Jonathan Draxton, playwright & performer, and Kevin O’Rourke, director, of “Soldier”

Posted on December 21, 2012 by robby

Soldier by Jonathan Draxton The theatre is “a place for seeing;” a place where we can ask the big difficult questions about what it means to be a human being in the world we’ve collectively made.

Soldier, written & performed by Jonathan Draxton and directed by Kevin O’Rourke, isn’t afraid to ask one of those very difficult questions: can we understand, and possibly forgive, someone who participated in some of the most appalling crimes in recorded human history? The play unfolds as a Nazi SS officer, waiting on the banks of the river Styx, recounts stories from his family & military life, all the while asking members of the audience for coins to pay for passage across the river for his men & himself.

Listen in as Jonathan, Kevin & I talk about provoking & inviting the audience into the performance, attempting to get at the humanity of a soldier, and “going through the fire.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

The Plowmen present
Soldier

Directed by Kevin O’Rourke
Written, performed and produced by Jonathan Draxton

December 11–22, 2012
HERE Arts Center
145 Sixth Avenue
Tickets available from the HERE website

Soldier by Jonathan Draxton, photo by Kenna Draxton

Michael Poignand, Laura Iris Hill, Kathleen Foster, Matthew Foster, and Bryn Boice of Australian Made Entertainment’s “Speaking in Tongues”

Posted on December 12, 2012 by robby

One of the most beautiful things about New York City is its global nature; it truly feels like the center of everything, a place that people from all over the globe are drawn to. Three of the artists on this week’s episode are originally from the other side of the world, and are producing a play from their native Australia as part of the company’s mission to bring Aussie plays to New York.

If there’s more theatrical gold like this down under, Australian Made Entertainment is going to have much success Stateside.

Listen in as actors Michael Poignand & Laura Iris Hill, producers/actors Kathleen Foster & Matthew Foster, and director Bryn Boice of AME’s production of Andrew Bovell’s Speaking in Tongues discuss filling in the open spaces lovingly left by the playwright, creating two (and three) different characters each night, and bringing Australian works to the U.S.

“Dancing & shoes, dancing & shoes.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Australian Made Entertainment presents

Speaking in Tongues
by Andrew Bovell

directed by Bryn Boice

Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios
244 W. 54th Street, 12th floor
(between Broadway & 8th Avenue)

November 30 – December 16, 2012
Wednesdays to Saturdays @ 8 p.m.
Sundays @ 2 p.m.

Tickets available via BrownPaperTickets

"Speaking in Tongues," photo by Kyle Groff

photos by Kyle Groff

Kelly O’Donnell, Gus Schulenburg, and Adam Szymkowicz of Flux Theatre Ensemble’s “Hearts Like Fists”

Posted on December 11, 2012 by robby

…is this thing on?

Apologies that Go See a Show! has been out of commission for the past couple of months. But never fear — we’re back!

And speaking of “never fear,” the podcast makes its triumphant return with an episode about a comic-book-superhero-noir-thriller presented by Flux Theatre Ensemble: Hearts Like Fists.

Listen in as Flux founders Kelly O’Donnell (director), Gus Schulenburg (actor, “Dr. X”), and Adam Szymkowicz (playwright) talk about development of the play with Flux, writing & “getting there” with difficult scripts, and roles that know what they want.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Flux Theatre Ensemble presents

Hearts Like Fists
by Adam Szymkowicz
directed by Kelly O’Donnell
Nov 30 – Dec 15, 2012

The Secret Theatre
44-02 23rd Street
Long Island City, NY 11101

tickets available via OvationTix

Lindsey Moore Sproul & Jeff Sproul, of No Tea Productions’ “Space Captain: Captain of Space!”

Posted on September 6, 2012 by robby

As you may have guessed from the fact that I produce this podcast, I love off-off-Broadway theatre. And one of the chief reasons for this love is the opportunity for those of us in the off-off community to explore different ways of bringing things to the stage that one might not presume could be brought to the stage: things like epic space battles, creepy alien defenders of an intergalactic oracle, a ferocious giant feline — and doing an entire play in black-and-white (!?!?).

On this episode of the podcast, Go See a Show! talks with director Lindsey Moore Sproul along with her No Tea Productions collaborator (& spouse), playwright & actor Jeff Sproul, about their new show Space Captain: Captain of Space!, running at The Kraine Theater.

Take a journey along with the X-1 rocketship, and listen in as Jeff & Lindsey talk about the trajectory of No Tea, creating those epic space battles live onstage, seamlessly mixing stage & screen, and making the couple’s cat Fish into an awesome alien monster.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

No Tea Productions presents
Space Captain: Captain of Space!

written by Jeff Sproul
directed by Lindsey Moore Sproul

The Kraine Theater
85 East 4th Street
New York, NY 10003

thru September 15, 2012
every Thursday and Friday night, plus Saturdays September 1st and 15th only
all shows at 8:00 p.m.
tickets available via Brown Paper Tickets

Trav S.D., the M.C. of “Travesties of 2012” at the New York Musical Theatre Festival

Posted on July 27, 2012 by robby

click to read the text!

