by Karen Tortora-Lee on January 23, 2012
It isn’t easy to tell an entire story without one word of spoken dialogue, let alone give proper attention to two concurrent plots that run simultaneously but never intertwine, except emotionally. Yet SEASONS does just that, and with such deep resonance that sold-out houses were sobbing as they watched the four central characters of Elaine Pechacek and Katie Hammond’s original musical live through one very specific year that, for them, was filled with love, joy, regret, confusion, despair, birth, and death. Continue Reading…
Related Posts:
by Karen Tortora-Lee on January 21, 2012
“There is failure and there is success. What better way to measure this than the piano?”
If you were the child who spent your afternoons inside practicing the piano (or another musical instrument) while you could hear other children running around in the sunshine you no doubt have an ache in your heart when now, as an adult, you hear other people discussing their memories of playing in the streets, or even watching endless hours of after-school cartoons. Sure, you may have agile fingers which allow you to type an error-free 75 WPM but aside from that, are you really any better off? Was it worth it?
Let’s take it one step further. Imagine you are Mei (Lynn Craig), grown daughter of Lily (Satomi Hofmann), who monitors her daughter Kim’s practicing from the other room. Distractedly tapping away on her blackberry she suddenly hears the words of her mother boom from her own lips as Kim prepares for recital day: “You will practice that piece until you can play it 20 times perfectly!” Stunned, Mei realized she has stepped up and taken on the Legacy of the Tiger Mother.
Continue Reading…
Related Posts:
by The Happiest Medium on January 20, 2012
1,934 Days
a play about longing and hope.
Isramerica Production
Conceived and Created: Sivan Hadari
Directed and Co-created: Charlotte Cohn
While sharing their own personal experiences and real life stories, ten actors haling from diverse cultural backgrounds (American, Asian, African, Israeli, Palestinian, Latin) explore the deep rooted connection they all have with “longing”.
Show Times:
- Wed 1/18 @ 10:00pm
- Sat 1/21 @ 10:00pm
- Sun 1/22 @ 6:00pm
Answers by Sivan Hadari – Creator/ Producer
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?
Sivan Hadari: I am an Isramerican. Born in Brooklyn, raised in Israel and now back in New York. The actors in our cast are from Japan, Israel, France, The Philippines, USA, Kyrgyzstan, China and Singapore.
While sharing their own personal experiences and real life stories, twelve actors hailing from diverse cultural backgrounds explore the deep rooted connection they all have with “longing”. We will hear their tales of unrequited love, separation, heart-break, mourning, homosexuality, religion and faith while they draw inspiration from the story of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who was held captive in Gaza by Hamas for 1,934 days.
Continue Reading…
Related Posts:
by The Happiest Medium on January 19, 2012
Superman 2050
Theater Un-Speak-Able
Writer and designer: The Ensemble, Theater-Un-Speak-Able
Director: Marc Frost
Superman 2050 is featuring seven actors performing on a single 3’ by 7’ platform. It is an original Superman story, taking place in a fictional Metropolis in the year 2050. At no time do any actors exit the platform, instead existing as either speaking character or background object in each scene, utilizing transitional moments both within and between scenes to shift between the two. It is a fast-paced, high-energy show for all ages.
Show Times:
- Thu 1/19 @ 7:30pm
- Sat 1/21 @ 2:30pm
- Sun 1/22 @ 7:00pm
Answers by Zachary Baker-Salmon – Producer
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?
Zachary Baker-Salmon: Our company, like the titular character in our play, hails from the Midwestern United States. We aim higher than corn fields and tornadoes, however, for our approach to storytelling is heavily influenced by European forces. Our “Platform Style” is taught at the London International School of the Performing Arts and our mentor is Italian. Did I mention she’s teaching a three day workshop coinciding with the festival? Sign up if you want to know where the real action is.
Continue Reading…
Related Posts:
by The Happiest Medium on January 19, 2012
Alita the Show
Writer and Director: Freia Canals and Denise Kornitz
A bilingual show (Spanish/ English) for the entire family.
Princess Alita lives in a world of luxury amidst the walls of her palace. She is oblivious to all that surrounds her and knows little outside of her own environment. One day she is sent on a mission that will change her forever.
Show Times:
- Wed 1/18 @ 4:30pm
- Sat 1/21 @ 12:30pm
- Sun 1/22 @ 11:00pm
Answers by Freia Canals and Denise Kornitz: Writers, Directors, Producers and Performers
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?
Freia Canals and Denise Kornitz:
We are from Barcelona (Spain) and Buenos Aires (Argentina), but we have lived in different places including Madrid, London, Oxford, Israel and finally New York.
Yes, we brought to our show all our experiences and a big part of who we are.
Continue Reading…
Related Posts:
by The Happiest Medium on January 18, 2012
HORRIPILATION!
Kaliyuga Arts
Written and performed by John Sowle
Director: Steven Patterson
This stunning work combines the Natya Shastra, a remarkably refined and elaborately detailed pre-Christian theatre text from India, with Teyyam, a primitive South India ritual, to create a work that “plunges audiences into a dazzling realm of color and movement, virtually unknown in the West but filled with amazing insights and invaluable lessons for all those who treasure theatre.”
Show Times:
- Mon 1/16 @ 6:30pm
- Thu 1/19 @ 10:00pm
- Sat 1/21 @ 8:00pm
Answers by Steven Patterson, 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?
Steven Patterson: Our production company, Kaliyuga Arts, is currently based in Catskill, NY, approximately 2 hours north of Manhattan, although our production itself concerns a westerner’s encounter with the practices of an ancient (but still living) Indian theater tradition. It therefore offers NY audiences an opportunity to view the basics of an art-form and a culture with which they may be totally unfamiliar in an accessible, entertaining, and audience-friendly format.
Continue Reading…
Related Posts:
by The Happiest Medium on January 16, 2012
SEASONS
Writer: Katie Hammond and Elaine Pechacek
Director: Danny Williams
Spanning the course of one year, SEASONS is a story about love. This original musical delves into the lives of two couples. Poignant and touching, this story explores the characters with humor and realism, and will leave the audience wanting more.
Take a listen here: SEASONS “Don’t Take For Granted”
Show Times:
- Monday, January 16, 2012 at 9:30pm
- Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 8:00pm – SOLD OUT
- Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 5:30pm – SOLD OUT
- Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 8:00pm
Answers by Katie Hammond (lyricist), and Elaine Pechacek (composer) /Producers
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?
Katie Hammond: Elaine and I, Two Classy Broads, LCC – split our time between New York City and Orlando, FL. I moved up to New York from Orlando about 18 months ago, and Elaine and I have continued our partnership long distance – we’re racking up a lot of frequent flyer miles! SEASONS will tantalize its audience. It’s a story about love, and one that everyone can relate to, regardless of their age, or sex or background. The 4 characters in our story experience every capacities for love – be that for a lover, a friend, a parent or child or a spouse.
Continue Reading…
Related Posts:
It isn’t easy to tell an entire story without one word of spoken dialogue, let alone give proper attention to two concurrent plots that run simultaneously but never intertwine, except emotionally. Yet SEASONS does just that, and with such deep resonance that sold-out houses were sobbing as they watched the four central characters of Elaine Pechacek and Katie Hammond’s original musical live through one very specific year that, for them, was filled with love, joy, regret, confusion, despair, birth, and death. Continue Reading…
