Exciting News forthcoming

Denouement went swimmingly and That Old Soft Shoe opens on Sunday. Beyond that, more great news, but I'll wait to announce.

Plus, Pam and I picked out a venue in which to tie the knot. Pretty exciting!

Oscar Eustis on the Public Theater's Season for 2010-11

What say you, theatrosphere?

David DelGrosso on THAT OLD SOFT SHOE

From nytheatre.com's Companion to the Too Soon Festival. Check out all the interviews here.

DAVID DELGROSSO ON THAT OLD SOFT SHOE: Q & A

Q: David, this is the third show in 4 years that you have appeared in at the Brick summer festival that was written by Matt Freeman and directed by Kyle Ancowitz. Yet on the press release, only they are mentioned, as if none of the shows' success is attributable to you. But I know better. So the question is: why are these guys so aggressive in getting all the press attention for themselves, do you think; and why do you continue to work with them?

A: The work I do is edgy and dangerous, and I attract a pretty dangerous crowd. The Brick knows that my devoted following are passionate, unusual, and often unpredictable. They don't always know how to express their love for me in a healthy way. I can understand their reluctance to poke directly at the hornet's nest of my strange, largely Internet-driven fanbase with something as provocative as a mention in a press release. The first work that I did when I got to New York was in the old Theatre Row building on the corner of 42nd and Dyer. That is now an empty lot filled with rubble. That's all I can legally say about that.

David Valdes Greenwood's The Rhinestone Sisterhood! Out now! Read it!

The person who taught me to write plays, David Valdes Greenwood, has a new book on the market and you really have to pick it up. It's called The Rhinestone Sisterhood.

You can get a copy on Amazon.com here.

Here's the description of the book:

Ride a bull. Chat up a Senator. And get your homework in on time. It’s all in a day’s work for a festival queen.

If you assume all pageant queens are airheads who can’t handle geography, or vain girls who like to parade around in bathing suits, then welcome to the alternative universe of America’s festival queens. With titles like Catfish Queen and Swine Queen, and royal duties ranging from leading parades to kissing frogs to doing PR for local industries, these hardworking girls represent the best of what America has to offer: local cultures, unique traditions, and the kind of can-do community spirit that makes Main Street sparkle with promise.

The Rhinestone Sisterhood takes us deep into the world of small-town festival queens to capture the true story of four “sisters of the sash”—the Frog, Fur, Cotton, and Cattle Queens of Louisiana—and their quest to win the ultimate crown, Queen of Queens. Traveling across the state, David Valdes Greenwood introduces us to local queens with lives full of public speaking, pig chases, and pageant politics. We ride with the girls during their one-year reign, where families and boyfriends can be as complicated as judge’s panels, and a queen’s dreams may be at the mercy of a Category 4 hurricane.

High-spirited yet down-home, suspenseful and genuinely moving, The Rhinestone Sisterhood is, at heart, a story of female friendship and rivalry, of triumph and disappointment—not to mention a Frog Queen who just wouldn’t quit. Anyone who has ever wanted to be a princess will feel right at home.

Tennant and Stewart in Hamlet

Thanks to Stagebuzz for this link.

The David Tennant and Patrick Stewart Hamlet. In a tiny window.

Another reminder

Denouement has two more performances only, tomorrow and Friday.

Tickets here.

Here is a small bit of text from the production.

Then I went into shock. Then I was in shock. Then I was shocked. Then I conjugated the verb “to shock.” Then I realized that not all of the blood was mine. There was someone in the car with me. Oh. No. That’s the person from the other car. I spun out. I must have spun out.

Zack interviews Jimmy

As it should be. Read this.

On theatre and politics

The title of this blog, On Theatre and Politics, is occasionally hilarious to me. When I named it, I intended to write quite a bit about politics (I'm a bit of a news junkie and it was Bush administration era) and also about theatre. What the blog has become is more like notes on a life in New York City, working to be a successful playwright, and some other stuff. I write about politics considerably less than I did. I think that's because I'm over saturated with political babble, and I enjoy it, and I find it interesting, and I think its important to be up on current events...but I just can't stomach writing about it constantly in my personal space. It just gets exhausting.

That's why my new play, That Old Soft Shoe, has been such a release for me. It is overtly political theater. It certainly isn't, either, a progressive diatribe about the Tea Party movement or Fox News or Glenn Beck or Rand Paul. More than anything, it's my response to what feels like alphabet soup in the political arena. It's also, maybe, a reminder that even in the midst of what feels like real progress, we can't ever pat ourselves on the back and go about our business. We are still a country that does immoral and unethical things with impunity. We abuse language the same way we seem to abuse our bodies: we'll pay for it someday, but for now, junk food just is too tempting.

I'm curious how you'll all respond to the piece. I hope you'll come to see it. It opens June 6th.

Denouement opens

We had a great first performance of Denouement this past Saturday. Thursday and Friday's shows (the only two of this piece there will be) will be slightly altered, for those who are curious enough to see it twice.

Great work by the cast and, as always, director Michael Gardner. There is a new speech in this show called "An Actor's Actor" that I think readers of this blog will get a kick out of, especially.

