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Entries tagged with 'Off-Broadway'
Posted Jun. 3, 2008,
Neil LaBute's New Muse: Alison Pill, Star of Reasons to Be Pretty
By Whitney Spaner
Neil LaBute’s new off-Broadway play Reasons to Be Pretty opened last night at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in the West Village to a rave review from Ben Brantley in the New York Times. He says of LaBute, whose other works include Fat Pig and The Shape of Things, “the authorial force that drives [the characters] is one I have never encountered in a work from this writer: Neil LaBute, the harsh and unforgiving chronicler of men’s darkest impulses, is making nice.” Last week right before critics weekend I met with actress Alison Pill, who plays the pivotal character in the four-person cast, which also includes Pablo Schreiber, Piper Perabo (of Coyote Ugly fame) and Thomas Sadoski. We had coffee, (which we both got with soy and Splenda!) at MUD in the East Village where she lives.
Here’s a few things she had to say about playing the not so cute girl, her introduction to film with Lindsay Lohan and her Tony-nominated Broadway debut.
Posted Jan. 22, 2008,
Ethan Coen Does Off-Broadway
By Whitney Spaner
Tonight Ethan Coen takes a break from the Oscar buzz surrounding his latest, and Best-Picture-nominated No Country for Old Men to open up his play Almost Evening at the Atlantic Theater Company's Stage Two. Almost Evening is made up of of three short plays written by Ethan (sans his brother and blood!) and stars the well-respected F. Murray Abraham, Jonathan Cake (recently in Shakespeare's Cymbeline at Lincoln Center) and Elizabeth Marvel.
I hear the show is currently sold out so I'm sure it will either extend or move uptown depending on Wednesday's reviews. If his success on the screen is any indication, I'd say start lining up for the extension.
(top) F. Murray Abraham and Elizabeth Marvel (bottom) J.R. Horne and Jonathan Cake in Almost Evening. Photographs by Doug Hamilton
Posted Sep. 4, 2007,
"20 at 20" Starts on Off-Broadway
By Whitney Spaner
Though this week is all about fashion-related happenings, if you are looking for a cheaper, perhaps less invite-only way to soak up some culture, check out 20 at 20 off-Broadway. For two weeks (today through Sept. 16th) several off-Broadway shows are offering $20 tickets, 20 minutes before showtime. For a listing of shows that are taking part in the fun click here.
I recommend seeing Altar Boyz at New World Stages, The Fantasticks at Snapple Theatre Center, The Misanthrope at New York Theatre Workshop, and Walmartopia at the Minetta Lane Theatre (It didn't get a great review in the New York Times but it's gotten a lot of hype since its inclusion in last year's New York International Fringe Festival). Maybe we'll see you in line!
Here's an image from Walmartopia.
Posted Jun. 14, 2007,
Curtain Cutie: Matthew Morrison
By Whitney Spaner
This week’s Curtain Cutie is the James Dean-esque Matthew Morrison. Matt’s curly hair (albeit shaved now), brilliant smile and beautiful voice have been on my radar for years. He has originated roles in successful Broadway shows such as Hairspray and Light in the Piazza and currently can be seen in the new off-Broadway musical 10 Million Miles. The musical, directed by Tony-Award-winning director Michael Mayer, features music and lyrics by Patti Griffin, and opens tonight at the Atlantic Theater.
Morrison plays Duane, a charming country boy just out of the army who recruits a former lover (played by Irene Molloy) to accompany him on a road trip in an old pick-up truck.
I got the opportunity to chat with him last week amidst his taxing rehearsal time about his new show, new film (with Steve Carell!) and his equally cute fiancée, soap star Chrishell Stause… sigh.
WS: How did you get started with 10 Million Miles?
MM: I was looking to come back to do a theater piece because I’ve been mostly in film and TV and I’m really into originating parts right now. I got tons of offers from other shows but I was just so excited to do this and I’ve become a fan of Patty Griffin as of recently. I thought it was a fun show and it was kind of a different character that I haven’t played before so I was excited for the challenge -- I’ve always kind of played the secondary character in shows and stuff and its kind of a change to be at the forefront of things.
Posted Mar. 21, 2007,
To See: Jack Goes Boating
By Whitney Spaner
Philip Seymour Hoffman is starring in the Labyrinth Theatre (of which he is the co-artistic director) production of Jack Goes Boating, which opened Sunday night at The Public Theater’s Martinson Hall. This charming new play by Bob Glaudini is the perfect chance to see an Oscar winner perform in the cozy setting of off-Broadway. Hoffman plays Jack, a lovable oaf who drives a limousine for his father’s company, and loves everything Rastafarian, including the song “Rivers of Babylon” which he plays for his friends on a hand held cassette player, and pot. His two friends Clyde and Lucy played by John Ortiz and Daphne Rubin-Vega, (the first Mimi in Rent) respectively, decide to set up the shy and awkward Jack with Lucy’s co-worker, an equally quirky embalmer’s assistant. From there, Jack decides he wants to impress Connie, so he spends his free time honing his cooking skills (in one funny scene, he goes through the steps of making his perfect meal in his head while smoking from a bong) and taking swimming lessons.
Above is a pic of the cast (from left: Beth Cole, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Ortiz, and Daphne Rubin-Vega) doing what they do best.
Jack Goes Boating runs through April 29th.
Posted Mar. 9, 2007,
Happy In the Heights
By Whitney Spaner
Twenty-seven-year-old Lin-Manuel Miranda's new musical In the Heights, which opened last month at 37 Arts, will make most audience members want to immediately pack up their bags and move to Washington Heights. Though I agreed with Charles Isherwood's mostly favorable review in the New York Times in which he notes that "this sun-drenched block of Washington Heights could almost be mistaken for Main Street at Disneyland, or Sesame Street without the puppets," the hip-hop-styled ensemble, eye-catching choreography and singable score kept me from caring too much.
The off-Broadway show, which had a budget of $2.5 million (a ton of money to front an off-Broadway production) is rumored to move to Broadway, and I think no cast is more deserving. I fell in love with the endlessly energetic ensemble's hip-hop and Latin inspired dance moves -- something rarely seen on the theater stage. It was like something from MTV's J-Lo-hosted Dance Life. While it's a cold trip west to the new 37 Arts complex on 37th between Ninth and Tenth Ave., this pic from their MySpace page, should assure you that this spicy cast will provide the heat.