Welcome to the first of two FringeNYC 2008 preview podcasts — part of our Indie Theater Now! series.  We have gathered nine interesting and different shows from the huge number of participants in this year’s festival to give you a taste of what FringeNYC will be like.  Listen, enjoy, and then reserve your tickets.

Host and moderator, Trav S.D. introduces each of the shows, delves deeply into what the shows are about, jokes a bit, and puts his finger on just what is most unique and interesting about each of the nine selections. Here is the list of participants:

KNB-The Musical: Author/director Chirstopher Carter Sanderson talks a bit about his new romantic musical comedy set in Kuwait Naval Base. He introduces four members of the cast (Glenn Seven Allen, Brett Hunter Levenson, Evan Siegel, and Roger Grunwald) who sing a jaunty tune about the joys of being a Boatswain’s Mate. Christopher supplies a bit of whistling during the interludes.

The Fabulous Kane Sisters in Box Office Poison: Marc Geller, author, director, and performer gives a quick resume of the show.  He talks about having a 14 member cast, the plot revolving around sort-of has-been  performers, and that there’s been several murders in the theatre.  But most important — this is a laugh out loud, funny show.

Hidden Fees*: Two very short excerpts from this U.S. premiere translation (by the company) of a Russian piece surround an interview with director Raphael Schklowsky. The group is Studio Six, graduates of the Moscow Art Theatre.

Krapp, 39: Michael Laurence who wrote and performs in this piece and director, George Demas, talk with Trav S.D. about the reasons for creating Krapp, 39.  It is inspired by Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape — inspired because Michael’s 39th birthday will be during the festival showing; also because Michael is intrigued by the possibility of recreating by and for himself what Beckett talked of in his piece.

We Three: A New York premiere that will showcase the work of the new theatre company known as No. 11.  An excerpt from the play is performed by Mitch Conway and Julie Congress.  During the discussion about the show and about why these recent Skidmore College grads formed this new company, Mitch and Julie are joined by fellow company member Ryan Emmons and director Erin Daley.

 The Dershowitz Protocol: Director Anthony Frisina explains the origins of this play which is derived from ideas promulgated by Alan Dershowitz in his post 9/11 book, Why Terrorism Works.  Anthony explains how these controversial thoughts are staged so as to not take sides, but to present the thesis. A short pre-recorded excerpt is also included.

XY(T): Kestryl Lowrey performs an excerpt from this show which he wrote and also performs. He talks with Trav S.D. to explain how much of this play is autobiographical and why he has been performing it in various venues, telling audiences about his transformation from female to male.

Big Thick Rod: Trav S.D. questions author, Stanton Wood and director, Edward Elefterion about their play which deals greatly with how people exploit each other.  The discussion also covers how these two collaborators met and work together. 

Good Pictures: A new play about several hours in the lives of two prisoners is discussed by author, Ashlin Halfnight and director, Dominic D’Andrea. Ashlin describes it as being a more naturalistic rendition but insists if he tells too much about it, the experience will be spoiled.

Episode Links:

• FringeNYC Previews on nytheatre.com
• The Dershowitz Protocol website
• Hidden Fees* website
• Monarch Theater (Good Pictures) website
• Ashlin Halfnight’s company website
• Krapp, 39’s website
• XY(T)’s website
• Big Thick Rod’s website
• The Fabulous Kane Sisters in Box Office Poison website
• We Three’s website
• KNB-The Musical website
• FringeNYC website 

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Indie Theater Now! returns with the May edition featuring six shows that will be opening this month.  You’ll hear excerpts from some and conversations with Trav S.D., our host, for all.  There’s a discount offer at the end from Looking Glass Theater, so listen carefully and save.

We lead off with a short selection, like nothing you’ve probably ever heard before, by Rob Erickson (aka Lumberob). He describes his work which plays at Dixon Place, Off the Hozzle, as a vocal show.  It’s a mic plugged into a pedal, plugged into etc., etc.  Listen to find out more about this fascinating way of making music.

James Comtois is up next to chat about his new play, Colorful World, produced by his company, Nosedive Productions.  It’s about comic book superheros, but not the kind Trav expects.

The Lone Wolf Series is a festival of sorts — short solo plays by members of Coyote Rep.  Artistic director Jeanne LaSala describes the series and the plays that are part of it.  She then turns the mic over to Heidi Tokheim, author and performer of one of the plays included, Stella by Starlight, which it turns out is the impetus for the series.  

