSCRIPTIONS, and KEYS.

Alice Hakvaag is a queer playwright originally from rural Pennsylvania, currently based in Philadelphia. She holds a BA in Theater from Temple University and is a proud Ring of Keys member. Her work has been seen through Elephant Room Productions, The Women's Theatre Festival, Mal-Adjusted Theatre Company, Mad Cow Theater, Richmond Triangle Players, and Wings of Paper Theater Company. Her play As I Was, Not As I Am was nominated for a Susan Smith Blackburn Award, and was a semi-finalist for the Princess Grace Fellowship Award. Most recently, her play But Not Uncle Vanya premiered in Philadelphia with Aporia Artist's Collective, of which she is a founding member. She has also worked internationally as a director, actor, and sound designer. When she isn't writing, she's probably doing something else in theater, and when she isn't doing that, she's probably playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Marcus Scott is a playwright, musical theatre writer & journalist. His work includes "Tumbleweed" (finalist for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival & Festival of New American Plays at Austin Playhouse; semi-finalist for the New Dramatists Princess Grace Fellowship Award), "Sibling Rivalries" (finalist for the Seven Devils Playwrights Conference & the ATHE-KCACTF Judith Royer Excellence In Playwriting Award; semi-finalist for the Blue Ink Playwriting Award & the New Dramatists Princess Grace Fellowship Award), "Cherry Bomb" (New York Theatre Barn New Works Series; recipient of the Drama League First Stage Artist-In-Residence). He was commissioned by Heartbeat Opera to adapt Beethoven's "Fidelio" (Libretto; Baruch Performing Arts Center, The Met Museum, Mondavi Center, The Broad Stage, Scottsdale Center for The Performing Arts; called "poignant" by NY Times). Residencies & retreats: Prospect Musical Theater Lab, María Irene Fornés Playwriting Workshop, JACK Governor's Island Artist Residency, Catwalk Artist Residency, The Center at West Park Virtual Performance Residency, Gingold Theatre Group Speaker's Corner Writer, Liberation Theatre Company's Playwriting Residency Fellowship, Athena Theatre Company's Athena Writes Playwriting Fellowship, the inaugural LIT Council at the Tank, Fresh Ground Pepper Artist-In-Residence BRB Retreat, One Co. Writers' Residency at Little Farm & Goodspeed Opera House Retreat. Scott is a 2021 NYSAF Founders' Award finalist and a 2021 Doric Wilson Independent Playwright Award semi-finalist. His articles appeared in Architectural Digest, Time Out New York, American Theatre Magazine, Playbill, Elle, Out, Essence, The Brooklyn Rail, among others. MFA: NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

About Queens Theatre

Queens Theatre (QT) is a performing arts center located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY. Its mission is to provide high-quality performances and programs that are accessible to the residents of Queens, the most diverse county in the nation. The Theatre's work reflects and celebrates its community. QT presents dance companies, produces, presents, and develops new works of theatre, family programming, community engagement events and initiatives, and offers a range of education programs onsite, in schools and in senior centers. In 2016, QT launched, and has since expanded, Theatre For All (TFA), a ground-breaking initiative to advance the inclusion of disabled people in the performing arts. Since COVID-19, QT has produced a range of digital programming – readings of new plays, wellness checks with performances for seniors, original dance showcases, a Storytellers series, an online round of its TFA training program for Deaf/Disabled actors, and more.

[writemarcus]

Queens Theatre Presents New Season Of NEW AMERICAN VOICES Play Reading Series

Queens Theatre announces the 2022 season of its New American Voices in-person play readings reading series, featuring three evenings of performances.

by A.A. Cristi

Feb. 2, 2022  

Queens Theatre announces the 2022 season of its New American Voices in-person play readings reading series, featuring three evenings of performances.

"EIGHT TALES OF PEDRO" by Mark-Eugene Garcia on Saturday, March 5th at 8pm ET, AS I WAS NOT AS I AM by Alice Hakvaag on Saturday, March 26th at 8pm ET, and TUMBLEWEED by Marcus Scott on Saturday, April 23rd at 8pm. The series marks the first time playwrights Garcia, Hakvaag and Scott will have their work presented at Queens Theatre.

