Kiki Time with...Seth Moore

Name: Seth Moore

Hometown: Hartsdale, New York

Education: University of Michigan and the streets of New York City

What is a kiki?: A much needed respite, a meeting of minds, a removal from social throngs, a quieted conversation, an intimate evening of debauchery behind closed doors, a RELEASE!

Tell us about Restoration Comedy: The show is an even mix between 1700's theater, Madonna music video, low brow, high brow and everything in between.

Describe Restoration Comedy in 3 words: Wanton. Outrageous. Sincere.

Who do you play in Restoration Comedy?: Ned Worthy, rake-in-reform, coming to grips with a forbidden longing that he must fight against love's frivolities for, in a world that swears by them.

What’s the most outrageous costume you wear in Restoration Comedy?: I got off easy! I only wear restoration outfits, and the strangest they get is a pair of sunglasses. No fair!

Which cast member is the naughtiest?: Whitney Conkling. You'll see...

Sexiest?: Too many. All of them. Can we lump them into one person? Even the foam heads holding the wigs are fucking hot!

Most likely to deceive?: Allison Buck (You're not foolin' anybody, gerl!)

What is your signature dance move?: The Moonwalk, crip walk... most walks, really.

What Scissor Sisters song would best describe you?: "Can't Come Quickly Enough". Self-explanatory.

Why should we come see Restoration Comedy?: It is simply one of the best parties of the season... we'll treat you well, you'll laugh, cry, make new friends (lovers?), be COMPLETELY over stimulated for four hours and leave with a lighter heart and a heavier libido... AND free drinks! AND a blacklight orgy! I mean COME ON!

photo courtesy of Aaron Zebrock

Rumble in the Foxwoods Jungle?

Could there be an epic battle between a superhero and a giant gorilla over the coveted Foxwoods Theater? The producers of the upcoming giant-sized musical King Kong have eyes on the Foxwoods Theater when they plan to come to Broadway. The only thing standing in their way, their current tenant, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. While the Broadway Theater, another large house, is also an option, the producers of the Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark state that they have no plans of leaving. Will this be a battle of money or will we get the privilege of seeing both huge musicals on Broadway at the same time?

Spotlight On...Jonathan Draxton

Name: Jonathan Draxton

Hometown: Park City, Utah

Education: BA in English, BA with Honors in Theatre, both from Williams College.

Favorite Credits: Twelfth Night (Malvolio); The Elephant Man (Joseph Merrick); Doctor Faustus (Mephistopheles); The BFG (The Gizzardgulper)

Why theater?: I’m the youngest child of four.  My sister Kenna is a professional ballerina, my brother Andrew is the legal counsel for a huge startup, and my other brother Erik is a semi-pro baseball player. Acting was the only field that none of them had touched yet.

Tell us about Soldier: Soldier is an audience interactive solo show that I wrote and performed at Williams College, then raised over $13,000 on Kickstarter to mount in New York City. 50% of its December box office is going to be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. The show tells the story of a Waffen-SS officer who is trapped on the banks of the River Styx and is searching for coins so that he and his men can cross the river. It’s running December 11th through the 22nd at HERE. Come see it! http://here.org/shows/detail/1015

What inspired you to write and create Soldier?: Woof. That’s a really big question with a really, really long answer…so, for now, I’ll have to do a stream of consciousness: World War I poetry, my grandfathers, Achilles In Vietnam by Jonathan Shay, The Shipment by Young Jean Lee, questions about the nature of good and evil, moral accounting, and compassion, Black Edelweiss by Johann Voss, definitions of honor, the Marine Corps, ghosts, and so many other things. This show is definitely a way for me to grapple with Questions (with a capital Q).

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I met a church youth leader on the subway when I moved here in June, and we got to talking about my show and the motivations behind it. He compared the theatre I’m interested in making to plowing: you really have to tear up the earth in order to plant seeds, you can’t just scatter them on the surface and expect something to grow. The same goes for people: if you want to plant an idea in them, if you want to change them, you have to break open the ground of their souls. This means a lot of blood, sweat, and tears from you…and probably from your audience too. That’s why my production company is called The Plowmen.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Daniel Day Lewis. I think it would be an adventure.

What shows have you recommended to your friends?: The Shipment by Young Jean Lee, "Breaking Bad", and "Project Runway".

