The Happiest Medium » Theatre

(un)missed connections – 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 Planet Connections Festivity)

Karen Tortora-Lee — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:40:43 +0000

(un)missed connections

Benefiting: GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation)

Produced/Written by Mark-Eugene Garcia

Directed by Rodrigo Bolanos

“(un)missed connections is a modern drama, a brief glimpse into the lives of eight strangers, brought together through chance – and Craigslist. It’s about being at the right place at the right time, or wrong time. Its about searching, online, in line, next to you, across an empty room, even on a massage table for a moment, for a connection.”

Show Times:

Wed 6/6/12 @ 9:00pm
Mon 6/11/12 @ 10:00pm
Tues 6/12/12 @ 7:00pm
Sun 6/17/12 @ 10:00pm
Sun 6/24/12 @ 1:00pm

Answers by Mark-Eugene Garcia

(Playwright)

Karen Tortora-Lee’s Question
How did you come up with the title for your show?

Mark-Eugene: We actually had quite a few titles. The play is based on missed connections from Craigslist, so I originally gave it that title of Missed Connections. But the play really about isn’t missing the connection as opposed to finding them. After speaking with Rodrigo, our director, we came up with (un)missed connections.

Diánna Martin’s Question
If you were going to invite 5 people (from the past or present) to see your show – who would you invite … and why?

Mark-Eugene: 1- Armistead Maupin- because he is probably one of the biggest influences in my writing. I love his plots. I love his books. I love that, without ever meeting me, he taught me so much about who I am and how to live my life. 2&3- Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty- It was through their music that I figured out that I wanted to write theatre. 4- Randy Brunk- a fantastic actress and mentor I knew who supported me in everything I did, pushed me in my theatrical pursuits and was the inspiration for a short play I wrote. I would LOVE to see what she would say about my endeavors now. 5- Laura Linney- She is amazing, probably my favorite actress, a huge crush of mine, and I constantly seem to be one connection away from her at all times. My friends have met her. Even my ex-friends have met her. I know people she knows…She even signed an autograph for me, through them. But I never have met her. Can someone tell Ms. Linney to come see my show and connect with me?

Antonio Minino’s Question
What is the biggest sacrifice you’ve made for your art and was it worth it?

Mark-Eugene: I’d have to say that the biggest sacrifice has been most of the nights and weekends out that most others had in their twenties. How I found a partner without being social is a miracle. I’m kind of a homebody. I’d rather be writing, I guess. But considering that the play is opening soon I think the trade off was well worth it.

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson’s Question
Was there any unexpected discovery made during the development of this production and can you share it with us?

Mark-Eugene: The play originally had a very different much darker ending. In a past incarnation, a producer made a quick suggestion that perhaps (blank) should happen and (blank) shouldn’t. At first I thought, “Who the hell are you? This goes against what the play stands for and what I want the audience to walk away with.” But then I took a few breaths, swallowed my pride and thought about it. The producer had a point, and so did I. So I took a night, thought about my options, found some happy mediums and I went with the happiest medium. Like what I did there?
(Karen: Yes I do, Mark! Adorbs!)

Michelle Augello-Page’s Question
What do you hope the audience receives from the experience of seeing this show?

Mark-Eugene: I want the audience to take a look around and see who is standing nearby. When I sat at home and began reading the missed connections ads, I noticed something. These weren’t just people looking for sex or love. These were people, all nearby, who were reaching out and searching for some kind of connection. Whatever they saw in an eye wink, a smile, a quick exchange of conversation was what they were looking for. Those missed connections ads tell us as much about the writer as they do of the moment. We all are looking for connections. They can be anywhere. A train, a bedroom, a bar, a restaurant, and hopefully… in a theatre.

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Planet Connections runs from May 30 – June 24 at The Bleecker Street Theater located at 45 Bleecker Street, New York, NY. To purchase tickets to this or any of the shows click here.

See Bob Run – 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 Planet Connections Festivity)

Karen Tortora-Lee — Tue, 29 May 2012 01:27:03 +0000

See Bob Run

Benefiting: RAINN
Produced by Dancing Torero Productions
Written by Daniel MacIvor
Directed by David Gautschy

“A dark and edgy dramedy about a young woman hitchhiking across the Canadian prairies. Determined to meet her estranged Father at the water, Bob is talkative, paranoid and full of secrets. Told through direct address, monologues to unsuspecting drivers and twisted fairytales. The play is a complex portrait of the many effects of abuse.”

