CONTENTS: November 22, 2024: Editorial Now Playing Upcoming Awards Footlights View this page in a web browser

Editorial

WHERE THERE'S ART, THERE'S HOPE
Call them authoritarians, totalitarians. The wolf is at the door. You can't despair because that's what they want. Our creative community needs to realize the power it already has.

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NOW PLAYING

THROUGH DECEMBER 1
THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY
"ORSON'S SHADOW" BY AUSTIN PENDLETON

Patrick Hamilton as Kenneth Tynan, Brad Fryman as Orson Welles.

To share a hit show of its Spring season with the largest possible audience, Theater for the New City presents "Orson's Shadow" by Austin Pendleton, directed by Mr. Pendleton and David Schweizer, an Off-Broadway production of Axial Theatre, Oberon Theatre Ensemble and Strindberg Rep  in association with Fortify.space and Michael Howard Studios. The play, set in 1960s London, explores the complex dynamics between legendary figures Orson Welles, Laurence Olivier, and Vivien Leigh as they clash during a theater production. It delves into egos, insecurities, and the pursuit of artistic brilliance, revealing tumultuous backstage drama.

Playwright Austin Pendleton

Originally mounted as an Equity showcase March 14-31, 2024 by TNC in association with Oberon Theatre Ensemble and Strindberg Rep, the production was praised as beautifully cast and acted, contemporary, entertaining and insightful. In this new mounting, Cady McClain succeeds Kim Taff in the role of Joan Plowright. Returning actors are: Brad Fryman as Orson Welles, Natalie Menna as Vivien Leigh, Patrick Hamilton as Kenneth Tynan, Luke Hofmaier as Sean, the Stage Manager and Ryan Tramont as Laurence Olivier.

 

 

NOVEMBER 21 TO DECEMBER 8
LA MAMA E.T.C.
CZECHOSLOVAK-AMERICAN MARIONETTE THEATRE IN
"FOWL PLAY: CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS"

L: Cover of "The Conference of the Birds" by Peter Sís C: Dancers Emily LaRochelle and Sarazina Stein R: Director Vit Horejs as Nitpicking Bird Background illustrations by Peter Sís Photos by Jonathan Slaff

"Fowl Play: Conference of the Birds" is an Object Theater Rock Opera by Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre. It dramatizes "Conference of the Birds," a 12th century Persian epic, conceived, written and directed by Vít Horejš with imagery by renowned illustrator Peter Sís and music by composer Avi Fox-Rosen.

"Conference of the Birds" is an allegorical poem by a Persian mystic, Farid ud-Din Attar of Nishapur, that explores themes of spiritual enlightenment and the journey toward union with the divine. A flock of birds of all species, led by a hoopoe (a wise bird), embarks on a quest to find their king, the mystical Simorgh. They travel through seven mystical valleys that represent stages of spiritual development. Many tire and drop out of the quest, others die of fright and homesickness. Those who endure reach the mountain to learn a profound lesson: ultimately the Simurgh is simply a reflection of their own collective souls. The divine truth they seek lies within them and their journey was a metaphor for self-discovery and spiritual awakening.

This classic tale was adapted by celebrated children’s book creator Peter Sís in "The Conference of the Birds" (Penguin, 2011), which was his first book for adults. His illustrations, as seen in that book, are being transformed into projections by Tom Lee to form the scenic design of this production. Puppets, objects and costumes are devised in the spirit of Sís's colorful illustrations, but they are built with found objects including flags, flowers, banknotes, traffic tickets, newspapers, political yard signs, sales flyers and objets d'garbage.

 

 

UPCOMING

JANUARY 9 TO 26, 2025
THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY
"THE GIGGLING GRANNY"
Marilyn Chris performs the debut run of "The Giggling Granny," a solo play written for her by Marsha Lee Sheiness about the serial killer Nanny Doss, who murdered five husbands in Alabama, North Carolina, Kansas and Oklahoma between 1927 and 1954. A true story about the most mesmerizing, innocent and likable serial killer (looking for true love) that you're ever going to meet. Directed by Jim Semmelman.

Marilyn Chris as serial killer Nanny Doss. Photo by Jonathan Slaff.

Ms. Chris is well known for her 18 years on ABC's “One Life To Live” playing Wanda Webb Wolek, for which she received the best supporting actress Award from The TV Magazine Writers and Editors. Her Broadway appearances include “Brighton Beach Memoirs” (as Aunt Kate), "Lenny" (as Sally) and “The Birthday Party" (directed by Alan Schneider). She played Naomi, the paranoid mother of Allen Ginsberg, in "Kaddish," directed by Robert Kalfin, winning an Obie Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award and Variety Critics Poll for her performance.

