Dear theatre friends,
Another day, another play! I just received a list of shows which are available to view online from TDF. If you aren’t already a member, please look at eligibility– figure out which category you fit into and JOIN!
On their site, for only 48 hours, you can see “72 Hours Before You Go,” from the Roundabout company. Here’s the New York Times’ review.
While there, look at offers for “Outside Mullingar” from South Coast Rep; “Where the Mountain Meets the Sea” from Actors Theatre of Louisville — and many others.
In some cases, there are nominal fees ( $10-12) for these shows. Despite the endless obstacles, it’s wonderful that companies have found a way to get revenue during these dire times.
Looking ahead to April 28th, MCC is doing a benefit reading of “Beirut” by Alan Bowne with Marisa Tomei and Oscar Isaac. This was MCC’s very first production 35 years ago. Again, this is a necessary attempt to fund the company. All donations will generously be matched by Board members.
MCC is a jewel in NY’s Off Broadway firmament and buying a ticket is important, but be warned– this play, written during the AIDS crisis in 1987, concerns a pandemic. You might want to read this review of a British production.
Volcano Theatre, Toronto, produced “Goodness” by Michael Redhill, which won my Award in Edinburgh in 2006. It concerned the culpability of a now-demented leader in an unnamed country and its genocide– it was morally ambiguous, stunning! Please look at The New York Times’ review from the NY performance.
The company was then invited to the first theatre festival in Rwanda in 2009– commemorating the 15th anniversary of their genocide of 800,000. Gord Rand, one of the actors, thought the journey from Toronto to Edinburgh to New York to this stricken, rapidly recovering land– Rwanda, deserved to be memorialized. He made a documentary about the challenges of performing in Butare and Kigali– I was there, too– in the front row!
You can now see this multi-Award winning documentary, “Goodness in Rwanda,” on Vimeo.
On April 29th, The Public Theatre will premiere a new play about the Apple family, “What Do We Need to Talk About?” on YouTube. Another date for your rapidly filling theatre calendar!
Finally, please look at National Theatre At Home to plan your viewing of “Frankenstein” with the ubiquitous Benedict Cumberbatch, and then “Antony and Cleopatra” with Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo. I hope there will be many more announced in the near future.
Please, please note: even the UK Government-sponsored National Theatre needs money to continue their work. Whichever side of the Atlantic you’re on– do donate to the theatres whose work you are continuing to enjoy.
One day, we hope soon, we’ll be able to congregate within their walls.We need those walls to still be standing!
I’d like to continue to write because so many have expressed their enjoyment of reading — but I must have content! Do try to recall a story you’d like me to post.
Carol Tambor publishes a monthly newsletter, which announces worthy shows coming to New York, along with occasional information about London theatre and, of course, the Edinburgh Fringe.