Show Times:

Wed 6/6/12 – 5:00pm
Mon 6/11/12 – 4:00pm
Saturday 6/16/12 – 8:00pm
Wednesday 6/20/12 – 4:00pm

Answers by Allison Plamondon
(Actor, Producer)

Karen Tortora-Lee’s Question
How did you come up with the title for your show?

Allison: Daniel MacIvor wrote the play in the 80s so he named it then.

Diánna Martin’s Question
If you were going to invite 5 people (from the past or present) to see your show – who would you invite … and why?

Allison: Daniel MacIvor (because he wrote it-although don’t tell me when he is there because I will forget all of my lines)
Caroline Gillis (because she originated the role in 1986 and I would love to buy her a beer after the show)
Tim Ryan (head of my theatre program-passed away in 2009. because he would be proud)
John Cameron Mitchell (because Hedwig and the Angry Inch is totally inspiring!)
Robert Downey Jr (because wouldn’t you want him at your show?)

Antonio Minino’s Question
What is the biggest sacrifice you’ve made for your art and was it worth it?
Allison: Leaving everything I had in Toronto and moving to New York. Was it worth it? You have to ask?

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson’s Question
Was there any unexpected discovery made during the development of this production and can you share it with us?
Allison: In 2011, we worked on See Bob Run part-time for months and months before doing a workshop presentation in the fall. When we picked it up again (8 months later) it was amazing how quickly everything came back. Phew. So, the unexpected discovery was now that the groundwork was laid, we could take more risks and have more fun with it. Exciting!

Michelle Augello-Page’s Question
What do you hope the audience receives from the experience of seeing this show?
Allison: I hope the audience walks away saying “eh” at the end of every sentence like a true Canadian.

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Planet Connections runs from May 30 – June 24 at The Bleecker Street Theater located at 45 Bleecker Street, New York, NY. To purchase tickets to this or any of the shows click here.

Smacker And The Highway – 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 Planet Connections Festivity)

The Happiest Medium — Mon, 28 May 2012 21:20:59 +0000

Smacker and the Highway

Benefiting: Grand Central Neighborhood Social Services Corporation (GCNSSC)
Produced by Waving Cat Productions
Written by Hope Weiner
Directed by Molly Ballerstein

“America is undergoing a facelift, and anything that is regarded as ugly or undesirable is being put out to pasture. Internal migration has reached its highest levels as the displaced roam the highway seeking their own utopia.”

Show Times:

Fri 6/1/12 – 5:00pm
Sun 6/3/12 – 6:00pm
Tues 6/5/12 – 5:00pm
Sat 6/9/12 – 1:30pm
Wed 6/20/12 – 10:00pm
Sat 6/23/12 – 8:00pm

Answers by Molly Ballerstein

(Director)

Karen Tortora-Lee’s Question
How did you come up with the title for your show?

Molly: The title is based off the main character (Smacker) and her experiences of living on the highway.

Diánna Martin’s Question
If you were going to invite 5 people (from the past or present) to see your show – who would you invite … and why?

Molly: I would invite Barack Obama, Governor Cuomo, the Occupy Wall Street Protesters (I’m counting them as one!), Oscar Wilde, and Harold Clurman. The first three people I believe would find the show relevant and a take on where America can go. The last two I would want feedback from!

Antonio Minino’s Question
What is the biggest sacrifice you’ve made for your art and was it worth it?

Molly: The biggest sacrifice I’ve made to date is a quitting a management position at a well known corporation with a stable paycheck, benefits, and a 401K. It was absolutely worth it and since quitting said economically safe job I have never regretted or questioned my choice. Working for a corporation that does not care about people and simply cares about the money they are making is not something I would put on my worst enemy.

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson’s Question
Was there any unexpected discovery made during the development of this production and can you share it with us?

Molly: The way I take on creating the world of a project is more as a playground supervisor than a puppet master. Seeing the characters the actors developed after we established the environment they were in was a wonderful experience! What was most unexpected to me was what happens to the family structure when there is no home or safe place for them to be in.

Michelle Augello-Page’s Question
What do you hope the audience receives from the experience of seeing this show?

Molly: I hope they receive how important it is that we all participate in a nonviolent way and how dangerous it is when we do not take action and participate in what is happening with our government and the world around us. Our community is not made of buildings but of people and as such they are what matters and we should look out for the most.

