Spotlight On...Melissa Hurst

Name: Melissa Hurst

Hometown: Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Education: College: NYU Tisch School of the Arts (Acting Major)

Select Credits: Most recent: Cat On A Hot Tin Roof at (Big Mama, Oldcastle Theatre Company); Earliest: got my Equity card performing in the New York premiere of Len Jenkin’s Dark Ride at Soho Rep. Other people in the cast included Joanne Akalaitis, William Sadler and Will Patton. Todd Alcott’s One Neck at the Atlantic Theatre Company (Allison Janney was also in the cast). Catherine Butterfield’s play Life In The Trees at GeVa Theatre – I played opposite Josh Brolin, “Law And Order” and a recurring role on “Guiding Light”,  Narrator of Audio Books (most recent recording: "The Energies Of Love" by Donna Eden and David Feinstein, non-fiction)

Why theater?: Theatre is a one-of-a-kind human experience. People gather in a room for a live performance that will be unique to that one time and that one combination of human beings.  Unlike say, sports, or movies, or concerts, there will be no subsequent playback on the evening news, no video on you-tube, no future showings on HBO. Theatre is magical in this way.

Who do you play in The Bellagio Fountain Has Been Known To Make Me Cry?: I play Dixie, a woman in mid-life who is fun and funny and full of longings.

Tell us about The Bellagio Fountain Has Been Known To Make Me Cry: It is a compelling story about a mother and a grown daughter and a plumber, all struggling with life issues related to water. It also has stunning visual effects: a world of water is created live on stage during the course of the play.

What is it like being a part of The Bellagio Fountain Has Been Known To Make Me Cry?: I adore the script and the people involved in this production, so working on it is a pleasure. I also feel a great deal of responsibility, as I care very much about doing the project justice.

What kind of theatre speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I find myself most drawn to theatre performed in fairly intimate spaces. As for the plays themselves, I love scripts  that combine irreverent humor and deep human feeling. An example of that, for me, is August: Osage County. Another example, by the way, is The Bellgio Fountain Has Been Known To Make Me Cry!

Any roles you’re dying to play?: Yes! Some Of Them Are: Amanda In The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, Martha In Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee, any role in August: Osage County by Tracy Letts

What’s your favorite showtune?: “Sit Down You’re Rocking The Boat” from Guys And Dolls

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Actors: James Earl Jones, Tom Hanks, Margo Martindale, Greg Kinnear. Director: Dan Sullivan

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: I’d love to have Abigail Breslin (from “Little Miss Sunshine”) play me. As for a title, hmmm:  “To Her Chagrin”  – a pun on my hometown?, or “Her Lust And Her Fury”, because one of my favorite reviews described me as “passionate in both her lust and her fury” – ha! ha!

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: The original Broadway productions of A Streetcar Name Desire and Oklahoma!

What shows have you recommended to your friends?: The Groundling by Marc Palmieri, which played earlier this year at the Axis Theatre in NY. It’s just been published by Dramatists Play Service. Fish In The Dark by Larry David, now playing on Broadway at the Cort Theatre. It’s not a perfect play, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. And the line in the play that informs the title is hysterical. I laugh every time I think of it.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Although I am an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction, when I’m feeling stressed, I will buy and read The National Enquirer!  (I once went to hear Dominic Dunne speak at a book-signing event, and he told the crowd that he subscribed to The National Enquirer, which I found very reassuring.)

What’s up next?: Aside from a family trip to North Carolina, I have no idea. Something always turns up eventually! I am writing a series of real-life stories about living in the East Village in the 1970’s. (A Midwestern gal moves to the crime-ridden East Village: comedy ensues…)

For more on Melissa, visit melissahurstactress.blogspot.com

Tony Award Nominations 2015: A Tight Race with An American in Paris and Fun Home Leading the Pack

It's that time of the year! The 2015 Tony nominations were announced to celebrate the best of Broadway. Here is the complete list of nominees. Check back later for Theater in the Now's Top 5 Snubs and Top 5 Surprises!

Best Play
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Disgraced
Hand to God
Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

Best Musical
An American in Paris
Fun Home
Something Rotten!
The Visit

Best Revival of a Play
The Elephant Man
Skylight
This Is Our Youth
You Can’t Take It with You

Best Revival of a Musical
The King and I
On the Town
On the Twentieth Century

Best Book of a Musical
An American in Paris, Craig Lucas
Fun Home, Lisa Kron
Something Rotten!, Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell
The Visit, Terrence McNally


Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Fun Home, Music: Jeanine Tesori 
Lyrics: Lisa Kron
The Last Ship, Music & Lyrics: Sting
Something Rotten!, Music & Lyrics: Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick
The Visit, Music: John Kander 
Lyrics: Fred Ebb


Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Steven Boyer, Hand to God

Bradley Cooper, The Elephant Man

Ben Miles, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

Bill Nighy, Skylight

Alex Sharp, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Geneva Carr, Hand to God

Helen Mirren, The Audience

Elisabeth Moss, The Heidi Chronicles

Carey Mulligan, Skylight

Ruth Wilson, Constellations

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Michael Cerveris, Fun Home

Robert Fairchild, An American in Paris

Brian d’Arcy James, Something Rotten!

Ken Watanabe, The King and I

Tony Yazbeck, On the Town 


Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Kristin Chenoweth, On the Twentieth Century

Leanne Cope, An American in Paris

Beth Malone, Fun Home

Kelli O’Hara, The King and I

Chita Rivera, The Visit


Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Matthew Beard, Skylight

K. Todd Freeman, Airline Highway

Richard McCabe, The Audience

Alessandro Nivola, The Elephant Man

Nathaniel Parker, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

Micah Stock, It’s Only a Play


Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Annaleigh Ashford, You Can’t Take It with You

Patricia Clarkson, The Elephant Man

Lydia Leonard, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

Sarah Stiles, Hand to God

Julie White, Airline Highway


Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Christian Borle, Something Rotten!

Andy Karl, On the Twentieth Century

Brad Oscar, Something Rotten!

Brandon Uranowitz, An American in Paris

Max von Essen, An American in Paris


Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Victoria Clark, Gigi

Judy Kuhn, Fun Home

Sydney Lucas, Fun Home

Ruthie Ann Miles, The King and I

Emily Skeggs, Fun Home

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Bunny Christie and Finn Ross, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Bob Crowley, Skylight

Christopher Oram, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

David Rockwell, You Can’t Take It with You


Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Bob Crowley and 59 Productions, An American in Paris

David Rockwell, On the Twentieth Century

Michael Yeargan, The King and I

David Zinn, Fun Home


Best Costume Design of a Play
Bob Crowley, The Audience

Jane Greenwood, You Can’t Take It with You

Christopher Oram, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

David Zinn, Airline Highway


Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, Something Rotten!

