OFF (and OO) Broadway REPORT
News and Updates about the Off-Broadway Scene
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On Monday, August 1, 2011, The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation, the organization dedicated to celebrating Off-Off-Broadway, announced the 2011 nominees at its annual sold-out event at the Carmine Street Recreation Center.
Over the past seven years, the IT Awards has honored over 1,500 individual artists, over 400 productions, and 300 theatre companies; having collected over 23,000 ballots and disseminated more than 5,000 judges. The 2011 Nominees include 166 individual artists, 55 different productions and 45 OffOff-Broadway theatre companies.
"It is an honor to be recognized by the IT Awards, especially when you consider how many shows there are produced Off-Off-Broadway each year - I feel like I've already won,"says nominee and producer Heather E. Cunningham
"I couldn't ask for a better show to have been a part of for my first production in New York,"says Jake Mendez, a nominee for Outstanding Ensemble for Gallery Players production of The Drowsy Chaperone.
Double Nominee Jill Bianchini was a part of T. Schreiber Studio's production of OOB pioneer Lanford Wilson's Balm in Gilead said, "Being part of this amazing production and incredible ensemble, while having Lanford Wilson call my portrayal of Ann astonishing has been the thrill of my theatre experience."
Astoria Performing Arts Center's production of The Human Comedy is nominated for Outstanding Production of a Musical, "APAC is thrilled to be included in this exciting event once again," says Artistic Director Tom Wojtunik.
2011 Nominees:
Ensemble
Tonya Canada, Megan Hill, Polly Lee, Michael Levinton, Hugh Sinclair, Laura von Holt, Donya K. Washington, Stephanie Weeks, Merlin Whitehawk, (oh my god I am so) THIRST(y) Little Lord (a theater company)
Seth Allen, Ian Bell, Esteban Benito, Jill Bianchini, Dennis Brito, Tommy Buck, Lowell Byers, Ian Campbell Dunn, Belle Caplis, Amanda Catrini, Lawrence Crimlis, Jordan Feltner, Brad Martocello, Mariel Matero, Jevon McFerrin, Erica Lauren McLaughlin, Alona Metcalf, Sebastian Montoya, Michael Murray, Jason Pumarada, Orlando J. Rivera, Olivia Roric, Stephanie Seward, Lisa Sobin, Eric Spear, Christine Vega, Stewart Villilo, Jonathan Wilde, Richard Zekaria, Balm in Gilead T. Schreiber Studio
Heather E. Cunningham, David Ian Lee, Matthew Semler, Kristen Vaughan, Benefactors Retro Productions
Richard Ginocchio, Jenny Lee Mitchell, Matt Muszynski, Aldo Perez, Jonathon Roberts,
Matthew Talmage, Radio Purgatory Theater THE
Whitney Branan, Jennifer DiDonato, Tauren Hagans, Robert Anthony Jones, Edward Juvier, Lorinne Lampert, Aaron J. Libby, Jake Mendes, Trey Mitchell, Jan-Peter Pedross, Colin Pritchard, Megan Rosenblatt, Chloe Sabin, Dawn Trautman, Craig Treubert, Tyler Wallach, Eric Weaver, The Drowsy Chaperone The Gallery Players
Marc Bovino, Joe Curnutte, Michael Dalto, Henry Vick, Stephanie Wright Thompson, The Tremendous Tremendous The Mad Ones
Fred Backus, Hope Cartelli, Stephen Heskett, Kent Meister, Josh Mertz, Robert Pinnock, Shelley Ray, Theater of the Arcade: Five Classic Video Games Adapted for the Stage Brick Theater
Solo Performance
Andrea Caban, Questions My Mother Can't Answer, Coyote REP Theatre Company & the terraNOVA Collective
Nat Cassidy, Things At The Doorstep: An Evening of Horror Based on the Works of H.P. Lovecraft, Manhattan Theatre Source, Greg Oliver Bodine, and Nat Cassidy
Elaine Del Valle, Brownsville Bred, Del Valle Productions, Inc.
Monica Hunken, Blondie of Arabia, Monica Hunken and Co.