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Robert Pattinson (yes, I know…I get it all the time) and it’d either be called “Ain’t Too Proud to Brood” or “He Dreams of Shadows”…that one would be an art house film with weird flashback sequences.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: The taco truck that parks outside of my apartment every night. Whenever things get tough, my roommates and I just look at each other and say, “I believe in Taco Truck”.

If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: Indiana Jones. Or James Bond.

What’s up next?: I’m going to be raising money to produce two short films that I recently wrote, both of which deal with Questions. And I’m going to be helping my roommate Noah Schechter develop a clown piece based on Moby-Dick. Besides that…we’ll just have to wait and see what comes up out of the ground.

Spotlight On...Patrick Fleury

Name: Patrick Fleury

Hometown: McLean, Virginia

Education: Graduate of Fordham University, BA in Theatre Performance

Select Credits: Richard 3 (Lord Hastings, Less Than Rent); Little Town Blues (Vernon, Less Than Rent)

Why theater?: Michael, real life is hard and often boring. It is so rare that we think of the right thing to say. It is so rare that something truly amazing happens to us. It is so rare that you actually take a moment and notice all of the beautiful things that are around you. Theatre takes all that rarity and packs it into this tiny little moment in your life, and it can be astonishing.

Tell us about Desire! [A Varsouviana]: Desire's the story of Tom. Tom's having a particularly rough time in his family and personal life and he deals with it the only way he can, by writing a play. As the play progresses he finds it becoming less like a piece of writing and more and more like a dub-step, coked-out, fever dream that is dragging him in head-first. And inn the end he is faced with a decision between love and self-preservation.
What is it like being a part of Desire! [A Varsouviana]? It's a gift to be working with so many extraordinarily talented and innovative people. I've had to polish up my dancing-shoes for the first time in years, but even that has been a great adventure. I am so excited to be moving through this Tennessee Williams fantasia, and I am loving playing a character that guys like me don't usually get to play. I'm not your average Stanley Kowalski, and this is not your average Streetcar.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Risky theater turns me on more than any other kind, I think. I love seeing classics unceremoniously turned on their heads, and I love seeing new theater that challenges us to throw away any preconceived notions and forces us to examine from a new perspective.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: I've recently relapsed into a bit of a Shakespeare place, so Claudio in Measure for Measure and Iago in Othello are dreams right now. Also, if someone wants to write a one-man version of Footloose, let me know.

What’s your favorite showtune?: "The Corrupt Bargain" from Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Adam Driver is just about the most exciting actor I have seen recently. He was absolutely phenomenal in Look Back in Anger and I think we all love him on HBO's "Girls". I'd kill to do a play alongside him.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Andrew Garfield, and the movie would be called "The Amazing Spider-Man". But seriously? Adam Brody, and it would be called 'Memoirs of a Narcissist".

What show have you recommended to your friends?: I was pretty demanding that everyone I know get over to BAM a couple months ago to see The Caretaker. I think that play was nothing short of genius.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: You ever seen "Smash"?

What’s up next?: Well, Less Than Rent Theatre's got a big year ahead. Before the end of next summer we'll have two more full productions out at Under St. Mark's, all of the information for which can be found on our website: www.lessthanrent.org For myself? We are already working on what's coming in the next year or so, and while I don't want to spoil anything, I'm very excited. We're going to be continuing to deconstruct old works and writing brand new ones. Make sure to follow us to keep yourself posted!

Restoration Comedy: Back at the Kiki!

