Michole Directs

LoveSick - Half Rock Concert/Half Theatre in February

2012-01-20T13:44:00.000-05:00

LoveSick

or THINGS THAT DON'T HAPPEN

plays by Lia Romeo

songs by Tony Biancosino

conceived and directed by Michole Biancosino

Produced by Project Y Theatre Company

at 59E59 Theaters

February 3-25, 2012

$25

Racey Plays Reading Series Next Up: GOODNESS on 8/15

2011-07-29T09:45:00.003-04:00

Our Racey Plays Reading Series has been unbelievably successful so far.
Each reading has had its own unique location, cast of new and old PY actors, and
adoring audience to applaud and share a drink afterwards.

NEXT UP:

We're looking forward to this month's reading of "goodness" by Sean Christopher Lewis.
He has a very impressive bio for such a young guy, and we are proud be able to share this Philly guy with NYC. SEAN CHRISTOPHER LEWIS’ plays have won the Kennedy Center’s Rosa Parks Award, the 2010 National New Play Network’s Smith Prize, a Barrymore Award from the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, a Central Ohio Critic’s Circle Citation, a National Performance Network Creation Fund Grant, the William Inge Fellowship and more. He served as National New Play Network Emerging Playwright in Residence at Interact Theatre in Philly and as Playwright in Residence at the William Inge Arts Center in Independence, Kansas. He can also be heard on the radio as a contributor to NPR'S This American Life.

goodness, by Sean Christopher Lewis

Alex is a photographer known for taking her subjects back through the tragedies they lived in their past. Prisons and war are her subjects secrets and her style is one of re-living. When she meets a former child soldier now living in Maryland her ethics and safety are brought into question as her artistic style is met with a trauma she may not be ready for... Goodness is a play about what happens when we try to save people.

AUGUST 15th at 7pm

Hourglass Tavern on 46th between 8th and 9th ave

Did we mention that its FREE??!!

Winners Announced: Site/Sight Specific Video Monologue Contest

2011-07-11T13:40:00.002-04:00

Here are the Winners of Project Y's Site/Sight Specific Video Monologue Contest....

Project Y's Top 5 Monologues are:

South Ferry, by Bara Swain

Guggenheim, by Catherine Weingarten

No Drama, by Benjamin Adair Murphy

Columbus Circle, by Leah Benavides

The Bird, Mike Mariano

Congratulations to the winners and BIG THANKS to everyone who submitted a monologue.

We will be shooting these five monologues soon, and will let you know
when they are up and running on YouTube.com

Check out last year's Confessionals Videos on the Project Y YouTube page.

Talkback with Racey Plays playwright: Jessica Dickey

2011-06-21T10:48:00.007-04:00

We were lucky enough to have a reading of YELLOW by the very fabulous, Jessica Dickey, on June 6th. The private room at Ryan's Daughters pub was a snug fit for our 25 audience members and 5 cast members. The reading was the perfect blend of an informal social experience (geez, I had so many awesome friends come!) and theatre, as we heard the most recent version of this beautiful play, I play I fell in love with over a year ago before I had even met Ms. Dickey....

I caught up with Jessica to touch base on the reading and all things YELLOW and JD:

MB: What stage are you in the writing process of YELLOW? Is this place in the process familiar territory for you?

JD: YELLOW is an interesting play for me. It's taught me so many lessons already! It's affirmed for me that each play really is a new land, and I have to begin my work in each one with the confidence that I've explored new lands before, but WITHOUT the assumption that that necessarily means that this land will be the same process as the others. Does that make sense? It's like I'm beginning to understand that all I can do is trust that I've hewn a sensitive compass within myself-- to find the North of the story and the characters-- and the rest I have to just take as it comes.

Which is a complicated, abstract way of saying that YELLOW is a very challenging piece for me because of its narrative structure and the personal nature of the subject. Right now I feel very lost in the woods-- lol! But I'm trying to stay in the spirit of adventure and enjoy the trek.

MB: What if anything surprised you in the reading - either worked or didn't work?

JD: I was very surprised and pleased that the audience and the actors found so much humor in the play. I thought it was pretty funny (in my head), but I was really delighted to discover it's so. I was also struck with how obvious something is out loud. I mean, I know that to be true when I'm reading something as an actor-- you can usually sniff out "overtelling" in the writing, if you know what I mean... But as the playwright, it's hard to trust that what you're trying to connect for the audience will automatically be connected by them. Theatre audiences of 2011 have many centuries of theatre under our belts! We know what's happening as soon as you give us a clue, which is both a blessing and a curse. I love the way THE AMISH PROJECT zooms forward and just trusts the audience to keep up (and they do! In spades!), and I'd like to find that same subtlety and clarity with YELLOW.

MB: You're also an actor and theatre artiste in other realms than writing - What's up next for you on any and all fronts?

JD: Well speaking of AMISH-- this week I go to Amsterdam to perform THE AMISH PROJECT at a Peace and Reconciliation conference there. I won't be doing the entire production, it'll be more like concert readings or something, and then there will be a lot of talkbacks with community leaders in the Mennonite/Amish world. It should be extremely interesting and I am really honored to be included. Then I'm doing a workshop (as an actor) of Epic Theatre Co's collaborative piece called WATER, directed by Daniella Topol and written by Sheila Calaghan. And in August Rattlestick will be reading my new play CHARLES IVES TAKE ME HOME in their Fucking Great Plays Series. And around all that I'll just be auditioning and rewriting and trying to enjoy the summer and my friends and family. :)

MB: What is the next step for YELLOW?

JD: This recent Project Y reading with Michole was probably the most useful for me in terms of YELLOW's evolution. I've had readings of YELLOW before, but it was my first time hearing the play with an audience, and Michole and I had a very clear, helpful conversation about it afterward; the combination has made me feel that I have a plan for two drafts I'd like to do next with YELLOW... I'd like to explore two different structures for the play, as I think I've discovered that the play is perhaps floating between two structural ideas, just to see what works and what doesn't. Then I have to make some decisions about what story I am most trying to tell and which structure will tell that story most effectively! That may have been too much information-- maybe I should have just said "Rewrites"! :) But clearly I have a shit-ton of work to do on YELLOW! :) But I do feel heartened by the reading and I'm looking forward to it. Huge thanks to Michole and Project Y for their consistent fun-loving support and honesty.