Milk Can Theatre’s artistic director, Julie Balzer talks to Trav S.D. about the company, introduces a short musical selection performed by Ashley Griffin and Mike Steinmetz from the company’s 5 Borough Plays and concludes with info about this themed evening of short plays set in each of the boroughs of New York.

GayfestNYC opens mid-month with five world premieres.  Co-producer Bruce Robert Harris talks about the festival in general and a bit about each of the plays.  Playwright Tim O’Leary, whose play The Wrath of Aphrodute is one of the selections, tells us a bit about the play.  

Shannon Ward, artistic director of Looking Glass Theatre talks a bit about their production of Everyman, where the title character is a woman and called Every.  She introduces Phillip Chavira, Megan Gaffney, Kimberlee Walker, and Christopher Williams who recite a short excerpt from the play. And there is a discount offer for listeners.

Episode Links:

• Looking Glass Theatre Company website
• Nosedive Productions website
• James Comtois’ blog
• Coyote REP website
• Dixon Place website
• GayfestNYC website
• Milk Can Theatre website 

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Welcome to Indie Theater Now, nytheatrecast’s monthly episode highlighting six shows opening this month hosted by Trav S.D.  Be sure to listen all the way to the end of this episode for a generous ticket discount from Bambouk. Here’s the lineup:

A musical selection sung by Paul Thureen with backup and accompaniment by composer Kyle Jarrow opens the show.  This is followed by an excerpt read by author, Clay McLeod Chapman. The indie-rock musical is Hostage Song and plays at the Kraine Theatre.  Director Oliver Butler winds up this segment with some facts about the show.

The 2nd segment begins with an excerpt from Bait performed by Tom Gualtieri and David Sisco (also the writer).  Bait is part of the LeftOut festival, a celebration of gay performance, playing at Stage Left Studio. Trav S.D. talks to the director, Laura Josepher, about the show and what it’s like.

Playwright Robert Attenweiler talks with Trav S.D. about his new play, Torrents, and sets the scene for an excerpt performed by Allyson Morgan and Reggie Oldham. It’s a dark comedy about the second coming, domestic terrorism and much more and plays at TBG Arts Complex.

Playwright Manny Igrejas talks to Trav S.D. about how he manages to get his plays written while busy with his day job as Blue Man Group’s press agent.  Manny’s newest work is Kitty and Lina and will be at Manhattan Theatre Source.  His recollection of how this came to be makes a fascinating listen.

Mike Hickey plays and sings one of the songs he has composed for the new rock musical, The Piemaker. Mike  and director/playwright Ryan Gilliam talk about Downtown Arts, a company of mostly teen performers who will be performing The Piemaker at their East 4th Street location.

The episode ends with Trav S.D. talking with Brian Foley and Matthew Duncan who are Bambouk.  Brian and Matthew do a great job describing their silent clown show. And, of course they have a great discount offer for listeners to attend their prduction at American Theatre of Actors.

Episode Links:

• Hostage Song website
• LeftOut Festival website
• Robert Attenweiler’s company website
• Website of Manhattan Theatre Source
• Downtown Art’s website
• Bambouk’s website

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Indie Theater Now! is nytheatrecast’s monthly episode highlighting six shows opening this month, hosted by Trav S.D.   Here’s the run-down!

Opening the program is a comical song ”That’s Why We Love the Zoo” from What’s the Point? performed by Hector Coris and Patrick Garrigan.  Trav S.D. chats with Hector about the show which is playing at the Reprise Room.

Listen carefully as Paco Tolson and Temar Underwood save the spaceship from extinction in Vampire Cowboys’ production of Fight Girl Battle World.  Playwright Qui Nguyen gives Trav some background on his new play which opens at Center Stage.

Next up is a return visit with Carlo Rivieccio whose Festival at the Players Theatre this time focuses on baseball — Shortened Attention Baseball Festival.  Listen carefully to the special discount offers he announces for this audience.

Another musical interlude with a truly sweet number strummed and sung by Meg Cavanaugh, John Forkner, and Lindsay Foreman.  Director Victor Moag sets the scene for the number and, afterward, gives a bit more background for Sex! Drugs! & Ukuleles! opening at Theater for the New City.