courtesy of Julia Noulin-Merat

Boy how a play in development can change within days! Only five days ago I attended my first sneak peek of The Flea’s Restoration Comedy and since then elements were added, and in some cases eliminated, to make way for the glorious first preview! I arrived early to get the inside scoop of how the rest of tech and dress rehearsals went and got to officially meet some of the cast members, all of whom you’ll meet in a special segment called “Kiki Time with…”  I got to see how some costumes and scenic pieces developed since last I saw. But what struck me the most was how welcoming everyone was, despite me potentially getting in the way as they’re preparing for their first preview. The entire cast, crew, and team at The Flea are beyond generous and hospitable.
When the clock struck 4pm, it was time for preview number 1 to officially begin, the first time the company gets to perform for a paying audience. Unlike my last visit, this party was going all out. After you pick up your ticket, you get the opportunity to sip some of the wonderful libations provided. The punch is a great way to mix and mingle before you take your seats. As the audience arrives, select cast members are in the lobby greeting everyone as the pre-show entertainment fills the room. You’re encouraged to find your seat and chat with people you don’t know. If you’re usually a shy person, have no fear, the cast will quickly help break you out of that! They also have a keen eye for empty glasses and are willing to fill ‘em up for you. The theater is set up in a thrust configuration so there is not bad seat in the house. Last time I sat on one of the sides, this time I took a spot in the high risers where I did not miss a thing. Not a single piece of skin.
One of the fun parts of the night for me was people watching. Since I’ve already seen the show once, I could glance over to the two tiers of audience seating and survey their reactions. And I can tell you, the audience had a marvelous time. Especially during the intermission, with delicious snacks, more drink refills, and merriment through song. But wait until the end of the night for a very special interactive treat!
The sense of community that is created with this marvelous evening of theater concludes with a fun dance party. If I could pick any Scissor Sisters song that would describe me, it would be “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing”, mostly because I can’t dance. Or at least that’s what I proclaim. Though the cast tried to get me up and shake my groove thing, I decided to sit this one out and watch. But perhaps next time! It’s really a party and you’re bound to have fun. I can’t wait to return to ResCom!

Restoration Comedy: Let's Have a Sneak Peek!

I got the privilege to attend the second tech run of The Flea’s upcoming production of Restoration Comedy by Amy Freed and directed by Ed Sylvanus Iskandar. My sneak peek of the huge production began with a backstage tour and getting some insight from the artists involved that are bringing the play to life. My journey began as places were called for the pre-show with scenic designer Julia Noulin-Mérat as my guide. She took me around the three floored theater and introduced me to various parties involved to get some insight on the project. After some conversations, she took me to my seat and let me take in the pre-show. This was the first time the company had attempted the pre-show entertainment in costume. Actors were mulling around while other company members played period inspired music. The design team puts some finishing touches on their respected designs.

The pre-show reflects the restoration period atmosphere, but there was one element missing from the test-drive I was at: the booze. Audience members who attend Restoration Comedy will be greeted with some complementary libations. And you’ll be encouraged to fill up every opportunity you have. If your glass is empty, your two masters of ceremonies will encourage you to refill. The two actors who get the honor of master of ceremonies get the opportunity to practice the improvised pre-show, filled with period zingers. Before the start of the actual show, I get some more bonus trivia about the show. The cast of 30 is dressed in 180 costumes, designed by Loren Shaw, throughout the show. One of the stitchers, who’s altering a costume, fills me in that at some point during the run, someone will be doing a “butt count.” And I’m warned by others of other entertaining surprises throughout the evening. One of those being the lute inspired, Scissor Sisters infused soundtrack. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a die-hard Scissor Sisters fan, so of course I was ready to rock. For those unaware of the bands hits will certainly know them by the end of the production as they will appear all over the show. As places is called, excitement mounts from everyone in the room. Without giving away any of the fun of the show, I’ll give you some unspoilery sneak peaks. The cast is a playful, youthful, vibrant, multi-talented, young acting company. Every aspect of the show is a colorful pallet of fun. If you run out of booze during Act I, do not fret as you will refill during intermission. But don’t stray from your seat too long because you’ll get a Super Bowl Half Time show worthy intermission filled with some great song and dance. Be warned, there is some black light and lots of skin during the show. Restoration Comedy is definitely not for the faint of heart! I’m very excited to return to The Flea to see how the show has progressed during the run. If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, do so quickly before they disappear! If you liked this sneak peak, you’re in luck! I’ll be covering the show with interviews with the ENTIRE company, a behind the scenes photo diary, and maybe even a sit down with director Ed Sylvanus Iskander!

