Archive for March, 2010
John Tartaglia and Imaginocean puppets. Photo by Aaron Epstein
It seems there are more fish in the sea when it comes to family musicals that take place in the ocean. John Tartaglia, of former Avenue Q fame, has created Imaginocean, which opens today at New World Stages.
What makes the show unique is that it’s all done in black light, meaning all the performers wear black suits from head to toe, so the only thing the audience sees are the puppets, who look like they’re swimming or floating in the water.
This also seems like a great show for little ones, with a 50 minute run time, a story that is easy to follow, and a cheaper price tag per ticket (about $39.00 a ticket, since its off-Broadway).
A great way to school little fish in the art of theatre!
–Sue
March 31st, 2010
Last night marked the first night of Passover. It’s more than a holiday about matzah and macaroons… it’s about telling the story of persecution and redemption our ancestors faced many years ago.
And I guess it was only a matter of time until it became a musical. Everything’s Coming Up Moses was inspired by another classic, Gypsy.
The show premiered last week at New York’s Laurie Beechman Theatre. Last week was also the premiere of The Greatest Story Ever D’ohed on the Simpsons, with a bible trip to Israel.
A busy week for the Jews!
–Sue
March 30th, 2010
If anyone tells you theatre isn’t a risky business, they’re lying, or just plain ignorant. There are so many variables… you never know how it’s all going to turn out in the end.
And that’s why when someone goes out of his or her way to take a risk, it not only catches my attention and sparks my interest, that person garners my respect. One such young producer is Michael Roderick.
Mike had a reading of “Dani Girl” at the Cherry Lane this past Friday. In a nutshell, it’s a musical about a girl who has cancer. By show’s end, she and the only friend she’s ever known (the young boy she meets in the cancer ward), both die. During the course of her story, we meet her imaginary guardian angel, who also takes on the form of cancer (in its many forms), as she struggles to answer the question, “Why cancer?” (Or as I came to understand her question, “Why does cancer happen in the first place?” and “Why is it happening to me?”)
The two young leads, Rozi Baker as lion-hearted Dani, and Zachary Carter Sayle as movie loving Marty, were really fantastic. Their chemistry was palpable (even at such a tender age). John Bolton as Raph/Cancer was literally a stick of dynamite. The bitter-sweet story seemed even more tender in their capable hands. (And though it was a reading, I really appreciated the director’s, Scott Schwartz, light touch.) It was obvious that the show’s creators, Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond, put a lot of loving care into making this show and getting it on its feet.
And though there were some great funny moments throughout, this show would be a hard sell for most… and yet, Mike jumped on board when his colleague Alexander Orbovich gave him the script. “I was balling by the middle of it,” Mike told me afterward. “And I said, Alex, I don’t know how we’re gonna do this, but we’re gonna do it.”
And they did…
Just before the lights came up, I could feel the wave of emotion rush through the theatre. Everyone took the breath they’d been waiting to take whilst stifling back tears.
I’m not sure what the next step is for “Dani Girl”… but I’ll definitely keep you posted.
–Sue
March 29th, 2010
Teatron means theatre in Hebrew… and it looks like someone’s had their hands full translating a well known American commodity into Hebrew.
Spring Awakening is making its way to the land of milk, honey, and falafel.
Passover is a celebration of spring… so this couldn’t have come at a better time.
Enjoy!
–Sue
March 26th, 2010
Katori Hall, Photograph: David Levene
Katori Hall, a 28 year old bold, brash, black woman won one of England’s most prestigious theatre awards, the Olivier.
Her inspiration for the winning play was her mother. Her mom never forgave herself for missing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “mountaintop” speech, and so Katori wanted to take her back to that time.
As the Guardian states, “She is only the second black writer (after fellow African-American August Wilson, in 2002 ) to win the new play Olivier, and the fourth woman in 34 years.”
Quite an impressive feat… and I hope she’s opening the door for other talented women to follow.
–Sue
March 25th, 2010
March 27th is almost here, and it’s a cause for celebration — around the world, during World Theatre Day! In New York and New Zealand, and everywhere in between, there will be shows, talks, and reflection about just how important theatre is in our lives… all of our lives.
Dame Judi Dench was chosen to give this year’s message, which will be translated into over 20 languages. A heartfelt, straightforward, and elegant message (true to the Dame’s delivery on stage), she states, “Performances can occur in a small village in Africa, next to a mountain in Armenia, on a tiny island in the Pacific. All it needs is a space and an audience.”
Even if you don’t celebrate on the day, make sure you celebrate the theatre in your own backyard. See a show by an emerging playwright, or a new ensemble. What makes theatre of the community is the community.
See you at the theatre…
–Sue
March 24th, 2010
Artist's rendering of the planned Stephen Sondheim Theatre marquee.
I wrote about Sondheim’s birthday last week, and found out today that he’s finally getting what he truly deserves, his name on the great white way every day of the week. Stephen Sondheim is having a theatre named after him, a fitting, and humbling honor to be sure. (Formerly Henry Miller’s Theatre, it is being renamed for Sondheim.)
As we say in Judaism, Mr. Sondheim, may you live until 120…
–Sue
March 23rd, 2010
I’m not sure why I remembered it today… but I remembered a conversation I had with my dad when I was a young girl.
We were walking and he shared an old saying with me.
At the time, I kind of understood what it meant, but I didn’t fully understand until I wrote a play about it.
The funniest part is, I never consciously thought about that conversation… it was safely lodged in my brain though…
What made me smile at the memory of the conversation, besides the fact that I love taking walks with my dad and having him share his wisdom with me, is that I was probably writing that play even then, at that tender age. (I couldn’t have been older than 14.) And yet, I didn’t know it.
That’s one of the best parts of being a writer… we get to explore things and figure them out until we “get it”. And then that helps other people “get it.”
Thanks for planting the seed, Dad.
–Sue
March 22nd, 2010
“Double Falsehood” is a new play being attributed to the bard himself, William Shakespeare. It was formerly thought to be a fake… though now it is thought to be a work he did in collaboration with another dramatist, John Fletcher.
Honestly, it doesn’t sound like his greatest work… and reminded Scott of this possibly prophetic Ducktales episode. (Click here for the rest of the episode.)
Only time will tell…
–Sue
March 19th, 2010
Today I spent a lot of quality time with my nephew… He’s still a little one, a precious four months old.
His mommy is so great with him, and one of her greatest assets is her sense of humor.
She began making up a song, as I was making pizza for dinner, and he was touching the squishy pizza dough (in the bag). Mommy sang, “I am the pizza man, buy my pizza… so I can make some money!”
I couldn’t help but laugh, and her response was, “It’s the truth, and we’ve all gotta eat somehow.”
And, she’s right…
One of the best things is being around children, because they not only inspire us to be creative, they inspire us to be silly too… and we all need that sometimes.
–Sue
March 18th, 2010
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