MB: Huge Thanks right back at you, Jessica! Project Y is excited to support your work and we are honored to have been able to have your play as part of our RACEY PLAYS reading series.

Next up...... goodness, by Sean Christopher Llewis (Killadelphia)

Staged Reading of Yellow by Jessica Dickey

2011-05-31T23:06:00.000-04:00

Yellow, written by Jessica Dickey, is the story of Anna, a young American woman who befriends Ylbere, a young Muslim man who recently survived the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia. Set against The Yellow Wallpaper, the Victorian short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Yellow is an exploration of intimacy and violence.

This play will be presented as part of our Racey Plays Reading Series. Directed by Michole Biancosino, this reading features the fine work of Megan Byrne, Jessica Rothenberg, Josh Barrett, and Alfredo Narciso.

Looking forward to sharing this amazing play with you.

RSVP on our Facebook Fan page.

See you there!

Announcing: 2nd Annual Video Monologue Contest

2011-05-02T21:34:00.000-04:00

Sight/Site Specific Video Monologues: NYC

We are looking for 60 second monologues about incredible sights at incredible sites in New York City.

Were you recently chilling on the Great Lawn in Central Park with a friend and ended up witnessing a mugging?
While waiting on the subway platform for the F train did you get flashed by a woman in a trench coat?

Were you sipping coffee in a café near the GW Bridge when you looked up to meet your future fiance? Write about it!

We want your 60 second submission about amazing sights at amazing locations – sight/site specific monologues about incredible events at specific spots in NYC.

Your monologue should be:

“Sight specific” – about an event you witnessed/experienced and “site specific” – set in a specific NYC location andaround 60 seconds in length

(hint: that’s way less than a page in length).

Submissions should be sent to michole@projectytheatre.org IN THE BODY OF THE EMAIL no later than May 20, 2011.

NO ATTACHMENTS WILL BE OPENED.

We will choose our top 5 choices to be announced on our blog and website June 25, 2011. The 5 winning monologues will be cast, shot, and fully produced by Project Y and released on our website and YouTube.

Talkback with Racey Plays playwright: Antu Yacob

2011-04-27T20:17:00.000-04:00

Mourning Sun by Antu Yacob at ART NY on April 18, 2011

Our April 18th reading of MOURNING SUN was a huge success.
We had a standing-room only crowd of 55 audience at ART NY's Bruce Mitchell Room.
And when the reading was over, nobody wanted to leave - everyone wanted to talk about
the play! That's exactly what this series is all about.
Thank you to everyone who was able to come out and support this amazing
play and playwright.

Antu and I had a chance to catch up and reflect on the reading. Here's our
online discussion:

MB: What was different/surprising/new in this reading as compared to other readings of the play?

AY: The difference in this reading in comparison to others I've had was that I really heard the piece because I wasn't in the reading. Through the listening and great acting/directing, I was able to hear the cuts that needed to be made as well as recognize what worked for the story.

MB: Why did you write MOURNING SUN? why is this story important to you as a person/as an artist?

AY: I wrote Mourning Sun because my sister is a medical student and was fortunate enough to volunteer at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital a few years ago as part of her studies. The stories she told me of the women she met unsettled and stirred my spirit in a way that altered me forever. All I could think of was that any one of those girls could have been me. It incensed me that this thing is 100% preventable. The information my sister shared with me compelled me to further research fistula and find what customs, what were my own people doing to our own girls and women to create and continually contribute to this epidemic. The script is the result of my research and my way of educating others about what my sisters are going through.

MB: I love love love the way Michael Jackson is so enmeshed in this play - it's the most unique and yet universal thing about the play, I think. Do you love Michael too? Whats your relationship to MJ?

AY: I do love Michael Jackson!!!! My mother cried for a long time when she heard of his passing. His music is so moving, physically and emotionally. When we came to the States, I was 5 years old and I remember him being the only musical artist my mom would let me listen to in the house, he was the first musician I remember listening to. With Mourning Sun I wanted to capture the international phenomenon that he was, still is. I'm not sure if those of us in the States really understand how Michael and his music left a stamp on our planet. I don't think there's a single Ethiopian out there that doesn't love Michael. Ok you get it right, I love Michael LOL.

MB: What's next for the play? What's your ultimate goal long term for this story?

AY: I would really like to get this story on its feet, in a theatrical production running in New York, with some of the proceeds donated to the Fistula Foundation. A long-term goal I have for MOURNING SUN is for it to be turned into a film so that the story can reach even more people. I think you and I should talk about the theatrical production and see what we can come up with.

Thank you to everyone who was able to come out and support this amazing
play and playwright. Sign up for our email list to keep informed of the next steps
in MOURNING SUN's development as Antu Yacob tries to get it up and on its
feet in NYC.

MB

Racey Plays Reading Series: Mourning Sun

2011-03-29T21:21:00.008-04:00

We are excited to announce Mourning Sun by Antu Yacob to be the second play to be presented as part of our Racey Plays Reading Series.

About the play:

When Biftu, a bright and upbeat girl from the Bahr Dar region of Ethiopia, turns fourteen she suddenly becomes the focus of her mother's ambition. Caught in a tug of war between cultural traditions and her own desires, Biftu dreams about the world beyond village life. "Mourning Sun" unearths the everyday violence lurking under the name "tradition" in Africa.