Restoration Comedy is a radical combination of two plays - Colley Cibber’s Love’s Last Shift and John Vanbrugh’s The Relapse. Cibber’s Love’s Last Shift was 1696’s biggest hit. Vanbrugh so despised the play that he wrote a sequel to undo everything he found inauthentic, creating The Relapse – which became the rival sensation of the season. The combination of these plays– itself an homage to the Restoration fad of sublimating existing sources – brings us smack into the middle of a thoroughly modern marriage debate: is it a legal union, or a stitching of souls? This production will feature The Bats: Michael Axelrod, Jaspal Binning, Naomi Bland, Brantley Brice, Emily Brown, Allison Buck, Alex Coelho, Whitney Conkling, Matthew Cox, Greg Engbrecht, Eloise Eonnet, Kelechi Ezie, James Fouhey, Justin Garascia, Rosa Gilmore, Cleo Gray, Kerry Ipema, Finn Kilgore, Chase Kinney, Alex Mandell, Anthony Martinez, Jennifer McCormick, Bonnie Milligan, Zac Moon, Seth Moore, Erik Olson, Ivano Pulito, Alexander Seife, Stephen Stout, Liz Tancredi, Jennifer Tsay, and Mari Yamamoto. The creative team features Will Taylor (Choreographer), Julia Noulin-Merat (Scenic Designer), Daniel B. Chapman (Lighting Designer), Loren Shaw (Costume Designer), Jill BC DuBoff and Jeremy S. Bloom (Sound Designers), Rowan Doyle (Props Designer), Michael Wieser (Fight Director), Greg VanHorn (Dramaturg), Ian Hersey (Vocal Coach) and David Dabbon (Musical Director and Composer of MAKE ME HAPPY). Restoration Comedy runs November 25 – December 30, 2012. The performance schedule varies. The Flea is located at 41 White Street between Church and Broadway, three blocks south of Canal, close to the A/C/E, N/R/Q, 6, J/M/Z and 1 subway lines. Tickets are $40 - $45 and can be purchased online at www.theflea.org or by calling 212-352-3101. NOTE: This production contains profanity and partial nudity.

Spotlight On...Robert Askins

Laura Barisonzi Photography

Name: Robert Askins

Hometown: Cypress, Texas

Education: BA Baylor University

Favorite Credits: Hand to God at EST, Mathew and the Pastor’s Wife at EST, Love Song of the Albanian Sous Chef Rite of Passage
 
Why theater?: Cause we can get away with anything. Cause the audience can’t lie. Cause you can make it with/for your friends.

Tell us about P.S. Jones and The Frozen City: PS Jones is a play about a kid whose life is shit and he goes in search of a better one. It just so happens that the he lives after the apocalypse and the world is a shattered hellscape inhabited by monsters. It is also a comedy.

What inspired you to write P.S. Jones and The Frozen City?: I like the adventure movies of my youth. Star Wars. Labyrinth. The Dark Crystal. I also like Henry Darger. I also like Candide. I also like Henry 5. I don’t think plays should just be about kitchen sinks and cocktail parties and couches. Court rooms. Dating. Rich people. Brooklyn. Politics. A theatre is an empty space. In it we can make whatever we want. WHATEVER WE WANT. Why do we make the same 3 or 4 plays over and over and over again? ARRRRRGGGGHHHHH. 

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I like aggressive theatre. I like funny theatre. I like Martin McDonagh. I like Josh Conkel and Lucy Alibar. I liked Sarah Kane. I like anger. I’m pissed off. This inspires me. I get upset at how dead and sad everything is. I think we can do better. I think we can laugh. I’m angry that we are not. Failure. Control. Climate change. A lack of options. Tired political parties. Boring celebrities. Commonplace complaints. Sea Punk. Adventure Time. Jiro Dreams of Sushi. 

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Chris Ware. The man’s a genius.

What shows have you recommended to your friends?: I tell folks to come to the Youngblood Brunch. That’s the best. Also the Serials at the Flea. They’re awesome. Bushwick Starr stuff is pretty super too.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Jonah Hill and the movie would be called “stop yelling stupid snob.”
 
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Civ 5

If you weren’t working in theater, you would be…: still waiting tables at Poppa Rollo’s in Waco. Woot Woot.

What’s up next?: Reading of a musical called “Dave Koresh Superstar” at the Flea.

R. Kelly's Trapped in the Closet on Broadway?

The phrase "in the closet" may be the butt of more jokes if the rumors are true and come to fruition. Grammy Award winner R. Kelly,  the singer who brought us the singing competition show staple "I Believe I Can Fly", is said to be developing a hip hopera of his "Trapped in the Closet" song cycle to Broadway. For those who need a refresher of the video, take a look here. Is this the most ridiculous prospects for a Broadway musical? It's definitely up there! What do you think?