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Planet Connections runs from May 30 – June 24 at The Bleecker Street Theater located at 45 Bleecker Street, New York, NY. To purchase tickets to this or any of the shows click here.

Naked Brazilian – 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 Planet Connections Festivity)

The Happiest Medium — Mon, 28 May 2012 19:15:47 +0000

Naked Brazilian

Benefiting: United Nations Environment Programme
Written and Performed by Gustavo Pace
Directed by Lou Liberatore

“Struggling against his father’s wishes to become a lawyer, a young man journeys from Rio to NYC to fulfill his own dreams to become a clown.”

Show Times:

Tues 6/5/12 – 6:00pm
Fri 6/8/12 – 8:30pm
Sun 6/10/12 – 4:00pm
Sun 6/17/12 – 3:00pm

Gustavo Pace (Writer/Performer)

[Editor's Note: Gustavo - who is Brazilian - invited me to Americanize his answers, but I thought they were charming as is. I'm sure you'll agree.]

Karen Tortora-Lee’s Question
How did you come up with the title for your show?

Gustavo: Naked Brazilian have different meanings like for example the sexy naked in the car that I experienced, also to get the soul naked and some other meanings that you need to see the show to understand. If I am going to be naked? That you need to come to check what happen. This is what I can tell about the show: Dad says, be a lawyer I say, be a clown What’s a boy to do? (father doesn’t always know best).

Diánna Martin’s Question
If you were going to invite 5 people (from the past or present) to see your show – who would you invite … and why?

Gustavo:
My father: Because I want to know if he will still talk with me after listening to this stories. I think he would be disappointed in the son he has. Some weeks ago he asked me: What this show Naked Brazilian about? I said; sorry Dad, but I am not ready to tell what is about…

Criminal Law teacher: I think he would shoot me if he see his scene in the play, but I want to see if he maybe changes the way he deal with his students…

Bruno: I can’t say why but if you go to the show you going to understand … The only thing I can tell is: “If you have questions of your sexuality don’t look for the answers in your fathers car.”

Matt Hoverman: Because he supported me a lot with this project and he is an inspiring artist.

Marx Brothers: I talk on the show about the dream to be like them and also the desire to become a Clown and make people laugh.

Antonio Minino’s Question
What is the biggest sacrifice you’ve made for your art and was it worth it?

Gustavo: It was to give up Law School after graduating in Brazil and live now in New York only with my passion and dream to be an actor. It is worth [it]. I am happy here in New York and being able to tell stories that I am not “allowed” to do in Brazil.

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson’s Question
Was there any unexpected discovery made during the development of this production and can you share it with us?

Gustavo: I discover that I really want to become an actor and Clown and I love entertaining people and also that it’s important to accept who you are with all the problems and prejudices that we have. I think I found more my inner voice and my true need to tell stories. My director Lou Liberatore was great on the process and essential for the play. I really admire him.

Michelle Augello-Page’s Question
What do you hope the audience receives from the experience of seeing this show?

Gustavo: I hope the audience will think about the importance of following their dreams and taking risks in life. The risks can be dangerous, but might lead you for a happier life than just having a security boring job. As the quote said “ Leap..and the net will appear”

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Planet Connections runs from May 30 – June 24 at The Bleecker Street Theater located at 45 Bleecker Street, New York, NY. To purchase tickets to this or any of the shows click here.

The Closet – 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 Planet Connections Festivity)

The Happiest Medium — Sun, 27 May 2012 22:58:40 +0000

The Closet

Benefiting: WIN [Women in Need]
Produced by LifeDream Productions
Written by Amy Gray Piper
Directed by Melissa Skirboll

“Ruth thought she buried her past, but in a series of conversations with her long-dead mother, she struggles to hold onto her illusions before being forced to remember the truth. We watch as her fragile hold on sanity slips away as she falls into the madness that gripped her mother.”

Show Times:

Sat 6/2/12 – 8:00pm
Mon 6/4/12 – 9:30pm
Thur 6/7/12 – 6:00pm
Wed 6/13/12 – 4:00pm
Tues 6/19/12 – 6:30pm
Sat 6/23/12 – 11:00am

Answers by Melissa Skirboll

(Producer/Director)

Karen Tortora-Lee’s Question
How did you come up with the title for your show?
Melissa: For this question, I defer to Amy Gray Piper, the playwright. She said, “Dark closets, under the bed…these are the spaces from our childhood where the monsters live. The closet in this play is what physically connect the past and present and where Ruth’s fears still live.”