About the playwright:

Antu Yacob was born in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia and raised from the steep hills of San Francisco to the translucent lakes of Minnesota. She received her MFA in Acting from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. She was last seen on stage as Velma in The Theater Project's production of Crowns. Regional theatre credits include Primary Stages national tour of In the Continuum , Pillsbury House Theatre's The House that Crack Built, A Jew on Ethiopia Street at Mixed Blood Theatre, Pangae World Theatre's No Longer At Ease and The Gilded Six-Bits with Word-for-Word Theater Company. Film & television credits include Law & Order:SVU and Inspiration. She is founder of Shaggae's Song Peforming Arts Collective, an nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and producing new works about international women's issues as well as providing performing arts training to students grades 4-12.

Currently she teaches a song as monologue acting course to high school students at Somerset County Vocational & Technical School in New Jersey. Although writing poetry & short stories have long been a passion of hers, Mourning Sun is Antu's first script.

Join us for a staged reading of this play on Monday, April 18th at 7:30pm in the Bruce Mitchell Room at ART/NY, 520 8th Avenue, 3rd Floor.

We're looking forward to sharing this new work with you...

Racey Plays follow-up: a chat with Kevin R. Free

2011-03-23T21:32:00.007-04:00

Playwright, Actor, and Theatre Artist Extraordinaire:
KEVIN R FREE and I have a post-mortem discussion of his RACEY PLAY reading

"A Raisin in the Salad: Black Plays for White People"

In our reading, the stage directions were really important to the audience experience of the play. In thinking of staging the play, do you feel that your stage directions have their own voice?
My stage directions do have their own voice... Thank God. I like to see myself as a "Negro Intellectual," someone who says a lot of things before he gets to a point. I'd like my stage directions to read that way: long-winded often, funny at times, self-important always. I am not sure that any of my plays make sense to the reader without some form of my Negro Intellectual to hold hands and usher the reader to the danger (or comedy) of the next scene. I think it's my way of saying, "I'm only angry and edgy in my plays; I'm more charming in real life. Read on (bitches)." I was happy to have David Carl read the stage directions and shocked and delighted that he became such a funny part of the reading.

The main character in "A Raisin in the Salad: BPFWP" is KevinRFree. I know that I was excited to have the REAL Kevin R Free play the role. Moving forward, do you want to play yourself in the play?

I don't think I want to play myself in this play (unless, of course, it is a requirement of the theatre who produces it). The play is about a specific moment in my career and I felt at the reading that I was tied to what I wrote, when I really wanted to say other things. Hmm. Now that I am writing this, I suppose if I had more rehearsal time and were directed by someone else, I would have found a way to make it work - even write newer material for the Kevin R. Free character. There's also a moment in the show - "Black Plays FOUR White People" - in which Kevin R Free reveals the (very bad) beginnings of a solo show. That scene was really hard for me to play straight, without giving a wink and a nod about how I know how bad it is... Maybe that's a good reason for me to play myself - because I'd be playing myself in the past, playing the me who doesn't really see his own humanity in the same moments that others see it. I have colleagues who tell me that I MUST play myself. Perhaps they want to see the guts & gore associated with this play firsthand. Hmmm. I'm still thinking about it.

Although since this reading, I have FINALLY seen "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind" by the New York Neo-Futurists, this reading was my first introduction to seeing that kind of work done.
Does the play work as a neo-futurist piece?
It DOES make sense as a neo-futurist piece, but a neo-futurist would have to direct it. I think it could either way. One of the facets of neo-futurism that most excites me is that, as performers, we don't have to "get" why we do the things we do in our plays. If someone gives us a task, we have to do it. The task gives us our objectives. Emotions are organic, because they are real - we react to how it feels to do the task, or whether we succeed or fail to do the task. Further, we acknowledge that we cannot SEE what a scene looks like, so we trust that while we are doing the scene, doing our tasks, that the audience is "getting" what we often do not. It's kind of freeing as a performer not to have to do anything more than what our director tells us. It is to me, at least. I don't think that actors are robots, but I think - at least with this play - what we do can be simplified.

As part of the rewriting process, how do you streamline the action of the play?
I cut a couple of scenes and combined a couple of others, and I couldn't be happier about it. There's one more moment I'd like to add for now, and I think the play is now short enough for me to add it. I think the play needs a short moment to acknowledge the struggles of other people of color. I won't go into what I think will happen, but it will definitely have an edge (and add to the number of people in the cast for that moment).

Thanks so much, Kevin, for being the first playwright to kickoff this series
for Project Y!

MB

Racey Plays Reading Series Kick Off! A Raisin in the Salad: Black Plays for White People by Kevin R. Free

2011-02-09T19:57:00.009-05:00

We are excited to kick off our Racey Plays Reading Series with A Raisin in the Salad: Black Plays for White People written by the illustrious Kevin R. Free.

A Raisin in the Salad: Black Plays for White People is a dangerous comedy that looks at popular culture and artistic and racial marginalization. In 20 short parodies of plays, films, and various pop culture events, A Raisin in the Salad: Black Plays for White People, tells the story of one artist who, dogged by his conscience, is ready to leave behind his life’s work.

Kevin R. Free, the creator of Black Plays for White People, wants OUT. He announces to his adoring public that he will move on to creating work that is more in line with his sociopolitical beliefs. But his creations – Whitelady, Blackboy, Blackgirl, Whiteboy, Whitegirl (the stars of his Black Plays for White People) – frightened that they may never again see the lights of the stage, revolt. They perform the roles they were meant to play, taking the words already written for them to create new plays, thus trapping Kevin R. Free in his own artistic identity prison.
Why do a reading series about Racey Plays you might ask?
The idea for the "Racey Plays" reading series comes from my own interest in and fascination with race and racism - and more specifically how race effects the way we see other people and ourselves.

My world got shaken up the first time I traveled to India with my boyfriend to meet his family and travel. It was the most foreign sensation to be looked at as foreign. Everywhere I went, people stared at me. In the streets, beggars and merchants swarmed around me. That's normal. I was obviously a tourist and that's who gets goods hawked to them. But I got more attention that just for being a tourist. I was stared at by EVERYONE. EVERYWHERE. I had never felt all those eyes on me before. Mostly they were looks of interest, but it still felt so strange to be looked at because I was so glaringly different. When I mentioned this to my boyfriend, he laughed and said - more or less - "Welcome to my world! That's what its like for me every day at home. This is the only time I'm not stared at like that." That really floored me. I mean, to suddenly feel what it is like for someone considered a "minority" in America to be in a room, a street, a city, a country, where you stand out is an intense sensation that makes you become self-aware and self-conscious. This feeling stayed with me forever after that.