EIGHT TALES OF PEDRO, directed by Rodrigo E. Bolanos, begins in 17 Century Mexico, as Pedro and his companion travel from a small port town into the fabled Veracruz, telling stories while following Pedro's one true love. Meanwhile, in the present day, in a van full of Mexican immigrants, Peter crosses a border into an unfamiliar country, while his companions tell him stories to chase away his fears. The two storytellers risk everything as their lives and plots intertwine.

AS I WAS NOT AS I AM, directed by Hannah Postlewait is a hip, contemporary play about queer roommates, headaches, clubbing, upstairs neighbors, arson, and washing machines that follows the story of twenty-something Laurel who is sick. Her roommates want her to get better, but how do you help someone who can't afford health care? Does it involve setting a car on fire?

TUMBLEWEED, directed by Dev Bondarin is a slice-of-life drama about an interracial family, in which the natural hair of a young girl named Willow stirs up heated controversy in the household. This timely play explores beauty standards both in and out of the Black community, ethnic relations, the mixed-race family, coming of age, interracial marriage, parenting, womanist identity and the visibility of black men in the family dynamic.

"Queens Theatre's new play development program is our longest-running series. Supporting playwrights and creating opportunities for audiences to engage with artists at the readings enables us to reflect and serve our diverse and evolving communities," said Queens Theatre Executive Director, Taryn Sacramone. "We are proud to help facilitate the creation of new works, spark dialogue, and foster community."

"I am extremely excited to introduce three terrific writers to Queens Theatre audiences," said Queens Theatre Director of New Play Development, Rob Urbinati. "Each new play is unique, yet the audience should expect the same high quality of writing that Queens Theatre has come to be known for."

All performances are free, but advance reservations are strongly recommended. Tickets can be reserved by calling 718.760.0064 or by visiting: www.queenstheatre.org. All guests 5 years of age and up must present proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon arrival at the Queens Theatre facilities and patrons over the age of 18 must also show a valid form of ID. Masks are required, regardless of vaccination status. Learn more about our COVID Safety Protocols here.

[writemarcus]

#InTheLoop | Astoria Performing Arts Center streams six musicals that respond to COVID-19

BY QEDC IT'S IN QUEENS

COVID-19 has stifled humans, but the pandemic hasn’t stifled human creativity…especially in Queens.

The Astoria Performing Arts Center is now streaming “The Insiders: Musicals from the Quarantine” on its YouTube channel.

A collaboration between 15 writers, five directors, and 16 actors who couldn’t be in the same room together, the show features six original musicals that address life during the shelter-in-place guidelines. The shorts run from expressionistic to satirical to reality with the main themes of Quarantine, Crisis, Connection, and Hope.

After the premieres, the creators stay for a behind-the-scenes talk. After the first runs, all mini concerts remain available on the YouTube channel. The schedule follows.

“Livin’ The Dreamboat” aired on May 22. “Corona Island” debuted on May 25. “Black Superman” premiered on June 5. “Longview” dropped on June 12. “14 Days,” webt live on June 19 at 7 pm. “Vectir��� completed the series on June 26 at 7 pm.

It’s free, but there’s a suggested $10 donation per view. The funds will benefit APAC and and Indie Theater Fund.

“The Insiders” is presented by APAC, which has produced community theater since 2001, and Teresa Lotz, a playwright and composer-lyricist. She’s also one of the writers along with Krista Knight, Derek Hassler, Ryan Kerr, Rachel Kunstadt, Briana Harris, Charles Inniss, Christopher Inniss, Marcus Scott, Blake Allen, Marc Chan, Annette Storckman, Naomi Matlow, Andi Lee Carter, Claire Tran, and Blake Allen. APAC Artistic Director Dev Bondarin is a director along with Emily Brown, Daniella Caggiano, Kristin Rose Kelly, and Justin Schwartz. The cast includes Dana Aber, Bailey Carlson, Ariel Leigh Cohen, Leana Rae Concepcion, Kristina Dizon, Ellis Gage, Staci Jo Johnson, Bee Michael, Michael Orlandi, Jason Pintar, Erin Solér, William Spinnato, Sara States, Tais Szilagi, Jeff Williams, and Ariel Seidman-Wright.

Images: Astoria Performing Arts Center

[writemarcus]

Announcing our 2020-2021 R&D Group, Finalists, and Semi-Finalists!

Officially a four-time finalist with the Civilians. Seems I was in great company. Honored. (Links led to writer’s websites.)