Bob Crowley, An American in Paris

William Ivey Long, On the Twentieth Century

Catherine Zuber, The King and I


Best Lighting Design of a Play
Paule Constable, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Paule Constable and David Plater, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

Natasha Katz, Skylight

Japhy Weideman, Airline Highway


Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Donald Holder, The King and I

Natasha Katz, An American in Paris

Ben Stanton, Fun Home

Japhy Weideman, The Visit 

Best Direction of a Play
Stephen Daldry, Skylight

Marianne Elliott, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Scott Ellis, You Can’t Take It with You

Jeremy Herrin, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

Moritz von Stuelpnagel, Hand to God


Best Direction of a Musical
Sam Gold, Fun Home

Casey Nicholaw, Something Rotten!

John Rando, On the Town

Bartlett Sher, The King and I

Christopher Wheeldon, An American in Paris


Best Choreography
Joshua Bergasse, On the Town

Christopher Gattelli, The King and I

Scott Graham & Steven Hoggett for Frantic Assembly, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Casey Nicholaw, Something Rotten!

Christopher Wheeldon, An American in Paris


Best Orchestrations
Christopher Austin, Don Sebesky, Bill Elliott, An American in Paris

John Clancy, Fun Home

Larry Hochman, Something Rotten!

Rob Mathes, The Last Ship

Spotlight On...Mark Smaltz

Name: Mark Kenneth Smaltz

Hometown: New York, New York

Education: As little as possible, it only gets in the way.

Select Credits: It’s not the credits, as much as it has been who I have had the pleasure to work with. Directors such as: John Barton, Daniel Sullivan, Leigh Dillon, Adrian Hall, Mark Lamos, Joanne Akalaitis, Douglas Hughes, Jon Jory, Mark Wing Davey, John Pasquin, David Esbjonson and Arthur Hiller.

Why theater?: Theater is always the high wire act.

Who do you play in The Bellagio Fountain has been known to Make Me Cry?: Curtis

Tell us about The Bellagio Fountain has been known to Make Me Cry: It’s a wonderful original work. It addresses timeless and timely issues.

What is it like being a part of The Bellagio Fountain has been known to Make Me Cry?: It has been a very exciting and challenging experience.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Even though I do not sing, I love the big brassy musicals. Estelle Parsons was the first to not only open up the theatre world to me, but also introduced me to Shakespeare

Any roles you’re dying to play?: Sweeney Todd, Sky Masterson, Troy Maxson

What’s your favorite showtune?: “Guys and Dolls”

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Harold Prince

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Anybody willing to work under a Ultra Low Budget Contract. “La derniere showcase de merde.”

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: Laurette Taylor in The Glass Menagerie

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Whatever is playing At TKTS.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Ice Cream

What’s up next?: Looking for an agent. That’s not a play by the way.

Spotlight On...Nathan Richard Wagner

Name: Nathan Richard Wagner

Hometown: Independence, KY

Education: BA Theater Arts – University of Kentucky, MS Teaching – PACE University

Select Credits: Blessed Unrest: A Christmas Carol and Lying; with my ensemble The Roadsters: What Happened in Ohio and Ohio, Revisited; with Lone Wolf Tribe (UNIMA award winning puppet theater): Hobo Grunt Cycle

Why theater?: Ah, good question. Sometimes I ask theater, why me? Theater and I started a relationship years ago and we have stayed together since. It is never an easy one, but we both get a lot from each other, so we make it work. Theater also has brought me some of the greatest people in the world. For that I am deeply grateful.

Who do you play in Doruntine?: Msiti, a traveling guide for a rich foreigner; Husband, the foreign man of wealth and means who comes to marry Doruntine; a brother in war; the throat and legs of a horse; elements of the earth and worlds supernatural

Tell us about Doruntine: This is how I explain Doruntine to my American friends: Doruntine is a story that has served people of Albanian culture for centuries in reminding them who they are. Blessed Unrest, in collaboration with Teatri ODA, has translated this myth from our cultural perspective, asking the story in our retelling if it can tell us something about us, too.

What is it like being a part of Doruntine?: It is thrilling! At Blessed Unrest, we work in ensemble to make theater that relies on the strength and ingenuity of the human body and theater that employs the power of metaphor to dive deep into the wells of our stories in search of new meaning for ourselves and our audiences. Teatri ODA shares our values, and they are all highly skilled, dedicated people. Working with them has been an incredible gift.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Theater that lives outside of the world of naturalism and inside the world of human possibility – what do I mean? I mean theater that can create spaces that only exist inside a theater: theater that can take everyday objects and quotidian means to create rich and diverse landscapes. I see a lot of this possible within ensemble companies like SITI company, Tantztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, and the Berliner Ensemble.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: I am dying to be young again, to sing like a 70s classic rock icon, and to play lead in a dance-heavy production of The Who’s Quadrophenia. It’s better than Tommy. But hey, I wouldn’t turn my nose up at Hal in Henry IV while I’ve still got a little hair on my crown.

What’s your favorite showtune?: King Herod’s song to Christ in Jesus Christ Superstar. I love that song.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Robert Wilson

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Matt Opatrny, Managing Director of Blessed Unrest, would play me, and in turn, I would play Matt, and it would be called "Le Laveur de Vaisselle"

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: I’d like to go back and see what Brecht was doing. I want to see him in process and listen to him talk about theater.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Blessed Unrest shows, of course! I do have to say, as an artist who strives to live below his means, it’s really challenging to shell out a bunch of loot for a big time show and then walk home disappointed, so I have found the most joy lately in supporting my friends and the smaller companies that create work not for a living, but because they care about the work they make and they will go on making it even if it costs them their hard earned rent money to make it. That being said, I like Broken Box Mime Troupe.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Oh, the actor food binge – late night snacking when I get home after a performance.

What’s up next?: Working with Blessed Unrest on a devised piece about the Human Body in the Ice Factory Festival this summer.

For more on Nathan, visit nathanrichardwagner.com    

Spotlight On...Dena Blizzard

Name: Dena Blizzard

Hometown: Moorestown, NJ

Education: I have a bunch of degrees in biology and gerontology, none of which help my current career in stand-up and theatre. My husband is bitter. We don’t talk about it.

Favorite Credits: I make a mean gluten free chocolate-chip muffin. I can say the alphabet backwards and I co-hosted with Anderson Cooper on his daytime show. What more is there?

Why comedy?: Because I’m pretty sure I can’t hold down a real job. I interviewed at Crate and Barrel but they looked at me weird when I handed them my headshot.  I love comedy. I think Motherhood REQUIRES comedy. It’s really the only way to survive. I think I was born to do this….Motherhood and comedy.

