Crazytown

IN THE PRESENCE OF GREATNESS - AGAIN

I Have Talented Friends
By Sam Perwin

This time of year can be exhausting, but I always try to make time to support the supremely talented people I'm lucky enough to call my friends. Herewith, a roundup of some of the amazingness I've gotten to see over the last few weeks.

It starts with a production in November of A Burial Place by my friend and fellow Crazytown writer Owen Panettieri. As an alumna of many a Panettieri reading and production, I'm always thrilled when I get to see a full production of one of his plays. It was a moving, thoughtful meditation on friendship, loss, and just making sense of life as we know it. I can't wait for the next one.

I next want to give a major shout out to a new friend and colleague Brett Epstein, the creator and producer of The Rule of 7x7. Putting up a show like this every other month must be ridiculously exhausting. And since none of us are in this business for the money (ha!), wrangling seven playwrights, an unknown amount of actors, and making theater magic happen is surely a labor of love. He also wrote and starred in what, in my opinion, was the best play of the night. I'm excited to see and participate in this awesome evening again!

Next, I got a rare glimpse at what my brilliant friend, director Mary Birnbaum gets to do in her role as an acting teacher at Julliard. I've seen many of Mary's (similarly brilliant) opera productions over the years, but I was invited to observe an "open class" of the Artist's Diploma in Opera Studies (ADOS). The six singers performed a sort of improvised evening of arias and monologues they had worked on, basically stitching together the works with their own acting intentions. It was visceral and spontaneous and gorgeous to see new life breathed into opera. 

And finally, just last night I finally got a chance to see Ben Rimalower's double bill cabaret act Patti Issues and Bad with Money. Ben is also a new friend, one whose work I've followed, but never had a chance to see. both shows are raw, shocking, vulnerable, and very very funny. They both reminded me of the sacrifices and pain we artsy folk live through in order to justify our commitment to this sometimes difficult - if not excruciating - life we've inexplicably chosen. Ben showed all of that with wit and aplomb.

As this dreadful year comes to a limping close, it's nice to be reminded that there's still creativity and beauty and art and inspiring people who make inspiring things. So thanks friends, I needed it this month.

SAM PERWIN Actor. Singer. Writer. Tall. www.samperwin.com
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WHO'S EXCITED ABOUT JAKE GYLLENHAAL IN SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE?!?

Oh it's happening... this is not a drill...

by David Davila (Sondheim obsessed Gyllenaal fan)

We may be going down a dark hole as a country and heading toward the end of democracy, but at least we'll get to see Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford in a new production of Sondheim's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. 

Now you may be saying, "Didn't we just get a revival of that a few years ago?"

Sure. Yeah. It was 2008 though... and wouldn't we like 2017 to be even just a LITTLE bit like 2008? Just a little? 

I mean even a little?

Oh sure... now you're saying that SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE is a problem piece... 

Sure... yeah... the book is... problematic... but the score... THE SCORE... that material!!!

THE SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's Jake singing some of the score:

oh Jake...

:::sigh:::

but also Tony winning actress, and budding Broadway legend, Annaleigh Ashford...

Ughhh his voice is so gorgeous and so is his face! I don't want to wait till February!!! I guess I'll just have to keep watching this clip of him doing Little Shop of Horrors last year!!!! 

Oh Jake... Oh Jake... Jake... Jake... talk to me about how you sing though... 

::::sigh::::

WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS

Right. This. Very. Minute.
By Alisha Giampola (Writer/Performer)

It doesn't feel like Christmas yet in New York. There's only been a brief flurry of snow, nothing to stick, nothing to take a picture of. Even I, grumpiest of cold-weather persons, have not yet unpacked my heaviest winter coat. The overall feeling of sadness and dread that settled over the city after the election has not yet dissipated. Difficult times, corrupt leadership, war and strife, these things frequently nudge our greatest artists to produce their greatest art. Beauty is always best forged in the hottest fire. This week, I took myself to see a dear old friend in a play that I absolutely love, but have never had the opportunity to see. Jonathan Larson, of Rent fame, wrote only one other musical in his too-short life. The Keen Company's Tick, Tick...BOOM! is playing right now at The Acorn Theatre in Midtown, and if you have a chance before your flight home this holiday (it closes for good on December 18th), I highly recommend that you see it. Besides the fact that the three actors in it (including my amazingly talented friend George Salazar), are all phenomenal- this show resonates right now in a way that feels incredibly contemporary, despite being set in 1990. Disillusioned by friends having to sell out and work for soulless corporations, struggling with the pull between creating art and seeking stability, uninspired by Bush-era politics, wondering what the decade of one's thirties will bring, and set deep in the heart of the AIDS crisis, I had forgotten how relevant so much of the script is. The AIDS crisis aside, it's basically the life of me and like 90% of my friends.