 

JANUARY 10 TO 19, 2025
THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY
50TH ANNUAL THUNDERBIRD AMERICAN INDIAN DANCERS' POW-WOW AND DANCE CONCERT

L: Carlos Ponce-Eagle Feather (Mayan) and Alan Brown (Delaware/Dutch). Photo by Tatiana Ronderos. C: Marie McKinney (Cherokee/Seminole) performs Hoop Dance. Photo by Jonathan Slaff. R: Louis Mofsie (Hopi/Winnibago), Photo by Farnaz Taherimotlagh.

A Pow-Wow is more than just a spectator event: it is a joyous reunion for native peoples nationwide and an opportunity for the non-Indian community to voyage into the philosophy and beauty of Native culture. Traditionally a gathering and sharing of events, Pow-Wows have come to include spectacular dance competitions, exhibitions, and enjoyment of traditional foods.There will be dances, stories and traditional music from Native Peoples of the Northeast, Southwest and Great Plains regions. The event has become a treasured New York tradition for celebrating our diversity by honoring the culture of our first Americans. TNC donates all proceeds from the event to college scholarship funds for Native American students. Throughout the performance, all elements are explained in depth through detailed introductions by the troupe's Director and Emcee Louis Mofsie (Hopi/Winnebago).

 

 

JANUARY 23 TO FEBRUARY 9
EAST VILLAGE BASEMENT, 321 E. 9TH STREET
YARA ARTS GROUP IN "SLAP!"

"Slap" in developmental stagimg at Bowery Poetry Club. L-R: Susan Hwang, Bob Holman, Julian Kytasty.

An hour-long theatre musical-cabaret interrogating the totally true but outrageous life and journey of David Burliuk, the father Futuris, who is performed by Bob Holman, founder of the Bowery Poetry Club and the poet most often connected with the oral tradition, spoken word, hip hop and poetry slams.

The play is composed of poems and historical facts. Singer-songwriter Susan Hwang portrays an accordion-playing Scythian Ice Princess. Julian Kytasty, a traditional epic singer and bandura player, sings their story. Created and performed by Bob Holman, Susan Hwang and Julian Kytasty; directed by Virlana Tkacz, Artistic Director of Yara Arts Group.

What defined David Burliuk’s life was his constant desire to slap the face of public taste, to see the ancient past in the future and to sharpen our perception to break through linear thinking. The show ends on an upbeat with the “Radio Manifesto” which futurist Burliuk proclaimed in New York in 1926.

 

 

JANUARY 30 TO FEBRUARY 16
TEATRO CIRCULO, 64 EAST 4TH STREET
"BODAS DE BLOOD," A BILINGUAL ADAPTATION OF "BLOOD WEDDING" BY FEDERICO GARCIA LORCA

First Maria Ensemble, in collaboration with Cambalache Theatre Company, presents "Bodas de Blood," a bilingual adaptation of "Blood Wedding" (Bodas de Sangre) by Federico García Lorca. Celeste Moratti directs. Translated by Michael Dewell and Carmen Zapata. Performed by an international company with actors from Argentina, Italy, Poland, Colombia, Venezuela, Armenia, the Netherlands and the USA with live music by two Italian musicians, Francesco Santalucia and Papaceccio. This is the third production at Teatro Circulo for First Maria Ensemble, which has hitherto presented all-Shakespeare. It is led by Celeste Moratti, an Italian-born actress who, before founding this company, was best known for both realistic and surrealistic leading roles in the "Pathological Theater" productions of Dario D'Ambrosi. Her vision is informed by her work at La MaMa and The Living Theater. Cambalache Theatre Company was founded this year by two Argentine actresses, Carmen Ezcurra and Cecilia Wisky, who named their troupe after the famous tango "Cambalache"!

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AWARDS

Congratulations to our clients for their honors in this year's AUDELCO Awards, which were bestowed November 18.

Top: "The World According to Micki Grant," Reginald L. Wilson in "Scrambled Eggs." Below: "Unentitled," "Zooman and the Sign"

BEST LIGHTING
Melody A. Beal | Zooman and the Sign | Negro Ensemble Company

BEST SET DESIGN
Chris Cumberbatch & Angel Smith | Unentitled| Negro Ensemble Company

BEST SOUND DESIGN
Twan Howard | Zooman and the Sign | Negro Ensemble Company

BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
Nora Cole | The World According to Micki Grant | New Federal Theatre

FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY
Reginald L. Wilson | Zooman and the Sign| Negro Ensemble Company

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
Telling Tales out of School | Richarda Abrams, June Ballinger, Petronia Paley, Elizabeth Van Dyke | New Federal Theatre

LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Brian Davis | The World According to Micki Grant| New Federal Theatre

LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (4) awards
Matelyn Alicia, April Armstrong, Patrice Bell | The World According to Micki Grant| New Federal Theatre

LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY
Reginald L. Wilson | Scrambled Eggs

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY
Unentitled | Negro Ensemble Company

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Reginald L. Wilson

"Telling Tales Out of School"

For a complete list of this year's AUDELCO awards, go here.