Since then, I've had many experiences of feeling "outside" the racial majority. The more countries I experienced, the more I was able to again confront the feeling that race, the color of one's skin, plays a huge role not only in how people perceive an individual, but in how that individual begins to perceive herself. I became keenly interested in race - in trying to figure out all the implications. I even wrote a one woman show about it.

Now I am looking to share the voices of others artists who are trying to explore the intricacies of race and culture in their work. Ultimately, these are plays about identity, about what it means to be a human being living in a skin, a culture, an ethnicity, or a language that just doesn't quite fit the majority mold.

We hope you can join us for the kick off to the series with Kevin's play, it will no doubt be an incredible night of theater.

We're growing and we're taking you with us...

2010-12-16T00:14:00.013-05:00

Our 2011 Fundraising Campaign is underway! We've grown tremendously over the past year and we owe that to some new enthusiastic company members and the support and encouragement of people like you. Yes, you!

If you're just becoming familiar with us this past year, our company has quite an interesting history.

In 1999 Project Y’s founders united as artists fueled by an unorthodox model: make the highest level of theatre possible for 5 years and then disband. We were aware of the root causes in the struggles of theatre companies in America, and a limited life inherently conquered them. We shed the influence of external expectations and tackled the work that challenged and engaged us. And as a result, a remarkable groundswell of acclaim, support, and attention arose from audiences and artists alike.

After 5 years and 14 productions, we stayed true to our mission and dispersed to the top graduate training programs in the country, expanding our minds and our contacts. After naturally landing in New York City upon graduation, Project Y Theatre Company was re-launched in the spring of 2009.

Project Y is now primed to take another leap: expanded programming, more performances and longer runs, with grants and larger fundraising events in the works. As we sit on the precipice of growth in NYC, we need you now more than ever.

A 100% tax deductible donation will allow us to continue to foster the work of new artists and create theatre that is a vital part of our society.

Imagine what we could accomplish with your continued support! Looking forward to sharing our work with you in 2010...

The Revival: Meet the Choir and Congregation

2010-09-24T20:20:00.003-04:00

Thanks to all of those who have attended the past three weeks of performances for The Revival! The show has been a great success due to all of those involved and our audience members who have spread the good word.

If you have attended the show or your planning on attending our last day of performances, you'll notice that we have both a choir and congregation that play an interesting role in the show.

Take a peak at the videos below to learn more.

The Revival: Judy Bowman, Casting Director, discusses casting the show and tips for aspiring actors

2010-09-21T13:59:00.007-04:00

Project Y was honored to partner with Casting Director Judy Bowman to cast our current production of The Revival. Throughout the run, we've received some incredible reviews of our casting choices. See below:

"This is one of the best cast assemble for an Off-Off Broadway show in a long time, perfectly directed by Michole Biancosino...it's certain to win over fans of good theater."

- NY press

"What a perfect play for these times...an enormous tale and fortunate to have a cracker jack cast that is ready, willing, and more than able."

- NY Theatre Guide

We got a chance to sit with Judy recently to discuss casting for the show and she offered some advice for aspiring young actors in NYC.

Tonight's performance is Industry Night dedicated to the New York Theatre community. Visit www.broadwayoffers.com and use code: INDS for $15 tickets.

Actors who attend the show are encouraged to bring their headshots to be submitted to Judy Bowman Casting.

Beyond Gay: LGBT Performances for The Revival

2010-09-15T18:07:00.013-04:00

David Darrow (on floor) and Trent Dawson in The Revival

This post was written by guest blogger Joe Basile

At the age of 16, I was lucky enough to see the original production of Angels in America on Broadway starring Stephen Spinella, Marcia Gay Harden, and Jeffrey Wright, among others. At the time, I had no idea what I was about to see. I was enrolled in a college level musical theater program at NYU (or what seems more like camp looking back) for ambitious young theater geeks. After a day full of singing and dancing our little butts off in the hot studios at 440 Lafayette, we got to see some amazing plays and performances in the evening of all genres.

That night I was blown away by the performance. Never had I seen gay characters explored with such depth and nuance. It was an eye opening experience for me, one that would shape my work as an artist in years to come. (Recently, I was excited to hear about its return to the stage at the Signature Theatre Company.) Before that, the only gay characters that I recognized in the media were Jim J Bullock from Too Close for Comfort or John Ritter from Three's Company. One was closeted and the other was faking it. Boy have times changed!

It's been exciting to witness how gay characters in theater, and in film and television have evolved. I've seen more and more playwrights and directors experiment with subtlety and complex issues with gay characters. On the flip side, it's also been fun to watch entertaining romantic comedies like Trick or even Another Gay Movie, that quite simply, are pure eye candy and explore a mood or emotion. I love the diversity here.

Another shift in consciousness over the past ten years or so has been the development of the LGBTQ theater community. It's wonderful to see how the community has grown and united to create organizations to tackle health issues, marriage equality, and human rights all over the world.

Why else is this important? I think whenever you bring people together, questions get asked and people start talking. In turn, silence is broken. Audre Lorde, writer, poet and activist, once wrote:

"What are the words you do not yet have? What do you need to say? For it is not difference which immobilizes us, but silence and there are so many silences to be broken."

I can't think of a better non-threatening way to do this then through the structure of a play.

I've been excited to work with Project Y to help promote their current production of The Revival and to help coordinate their LGBTQ evening performance (Thursday, Sept 16th 8pm) and matinee performance (Sept 19th 3pm). Tickets for the Thursday performance can be purchased for $15 when you use promo code: LGBT and when you visit www.broadwayoffers.com.

