The A.R.T New York / Martin E. Segal Theatre Center
Off-Broadway Theatre Season
Prelude Weekend
October 2 – 4, 2003

On October 2, 3, and 4, 2003, the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center and A.R.T. New York will present the Prelude Weekend Series at The Graduate Center, City University of New York.

A New York first-the magnificent pre-season celebration of some of the best theatre that New York City has to offer, the Prelude Weekend will provide a forum that exemplifies the diverse work being produced by members of New York’s distinctive non-profit Off-Broadway Theatre community. The Graduate Center will host 16 member companies of the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York, providing New York students, faculty and teachers, theatre professionals, and theatre-goers a first look at the eclectic work being developed for the upcoming 2003-04 season and beyond.

Inspired by Washington, D.C’s Kennedy Center program Journey from Page to Stage, the Prelude to Off- Broadway weekend will include readings of new plays, sample rehearsals and process workshops, as well as a series of panel discussions. Many of the presentations will be followed by discussion. Audience members will have a rare chance to see plays in the early stages of development, and artistic directors will have a chance to talk about their developmental process in front of the audience and colleagues.

The weekend will kick off with a panel discussion on Thursday, October 2nd: Illuminating 30 Years of Not for Profit Off-Broadway Theatre. Artistic and managing directors will discuss their experiences and offer their insights about changes in the producing landscape over the past three decades from artistic choices to funding to theatre reviews.

Tickets for all events are free – seating is limited. First-come, first served basis. No reservation required.

A guaranteed ticket for the Thursday 7 PM Panel Illuminating 30 Years of Off-Broadway may be reserved for a $10.00 donation through the Graduate Center’s Continuing Education and Public Programs department at 212 817-8215 [email protected] reservation code 3928.

Thursday, October 2, 7 PM
Opening Panel Discussion:
Illuminating 30 Years of Not for Profit Off Broadway Theatre

Join us for a fascinating panel discussion with seasoned non-profit professionals that have been producing theatre pieces for more that 30 years in New York City. These luminaries will reflect on their experiences and offer their insight about changes in the producing landscape over the past three decades from artistic choices to funding to theatre reviews. Organized by Lisa Stevenson, A.R.T. New York

A.R.T. New York’s participating companies for Friday, Oct. 3 and Saturday, Oct. 4 include:

Black Moon Theatre Company; Blue Heron Theatre; Bravo Theatre Productions; Clubbed Thumb; Epic Repertory Theatre; The Genesius Guild; Hamm & Clov Stage Company; Jean Cocteau Repertory Theatre; The Lark Theatre; MCC Theatre; The Metropolitan Playhouse; National-Asian American Theatre Company; The Play Company; Salt & Pepper Mime Company; The Spartan Theatre and Strike Anywhere. Panel discussions organized by: Lisa Stevenson, A.R.T. New York; Jim Horton, The Castillo Theatre; Daniel Talbot, Rising Phoenix Rep.

Program for Friday, October 3

Martin E. Segal Theatre (60 seats)

12:00 – 1:30 2:00 – 3:30 4:00- 5:30 6:00 – 7:30

National Asian American Theatre Company Blue Heron The Play Company MCC Theatre

Elebash Recital Hall (185 seats)

12:00 – 1:30 2:00 – 3:30 4:00- 5:30 6:00 – 7:30 8 PM Panel:

The Genesius Guild The Metropolitan Playhouse Epic Repertory Theatre Strike Anywhere Fringe and Mainstream: Closer Than You Think? organized by Jim Horton, Castillo Theatre

 Program for Saturday, October 4

Martin E. Segal Theatre (60 seats)

12:00 – 1:30 2:00 – 3:30 4:00- 5:30 6:00 – 7:30

Hamm & Clov Stage Company The Lark Theatre Black Moon Theatre Company Bravo Productions

Elebash Recital Hall (185 seats)

12:00 – 1:30 2:00 – 3:30 4:00- 5:30 6:00 – 7:30 8 PM Panel:

Jean Cocteau Repertory Clubbed Thumb Salt & Pepper Mime Company The Spartan Theatre A Dialogue between Off and Off-Off Broadway artistic directors and a group of emerging theatre artists. organized by Daniel Talbot, Rising Phoenix Rep.

PRELUDE WEEKEND PRESENTATIONS
Following information provided directly by represented theatre organization:

Black Moon Theatre Company:
Rene Migliaccio, Artistic Director
718 349-9835
[email protected]

Form as the Concentration of Truth

Artistic Director Rene Migliaccio will hold a workshop demonstrating his internationally acclaimed signature style coined “Expressionistic Realism”. “Expressionistic realism” builds on the techniques of realistic acting, then combines that reality with heightened emotion and physicality past naturalism into an expressionistic style. Thoughts and emotions are exposed in a specific way by articulation of different body parts and by working intensely on the expressions of the face and the intensity of the eyes.