Tell us about One Funny Mother: I’m Not Crazy!: One Funny Mother: I’m Not Crazy was born out of my first few years of being a new mom. I spent many days being peed on and wandering around my house whispering under my breath “I’m not crazy, right? This just isn’t normal.” I think Motherhood is the most rewarding job in the world, but it is as hard as shit. (And just an fyi…that can be really hard)

What inspired you to create One Funny Mother: I’m Not Crazy!!:  I don’t know that I was inspired to write it. I just wanted to get out of my house and talk bad about my kids to anyone that would listen.  I wrote most of this material in comedy clubs at night. My husband was activated in the Air Force and doing stand up was sometimes the only time I would talk to adults all day. It was very therapeutic to write and I think it’s therapeutic to watch. You realize that EVERY mom thinks she’s going nuts. That’s how you know you are doing it right.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I enjoy theaters both large and small. The performing side of me loves sharing these stories of motherhood with as many people as possible but the stand-up side of me loves the intimacy of smaller rooms. What inspires me as an artist is ”finding the funny” in the minutia of everyday life.  Like every parent attending my show, I’m annoyed by life sometimes. If I can learn to find the funny and give parents something to laugh about the next time things happen I’ve done my job.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I would love to work with Ellen Degeneres. She’s my hero. I also love Chris Hardwick from “Talking Dead.” My son loves that show and I force him to cuddle with me. He’s 15 and the opportunities to snuggle are slim. (I know it seems weird to snuggle while watching zombie killings but I’ll take what I can get.)

What show have you recommended to your friends?: I love “Shut up, Sit Down and Eat” playing at the Snapple Theater.  The show features four amazing comedians: Chris Monty, Joe Moffa, Tina Georgi and Eric Tartaglione in the setting of a therapists’ office. It’s non-stop laughs and as a woman who loves to laugh, this is a must see!

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Everyone tells me I remind them of Sandra Bullock. She would have to play me and it would be called “Dena is finally famous enough to have Sandra Bullock play her.”

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: I would love to have seen Whoopi Goldberg in her one-woman show. It was ground breaking.  Lily Tomlin would also be on my list. I don’t think watching her on video does her work justice.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Dark Chocolate covered caramels with sea salt from Walgreens.  And tootsie rolls!  Oh wait, potato chips.  Wait…is wine guilty?

If you weren’t working in entertainment, you would be _____?: Making Money? I don’t know. I really don’t see myself being capable of holding down a real job. I’m pretty inappropriate. I would love to be a tour guide for a trolley in San Francisco, but only for a day. I’m also addicted to “Orange is the New Black” so I think I would like to be a guard in a women’s prison but I’m almost positive that would be a mistake.

What’s up next?: Sleeping is next. Lots of sleeping. Then, some vacation time where my mom makes us eat at every Applebees in Canada because she likes their salad bar. We will be touring the show through Georgia this summer and I’m hosting the Miss America Pageant in September and then back in NY for the United Solo Festival. Very exciting (except the Applebee’s part.)

Spotlight On...Victoria Melody

Name: Victoria Melody

Hometown: Brighton, East Sussex

Education: MA Fine Art

Select Credits: Creator, Performer

Why theater?: I used to make films and have exhibitions but after opening night I missed the audience. There is nothing like the buzz of performing in front of an audience in a show and even better if it's going well.

Tell us about Major Tom: Major Tom is the story of how an I - an average 34-year-old became a beauty queen and how my unruly pet basset hound, Major Tom, became a championship show dog. Major Tom and I increasingly immerse ourselves in the obsessive and confusing realm of personal scrutiny as we participate as genuine contestants, determined to win. Accompanied on stage by documentary film footage and my dog, I tell this true story. It explores the British fascination with celebrity, beauty and winning.

What is it like being a part of Major Tom?: We have performed this show over 100 hundred times. It has my pet basset hound in it and he's free to do whatever he wants. You never see the same show twice because he is free to roam and do as he pleases. Due to this there is an aspect of improvisation that always keeps the show fresh. Sharing the stage with my dog is a real pleasure. I am very enthusiastic and he looks depressed the whole time - we make a very comedic duo. Some papers have called Major Tom the dog a comic genius.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: When I'm in New York I'm going to see the Wooster Group. I like political work that acts to change the world even in some small way. But it can't take itself too seriously and if there is humour than even better. I want theatre to experiment with form so you come out of the theatre having never experienced anything like it before. I am a big fan of British Alternative comedian/ activist Mark Thomas. The last best show I saw was GATZ by Elevator Repair Company - it's 6 hours long.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: This is difficult because I always play myself. But there is a show that I will be making next year called Ugly Chief. I'm making it with my dad who got wrongly diagnosed with a terminal illness. The show examines our relationship, funerals and blues music. So in this show I share the stage with my non-actor dad and I play the role of daughter. It's going to be hilarious as dad is a very unique character but it will also be moving because of the subject matter.

What’s your favorite showtune?: Hair – “Let the Sunshine In.”

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Grayson Perry or Jeremy Deller both amazing British artists. Their talent lies in their insightful observations and they create powerful work that is both accessible and beautiful.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: A university lecturer wrote a reference for me that simply said she's either an idiot or a genius it’s up to you to decide. It's offensive and complimentary at the same time, I've always been very taken with it as a quote. So my film would be called "Idiot or Genius" and I would ask Juliette Lewis to play me although she is a hundred times cooler.

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: I remember reading about these Dadaist performers who packed out a theatre in Europe. There was huge anticipation for this show and a great marketing build up. there was music and the curtain came up and the audience went quiet. The performers stood before the sold out audience bowed and left. That was the show! There was outrage and nearly a riot. The Dadaists were so innovative and funny I would have loved witnessed that show.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Bryony Kimmings makes consistently ballsy, great work.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Reality TV shows but I convince myself that it's allowed because it's sociology research. To be honest sometimes I'm so tired from work I want to switch off my brain and watch some trash.

What’s up next?: When I was competing in beauty pageants for a previous show a hairdresser advised me that I needed hair extensions. Freaked out by wearing a piece of somebody else’s body I set out on an extraordinary adventure to find out just whose hair this was. My boundless curiosity takes a live audience on a serendipitous journey around a world in miniature. There is a real life baddie, a saviour in the shape of a Bollywood financier, the most expensive wedding to have ever taken place, a Celebrity Big Brother contestant, forensic crime scene investigations and hair lots of hair. Sacks of it. What transpires is a deceptively simple true story about the search for three unrelated strangers from different parts of the world connected by DNA. It’s going to be directed by The Team’s Rachel Chavkin and we will be taking it to Edinburgh Festival this August.

Major Tom runs at The Cherry Lane Theater through May 2. For tickets, visit https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/32995

The Rulers: A Sneak Peek into Rule of 7x7: Spring Edition

To get your prepared for Rule of 7x7: Spring Edition, take a little time and get to know the 7 playwrights and their 7 rules! And check out the preview video! Rule of 7x7: Spring Edition plays The Tank, Friday, April 24th and Saturday, April 25th.