When I approached Amy about submitting this piece to the festival, she thought about changing the title. We batted around a few ideas but never came up with anything better. I think it’s perfect; both succinct and full of meaning. And as a director I love being able to play with the closet as portal into the past, into the subconscious, into memory and madness. By using the closet as the central metaphor, Amy gave the actors and director a huge creative gift.

Diánna Martin’s Question
If you were going to invite 5 people (from the past or present) to see your show – who would you invite … and why?
Melissa: Carl Jung – his break with Freud and his study of the human psyche, archetypes and dream analysis still influence the field of psychology today. To be able to talk about these characters and their breakdowns with him would be illuminating to say the least.

Anna Freud – similarly, her work on child psychology was seminal and it would be interesting to hear her perspective.

(I won’t fill this space up with psychologists from history, but needless to say, having an audience made up of the men and women who basically created modern psychology; Sigmund and Anna Freud, B.F. Skinner, Maslow, Ericksen, et al, and then letting them debate the play and the roots of the psychoses would be a fascinating exercise.)

Carrie Fisher – she has effectively – and publicly – chronicled her battle with bipolar disorder. While this is a very different story, I hope that it too puts a human face on mental illness.

Frances Farmer – a huge talent who pretty much lost her battle against schizophrenia. Her treatment by those in the mental health care industry was notoriously harsh and ineffective. While the facts are debated, she claims to have been brutalized in the mental hospital where she was committed against her will. That she might find solace in the story.

My mother – because I think she’d be proud of the work I’m doing and I know that she would be moved by this story!

Antonio Minino’s Question
What is the biggest sacrifice you’ve made for your art and was it worth it?
Melissa: I’ll answer the second question first; Yes. Absolutely. It was, and is, worth it.

Now as to what exactly have I sacrificed….if you ask my mother, she’d probably say I sacrificed “everything”, or at least the normal, happy life she envisioned for me. I don’t think my sacrifices are particularly noteworthy or special (and I don’t know if I even consider them sacrifices.) Anyone who chooses a career in the arts makes certain trade-offs. But you go into it – hopefully – with your eyes wide open.

My first job out of college was at an investment firm. I could have stayed there and created wealth for myself; investments, retirement fund, vacation homes and cool toys. But I chose to give it up and start acting. I might not have all the things that money can buy – but I do have a wealth of experience that I would never have gotten in a nine-to-five world. I would definitely do it again.

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson’s Question
Was there any unexpected discovery made during the development of this production and can you share it with us?
Melissa: Not yet – but I’ll let you know!

Michelle Augello-Page’s Question
What do you hope the audience receives from the experience of seeing this show?
Melissa: I hope they are moved. That they are able to feel the pains and the joys of these characters, that it reaches them at a visceral level and opens their eyes to the humanity of this situation. I just saw a PSA about mental illness – the one with Meryl Streep and her sister (this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUaXFlANojQ) and if this play helps to “change a mind” about mental illness, I will be happy.

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Planet Connections runs from May 30 – June 24 at The Bleecker Street Theater located at 45 Bleecker Street, New York, NY. To purchase tickets to this or any of the shows click here.

Ye Elizabeths – 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 Planet Connections Festivity)

The Happiest Medium — Sun, 27 May 2012 21:30:29 +0000

Ye Elizabeths

Benefiting: Girls, Inc.
Produced by Easter Punny Productions
Written & Performed by Alicia Barnatchez and Erin Leigh Schmoyer
Directed by Leah Bonvissuto

“Elizabeth and Elizabeth are historical re-enactors, on a low-rent version of Plimoth Plantation. When it goes the way of the buffalo, they must learn how to marry their Pilgrim lives to modern times. Their answer? Reality TV. So, update your smallpox vaccine, hop aboard this multi-media Mayflower, and prepare to get colonized…again!”

Show Times:

Sat 6/2/12 – 5:00pm
Thur 6/7/12 – 7:00pm
Fri 6/15/12 – 8:30pm
Sat 6/16/12 – 3:00pm
Tue 6/19/12 – 8pm

Answers by Alicia Barnatchez & Erin Leigh Schmoyer (writers/performers/producers)

Karen Tortora-Lee’s Question
How did you come up with the title for your show?
Alicia & Erin Leigh: The title came from our protagonists both being names Elizabeths, (as was true of many a Pilgrim lady settler).