Audience is encouraged to actively participate with trained company members.Come wearing comfortable clothes!!!

Website: www.blackmoontheatrecompany.org

Blue Heron Theatre
Ardelle Striker, Artistic Director
212 979-5000 ext.15
[email protected]

Bee-luther-hatchee: Three Directorial Approaches

Through its story of a literary “hoax”, Bee-luther-hatchee explores not only the issue of the “truth of the imagination” as the basis of the creative process, but also the question of “authenticity” in today’s literature and by extension in today’s life. Who can speak for whom? Director Jim Pelegano will work with actors to create three different approaches to the same scene. Discussion with the audience will follow about the ways a director can influence the meaning of a text.

Website: www.blueheron-nyc.org

BRAVO THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
Donna Castellano, Artistic Director; Jordan Auslander, Prelude to Off-Broadway Weekend Coordinator
212 262-6847
[email protected]

Mamet Madness

Readings of scenes from David Mamet Plays, which are currently under consideration for full AEA Showcase Production. Audience discussion and critique will follow the reading.

Website: Under development

CLUBBED THUMB
Maria Striar, Artistic Director
212 802-8007
[email protected]

Producing New Works by People You Never Heard of.

Obie award-winning theater company explains how they select and develop their funny, strange and provocative new plays, and discuss the thrills and agonies – artistic and practical – of producing new work by people you’ve never heard of. Playwrights, directors and actors will be on hand to illustrate with fresh chunks of works-in-progress.

Website: www.clubbedthumb.org

EPIC REPERTORY THEATRE COMPANY
Richard Kuranda, Founding Artistic Director; Alicia Regan, Development Director
212 740-3080
[email protected]

Premiere One Acts

Epic Rep will present a selection of one act plays from their fall season with a brief talkback: New works by Romulus Linney, Frank Gagliano, Lee Blessing, Melody Cooper, Sasha Khan, Grame Gillis and J.T. Rogers. This is the inaugural season for this new Equity troupe, under artistic director Richard Kuranda.

Website: www.epic-rep.com

HAMM & CLOV STAGE COMPANY
Holly Villaire, Artistic Director
914 963-1033/6222
[email protected]

The Anam Project

Hamm and Clov Stage will demonstrate the creative process of the The Anam Project. Members of the Irish immigrant community who participated in the Project will speak about it and perform selections of their own writing. Two years ago, Hamm & Clov Stage created a new project in the Irish immigrant community of New York, now called The Anam Project (“Anam” means soul in Gaelic). In response to the terror attacks of 9/11 , members of the community joined with professional artists to reexamine the joys and sorrows of their lives. Heartfelt personal stories of their lives in America and Ireland were written and performed by members of the immigrant community, some of whom had never set foot on stage before, under the guidance of Artistic Director, Holly Villaire. This year a similar new project was initiated called The “Anam Cara” Project (“soul friend” in Gaelic).

Website: www.hammandclov.org

JEAN COCTEAU REPERTORY
David Fuller, Artistic Director; Ryan Teller
212 677-0060
[email protected]; [email protected]

Excerpts from Three Penny Opera

The company will perform songs and scenes from their 2003-2004 season production of Bertolt Brecht/Kurt Weill musical, The Three Penny Opera. Producing Artistic Director David Fuller will be on hand to discuss the other productions of the season in more detail, as well.

Website: www.jeancocteaurep.org

MCC THEATER
Robert LuPone & Bernie Telsey, Co-Artistic Directors; Stephen Willems, Literary Manger; Josh Hecht, Asst. Literary Manager & Playwrights Coalition Co-Coordinator, Katie Miller, Director of Education and Outreach
212 727-7722
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

Brand New Works

MCC Theater will present two brand new short plays by members of the MCC Theater Playwrights’ Coalition-the first time these brand new works by two of New York’s hottest emerging playwrights have ever been read in front of an audience (you!). And members of the MCC Youth Theater Company will present their provocative and edgy self-generated performance piece identifying and challenging the stereotypes of urban youth. Come see how we can enrich your life at this performance and discussion event.

MCC Theatre is the producer of critically acclaimed plays such as Tim Blake Nelson’s The Grey Zone (4 Obie Awards), Margaret Edson’s Wit (1999 Pulitzer Prize, and Rebecca Gilman’s The Glory of Living (2002 Pulitzer Prize finalist).
MCC Theater’s commitment to new voices doesn’t stop with our Mainstage Season. We foster personal and professional growth through a variety of literary and educational programs.

Website: www.mcctheater.com

METROPOLITAN PLAYHOUSE
Alex Roe, Artistic Director
212 995-8410
[email protected]

Staging Plays from the Past for a Modern Audience

Metropolitan Playhouse will involve participants as actors, directors, and critics of a rehearsal of scenes from one of the American historical plays in its season. A chance to grapple with the art and the surprise challenges of staging plays from the past for a modern audience.

