What were your favorites of this year? As we ring in 2013, I want to thank you for keeping theaterinthenow.com going!
Senin, 31 Desember 2012
Top 5 Most Viewed Posts of 2012
It's that time of year to share the top five most viewed stories on theaterinthenow.com! It's been an exciting year here, having our first birthday and passing the coveted 100,000 hit mark! And these stories sure did help!
What were your favorites of this year? As we ring in 2013, I want to thank you for keeping theaterinthenow.com going!
What were your favorites of this year? As we ring in 2013, I want to thank you for keeping theaterinthenow.com going!
Minggu, 30 Desember 2012
The Best of 2012
2012 provided a very interesting year of theater. On the Broadway front, musicals and plays that transferred over seemed to have the best success (Peter and the Starcatcher, Once, Newsies, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, etc.). While new pieces seemed to falter. Meanwhile Off-Broadway, heavy hitting dramas of all sorts (Tribes, A Map of Virtue, Uncle Vanya, etc.) were highly praised. But here's my list of five of the best productions of the year.
1. Cock (The Duke)
If you read Mike Bartlett's "dirty" titled play about love, sexuality, and the human relationship, you can imagine an elaborate production with multi-location sets and an abundance of costumes. But when you see this production, you don't get that. Instead you get a brilliant production where there is nothing but you (sitting in stadium seating in the round) and the actors reciting words via acting exercises where you get the privilege to hear Bartlett's biting and smart script. Cory Michael Smith offers one of the best performances of the year as John, the man at the center of the drama.
2. Clybourne Park (Broadway)
Clybourne Park has a very special place in my heart as I was a part of the original Off-Broadway production at Playwrights Horizons. And when I got to see the Broadway production, I realized how lucky I was. Bruce Norris's Pulitzer Winner deserved all the accolades it received. Pam MacKinnon, who is set to be one of the premiere directors in America, guided a fabulous ensemble, all of whom gave spectacular performances.
3. Restoration Comedy (The Flea)
Theater as a social event is back! And all thanks to Ed Sylvanus Iskandar and the talented company of Restoration Comedy. The play about love and sexiness was the season's best party (or Kiki as the kids say), brought to life in full-force with a perfect blend of period and modern-day design complimented by the most heart you'll find from any ensemble in New York.
4. P.S. Jones and the Frozen City (terraNOVA Collective)
Ever wonder what a comic book that was brought to life would really look like? Robert Askins' clever and smart P.S. Jones and the Frozen City follows the journey of a young kid looking for hope in a new world. With the aid of a great cast and some amazing puppetry, a new form of theater is surely on the rise.
5. In Masks Outrageous and Austere (The Culture Project)
Didn't see that one coming, did ya? In a year that has brought us an abundance of Tennessee Williams comes his last, uncompleted play that is his answer to absurdism and existentialism. Filled with a bizarre love triangle, an almost robotic security team, and the most outrageous neighbors you could find, In Masks Outrageous and Austere was an underrated play with a top-notch design and experience like none other.
If you read Mike Bartlett's "dirty" titled play about love, sexuality, and the human relationship, you can imagine an elaborate production with multi-location sets and an abundance of costumes. But when you see this production, you don't get that. Instead you get a brilliant production where there is nothing but you (sitting in stadium seating in the round) and the actors reciting words via acting exercises where you get the privilege to hear Bartlett's biting and smart script. Cory Michael Smith offers one of the best performances of the year as John, the man at the center of the drama.
2. Clybourne Park (Broadway)
3. Restoration Comedy (The Flea)
Theater as a social event is back! And all thanks to Ed Sylvanus Iskandar and the talented company of Restoration Comedy. The play about love and sexiness was the season's best party (or Kiki as the kids say), brought to life in full-force with a perfect blend of period and modern-day design complimented by the most heart you'll find from any ensemble in New York.
4. P.S. Jones and the Frozen City (terraNOVA Collective)Ever wonder what a comic book that was brought to life would really look like? Robert Askins' clever and smart P.S. Jones and the Frozen City follows the journey of a young kid looking for hope in a new world. With the aid of a great cast and some amazing puppetry, a new form of theater is surely on the rise.
5. In Masks Outrageous and Austere (The Culture Project)
Didn't see that one coming, did ya? In a year that has brought us an abundance of Tennessee Williams comes his last, uncompleted play that is his answer to absurdism and existentialism. Filled with a bizarre love triangle, an almost robotic security team, and the most outrageous neighbors you could find, In Masks Outrageous and Austere was an underrated play with a top-notch design and experience like none other.