Meet the Writers

Name: Hilary Bettis

Hometown: I've lived all over the United States. South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Colorado, Minnesota, California and New York. No, I don't have a favorite place.

Education: I'm about to graduate from the Lila Acheson Wallace Playwright Fellowship at Juilliard, but before Juilliard I'd never stepped foot in an academic institution.

What is your rule?: The color red appears.

Why did you pick your rule?: It's my favorite color. It was the first thing that popped into my head.

Tell us about HOME: I was staring at Brett's email with everyone's rules on the subway at 2am, trying to figure out how to mesh all of these things together, and this is sort of where my brain wandered to so I ran with it. My full-length plays tend to be very gritty, raw Americana, but for this I wanted to write something a little funny, a little silly and a little self-deprecating.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: Probably a lot of really funny, weird plays. I mean, when "aliens" and "youtube" are two of the seven rules...

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: Because there's awesome writers and awesome directors and awesome actors having fun. And probably they'll drink a beer with you after. And, you know, aliens.

Name: Drew Lewis

Hometown: Hastings on Hudson, NY

Education: Kenyon College

What is your rule?: Sprinkles

Why did you pick your rule?: Sprinkles are an excess. They are bad for the environment and they represent all that is wrong with the world today. And I think we need to talk about it.

Tell us about Thank You for the Sunset: Two lovelorn individuals meet on a beach...

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: Sprinkles, unfortunately. Besides that, I can't speak for the others...but I've been catching up with "Game of Thrones'. So maybe a lot of sex, blood and pseudo-ironic mysogyny?

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: It's a super fun night of theatre that brings together talented folks from different sub-communities in the off-off theatre community in NYC.



Name: Barry Levey

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Education: BA, Yale; MFA, UC San Diego

What is your rule?: Someone does something he or she has seen on YouTube

Why did you pick your rule?: I had this 18th Century costume drama in my head, but I sensed that a 9:30pm show with free beer was not the time to write it. The rule forced me into something contemporary.

Tell us about Tax Slayer: It's a comedy about a couple doing their taxes. They're living together for the first time, and learn more about each other than perhaps they wanted. Some of the most heinous kinds of corporate malfeasance play out in their living room.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: Risks. Payoffs. Stumbles.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: The payoffs far outweigh the stumbles. And the free beer.



Name: Dan McCabe

Hometown: NYC

Education: Some

What is your rule?: A flashback must occur.

Why did you pick your rule?: I wanted to include a big element (kind of like the first Rule Of I participated in where one of the rules was 5 years must go by.)

Tell us about Sprinkles and Lloyd: It's about Sprinkles, a clown, and her boyfriend Lloyd, an accountant.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: 7 visions (with parameters)

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: All the Rule Of's I've participated in have been amazing; a great way to see how arbitrary rules can spark a story.  And there's beer.  Come check it out!

Name: Jenny Morris

Hometown: Largo, FL

Education: Florida State

What is your rule?: Aliens!

Why did you pick your rule?: I think aliens make any situation a bit more theatrical.

Tell us about On My Honor: It's is about a reunion of girl scouts at the wake of their troupe leader. Shenanigans ensue. There will be cookies.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: So much funny, you'll get one of those cramps from laughing too hard.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: It is incredibly creative and fun! It's really amazing to see what can be done with seven rules in ten pages.






Name: Mat Smart

Hometown: Naperville, Illinois

Education: The heartbreak of being a Cubs fan has taught me everything I need to know about being a dramatist

What is your rule?: List of 7 somethings

Why did you pick your rule?: It's like the Russian matryoshka dolls - make one of the seven rules have seven parts to it - just keep unstacking a doll from under the doll

Tell us about Fuck City: Fuck City is about the Fuck City spectrum and whether or not everyone is either going to, in, or leaving Fuck City.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: The mayor of Fuck City

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: Because you voted for him

Name: Colin Waitt

Hometown: St. Cloud, Minnesota

Education: MA, The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama; BA, University of Minnesota--Twin Cities

What is your rule?: Someone hits someone.

Why did you pick your rule?: I wanted to pick something active.

Tell us about Pilot Light: Three adult brothers argue as they decide which of them will be the one to blow out the pilot light in the furnace of their childhood home so they can collect the insurance money.  At one point, someone hits someone.  It, like the last play I wrote for Rule of 7x7, is set in rural Minnesota.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: Seven weird and wonderful new plays created by some of the most exciting under-the-radar writers, directors, and actors in New York.  Also a play by me.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: It's a genuinely fun night.  And if by some strange reason you don't like any of the plays, you still can enjoy the party that happens at The Tank when the show is over.

Rhap Chat with...Julia Devine

Get to know the artists of Rhapsody Collective's Cycle 3! Here's Julia Devine, actor in play.

The Common Room: Heroes vs. Villains

Alchemical Theatre Laboratory 

Week 1- April 17th-19th

Week 2- April 24th-26th

For more, visit rhapsodycollective.com. For tickets, visit brownpaperickets.com

Spotlight On...Stephen Michael Rondel

Name: Stephen Michael Rondel

Hometown: Seattle

Education: B.A. Theater Arts & Interdisciplinary Child Development

Favorite Credits: Mr. Beaman & Sister Coco Callmeishmael in The Tragic & Horrible Life of The Singing Nun (New York Musical Theater Festival), Queen Aggravain in Once Upon A Mattress (The New Acting Company), Boo Radley in To Kill A Mockingbird (Northwest Children’s Theater and Olf in Incorruptible (Artistic Repertory Theater).

Why theater?: To change people’s lives.

What inspired you to direct A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Reimagined: I want to tell a classic and timeless story with a modern social commentary.  Show the effects social media have on humans, specifically teenagers today, and how we desperately need to go back to nature and remember what it is like to have genuine one-on-one person connections with each other.  It is up to the younger generation to bring intimacy and personal connections back into their lives before we are all lost in our computers.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: John Cameron Mitchell is a huge inspiration to me.  To see him 17 years ago do a little play on Jane Street called "Hedwig And The Angry Inch" and then come full circle to performing in his Tony Award winning Broadway musical is trans formative!

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Meryl Streep

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Hedwig

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Jack Nicolson. I'm living my dream! Are You?

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: Gypsy with Patti Lapone

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Gummy Bears

If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: a photographer

What’s up next?: Great things always happen at The Celebration of Whimsy. Go to TheCOWnyc.com and check out our upcoming events. Long live the C.O.W!

Spotlight On...Madeline Calandrillo

Name: Madeline Calandrillo

Hometown: Garden City, NY (Long Island)

Education: BA in Theatre Performance from Rider University, NJ

Select Credits: Poe, Design for Living, A Christmas Carol, The Clean House

Why theater?: Theater, for me, is a way of expression. It is a playful and truthful way to explore the truth about humanity. I love that we can be storytellers.