Website: www.metropolitanplayhouse.org

NATIONAL ASIAN AMERICAN THEATRE COMPANY
National Asian American Theatre Company
Mia Katigbak, Artistic Director; Shelley Troupe, Managing Director
Shelly contact #’s: 212 262-0700 (Tues -Thurs); 212 921-2299 (Fri. only)
[email protected]

Tales of Unrest: Joseph Conrad On Stage

NAATCO presents, in association with Fluid Motion Theater & Film, excerpts from two one-acts: Artsat and One Day More. After the performance, Fluid Motion’s Artistic Director and adapter and director of Arsat (based on Conrad’s One Day More), Christine Simpson, and NAATCO’s Producing/Artistic Director, Mia Katigbak, will discuss the project. A question and answer period will follow.

Website: www.naatco.com

Salt & Pepper Mime Theatre
Scottie Davis, Artistic Director
212 722-4782; 718 398-4979
[email protected]

The Art of American Mime theatre.

STRIKE ANYWHERE PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLE
Leese Walker, Artistic Director
212 875-7476; 646 298-4116 (summer)
[email protected]

Spin – a work in progress showing with discussion to follow

Spin is a multi-disciplinary performance installation which trains the audience’s attention onto corporate control of the media. The piece is improvised and guided by a sign language dubbed Sound Painting. Sound Painting is the system of conducting/composing developed by Walter Thompson, which allows a conductor to sculpt an improvisation while in motion. Spin features rotating conductors and original dance, text and live music.

Website: www.strikeanywhere.info

THE LARK THEATRE COMPANY, INC.
John Eisener, Producing Director; Kirsten Berkman, Director of Arts Learning
212 246-2676; Kirsten (ext. 32)
[email protected]

Barebones

Award-winning playwrights from The Lark’s Barebones Series of new plays will read excerpts from their most recent works and discuss the play development process at The Lark. Many recipients of The Lark’s support are moving forward to other venues, including Day of Kings by Daphne Greaves, Fuente by Cusi Cram, Mary by David Simpatico, Panama by Michael Folie, and 13 Hallucinations of Julio Rivera by Stephen Culp.

Website: www.larktheatre.org

The Genesius Guild
Thomas Morrissey, Artistic Director; Stephen Bishop Seeley, Director of New Plays
212 244-5404
[email protected]

To be announced

The Genesius Theatre Guild will show a work representative of its many activities like the REVOLUTIONARY WRITERS WORKSHOP, the THEATRICAL NETWORKING FORUM or the GTG SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT GROUP. The Genesius Theatre Guild is a non-profit NYC based Theatre Company dedicated to the creation and development of new plays and musicals.

Website: www.genesiusguild.org

THE PLAY COMPANY
Jack Temchin & Kate Loewald, Artistic Directors
212 398-2977
[email protected]

The Play Company Gives You the Works

Scenes from plays from the US, France, the Ivory Coast, Northern Ireland – all from this innovative company presenting the best in new international theatre. Our ongoing public reading series of plays an literature has featured works by such writers as Rodney Ackland, Kia Corthon, Regina Taylor, Kenneth Tynan and John Updike. Join us and be part of a worldwide audience.

Web: www.theplayco.org

THE SPARTAN THEATRE COMPANY
The Spartan Theatre; Rebecca Poole, Managing Director
212 560-4302
[email protected]

Williamsburg and Greenpoint, Brooklyn playwrights

As a season preview, Greenpoint’s The Spartan Theatre will perform staged readings of two one act comedies: Freedom’s Bird ( by Williamsburg, Brooklyn native and author of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith) and Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Chaz (by Greenpoint playwright, Robert Grady). A 15 minute Q & A session will follow. The Spartan will offer three of Smith’s one-acts in mid-November at the Williamsburg Art & Historical Center.

Website: www.spartantheatere.com

How to get to us:

Martin E. Segal Theatre Center
The Graduate School and University Center
The City University of New York
365 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10016-4309

On Fifth Avenue, between 34 and 35 Street

closest subway stop:
34th Street, Herald Square (N,Q,R,V,W) or
33rd Street, Lexington Avenue (6)

You will see The CUNY Graduate Center (the former B. Altman Department Store) one block north of the Empire State Building on the east side of Fifth Avenue.

MESTC’s Partner:

A.R.T./New York The Alliance of Resident Theatres, founded 30 years ago, is the service organization for the nation’s largest, most artistically influential, and most culturally diverse theatre community: Off Broadway. Founded in 1972, A.R.T./ New York currently serves close to 400 not-for-profit theatres and related organizations. A.R.T./New York is serving over 6 million theatregoers annually, constituting the single largest source of new work entering the American repertory, having produced 15 winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. A.R.T./New York is also a producer of audience development initiatives, including: www.offbroadwayonline.com, an Internet portal site which provides information for over 250 A.R.T./New York members.
Executive Director, Virginia Louloudes
Director of Membership Services, Lisa Stevenson