GARBO

Writer: Joe Gulla
Director: Brian Rardin

This short comedy/drama tells the story of Joe, a gay New Yorker enjoying an extended holiday in Rome, Italy. Like any foreigner who visits the Eternal City, Joe’s daily life is filled with ever-changing sensorial delights – culture shock at its best! But, it is not until he happens upon the tiny, candle-lit GARBO BAR – hidden on a small cobblestoned street in the ancient quarter of Trastevere – that his emotional adventure TRULY begins! Funny and heartfelt, GARBO explores why life and love may be better lived outside the closet… even (or especially) in the shadow of the Vatican!

Show Times:

• Fri 1/20 @ 6pm
• Sat 1/21 @ 8pm

Answers by Joe Gulla (Playwright, Producer, Performer)

Karen Tortora-Lee’s Question
This is an international festival. What part of the world are you coming from … and will your show tantalize the NYC audience with a taste of your nation’s culture?

Joe Gulla: Roma! My play is set in a small, sexy bar hidden on a cobblestoned street in the ancient quarter of Trastevere… Rome! The name of the bar is GARBO. Experiencing GARBO is like being handed a First Class ticket to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport where a handsome Italian man greets you at baggage claim, tosses you on his vespa and drives you to the Eternal City’s coolest cocktail party!

Dianna Martin’s Question
Who is the greatest inspiration to you artistically?
Joe Gulla: Love this question! Put it this way — John Guare x Joe Orton ÷ Harvey Fierstien = Joe Gulla

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson’s Question
What emerged as the greatest challenge during the development of this production?
Joe Gulla: GARBO was originally offered a FULL PRODUCTION at the TIMES SQUARE INTERNATIONAL THEATER FESTIVAL. The greatest challenge was when I learned that the dates of the festival conflicted with one of my director, Brian Rardin’s other projects. Our solution? We re-imagined GARBO as a one-of-a-kind STAGED READING experience … a boutique event! A shirtless hunk (Jonah Young) will host and read stage directions … Opera diva (Gina Sutherland) will sing an aria from the audience … It’s a Staged Reading done GARBO-style!

Antonio Minino’s Question
You’re in Times Square surrounded by the best Broadway houses and highest selling entertainment in the world. What resources are you utilizing to spread the word about your show and get butts in seats?
Joe Gulla: Well, besides producing, writing, and starring in GARBO … I write a popular theater blog — “TheTheaterBuff.com”. It’s been a great way to get the word out! Also, I’m very active on Twitter. My 6,000 plus followers are VERY aware of GARBO’s role in the TIMES SQUARE INTERNATIONAL THEATER FESTIVAL! So, I certainly maximize my cyber opportunities!.That being said, you’ll also catch me at various Euro-style boites in New York City… sipping prosecco and talking GARBO!
~~~

Related Posts:

• THM Sponsors The Times Square International Theatre Festival
• Get STUPEFIED By Paul Hutcheson
• It’s A Triple Play For Natalie Menna!
• Dandy Darkly’s Trigger Happy!: 10 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2016 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• The BYU/Berkeley Plot: 10 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2016 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)

Sanctuary

Susanne Sulby writer, actor, co-director,
Andrea Haring co-director

An exploration of the struggles and tragedies of war and our need for sanctuary. A fast paced energetic multi media exploration of the roles we have played in war throughout time. Multiple characters expose the connections of fear, bigotry, power and religion with war and how they find sanctuary from it.

Show Times:

• Monday, 1/16 @ 9pm
• Wednesday, 1/18 @ 6pm
• Friday, 1/20 @ 7:30pm

Answers by Susanne Sulby (writer, actor, co-director)

Karen Tortora-Lee’s Question
This is an international festival. What part of the world are you coming from … and will your show tantalize the NYC audience with a taste of your nation’s culture?
Susanne Sulby: Though this is an International show I am from the US. Sanctuary is about our Universal experience as women in relation to war. This Story is told through the eyes of the three main characters, the house wife, an international war correspondent and Sanja Sihilovic a POW in Bosnia. ‘Sanctuary’ exposes the connection of fear, bigotry, power and religion to war throughout history and across the world. Using multiple characters, Film projection, movement and sound, I explore the human tragedy of war as well as the roles and responsibilities of individuals in the conflict of nations. Sanctuary makes immediate on the stage some of the most pertinent issues of our time.

Dianna Martin’s Question
Who is the greatest inspiration to you artistically?
Susanne Sulby: My teachers have always been my biggest inspiration. Currently Andrea Haring, my director, and Master Linklater, teacher, has inspired me to create challenging and specific work. Kristin Linklater has also inspired me to understand the importance of my voice in the world! Theatrically, I am inspired by so many people; of course incredible actors like Glenn Close who is able to manage a stage and screen career with ease, but also incredible women writers like Theresa Rebeck or the incredible Wendy Wasserstein.

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson’s Question
What emerged as the greatest challenge during the development of this production?
Susanne Sulby:Time. Time is always the challenge. (And of course money!) When I found that I would be performing this piece it was early December and I knew that I wanted to rewrite some of it and explore the positive changes that have happened in the world since its first production. To discover more hope and beauty. So, much of our time was spent developing those ideas.

Antonio Minino’s Question
You’re in Times Square surrounded by the best Broadway houses and highest selling entertainment in the world. What resources are you utilizing to spread the word about your show and get butts in seats?
Susanne Sulby: We have used as many ways as we can afford, post cards mailings, and drop offs, PR contacts with local writers, the web, e-mails, social networking sites and word of mouth from friends.

~~~

.

Related Posts:

• THM Sponsors The Times Square International Theatre Festival
• SEASONS (Times Square International Theater Festival 2012)
• 1,934 Days: 4 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (Times Square International Theater Festival 2012)
• Alita The Show: 4 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (Times Square International Theater Festival 2012)
• The Knocking Within: 4 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (Times Square International Theater Festival 2012)

There’s a great independent festival kicking off tonight – right in the heart of the theatre district at the Roy Arias Studios & Theaters. What makes The Times Square International Theater Festival special is two things – one, it’s an international festival which means there will be a great range of talents from all over reflecting cultures from around the world.  The second thing is that The Happiest Medium is the proud sponsor of this festival! In the coming week we’ll bring you Q&As with each of the production teams to get you excited about the shows, and we’ll review as many as we can get to!  In the mean time, check out the full schedule here:

Related Posts:

• SEASONS: 4 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (Times Square International Theater Festival 2012)
• Horripilation! By John Sowle, Kaliyuga Arts (Times Square International Theater Festival 2012)
• SEASONS (Times Square International Theater Festival 2012)
• Legacy Of The Tiger Mother (Times Square International Theater Festival 2012)
• The Knocking Within: 4 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (Times Square International Theater Festival 2012)