Lawrence Lesher, director, and Todd Michael, playwright, of “Vice Girl Confidential”

Posted on May 15, 2013 by robby

Grayce Productions presents "Vice Girl Confidential," by Todd Michael, directed by Lawrence Lesher A powerful crime boss. A crusading District Attorney. A tough-as-nails madame. The corruption of a small-town girl. Stool pigeons. Vice. Drag. Dames.

With a play entitled Vice Girl Confidential, you should expect these elements.

Gracye Productions gives you the goods with the re-mounting of their Fringe Festival hit, now directed by Lawrence Lesher, with a revised script by Todd Michael (who also plays the aforementioned madame, Stella Fontaine).

Listen in as Lawrence & Todd discuss the importance of timing in physical humour, how Vice Girl Confidential changed over time, and the fun challenge of hiding the risque elements of a play (in a world where sex & violence are usually out in front).

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Gracye Productions presents

Vice Girl Confidential

by Todd Michael
directed by Lawrence Lesher

thru May 19, 2013
Tuesday–Friday at 8pm
Saturday at 2pm and 8pm
Sunday at 3pm

The Studio
Theatre Row
410 W. 42nd Street
Manhattan

tickets available via TeleCharge

Grayce Productions presents "Vice Girl Confidential," by Todd Michael, directed by Lawrence Lesher, photo by Chris Kateff photos by Chris Kateff

Grayce Productions presents "Vice Girl Confidential," by Todd Michael, directed by Lawrence Lesher, photo by Mary Lopez photos by Mary Lopez

William S. Yellow Robe, Jr., playwright, and Ryan Victor Pierce, actor/producer, of “Wood Bones”

Posted on May 14, 2013 by robby

The Eagle Project presents "Wood Bones" by William S. Yellow Robe, Jr.

When I asked playwright William S. Yellow Robe, Jr. to describe what his new play is about, as you’ll hear at the start of this episode, he responded that it’s about the spirit of the land, that the earth (and structures, like the “wood bones” that give the play it’s title) has spiritual energy created by what happens to the land.

Told through a series of flashbacks throughout the 20th century in and around the house with the street address of 121, Wood Bones tells the stories that give the house its spiritual energy, and gives that energy a physical presence (literally — the spirit of the house is a character onstage).

Listen in as William, along with Eagle Project founder & Artistic Director (and actor in the show) Ryan Victor Pierce, discuss making theatre inclusive, the spiritual energy of the land, and accepting that you don’t know — but you have the opportunity to learn.

“Everything is alive.”

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The Eagle Project presents

Wood Bones

by William S. Yellow Robe, Jr.
directed by Bob Jaffe

Thursday, May 9th through Saturday, May 18th, 2013
nightly at 8pm (no show Monday)
Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2pm

June Havoc Theatre
Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex
312 West 36th Street, Floor 1
Manhattan

tickets available via SmartTix

"Wood Bones," by William S. Yellow Robe, Jr., photo by Ashley Marinaccio

photos by Ashley Marinaccio

Jeremy J. Kamps, playwright, Danny Sharron, director, and Lillian Rodriguez, actress, of “What It Means to Disappear Here”

Posted on May 8, 2013 by robby

Ugly Rhino's "What It Means to Disappear Here" For the second episode in a row, GSAS! heads to the nation of Colombia (via the magic of theatre, of course), this time with Ugly Rhino’s What It Means to Disappear Here.

Initially set in a café in Cartagena (where the audience sits, along with the actors), What It Means… is the story of Yulieth, a young Colombian woman who is meeting Mitch for the first time — the norteamericano man who wants to buy her as his wife. Through a series of flashbacks-and-forwards, along with some brilliant use of radio broadcasts, the audience follow the paths that brought Yulieth & Mitch to that initial meeting, and its aftermath.

Listen in as playwright Jeremy J. Kamps, director Danny Sharron, and actress Lillian Rodriguez discuss eavesdropping on a marriage deal and writing a play about it, focusing on the human story, and what makes somebody care.