Two short scenes from Angel  Shit are performed by Jessica Ko, Serena Miller, Martha Lee, Kendra Jewell Treichler, and Todd Fletcher. Director Russell Dobular calls the second scene “the blue part of the show”.  Trav takes a few minutes to talk to Russ about this play which will open at Endtimes Underground at the Gene Frankel Theatre.

Last up is Mastiphicus Meglodon which Trav describes as “the other Scottish play”.  Director Peter Schuyler sets the scene and is followed by a short excerpt featuring Jesse Lawrence, Jason Unfried, and Justin Plowman.  Wrapping it up is Peter telling more about the play which will be at Under St. Marks.

Episode Links:

• What’s the Point? website
• Vampire Cowboys website
• Players Theatre
• Sex! Drugs! & Ukuleles! website
• Angel Shit website
• Mastiphicus Meglodon website

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Trav S.D. once again hosts our monthly look at what’s coming up in NYC’s indie theaters. And don’t miss his special announcement about how listeners can win one of four great festival theatre packages. This month, he welcomes artists from these six shows:

- Same Train: A bit of the blues from guitarist, Cedric Turner, who supplies a musical excerpt from Algonquin Theater’s mixture of monologue and music of the African American experience of the 20th century. Also participating are Levy Lee Simon, author; Mark Bruckner, music/lyrics; Joan Pelzer, producer; and Mary Beth Easley, director. Show opens February 13.

- Open House: Aaron Landsman, playwright, discusses this novel production which will take place in various apartments and houses throughout NYC. Produced by The Foundry Theatre Company, it opens February 9. 

- Dom Juan: Trav S.D. steps in at the last moment to read the role of Dom Juan with Ryan Bronz of the National Theater of the United States of America.  This production begins performances February 6 at the Chocolate Factory (sans Trav S.D.)

- In Circles: Paul Boesing accompanies Meghan Hales and Michael Lazar in a duel from the show called “A Circlet of Kisses,” joined on the chorus by Steven Patterson and Maureen Taylor.  Kaliyuga Arts presents this revival of the 1968 operetta by Al Carmines, based on Gertude Stein’s “A Circular Play,” at the same locale it premiered in, Judson Memorial Church.  Opening is February 12.

- Simple Stories: Sandy Moore, who portrays all 15 characters in this production, performs an excerpt from this play, an adaptation of works by Langston Hughes. Director and co-creator Charles Gerber joins in to give some background about the WorkShop Theater production opening February 6.

 - The Impending Moustache: Katie Hartman, Nick Leonard, Gabe Pacheco, and Leah Rudick, members of this sketch comedy troupe, perform a short sketch.  They open on February 7 at People’s Improv Theatre.

Episode Links:

• Same Train on MySpace
• Algonquin Theater website
• Foundry Theatre website
• National Theatre of the United States website
• Chocolate Factory website
• In Circles website
• WorkShop Theater website
• Impending Moustache website

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Trav S.D. once again hosts our monthly look at what’s coming up in NYC’s indie theaters. This month, he welcomes artists from these six shows:

 - The Main(e) Play: Playwright Chad Beckim discusses his newest work, a somewhat autobiographical drama about an actor who visits his family for Thanksgiving, and discovers that “home” is not “home” anymore. This show is presented by Partial Comfort Productions at the Lion Theatre, starting on January 16.

 - The Shaughraun: Kris Kling and Mia Parry perform a scene from this classic melodrama by Dion Boucicault, which is being revived by The Storm Theatre, opening on January 10.

- Widows: Audrey Lynn Weston, Sarah Nina Hayon, and Ana Cruz Kayne perform a scene from this play by Chilean-American author Ariel Dorfman; Colin Young (the play’s producer and lighting designer) talks about he got to know Mr. Dorfman. The play is being given its NYC premiere by Reverie Productions at 59E59, starting on January 10.

 - A Marriage of Convenience: Playwright/director Norman Beim and actors Todd Reichart and Richard Brundage chat about this play, which is a comedy about a closeted gay writer who runs for the U.S. Senate. There’s  a fascinating discussion about how attitudes toward sexuality have changed in the US. This show is at Turtle Shell productions, beginning on January 16.

 - Hawthornucopia: Michael & Rachael Kosch talk about their show Tetherfop, which is part of Metropolitan Playhouse’s festival of new theatre inspired by the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne. They also perform some excerpts from their show. Hawthornucopia runs from January 14-27.