If you've watched some of our videos about the show, you'll notice that no one describes it solely as a gay play. Yes, there are gay characters but underneath it all is a story about inner conflict, desire, and the role of religion in our lives (at least in my opinion). Something that anyone can relate to.

I hope that you will join us for these performances. If you like what you see, I encourage you to go to the New York Innovative Theatre Awards website and vote for our production to bring the attention of our efforts to the larger New York theater community.

See you at The Revival!

The Revival: Opening Night & Upcoming Events...

2010-09-12T15:20:00.014-04:00

Thanks to all of those who attended shows during our previews and opening weekend. We are excited to share that we had sold out performances! Below is a schedule of a couple of themed nights we have coming up. Looking forward to seeing you at The Revival...

Wednesday, September 15th - Middlebury Alumni Night

Thursday, September 16th - LGBT Night (followed by cocktails at HK Lounge).

Friday, September 17th - Actors Theatre of Louisville Night

Saturday, September 18th - Student Matinee Performance followed by a Q and A

Sunday, September 21st - Industry Night

Thursday, September 23rd - Rutgers Alumni Night

Sunday, September 19th - LGBT Matinee Performance followed by a Q & A

For more information and to purchase tickets please click here.

Here are some pics of our opening party at The Lion Theatre after Opening Night..

The Revival: Playwright & Director

2010-09-11T09:24:00.002-04:00

Theatre is a collaborative art. A successful production is reliant on the combined efforts of the actors, designers, and of course, the playwright and director.

For our production of The Revival (which opens tonight!), the Project Y artistic and production staff does an amazing job of embracing the elements that truly make a production successful: truth, respect, and passion.

From the first reading to the final preview of The Revival, we've been working hard to create theatre that is dynamic; that engages and challenges the intellect and emotions of our audience. The three elements I mentioned above take us there. They each complement each other and give us all an unspoken blueprint to create a rewarding experience for our audience and our company.

Liam Joynt, Co-Producer of The Revival, recently sat down with our director and playwright to discuss the origins of their collaboration and work.

The Revival: Meet Our Cast

2010-09-06T20:20:00.009-04:00

The previews for our upcoming production of The Revival begin just two short days away and we are officially in The Lion Theater at Theater Row on 42nd Street!

For the show, we are fortunate to work with some of New York's most talented and amazing actors that have been seen on both Broadway and Off-Broadway stages, and in film and television.

If you're a soap fan, you might recognize Emmy nominated actor Trent Dawson playing the role of Eli. Trent appeared on As The World Turns, which after entertaining fans for half a century, recently aired its last episode. We're happy to be a part of the next stage of Trent's career.

David Darrow plays the role of Daniel and is a recent alum of The Actors Apprentice Program at the Actors Theatre of Louisville. Recently, we got a chance to ask David some questions about the show and his character.

Raymond McAnally, has appeared in episodes of Nurse Jackie and 30 rock as well as Off-Broadway shows here in New York City, he plays the role of Trevor.

Aidan Sullivan plays the role of June. She was in the highly acclaimed production of Fiona Shaw's Medea on Broadway. Which if you missed it, was one of the most emotionally charged productions of the season.

But don't take our word for it! Check out the work of the cast during our run for The Revival through September 25th.

We're offering special ticket promotions through Twitter and Facebook. So become a fan and/or follow us for the latest.

We're looking forward to sharing our work with you....

Talk Back At Us

2010-09-03T21:21:00.003-04:00

When we were younger we were often told, "don't talk back." How infuriating was that? Whether we were trying to express ourselves or provide an explanation, it didn't matter, we complied (well, sometimes).

As adults, we changed our habits or as Kathy Griffin says, we got manners: we learned to talk back after people left the room.

With the recent development and popularity of social media in our culture, a new voice has emerged. We can basically say what we feel like without directing any information to the appropriate person. We are beginning to become accustomed to sharing our thoughts in 140 characters or in short incomplete sentences on posts, forums, and comment boxes.

(Don't get me wrong, these are modes of communication that we've embraced as a company and use! We are glad that people are having these conversations and sharing thoughts and ideas. But there is sometimes a desire to dig a bit deeper.)

We see these reviews and posts quite often for restaurants and products, and, of course, theater.

Theater is, at its best, a reflection of life, created by and for a community. And as John Patrick Shanley puts it, "a safe place to do unsafe things." Plays have the power to ask questions and generate dialogue within a community. And what better way to foster the community of a young theater company then by providing direct feedback; to support us in our explorations in creating theater that simultaneously challenges the intellect and inspires the spirit?

By now you may have noticed a light blue box to the right of this post. Our publicist, the wise and astute Karen Greco, discovered this new feature that theater companies are starting to use.

Here's how it works: simply click on the link and you'll be directed to an information form where you can give a theater company feedback on their show. Your name is optional and you are instructed to be "honest, tactful, and helpful."

You are simply asked:

What went right?

What went wrong?

What can we do differently next time to be better?

Do you have any other thoughts?

We think it's a great idea and we're glad to experiment with it for our upcoming production of The Revival which begins previews September 9th.

It's pretty much a virtual "after the show talkback," thus the name.

As always, telling us something is better than not saying anything at all, so use Twitter or Facebook, or this blog, or buy us a drink after the show, but if you're willing, give Talkbackr a try.

What do you think of Talkbackr?

Behind the scenes: reviving an 1840's barn for The Revival

2010-08-30T21:17:00.010-04:00

In The Dramatic Imagination by Robert Edmond Jones, a set designer is described as having the task to "...sense the atmosphere of a play with unusual clearness and exactness. He must actually live in it for a time, immerse himself in it, be baptized by it. This process is by no means so easy as it seems."

For our upcoming production of The Revival, our illustrious Set Designer, Kevin Judge, does the unimaginable, he makes it all seem easy. It's ironic that part of our play is set in a church. Kevin seems to have baptized himself in the world of the play, and soon enough he will be the priest of the audience, baptizing and transporting us to Hot Springs, Arkansas where the play takes place.

