Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Last Call: Target Margin's THE REALLY BIG ONCE

David Herskovits' meditation on the famous and frustrating collaboration between playwright Tennessee Williams and Elia Kazan on Camino Real closes this weekend. The Really Big Once is a must for both theater history fans and fans of Target Margin Theater - and Ludlow Lad admits to being both. The five-person cast (especially John Kurzynowski and Steve Rattazzi) trade roles effortlessly playing Kazan, Williams, characters in Camino Real, Herskovtis, reading e-mail correspondence from the Williams estate, and about two dozen others. So don't miss it.

For tickets and info: www.targetmargin.org

Sunday, May 02, 2010

Clubbed Thumb: Summerworks 2010

DOT
by Kate E. Ryan
directed by Anne Kauffman
original music by Mike Iveson

In which old Dot and the weird kid from the neighborhood become friends. Set in that kind of Florida town that makes you wonder: is this tv, a book, or maybe even a cabaret?

with David Brooks, Kate Hopkins, Birgit Huppuch, Ed Jewett, Lynne McCollough, and Mary Shultz

June 6, 7, 8, & 10, 11, 12 at 8PM

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FIVE GENOCIDES
by Samuel D. Hunter
directed by Davis McCallum

In which Katie is determined to finish writing that book -- even though she didn't start it. Lucky she's got a new friend at the Fashion Bug to help since her in-laws are deluded, drunk, and dog-obsessed.

with Charlotte Booker, Crystal Finn, Barrett O'Brien, Carmen M. Herlihy, and Edward James Hyland

June 13, 14, 15, & 17, 18, 19 at 8PM

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THE SMALL
by Anne Washburn
directed by Les Waters
original music by Dave Malloy
In which a man struggles to assemble a reality from his dreams, the dog very much wants to be taken for a walk, and the Natural Food store isn't.

with Gideon Banner, Maria Dizzia, Matthew Maher, Dave Malloy, and Susie Pourfar

June 20, 21, 22, & 24, 25, 26 at 8PM
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This will be the final Summerworks that will happen at the Ohio Theater, so make sure you don't miss it!

For tickets: Click Here

For more info on Clubbed Thumb or Summerworks: www.clubbedthumb.org

Thursday, January 21, 2010

NYTheatre.com Podcast: Theatre Publicity Roundtable

Martin Denton's invaluable NYTheatre.com does regular podcasts, and the most recent episode is a more B2B service, explaining what Press and PR Agents go and why an Indie/Off-Off Broadway company or production should think about hiring them. Martin talks to Katie Rosin, Kevin McAnarney, and Michelle Tabnick about what they do and how they do it.

You can listen or download it HERE.

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Sunday, December 27, 2009

10 Shows To See in 2010

Chekhov Lizardbrain – return engagement by Pig Iron Theater Company at CSV Cultural Center; January 7th - 17th

Gin and "It": Reid Farrington's meditation on Alfred Hitchcock's film Rope . at 3LD Art & Technology Center; January 7th - 16th

Lear- new play after Shakespeare by Young Jean Lee at Soho Rep; January 7th - 31st

Plays – Gertrude Stein as performed by David Greenspan; Foundry Theater Company at Atlantic Stage 2; January 9th - February 7th

Trifles - The Theater of a Two-Headed Calf takes on Susan Glaspell at Ontological @ St. Marks Church; January 28th - February 14th

The Jackie Look – the newest performance by Karen Finley at the Laurie Beechman Theater; January 30th - March 6th

The Divine Sister – a workshop of Charles Busch's latest comedy at Theater for the New City; February 11 - March 7th

Orange, Hat & Grace: a new play by Gregory Moss; dir. by Sarah Benson at Soho Rep; Begins March 11th

Bellona,Destroyer of Cities - adapted and directed by Jay Scheib at The Kitchen; Begins April 1st

The Truth: A Tragedy: A new solo show written and performed by Cynthia Hopkins at Soho Rep; Begins May 6th

Friday, December 25, 2009

10 Favorites of 2009

Sixty Miles to Silver Lake by Dan LeFranc; directed by Anne Kauffman; co-production by Page 73 and Soho Rep (at Soho Rep)


SOS –created by Caden Manson and Jemma Nelson; Big Art Group (at The Kitchen)


Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson - Written and directed by Alex Timbers; music and lyrics by Michael Friedman; Les Freres Corbusier (at The Public)


Thirst(y) - (mostly) by Eugene O’Neill; directed by Michael Levinton; Target Margin Theater (at The Chocolate Factory)


The Event – written and directed by John Clancy; Clancy Productions/FringeNYC (at Players Theater)


In The Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) – by Sarah Ruhl; directed by Les Waters; Lincoln Center Theater (at Lyceum Theater)


Circle Mirror Transformation – by Annie Baker; directed by Sam Gold; Playwrights Horizons (at Peter J. Sharp Theater)


THIS – by Melissa James Gibson; directed by Daniel Aukin; Playwrights Horizons (at Playwrights Horizons Mainstage Theater)


Brief Encounter - Adapted and Directed by Emma Rice; Kneehigh Theatre (at St. Ann’s Warehouse)


Romeo & Juliet - Conceived and directed by Pavol Liska and Kelly Copper; Nature Theater of Oklahoma (at The Kitchen)

*****

And very honorable mentions to: Gina Gionfriddo's BECKY SHAW at Second Stage, Nature Theater of Oklahoma's RAMBO SOLO at Soho Rep, Cynthia Hopkins' THE SUCCESS OF FAILURE (OR, THE FAILURE OF SUCCESS), Buddy Thomas' DEVIL BOYS FROM BEYOND at the Fringe and three past shows that I revisited this year and found that I loved them as much this year as the first time I saw them: Mabou Mines's DOLLHOUSE, Chicago's Hell in a Handbag's POSEIDON (AN UPSIDEDOWN MUSICAL) and Len Jenkin's THE DREAM EXPRESS.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

The Dream Express @ The Chocolate Factory

It's been a number of years since I caught that fabulous metaphysical lounge act, The Dream Express, but it's back for a brief stint at The Chocolate Factory and it's as funny and as fresh as ever. What struck me on this sitting was just how great the writing, by Len Jenkin, was. Steve Mellor and Deirdre O'Connell are Spin and Marlene, who are the divorced-but-still-appearing-at-a-motel-near-you duo. Their wise and witty banter, clever original songs and amusing covers make you long for a curtain call.

THE DREAM EXPRESS

Now thru December 19th
at The Chocolate Factory
Long Island City, Queens
For tickets & info: www.chocolatefactorytheater.org
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