Diánna Martin’s Question
If you were going to invite 5 people (from the past or present) to see your show – who would you invite … and why?
Alicia & Erin Leigh: William Bradford to see if he enjoyed the way we repped his pilgrim people. Beatrice Arthur, Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan & Betty White, because they’re the golden girls.

Antonio Minino’s Question
What is the biggest sacrifice you’ve made for your art and was it worth it?
Alicia & Erin Leigh: We feel like any sacrifices we may have made along the way pale in comparison to those of our Pilgrim settlers, who risked everything, including their lives to find new hope for freedom in the new world.

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson’s Question
Was there any unexpected discovery made during the development of this production and can you share it with us?
Alicia & Erin Leigh: We were surprised and psyched that we were able to write songs without the ability to play musical instruments.

Michelle Augello-Page’s Question
What do you hope the audience receives from the experience of seeing this show?
Alicia & Erin Leigh: A reminder that even in your bleakest moments, the ability to laugh can give you hope, and that you should let your best friend know just how much she or he means to you. You’d be a quivering mass of jello without her!

___

Planet Connections runs from May 30 – June 24 at The Bleecker Street Theater located at 45 Bleecker Street, New York, NY. To purchase tickets to this or any of the shows click here.

Acts Of Love – 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 Planet Connections Festivity)

The Happiest Medium — Sun, 27 May 2012 19:58:12 +0000

Acts Of Love

Benefiting: The Arc

Produced by Mark Jason Williams and Gabrielle Fox

“Acts of Love make us laugh, smile, swoon, cry, feel insecure, and drive us crazy. This evening of short plays uncovers the humor, kindness and raw emotions we share with one another while finding romance in the office, revisiting the one that got away, exploring the afterlife, dealing with a disability, and beyond.”

Show Times:

Thur 5/31/12 – 6:00pm
Sun 6/3/12 – 4:00pm
Wed 6/6/12 – 7:00pm
Fri 6/8/12 – 4:30pm
Thur 6/14/12 – 9:30pm
Fri 6/22/12 – 8:00pm

Mark Jason Williams (Playwright)

Karen Tortora-Lee’s Question
How did you come up with the title for your show?
Mark: Gabrielle Fox, playwright of three shows in the evening, came up with the idea. We’re doing an evening of five short plays, all of which explore the drama and humor of love and personal relationships, particularly how people rely on empathy, kindness and support to get through a difficult situation, so the title seemed like a natural fit.

Diánna Martin’s Question
If you were going to invite 5 people (from the past or present) to see your show – who would you invite … and why?
Mark: Tori Amos — I’ve written a lot of words to her music; Laura Linney — she’s one of my favorite actresses; Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller–huge inspirations; Meryl Streep — who wouldn’t want to have Meryl Streep in their audience?

Antonio Minino’s Question
What is the biggest sacrifice you’ve made for your art and was it worth it?
Mark: Moving away from New York City. I quit my dumb day job and headed to the suburbs to save money and write full-time. I miss having 24-hour delis and seeing friends as often as I used to, but I’m a more evolved playwright now, and it’s been worth it for sure.

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson’s Question
Was there any unexpected discovery made during the development of this production and can you share it with us?
Mark: It’s actually my first time directing one of my plays, and I was resistant at first, but I’ve discovered that I really enjoy. It’s really cool to be able to focus on the big picture and work with actors on a different level that I’m used to. A real eye-opening experience!

Michelle Augello-Page’s Question
What do you hope the audience receives from the experience of seeing this show?
Mark: One of the shows, Smiles to Saturn, features a character with Aspergers syndrome, so I’d love for people to walk away with a new understanding of how a person lives with a disability. But, overall, I hope that seeing our show helps an audience further understand and value their own personal relationships.

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Planet Connections runs from May 30 – June 24 at The Bleecker Street Theater located at 45 Bleecker Street, New York, NY. To purchase tickets to this or any of the shows click here.

Bubby’s Shadow – 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 Planet Connections Festivity)

The Happiest Medium — Sun, 27 May 2012 03:02:44 +0000

Isabelle Goodman as Cara, Gloria Rosen as Bubby, Andrew Rothkin as Jonny and Rosie Cosch as Debra in Bubby’s Shadow (Photographer: Paul Dorfman)

Bubby’s Shadow

Benefiting: Jewish Social Services Hospice & Visiting Nurse Service of New York Hospice and Palliative Care
Produced by White Rabbit Theatre
Written by Andrew Rothkin
Directed by Greg Cicchino

An unexpected knock and Jonny’s home again… to his sister, his niece, and the past he left behind. Join the Cohens as their Bubby guides them on a journey, traversing darkness, finding light… After all, Bubby’s not one to let a little snag like death stop her from fixing her family.”

