The Roundabout Theatre Company’s newest production is stacked with an excellent cast, a beautiful set, and a heartfelt story.
Presented by Atlantic Theater Company, Elyria tells the story of two immigrant women, their families, and their interweaving lives. Staged in the round at the Linda Gross Theatre, the play begins at a festival where Vasanta (Nilanjana Bose) and Dhatta (Gulshan Mia) unexpectedly run into each other after. They exchange tense words in Gujarati, Swahili, and English with a slight British accent. Their conservation is stiff, there’s a two-decade-old secret these women share, and all will be revealed in an unlikely place: Elyria, Ohio in 1982.
Spoiling a crowd that is already well familiar with the highest levels of human creativity and talent, soprano Rosa Feola and tenor Stephen Costello still offered their very best with an intimate recital including excerpts from Rigoletto by Verdi and L’Elisir d’Amore by Donizetti. The recital, punctuating a joyous dinner, was rife with deft humor, astounding vocal power, and charming actions. Even without translation, the story was easy to follow thanks to the rich animation of the performers.
These performers, coming straight from the Metropolitan Opera, managed to create a rich atmosphere out of nearly nothing and defined setting and story by voice and a single prop: a bottle of wine from The Duckhorn Portfolio, the wine choice of the evening. It felt spontaneous and deeply engaging, it was a performance that revealed the diverse talents of today’s opera stars. Pianist Katelan Tran Terrell accompanied on the piano.
Within the dining room of New York City’s legendary Union Club, an air of charm and optimism pervaded. The Salzburg Festival is, without a doubt, the most important performing arts festival in the world. It is unique for combining all types of performance works such as opera, drama and concerts as well offering innovative and refreshing interpretations of a enormous selection of works. Tickets to performances are cherished and go quickly.
“Since its founding more than 100 years ago, the great American tradition of supporting the arts through private philanthropy has enabled the Salzburg Festival to implement artistic projects and other major initiatives which would have otherwise been impossible,” said Dr. Kristina Hammer, the new president of the Salzburg Festival and keynote speaker at the New York Gala.
As part of the celebrations, the evening co-chairs Carole Bailey French and John French III, welcomed their guest of honor, Peter Gelb, the general manager of The Metropolitan Opera. This was an important point of recognition because The Met and Salzburg Festival have had a long and fruitful engagement together.
Peter Gelb speaks at Salzburg Festival Society Gala
“The Met and Salzburg [Festival] have a healthy symbiotic relationship,” opined Gelb, “in those months during fall, winter, and spring when the Salzburg Festival is not in session, The Met is there to help fill the gap. My personal history with the Salzburg Festival goes back to the time when it was still being ruled imperiously by Herbert von Karajan.
John French III presented both Kristina Hammer, the newly installed as the president of the festival, and Peter Gelb, general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, with a hand-blown engraved decanter by artisan Simon Pearce.
The uniting factor in the room was the overwhelming appreciation for the traditions of the Salzburg Festival, along with the curiosity of what is to come under Dr. Hammer’s direction. Dr. Hammer expressed particular enthusiasm for supporting younger members of the public who wish to fund or participate in the festival, including through programs like the Young Singers Project as well as other programs strictly for young people.
For those in the US, the Salzburg Festival Society is an appropriate point of entry to the festivities. The Society is the liaison between the Salzburg Festival and its American friends and patrons, providing members with exclusive access to events and services related to the Festival. Support starts at $1,500 and grants, among many other benefits, two tickets to up to 15 performances at the festival, typically held in July and August.
Guests at the Gala included Salzburg Festival Society president Nabil Chartouni and his wife Samantha, as well as board members Isabelle Harnoncourt-Feigen, Maria Hernandez with Joel Bell, Alexandra Kauka-Hamill, Isabella Ponta, and Sana H. Sabbagh, as well as Afsaneh Akhtari, Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, Elizabeth Stribling, Barbara Tober and more.
The evening’s generous sponsor was Bank of America Private Bank. Rolex was a Gala Benefactor and Global Sponsor of the Salzburg Festival.
The Pulitzer-Prize winning play by Martyna Majok is officially on-Broadway for the first time since its release in 2016. The production is directed by Jo Bonney.
RoleCall Theater is a non-profit independent theater company that provides a safe space for creatives to display their talents. From short plays and films to workshops and improv shows, RoleCall Theater introduces a new wave of talent bringing a fresh perspective to the theater community.
The quaint space is located in Downtown Atlanta’s Ponce City Market, an eclectic historical building that was remodeled in 2014 and houses various cuisine-focused restaurants, trendy retail stores, comfortable outdoor spaces and a rooftop with a view that is to die for.
Right between a parking garage and Pancake Social, a trendy brunch spot, is RoleCall Theater. It’s tucked in to a small corner, and if you’re not paying attention it’s easy to miss. Their outdoor theater space, when not in use, is a typical 3-tiered seating area for patrons.
But what it lacks in space it makes up for in culture.
This summer, RoleCall Theater is the home of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
You can catch the Shakespearean tragedy live from Thursday to Saturday until August 20th.
Only evening shows are available, which is perfect if you’re trying to avoid Atlanta’s almost unbearable summer temperatures. But even the sweltering heat isn’t enough to ruin this quirky yet entertaining depiction of one of the playwright’s most popular works.
Given the feel of this play and the many times it’s been done by other theatre companies, it’s expected of the cast to convey a comedic and zany approach but in an exciting, energy-packed plot of confused romance as well as pleasurable, weird schemes.