This holiday season, it feels like we just voted in the Grinch, Mr. Potter, Ebenezer Scrooge...(just basically every bad guy from every Christmas movie ever but with none of the redeeming qualities rolled into one) into office. It felt good to take in art- challenging, beautiful, heartbreaking art. It was a reminder that there is always ugliness, and the job of artists is to shine flashlights into the corners and make the cockroaches scuttle. And there are a lot of dark corners right now. When bullies vie for other bullies to be put in charge, when refugees are being turned away and innocent people are ducking bombs, when an entire country has been conned, it's easy to feel like kindness and generosity are sorely lacking in this world this holiday season. But what George Bailey and Tiny Tim and Mrs. Claus and the Cratchits and Susan Walker and Buddy the Elf and all the Whos down in Whoville want you to remember is that kindness and love and art are the best and really only way to protest anything.

2016 has been a hard year for our world and this new year feels both promising and slightly ominous. So much rests on the small, everyday actions of all of us. The kind of person who assumes the mantle of the most powerful person the world stage, yet feels the need to write a tweet every time someone satirizes him, is the kind of person who requires attention, positive or negative, at any cost. That's the kind of person who will continue to surround themselves with yes-men and sycophants, regardless of their danger to others or to democracy in general. Journalists have their work cut out for them, as do all persons currently in or planning to run for office in this country and in other world democracies. What can artists do in 2017? What should our New Years Resolution be? We can refuse to bend our moral compass towards the closest, brassiest magnet. We can choose our ability to express ourselves to others as a platform for love instead of hate, for inclusivity instead of hostility. We can call the emperor out for wearing no clothes, in numbers too multitudinous to be retweeted. We can keep creating. Keep questioning. As the last song of Tick, Tick...BOOM! reminds us: "Fear or love baby? Don't say the answer: actions speak louder than words." 

I've been thinking a lot about the finale of the operetta Candide by Leonard Bernstein. In college, I sang the role of Paquette in a staging of that final song we performed in a small cabaret of several opera pieces. It is a beautiful song with beautiful lyrics and when I try to talk about what I hope artists do with the time we all have in 2017, when I think about the words I would most like to be my New Years Resolution, if such things can be resolved, these are the words that keep playing through my mind:

Let dreamers dream what worlds they please
Those Edens can't be found
The sweetest flow'rs, the fairest trees
Are grown in solid ground.
We're neither pure nor wise nor good,
We'll do the best we know
We'll build our house and chop our wood
And make our garden grow
And make our garden grow.

ALISHA GIAMPOLA is an NYC based actor/teacher/writer who would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Kiss my ass. Kiss his ass. Happy Hanukkah.
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Chewing on Freedom: One Last Ride

Obama, I see you!
By Erica Slutsky (Writer/Singer/Songwriter)

I’ve watched a ton of political documentaries over the last year and a half, and I keep coming back to Jesse Jackson and Julian Bond. Both tried to be the first Black President, and both failed due to similar factors outside of their control: Youthfulness, a lack of government experience, ties to specific cultural organizations, youth appeal, and the overall fear of putting a minority in charge. It’s strange to think that even fictional portrayals of Presidents were just as reticent to cast a Black actor in the role before President Barack Obama. It was downright revolutionary for director Mimi Leder to single out Morgan Freeman as her choice for the President in 1998’s Deep Impact. The film succeeded anyway, with little controversy. And it’s almost cliché to reference Freeman’s Deep Impact role now, as he would go on to play God (in multiple projects) and narrate Disney’s Hall of Presidents after Obama’s election (watch it be James Woods in 2018). My mom said that she was sure that we’d see a lot more of Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett during the Obama administration because of his reach on the culture. She was wrong.

Of course, satire like this was also taken at face value. But it was a different time…

Even with Obama’s successes, history seems to conveniently erase the anger, paranoia, and “Oh, God, this guy again” talk surrounding both men. While Jackson heartily stumped for Hillary in 2016, Bond, who later became President of the NAACP, received the biggest applause during the Montage of People Who Died™ at the last Democratic National Convention. It’s hard not to feel heartened at this one change Obama incurred, even remembering the near-universal acclaim and upheaval that Obama inspired during his recent years as a rising star in the Democratic Party. It seemed right: After hundreds of years of white men in the White House, which was built by slaves, Obama’s presidency wasn’t just desirable after a disastrous economy and an unpopular war; it was significant. It’s easy to forget that, at the recent DNC, inspiring Black men dominated the proceedings with a message of hope, love, and acceptance, from Lenny Kravitz singing “Let Love Rule,” to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the very first Cultural Ambassador. Maybe the post-Obama influence extended far more than we realized, even if it was all too brief.

Video: Chappelle's Show/Comedy Central

CATS IS AWESOME

Guys. CATS is Awesome.
By Owen Panettieri (playwright, lyricist)

Ladies and G's, your attention please. You've heard of CATS, right? The iconic 80's musical that's back on Broadway? Well, it's awesome. You should go see it. It's great. 

"Owen," you ask, "I don't know anything about the theater, nor its marvelous history of musical productions. Explain to me: What is this CATS you're raving about? A revival? Tell me more!" Well, let me tell you. Composed by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot (I know you've never read it, it's fine), this fantastic musical was originally directed for Broadway by Trevor Nunn with choreography by Gillian Lynne, It was nominated for 11 Tony Awards and won 7 including the Tony Award for Best Musical (obvs, it's amazing). and 2 for TS Eliot - who'd already been dead for 28 years! You hear that, writers? There's hope you'll get yours eventually, even if you're already dead for decades! Never stop writing!

So CATS continued to play on Broadway for an astounding eighteen years. Even more astounding is the fact that my parents never took me to see the musical during its entire original run from 1982 until 2000. Oh, how I begged and pleaded with them in my youth to see this incredible theatrical production! The answer was always NO. The reasoning behind their refusal was never fully explained to me, although I came up with few theories over the years. First, my parents grew up in Brooklyn but were pretty big cityphobes by the time the 80's rolled around. I can't entirely blame them. It's not like Times Square in '85 was the height of safety for a family evening out. Second, our family was on a very tight budget in the 80's and Broadway tickets were not a luxury we could afford. Third, and perhaps most importantly, I think the main reason I was not allowed to see the musical CATS as a child was because I really loved cats and I think my parents (rightfully) feared that if I saw the show, my insistence on getting a cat as a pet would have been undeniable. And they did NOT want a cat (years later, they caved and got me a dog, when I honestly still wanted a cat, but whatever - a pet! hooray!). So I never saw the original show.

PARIS, HERE I COME!

Going halfway across the world to see one of my favorite musicals...why not?
by Alex Syiek (Writer/Performer)

I'm heading to Paris, France to visit my sister (and fellow Crazytown writer) Joanna Syiek this week! And the thing I am most excited for is seeing Notre Dame de Paris. NDdP is an amazing Italian/French musical (that may have been translated into English and played in Vegas - don't look it up, it's awful) adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It was recorded and filmed during its original French run back in 1999. Joanna and I watched the crap out of it while we were in high school. Well, it is currently receiving a revival, and we're going to see it - live! Woot! Anyway, packing last minute! I'll leave you with this wonderful clip from the show:

Show me a more beautiful trio. Vocally and physically.

CAMP CLASSIC WATCH: ZOMBIE PROM THE MOVIE!!!!!

The delicious off-Broadway musical was made into a camp-classic movie that never saw the light of day...

by David Davila (Musical Theatre Writer) 

 

If you're a musical theatre obsessed weirdo like me, then you've loved ZOMBIE PROM the musical for quite some time. I was in a production back in 2007 and boy did we have a blast! It's a hysterical musical about a 1950's high school love affair gone dead; literally. I've always thought it would make a great movie, so you can imagine my surprise when I discovered that they already made it into a movie back in 2007 starring the legendary queen of camp, RuPaul.

It looks like they probably ran out of money during filming because the two and a half hour musical has been in turned into a short thirty-six minute film. Too bad the movie was made back in the days BEFORE Kickstarter and Drag Race. 

Still a short film is better than nothing... or is it just enough to make us long for a full version??? 

I can't decide! At least we have these glorious thirty-six minutes of RuPaul, rotting flesh, and poodle skirts!!!! Someone posted it on Youtube y'all... ENJOY!!!!!

 

WHAT'S HIS NAME, MAN?

Baby camel + hit Broadway show =______________
By Jennifer Anderson (Actor/Singer/Lover of animals and puns)

Crazytown, I know you've been engrossed in election coverage (on SNL and Full Frontal), but I wanted to make sure that a very important piece of news crossed your path that you may have previously missed. I know I did.

On May 9, the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago celebrated the birth of a Bactrian Camel. A little over a month later, on International Ungulate Day, the park debut the youngster under his new moniker: ALEXANDER CAMELTON.

Just like his country he's young scrappy and hungry.

What is not to love about this story? Adorable baby animals and hit Broadway shows go together like baked brie and Pinot Noir. Zoos of the nation, take note. If you need a little help coming up with names for your newborn animals, here are some starters:

Foxy Hart

The name on everybody's lips is gonna be...

Mama Crows

Here she is, boys! Here she is, world!

Miss Honey Badger

THIS IS MY HOUSE

El(e)ph(ant)ba

Okay, this one is a stretch, I know.

JENNIFER ANDERSON is an actor and singer living in Brooklyn. She hopes Alexander Camelton stays away from his sworn enemy in the Tiger pen, Aaron Purr. www.jenniferjanderson.com
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WICKED IN THE AGE OF TRUMP

I recently saw WICKED again, and boy did it hit close to home…
by David Davila

Trick or Treat? I still feel like this whole Trump candidacy is some kind of trick; a joke played on us by Mark Burnett and his team of reality show producers. If they wanted high ratings for the debates, hell for all news channels for three months, they got it! Bravo Mark, and happy Halloween!

Since October is the month of witches and goblins, what better time for me to revisit one of my favorite musicals, WICKED. I recently saw this extravaganza of a show for the seventh time (maybe 8th? I stopped counting) and I must say that in light of recent events, I feel like I saw the show for the first time.

Indeed WICKED is a glaring arraignment of fascism and all the horrors that ensue when a leader uses terror to rule his people. The story hasn’t changed in the last twelve years but the country certainly has and seeing this musical now had quite a different effect on me. I’ve always seen WICKED as the story of a girl who doesn’t fit in yet finds her power and self-worth in fighting for goodness.

However, now I also see WICKED as the story of a con-artist who has gained power through lying about himself, and keeps power by using minorities as a scapegoat. The Wizard of Oz created racism (species-ism?) in Oz where it did not exist before and spreads lies about the animals so that citizens would surrender their rights to him for their own “safety.” The Wizard uses any means necessary, especially blunt force, to round up the animals and imprison them.

What is all the more glaring about WICKED is how the Wizard uses the media to spread his message and make an evil villain of our protagonist. 

When you look at WICKED in 2016, it becomes so relevant that it it’s easy to see why the critics did not accept it in 2003. In 2003 we were still recovering from the 9/11 attacks and we were starting a war under false pretenses. It’s a shame that it has taken this extreme political climate to make me see what was their the entire time. Then again... isn't that what good art is supposed to do?

With a glorious score by master composer Stephen Schwartz and remarkable staging by Joe Mantello, WICKED (how many times have I said WICKED?) hit me in an all new way. See it again, and take a young person with you. WICKED is often dismissed as “catnip” for teens, and to that I say that I hope every young person sees this musical for the sake of future generations.

DAVID DAVILA is the composer of MANUEL VS THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, VOX POP, #52SONGS and author of the Tex-Mex plays ADAN Y JULIO, MEN OF GOD, ABUELAS OR THE POVERTY CYCLE, CREDO, REQUERDOS OF MY LIFE, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, and AZTEC PIRATES AND THE INSIGNIFICANCE OF LIFE ON MARS. He is a self proclaimed Voxist, a Diva enthusiast, and founder of Lone Star Theatre Co. Wanna talk about it? www.daviddavila.net
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IT COULD BE HIM

"I'm just gonna like cry."
By Joanna Syiek (Director/Producer/Blogger)

Has London Road hit your radar? The show was a bit of a smash over in the UK, where it picked up Best Musical at the 2011 Critics' Circle Theatre Awards and four Olivier Award nominations in 2012. Originally a National Theatre production, was recently made into a film that follows a serial murder case in England.

The composer used all found text/interviews from the neighbors in the case. But perhaps most interestingly, matched people's speaking pitch to the notes he ultimately gave them in the composition. This clever approach makes for an incredibly interesting watch. Take a peak at "It Could Be Him," where young town residents explain the paranoia that's set in over the town following the murders:

(And if you've already seen that, catch these boys' silly reinterpretation of the catchy number.)

JOANNA SYIEK is currently an American in Paris with a penchant for original theatre work, clean graphic design, and really good Indian food. She directs around the City of Angels and writes about nourishing creativity, Broadway favorites, and talent obsessions over on her blogging home. www.thoughtsontheatre.wordpress.com
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