“What is the role of theatre…in a drama bringing forth political issues…what is our role in the off-off-Broadway world, bringing a play like this?”

“To me, it is the role.”

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Ugly Rhino Productions presents

What It Means to Disappear Here

by Jeremy J. Kamps
directed by Danny Sharron

Thursdays & Fridays, thru May 17, 2013 @ 8pm
added performance, Saturday, May 18

Port Royal, underneath Park Slope’s Tea Lounge
837-839 Union Street, Brooklyn

advance tickets available via BrownPaperTickets, or $18 at the door (cash only)

Ugly Rhino's "What It Means to Disappear Here," photo by Michael Bernstein

photos by Michael Bernstein

Blythe Duff and Andrew Scott-Ramsay of David Harrower’s “Good With People”

Posted on April 10, 2013 by robby

"Good With People" Many people try to avoid their hometown as much as possible. Maybe it doesn’t hold anything for you anymore; maybe it’s bad memories; or maybe it’s people you just don’t want to have to run into. For Evan, one of the two characters in David Harrower’s Good With People, it’s a combination of all three.

Set in Helensburgh, Scotland — once a thriving resort town, and now home to the British military’s nuclear defense program — Good With People depicts a chance encounter between Evan and Helen, the mother of one of his schoolmates, that forces them to face the personal and political histories they might both rather avoid.

Listen in as actors Blythe Duff and Andrew Scott-Ramsay discuss the growth and development of this two-hander, levels, dramaturgy, the relief that Americans laugh at the right bits, and commuting through Central Park to get to work.

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Traverse Theatre Company and Datum Point present

Good With People

by David Harrower
directed by George Perrin
featuring Blythe Duff and Andrew Scott-Ramsay

playing at 59E59, part of the Brits Off Broadway festival
59 East 59th Street
New York, NY

Tue, Wed & Thu 7:15
Fri & Sat 8:15
Sat 2:15
Sun 3:15 & 7:15
thru April 21, 2013

Blythe Duff and Andrew Scott-Ramsay star in David Harrower's GOOD WITH PEOPLE, photo by Carol Rosegg

photos by Carol Rosegg

Anna Greenfield, playwright & actress, & Lee Sunday Evans, director, of “All Girls”

Posted on April 5, 2013 by robby

"All Girls," by Anna Greenfield Collaboration Town was last on the podcast with the crazy epic The Deepest Play Ever: The Catharsis of Pathos. This time around, their show All Girls brings things to a much more personal level to great effect with this lovely, personal piece about three young girls on the verge of entering high school.

It may be “all girls,” but of course all are invited. And as you’ll hear in the interview, playwright/actress Anna Greenfield and director Lee Sunday Evans want to be sure this show is accessible to all (and they succeeded).

Listen in as Anna & Leigh talk about sensitivity to voices, “struggling with the process of becoming,” writing something so you can act in it, and being honest.

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Collaboration Town & Sister Scars present

All Girls

by Anna Greenfield
directed by Lee Sunday Evans

featuring Zoe Costello, Anna Greenfield, Judith Hawking, and Anna Ryan Konkle

thru April 13, 2013
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8pm

The Kraine Theater
85 E. 4th Street
New York, NY

tickets available via SmartTix

"All Girls" by Anna Greenfield, photo by Anne-Louise Marquis

photos by Anne-Louise Marquis

Nick Benacerraf, Jess Chayes, Stephen Aubrey, and Edward Bauer of The Assembly’s “HOME/SICK”

Posted on March 7, 2013 by robby

HOME/SICK by The Assembly at The Living Theatre For this 50th podcast of Go See a Show!, I present to you an episode recorded half a year ago, but that might be one of the most interesting interviews I’ve done.

As part of last summer’s Underground Zero Festival, The Assembly presented HOME/SICK, a brilliant, personal, beautiful, and exhaustively researched show dramatizing events in the history of the Weather Underground.

Though I knew when I recorded it that I wouldn’t be able to get this interview up before their show closed, my apologies to the good people at The Assembly for taking half a year to post this.

