Stick Fly

desmond — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:52:25 +0000

By Desmond Sam
11th Grade, LaGuardia High School

Imagine a beautiful Victorian house in the middle of Martha’s Vineyard. A chandelier dangles from the ceiling in the foyer and expensive paintings hang on the walls. Who do you assume would live here? Would you assume them to have the “perfect” life?

In Stick Fly, two adult sons are bringing their girlfriends home to meet the family. Throughout the play, the characters are constantly trying to gain power over the situations. By the end, all of the characters are changed by secrets, betrayals and lies. At the same time, they are confronted with different challenges that leave them to face their true identities.

Stick Fly leaves you with many issues to think about such as racism and family obligation. The script is simply exquisite and the actors make the words authentic. The set is amazing and creates an imitation of perfection while the family is being torn apart. The music in between the scenes (by producer Alicia Keys!) adds to the mood.

Stick Fly shows that in order to see who a person is, you first need to look past the front they put on.

TICKETS: THRU 2/26 • $35 general rush • Cort Theatre, 138 W. 48th St. website

Tweet your seat to Godspell

sabrina — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:31:43 +0000

For one night only, 15 lucky Twitter users can each win a ticket to Godspell and tweet live throughout the performance.

You’re probably all wondering, “HOW?” Well, the show’s social media team will personally pick the most vocal Godspell Twitter fans for February 19’s “Tweet Seat Performance” night. They’ve reserved special orchestra seats just for the occasion.

If you think you’re that kind of fan, you officially have a chance to be one of the 15 chosen to watch Godspell for free and make Broadway history.

If you’re not in the running, don’t fret just yet. In addition to the 15 complimentary “Tweet Seats” for Godspell‘s biggest Twitter fans, a limited number of additional “Tweet Seats” are being sold for $99.

And that’s not all. “Tweet Seat” ticket holders will also be invited to a special pre-show event on February 19 with members of the Godspell cast and creative team! Exciting, huh?

If you’re at the show, don’t forget to tweet us all about it @tdfPlaybyPlay. We want to hear your thoughts!

**To purchase a “Tweet Seat” for the February 19 performance of Godspell , email tweetseat@godspell.com for more information. (“Tweet Seat” tickets are limited in quantity and subject to availability.)**

We Need YOU

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:05:13 +0000

We’re hard at work on our spring issue and need YOUR help!

Have you seen Stick Fly, Porgy & Bess or Venus in Fur?

We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Post in the comments or email juliar@tdf.org

Can’t wait to hear from you!

No Fly On the Wall at Stick Fly

sabrina — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:14:15 +0000

By Sabrina Khan

A sharp and witty play about an upper class, modern Black family, Stick Fly is making strides on Broadway in a fresh yet familiar way. It’s inspiring as much conversation outside the theatre as it is within it — even while the show is playing.

@AngelMayReed tweeted: “Not sure what was more entertaining the play or the audience reaction!!!”

It’s certainly a melodramatic show, and the audience seems to be just as melodramatic while viewing it. There’s even been controversy surrounding how the audience has been responding vocally to the wild and sometimes explicit lines running off the actors’ lips. And why not?

I think some shows call for that. When comedies play for a raucous crowd that registers every joke with a laugh, the cast calls it a good night. When dramas greet an intense crowd listening to every word with bated breath, its cast calls it a good night. But when something like Stick Fly falls somewhere in between, a good night is when the crowd is so wrapped up in the performance, audience members are both laughing and tense and literally expressing both at the same time.

But, this begs the question: What is appropriate theatre behavior in terms of audience reaction?

Is it okay to communicate with the cast? To hoot and holler? Even whistle? I’m not saying that happened at the show, but can it?

When we’re moved by a show, we cry. When we feel an act was particularly powerful, we applaud. When we find a line humorous, we laugh. That’s all accepted.

But this is a live performance we’re watching, just as live as a concert, so are we allowed to react beyond what’s conventionally accepted? How much is too much? Or does it depend on the show?

Tell us in the comments!

Cheap Seats for YOU!

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:57:45 +0000

Click here for our guide to NYC THEATRE CHEAP SEATS!

Bonnie & Clyde

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:32:23 +0000

By Gemma Lolos
12th Grade, LaGuardia High School

The new musical, Bonnie & Clyde, opens with a bang — or I should say, several bangs.

Set in Texas during the Great Depression, young diner waitress Bonnie Parker and escaped convict Clyde Barrow desire nothing more than to leave behind their dull, depressing lives in search of more promising circumstances. While Bonnie yearns for a successful career in Hollywood, and Clyde is unsatisfied with his life as a criminal. The two hopeless dreamers meet when Bonnie has some car troubles and Clyde comes to her rescue. The moment they meet, an irreversible connection is made.

The show is rife with extraordinary musical talent. Laura Osnes and Jeremy Jordan are fantastic in the roles of Bonnie and Clyde — their

connection is electric. Their portrayals make the unconditional love between Bonnie and Clyde clear.

Bonnie & Clyde is an all around joy. Beneath the blood, bullets and pain, is a love so deep, that despite the obstacles that stood in their way, they were able to withstand almost anything. It is interesting to revisit the almost unbelievable, but true story of the notorious fugitive lovebirds — and what better way to tell the story than on Broadway? You will not want to miss this.

