Tag: Off-Broadway
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Joyful Noise: Anna Kohler’s “Immense Joy” Brings the Works of Clarice Lispector to Vivacious Life
The specter of Brazilian author Clarice Lispector pervades the stage at Immense Joy, a new production devised and directed by Anna Kohler, and presented by The Tank NYC. At the height of her fame, Lispector’s name (originally Chaya Pinkhasivna Lispector at birth) almost always conjured an air of mystery―not just because of her curious Ukrainian…
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The Body Keeps the Score: Marta Mondelli’s ‘Toscana, or What I Remember’ Exercises Some Muscle Memory
For many, memories can be a wonderful thing. They have the ability to transcend time and space — perhaps to when things were simpler or more innocent. For others, they can often leave one paralyzed in more ways than one, stuck on a never-ending loop. In the case of Marta Mondelli’s Toscana, or What I…
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Lost in Translation: Ran Xia Defies Definition With ‘Word Play’
There are things in life that are hard to explain merely with words. Sometimes, the best way to transcend obstacles is simply to revel in the ineffable intricacy of emotions we are dealt with. What is left when one not only runs out of memories, but the words to describe them? Such are the trials…
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Modern Romance: Second Stage Theatre’s ‘The Last Five Years’ Jerks Tears and Tugs Hearts of a New Generation
Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe in “The Last Five Years” at Second Stage Theatre. Photo © Sara Krulwich I’ve always felt that, out of the four seasons, Spring was the perfect time to fall in…and out of love. As many new couples go walk hand-in-hand out on the streets of New York City, blissfully unaware of the day-to-day realities…
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Out of the Shadows: PigPen Theatre Company Takes us to a Land of Make-Believe
The cast of The Old Man and the Old Moon, from left: Arya Shahi, Ryan Melia, Curtis Gillen, Ben Ferguson, Dan Weschler, Matt Neurnberger and Alex Falberg. (Photo via Broadway.com) Over the years, New York has seen its fair share of fairy tale- and folklore-driven theatre; from The Lion King and Wicked to the more recent Peter…
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Rise Up with Fists: Organs of State Packs a Punch with ‘Fighter’
What do you get when you take one part Super Mario Bros., another part Scott Pilgrim, combined with Mortal Kombat, and a little bit of The Last Airbender? You get all kinds of awesome, which is pretty much the only way to sum up the Fighter experience. Written, directed, and choreographed by Jose Perez IV,…
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Like a Prayer: The Adaptations Project Takes Allen Ginsberg’s Autobiographical Poetry from the Page to the Stage
The Adaptations Project’s Founding Artist Donnie Mather, as Allen in “Kaddish.” Photo by Ben Strothmann. Allen Ginsberg is considered one of the most important figures of the Beat generation. Originally from Paterson, New Jersey, the poet later moved to New York, a city with which he later became closely associated. He is best known for writing…
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Going Back to the Start: Knife Edge Productions Shows What Happens When You Replay the Past and Erase it
What do you do when your past comes back to haunt you? Such is the running theme in this revival of Stephen Belber’s Tape, directed by Sam Helfrich. The play tells the story of two former high school best friends, Jon (Neil Holland) and Vince (Don DiPaolo) discover just that when a ten-year reunion starts to…
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A Mad World: The United States Theatre Project’s ‘columbinus’ Goes Inside the Typical All-American High School — And Tears it Apart
This past weekend’s viewing of A Shot Away had me reminiscing about other docudramas I’ve enjoyed over the years. Jonathan Mandell noted how Red Fern’s production had reminded him of Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen’s The Exonerated, and I definitely agree; it had a lot of the same elements, including a lot of quote-worthy dialogue.…
Resident Artist Productions 