- Activists disappointed in Dharun Ravi jail sentence
- Income gap in NYC twice national average: Report
- Lauren Odes: Woman claims she was fired from lingerie company for having big breasts
- Bobby Vaughn: Georgia man becomes third recent victim of flesh-eating bacteria
- Former Rutgers student Dharun Ravi sentenced to 30 days in prison
- PHOTOS: At least 45 arrests, some injuries in Chicago anti-NATO clashes
- Chen Guangcheng: Chinese dissident arrives in NYC
x
When theater gets Ugly, the party starts
BAILEY ROBB
From left: Matt Wise, Pete Forester and Leah Loftin explore social absurdities in “Celebration.”
When directors Nicole Rosner and Danny?Sharron decided to inaugurate an absurdist theater festival, they aimed to create an event that would extend past the stage. As projects and venues were bandied, they stayed committed to one key factor: a low price point with high payback. Their brand of all-inclusive entertainment ranges from improv comedy to rock ‘n’ roll cello, from free Nathan’s hot dogs to tacos from Oaxaca Taqueria; tomorrow’s premiere party hosts a catered buffet from Mama Rosa’s. And every night promises a cash bar of wine and beer. Most importantly? The party never stops.
“You buy one ticket, and the shows end by 11. But it goes all night,” says Rosner, director of Pinter’s witty satire, “Celebration.” In addition to encouraging dialogue among patrons as they stay to eat, drink, dance or simply mingle, the cast and crew remain after each show to share their thoughts.
The two-week fest is staged at Brooklyn Lyceum, a converted former bathhouse. It’s the transformability of the setting that intrigued the directors.
“We’re sick of seeing little plays in black box theaters for upwards of $25,” explains Sharron, director of Ionesco’s “Rhinoceros,” a strange, humorous take on fascism. “After 90 minutes, you’re ousted to bars or cafes, but eventually they’re stacking tables around you. We wanted to welcome audiences to stay.”
Accessible theater
If you’re worried about being cowed by elevated metaphors (such as the Kafkaesque transformation of townspeople into rhinoceroses), never fear. Above all, the goal of the UglyRhino micro-season is keeping attendants continuously engaged. “Schools do [absurdism] and they make it snooty and pretentious,” Sharron states. “Ours is funny. It’s just fun.”
“You buy one ticket, and the shows end by 11. But it goes all night,” says Rosner, director of Pinter’s witty satire, “Celebration.” In addition to encouraging dialogue among patrons as they stay to eat, drink, dance or simply mingle, the cast and crew remain after each show to share their thoughts.
The two-week fest is staged at Brooklyn Lyceum, a converted former bathhouse. It’s the transformability of the setting that intrigued the directors.
“We’re sick of seeing little plays in black box theaters for upwards of $25,” explains Sharron, director of Ionesco’s “Rhinoceros,” a strange, humorous take on fascism. “After 90 minutes, you’re ousted to bars or cafes, but eventually they’re stacking tables around you. We wanted to welcome audiences to stay.”
Accessible theater
If you’re worried about being cowed by elevated metaphors (such as the Kafkaesque transformation of townspeople into rhinoceroses), never fear. Above all, the goal of the UglyRhino micro-season is keeping attendants continuously engaged. “Schools do [absurdism] and they make it snooty and pretentious,” Sharron states. “Ours is funny. It’s just fun.”
|
Add your comment |
_
|
Comments are not reviewed before posting. If you believe a comment has violated the commenting guidelines, please alert a moderator using links provided. |
| F E A T U R E D S P O N S O R S |
X
METRO.US:
READ THE PRINT
EDITION ONLINE:
EDITION ONLINE:
CONNECT
Copyright 2001-2012, Free Daily News Group Inc.