Who do you play in A Midsummer Night's Dream?: Flute and Cobweb

Tell us about Midsummer: This production of Midsummer is an interesting  mix of modern day and Shakespearian language. As an actor, it is so much fun to work on something from the very beginning. It has been such a collaborative rehearsal process in the early stages.

What is it like being a part of Midsummer?: Midsummer has defiantly been such fun. I play two different parts. These characters are completely different. Flute is very nervous and basically has an anxiety attack throughout the last half of the show. While, Cobweb, is a very grounded and earthy character. Both parts are very playful but in different ways. This whole cast has been so great to work with. Each rehearsal was like we were experimenting different ways to find the balance between the fairy and modern world.
 
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I love working on new works. I have been really fortunate lately to be a part of several shows that started out as just readings. It is a challenge for an actor to create a new and truthful character. My family inspires me every day. They are so incredibly supportive. My parents are doctors so we always joke about how funny it is that I wanted to be an artist. I am also a teaching artist and my students are so inspiring. Usually, my students have no idea what they are creatively capable of. It is such a wonderful feeling to watch when they realize that theatre and the arts is so vital to their growth.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: I know it closed but Bonnie from Bonnie and Clyde.  Anything Sarah Ruhl. I would love to play Lane from the Clean House again. I was lucky enough to play her back in college but being older and more worldly (ha) I would love to go back and experiment.

What’s your favorite show tune?: I really listen to everything. I think my favorite piece of music has to hands down be the "Overture" to The Light in the Piazza. I heard it live once and I cried like a baby.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Tom Hewitt- I just saw him do a one man show in January, directed by Aaron Mark. He is amazing.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Agh can I think about it and get back to you???

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: There was a 1966 musical version of Breakfast at Tiffany's. I think that would have been interesting to see. I also missed The Drowsy Chaperone and I would have loved to have seen that!  

What show have you recommended to your friends?: I know I am a little late but I just started watching "30 Rock". It is so funny.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?:  Chocolate. I have absolutely no control when it comes to anything chocolate. I'm also a compulsive shopper.

Review: The Power of Movement

Storytelling is quite possibly the most important element in a strong work of art. Finding a way to evoke emotion through story can take on various forms. But how do you tell a story with no words? Solid physical technique. In The Krumples Theatre Company’s Go To Sleep, Goddamnit!, a small provincial church gets a wake up call as the world keeps spinning as times change and beliefs progress.
International theater company The Krumples bring their movement piece Go To Sleep, Goddamnit! to The Tank. Without a single spoken world, the ensemble relies an stunning masks and incredible physical work to tell the story of a priest’s existential crisis and the three drastically different nuns and their view of the world. The Krumples’ stunner is an intricate and captivating exploration of Evolution and progress of faith today. By simply using physical comedy, movement, props, and sound, a cohesive story was portrayed. Though the piece starts off a bit slow, once the comedy picks up steam and the characters establish themselves, the audience is in the palm of their hand. What sets this piece apart is their strong sense of reliance. A story without words relies heavily on a great pitch. If you are unable to illuminate the plot, the entire piece will fall flat. Fortunately, The Krumples illuminated with ease.

The ensemble of four, made of Jo Even Bjorke, Jon Levin, Oda Kirkebo Nyflott, and Vincent Vernerie brought life to the stage. They were a cohesive unit that made everything happen, literally. The Krumples themselves took on the roles of writers and directors. There are times when having so many cooks in the kitchen with an abundance of roles can hinder a production, this was not the case. Everything was cohesive from start to finish. From a design aspect, everything was kept clean and precise. Very simple wood set that simply evokes the interior of a church. The sound, when used, was specific and added a nice layer to the wordless world of the play. The lighting design by Jamie Steffen was quite good, especially during the more theatrical moments.
Go To Sleep, Goddmanit! is like no other. Movement based theater can be a hard sell, but when it’s good, words don’t mean a thing. Get yourself to The Tank and see for yourself.

Rhap Chat with...Sarah Robotham

Get to know a little bit about the artists of Rhapsody Collective's Cycle 3! Here is Sarah Robotham, actor in RA Confidential! 

The Common Room: Heroes vs. Villains

Alchemical Theatre Laboratory 

April 17th-19th: Week 1

April 24th-26th: Week 2

For more, visit rhapsodycollective.com. For tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com

Spotlight On...Asa Merritt

Name: Asa Merritt

Hometown: Portland, Oregon

Education: Columbia University, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.

Favorite Credits: The street circus show my brother, Casey Matteson, and I devised and performed on Alaska boardwalks.

Tell us about True Believer: A young journalist returns from the Arab Spring hungry to build a more just society at home. Yet after she fails to publish her writing and can no longer relate to her apathetic peers, despondency sets in. Insomnia--a domestic terrorist group--reverses that. By recruiting her to write its manifestos the group gives her the agency she craves. Soon she is embroiled in an attack against her own country. As Insomnia moves closer and closer to taking action, a romance with another woman in the group, and a powerful conscience, threaten her commitment to the cause. Which will win out - her passion for people or her passion for justice? True Believer is a one-woman show about identity, radicalism, and the undeniable passion of youth.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Ironically, I'm really drawn to "director's theater." I admire the work of Thomas Ostermeier, and also love what Russian directors are up to. The European aesthetic prioritizes theatricality--something I'd like to see more of here. For this particular play, Conor McPherson was a primary influence. His one-man shows set the bar.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Miranda July. She blows my mind. The sandboxes of genre and medium don't exist for her.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Hamilton. On the off chance that they find some way to score tickets.

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: The inaugural production of The Select by Elevator Repair Service.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: I feel pretty good about most of my pleasures.

If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: I do a lot of things besides theater. I think every story has a medium in which it is best told. Moments should be poems, dreams should be films, portraits of the IRA should be New Yorker articles (a few issues ago--check it out).

What’s up next?: Trying to get myself to Marfa, Texas for the summer to report on contemporary art and alien sightings.

For more on True Believer, visit http://www.truebelievertheplay.com/home.html

Spotlight On...Ryan Pointer

Name: Ryan Pointer

Hometown: Fort Worth, TX

Favorite Credits: Swing!, Amadeus

Why theater?: It’s really the most accurate way to check in with ourselves as human beings and see how we’re measuring up.

Tell us about Ms. Julie, Asian Equities: On an evening of holiday parties at investment bank Hadley Moore, Julie Harper – Director of Equity Sales – decides to forgo wine and cocktails with coworkers at a nearby club and opts to stay on the trading floor for chips and beer with the bank’s maintenance staff. Her desire to cut loose for a night leads her to Juan, a janitor for the firm. After some innocent flirting turns to something more serious, both Julie and Juan find themselves faced with a crisis of choice and consequence. Ms. Julie, Asian Equities takes August Strindberg’s classic play and updates it for the 99% and the 1%, with the sexual politics and class warfare fully intact. Is it possible to still rise to the top when you’ve reached the very bottom?