Darrell James, St. Nicholas, Theatre of the Expendable
Grant Neale, Polanski, Polanski, terraNOVA Collective
Actor in a Featured Role
Daniel Abeles, Keep Your Baggage With You (at all times), Artists Empire
David Darrow, The Revival, Project Y Theatre Company
Gregory Konow, An Impending Rupture of the Belly, Godlight Theatre Company
Jeff Pagliano, Fracturing, Sweeter Theater Productions
Colin Pritchard, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Gallery Players
Brent Vimtrup, Sight Unseen, InProximity Theatre Company
Actress in a Featured Role
Becky Byers, Dog Act, Flux Theatre Ensemble
Deanna McGovern, An Impending Rupture of the Belly, Godlight Theatre Company
Elizabeth Neptune, Weekend at an English Country Estate, Ateh Theater Group
Lauren Roth, Billy Carver and the Children in Mind, OptiMystics
Nicole Taylor, The Navigator, WorkShop Theater Company
Laura von Holt, (oh my god I am so) THIRST(y), Little Lord (a theater company)
Actor in a Lead Role
DJ Canaday, A Christmas Carol, Literally Alive
Trent Dawson, The Revival, Project Y Theatre Company
Kevin Kane, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, The Collective NY
Nick Paglino, An Impending Rupture of the Belly, Godlight Theatre Company
Jeff Paul, Interchange, WorkShop Theater Company
Craig E. Treubert, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Gallery Players
Actress in a Lead Role
Virginia Bartholomew, Macbeth, Redd Tale Theatre Company
Jill Bianchini, Balm in Gilead, T. Schreiber Studio
Kelly Anne Burns, The Navigator, WorkShop Theater Company
Belle Caplis, Balm in Gilead, T. Schreiber Studio
Heather E. Cunningham, Benefactors, Retro Productions
Daphne Gaines, The Walk Across America For Mother Earth, LaMaMa Experimental Theater Club
Kristen Vaughan, Benefactors, Retro Productions
Director
Gyda Arber, Theater of the Arcade: Five Classic Video Games Adapted for the Stage, Brick Theater
Michole Biancosino, The Revival, Project Y Theatre Company
Hans Friedrichs, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Gallery Players
Robert Z. Grant, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, The Collective NY
Leslie Kincaid Burby, The Navigator, WorkShop Theater Company
Rachel Klein, Circus of Circus, the House of Yes
Paul Zimet, The Walk Across America For Mother Earth, LaMaMa Experimental Theater Club
Choreography/Movement
Karina Casiano and Daniel Irizarry, The Orphans, La Criatura Theater
Angela L. Harriell, Rachel Klein and Ashley Morgan Monroe, Circus of Circus, the House of Yes
Aaron Haskell, Wake Up, You're Dead, LaMaMa Experimental Theater Club
Austin McCormick, Nutcracker Rouge, Company XIV
Christine O'Grady, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Gallery Players
Elisabetta Spuria, disOriented, Theatre C
Lighting Design
Joie Bauer, Brownsville Bred, Del Valle Productions, Inc.
Alex Fabozzi, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, The Collective NY
Ben Hagen, The Revival, Project Y Theatre Company
Ryan Metzler, St. Nicholas, Theatre of the Expendable
Duane Pagano, The Navigator, WorkShop Theater Company
Stan Pressner, Pass The Blutwurst, Bitte, LaMaMa Experimental Theater Club
Eric Southern, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Pipeline Theatre Company
Costume Design
Krista Amigone, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, The Collective NY
Kae Burke, Circus of Circus, the House of Yes
Hwi-won Lee, The Country Wife, Odyssey Productions
Machine Dazzle, The Walk Across America For Mother Earth, LaMaMa Experimental Theater Club
Ryan J. Moller, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Gallery Players
Zane Pihlstrom, Nutcracker Rouge, Company XIV
Anne Wingate, Balm in Gilead, T. Schreiber Studio
Set Design
Matt Brogan, Balm in Gilead, T. Schreiber Studio
Kevin Judge, The Revival, Project Y Theatre Company
Duane Pagano, The Navigator, WorkShop Theater Company
