by The Happiest Medium on August 23, 2010

The Happiest Medium Review by guest contributors Anjali Koppal and Saurabh Paranjape

In Chad Beckim’s frothy romantic comedy Cookie, it is hard not to cheer for mopey, instantly likable man-child Alan as he awkwardly navigates the unexpected pitfalls and redemptions of a hastily put-together ‘Green Card marriage’ scam. Told through a series of short and consistently entertaining vignettes, Cookie is a breezy story of unlikely love that also takes the occasional light-hearted jab at society’s unspoken racial stereotypes.
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by The Happiest Medium on July 30, 2010

The Happiest Medium Review by guest contributor Kate Mickere
The art of storytelling seems to be in the Irish blood. Ancient bards used to wander the Irish countryside, singing the haunting ballads of the isle for a pint of ale. Ray Yeates is a modern bard, traveling across the Atlantic to perform the beautiful one-man show, The Parting Glass.
Written by Dermot Bolger, The Parting Glass examines the story of Eoin, a middle-aged man returning to Ireland after a twenty year absence. Telling his story from the waiting area of the Dublin airport, Eoin takes us through his life. With a great warmth and sharp humor, he discusses childhood friends, life in Germany and soccer. He beautifully explains a father’s love for his son and mourns the loss of his parents and the Irish way of life.
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by The Happiest Medium on July 19, 2010

The Happiest Medium Review by guest contributor Kate Mickere

(L-R): Alex Draper, performer of Plevna: Meditations on Hatred, and Robert Emmet Lunney, performer of Gary the Thief (photo credit: Stan Barouh)
Four floors below the sizzling New York streets, the Potomac Theatre Project is exploring hate.
Gary the Thief and Plevna: Meditations on Hatred are two dramatic poems by Howard Barker (both directed by Richard Romagnoli) . The playwright, who has coined the term “Theatre of Catastrophe” to describe his work, is arguing for the return of tragedy in the theatre. Tragedy, in Barker’s opinion, makes theatre more poetic. This short presentation, however, is mostly devoid of the heightened theatricality Barker typically pursues.
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by The Happiest Medium on July 12, 2010

The Happiest Medium Review by guest contributor Kate Mickere

Magazines and television often proclaim that a good makeover can be life changing. Women are constantly being told that a new hairstyle or designer dress will allow them to get over that boyfriend, get a new job and take over the world. While a new tube of lipstick hardly seems like proper therapy, sometimes a little care makes a huge difference. A trip to the spa transforms the woman in The Awakening (Story by Yakup Almelek, adapted for the stage by Annie Ward and presented by the Complete Theatre Company at Theatre Three).
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by The Happiest Medium on July 12, 2010

THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED – BUT YOU CAN STILL CHECK OUT THE SHOW!

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by The Happiest Medium on June 24, 2010

Planet Connections Theatre Festivity is New York City’s premiere eco-friendly theatre festival, connecting artists and audiences with diverse dynamic charitable organizations. The Planet Connections experience entertains, enlightens and informs.
The Happiest Medium (proud sponsors of The Planet Connections Festival) is finally wrapping up our Planet Connections Q&A! We hope you enjoyed reading all the interesting answers.
Our last post casts the spotlight on two shows which we reviewed here and one show which sounds like a blast (no pun intended) but which we were not able to cover. Read on to see how Aliza Shane (Playwright/Director) & Laura Hirschberg (Assistant Director/Stage Manager) of ARE YOU THERE ZEUS? IT’S ME, ELECTRA. answered our five questions. Then, keep reading to see what Ashley Jacobson, writer of his beauty had to say. And finally, stick around to see what BJ: A Musical Romp has in store for its audiences . . .
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by The Happiest Medium on June 22, 2010

Planet Connections Theatre Festivity is New York City’s premiere eco-friendly theatre festival, connecting artists and audiences with diverse dynamic charitable organizations. The Planet Connections experience entertains, enlightens and informs.
The Happiest Medium (proud sponsors of The Planet Connections Festival), will be running Q&A throughout the festival.
Today we ask one question each of Leah Bonvissuto, director of Cake (written by Felipe Ossa) and Anne Berlin writer of the book and lyrics of Revolution! These two plays both deal with politics but take on the topic in very different ways. Let’s take a look . . .
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by The Happiest Medium on June 19, 2010


MODOTTI is the story of photographer, silent film actress and ultimately activist and communist subversive, Tina Modotti. Sleek and sensuous, yet as dangerous as a tiger, she tore through the male dominated political forums almost as fast as she tore through her lovers.
Modotti fled to Mexico lured by the revolution and artistic excitement. Accompanied by her lover, American photographer, Edward Weston, she took on the challenge of a culture undergoing rapid change. Relishing in her new found freedom, her contemporaries were muralist, Diego Rivera, and Cuban revolutionary, Julio Mella.
Taking on controversial issues is a young person’s adventure, one that is bound to have dire consequences.
Modotti is playing at the Acorn Theatre (410 West 42nd Street)
One lucky grand prize winner will receive:
- A pair of tickets to MODOTTI for the Sunday June 27th (final) performance
To enter, correctly answer the following question:
Q. What’s the name of the short film that Alysia Reiner (the actress playing Tina Modotti) and Katie Rosin (Marketing/PR for Modotti) produced together?
(Wanna cheat? Find the answer here.)
Email us your answer with your first and last name to giveaways@thehappiestmedium.com, all entries must be received by Wednesday, June 23rd.
Click here for contest guidelines.
Good luck!
by The Happiest Medium on June 18, 2010

Planet Connections Theatre Festivity is New York City’s premiere eco-friendly theatre festival, connecting artists and audiences with diverse dynamic charitable organizations. The Planet Connections experience entertains, enlightens and informs.
The Happiest Medium (proud sponsors of The Planet Connections Festival), will be running Q&A throughout the festival.
Today we ask one question each of 4 1/2 Hours: Across the Stones of Fire author Jeff Biggers and Melissa F. Moschitto, writer and director of Another Place. These two strong plays really show what Planet Connections is all about – both plays raise some tough questions about how we live on this planet and how we interact with our resources . . .
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by The Happiest Medium on June 15, 2010

Planet Connections Theatre Festivity is New York City’s premiere eco-friendly theatre festival, connecting artists and audiences with diverse dynamic charitable organizations. The Planet Connections experience entertains, enlightens and informs.
The Happiest Medium (proud sponsors of The Planet Connections Festival), will be running Q&A throughout the festival.
Today we ask one question each of Emma Koenig, director and playwright (as well as one of the actors!) of I Don’t Want to Hurt Your Feelings and John Patrick Bray, writer of Liner Notes. Both shows have strong relationship-based stories. Let’s see what they’re all about . . .
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