What inspired you to direct Ms. Julie, Asian Equities?: I was able to catch a production of the original play when I was in Paris a few years ago. It was presented as Mademoiselle Julie and was entirely in French. I don’t speak French, but was nonetheless riveted by the power struggle between these two individuals. Despite the language barrier, their great need was clear and the play felt very relevant. I brought the idea to playwright Leegrid Stevens about doing our own version of the play and he had the brilliant notion to set the play in modern day at a finance bank.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I’m drawn to adapted text that focuses on strong characters, is often experimental, and helps us figure out how to be better humans. I’m a big fan of Kneehigh, The Debate Society, Pig Iron, etc.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Pretty much anyone with some free time and a good idea.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime has been my go to rec for a while.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Patrick Stewart, "Star Trek: Tempest".

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: The original production of Strindberg’s Miss Julie seems an appropriate answer.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Comic books.

If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: Traveling in a circus.

What’s up next?: A devised adaptation of Fox’s Book of Martyrs.

Rhap Chat with...Alexis Robbins

Get to know a little about the artists of Rhapsody Collective's Cycle 3! Here is Alexis Robbins, actor in RA Confidential! 

The Common Room: Heroes vs. Villains

Alchemical Theatre Laboratory 

April 17th-19th: Week 1

April 24th-26th: Week 2 

For more, visit rhapsodycollective.com. For tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com

Spotlight On...Ed Malin

Name: Ed Malin

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Education: BA in East Asian Languages from Rutgers University

Favorite Credits: Author of Generic Magic Realism, which received a 2013 NY Innovative Theater Award nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance, thanks to performer Nat Cassidy

Why theater?: I like to deal with issues people would rather ignore.  Except it’s hard to ignore the actors who are right in front of you.

Tell us about The Addicts: The Jewish Supporters of Christ realize they have no black people, and start knocking on different doors.  A Minister and a Jew of Color figure out that they knew, and loved, each other in the past.  Meanwhile, Canada becomes a belligerent superpower while the U.S.A. chills out and learns how to love.  Why do we make radical life changes, and does anything change?

What inspired you to write The Addicts?: I had a bunch of  conversations with JewsForJesus type people who got madder and madder the more I calmly refuted their selling points.  But it was the sheer audacity and condescension of these people that I found most intriguing.  I wondered if black people encounter the same kind of condescension on a regular basis.  What if someone is black and Jewish?  Well, that’s a play.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Most things British and satirical.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I would like to learn something from Mac Wellman.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Recently I was quite impressed with The Listeners and The Temple, both at The Brick.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: I would play the invisible alien with so much to learn about Earth.  The movie would be called “A Million Planets In One”

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: The premiere of “Ubu Roi” sounds tempting.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Sci-fi toys

If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: In archaeology

What’s up next?: June brings my new show Queers for Fears to the inaugural F-ckfest at The Brick.  This Fall, Generic Magic Realism returns to United Solo Festival.

For more, visit www.temeritytheatre.org and www.theaterforthenewcity.net

Rhap Chat with...Matthew Hansen

Get to know a little about the artists of Rhapsody Collective's Cycle 3! Here is Matthew Hansen, actor in RA Confidential! 

The Common Room: Heroes vs. Villains

Alchemical Theatre Laboratory 

April 17th-19th- Week 1

April 24th-26th- Week 2

For more, visit rhapsodycollective.com. For tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com

Spotlight On...Stacie Bono

Name: Stacie Bono

Hometown: Sarasota, FL

Education: BFA, NYU/Tisch (Cap21), MA in Acting from Central School of Speech and Drama in London

Select Credits: Off-Broadway - Avenue Q (Kate Monster); New York Theater - Ragtime (Evelyn Nesbitt), Children of Eden (Yonah), Oliver! (Nancy); London theatre: The Dreamer Examines His Pillow (Donna); U.S. Equity Regional Theatre: My Fair Lady (Eliza Doolittle), Les Miserables (Fantine), Sense and Sensibility (Lucy Steele), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Last Five Years (Cathy), Promises, Promises (Fran), Sound of Music (Maria), The Apple Tree (Eve), NHTA Awards Best Actress 2008); National Tour: Barbie Live! In Fairytopia (Laverna)

Why theater?: I believe acting is kind of a super power. To have the ability to affect a complete stranger on an emotional level, to change their ideology, or to inspire them is a really extraordinary gift.  On stage, you can feel the energy shift that occurs when that connection happens between actor and audience. It is truly like a drug.  Life tends to feel like a constant swirl of chaos, but when the curtain goes up, that chaos dissipates and everyone is able to focus on a shared experience.

Who do you play in Ordinary Days?: Claire

Tell us about Ordinary Days and the Autism Theatre Initiative: Ordinary Days is actually about that individual chaos that can prevent us from truly making deep connections with other human beings. The drama of the piece stems from the characters' anxieties and struggles with their past or their future, preventing them from being in the present. September 11th was a big inspiration for the piece, and I think it is expressed beautifully. I was a sophomore at NYU when the attacks on the World Trade Center occurred.  In the days following, one of the most remarkable things I experienced was that walking down the street in New York City, everyone looked each other in the eye. Race, gender, and social status didn't make a difference, everyone looked each other in the eye.  It only lasted for about a week, but I'll never forget that. The show is kind of a journey for these characters to find their "looking in the eye" moment. It's the perfect play to raise money for the  Autism Theatre Initiative (ATI) as well. Autism spectrum disorders often are accompanied by sensitivities to both light and sound, which make most live theatre overwhelming to this special population.  ATI is a program that makes theater accessible to this community and allows them a chance to share in these experiences.

What is it like being a part of Ordinary Days to benefit the Autism Theatre Initiative?: It's very exciting to take part in such a beautiful show, and such an honor to do it for this wonderful cause.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I love a good story that makes me feel or think deeply.  I'm a "less is more" kind of gal when it comes to theater, so fancy sets and projections don't impress me.  Give me a good actor,  a good script with just a chair and I will be captivated for hours. Everything and everyone!

Any roles you’re dying to play?: Every female role Tennessee Williams ever wrote.

What’s your favorite showtune?: I don't really have one, but right now my favorite song is "I'll Be Here" from Ordinary Days.  It kills me.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Meryl Streep and Diane Paulus

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Emily Blunt and I guess I'll go with what was the name of my one woman show: "The Princess Fallacy"

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: Right now, it would be Barbara Cook in The Music Man... Explained later

What show have you recommended to your friends?: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Genius!