Show Times:

Sun 6/3/12 – 12:00pm
Tue 6/5/12 – 4:00pm
Sat 6/9/12 – 4:30pm
Fri 6/15/12 – 6:00pm
Sun 6/17/12 – 11:00am
Tues 6/19/12 – 8:30pm
Wed 6/20/12 – 6:00pm
Sat 6/23/12 – 7:00pm

Answers by Andrew Rothkin

(Playwright/Producer/Actor)

Karen Tortora-Lee’s Question
How did you come up with the title for your show?
Andrew: Coming up with a title for one of my pieces, whether it is a poem, short story, one-act or full-length play, always comes at different times. Sometimes it is the first thing I come up with; sometimes it is the last thing I come up with; or it can occur any time during the process.

My initial working title for the piece (which I had forgotten until now) was simply Nanny, what my siblings, my cousins and I all called our wonderful, dear grandmother.

The inspiration eventually hit, and I devised Bubby’s Shadow, Bubby’s Light. I liked it then – and like that now… but virtually everyone I talked to thought the title was too much. Indeed, I just as easily could have called it Bubby’s Light, as the play is as much about light as it is about darkness, as much about illumination as it is about mystery…. In the end, I opted for the title that would intrigue me most if I were an unbiased theatregoer.

Diánna Martin’s Question
If you were going to invite 5 people (from the past or present) to see your show – who would you invite … and why?
Andrew: My mom and all four grandparents – all of whom are deceased. For me, much of the play is about reclaiming of one’s heritage and a celebration of family bonds…as well as the continuation of these bonds, even after death.

My maternal grandparents filled me with many of the happiest memories of my childhood, and many details of Bubby’s Shadow are inspired and reflective of their spirit – most particularly, holidays in their home. Above all, the play is infused with my tender, joyful memories of Passover in their home.

I never met my paternal grandparents; the both died shortly before I was born. As is the Jewish tradition, I was named for those who died: Andrew Brian for Anna and for Benjamin. In the initial few drafts of Bubby’s Shadow, I spent countless hours researching my heritage and what it means to be Jewish – and gave a lot of consideration to how familial bonds and love outlive our physical forms. Thus, I have never wanted to meet these great souls more than while working on this play.

Finally, my mother had always been my best friend and my biggest inspiration – and she was a great help to me during the initial creation of the play and indispensable to the first production. So much of this play is filled with my mother – her history, her spirituality, her heart, her soul… She passed away a little over a year ago, and her belief in the afterlife and her understanding of death as a part of life (she was a hospice nurse, among other things), has meant more to me than ever before – and has made Bubby’s Shadow much more personal and much more relevant than it ever felt before.

Antonio Minino’s Question
What is the biggest sacrifice you’ve made for your art and was it worth it?
Andrew: Like all serious, ambitious artists, I have made great sacrifices throughout my life: putting in many, many times the hours on my creative work than I ever did for the work that pays me, spending countless nights at my computer or in rehearsal while my friends were out having fun, spending most of my funds on producing shows while I could barely pay my rent…. The only true sacrifice I regret making, however, is how often I put people and things that didn’t really matter so much ahead of the people that did – all in the name of theatre.

Above all, I recently gave up more than I could possibly explain for people who could not have mattered less – when I could have gone on a dream vacation with my mom, during what ended up being the last few months of her life.

I will never make that mistake again. It took me a long time to get here, but I finally understand: people are more important than art, and true friends and family are more important than “success” or “acclaim” or anything else in this world.

And no. It wasn’t worth it at all.

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson’s Question
Was there any unexpected discovery made during the development of this production and can you share it with us?
Andrew: I began writing Bubby’s Shadow about six years ago, saw it through a reading, a staged reading and a full production (– and quite a few drafts! –) yet I make discoveries about the piece every day. What has been most fun for me is switching from playwright mode to actor mode, as I am finally playing the role I initially wrote for myself (and finally feel it’s the right time for me to play him)…and looking at this play through “Jonny’s” eyes is quite different than looking at the entire play through the eyes of a writer.

