What We're Seeing: Cannibal Galaxy

Back in 2015, Co-Artistic Directors Craig Wesley Divino and Aaron Rossini travelled to Cincinnati with Artistic Associate Charise Greene to workshop a production of her play Cannibal Galaxy with a company of student actors at Xavier College. Flash forward 2 years and the show is now receiving a full production with an incredible team of young performers. If you're in the Cincinnati area, today is the last day to catch a performance of this incredible piece!

Xavier University Theatre
3800 Victory Pkwy
Cincinnati, OH 45207

A Little About The Show

CANNIBAL GALAXY focuses on a group of Washington, D.C., Science Museum employees confronting a random act of workplace violence during an otherwise typical workday. While trying to move on and face their vulnerabilities in a post-traumatic environment, they’re also fighting to rediscover their identities, search for connections and make sense of the senseless world around them. 

Cast:

• Donald Burns
• Cassie Delicath
• