El Conquistador!

Just saw El Conquistador! at New York Theatre Workshop and had a great time. My friend Ari called me with a comp and I went in knowing absolutely nothing, which in my opinion is the best way. In contrast, I'm really excited to see Hell House, but it's only because I loved the documentary so much.

Since moving to New York, NYTW has been a place where I've seen some of my favorite pieces. And without them, I never would have discovered Ivo von Hove, or for that matter, Elizabeth Marvel, who is probably the best stage actress working. That production of Streetcar blew my mind. I'm still thinking about it. That bathtub scene will be etched in my subconscious until I die.

So lately NYTW has gotten a shit storm of bad press, but I don't honestly don't care about the whole Rachel Corrie incident (what remains to be seen is if the play is any good or not). So NYTW made a cowardly move and bowed to the pressure of their audience. I only wish I had a subscription audience to pander to.

That said, they have once again mounted an amazing show. The best use of video I've seen in a long time, and that's saying a lot for an Off Broadway house under a not for profit budget. I don't want to give anything away, but it's well worth paying for. Let's just say I'm as white as they come and know next to nada about telanovelas, but I had so much fun, I think I might start watching them. This won't be difficult, since I don't have cable and the Spanish channels are the only ones I get.

The 6 Pack

So I'm directing a ten minute play called 'School for Psychics' by Lucas Hnath as part of the Six Pack Fesitval produced by the NY Neo-Futurists and 24Seven Lab. The plays stars Clay Adams and Tara Perry. It goes up at the Kraine Theater at 85 E 4th St bet. 2nd and 3rd Ave on Sept 24 @ 3pm and Sept 25 @ 8pm. Tickets are only $10.

Durang Doublebill

The Actor's Nightmare &

Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You

by Christopher Durang

September 9-24, 2006

Thurs, Fri & Sat @ 8pm, Sun @ 3pm

The Gallery Players

199 14th Street (bet. 4 & 5th Ave)

Park Slope, Brooklyn

F train to 4th Ave, R train to 9th St.

Cathy Bencivenga, Producer

Doug Howe*, Director

Erika Omundson*, Stage Manager

Featuring: B. Brian Argotsinger*, Nat Cassidy*, Laura Heidinger,

Gael Schaefer*, Sarah Beth-Lee Williams* & Austin Zambito-Valente

Tickets at galleryplayer.com or 212-352-3101

*denotes member of Actors Equity Association

Tragedy is Easy - Comedy is Difficult

So it's past the midnight hour and I'm coming out of a nine hour rehearsal. I have an eight hour one tomorrow. We open in a week. The trouble with comedy is, after awhile, you don't know if it's funny any more or not. There was a time where it was funny. That's why I told the actors to keep 'the bits'. But now I don't know if it's too much or not enough or just plain trying too hard. I don't know if it's that I can't communicate what I need to without just doing it myself or if the actors are only capable of certain feats or if the plays are outdated and aren't effective social commentaries anymore. I think back on today and wonder if we got alot done or very little at all. The only thing I am confident of is that I'm over tired.