One specific thing that comes to mind is how fun Jonny is to play. Sure, I wrote what I think are funny lines, and I gave the character some silly things to do – but in the rehearsal process (and through Greg Cicchino’s spot-on and smart direction), “being” Jonny is closer to playing a child than the brooding, complex, sad man I thought I was going to play. (Yes – he’s those things too…. But like the play itself, and perhaps several characters in the play, Jonny is as much about light as he is about darkness. After all, I don’t think you can have one without having the other.)

Michelle Augello-Page’s Question
What do you hope the audience receives from the experience of seeing this show?
Andrew: Whatever they get, they get… I don’t mean to sound cheeky. But the piece is filled with a great deal to think about – little nuggets of life versus death, darkness versus light, being a grownup versus being a child (at any age), embracing ones past versus running away from it… Unlike some of my pieces, in which I have a very strong idea of what I want the audience to walk away with, I just want the audience to drink Bubby’s Shadow in and to think on their life as they relate to the various issues. And if one audience member decides to call an estranged friend or relative – or if some element of the production rekindles a resurgence of pride in someone’s heritage or someone’s spiritual awakening – it would be a very sweet icing on a most fulfilling cake.

___

Planet Connections runs from May 30 – June 24 at The Bleecker Street Theater located at 45 Bleecker Street, New York, NY. To purchase tickets to this or any of the shows click here.

Bridge to Baraka – 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 Planet Connections Festivity)

The Happiest Medium — Sat, 26 May 2012 21:37:12 +0000

Bridge To Baraka

Benefiting: Frank Silvera Writers Workshop
Produced by Twinbiz
Written by Yvette X (aka Yvette Heyliger)

Against all odds and emboldened by the 1960′s Black Arts Movement, Yvette X comes to terms with her politically-incorrect ancestry and stakes a claim as a dramatist in the American Theatre.

Show Times:

Tue 6/5/12 – 6:00pm
Fri 6/8/12 – 8:30pm
Sun 6/10/12 – 4:00pm
Sun 6/17/12 – 3:00pm

Answers by Yvette Heyliger (Playwright)

Karen Tortora-Lee’s Question
How did you come up with the title for your show?

Yvette: The title of my show came from a line in the play which says, “…I feel compelled to create a safe, inclusive space that builds a bridge to Baraka and the other writers of the Black Arts Movement; writers who were the forerunners of multiculturalism and whose legacy to the melting pot was to tell their own stories, their own way, and to get those stories to the masses “by any means necessary.”

Diánna Martin’s Question
If you were going to invite 5 people (from the past or present) to see your show – who would you invite … and why?

Yvette: I would invite Amiri Baraka because he is credited with having started the Black Arts Movement. I would invite my high school drama teacher so she could hear me recite a “Black poem.” I would invite my deceased mother, and hope that she would be proud of how I’ve put our lives onstage to illuminate issues that are meaningful to me. I would invite Barak Obama because I discuss a period in history when an African American president was not even imagined. Last but not least, I would invite an influential government official who can spearhead legislation which ensures that women theatre artists get equal production opportunities from institutions that benefit from government arts funding.

Antonio Minino’s Question
What is the biggest sacrifice you’ve made for your art and was it worth it?
Yvette: I would say the biggest sacrifice would be having a spotlessly clean house and money in the bank due to trying to make a life in the theatre (I still have hope for money in the bank!). No, I’m not sure if it was worth it… But, when my eulogy is read, will anyone really care if I kept a spotless house? I don’t know. I do know that I am inexplicably driven to make my mark in this world; to use my time on earth to make a difference; to change lives for the better with my work, one ticket buyer at a time.

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson’s Question
Was there any unexpected discovery made during the development of this production and can you share it with us?
Yvette: The most unexpected discovery is that, after nearly 30 years, I still have some acting chops! I have not been on the other side of the footlights since playing Claire’s (Phylicia Rashad) sister, “Aunt Sarah” on Cosby Show. Soon after, I married and focused my creative attention on raising my kids and writing plays. Eventually I started directing and producing. Bridge to Baraka is my first one woman show, so I feel as though my life has come full circle. However, acting again is not exactly like riding a bike—it can be very physical, even aerobic! You have to be in shape to be an actor. On top of that, I am used to actors saying my words, not me saying my words! A facility for speech and diction used to be there without me having to think about it. Now I have to look at exercising not just my body but my tongue! I have a newfound respect for what actors have to do to stay on top and in shape in this business, especially when doing one of my plays!