Trevor Poli as Demetrius, Nicolette Acosta as Helena, Molly McInturff as Hermia and Sully Brown as Lysander.
Directed by RoleCall’s in-house director and producer Lyssa Hoganson and Evan Fields, the famous play was brought to life with a talented 7 person cast and just a few props.
The last time I read A Midsummer Night’s Dream was in High School, and I hadn’t thought about it since. The old Elizabethan English left me confused and 17-year-old me didn’t quite have the appropriate attention span to absorb all five acts. But it all started to come back to me once I took my seat inside the RoleCall Theater.
This time, despite the frequent switches between the fairy world and the human world, following along was pretty easy – which is a testament to the memorable performances of each cast member.
Most people already know the story of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s a play within a play, and it follows four lovers, an upcoming marriage and a group of amateur actors. A few fairies are sprinkled in there, too.
The cast features The Knockturnal’s very own Nicolette Acosta as Helena/Flute/Cobweb, Madeline Brashier as Puck/Philostrate/Egeus, Sully Brown as Lysander/Nick Bottom, Evan Fields as Oberon/Theseus/Snout, Molly McInturff as Hermia/Starveling/Peaseblossom, Kaley Pharr as Titania/Hippolyta/Snug and Trevor Poli as Demetrius/Quince
Every group eventually ends up in the same place at the same time. Mischief takes place at every turn and themes of love and heartbreak come up often, thanks to the inevitable side effects of overdosing on love potions. There are romantic and physical chases due to mistaken identities and an obnoxiously dramatic wedding all delivered in to a wonderfully bold performance.
You may not remember how this adventure plays out. I know I didn’t, initially. But it doesn’t matter because the performance, while enigmatic, was as magical as a fairy-enchanted forest.
Above all, the whole production organically flows together with Nicolette giving a magnetic portrayal of scorned lover Helena, and Molly conveying the opposite side of the spectrum of adolescent love in her character Hermia. Sully and Trevor do a great job of commanding the room during their heated love-ridden arguments as Lysander and Demetrius. Evan and Kaley accomplished the difficult task of presenting the beautiful yet dangerous realities of marriage between Oberon and Titania.
And no one could have played the role of Puck better than Madeline, with her adorable charisma and playful demeanor.
With a sense of baffling foolishness and wonder, the play concluded.
I caught a Thursday night show, so it wasn’t too packed. The box-sized room with long, black curtains adorning each side was tight. I remembered thinking “Surely, this cast of seven can’t give us, the audience, a compelling performance in such a tiny space?” There was a sturdy, black step ladder situated on top of a few vintage rugs in the middle of the room. The set up was almost too simple. I wasn’t sure what I had walked in to, but I left feeling happy that I did.
You can purchase tickets to RoleCall Theater’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream here.
This season of off broadway has taken viewers to magical places, shown us the true meaning of life and morality, made us laugh with hilarious solo shows, and so much more. It’s truly been an incredible season, and Sunday’s Lucille Lortel Awards celebrated the magic of these beautiful shows. Created in 1985 by the Off-Broadway League and named for the award winning actress and producer who was honored with a theater in her name, the awards honor the excellence of the time, dedication and craft of Off-Broadway shows.
It was the first time the awards had been held in person in three years, and it was a joyous occasion for all involved. Awards were given to recipients in 16 categories, with two honorary awards also bestowed. The Awards were distributed in a ceremony at NYU Skirball hosted by three pairs of stars from stage and screen: Jared Grimes (Broadway’s “Funny Girl”) and Jeff Hiller (HBO’s “Somebody Somewhere”), Krysta Rodriguez and Jelani Alladin (“Hercules”), and Jennifer Simard and Christopher Sieber (“Company.”) The Lucille Lortel Awards are produced by the Off-Broadway League and Lucille Lortel Theatre, with additional support provided by TDF.
The big winners of the night were David Lindsay-Abaire‘s Kimberly Akimbo, and Heather Christian’s Oratorio For Living Things, each taking home three awards. Additional winners included Black No More, English, Fairycakes, Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord, Letters Of Suresh, On Sugarland, Prayer for the French Republic, Sanctuary City, The Chinese Lady and TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES, 1992.
The inaugural Outstanding Ensemble award was presented to the cast of Ars Nova’s Oratorio For Living Things. Both Performer in a Musical awards were presented to Kimberly Akimbo – Lead to Victoria Clark andFeatured to Bonnie Milligan. The Atlantic Theater Company production with Book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and Music by Jeanine Tesori, also received the award for Outstanding Musical. Sanaz Toossi’s English, a co-production of Atlantic Theater Company and Roundabout Theatre Company, took home the award for Outstanding Play.
Two special honorees this year we’re granted incredible awards. Deirdre O’Connell was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by Heidi Schreck; and David Henry Hwang was inducted onto the famed Playwrights’ Sidewalk by Jeanine Tesori.
We we’re so honored to witness this beautiful celebration of off broadway! Here more about the awards here!
Almost fifty years after its first run on Broadway, the theater piece is back and just as heartbreaking as it was before.
There is nothing quite like experiencing the world of Broadway for the first time, and Rosie O’Donnell is making sure that this can happen for as many kids as possible.
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” These words, spoken by the eponymous hero to his castaway companion in The Little Prince, apply as much to the magic of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved novella as they do to the magic of theater.
Mark Wahlberg, Mel Gibson, Jacki Weaver, and Teresa Ruiz are starring in the film Father Stu which will be premiering in theaters on April 13th.