But it seems it was somewhat serendipitously timed, as the show was one of the last to occupy The Living Theatre’s space on Clinton Street, which was recently shuttered. Reports of the demise of The Living Theatre as a company have thankfully been greatly exaggerated (guilty as charged; see the GSAS! Facebook page for my mini-obit on the company), but whatever the current state and future of the company, here’s wishing all best to Judith, Brad, and everyone at The Living Theatre for this next chapter of the company’s long and amazing history.

Listen in as director Jess Chayes, dramaturg Stephen Aubrey, designer Nick Benacerraf, and actor Edward Bauer, all core members & artistic directors of The Assembly, discuss complicated empathy, theatre as a political act, and why the company looked to a radical political movement from over 40 years ago to create a play in the relatively peaceful U.S. of 2012.

“I don’t trust a mission statement that you can achieve on the first try.”

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The Assembly
HOME/SICK

HOME/SICK by The Assembly at The Living Theatre

FRIGID New York 2013

Posted on February 26, 2013 by robby

A bit of a different podcast this time out: in this episode, GSAS! interviews artists from seven of the thirty — yes, 30 — plays that are part of this year’s FRIGID New York festival, presented by Horse Trade Theater Group.

It should be noted, FRIGID isn’t just another festival. The participants are chosen at random, so no silly politicking is involved; and, all participants keep 100% of the box office sales for their show. Try finding that kinda deal as a performer anywhere else in this town. Very cool format. Hats off to Horse Trade for making this happen every year since 2007.

Kicking off the marathon of mini-interviews is Erez Ziv, Executive Director of FRIGID and Managing Director of Horse Trade, followed by, in order:

— director Nikki DiLoreto & playwright/performer Antonia Lassar of The God Box
— co-director/producer/performer Bricken Sparacino of Sisters Grimm: Fables of the Stage
— director Christina Massie, performer Emily Tuckman, and performer Sarah Jacobs of Commencing
— playwright & performer Nikhil Tilwalli of A Panda Suit, Pythagorus, and Plenty of Puns
— playwright & performer Chris Harcum of Two Lovely Black Eyes
— playwright & performer Lucas Brooks of VGL 5′ 4″ Top
— playwright & performer D’yan Forest of My Pussy is Purrin’ Again

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FRIGID New York 2013
February 20 thru March 3, 2013
The Kraine Theater, The Red Room, and Under St. Marks

Commencing, part of FRIGID New York 2013 D'yan Forest, part of FRIGID New York 2013 VGL, 5'4", Top, part of FRIGID New York 2013

Lucas Brooks in VGL 5′ 4″ Top Nikhil Tilwalli, part of FRIGID New York 2013 Nikhil Tilwalli in A Panda Suit, Pythagorus, and Plenty of Puns

Sisters Grimm, part of FRIGID New York 2013

The cast of Sisters Grimm: Fables of the Stage

The God Box, part of FRIGID New York 2013

Antonia Lassar in The God Box

Chris Harcum in Two Lovely Black Eyes, part of FRIGID New York 2013

Chris Harcum in Two Lovely Black Eyes

Matt Graham, writer & performer of “This Too Shall Suck”

Posted on February 22, 2013 by robby

"This Too Shall Suck" by Matt Graham I can completely identify with Matt Graham on at least one point: real men do indeed love cats (big shout-out to my man Compay).

Graham’s show, This Too Shall Suck, of which he is the writer and performer, was a standout in the 2012 New York International Fringe Festival, and now continues weekly at Soho Playhouse’s Huron Club.

The show is dark, autobiographical, incredibly personal…and funny. And yes, cats are involved.

Listen in to this episode of Go See a Show! as Matt talks about getting onstage for the first time in eight years, cats, and making theatre to connect with people (and maybe to meet women, too).

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This Too Shall Suck

written & performed by Matt Graham

8:00pm Thursdays (now thru May 2013)
The Huron Club at Soho Playhouse
15 Vandam Street (b/w 6th Ave & Varick)
New York, NY

tickets available via OvationTix

Lawrence Jansen and Gregory Konow of Godlight Theatre Company’s “The Pilo Family Circus”

Posted on February 12, 2013 by robby

We’ve all got those friends who are terrified of clowns.