- Save the World: Playwright Chris Kipiniak and director Michael Barakiva discuss this new play, which is about a team of super heroes who are on an assignment to save the earth. It’s being presented by Roundtable Ensemble American Theatre of Actors, starting January 17. 

Episode Links:

• Partial Comfort Productions website
• Storm Theatre website
• Reverie Productions website
• Widows on MySpace
• Turtle Shell Productions website
• Hawthornucopia website
• Roundtable Ensemble website

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This is a mostly holiday-themed episode of our monthly Indie Theater Now series, celebrating and shining a spotlight on some of the nifty new shows heading to indie theaters in New York City.

The indefatigable Trav S.D. is once again the host of this variety show. This month he welcomes these guests:

 - Sandra Nordgren, Ari Jacobson, and Sam Antar from 13th Street Rep’s production of A Christmas Carol — Sandra is the author of this very traditional and faithful adaptation of the Dickens classic; Ari and Samuel perform an excerpt (they play the Ghost of Christmas Present and Scrooge)

- Amy Overman and Pete Schuyler of The Eight: Reindeer Monologues, which is being revived by Dysfunctional Theatre Company — Amy plays Comet and Pete plays Cupid, two of Santa’s reindeer, in this raunchy comedy by Jeff Goode … Amy and Pete both perform brief excerpts from the show!

 - Lynn Marie Macy and Karen Eterovich from Theater Ten Ten’s Innocent Diversions: A Christmas Entertainment With Jane Austen & Friends — Lynn Marie is the writer/director, while Karen AS JANE AUSTEN is interviewed by our intrepid host

 - Dan Barnes, director of The City That Cried Wolf, a nursery-rhyme-meets-film-noir by Brooks Reeves, now playing at 59E59 Theater – Dan talks about the show and its development

  - Playwright Eric Bland and director Scott Eckert of The Baby Jesus One-Act Jubilee at the Brick Theater in Williamsburg — Eric reads an excerpt from his funny, sweet play Mother Mary Come to Me, which is one of a dozen short new works featured in this annual holiday festival

 - Daniel Kelley, Katie Hartman, John Moreno, Rachel Risen, and Henry Zebrowski of Love, Death, and Vengeance — this is a new play by Daniel that premieres at the Gene Frankel Underground this month … Daniel says it’s like Euripides writing for DeGrassi High … Katie, John, Rachel, and Henry give us a brief sample scene

Episode Links:

• 13th Street Rep website
• Dysfunctional Theatre Company website
• Theater Ten Ten website
• Lisa Ferber’s review of Innocent Diversions on nytheatre.com
• Karen Eterovich’s website
• The City That Cried Wolf official website
• Josephine Cashman’s review of The City That Cried Wolf (last year’s FringeNYC)
• Brick Theater website
• Old Kent Road Theater website (Eric Bland & Scott Eckert’s company)
• Love, Death, and Vengeance official website
• Daniel Kelley’s reviewer’s page on nytheatre.com

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The November edition of our monthly podcast series spotlighting what’s new in the world of NYC indie theater feature features our host, Trav S.D., talking to folks from six current productions:

• Ko’olau: Puppet designer/creator Tom Lee talks about this puppet theatre piece at Chocolate Factory Theatre, based on a true story from Hawaiian history
• The Pioneer: Director Mark Harborth discusses this evening of short early plays by Eugene O’Neill at Metropolitan Playhouse; and Alex Roe performs a brief excerpt from one of them, The Last Will and Testament of Silverdene Emblem O’Neill
• Humans Anonymous: Actor Esther Barlow and playwright/actor Kate Hewlett discuss this new play from Canada, presented by the Bridge Theatre Company; Esther performs an excerpt from the play
• Unrestricted Acts: Co-artistic directors Stephanie Pistello and Sarah Moon of the New Mummer Group, and actor Jim Kane preview this double-bill of new plays, one by a New Yorker, the other by a Kentuckian
• Mina: Tony Award-nominated playwright Leslie Lee (The First Breeze of Summer) talks about his newest play, which is being presented by La MaMa and is about the life of Mina Loy, a poet and artist who thrived in the early 20th century
• KLEYNKUNST: Rebecca Joy Fletcher, creator and one of the performers of this musical revue from National Yiddish Theatre-Folksbiene, about the Yiddish cabaret of the Warsaw ghetto between the wars; she also presents a brief musical excerpt from the show performed by herself and Stephen Mo Hanan

Episode Links:

• Tom Lee’s website
• Chocolate Factory Theater website
• Metropolitan Playhouse website
• Bridge Theatre Company website
• New Mummer Group website
• La MaMa website
• Rebecca Joy Fletcher’s website
• Folksbiene website

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Trav S.D. once again hosts our monthly program where we give listeners a “sneak peak” at some of the best of NYC’s indie theater scene. On this episode of Indie Theater Now, six shows that will be on stage in October are featured.