Definitely grab tickets in advance for those performances.

Lost Finale

For those that are interested to know this sort of thing...

I am a huge Lost fan.

I watched the finale, of course.

I thought it was great.

That is all.

Congratulations

...to Isaac and Anne. Married! Hoorah!

That Old Soft Shoe

Pictured is Joe Yeargain as "The Patient."

Opens June 6th. Get tickets early and often.

This Onion article

Particularly pleases me.

Come to a resolution on Saturday Night

Tomorrow night, May 22nd, is the first of three public performances of Denouement. I'm really proud of the piece and the work. Include us in your weekend plans!

The website for the performance is here.

RSVP on Facebook here.

Get a ticket here.

It's at the Brick Theater, which is 575 Metropolitan Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. One block from the Lorimer stop of the L train / Metropolitan stop of the G train.

Ben Nelson is a total asshole

Part 11.

This man makes decisions that affect the rights of the American people. He is a Senator.

Star Wars Prequel Appreciation Day

11 years since the release of Episode I and the 5 year anniversary of the release of Episode III.

Today, I celebrate.

OffOffOnline vs the Obies

Reprinted from OffOffOnline.

Not Cool Enough for the Obies

Sunday, May 16th 2010

Article by Valerie Work

After having covered the Obie Awards for the past three years, offoffonline has been denied a press pass to the 2010 event, to be held this Monday, May 17, at Webster Hall.

“The management of the Voice has chosen to deemphasize online coverage of this year’s awards,” explains press representative Gail Parenteau, “due to the large number of blogs that are currently discussing New York theater. If you really want to cover the event, you can buy a $25 ticket.”

This intriguing change of position raises a number of questions.

Is it possible that Village Voice Media, having already antagonized numerous members of its own news staff upon assuming management of the paper in January 2006, is now seeking to alienate journalists affiliated with other alternative publications?

An alternate explanation is that the Voice truly does feel threatened by the expansion of online arts coverage, and, rather than fortifying its own contributions, is seeking to weaken perceived competition.

It is no secret that the print media has been hard hit by the recession. On one hand, it’s hard to blame the Voice for attempting to raise obviously needed funds by selling the privilege of writing about its flagship annual event. On the other, it’s still incredibly tacky.

----

Update: Additional thoughts from CultureBot.

So you're SO impressed by the wonders of the Internet, huh?

Not so fast!



You're welcome.

Only three performances of Denouement

Pictured above are cast members, from left to right, Maggie Cino, Alexis Soittle, Fred Backus (kneeling), Kina Bermudez, Moira Stone, Ivanna Culliman, and Steve Burns.

There are only three public performances of Denouement, my collaboration with director Michael Gardner and our brilliant cast (and the cast of the previous incarnation of this process Exposition). One of those performances is this Saturday night, May 21st.

As there are few performances and a cast of seven, I expect houses will be rather full. I'd suggest you purchase tickets in advance here.

Laughable

Read this and weep.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority has threatened to evict the experimental media and theater group 3-Legged Dog from its Lower Manhattan building. The authority notified the group on Friday that it would begin eviction proceedings on Monday if 3-Legged Dog did not pay the more than $306,000 it owes the authority in back rent and interest. The group signed a 20-year lease in 2002 for space at 80 Greenwich Street, now known as 3LD Art & Technology Center, agreeing to pay $21,666.67 per month there after its former location at 30 West Broadway was destroyed in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, The Wall Street Journal reported. Kevin Cunningham, 3-Legged Dog’s executive artistic director, confirmed that the company had fallen behind in payments when foundations withdrew financial support because of the recession. He also said the theater had been forced to spend its own money on building maintenance, including asbestos abatement, without reimbursement from the authority. Though he said he had offered to negotiate a payment plan, the two companies have been unable to reach an agreement. The authority’s spokesman, Jeremy Soffin, told The Journal, “I don’t know how anyone can justify letting this tenant rack up hundreds of thousands of dollars in back rent at a time when state cuts and deteriorating tax revenues have forced the M.T.A. to lay off station agents and cut service.”

Right. The MTA, that bastion of efficiency, is being decimated by state cuts and the arts are...what? Swimming in dough? What hypocritical bullshit.

3LD is one of the best theater spaces in New York City. It's a treasure with a ton of potential, and it's gotten financially beaten up. Do we need another terrific theater space closed to make way for a Foot Locker?

How can we protect 3LD?

If Law & Order gets cancelled...

...it will cut off a supply line of SAG cards and insurance weeks to tons to New York City actors. True?

For all you OG comic book collectors

A fun website.

Playwrights In Conversation Links

I've updated my blogroll to include direct links to the five "Playwrights in Conversation" podcasts that I've hosted. If you haven't heard them, definitely give them a listen.

Nytheatrecast MP3: Playwrights In Conversation with Adam Szymkowicz
Nytheatrecast MP3: Playwrights In Conversation with James Comtois
Nytheatrecast MP3: Playwrights In Conversation with Mac Rogers
Nytheatrecast MP3: Playwrights In Conversation with J. Scott Reynolds
Nytheatrecast MP3: Playwrights In Conversation with August Schulenberg

Song For A Future Generation

Josh Conkel and the Management (which should be the name of his band) are presenting SONG FOR A FUTURE GENERATION right now at Under St. Marks. Four performances left, including tonight. You really must see it.