Below is an early sketch that Kevin created for the set of The Revival. With further collaboration with director Michole Biancosino and the rest of the company, some further adjustments have been made to serve the play and make our storytelling more dynamic. You'll have to come see the show to see the final adjustments!

To create the set, Producing Artistic Director Andrew Smith, found theater gold. Through a Craig's list advertisement, he found someone who was dismantling a barn that dates back to the 1840's. On a rainy day last week, Andrew drove up to Massachusetts and removed planks of wood from one side of the barn. He was ecstatic to find the wood in "amazing condition."

The use of this barn wood to build our set truly transforms the stage. Its texture, color, and history tells a story of its own. Jones also mentions in The Dramatic Imagination a vibration that is created with the fusing of all the objects that appear on a set: walls, furniture, props. He describes this fusing as "a kind of embodied impulse."

Yes, the set vibrates, it pulses, and Jones does an incredible job of describing what happens next when the curtain rises: "Everything on the stage becomes a part of the life of the instant. The play becomes a voice out of a whirlwind. The terrible and wonderful dynamis of theatre pours over the footlights."

Don't you love that description? Where else can you experience that for the price of an $18 ticket? In NYC?!

Any thoughts on Jones's description? What do you think are the essential elements to create a good set design?

Rehearsing for The Revival

2010-08-26T11:04:00.005-04:00

After a too long break - this blog is back and running to update you
on all the behind-the-scenes happenings as Project Y prepares for this
year's big production:

THE REVIVAL, by Samuel Brett Williams

A Harvard educated son of a Southern Baptist preacher returns to his Arkansas hometown to rebuild his father’s congregation. Under pressure to grow the congregation to compete with neighboring mega-Churches, the young Pastor seizes an opportunity to cleanse a mysterious stranger of his homosexuality, becoming an overnight evangenical superstar. But at what cost?

Featuring Trent Dawson, Ray Macanally, Aidan Sullivan, and David Darrow

Directed by Michole Biancosino

September 9th through 25th at Theatre Row Studios
$18

For full info and link to tickets: www.projectytheatre.org

Thanks for Coming !

2010-06-22T06:57:00.008-04:00

We wanted to give a huge SHOUT OUT to all the people who came to
the fundraiser party on Saturday. It was amazing how many new faces
were there, mixed in with some of the tried and true PY clan.

The videos were amazing, the space was totally funky, the jazz was outstanding,
the burlesque was "fan"-tastic, and people were dressed to impress.
We had an artsy hat posse, an imposing tuxedo posse, and everyone else total
swanky.

To all the party-goers: Thank you!

Enjoy these pictures taken at the event!

The PARTY of the Year - June 19th!

2010-05-25T15:44:00.006-04:00

TICKETS ONLINE NOW!

Saturday, June 19th at 7pm

CONFESSIONALS
....the Party event of the Year

Open Bar
Live Jazz
Burlesque

The premier of our video installations:
"Confessionals"

Details to follow here and at www.projectytheatre.org
BUY your TICKETS now!

Announcing the Winners of PY's CONFESSIONALS monologue contest

2010-05-11T11:19:00.008-04:00

Project Y is pleased to announce the TOP 5 Confessionals:

Urges, by Helen McTiernan
Mary, by Boris Khaykin
Boss, by Whitney Arcaro
The List, by Ron Pullins
Billy, by James Pachino

Congratulations to our winners and thanks to all the fabulous writers who sent in their great monologues. We couldn't believe the response... makes us want to plan ahead and start thinking of the next themed contest....

You can join Project Y for the unveiling of these CONFESSIONALS at our 2nd annual Fundraiser Party. Last year was so incredible, its the party of the year.

Mark your calendars for the PY party:
Saturday, June 19th at 7pm.

This year's party theme ? You guessed it: CONFESSIONALS! These videos will be the centerpiece of the party.

More details soon: www.projectytheatre.org

KICK ASS PLAYS BY BAD ASS WOMEN series: New Play Reading on May 9th

2010-04-28T12:50:00.020-04:00

Advanced Maternal Age

Imagine a florescent-lit room on the maternity floor of a New York City hospital learning the doʼs and dontʼs of becoming a modern mommy .

Mastitis, baby-wearing and bugaboo are just a few

new words being added to your vocabulary. You have officially entered the funhouse world of mothering.

Who are you?

Where has your life gone?

Will you get it back?

And do you have to take the child with you when you leave the hospital?

A tale of one womanʼs ambivalent journey into motherhood with the First Lady of France as her guide.

FREE !

May 9th at 7:30pm

Lilli O'Brien's Pub

67 Murray Street

The Artists:

Karen Zippler: Girl Scouts of America, Fringe Festival 2006, Two Noble Kinsmen, Bus Stop, Pentecost, Antony & Cleopatra, The Misanthrope, Resurrection Blues, Itʼs All In the Timing, all with The Old Globe in San Diego, California. The Steward of Christendom & Undiscovered Country at the Huntington. TV: Law &Order :CI, Conviction. Film: The Wedding Dress, Duh with Debbie Harry. Karen received her BFA in acting from Boston University and her MFA at The Old Globe.

Jennifer-Lynn McMillin: The Apostle Project, Arahisak, But Above All, Miss Julie all with Theatre Mitu which Jenni-Lynn is also a founding member. Honky Tonk Angels with North Coast Rep, Unbound ( The Story of Fanny Kemble) with Prospect Theater Co. and Davis McCallum, Sky Girls, Resurrection Blues, Twelfth Night, Antony and Cleopatra, Itʼs All in the timing, All with The Old Globe in San Diego, California. My Fair Lady with Santa Monica Playhouse, Hair with Brea civic Light Opera. Jenni-Lynn received her B.A in theater from U.C.L.A and her M.F.A at the Old Globe.

More Info:

www.projectytheatre.org

Pelvis Power, anyone?

2010-04-13T19:21:00.005-04:00

Project Y Wants your Pelvis!

