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Episode # 155 - Indie Theater Now: September 2007 Edition

Sunday, September 9th, 2007

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).

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Episode #147-Indie Theater Now: FringeNYC Edition #3

Tuesday, August 14th, 2007

This is the third in our three-part series giving you a snippet and synopsis from selected shows at this year’s New York International Fringe Festival. Hosted by the delicious Trav S.D., it features scenes, interviews, and even songs from eight unique shows.

Having heard many of the nytheatrecasts, I was equally excited to observe the process first hand as a member of the studio audience.  I’m Sarah Congress and was invited to observe the cast. The room was full of diverse and talented artists from all walks of theatre life.  From Japanese puppets, to evocative poems, it was  certainly an eventful evening!

Sara Asselin and Nat Cassidy performed an entertaining excerpt from The Rise and Fall of Miles and Milo, followed by an interview with Sara (the playwright as well as performer) and director Melissa Firlit.

Mark Weiser sings the villian’s song from Kiss and Makeup, accompanied by musical director, Justin Hatchimonji — a musical comedy farce with book by Kevin Hammonds and composed by Weiser. After the musical number, an interview with Weiser.

A soundtrack from Japanese puppet show Monkey Moo plays, while Monkey
Moo herself (Yoko Myoi) tells us the basic story of her show. Myoi and director Kanako Hiyama describe Kuruma Ningyo, the puppetry used in their production, in an enticing interview.

Playwright Jarrod Jabre in a Q&A interview gives us the details on The Life and Times of Martin Luther (Reformed).

A sensual Anne Sexton poem is read by Hannah Wolfe, star of Her Kind: The Life and Poetry of Anne Sexton.  A Q&A with Hannah and assistant producer Bricken Sparacino follows.

Playwright Mac Rogers sparks audience interest in Hail, Satan during a Q&A.

Excerpt from the one-man-show Rise Like a Penis from the Flame, written and performed by FringeNYC alumnus Antonio Sacre, as well as a brief interview.

Writer and performer Paul Rajeckas performs an excerpt from his show Notes to the Motherland.

It was truly an exceptional evening at the nytheatre.com headquarters, and I wish best of luck to all the shows.

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Episode # 146 - Indie Theater Now: FringeNYC Edition #2

Tuesday, August 7th, 2007

This is the second in our three-part series previewing some of the shows at this year’s New York International Fringe Festival. Like our first preview (Episode #144), this program is a variety show featuring artists from eight FringeNYC shows. Trav S.D. is again the host — and what a terrific host he is! And the show itself really highlights the diversity and potency of the festival.

We have some Fringe alumni on board this time, including playwright Leslie Bramm, who talks here about Marvelous Shrine, his latest work, which is about a stolid American father coping with a rebellious son (you’ll have to listen to find out the details!). Leslie was at the very first FringeNYC festival back in 1997.

We also hear from Frank Anthony Polito, playwright/actor of Another Day on Willow St., which features in its cast two FringeNYC Award winners — Fred Backus (Outstanding Actor in 1999) and Pamela Sabaugh (Outstanding Actress in 2000).

Playwright Chad Beckim introduces a brief, compelling scene from his FringeNYC play, Lights Rise on Grace.

Danny Tieger and Adam Lerman, co-authors/co-stars of On Again Off, perform a brief excerpt from their play, and tell us a little about its genesis. These two talented young men met at Skidmore College, where Danny will be a senior next month and from which Adam was just graduated.

This episode also features some terrific musical numbers! Alicia Levy performs (a cappella)  a delightful humorous song called “Mister Lucky” from Drop Six: Mister Lucky. Alicia is a member of the sketch comedy troupe Drop Six.

We hear two selections from the cast of Pogo and Evie: A Zydeco Musical, one a zydeco-flavored tune, the other more a Cajun style number. Great stuff.

I never thought I’d ever see one accordion one the nytheatrecast, let alone two…but that’s how many we have on this episode! Princess Sunshine, of Princess Sunshine’s Bitter Pill of Truth Funhouse acccompanies herself on the box for two hilarious, raucous selections. And Stephanie Layton plays accompaniment for Naomi Emmerson, who performs the song “Padam Padam” from the musical Piaf: Love Conquers All. Truly a knockout performance.

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Episode #144 - Indie Theater Now: FringeNYC Preview #1

Tuesday, July 31st, 2007

Ready for a sneak peak at some of the shows in this summer’s New York International Fringe Festival? Our three-part nytheatrecast preview series provides that very thing!

This epsiode is the first in the series. Our esteemed host, Trav S.D., emcees 40 minutes of variety spotlighting eight shows in FringeNYC. It’s like oldtime variety radio, but with a very contemporary Fringe-y twist. (For example, at least two of our guests managed to get the word “penis” into their presentations. You won’t find that on the old Ed Sullivan Show.)

Here’s the lineup:

  1. The Medicine Show: We begin with a song “God’s Green Earth” from this play with music by David Dannenfelser, performed by Patrick Gallagher and the Lonesome Prairie Boys
  2. Chaser: Playwright Howard Walters talks about his play, which is a follow-up to his FringeNYC 2005 hit Extra Virgin.
  3. Scout’s Honor: Playwright Ed Valentine talks with Trav S.D. about scouting, and then Robin Reed and Carrie Haugh perform a short excerpt from this comedy.
  4. As Far As We Know: Director Laurie Sales and actor Kelly Van Zile discuss this documentary play about a U.S. serviceman who remains “captured and missing” in Iraq.
  5. Give and Go: Learning from Losing to the Harlem Globetrotters: Brandt Johnson performs two short excerpts from his one-man show, whose title is actually pretty self-explanatory!
  6. The Commission: A look at this political drama by Stephen Fechter, presented to our listeners by two of the actors in the show, Susan Ferrara and Patrick Melville.
  7. Animals: Playwright/performer Ryan O’Nan and performer Michael Hirstreet talk about this play and then perform a scene from it, about the first man and his creator.
  8. John Goldfarb, Please Come Home: We wrap up this episode with a song from this new musical, performed by co-composer/lyricist/musical director Michael Garin, entitled “Bubi, Habibi.”

We had a lot of fun making this podcast (read my producer’s “journal” on the nytheatre i. This episode absolutely demonstrates the diversity and fun that is the FringeNYC festival.

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Episode # 134 - Indie Theater Now: July 2007

Thursday, July 5th, 2007

This month’s episode of Indie Theater Now is a special summer festival edition, highlighting some of the many shows that will be performed in various festivals around town this month. nytheatre.com contributor Anthony C.E. Nelson hosts the following guests:

  • Actor/playwright Jack Ferver, whose new dance/theatre piece, When We Were Young and Filled With Fear, will be presented at this year’s HOT! Festival starting on July 20th.
  • Shoni Currier (of Shalimar Productions), the author and director of La Femme Est Morte, which is part of this year’s East to Edinburgh Festival. Performances begin July 24th.
  • Playwright Desi Moreno-Penson, whose new play, Devil Land, is part of this year’s Summer Play Festival. Performances begin July 31st.
  • Actor Moe Bertran, who will be appearing in David Pumo’s Love Scenes at this year’s Fresh Fruit Festival beginning on July 20th.  
  • Playwright Lucile Scott, author of the new play, Monroe Bound, which is also being presented at the Fresh Fruit Festival (our moderator, Mr. Nelson, is the director of this show, FYI). Performances begin on July 14th.
  • Director Edward Elefterion (of Rabbit Hole Ensemble), who is helming Stanton Wood’s new adaptation of the silent film classic, Nosferatu, at this year’s Midtown International Theatre Festival beginning July 17th.

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