TICKETS: thru Dec 30th • $31.50 general rush • Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W. 45th St. website

The Mountaintop

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:50:30 +0000

By Kassandra Ramirez
11th Grade, High School of Leadership and Public Service

I’ve got to be honest — I thought that The Mountaintop was going to be a boring reenactment of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Wow, was I wrong.

Growing up, I was taught to view Dr. King as a person responsible for many wonderful changes in our country, but this play showed a side of him that textbooks don’t teach. Yes, he did help us to be more tolerant with each other, but he had his flaws as well. This play showed that just because someone does something extraordinary with their life doesn’t mean that they have to be perfect.

The story was full of emotional scenes, comic relief and shocking twists that literally made me jump out of my seat in pure surprise. I was so focused on the characters during the play that I somehow forgot that Samuel L. Jackson was playing Dr. King! His performance was amazing. With every action he took onstage, my heart and my brain tried to piece together what he might do next. To see such a famous and extremely talented person live is an experience that I will never forget.

After leaving the theatre, I turned to the person next to me and shouted, “DUDE, WASN’T THAT JUST LIKE, THE BEST THING YOU’VE EVER SEEN IN YOUR LIFE?” See the show and decide for yourself.

TICKETS: $34.50 general rush • Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St. website

Seminar

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:48:32 +0000

By Max Friedlich
11th Grade, Friends Seminary

In the new Broadway play Seminar, we are invited into the world of writers. Sounds nice, right? Actually, it’s an hour and a half of gruesome warfare between five different egos.

Four aspiring writers vie for the attention of their private writing teacher Leonard, who “teaches” by ripping each writer to shreds. Leonard is played by the extraordinary Alan Rickman, (Snape from Harry Potter), who presents a cruel demeanor with a more fragile side that has been hardened by rejection and failure.

Seminar reveals the emotional corruption that the pursuit of an artistic dream can cause. The characters are very well defined and have clear intentions. Some of the dialogue has a farcical quality, dueling with words, which is consistent with the play’s excellent sense of realism.

In Seminar, as in the world of professional writing, there exists a dog eat dog mentality. Seminar highlights this fact and takes it to new extremes as the young writers tread the line between jealousy and support of their fellow artists. Throw in some sex and binge eating and you’ve got a great new play on Broadway.

TICKETS: $29.50 student rush • Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St. website

Lysistrata Jones

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:01:39 +0000

By Oumar Berte
12th Grade, International Community High School

When I was assigned to review Lysistrata Jones, I was not really excited about it. To be honest, the name made it sound weird and boring. However, one of the songs from this new Broadway musical is about not judging a book by its cover and after seeing the show, I would add not to judge a play by its name.
Lysistrata Jones follows Lysistrata, a college basketball cheerleader, in her struggle to fit in at her new school, Athens University. She comes up with a very interesting way to help the basket- ball team win at least one game — you’ll understand when you see the play.

Basketball is a big part of the story. As a sports fan, I was intrigued to see how it would look onstage. I’ll admit that it wasn’t realistic, but it was very creative by focusing more on the emotions of the players and the important highlights of the match.

The musical discusses diversity, tolerance and acceptance by clearly showing the beauty of difference. The songs draw from a wide range of styles — pop, soul, rap, reggae, opera, and more. The set is simple, which allows the actors to take center stage.

Lysistrata Jones tells a good message in a fun, simple way.

TICKETS: $25 student rush • Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 W. 48th St. website

Chinglish

admin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:46:25 +0000

By Dalia Wolfson
12th Grade, Hunter College High School

Chinglish follows American businessman Daniel Cavanaugh as he sets out to make a sales pitch to the local cultural ministry in a small Chinese province. Cavanaugh meets resistance from the cultural minister, but his shrewd vice-secretary Xi Yan offers her assistance. Cavanaugh and Yan become both business and romantic partners, plotting their way through the Chinese bureaucracy, where relationships matter far more than legal dealings.

Chinglish is a play that goes to the root of the conflict between East and West. Throughout the play, there’s a clear doublespeak situation: the show has both literal subtitles (translations screened above the stage) and simmering subtext.
Different values emerge, as Xi Yan appreciates Cavanaugh because he is honest, with a “good face;” Cavanaugh likes Yan for her self-control and cunning. Family dynamics also enter onstage: Cavanaugh, the hopeless romantic, commits adultery and is ready to move to China for his mistress, while Yan insists that she must remain “a good wife.” To Cavanaugh, Yan is his love; to Yan, this American is an “escape.”

Chinglish is a feast of mistranslation and misleading promises. The exciting set — revolving doors, lavish hotel rooms, posh offices and downstairs cafés — is a playground for scenes that tackle the encounter between two cultures and countries. A piece of advice from Mr. Cavanaugh: “When doing business in China, always bring your own translator.” And maybe the underlying message is: become the translator, because otherwise, you’ll always be a little lost.

Read Dalia’s thoughts on language in theatre here!

TICKETS: $31.50 student rush • Longacre Theatre, 220 W. 48th St. website