Kamis, 27 Desember 2012
Photo Diary: Backstage at Restoration Comedy with Alex Mandell
We gave Restoration Comedy's Alex Mandell a camera to snap a few shots of what exactly happens behind the scenes at the greatest Kiki in New York! Take a look, if you dare, at all the scandalous images and what Alex had to say!
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| "I'm Italian!" |
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| "We pretend to hate each other on stage, but in real life we're actually friends!" |
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| A scene from their pre-show ritual |
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| Alex the rabbler still trying to figure out how to work the "light box." |
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| Amour |
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| Clothes strewn about backstage...not an unfamiliar sight |
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| Eloise sneakin' a snack backstage |
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| Give me coy realness HUNTY! |
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| Guys, his name is Finnian. FINNIAN. Could he get any cooler? |
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| He works hard for it, honey. |
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| JEN TSAY! |
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| James having a minor existential crisis |
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| Jen gets meta |
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| Justin Bieber rabbler gives me LIFE |
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| Justin cozies up with a nice book and a...Gatorade |
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| Liz helpin' a sistah out |
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| MEN |
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| My son just died from dysentery! |
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| Our fearless Loveless |
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| Our resident model |
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| Self portrait |
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| Serving up some rabble realness |
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| Sorry ladies, he's taken. |
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| Stop don't take a picture of me stop please I hate the camera ok fine just one no from this angle yes yes DO IT... |
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| That's a real bird |
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| The wigs have minds of their own. One seems to be consuming another here... |
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| Thoughtful. Serene. Cherubic. |
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| What's the tea? |
Sabtu, 22 Desember 2012
The Best of 2012: Fan Vote
It's time to kick off the annual Theater Year in Review at Theater in the Now! Here are the top shows suggested by the readers and the amazing Spotlight interviewees! What do you think? Did they miss anything?
4000 Miles (Lincoln Center)
Bring It On (Broadway)
Clybourne Park (Broadway)
Death of a Salesman (Broadway)
Dogfight (2econd Stage)
Gatz (Public Theater)
Hurt Village (Signature Theater Company)
Magic Trick (Fringe NYC)
My Children! My Africa! (Signature Theater Company)
Newsies (Broadway)
Once (Broadway)
One Man, Two Guvnors (Broadway)
Peter and the Starcatcher (Broadway)
The Bad and the Better (The Amoralists)
The Big Meal (Playwrights Horizons)
The Caretaker (BAM)
The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess (Broadway)
These Seven Sicknesses (The Flea)
Tribes (Barrow Street Theater)
Uncle Vanya (Soho Rep)
Yosemite (Rattlestick)
Bring It On (Broadway)
Clybourne Park (Broadway)
Death of a Salesman (Broadway)
Dogfight (2econd Stage)
Gatz (Public Theater)
Hurt Village (Signature Theater Company)
Magic Trick (Fringe NYC)
My Children! My Africa! (Signature Theater Company)
Newsies (Broadway)
Once (Broadway)
One Man, Two Guvnors (Broadway)
Peter and the Starcatcher (Broadway)
The Bad and the Better (The Amoralists)
The Big Meal (Playwrights Horizons)
The Caretaker (BAM)
The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess (Broadway)
These Seven Sicknesses (The Flea)
Tribes (Barrow Street Theater)
Uncle Vanya (Soho Rep)
Yosemite (Rattlestick)
Kamis, 20 Desember 2012
Kiki Time with...Greg Engbrecht
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Hometown: San Giovanni di Polcenigo, Italia
Education: Just enough
What is a kiki?: The greener grass of gossip I will never be able to partake in.
Tell us about Restoration Comedy: ResCom is an immersion into a tawdry, ludicrous, poignant, and delectable world. We are having SO MUCH FUN...
Describe Restoration Comedy in 3 words: Tasty. Absurd. Essential.
Who do you play in Restoration Comedy?: The Tailor and a confused rabbler.
What’s the most outrageous costume you wear in Restoration Comedy?: Definitely the Tailor. It's the first costume I've had where I want absolutely NO ONE to see it until I come out on stage. Loren Shaw (costume designer) has been unbelievably kind to each and every one of us.
Which cast member is the naughtiest?: um...heh...me? I fear I make people uncomfortable....