Jason Paradine, Dog Act, Flux Theatre Ensemble
Jeff Stander, Dear Ruth, Retro Productions
Hal Tine, The Changing Room, T. Schreiber Studio
Sound Design
Tim Boyce, The Spring Fling, F*It Club
Quentin Chiappetta, The Navigator, WorkShop Theater Company
Andy Cohen, Balm in Gilead, T. Schreiber Studio
M.L. Dogg, The Land Whale Murders, Shelby Company
Christopher Loar, (un)afraid, New York Neo-Futurists
Aldo Perez, Radio Purgatory, Theater THE
Amit Prakash, The Revival, Project Y Theatre Company
Innovative Design
Matt Acheson and Tom Lee, Puppet Design, The Secret History of the Swedish Cottage, Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre
Kae Burke, Aerial & Circus Rigging Design, Circus of Circus, the House of Yes
Volodymyr Klyuzko and Mikhail Shraga, Projection Design, Raven, LaMaMa Experimental Theater Club
Alex Koch, Video and Projection Design, Feeder: A Love Story by James Carter, terraNOVA Collective
Hugh Morris, Art Installation, Michael & Edie, The Greenpoint Division
Tatsushi Tahara, Film and Cinema Design, Radio Purgatory, Theater THE
Original Music
Cormac Bluestone, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Pipeline Theatre Company
Chris Chappell and Frank Padellaro, Theater of the Arcade: Five Classic Video Games Adapted for the Stage, Brick Theater
Live Footage, Displaced Wedding, New Worlds Theatre Project
George MacDonald, The Country Wife, Odyssey Productions
Aldo Perez, Radio Purgatory, Theater THE
Colonna Sonora, Woyzeck, Toy Box Theatre Company
Original Short Script
Vincent Marano, My Baby, Ingenius Short Play Festival, Manhattan Theatre Source
Clay McLeod Chapman, Diary Debris, The Pumpkin Pie Show: Amber Alert, Horse Trade
Clay McLeod Chapman, Sixteen Again, The Pumpkin Pie Show: Amber Alert, Horse Trade
Isaac Oliver, Come Here, The Spring Fling, F*It Club
Aaron Wigdor Levy, Monroe, Illinois: Over Here/Townie, On the Square Productions t
Anna Ziegler, If,The Spring Fling, F*It Club
Original Full-Length Script
Eddie Antar, The Navigator, WorkShop Theater Company
Jonathan Blitstein, Keep Your Baggage With You (at all times), Artists Empire
Jeff Lewonczyk, Theater of the Arcade: Five Classic Video Games Adapted for the Stage, Brick Theater
Sara Montgomery, Weekend at an English Country Estate, Ateh Theater Group
Matt Pelfrey, An Impending Rupture of the Belly, Godlight Theatre Company
Matt Wilson, Play America (Life is Short, Wear Your Party Pants), Sister Sylvester
Performance Art Production
(un)afraid, New York Neo-Futurists
Hold Music, PegLeg Productions / Culture Project's Women Center Stage 2011
Locker #4173b, New York Neo-Futurists
Radio Purgatory, Theater THE
The Bitter Poet: Looking For Love In All The Wrong Black Box Performance Spaces, The Bitter Poet
Wake Up, You're Dead, LaMaMa Experimental Theater Club
Woman of Leisure and Panic, terraNOVA Collective
Production of a Musical
(oh my god I am so) THIRST(y), Little Lord (a theater company)
A Christmas Carol, Literally Alive
Reefer Madnes the musical, The Gallery Players
The Drowsy Chaperone, The Gallery Players
The Human Comedy, Astoria Performing Arts Center
The Walk Across America For Mother Earth, LaMaMa Experimental Theater Club
Production of a Play
Balm in Gilead, T. Schreiber Studio
Benefactors, Retro Productions
Circus of Circus, the House of Yes
St. Nicholas, Theatre of the Expendable
The Navigator, WorkShop Theater Company
The Revival, Project Y Theatre Company
SAVE THE DATE
NEW YORK INNOVATIVE THEATRE
AWARDS CEREMONY
SEPTEMBER 19, 2011
LOCATION TBD
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Cary Hoffman's MY SINATRA is heading to OFF Broadway.
NYC, May 20th - Cary Hoffman's MY SINATRA is heading to OFF Broadway, the producers announced.
After 16 sold-out months at the Triad Theater, MY SINATRA moves Off-Broadway with a brand new book at Midtown Theatre (at the Ha Comedy Club, 163 West 46th Street, NYC). Performances begin Saturday, June 4 at 7:30 pm.
