The New York Theatre Workshop, founded in 1979, will be performing at Dartmouth during the first two weeks of August in an attempt to bring to the Dartmouth community a taste of the unpredictable theater styles and techniques that have brought them renown.
The New York Theater Workshop is a theater company that specializes in productions that emphasize the interaction between members of the audience -- the essence of the theatrical experience, according to a press release.
NYTW will also host workshops for Dartmouth students emphasizing that interaction.
NYTW often presents works that are unconventional in form and rely on distinctive employment of language and visual imagery -- as opposed to relying solely on the content of a work. The entire presentation is enhanced by the composite working well together.
Several of the works that originated as NYTW productions have gone on to become off-Broadway and even Broadway hits, in addition to receiving various critical acclamations and awards.
Several notable playwrights have worked with the NYTW. Tony Kushner, Franz Xaver Kroetz and Amlin Gray have all written for the NYTW.
In addition, NYTW productions have won six Obies, including a 1991 Obie for Sustained Excellence. Also, they have garnered 10 Drama Desk Award nominations and an Outer Circle critics award nomination, the Blackburn Prize and an Oppenheimer award.
The series will begin today with "Damage and Desire," by Kate Moira Ryan, which portrays the relationship between a young poet, her gay friend and her older sister. "Damage and Desire" will run Friday and Saturday.
On Sunday, a solo performance by Emmet Foster makes its debut. "So ... It's Come to This" deals with the double life of a man who hobnobs with high-society during the day in his capacity as an assistant to a prominent producer, but at night cruises the city's meat-packing districts in search of fleeting ecstasy. In addition to writing the piece, Foster also performs in it.
Next weekend marks the premiere of "The Mineola Twins" written by Paul Vogel and directed by Lisa Peterson. "The Mineola Twins" uses the experiences of two nearly identical twins from the Long Island suburb of the same name to examine America's evolving attitudes during the Cold War towards issues such as Vietnam and breast-size.
"The Mineola Twins" will play on Saturday, August 10.
The next day, NYTW will present "Banji Pussy Raging," a one-woman comedic tour-de-force by Idris Mignott and directed by Chris Ashley. In the play, Mignott performs as a variety of characters from across the spectrum.
"Monster," a reading by Dael Orlandersmith, portrays the lives of six neighbors in a small apartment building in New York's Harlem. Orlandersmith has been described by the New York Times as "a poet possessed of an exiting new voice." "Monster" will be performed on Friday August 16.
The series closes on August 17 as NYTW will present "Bone Songs" by Andre Gregory. The performance will be accompanied by the music of the renowned Alloy Orchestra, which is known for providing the accompanying live soundtrack for silent films.
Additionally, the company will hold so-called "Brown Bag Lunches." The "Brown Bag Lunches" are informal gatherings where members of the company will hold discussions or present other works not included in the series.
The first "Brown Bag Lunch" was held yesterday afternoon and included a presentation by adapters Susan Burns, Foster and Lola Pashalinksi of "The Love Machine."
"The Love Machine" deals with the modern idea of technology as the "electronic babysitter."
The next lunch will be Thursday and will include a discussion with the playwright Constance Congdon, who has written works such as "Tales of the Formicans," "Cassanova," and "Losing Father's Body."
The final lunch, a discussion with Andre Gregory will take place on Thursday August 15. Gregory will speak about the film "Vanya on 42 Street" in which he performs.
"Vanya" will be screened on August 13 as part of the series.