Review: A Porn Star Love Story

Who doesn’t love a romantic comedy? A guy and girl are in love, they face an obstacle that rips them apart, but in the end, through the magic of circumstance, they fall back in love and live happily ever after. The Performers follows that exact formula, but adds an extraordinary comical layer that sets it apart from the generic “romcom.” What is that layer? The characters in this play live in the world of pornography, or adult entertainment. The Performers, as they call themselves, have the same issues the average beating-heart human have, though theirs seems a bit heightened to a laughable peak. Through some witty, though occasionally forced a laugh dialogue, David West Read has written a play where over-the-top comedy roams free and serves as a fun night at the theater.
The ensemble-driven story centers on the night of the Adult Performer Awards where Mandrew, played simply by Cheyenne Jackson, is getting the honor of being interviewed by his old classmate Daniel Breaker’s Lee for the Post, which gets the running gag of being confused with the Times by Mandrew. As the interview seems to go off the handle, we begin to learn that vanilla Lee needs some love pointers from the sexpert Mandrew, who’s having some love issues himself with his performer wife, Peeps. Ari Graynor owns the role of Peeps and for the most part, commands the stage every time she steps foot on it. She gives an A+ performance, one hopefully the Tony voters will remember. It’s hard to say that this was a breakout performance for Graynor because she’s already graced us with her comic genius in other parts on stage and film, but this solidifies Graynor as a comic on a speedy rise to superstardom. The play chugs along and introduces us to Mandrew’s porn rival Chuck Wood, played like a waning legend by Henry Winkler, his new partner Sundown LeMay, dimly played by Jenni Barber and her unique costume, and Lee’s soon-to-be wife, Sara, played by “Clueless” herself, Alicia Silverstone. Silverstone has a very difficult task in playing the most uninteresting character in the cartoonish landscape of the ensemble. Her first few scenes you wonder if Silverstone is on something in order to spice up Sara, but it’s not until her drunk scene that Sara comes to life and Silverstone actually gets to perform. Director Evan Cabnet does a great job bringing more comedy into Read’s script and helping his cast find life inside their caricatures. The colorful pallet set designer Anna Louizos, costume designer Jessica Wegener Shay, and lighting designer Jeff Croiter bring to The Performers is vibrant and intentionally humorous. Louizos clever set, which features a fun little transforming hotel room, is a major plus that helps bring the world to life.
If you’re looking for an arousing night of laughs that the current average Hollywood romcom won’t bring, check out The Performers. Just don’t expect to be moved or come out with a new thought on laugh. The Performers is purely here for entertainment, which sometimes isn’t a bad thing.

Liza Gets SMASHed!

Liza Minnelli is about to play the hardest role she's ever had to tackle, again...herself. Liza is said to perform an original song as a duet with Christian Borle's Tom. Will Liza's role as herself have any impact on the plot of the musical sophomore series or is she there to draw buzz? Time will tell bet it's safe to say every theater queen, fan of "Smash" or not, will be tuning in for her guest spot! "Smash" is set to premiere on February 5, 2013.

Spotlight On...Ildiko Nemeth

Name: Ildiko Nemeth

Hometown: New York City

Education: Actor’s Studio MFA

Favorite Credits: Since I founded The New Stage Theatre Company in 2002, in New York City, I have been the creator and director of all of the company’s shows, which I think does credit to my drive and determination, given some of the difficulties that go along with mounting an Off-Off Broadway production. I have hard time singling out any of these shows as a favorite; I see them as part of the process of realizing who I am personally and artistically, and of what preoccupies me at a certain time. Perhaps the most “iconic” New Stage productions have been Come and Go, Some Historic/Some Hysteric, The Round of Pleasure and Mapping Mobius. When I came to the U.S., I thought that if I could direct at La MaMa, I would be able to say I’d arrived. I was very happy to receive in 2008 our first invitation from this legendary institution. I’m looking forward to more challenges and milestones with my company.