 

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FOOTLIGHTS

INTRODUCING: THE VILLAGE STAR-REVUE
For the past 14 years George Fiala has been publishing a monthly community news paper in Red Hook, Brooklyn. This month, he introduced a Greenwich Village paper. The Village Star-Revue is based on The Villlager, a paper of which he was General Manager for five years beginning in 1978 when he was right out of college.

At this point, it's a monthly print newspaper distributed free of charge in the finest apartment buildings, supermarkets, pizza shops, theaters and local shops in both the East and West Village. Coverage will include local government including community boards and local schools, as well as local theater, music, dance and art. Also: interviews with interesting personalities and the issues of the day, including land use, regulations and culture at-large.

He's looking for writers and sales people. Freelance writing rates start at $100 a story and up, ad commissions are 25%. Interested? Call or write George Fiala at gbrook8344@gmail.com or (917) 652-9128.

 

PLAYWRIGHT SOPHIA MURASHKOVSKY ROMMA ORGANIZES HER SECOND PROGRAM ON HOLOCAUST AND GLOBAL ANTISEMITISM AT NYC BAR ASSOCIATION

Sophia Murashkovsky Romma

Playwright Sophia Murashkovsky Romma is also an international human rights attorney and her plays often sound off against antisemitism. Last year, she organized and led a lunchtime panel on global antisemitism at the New York City Bar Association, 42 West 44th Street, featuring experts, Holocaust survivors and advocates who battle Holocaust denial.  This year, on May 9, she returned with a second panel, "The Sound of the Siren: Heeding the Warning Signs of Intolerance, Racism and new forms of Antisemitism." Clear headed legal/historical syntheses were presented on developments in global antisemitism since the October 7 attacks in Israel, historical revisionism in Russia's propaganda efforts in Ukraine, and the accelerant effect of social media.

Panelists and audience of "The Sound of the Siren: Heeding the Warning Signs of Intolerance, Racism and new forms of Antisemitism" at New York City Bar Association.

These meetings are significant in that they bring attention to how legislation and levers of government are being used to reassert nationalism and ethnic identity worldwide. Astoundingly, some European countries are adopting legislation repudiating their countries' complicity with the Nazis and participation in the Holocaust. Daniel E. Karson, a lawyer and business risk consultant, traced how laws of this type were introduced in nine European countries from 2011 to 2023, stopping only with Russian's invasion of Ukraine, when smaller countries and former Soviet satellites suddenly had something more important to worry about than expunging their historical guilt.

One of the afternoon's most chilling presentations was a talk by South African born lawyer Trevor Norwitz, a partner at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz in NYC, portraying the International Court of Justice as an international institution having its legitimacy and credibility undermined by anti-Israel hate.

Panelists included lawyers, diplomats, scholars and Holocaust survivors. It's worth taking the time to watch this video recording of the affair. Go here.

BINGING ON BOB McANDREW SCREENPLAYS
First I was binging on news articles about Chinese expansionism. Then I got my nose out of the blatts and rented "Shadow Magic," written by Bob McAndrew and directed by Ann Hu (Sony pictures, 2001). Its story revolves around the introduction of Western cinema to China. The protagonist, a Chinese photographer, partners with a British businessman to bring the first motion pictures to Beijing. With them, he wins the heart of the daughter of a Chinese opera star and the favor of the Dowager Empress. The drama and romance movie earned McAndrew a Golden Horse Award at the Taiwan Film Festival and was an official selection at Sundance. It's streaming on Prime Video and free on PlutoTV, Freevee and four others.

In the film, the Chinese characters experience both fascination and skepticism towards foreign innovation. Today, the roles are often reversed, with China exporting its technological and economic might abroad, including in the U.S. Audiences might draw parallels between historical Western expansionism into China and the current era, where China is asserting its own version of "soft power" through media, technology, and international investments.

With that one under my belt, I binged on several of McAndrew's unproduced screenplays, which he kindly shared with me. In "Long-Lost Love," a man travels across country to find his high school sweetheart. "Stand Up Man" is a gritty tale of redemption, chronicling a Puerto Rican boxer's electrifying comeback. What are you reading?

 

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