PY Staffer and Pilates Instructor, Emily Voorhees, will

be hosting her first of 2 pilates lessons to benefit Project Y.

Pilates by Project Y

Saturday, April 17th

10am-12pm

PAY WHAT YOU WILL

Simple Studios

134 W. 29th Street, 2nd Floor (between 5th and 6th ave)

JUST SHOW UP

Come bend and breath with us... then enjoy a glass of complimentary O.J. and Schmoozing!

If you can't make this week, see next week's Pilates date and time on our website!

Check out a Sneak Preview of THINGS THAT DON'T HAPPEN

2010-04-01T21:58:00.003-04:00

To buy tickets and more info go to

www.projectytheatre.org

2010-03-22T21:05:00.013-04:00

Things That Don't Happen: Modern Love Stories

Plays by Lia Romeo

Original Songs by Tony Biancosino

A Workshop Production/Fundraiser/Theatrical Event conceived by Michole Biancosino

Half rock concert/half theatre, this evening of quirky love songs

and hilarious plays is for anyone who ever has been, will be,

or wants to be in love. Witness a collection of alcoholics and

depressives, bridesmaids and grooms, perverts and prostitutes

looking for the happy ending to their un-fairytale lives.

You DO NOT want to miss this one - its going to ROCK YOUR WORLD!

Two performances only -

Monday, April 5th at 7:30pm (Pay what you will)

Saturday, April 10th at 8:00pm ($30 cheap)

CENTER STAGE

48 W 21st St # 4
New York, NY 10010-7314

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

and you know what else???

PILATES fundraiser (Pay what you will)

Led by the oh, so fabulous EMILY VOORHEES

All proceeds go to PY!

Saturday, April 17th 10am-12pm

Sunday, April 25th 12-2pm

SIMPLE STUDIOS

134 West 29th Street
New York, NY

RESERVE YOUR PILATES SPACE NOW!

(We are soooo busy I don't even want to talk about it!)

You want to see EVERYTHING we're doing?

Check out PY's website for links and info!

2010-02-23T12:30:00.002-05:00

PY Blog Readers,

You are the first to know about PY's first ever writing contest.

In effort to mix the best of two mediums, we are going to be
making a series of short video monologues.
We want to open our doors to anyone and everyone who might have
some unbelievable itch to write a thirty second, forty second, really
anything up to sixty second monologue to be shot and edited into
video format and posted on our website.

First - become a FOLLOWER of my blog!
Next - Email me your monologue in the body of the email:
michole (at) projectytheatre.org
Absolutely NO ATTACHMENTS will be opened.
Each person can submit up to five monologues, but please submit all five in the same email.

Deadline: March 14th
(ABSOLUTELY NO SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE)

Confess Away and
Happy Writing!

Interview with Callie Kimball, Bad Ass Playwright of SOFONISBA

2010-02-16T11:38:00.010-05:00

Let's look back at the first play from our KICK ASS PLAYS BY BAD ASS WOMEN reading series.

Here's an interview with Callie Kimball, playwright and blogger extraordinaire, about her experience writing and developing SOFONISBA:

MB: When did you start writing SOFONISBA? What sparked the writing of it/the idea?

CK: I stumbled across the paintings of Sofonisba Anguissola in college purely by chance. I found her portraits arresting because her subjects seemed to hold so much in reserve. They all had such poise and seemed to carry secrets; their glances were oblique. At the time, I hadn’t yet discovered playwriting. I was writing a lot of poetry that was inspired by paintings, but more than ten years went by before I felt ready to try to write about her work. That’s how intimidated I was by her art.

Her life story, just from what little we know about her, touches on so many fascinating themes—making sacrifices for her art, being transplanted to a new country, navigating court politics, struggling with a new language, protecting her standing as a woman artist, respecting the role of the Catholic church in terms of her work…it just goes on and on. I also juxtaposed her with the young Queen Isabel, whose work was creating heirs, in contrast to Anguissola’s work creating portraits.

In 2007 I applied for a grant from the Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation to write a play based on Anguissola’s work. I received the grant, and that was it—now I HAD to write the play.

MB: Have you had other readings of the play? What surprised you about people's reactions then or THIS time, with PY? What did you learn from any of them?

CK: I’ve had a few readings now. The first one was at the Kennedy Center and it was just the first 40 pages. At that point, I didn’t know if I had anything worth pursuing, but the response was so encouraging that I started to think maybe I had hit upon something that might have wide appeal. I continued working on it, and once I hit about 70 pages, it had a reading at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. That was a very special reading, because the museum featured a portrait by Anguissola in the main hall, so people could see her work.

I also worked on it a bit with the fine people at Electric Pear Productions, who gave me some actors and the time and space to explore the play further. THEN you guys came along and I was so excited that you wanted to do a reading, because of course I’ve been a huge fan of Project Y for what, 10 years now, since we were back in DC together. So I fleshed out the script more and that was really the first time hearing the whole piece strung together in one reading. And yes, I was surprised by the audience reaction, because I hadn’t realized how funny the play is at times.

MB: What's the next step you're going to take in your process with SOFONISBA moving forward?

CK: I’ve begun sending it around to all the places that take unagented submissions. I’ve written a number of plays now, had a few small commissions, and produced a handful of my own plays, but this is the first time I feel ready to try to find a larger stage for one of my plays. I want to hand it over to designers who know how to bring a play like this to life. I’m fascinated by the use of empty space, and I would love to see this three-actor play explored in a large space. There is more work I want to do on the play, but I’m letting it sit for a few months. I’ll know when I’m ready to go back in. I don’t believe in tweaking things just to tweak them—I have to know what I’m doing if I’m going to go back into a script, otherwise it’s a disaster!

MB: What else do you do besides write plays?