If you’re like the rest of the Family Guy-watching generation, when you hear the word “Vaudeville” you probably think of the characters Vern & Johnny, who pop up every now and again on the sitcom to lament the fact that Vaudeville is dead.

But, like punk rock, Mark Twain in 1897, and that old guy from Monty Python & the Holy Grail, Vaudeville isn’t dead. For proof, look no further than Travesties of 2012, part of this year’s New York Musical Theatre Festival, curated & hosted by performer/writer/director/journalist/all-around-renaissance-man Trav S.D.

Listen in as Trav & I talk finding a niche, finding Vaudeville performers in 2012, and loving Woody Guthrie.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

American Vaudeville Theatre presents

Travesties of 2012

Curated/Hosted by Trav S.D.
Directed by John Hurley
Musical Director/ accompanist: Sarah Malinda Engelke
Stage Manager: Audrey Marshall
Lighting Design: Olivia Harris
Costumes: Meryl Pressman and Holly Rihn

Dates:
~~Thursday: 7/19: 9:30pm~~
~~Friday 7/20: 7pm & 930pm~~
~~Saturday: 7/21: 6pm~~
~~Thursday: 7/26: 9:30pm~~
Friday 7/27: 7pm & 9:30pm
Saturday 7/28: 6pm

Tickets available via the NYMF website

Rachel Murdy & Lucille Duncan of “Little West Twelfth Night”

Posted on July 23, 2012 by robby

Walking the streets of New York City, it seems there’s a performance at every corner — planned or not. But what if you could actually follow a “staged” performance around the streets of NYC?

Wonder not, and go see Little West Twelfth Night, presented by the folks behind Conni’s Avant-Garde Restaurant in the Underground Zero Festival.

Rachel Murdy (“Frankie”) & Lucille Duncan (“Maria”), and later Dave Bennett (“Orsino”), meet me at The Brass Monkey (which figures into the show, along with the Highline, the Standard Hotel, the Gansevoort Market, a creepy van, and more) to give some insight into the first non-“avant-garde restaurant” performance from the company — a historical walking-tour of the Meatpacking District, with a healthy dash of Shakespeare.

Listen in as Rachel, Lucille, Dave & I talk impossible love affairs, chance lighting design in an outdoor walking-tour show, getting towed & questioned by the police for the sake of your show, random allusions to Law & Order: SVU are made, and Lucille & Rachel give you mixing instructions for a brass monkey, “the poor man’s mimosa.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Conni’s Avant-Garde Restaurant & the Underground Zero Festival present
Little West Twelfth Night

based on William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
conceived by Rachel Murdy
written by Peter Lettre
directed by Cynthia Croot

remaining performances:
July 23 & July 29 at 8PM
July 30 at 7AM (yep — AM! sunrise special!)

tickets available via OvationTix

Amy Overman, Justin Plowman, Gyda Arber, and Amy Beth Sherman of “Of Dice & Men”

Posted on July 18, 2012 by robby

More repeat offenders on GSAS! for this episode — last time it was stoned, drunken zombies, but this time the fine people at Dysfunctional Theatre are bringing a story of epic campaigns, saving throws, and decisive D20 rolls to the stage with Of Dice & Men, by Cameron McNary, part of the Game Play Festival at The Brick.

On the mic are Amy Overman, the show’s director, Justin Plowman, who plays a hardcore gamer in the show, Gyda Arber, another gaming enthusiast in the show as well as the producer of the Game Play Festival, and Amy Beth Sherman, who portrays another roleplayer in the show’s D&D adventuring party. Listen in to this episode for more on Game Play, passion, Justin’s super “woop-woop” dance, hating & loving Uni, and the connections between jocks, geeks, and theatre goons.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Dysfunctional Theatre Company & The Brick Theater, Inc. present
Of Dice & Men

Written by Cameron McNary
Directed by Amy Overman

Starring: Gyda Arber, Rob Brown*, Cedric Jones, Justin Plowman, Adam Swiderski, and Amy Beth Sherman*
*appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association

The Brick
575 Metropolitan Avenue (between Union Avenue and Lorimer Street)
Brooklyn, NY

Saturday July 7, 8pm
Tuesday July 10, 8pm
~~Thursday July 12, 8pm~~
~~Sunday, July 15, 2pm~~
Wednesday, July 18, 8pm
Saturday, July 21, 2pm
Tuesday, July 24, 8pm
Friday, July 27, 7pm

Tickets: $15, available online at bricktheater.com, or by calling OvationTix at 866-811-4111

photos by Flaviu Nasarimba

Andrew Goffman, playwright & performer, and director Charles Messina of “The Accidental Pervert”

Posted on July 9, 2012 by robby

It might seem surprising to hear that an off-off-Broadway show has been running for three years, to consistently packed houses. Then again, when that show is a frank, honest, laugh-filled discussion of a young man’s coming-of-age story via his Dad’s porn collection and his own subsequent addiction to said porn…well, you know there’s going to be a little something in there for everyone.