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Wine

What’s up next?: Marian in The Music Man at The Guthrie

Ordinary Days to benefit the Autism Theatre Initiative will be performed April 14 & 20 at 9:30pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Tickets and more information at www.ordinarydaysforati.com

Review: I Did Have Laugh Out Loud Fun With This Musical

by Michael Block

The presidency of Bill Clinton was riddled with controversy and scandal. It was almost a parody of itself. With content so rich, Clinton and pals get the musical theater treatment. They say timing is everything. And with Hilary on the verge of announcing her run for President, Clinton the Musical comes at just the right time, pun potentially intended.

photo courtesy of Russ Rowland

In Paul and Michael Hodge’s Clinton the Musical Hilary recants her “first presidency” and the two men she loved who happened to be the same man. With a book by Paul and Michael Hodge and music and lyrics by Paul, Clinton the Musical is a 90 minute “SNL”-esque musical comedy that retells the scandal-laden two term presidency of Bill Clinton and his split personas, face of the nation WJ Clinton and smooth-talking, trouble-making Billy Clinton. The conceit is unique. It’s an idea that hasn’t quite been explored when mocking the 42nd President of the United States. But the remainder of the material includes reused and recycled jokes that still pack a punch. The era of the 90s is immediately addressed through Paul Hodge’s score. What comes next are a series of songs that are toe-tapping funny and occasionally raunchy, just like our main man Bill. By simply not giving the punch line the title of many songs, Hodge is able to garner genuine laughs to shine through, especially when certain songs are reprised and adjusted for certain characters. With a tale that the audience already knows the beginning, middle, and end, what comes next isn’t quite the surprise. It’s how the Hodges and director Dan Knechtges reveal it. And that’s what makes Clinton the Musical a blast to watch. By establishing the saga as a typical piece of musical theater, equipped with a hero with a dream, a villain with an evil scheme, a volatile love plot line, and an assortment of zany characters, how reality fits into the musical themes is where the comedy shines. Sure, the second half of the show may have a few too many ballads, the momentum is high from start to finish.

photo courtesy of Russ Rowland

Casting thoroughly can make or break a show. A stellar cast can make truly mediocre material look great. That's what this cast did. Doubling as good Bill and bad Bill, Tom Galantich and Duke LaFoon as WJ and Billy respectively brought the many personalities of America's 42nd President to the stage. Galantich and LaFoon were like a Phil Hartman and Darrell Hammond of the show. Both had two drastically different parodies of the same man and yet still were believable. They nailed the vocal cadence of Clinton and seamlessly eased into his physicality. Galantich, a little more so, found the humanity of Clinton that made his performance well rounded. Kerry Butler is a supreme performer. In the current age of Hilary where she’s been parodied by one of comedy's brightest stars, finding a unique spin on the First Lady is a great challenge. Butler was up for the task. Though she did have difficulty balancing Hilary singing voice with her own iconic vocals. Nevertheless, Butler takes Hilary and gives her an overeager and overambitious divalicious twist that makes her a great focal point. Everyone loves the bad guy. There’s something juicy that you want to sink your teeth into when it comes to a loveable villain, especially when you get a knockout actor in the role. A star was born in Kevin Zak's breakout performance as Kenneth Starr. Zak gave his Starr subtly funny intricacies that made him the perfect evil villain. From the claw of a hand to the erratic obsession of Bill to the ever-changing hair, Zak made Starr his own and truly gave a show-stopping performance. Zak is a triple threat that is bound for a bright future. The one performance that brought quite a happy shock was from gritty comic Judy Gold. Gold can not only carry a tune, but she can belt her face off. Her comic timing was second nature, but it was her musicality that was such a joy to watch. Getting the opportunity to play Hilary’s idol Eleanor Roosevelt as well as whistleblower and worst best friend ever, Linda Tripp, Gold continues to prove why she’s one of greatest comedians on the planet. As the beret-wearing subject of scandal, Veronica Kuehn gave Monica a sugary naive take that made her show-stopping number grand. John Treacy Egan was lights out as Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. He and Zak had a wonderful report with one another that made their dynamic evil duo such a comedic highlight.
Director Dan Knechtges took an iconic decade of American history and found relevancy. Knechtges brought the Hodges’ material to the stage in the grandest of fashions. His clever staging allowed for the site gags to land, though the portrait screens of Beowulf Boritt’s sometimes caused some visual problems. The production was cohesive and smart. Boritt’s set was iconic yet theatrical, something that resonates with the Clinton story. The costumes by David C. Woolard were particular and recognizable. The political colors were never overbearing, especially in front of the sea of blue of the set.
It's not groundbreaking theater but Clinton the Musical is nothing short of entertaining and fun. The laughs are abundant and the performances tremendous. How will the Hodges handle the potential sequel after a Hilary presidency? Let's sit back and see!

Spotlight On...Kersti Bryan

Name: Kersti Bryan

Hometown: Golden, Colorado - Home to Coors Beer.

Education: Hard knocks of NYC. Carnegie Mellon University

Select Credits: Mostly Eastern European ladies who are weeping or anything in corset wearing eras.
New York: August Strindberg Repertory, New York Classical Theatre, Player’s Club. Regional: All’s Well That Ends Well (Commonwealth Shakespeare *Nominated Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Actress); Riverside Drive (Moscow Art Theatre *TCG Award); Shakespeare Theatre of NJ; Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Palm Beach Dramaworks.  TV: "The Knick", "Elementary"; “Golden Boy”; “Drop Dead Diva”; “Law & Order”; "Small Miracles".  Film: "Hell's Heart", "Actor Seeks Role", "Carla and Charlie" and others.

 Why theater?: Whyyyyyyyyyy.....

Who do you play in True Believer?: Not named. Let's call her The Protagonist...

Tell us about True Believer: True Believer is about a young idealistic journalist who experiences the Egyptian Arab Spring and wants to bring that passion for change back to the United States...it doesn't go as planned.

What is it like being a part of True Believer?: I am thinking about revolutions constantly. We have an insanely good crew. It feels like we have the gods behind us on this one. Asa Merritt wrote a beautiful play, we have Joshua K. Brody directing it like a master, Bay Bryan plays original music, and Theaterlab is giving us their full support...and as an actress I get to chew through a powerful, surprising & very timely story with a small audience night after night.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I love eccentric, theatrical (bring 'em in from the ceiling with glitter! or make the sock puppet the boat!). Anything playful that utilizes diverse spaces.  Some of my New York favorite companies at work: Bedlam Theatre, Fiasco, Sister Sylvester, St. Ann's Warehouse curates an extraordinary international line-up of companies to watch, BAM...I'm sure there's more.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: I've been prepping for the Nurse in Romeo & Juliet since high school (a few years yet), Chekhov's Three Sisters - any and all the sisters, (maybe I will play all three in one show). Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, The Actress in The Guardsman.

What’s your favorite showtune?: "There's No Business Like Show Business"! Actually...I'm not sure. But I love me a musical.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: So many people but right off the top of my head: Taylor Mac.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: I want diverse casting. Let's call it: "The Gentlest Eccentric" and my brother can play me.