Read the description. Then go see it tonight. Or I stab and stab and stab until I have no idea why.

Clones, robots and teenage time travelers search for connection at a dance party aboard a satellite. So what if its purpose is to celebrate an exploding star? For the kids in this "sci-fi dance party spectacle" this is going to be the BEST NIGHT EVER.

Written by Joe Tracz, Directed by Meg Sturiano

Performed by Alex Teicheira*, Cal Shook, Jenny Gomez, Jennifer Harder, Joleen Wilkinson*, Joe Varca, Joshua Conkel, Matt Barbot, Nick Lewis, Ronica Reddick*, Tara Giordano*, Yesenia Tromp & Zoey Martinson*.

April 29th- May 15th
Thursdays & Fridays @ 8pm and Saturdays @ 3pm & 8pm.

Location: UNDER St. Marks
94 St. Marks, btwn 1st Ave & Ave A

Tickets: $18 - www.smarttix.com or call 212-868-4444

*Appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity - Equity approved showcase

Passion Play

My review of Sarah Ruhl's Passion Play is up at nytheatre.com

That Old Soft Shoe tickets are now available

Tickets are now on sale for THAT OLD SOFT SHOE at the Too Soon Festival. Here's the list of shows, and here's where to purchase tickets.

If you purchase your tickets before May 15th, 2010, you can receive the discounted ticket price of $15 (normally $18).

There are only five performances, spread out throughout June. Read the schedule carefully, and definitely get your tickets in advance. Note, also, that our first performance is on Sunday June 6th.

That Old Soft Shoe

Playwright Matthew Freeman, director Kyle Ancowitz, and Blue Coyote Theater Group return to the Brick with That Old Soft Shoe, a redacted comedy. Their previous appearances include the much ballyhooed productions of Glee Club and An Interview with the Author. In That Old Soft Shoe, a Senator from the Pacific Northwest arrives to inspect the goings-on in an undisclosed location, throwing the staff into turmoil. Will they all wind up working at a phone bank in Dallas? After all, it’s a new administration.

Blue Coyote Theatre Group
Written by Matt Freeman
Directed by Kyle Ancowitz
90 minutes

Sun 6/6, 2:30pm
Tue 6/8, 8:45pm
Wed 6/23, 8:45pm
Sat 6/26, 7pm
Sun 6/27, 4pm

Polls say

...that Americans, when asked, come up with an opinion about something based on no information.

Theater Talk

I DVR Theater Talk. I watch it because I like that feeling I get when my heart-light goes out.

Is it just me

...or does the summer movie season this year appear to be rather barren for nerds like me?

A little bit of the Denouement script

First, I swear I thought you’d lost it with this constructed bullshit about how everything needs to be simplified. How Gwen’s files would unlock some key to a better workflow and bleeding edge processes. But now I see what you were really after all along. To upend our whole system entirely with this nonsense about city-states. Does this look like goddamn Athens to you? In such and such B.C.? Or would you say BCE you liberal new historicist? You’ll have us all in the clink you will. You’ll have us worshipping lesser Gods and bartering for our stock options like a common Afrikaner. It’s shameless. And you should be ashamed.

Good News

This weekend...my lovely girlfriend Pam lost her senses and became engaged to me.

Hooray!

Too Soon Festival Logo!

I think it's fancy! Prepare to see this image for a full month.

Brick Theater + Matt Freeman = 2

Two shows that is. Coming up in mere moments.

First is Denouement. Only three performances to this production: Saturday May 22nd, Thursday May 27th, and Friday May 28th. Tickets are on sale here. As there are only three performances, I suggest you quickly get yours. As they will disappear.

If you saw Exposition last year, you will find much of that existing material enrobed in a new sticky sweet substance. If you didn't see Exposition, I certainly hope you'll check this out. It's a true collaboration between myself, the cast, and director Michael Gardner. I'm proud of the text, and I think it's a unique piece. Again, tickets are here, only three shows. Don't miss it.

Opening just the next weekend will be That Old Soft Shoe as a part of the Too Soon Festival. Tickets are not yet on sale, but we have five performances throughout June. Here is the show's description:

Playwright Matthew Freeman, director Kyle Ancowitz, and Blue Coyote Theater Group return to the Brick with That Old Soft Shoe, a redacted comedy. Their previous appearances include the much ballyhooed productions of Glee Club and An Interview with the Author. In That Old Soft Shoe, a Senator from the Pacific Northwest arrives to inspect the goings-on in an undisclosed location, throwing the staff into turmoil. Will their dancing lessons prove sufficient? Or will they all wind up working at a phone bank in Dallas? After all, it’s a new administration.

So... come to these shows and bask in their splendor.

nytheatrecast conversation with Gus Schulenberg

Gus and I talk about JACOB'S HOUSE. Give it a listen here.