 - Radiotheatre ’s H.G. Wells Science Fiction Festival: Frank Zilinyi performs an excerpt from “The Invisible Man,” one of four Wells tales that will be presented in repertory during this festival. Dan Bianchi, director/creator of Radiotheatre is also on hand to talk about this ambitious project, which is at 59E59 throughout October.

 - Shortened Attention Span One-Act Horror Festival: Co-curator Carlo Rivieccio tells us about this three-week festival of spooky short original plays, running at the Players Theatre Loft. Check out the special ticket discounts that Carlo is offering to our listeners.

 - 12th Night of the Living Dead: Playwright Brian MacInnis Smallwood gives a preview of his amalgamation of Shakespeare with George Romero zombie movies. He performs another short piece written in the same style: “Romero and Juliet.” (Trust me: this is not to be missed.)

 - Blood Brothers Present: Pulp: This show from Nosedive Productions is a program of three original scary plays based on the comic book pulp aesthetic. Playwright James Comtois and directors Patrick Shearer and Pete Boisvert do the talking.

 - A Glance at New York: Breaking away from the Halloween theme, Randy Sharp and Brian Barnhart of Axis Company discuss their upcoming show, which is a revival of the 1848 play that introduced the larger-than-life character of Mose the Fireman. This Axis production comes to NYC direct from the Edinburgh Festival. Fascinating stuff.

 - New York Clown Theatre Festival: Robert Honeywell and Devon Hawkes Ludlow, of the Brick Theater in Williamsburg, tell us about this second annual edition of this festival celebrating “clown” from all over the world.

Episode Links:

• Radiotheatre website
• Shortened Attention Span theatre website
• Shortened Attention Span on MySpace
• 12th Night of the Living Dead (Impetuous Theater) website
• Nosedive Productions website
• James Comtois’s blog
• Axis Company website
• Brick Theater website

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Trav S.D. hosts the latest edition of our monthly series Indie Theater Now, where we bring listeners previews of some of the upcoming new shows heading to NYC’s indie theaters.

This month we feature half a dozen shows:

• Why Am I Not Famous Yet?: Writer/performer Seth Bisen-Hersh talks about this new cabaret revue, coming to Don’t Tell Mama, which is about various kinds of frustration (career, romantic, etc.). He also performs one of the songs from the show, “I Like Her.”
• The Private Lives of Eskimos: Playwright Ken Urban tells us about this brand new play, which features “found material” from actual email spams. This play is presented by The Committee at the Linhart Theatre.
• Voices of Africa: Fiona Jones and Atonia Pettiford discuss their ambitious project, which features performances of work created by young women from Niger; the project is a benefit to raise money to help these women obtain schooling. This is part of the Estrogenius Festival at Manhattan Theatre Source.
• Goodnight Moon: This is a new musical based on the famous children’s book of the same name. It’s being presented at Manhattan Children’s Theatre and artistic director Bruce Merrill talks about the show.
• Alice in Wonderland Puppet Festival: Drama of Works artistic director Gretchen van Lente previews this unique puppet theatre festival, in which three original pieces will be presented at HERE Arts Center, all based on the Lewis Carroll classic.
• Minimum Wage: A first look at this a cappella musical, which originated in the 2002 New York International Fringe Festival and is now making its off-Broadway debut at the Bleecker Street Theatre downstairs space. Creators Charlie & Jeff La Greca discuss the show and perform two numbers from the piece (with cast members Bill Caleo, Tony Daussat, and Elena Schloss).

Episode Links:

• Seth Bisen-Hersh’s website
• Seth Bisen-Hersh on MySpace
• The Committee website
• The Committee on MySpace
• Manhattan Theatre Source website (click on series/festivals, then Estrogenius)
• Atonia Pettiford’s MySpace page
• Manhattan Children’s Theatre website
• Drama of Works website
• Drama of Works on MySpace
• Minimum Wage on MySpace
• Minimum Wage website
• Minimum Wage tickets on Telecharge

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