Before the official business, I must issue a plea. If anyone has a sure fire cure for hay fever, please let me know! My allergies are officially out of control.
Now, on to the important stuff – In September, I’ll be directing a staged reading Augusto Amador’s Solterona at The Red Room. Solterona will go on to play Queens Theater in the Park this April. Augusto is currently completing his year in the Public Theater’s Emerging Writer’s Group and is amazingly talented writer.
I will also be directing for Uptown Collaborative Theatre for three weeks in September, as we embark on creating three separate devised pieces under the mentorship of three unique, prominent companies – SITI Co, The Team and Pig Iron.
Last week, I directed What If? by Erin Moughon for The Old Vic’s Arden Project. This trans-continental event was a showcase of emerging British and American talent, watched by live audiences at 3LD (US) and the Warner Brothers Theatre (UK) and performed in a shared theatrical space created by video feed. The production was also streamed live on www.ideastap.com to a global audience. Pictures coming soon!
The Greenpoint Gazette published an article today about Comedie of Errors, and my take on it. Check it out!
What happens when you’re touring a production of Comedie of Errors, teaching Shakespeare basics with All’s Well That Ends Well as the central text and prepping to director a new, short play based on As You Like It? Well, I”ll let you know. I haven’t started speaking in iambic pentameter yet, but I just might by the end of the month!
Check out the flyer for The Arden Project below. And, some great photos from Comedie of Errors. You’ve only got one more week to catch us – at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on 89th St and Riverside Dr. And, please vote for us in the NYIT Awards! It only takes a minute.
This Sunday is going to be a dandy summer BBQ/Fundraiser for COMEDIE OF ERRORS. We had a fantastic opening weekend, which included a talk back with the Teen Shakespeare Program from The McCarter Theater. It was wonderful to jam with them about the acting challenges their facing in their own current productions and see their excitement about our work.
I’m thrilled to be in my ‘hood, Williamsburg, this weekend, taking over the lawn on Lorimer St between Bedford and Driggs. Come to the Sunday 2pm show, and follow us over to Bushwick Country Club for drink specials, hot dogs and a chill summer afternoon in Brooklyn. Or, meet us there anytime after 4pm. I hear they’ve just installed a slushie machine!
I’ll just say this – frozen. sweet. tea. vodka. Need I say more?
Also, Check the awesome promo video by cast member Joyce Miller, featuring fellow cast members Anna Marquardt and Meghan Powe!
Scrape the barnacles off your rudder and don your best hook, Capt’n, for you are invited to
Peglegs and Pints
a fundraiser to benefit me ladies of this summer’s shortest and silliest Shakespeare show, “Comedie of Errors.”
It’s $10 for landlubbers
$5 if you come dressed to pillage and loot
• We’ll give you ship-swilling specials on drinks all night •
• Free hot dogs galore •
• photo booth to capture moments you might not want to remember •
• mini mini golf course •
• plus a sea shanty or two or three •
(right after the 2pm McCarren show!)
at the Bushwick Country Club
618 Grand St.
(take the L train to Lorimer or the G train to Metropolitan Ave.)
(And don’t miss the show!)
at McCarren Park, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
(Enter a Bedford Ave. & Lorimer St.)
Friday, August 6 at 7pm
Saturday, August 7 at 2pm
Sunday, August 8 at 2pm
We’re three days away from opening! I feel the need to pinch myself – although that may be because I just saw Inception, and every so often I need to reassure myself that I’m not caught in a dream. But, I digress.
We open on Friday at 7pm in Riverside Park, on the North Lawn at 79th St. We did a dress run there last night and had a very special audience of one little girl and her mother, who happened to walk by just before we started and stayed for the whole show. Quite magical, and useful to see what she thought was funny.
Joyce Miller (Dromia of Ephesus) has started making some brilliant and amusing promotion videos. Check out the first of the series!
See you in the park…
Since Fly-By-Night, I’ve been devoting myself almost exclusively to Shakespeare. My days are spent teaching high school students through the Public Theater’s Shakespeare Initiative. Below is a photo of their final performance, the Emilia/Paulina scene.
My nights are spent rehearsing Comedie of Errors, which will perform in McCarren, Riverside and Central Parks in July and August. It’s been amazing and exhausting and fun. Hopefully, I’ll get to share Comedie of Errors with you! Below is a picture of Joyce (Dromia of Ephesus) and our first audience, a group of kids who were playing soccer until we started rehearsing. They sat down mid-game and started to watch! It was a very magical rehearsal.
Also, check out our website for up-to-date info, performance details and how to donate (there are prizes!)
Fly-By-Night was such a treat to work on. Beautiful people making heartfelt, funny theatre that they care about – what more could you want in collaborators? I’m only sad it was over so quickly. Wonderful job everyone, and thanks to all who came out to support us!
Rehearsal photos from COMEDIE OF ERRORS coming next week.
Come check out Fly-By-Night at Ars Nova at 8pm tonight! It’s going to be simply fantastic! Below are some photos from last night’s amazingly fun and beautifully played music rehearsal.
I just completed Teacher Training for the Public Theatre’s Summer Shakespeare Initiative. I’m going to be teaching daily classes to high school and middle school students at the Public, as well as doing one day workshops at the Delacorte and community out reach trips to shelters, prisons and community centers. This promises to be an exciting, educational and rewarding experience!
And, I just started rehearsals last week for Shakespeare’s COMEDIE OF ERRORS, running July 30 – Aug 8 in Riverside, Central and McCarren Parks. The cast in incredible, the production team is excited and inspired, the musician is tuning her fiddle and our featured pup, a teacup Yorkie named Lemon, has already learned all her lines! More details to come. Below is a picture of our Central Park location, the lawn at The Pool.
Come check out this new musical by three recent Yale grads and directed by yours truly, part of Ars Nova’s Uncharted Series.
Fly-By-Night
Monday, June 28 at 8pm
Will Connolly, Michael Mitnick and Kim Rosenstock, with director Lauren Keating, present an evening of songs from their new darkly comic indie rock musical about Harold, a man stuck in a dead-end job and a loveless marriage until a series of sudden events forces him to break his routine for the first time.
ALL TICKETS $15! BUY NOW:
https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/8222265
The theatre is small, so reserving ahead of time is a good idea. And, there’s a bar in the theatre! What more could you want?