In this episode of Go See a Show!, we’ve got an interview with playwright & actor Andrew Goffman, the self-described title character of The Accidental Pervert. His autobiographical one-man show is part theatre, part stand-up, (almost) entirely true, and all heart.

Listen in as Andrew and director Charles Messina discuss the broad appeal of a show about a kid’s connection to his father through porn, the porn-addicts in trenchcoats who are disappointed by the show, becoming an electrician by necessity, and how to keep a show that’s been running for over three years fresh.

Oh, and stick through to the end to hear Andrew’s “sexy voice.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

“…if you ever forget your lines, just start moving. Start cleaning up the stage. And a lot of these off-Broadway theaters need cleaning anyway…”

The Accidental Pervert
Fridays & Saturdays @ 7pm
The 13th Street Repertory Company
50 West 13th Street – between 5th & 6th Aves

All Seats $30
Tickets available via OvationTix, or call 212-352-3101
or, visit the 13th Street Repertory Box Office

The Cast & Director of Playhouse Creatures’ “Love Song”

Posted on June 19, 2012 by robby

If you’ve never been to the Access Theater, it might seem a little out of place; it’s four flights up in a nondescript building just south of Canal Street, and if not for the sandwich board out in front, you could easily miss it.

But you shouldn’t miss what’s going on in one of the theaters that lives up those four flights: a lovely revival of John Kolvenbach’s Love Song, presented by Playhouse Creatures.

Listen in to this episode of Go See a Show! as the cast — Eric Doss, Sarah Koestner, Patricia Duran, and Joseph W. Rodriguez — and director, Kenny Wade Marshall, discuss finding your character in yourself, sentimentality vs. being present, and the benefits of working together as an ensemble for years.

Take the stairs.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Playhouse Creatures presents

Love Song
by John Kolvenbach

June 9-24th
Wednesday – Saturday @ 8PM
Sundays @ 3PM
*Special added Performance Tuesday June 19th @ 8PM!

Tickets: $18, available via SmartTix

Access Theatre
380 Broadway @ White Street

photos by Justin Dodd

“Cowboy Mouth” director Leah Benavides, and actors Diana Beshara, Geoffrey Pomeroy, and Matthew Mark Stannah

Posted on June 12, 2012 by robby

Cowboy Mouth was written by Sam Shepard & Patti Smith in 1971, a fantastical meditation on the tempestuous relationship between these two American art/punk icons. 41 years later, One Old Crow Productions has revived this volatile one-act in a Lower East Side apartment.

Listen in as GSAS! talks with director Leah Benavides & cast members Diana Beshara, Geoffrey Pomeroy, and Matthew Mark Stannah about why this play is relevant today, creating the set and sound design together, and how you take a Lobster Man from page to stage.

…and as promised, here’s the blog Diana mentions in the interview, where you can check out some photo stills and thoughts from the cast & director.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

This one’s a lot of fun, and in addition to a free glass of wine with ticket purchase, you also get a free snack when you arrive. Without that snack, you can’t see the show. I will say no more; you should head down to Lucky Cheng’s to check it out.

Cowboy Mouth
by Sam Shepard & Patti Smith
June ~~7 & 8,~~ 11-14, & 20 & 21 at 8pm
Friday, June 15 & 22 at 8pm and 10pm
Sunday, June 10 & 17 at 5pm
Meet at Lucky Cheng’s, 24 1st Avenue, New York, NY
Tickets: $15, via Brown Paper Tickets (includes a free glass of wine)

Go See a Show!

The off-off-Broadway podcast

Category Archives: Actors

Jonathan Draxton, playwright & performer, and Kevin O’Rourke, director, of “Soldier”

Michael Poignand, Laura Iris Hill, Kathleen Foster, Matthew Foster, and Bryn Boice of Australian Made Entertainment’s “Speaking in Tongues”

Kelly O’Donnell, Gus Schulenburg, and Adam Szymkowicz of Flux Theatre Ensemble’s “Hearts Like Fists”

Lindsey Moore Sproul & Jeff Sproul, of No Tea Productions’ “Space Captain: Captain of Space!”

Trav S.D., the M.C. of “Travesties of 2012” at the New York Musical Theatre Festival

Rachel Murdy & Lucille Duncan of “Little West Twelfth Night”

Amy Overman, Justin Plowman, Gyda Arber, and Amy Beth Sherman of “Of Dice & Men”

Andrew Goffman, playwright & performer, and director Charles Messina of “The Accidental Pervert”

The Cast & Director of Playhouse Creatures’ “Love Song”

“Cowboy Mouth” director Leah Benavides, and actors Diana Beshara, Geoffrey Pomeroy, and Matthew Mark Stannah