Sexiest?: Emily FOX-in-SOX Brown
Most likely to deceive?: Seth...he is a wilely one...
What is your signature dance move?: Backspin, WATCH OUT!
What Scissor Sisters song would best describe you?: "Filthy/Gorgeous' (You'll see...)
Why should we come see Restoration Comedy?: You like to have fun, don't you?....oh my god, don't you?
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| photo courtesy of Aaron Zebrock |
Rabu, 19 Desember 2012
Kiki Time with...Kara Kaufman and Joey Stamp
Hometown: New York City
Education: BA in Literature from Harvard University
What is a kiki?: A restorative tete-a-tete, complete with fancy drinks and salacious gossip
Tell us about Restoration Comedy: It is the party of the season! In the play itself, bawdiness and wit collide in an homage to the genre of Restoration Comedy; and social intermissions with stunning vocal performances, a bottomless punch bowl, and time to get to know the very attractive and fascinating company members keep the festive atmosphere going all the way through to the culminating dance party.
Describe Restoration Comedy in 3 words: delightful, hilarious, sexy
Who do you play in Restoration Comedy?: I'm the stage manager
What’s the most outrageous costume you wear in Restoration Comedy?: I don't have a costume, much to everyone's dismay. At one point, I wore the blue and white corset and white skirt of Amanda's maids, but it was cut in the interest of practicality (the booth is up a very narrow, very twisty spiral staircase...)
Which cast member is the naughtiest?: Naomi Bland. When she looks at you through those long white eyelash extensions, there's always a naughty twinkle in her eye.
Sexiest?: Eloise Eonnet. She's beautiful, French, and has the voice of an angel. Sexiness incarnate.
Most likely to deceive?: Greg Engbrecht. He's got charm for days (when he wants to), a wicked sense of humor, and a mustache.
What is your signature dance move?: The good old step-touch to keep time as I'm calling cues during dance numbers. Sometimes I get fancy and add claps or snaps.
What Scissor Sisters song would best describe you?: "Night Work." Self explanatory :)
Why should we come see Restoration Comedy?: You'll fall in love with the play, the people, and the whole experience. Don't miss out!
* * *
Name: Joey Stamp
Hometown: Waterloo, Iowa
Education: BA in Technical Theatre from Clarke University
What is a kiki?: A kiki is a party, for calming ALL your nerves.
Tell us about Restoration Comedy: Restoration Comedy is a highly energetic story about breaking through the boundaries that have been placed on love and its many varieties.
Describe Restoration Comedy in 3 words: Pure Joy-filled Bliss
Who do you play in Restoration Comedy?: I am the Assistant Stage Manager.
What’s the most outrageous costume you wear in Restoration Comedy?: Sadly, I don't get a fun costume. Not yet anyways...
Which cast member is the naughtiest?: Its a tie between Ivano and Jaspal.
Sexiest?: Its a tie between Ivano and Jaspal.
Most likely to deceive?: Gotta keep and eye on that Brantley ;)
What is your signature dance move?: The backstage shuffle.
What Scissor Sisters song would best describe you?: "Fire with Fire"
Why should we come see Restoration Comedy?: Because the totally immersive experience will touch your soul and literally change who you think you are.
Kiki Time with...Eloïse Eonnet
Hometown: Paris, France
Education: BA in Psychology from Barnard College
What is a kiki?: A night where girls and boys alike keep their heals on till dawn, looking fabulous. And then make love.
Tell us about Restoration Comedy: ResCom is a party that excites all our senses. By the end of the night, everyone in the room frees up, interacting differently than when they entered the theater. It is an enthralling theatrical experience that never ceases to surprise... and ignite.
Describe Restoration Comedy in 3 words: Liberating reckless abandon.
Who do you play in Restoration Comedy?: A variety of characters, including Lady Tattletongue
What’s the most outrageous costume you wear in Restoration Comedy?: A lacy set of glow in the dark lingerie, long orange hair and a glowing antelope mask!
Which cast member is the naughtiest?: Kerry "Mama" Ipema
Sexiest?: Liz Tancredi, eternally.
Most likely to deceive?: Greg Engbrecht
What is your signature dance move?: The Pirate Chest Flash.
What Scissor Sisters song would best describe you?: “Kiss You Off”. ‘Watch me start a fire in the middle of your shade’
Why should we come see Restoration Comedy?: It makes you free
What more Eloise? Check out...http://eloiseeonnet.com/
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| photo courtesy of Aaron Zebrock |
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