Godlight Theatre Company‘s world premiere of The Pilo Family Circus might be enough to turn you into that friend.

Adapted for the stage from the breakout debut novel of Australian writer Will Elliott, the show follows mild-mannered Jamie after he’s recruited by demented clowns for the circus. The clowns who won’t take “no” for an answer. And neither will “JJ,” Jamie’s face-painted alter-ego, who wants full ownership of their shared body.

In this episode, GSAS! talks with Lawrence Jansen (the dangerous & foul-mouthed “Gonko the Clown,” the green-haired guy in the last three photos below, with the half-yellow, half-red suit) and Gregory Konow (the impossibly tall & omnipresently creepy “Kurt Pilo” — that’s him in the background of every photo below) about not having the time for props, why the story is the most important thing, and delving into the darkness of the Pilo Family Circus.

“Don’t show. Just do it.”

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Godlight Theatre Company presents

The Pilo Family Circus

by Will Elliott
adapted for the stage by Matt Pelfrey
directed by Joe Tantalo

thru February 23, 2013
Tuesdays–Saturdays, 7:30PM
Saturdays, 3PM

The New Ohio Theatre
154 Christopher Street
New York, NY

tickets available via SmartTix

Godlight Theatre Company's "The Pilo Family Circus"

photos by Sean Dooley

Meghan Finn, Cory Einbinder, and Kalle Macrides of Adhesive Theater Project’s “The Service Road”

Posted on January 17, 2013 by robby

For this episode, Go See a Show! braves the wilds of DUMBO to check out Adhesive Theater Project‘s world premiere production of Erin Courtney’s The Service Road, which takes place just down the road a piece in Prospect Park in the wake of a tornado that touched down in 2010.

Sitting amidst the puppets, personal effects, and temporary tattoos of their dressing room at Voorhees Theater, I spoke with director Meghan Finn, actor/Artistic Director Cory Einbinder, and actress/Executive Director Kalle Macrides about this unique piece of theatre.

Listen in as Meghan, Cory, and Kalle (with a special surprise appearance by Big Headed Toddler puppeteer Caroline Tamas) discuss the luxury (and illusion) of having time, creating & playing a video puppet (the aforementioned toddler), developing a play about a storm in Brooklyn in the midst of another storm in Brooklyn, and the amazing opportunities presented by Adhesive’s residency with Theatreworks at City Tech’s Entertainment Technology Department.

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Adhesive Theater Project presents
The Service Road

by Erin Courtney
directed by Meghan Finn

New York City College of Technology
Voorhees Theatre
186 Jay Street, Brooklyn

thru February 1, 2013
Friday evenings: 7:30 pm
Saturday matinees: 2:00 pm
plus Thurs., Jan. 17th @ 7:30 pm

tickets available via Brown Paper Tickets

all photos by Andrew Puccio

Go See a Show!

The off-off-Broadway podcast

Category Archives: Actors

Lawrence Lesher, director, and Todd Michael, playwright, of “Vice Girl Confidential”

William S. Yellow Robe, Jr., playwright, and Ryan Victor Pierce, actor/producer, of “Wood Bones”

Jeremy J. Kamps, playwright, Danny Sharron, director, and Lillian Rodriguez, actress, of “What It Means to Disappear Here”

Blythe Duff and Andrew Scott-Ramsay of David Harrower’s “Good With People”

Anna Greenfield, playwright & actress, & Lee Sunday Evans, director, of “All Girls”

Nick Benacerraf, Jess Chayes, Stephen Aubrey, and Edward Bauer of The Assembly’s “HOME/SICK”

FRIGID New York 2013

Matt Graham, writer & performer of “This Too Shall Suck”

Lawrence Jansen and Gregory Konow of Godlight Theatre Company’s “The Pilo Family Circus”

Meghan Finn, Cory Einbinder, and Kalle Macrides of Adhesive Theater Project’s “The Service Road”