[writemarcus]

TREE TALES to be Presented by Prospect Theater Company in Riverside Park

12-person audience cohorts will begin the experience together every 15 minutes, and then each person will be guided to walk through the trees individually.

by BWW News Desk May. 12, 2021  

Prospect Theater Company has announced its first in-person, live arts program of 2021: TREE TALES. This unique event invites audience members to walk through the Crabapple Grove in Riverside Park (entrance at 91st Street & Riverside Drive) guided by an ensemble of artists, and interact with original flash-fiction short stories penned by 15 theater writers. Two event dates are planned: Sunday, May 16th and Saturday, May 22nd. Timed entry tickets are available between the hours of 1:00pm and 4:30pm.

Admission is free, but registration is required at www.ProspectTheater.org/TreeTales. Audiences may reserve a timed entry ticket. Given limited capacity, advance registration is recommended, but walk up registration is permitted if space is available.

12-person audience cohorts will begin the experience together every 15 minutes, and then each person will be guided to walk through the trees individually, on a path of their own choosing. The event is expected to take 30-40 minutes to complete. Patrons may register for a "youth" ticket (9-12 years of age) or a "general" ticket (13 years and up). Audience members should be at least 9 years old to participate. COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place. All audience members and artists will remain physically distanced, are required to wear appropriate face coverings, and complete a brief questionnaire and temperature check to participate.

The 15 originally commissioned short stories for this event are written by theater writers including: Rebecca Aparicio, Jenny Lyn Bader, Sammy Buck, Andi Lee Carter, EllaRose Chary, David Davila, Ty Defoe, Jennifer Fell Hayes, Timothy Huang, AriDy Nox, Corinna Schulenburg, Marcus Scott, SEVAN, Nandita Shenoy, and Claire Tran. The Prospect artistic ensemble facilitating the event includes Robert Ariza, Viveca Chow, Michael De Souza, Alexandra de Suze, Kristina Dizon, Zina Ellis, Kaisha S. Huguley, Janice Landry, Matthew McGloin, Ian Miller, Emily Preis, Cliff Sellers. The Project Director is Dev Bondarin, and Creative Producer is Cara Reichel.

This event is funded in part by NYC's Department of Cultural Affairs, and The Barbara Bell Cumming Charitable Trust. TREE TALES is also made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Prospect is participating in "Summer on the Hudson", NYC Parks' annual outdoor arts and culture festival that takes place in Riverside Park from 59th Street to 153rd Street.

ProspectTheater.org

[writemarcus]

Free Theatre From Prospect Theatre Company

One of my favorite companies is offering a free ticket to Tree Tales: An outdoor, interactive arts experiencein NYC’s Riverside Park, 1-4:30p on May 16 & May 22. They are almost “sold out” (it’s FREE) so please make a reservation now if you plan to attend!

Here’s the link where you can reserve a free, timed-entry ticket to walk through TREE TALES. The 15 theater writers who penned original “choose your own adventure” stories are: Rebecca Aparicio, Jenny Lyn Bader, Sammy Buck, Andi Lee Carter, EllaRose Chary, David Davila, Ty Defoe, Jennifer Fell Hayes, Timothy Huang, AriDy Nox, Corinna Schulenburg, Marcus Scott, SEVAN, Nandita Shenoy, & Claire Tran. Our wonderful team of community arts associates creating the event include: Robert Ariza, Viveca Chow, Michael De Souza, Alexandra de Suze, Kristina Dizon, Zina Ellis, Kaisha S. Huguley, Janice Landry, Matthew McGloin, Ian Miller, Emily Preis, Cliff Sellers. Project Director is Dev Bondarin.

This is a guided “walk-through” experience with audience groups of 12 people gaining timed entry every 15 minutes.  Audience groups will begin together at a set time, but each person’s walk is individually determined and may take slightly different lengths of time to complete.

This event takes place in the Crabapple Grove in Riverside Park (entrance at 91st Street & Riverside Drive)

It is recommended that audience members be at least 9 years old to participate.  Register for a “youth” ticket (9-12 years of age) or a “general” ticket (13 years and up).