Michelle Augello-Page’s Question
What do you hope the audience receives from the experience of seeing this show?
Yvette: In the beginning of the play I proclaim, “I am not a man. I am not white. I am not young. But I have the audacity to write plays for the American Theatre featuring roles for leading women.” Women theatre artists get less than 20% of production opportunities nationwide. Women of color get even less than half of that, and at one time it was even as low as 1%. Up against these odds, what gives me the chutzpah to keep going as a playwright in this business? Well, when I discovered the Black Arts Movement, I realized that I was standing on the shoulders of artistic warriors who could not be denied a place in the canon of American arts and literature. If African Americans facing relentless racism in the 60’s could do it, then surely we women facing an on-going lack of parity in theatrical opportunities and equal pay can do it in the new millennium.

___

Planet Connections runs from May 30 – June 24 at The Bleecker Street Theater located at 45 Bleecker Street, New York, NY. To purchase tickets to this or any of the shows click here.

The Empress Of Sex – 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 Planet Connections Festivity)

The Happiest Medium — Sat, 26 May 2012 17:01:38 +0000

The Empress of Sex

Benefiting: Planned Parenthood
Produced by G-Money Productions
Written by Duncan Pflaster
Directed by Glory Kadigan

“In Ancient Greece, a woman spurned in love finds a deserted island and sets herself up as the Empress Salacia, decreeing that there shall be no love allowed in her domain, only sex. She gathers some sybaritic acolytes and all is frolicsome mindless fun until Salacia’s ex-lover Agis comes to the island in disguise, to attempt to win her back.”

Show Times:

Mon 6/4/12 – 7:30pm
Wed 6/6/12 – 9:30pm
Sat 6/9/12 – 5:30pm
Tues 6/12/12 – 4:00pm
Wed 6/13/12 – 9:00pm
Sun 6/17/12 – 9:00pm
Mon 6/18/12 – 4:30pm
Fri 6/22/12 – 9:30pm

Answers by Duncan Pflaster (Playwright)

Karen Tortora-Lee’s Question
How did you come up with the title for your show?

Duncan: Well, the play is about a woman who gives up on love and devotes herself to sex; she sets herself up as Empress of an island devoted to sybaritic pleasures. Unlike my other play, that was always the title from the genesis of the project. I only found out later that “The Empress of Sex” was also a title for Mae West, which I think is awfully appropriate.

Diánna Martin’s Question
If you were going to invite 5 people (from the past or present) to see your show – who would you invite … and why?

Duncan:
1. Mae West – she fought so hard against censorship in the theatre in the 1920s with her ribald plays, often going to prison and being fined for presenting her work; it would be an honor to have her in the audience (though she would probably insist on taking over the show and playing the lead).

2. Pierre de Marivaux – seeing a production of his play The Triumph of Love was a HUGE inspiration for this piece (though I inverted the sexual tropes); the character of Agis in Empress is named after a character in that play.

3. Heinrich Von Kleist – Likewise, his tragedy Penthesilea was a big influence (Which I encountered through Eric Bentley’s translation/adaptation The Fall of the Amazons).

4. Charles Ludlam – I am continually inspired by his plays and his Ridiculous Theatre ethos; with his recrafting of classical tropes infused with modern sensibilities, he’d feel right at home here. He and Mae would need to have a slap fight for the titular role.

5. Patricia Comstock – one of my favorite actresses, the play is dedicated to her (I think she already has tickets).

Antonio Minino’s Question
What is the biggest sacrifice you’ve made for your art and was it worth it?
Duncan: Continually sacrificing. Usually worth it.

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson’s Question
Was there any unexpected discovery made during the development of this production and can you share it with us?
Duncan: I’ve been super-busy this year, since I have two shows going up in Planet Connections; Glory Kadigan is directing this one, and I’m directing The Taint of Equality ~or~ I Want Your Sex. I discovered I get very grumpy when I can’t be present at rehearsals and am thus out of the loop.

Michelle Augello-Page’s Question
What do you hope the audience receives from the experience of seeing this show?
Duncan: Like my other show, I hope they laugh, are titillated, and still go home thinking about the philosophical issues related to love and sex that are the meat of the play. Hehe, I said “meat”.

Another great show by playwright Duncan Pflaster! See his other 5 Things To Know …for The Taint Of Equality. Why not see both shows? Twice the Duncan – Twice the Fun!

___

Planet Connections runs from May 30 – June 24 at The Bleecker Street Theater located at 45 Bleecker Street, New York, NY. To purchase tickets to this or any of the shows click here.

The Happiest Medium » Theatre

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