Why theater?: Theatre was always a platform that freed me, a place where I felt authentic and safe in expressing my thoughts, concerns and questions. It is a way for me to communicate, a pathway to self-actualization. The personal investment, I believe, is what makes it resonate with others, touching artists and audience alike. And theatre is such a complex art form: I thoroughly enjoy creating a movement sequence inspired by a poem or a visual, and designing the set or soundscape of the production—I like to translate ideas into visuals, or expand a dream image into a full scene. I see and enjoy theater as a Renaissance endeavor, you could say: I participate in all aspects of the creation, in all the different art forms that only theater, with its complexity, combines.

Tell us about Garden of Delights: The main character is Lais, an actress who lives in a huge mansion with a beast and a flock of sheep. She lives in great isolation with her illusions and fantasies. She needs to confront her past memories and ghosts in order to liberate herself from the paralyzing effect they have on her present life, to liberate herself in order to open the door to a more psychologically and spiritually mature Lais. That’s the play in a nutshell.  As with all the plays I’ve done, it’s marked by humor, a bizarre atmosphere, and extreme situations.

What inspired you to direct Garden of Delights?: I have a personal response to the character of Lais, but also I believe the story is very universal. It is about the individuation process—the hardship and pain of an encounter with oneself, but also about the possibility of acceptance. It’s a theme I’ve explored before— Some Historic/Some Hysteric and Mapping Mobius come to mind. In SH/SH, you have women struggling to find their voices in the patriarchal society of the 19th century; in MM you have a scientist on a quest for objective understanding that will transcend his personal experience. Garden of Delights is Lais’ creation story, showing us the forces and beliefs that have shaped her and the obstacles to her becoming what she wants to be. And to do this, we enter into her subjective world completely. The boundaries of her past and present, reality and illusion, art and life are blurred, giving us an all-encompassing display of her psyche. Arrabal’s play is wonderfully unique material, with its symbolism and humor, but also very challenging, not least because of its cinematographic nature. I’m fascinated by this challenge.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I am inspired by theatre that goes beyond the everyday, that illuminates what life could or should be; theatre that shows the essence of the human struggle rather than a story mired in the particularities of today. I am a great fan of Robert Wilson; his beautifully crafted images and precision in staging communicate without regard to time or place. We can all recognize the archetypal entities.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I want to see, up close, the great eastern European theatre masters at work, those that influenced me on my way. I would be a character in the Dead Class of Tadeus Kantor, or observe Vsevolod Meyerhold rehearsals, or be part of Jerzy Grotowski’s laboratory theatre. As for the living—as I mentioned, I am a great admirer of Robert Wilson, and I would love to work with him in some fashion.

What shows have you recommended to your friends?: Sleep No More. It totally challenges the way we see theatre and audience participation. I always check out BAM’s Next Wave festival also, as it offers a wide array of national and international companies, amazing and innovative works by, for example, Pina Baush, Ivo van Hove, and Siti company, just to mention a few. I still carry in me last year’s The Threepenny Opera with the Berliner Ensemble. What a great production.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Gina Rowlands from the 70’s, and would be called, perhaps, "The Story of a Woman Who Embraced Experimental Theatre as an Antidote to her Socialist Upbringing and Blindly Followed a Gypsy in the Woods to an Unknown Future". Or let the executives decide. It’s hard to be succinct with your own life.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: As anyone who has seen my plays probably suspects, I’m encouraging myself and others not to feel guilty. I think we’re too suppressed. Pleasure is good. 

If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: At this point in my life, I have hard time seeing myself doing something different. Theater is essential to my life. As I alluded to in my movie title, I’ve had visions of an iconic gypsy woman in a wood, so maybe this means I would be a rootless wanderer, traveling to many lands.

What’s up next?: I am proud that this year my company is turning 10 years old. We will celebrate it with a production in the spring of 2013 at La MaMa E.T.C . New Stage Revisited will take the most memorable moments of the last decade and give them new life. It will be a reinvention of previous works with additional material and with a union of past and present company members. It will be celebratory, fun, but will still have that edge that New Stage is known for. We hope to see many of you there.

Replacement Casting Roundup: Doyle is a Mormon, Danner Finds Nice Work

Broadway favorites Matt Doyle and Blythe Danner will return to the Broadway stage in The Book of Mormon and Nice Work If You Can Get It respectively. Doyle will succeed Nic Rouleau, who will join the Chicago company, as Elder Price on December 11th while Danner will succeed Estelle Parsons as Millicent Winter on December 18th. Danner's run will be for 12 weeks only.