SUZANNA BOWLING

Suzanna, co-owns and publishes the newspaper Times Square Chronicles or T2C. At one point a working actress, she has performed in numerous productions in film, TV, cabaret, opera and theatre. She has performed at The New Orleans Jazz festival, The United Nations and Carnegie Hall. She has a screenplay and a TV show in the works, which she developed with her mentor and friend the late Arthur Herzog. She is a proud member of the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle and was a nominator. Email: suzanna@t2conline.com

[writemarcus]

Across a Crowded Room: 2020 Videos

by Doug Reside, Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center

January 15, 2021

Since 2013, more or less annually, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts has invited new musical theatre writers, composers, and actors to Across A Crowded Room–a musical theatre incubator where strangers meet and write musicals together.  There is perhaps nothing more clichéd at this point than to note how unusual the past 12 months have been, but early in the pandemic it became clear there was interest in continuing the series in 2020, even in a modified way. Last year seven groups created new 20 minute musicals with the feedback from experts in the industry. The teams presented their final work, not on the stage of the Bruno Walter Auditorium as is the recent custom, but via pre-recorded videos produced for a special Zoom event. Today, we present those eight performances for the world to see. It was a difficult year in many respects, but the quality of the work created this year is among the best I have seen in the seven years of the program. Enjoy the 2020 Across A Crowded Room Playlist!

The Carousel of Inevitability and Certain Foreboding

Book: Gil Varod Lyrics: A. J. Freeman Music: Jonathan Lynch

Jimmy/Timmy: Kelly Autry Donna/Anna: A. J. Freeman Walt: Rick Negron Jimmy Jr.: Kennedy Kanagawa Stage Directions: Jennifer Blom

What's Her Line?

Book and Lyrics: A. J. Freeman Music: Derrick Byars

Dorothy Kilgallen: Bex Odorisio John Daly: Sam Balzac Guest #1: Bill Dyszel Guest #2: Laura Cetti Bennett Cerf: Eric Grunin Arlene Francis: A. J. Freeman The Jingle Gal: Hannah Eakin The Announcer: Jon Hugo Ungar

Also featuring: Jennifer Blom, Anthony Castellano, Caitlin Collins, Jared Corak, Alina Gatrell, Sonya Hayden, Kate Leonard, Ron Passaro, Kathleen Payne, Aliza Rabin, Daniel Sefik, Rachel Sklar, and Ruby Sklar

Garden of Alla

Books and Lyrics by Jacob Iglitzin Music by Natan Zamansky

Alla Nazimova: Amy Maude Helfer Charles Bryant: Daniel Kamlić Natacha Rambova: Autumn Hitt Rudolph Valentino: Anthony Castellano Marjorie Gilhoolet: Juliana Tassos Accompanist: Mary Taft

Rejected

Book and Lyrics by Briana Harris

Music and Lyrics by Andi Lee Carter

Francis X. Flack: Shakira Searle Director Krimsky: Tony Perry Leo Eckman/Half-Bull-Half-Horse: Doug Shapiro E.L. Fincher/Seven-Legged Goat: Joanie Drago Lila Bryne/Three-Legged Cat: Dana Aber Chico: Himself

Directed by Dev Bondarin Audio Mixing by Anthony Spinnato Editing by Andi Lee Carter

Forever and a Day

Book and Lyrics by Marcus Scott

Music by Steven Silverstein

Corey: Cartreze Tucker Dakota: Emma Claye Dimitri: Gheremi Clay Corey’s Mom: LaDonna Burns News Reporter: Karen Pangantihon

Directed by Dev Bondarin Video Editing and Sound Mixing by Micah Joel SFX courtesy of freesound.org/people/RSilveira_88

DoubleDouble

Words by Seth Christenfeld and A. J. Freeman Music by Eric Grunin

Carla: Caitlin Gallogly Carole: A. J. Freeman Jerry: Sam Balzac Tom: Brian Charles Rooney Michael: Sean Doherty

Aramaic translations by Pascale Asmar Photographs by Larry Racioppo (1974)

Feverdreams: Part One (Abridged)

Book by Justin Schwartz

Lyrics by Kara Cutruzzula Music by Shoshana Shattenkirk

Alexander Anderson: Cory Jeacoma Ann Van Vleck: Samantha Massell Sarah Anderson: Sandy York John Anderson, Jr./Hanover: Jackson Knight Pierce Emily: Lindsay Dabes

Video edited by Justin Schwartz

The Subway Enthusiast

Book, music, and lyrics by Kathleen Payne

Roddy: Anthony Castellano Passenger #1/Mom: Laura Cetti Friend/Teacher/Motorman: Jennifer Koontz Announcer/Conductor: Kathleen Payne

Music Arranger and Pianist: Cynthia Hilts

View all posts by Doug Reside