CK: I’ve started making movies! I bought two Ultra HD Flip cameras and tiny tripods, and I’m learning how to tell stories in a whole new way. It’s fun and exciting and not at all easy! (My first videos are here: http://www.youtube.com/user/calliekimball) . I also work at NBC—I was very lucky to nab a job there when I moved to NY a little over a year ago. I’m working in Digital Products and Services, and learning about XML and SSL Certificates and metadata files. I love working with the tech guys—they’re nice and funny and always eager to share knowledge. Other than that, I eat a lot of sandwiches. The usual.

MB: What's the last play you've seen?

CK: I saw Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker at Playwrights Horizons. It was delightful and spare and funny. I loved how transparent the characters were. A deceptively simple play that was deeply touching.

MB: What makes you a "BAD ASS WOMAN"?

CK: Ha! Of course I would never describe myself that way, but since you’ve gone ahead and done it… . Sometimes people say that the things I do are brave. I’m not so sure, because it honestly has felt that I haven’t had other choices than those I’ve made in my life. I’ve done a lot of life work to get where I am now—dealing with poverty and struggling with depression are at the top of the list. Those are pretty high-stakes challenges, and now that I’m on the other side, I just want to make up for lost time and do the best work I can. I guess the thing that keeps me most true is not being afraid to fail in my work. I believe wholeheartedly that the only way to play the game when the stakes are high is to go all in. Which means you really have to believe in what you’re doing, roll up your sleeves, and do the dirty work to inch closer to your goals, whatever they are. I guess it’s all in the trying.

For more info on upcoming plays in KICK ASS PLAYS BY BAD ASS WOMEN reading series, click here!

Also, our VIDEO MONOLOGUE CONTEST is still going on. Check out last week's blog to enter!

In Between Things: Looking for a Bar space for our next Show...

2010-02-10T20:23:00.013-05:00

So we are still accepting submissions for our CONFESSIONALS video monologue contest - check out last week's post for details.

In between other projects we have another project - finding space - and I figured:

Well why not open up and just ask everybody ?

We are looking for a bar that might be interested in hosting our
next show - we're doing a theatrical "event" - a half rock concert/half
play and we want to do it outside of the big old black box.

We are looking for a grungy rock n' roll bar with a stage

a bar that has a back room they'd lend out to bring in an early crowd

any place that has a cool vibe and might want some extra business for an early show

This show is going to be a completely fun and funny experience - 10 actors/live music/Lia Romeo's plays/Tony B's songs - the kind of thing that goes better with a drink and bad lighting - so if you have any suggestions of a place that might fit the bill - send them on here! We would love to give you a Thank You in our program, and we'll buy your first round if your suggestion works out.

Know a place?

Help Us find one!

MB

Announcing a CONTEST.... yup, a contest!

2010-02-01T20:39:00.007-05:00

PY Blog Readers,

You are the first to know about PY's first ever writing contest.

The Theme: CONFESSIONALS

What we are looking for:
1 minute or under monologues to be made into short videos.
We will choose 5 monologues to make into complete videos.
These five videos will be cast, rehearsed, filmed, edited and put on our website.
Once up on the PY website, winners can invite friends to check
out their "fully produced" confessional monologues online.

How to enter:
Email me your monologue in the body of the email:
michole (at) projectytheatre.org
Absolutely NO ATTACHMENTS will be opened.
Each person can submit up to five monologues, but please submit all five in the same email.

Deadline: March 14th
(ABSOLUTELY NO SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE)

Confess Away and
Happy Writing!

MB

Interview with Lia Romeo, Bad Ass Playwright of GREEN WHALES

2010-01-26T00:14:00.005-05:00

MB: When did you start writing GREEN WHALES ? What's the idea that sparked it?

LR:I started writing the play when I was in grad school at Rutgers ... I'm continually drawn to writing love stories, and also to the discrepancies between our cultural fantasies about what love stories should look like (as exemplified by the genre of romantic comedy) and the reality of the many strange and imperfect ways that love manifests itself between strange and imperfect people. So I wanted to explore some of that territory in the play.

MB: Have you had other readings of the play? What surprised you about people's reactions?

LR: I've had several readings, and it's actually surprised me how un-horrified people have been ... I was expecting some strong negative reactions, given the play's subject matter, and I really haven't gotten any. I think audiences are a lot more open-minded than many theaters give them credit for.

MB: What's the next step you're going to take in your process with GREEN WHALES after this?

LR: GREEN WHALES is being world-premiered by the Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City this March - my first Equity production, so I'm very excited!

MB: What else do you do besides write plays?

LR: Write novels and humor books.

MB:What else do you do besides write?

LR: Eat babies.

MB: What's the last play you've seen?

LR: My own, actually - my play RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME opened at Renegade Theatre Experiment in California this past weekend.

MB: What makes you a "BAD ASS WOMAN"?

LR: I eat babies. Um, seriously? I know how lucky I am to have had the life I've had so far, and I believe I can accomplish anything I want to.

Come see a reading Lia's GREEN WHALES this Sunday at 7pm in NYC -
Info at www.projectytheatre.org

KICK ASS PLAYS by BAD ASS WOMEN

2010-01-19T12:16:00.000-05:00

Project Y is off to a faced pace start in 2010!

We are in rehearsals for the next reading in our new series,
Kick Ass Plays by Bad Ass Women,
we're looking for a cool space for a half concert/half play event in May,
the 2nd annual Project Y Fundraiser Party is in planning mode,
and we're getting all the backstage stuff figured out for the world premier of
Samuel Brett Williams' REVIVAL at Theatre Row in September.

Yes, we are insane.

Now here I am, starting a PY blog to keep everyone in the know for what's going on
behind-the-scenes and in between productions.

Our reading series kicked off on November 15th. The first show, SOFONISBA, was a great collaboration with playwright and blogger extraordinaire, Callie Kimball. Next up is the seriously hilarious/hysterically disturbing
GREEN WHALES, by Lia Romeo on January 31st in NYC.
You can go to the PY website for all the info, including the pricetag - free. www.projectytheatre.org

Upcoming topics for this blog - conversations with our PY playwrights and artists, stories from behind-the-scenes, and totally biased opinions from people onstage and backstage.

Hope to see you there!

MB