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).

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

August Schulenburg, playwright, and Kelly O’Donnell, director, of “Honey Fist”

Posted on May 14, 2013 by robby

Flux Theatre Ensemble presents "Honey Fist"

I love seeing people I recognize onstage.

And though I’m not from Marble Head, outside of Boston (pronounced ”Mahble Head, outside of Bahston”), playwright August Schulenburg has written some beautifully complex, and very familiar, characters in his funny, tragic, compelling new play, Honey Fist.

Listen in as Gus and director Kelly O’Donnell discuss where Gus’s “most autobiographical play” (that’s not autobiographical) came from, the late-night last-minute carving of bongs, and why Honey Fist is running in rep with Sans Merci (hear the Sans Merci podcast here — and, listen to Gus & Kelly’s first outing on the podcast, about Adam Szymkowicz’s play Hearts Like Fists, here).

“Wha, you think you’re bettah than me?”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Flux Theatre Ensemble presents

Honey Fist

by August Schulenburg
directed by Kelly O’Donnell

thru May 18, 2013, in rep with Sans Merci; see the full schedule here

4th Street Theatre
83 E. 4th Street
Manhattan

tickets available via OvationTix

Flux Theatre Ensemble presents "Honey Fist," photo by Ken Glickfeld

photos by Ken Glickfeld

Ming Peiffer, playwright, and Kat Yen, director, of “Advance Guard”

Posted on May 13, 2013 by robby

Spookfish Theatre Company presents "Advance Guard" The term “avant-garde” gets thrown around a lot, but as you’ll hear playwright Ming Peiffer recount in this episode, it started as a military term before it was used to describe the artists changing forms, and pushing art forward.

And as you’ll hear director Kat Yen discuss, the co-Artistic Directors of Spookfish Theatre Company felt that the plays they’ve been seeing of late aren’t original, or pushing theatre forward.

That frustration is where the play, and the central conflict of, Advance Guard comes from.

Listen in as Ming & Kat discuss rebelling against post-impressionism & what other people want to see, the madness leading up to opening night, and why be an artist.

“What the hell are we doing here?”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Spookfish Theatre Company presents

Advance Guard

by Ming Peiffer
directed by Kat Yen

May 8th–11th (Wed-Sat) @ 8PM
May 16th–18th (Thurs-Sat) @ 8PM
May 19th (Sun) @ 2PM

The Kraine Theater
85 E. 4th Street
Manhattan

$18, $15 (students & seniors); Thursday performances “pay what you can”
tickets available via SmartTix

Spookfish Theatre Company presents "Advance Guard," photo by KL Thomas

photos by KL Thomas

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.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

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.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

Jon Stancato, director, and Kiran Rikhye, playwright, of Stolen Chair Productions’ “The Man Who Laughs”

Posted on February 11, 2013 by robby

In this episode, GSAS! visits the incongruously-located Urban Stages (who’d think you’d find a cool downtown-style venue just down the street from MSG?) for Stolen Chair Theatre Company‘s production of The Man Who Laughs, billed as a “live silent film for the stage.”

And that’s exactly what it is — black & white sets & costumes (and make-up), brilliant live accompaniment by pianist Eugene Ma, dialogue cards to impart important spoken lines, even silent-film-era-style camera angles. And then there’s the free popcorn.

Listen in as GSAS! talks with director Jon Stancato and playwright Kiran Rikhye about encouraging the audience to get into costume, how to write a play without dialogue, and re-discovering the magic & possibilities of past performance styles.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Stolen Chair Theatre Company presents

The Man Who Laughs

written by Kiran Rikhye, adapted from the novel by Victor Hugo
directed by Jon Stancato

Urban Stages
259 West 30th Street (b/w 7th and 8th Avenues)
New York, NY

thru February 24, 2013
Thursdays–Saturdays, 8pm
Sundays, 2pm
special Valentine’s Day performance: Thursday, February 14, 8pm

tickets available via SmartTix

Stolen Chair Theatre Company's "The Man Who Laughs"

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

The Cast & Crew of Perchance to Dream Theatre’s “Antigone”

Posted on January 10, 2013 by robby

This episode of Go See a Show! features the first-ever hat-trick on the show — the third episode featuring members of Perchance to Dream Theatre (listen to the first and second episodes here & here).

Joining me in the seating of Shetler Studios Theatre 54 to discuss the company’s own adaptation of Sophocles’ Antigone are director (and, speaking of hat tricks, fellow Sabres fan!) Emma Schimminger, set designer Luc S. Hotaling, and actors Megan Lee, Bret McCormick, Leanne Mercadante, Lauren Pennline, Brian Sheppard, and Kevin Paul Smith (with a quick shout-out from Stage Manager Aaron Salley).

Listen in as the cast & crew talk about how to create a modern version of a Greek classic collectively as a company, learning to be honest with each other for the sake of the work, and “day-dreaming” with the harsh deadlines of a 24-Hour play festival.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Antigone

by Sophocles, in a new adaptation by Perchance to Dream Theatre

directed by Emma Schimminger

Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios
244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor
New York, NY

Thursday & Friday, 1/10 & 1/11 at 8pm
Saturday 1/12 at 3pm and 8pm
Sunday 1/13 at 2pm

tickets: $15, via Brown Paper Tickets

Go See a Show!

The off-off-Broadway podcast

Category Archives: Artistic Directors

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”

August Schulenburg, playwright, and Kelly O’Donnell, director, of “Honey Fist”

Ming Peiffer, playwright, and Kat Yen, director, of “Advance Guard”

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

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

FRIGID New York 2013

Jon Stancato, director, and Kiran Rikhye, playwright, of Stolen Chair Productions’ “The Man Who Laughs”

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

The Cast & Crew of Perchance to Dream Theatre’s “Antigone”