MY SINATRA: A Musical TributeCary Hoffman turns his celebrated PBS Special into a biographical, often hilarious, and poignant one-man musical play about his love and idolization for his hero Frank Sinatra and the perils of wanting to become somebody else.
Hoffman captivates the audience with his intimate journey of what it was like growing up fatherless with three musician uncles, who played on some of Sinatra's greatest recordings, turning Sinatra into a fantasy father. "Hoffman authentically sings Sinatra Dead On! (The New York Times), as he weaves in over 20 classic Sinatra songs, creating a musical score about his lifelong obsession."
The production features set and lighting design by Jay Ryan and James Daher is the video designer. Brierpatch Productions is the general manager.
MY SINATRA plays the following regular schedule through Labor Day:
Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 5:30 p.m.
Mondays at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $75 premium seating/$55 general admission and are now available online at www.mySinatra.com or by calling 866.811.4111. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the theatre box office, ½ hour prior to performance.
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2011 VILLAGE VOICE OBIE AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED
NYC, May 16th - The 56th Annual Obie Awards were given out at a ceremony last night at Webster Hall in Greenwich Village. The event was co-hosted by S. Epatha Merkerson and David Hyde Pierce, and the awards were presented by Alec Baldwin, Andrew Rannells, Arian Moayad, Frank Wood, Jim Parsons, John Larroquette, Liev Schreiber, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mamie Gummer, Margaret Colin, Nina Arianda, Patina Miller, and Rose Hemingway. Anthony Rapp, of the original cast of the Obie Award-winning musical RENT and his band from the musical WITHOUT YOU performed at the ceremony.
THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY, by Kristoffer Diaz, received the Obie Award for Best New American Play, which is accompanied by a $1000 check. Repertorio Espanol and its co-founder and artistic director, René Buch, received the Obie Award for Lifetime Achievement. A complete list of awards is given below. LocalTheatreNY.com congratulates the winners and nominees!
Performance
F. Murray Abraham, sustained excellence of performance
André Braugher, THE WHIPPING MAN (Manhattan Theatre Club)
Michael Chernus, IN THE WAKE (Public Theater)
Ethan Hawke, BLOOD FROM A STONE (The New Group)
Hamish Linklater, THE SCHOOL FOR LIES (Classic Stage Company)
Laurie Metcalf, THE OTHER PLACE (Manhattan Class Company)
Thomas Sadoski, OTHER DESERT CITIES (Lincoln Center Theater)
Scott Shepherd, GATZ (Elevator Repair Service / Public Theater)
Brenda Wehle, THE INTELLIGENT HOMOSEXUAL’S GUIDE TO CAPITALISM AND SOCIALISM WITH A KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES (Signature Theatre / Public Theater)
Charlayne Woodard, THE WITCH OF EDMONTON (Red Bull Theater)
Playwriting
Samuel D. Hunter, A BRIGHT NEW BOISE (Partial Comfort Productions)
Jonas Hassen Khemiri, INVASION! (The Play Company)
Direction
Austin Pendleton, THREE SISTERS (Classic Stage Company)
Roger Rees and Alex Timbers, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER (New York Theatre Workshop)
Leigh Silverman, IN THE WAKE (Public Theater) and GO BACK TO WHERE YOU ARE (Playwrights Horizons)
Design
Jill BC Du Boff, sustained excellence of sound design
Donyale Werle, sustained excellence of set design
Special Citations
Design and Choreography, SLEEP NO MORE (Punchdrunk Theatre)
Felix Barrett, Livi Vaughan, Beatrice Minns, Maxine Doyle, Stephen Dobbie, Euan Maybank, and David Israel Reynoso
Young Jean Lee, WE’RE GONNA DIE (13P / Joe’s Pub)
Debbie Tucker Green and Leah C. Gardiner, BORN BAD (Soho Rep)
Obie Grants ($2,500 to each theater)
METROPOLITAN PLAYHOUSE
WAKKA WAKKA
WAKA WAKA were the winners of a $2,500 Village Voice Obie Grant. Pictured here, a scene from BABY UNIVERSE
The Ross Wetzsteon Award (includes $1,000 check)
BELARUS FREE THEATRE
Best New American Play (includes $1,000 check)
THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY by Kristoffer Diaz (Second Stage)
Lifetime Achievement Award: René Buch and Repertorio Espanol
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