Photos are now up for The Metamorphoses and Brooklyn Moon!  Both projects, though wildly different, were tons of fun.  Photos from The Harmonious Pimp’s Summer Residency at Ars Nova coming soon.

I’m wrapping up a busy summer semester at New York Film Academy over the next few weeks.  Final scenes (Chekhov and contemporary film) and Shakespearean Sonnet presentations next week.  And, in directing news, a production of Uncle Vanya this fall.   I’ll be developing my adaptation with a fantastic group of brilliant actors next week.  More details coming soon!

The PIMPS were a hit at Ars Nova last week!  Thanks to all who came out and made our run a sold out, smash hit.  Look for more from the PIMPS soon.

This week, I’ll be directing for The Flea, putting up Frank Paiva’s Love Child for The Flea’s #Serials.  In this competitive evening of new plays, the audience votes for their faves and the winners get another installment of their story, performed the following week.  Plus, we’re sponsored by Sixpoint Brewery.  Come check us out this Thursday, Friday and Saturday night!

I am so so so so proud of this one.  Please check it out if you can.

We run August 3rd – 5th at Ars Nova, 8pm every night.

This show is a GUARANTEED good time.  I promise.  For real.

The Harmonious Pimps of Harmony’s Last Show

Sorry for the lag time between postings.  It’s been a busy summer, and only continues to get more jam packed!

I’ve started teaching for the New York Film Academy, in both their High School Summer Program and their Conservatory adult program.   I get to put my own spin on Text Analysis and Acting Technique, giving these film-centric actors a taste of Greek drama, Stanislavski and a myriad of silly theater games.  It’s been a lot of fun, and who knows, I could have the future Aubrey Laplaza or Chord Overstreet in my class.

I’ve also started rehearsals for The Harmonious Pimps of Harmony’s Last Show.  I am SO VERY EXCITED for this show, and I truly hope you can make it.  Info and tickets on Ars Nova’s website.

This week, I resume summer teaching for The Public Theater, running around various NYC Parks making Shakespearean magic with NYC’s finest young people, ages 8 – 18 years old.  And, I’m thrilled to be directing a reading of Karen Lichtman’s It Is What It Is for an in-house reading at the Lark tomorrow.

Stay tuned for more Pimps news, and photos from May’s The Metamorphoses with The McCarter Theater’s Education Department!

I’m getting very excited for the Brooklyn Moon concert reading at Joe’s Pub on Monday night.  We had a fabulous rehearsal yesterday.  All these singer/actors and musicians are so talented and take such joy in what they good – plus there’s a burlesque number.  What more could you want?

For tickets - click here!

Brooklyn Moon
Words and Music by JC Hopkins
Directed by Lauren Keating
Musical Director J Walter Hawkes
With Karla Mosley, Alan Green, James Tyrone Lane, and Andromeda Turre
Live Music by JC Hopkins Heptet

A Brand New Jazz Swing Burlesque Musical.
When a jazz diva opens a supper club in Brooklyn she finds that Brooklyn may not be ready for it.

Some sneek peaks from rehearsal:

I’m so excited for the opening of my adaptation of Mary Zimmerman’s The Metamorphoses at the McCarter Theater this week!  I’ve been in residence there as the director/teaching artist of their Young Actors Studio.   These young adults have a commitment to their craft, and we’ve had such an exciting journey since February.  We’ve left the world of reality and naturalism to dive into magic and metaphor.  I can’t wait to see each of these talented and unique students take the final leap, and present their work to an audience.  I’m imagining their performances will continue to grow under the encouraging gaze of their friends and loved ones.

Come check us out!  Starting May 12th at 8pm in the Matthews Studio.
Directions and details here.  Pictures coming next week!

And now, off to the student matinee of King Lear at BAM.  The high school students that I worked with last week are in for an incredible treat, and I’ll be very interested to see what questions come up in the talk back.  Can’t ask for anything better than a morning with Derek Jacobi and an evening with The Metamorphoses!

This Monday I will be directing the incredible Adam Lerman’s AGERASIA for Luna Stage’s New Moon Reading Series.

AGERASIA, by Adam Lerman, focuses on the residents of a care facility, and those in their orbit, during its final hour of operation.  Part fever dream, part swan song, AGERASIA is an romping adventure for the brave of spirit.  Runs 75 minutes.

Come check us out!  Details at www.lunastage.org

And, coming to Joe’s Pub on May 23rd, BROOKLYN MOON by JC Hopkins, starring Karla Mosley.  These people are talented, and this jazz-soaked new musical is going to be a joy to stage.

Check out our press release on Playbill!

I’m tackling a slew of new projects these days, and loving the extra hours of daylight!  We’re starting King Lear at BAM, and I am currently developing the lesson plan that I’ll bring to high schools through out the five boroughs.  Many I will have visited in the Winter, and it will be nice to seem some familiar faces.

And speaking of familiar faces, I’m spending time in Princeton, New Jersey these days at The McCarter Theater.  I’m directing my adaptation of Mary Zimmerman’s The Metamorphoses, mixed with some Ovid, for their Education Department.  The show runs in mid-May and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be directing and teaching at the theater where I grew up.

I’m also continuing to mentor BFA candidate directing majors for NYU, and teach with The Public Theater.

In unrelated news, I am going to so many weddings this year!  Hooray for love!  Weddings are incredible for many reasons, but the most fascinating one to me is this:  Weddings are theatrical events.  They are creative productions planned and produced and conceived by people who may or may not have ever participated in a specifically ‘theatrical’ event in their lives.  And here they are, creating an event that in the personification (eventification?) of their lives, and is presented to their most favorite humans to share in.  How magical!

My dear, talented friends wrote this AMAZING musical and asked me a part of it, and I couldn’t be more proud.  I admit, I was skeptical at first.  Do we really need to delve any further into Peter’s story?  But these guys did it right, with kick butt heros AND heroines, pee yourself from laughter jokes and incredible songs.  I’m thrilled to be Associate Directing, and urge you to get your tickets now!  We run March 15th – 21st at The Mint Theater on West 43rd.

I’m happy to report that I’ve joined the Staff of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, as a teaching artist and curriculum developer.  This month I’m traveling to high schools in the 5 boroughs, bringing workshops on Propeller’s COMEDY OF ERRORS, which plays BAM through March.  The workshops are tailored specifically to each class’s experience with Shakespeare and Propeller.

I’m so excited to join the fantastic team at BAM, and doubly thrilled to get to spend more time the in wacky world of Epidamium.