If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: My head says Shakespeare but my heart says Rosalind Russell in Auntie Mame.

What show have you recommended to your friends?:  I am recommending "Jane The Virgin" like it's my job. Just saw Bess Wohl's Small Mouth Sounds at Ars Nova...really enjoyed it.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Spoonful of peanut butter and chocolate chips.
What’s up next?: dinnertime.

Rhap Chat with...Colleen Hughes

Get to know a little about the artists of Rhapsody Collective's Cycle 3! Here is Colleen Hughes, director of RA Confidential!

The Common Room: Heroes vs. Villains

Alchemical Theatre Laboratory

April 17th-April 19th- Week 1

April 24th-April 26th- Week 2

For more, visit rhapsodycollective.com. For tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com

Review: About That Ending

1969.  It was a vivacious year. It was the end of an era and the start of a new decade. A time where women stood strong and a man walked on the moon. It is also sets the scene for Max Baker’s wildly captivating drama Live From the Surface of the Moon. Presented by Stable Cable Lab Co., a group of friends celebrate a series of personal and historical moments while old and new relationships are tested.
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong was set to be the first man to walk on the moon, broadcasted live on national television. It was also the night that Don and Carol were to be parents. To celebrate the momentous occasions, Don and Carol celebrate with their swinging couple Wendell and June, Carol’s decrepit dad and her gal pal Holly. As Carol goes into labor, Wendell and Holly are left alone with Don in the corner, as they engage in a game of domination. What ensues months later on New Years’ Eve is the aftermath of a optimistic night for some and a night of terror for others. Max Baker's living room drama begins slowly but picks up steam. When the dramatic damage is done and intermission begins, you can’t help but wonder what happens next. How will this chance encounter alter their lives? Will a confrontation occur? Rather than handling the catalyst of excitement, Baker lightly touches on it and instead explores different themes and character arcs. As Baker does this, you can’t help but long for that big explosive moment between Wendell and Holly where Holly reveals all as the calendar switches to a new year. But just when all is to be revealed, Baker blindsides you with something unsatisfactory. You can’t help but mutter to yourself as you sit in the dark. Regardless of the ending, Baker’s script is filled with some dramaturgical questions that could use some addressing including the nature of Wendell and Carol’s relationship, Joe’s presence in the play and an overall character history of Wendell.

photo courtesy of Sara Watson

Live From the Surface of the Moon was filled with some well-rounded performances. Leading off with great strength was Brian Edleman as Wendell. Edleman had a grand task of finding redeeming qualities in the antagonist. Edelman expertly finds an attractiveness in Wendell that by the time he turns, you may have already fallen for him. As meek Holly, Lisa Anderson goes full force. Anderson easily finds the highest highs and lowest lows of Holly. The dynamic between Edleman and Anderson is vibrant. Their haunting scene to close act one was the strongest in the entire play. Ian Patrick Poake and Breanna Foister as Don and June respectively captured the essence of the time expertly.
Playwright Max Baker took on the role of director as well. While it didn’t serve the script best in aiding in the issues, Baker’s direction of the actors and the production was quite strong. Baker brought the highs and lows of the story and balanced them to give a complete theatrical arc. With a strong ensemble behind him, there was no doubt that his work would shine. From a production standpoint, Live From the Surface of the Moon was a knockout. The attention to detail in all aspects made the piece shine. The set by Doss Freel and costumes by Natalie Loveland brought the late 60s to life. Their specificity and appearance evoked the times and looked mighty fine doing it. Freel’s set was mostly practical for Baker’s staging. The only issue was the table for the board game as much of the scene forced backs to the audience. Even the prop’s by Zachary Sitrin were skillfully selected. The costumes by Loveland fit each characters’ personality well without feeling forced. The lighting by Sara Watson allowed for some stunning stage pictures, especially in the finale scene of Act I.
Live From the Surface of the Moon is one of those special pieces that, despite its flaws, is dynamic, chaotic, and invigorating. With some tweaking, this play could find a very long future.

Rhap Chat with...George Hider

Get to know a little about the artists of Rhapsody Collective's Cycle 3! Here is George Hider, playwright of Sociology 147, or Human Behavior Studies.

The Common Room: Heroes vs. Villains

Alchemical Theatre Laboratory 

April 17th-April 19th- Week 1

April 24th-26th- Week 2

For more, visit rhapsodycollecive.com. For tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com

The Rise and Fall of...Eric Powell Holm

Name: Eric Powell Holm

Hometown: Brookings, SD

Education: Brookings High, Cherubs camp at Northwestern, BFA in Acting from the U of MN/ Guthrie Theater program in Minneapolis, MFA in Directing from Columbia, starting arts 'businesses' and seeing the different ways they succeed and fall apart

Favorite Credits: Vestige, Paper Plane (with 3 Sticks); Misanthrope, or the Impossible Lovers, A Wintertime Tale (with Vintage Theater Collective of Chicago); The Wild Plan - a national tour in a minivan, like a rock band, of backyards and beaches with three plays lit by sunsets and bonfires

Tell us about Bread Arts Collective: This one is based on the simple and not-simple bonds of friendship. We want to 1. Do Good Work (all meanings of 'good' please; all kinds of arts and works please), 2. With people we love (people! connection! invitation!), and 3. Make some dough (literally, we'll give you bread we baked - figuratively, we aim to compensate ourselves appropriately for our creative contributions).

Tell us about Rise and Fall: There's a difference between a fable and at parable. Fables tend towards clear readings, 'morals to the story' - but parables act like riddles, holding both secrets and open interpretations. My favorite parable-makers are Yeshua of Nazareth (a Jewish fellow also known as 'Jesus') and that troublemaker/innovator/provocateur Bertolt Brecht. Rise & Fall is a brilliant, raucous Brechtian parable, translated and transformed from a three hour opera to a whole new beast, a punkplay partyshow.

Why Rise and Fall now?: It invites you to laugh and play along while looking at the violences that live in the heart of a capitalist philosophy. It makes joy while dealing with pain. It does parable work of being open to different ways to see it. Yes! A comedy that doesn't end in a wedding no sir.

What is it like to be a part of Rise and Fall and Bread Arts Collective?: Exciting, powerful, open, creative, uncertain, wild, subversive.

Why should we come see Rise and Fall?: Shh, it's a secret, but if you come and have a good time, you can come back and see it for free if you bring a friend. It's a punkpartyplay in a sexy LES bar, a place to meet sexycool people, a good naughty date, a new way to look at a theater experience, a place to eat tasty bread...

Rhap Chat with...Molly Jones

Get to know a little about the artists of Rhapsody Collective's Cycle 3! Here is Molly Jones, actor in RA Confidential! 

The Common Room: Heroes vs. Villains

Alchemical Theatre Laboratory 

April 17th-19th- Week 1

April 24th-26th- Week 2

For more, visit rhapsodycollective.com. For tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com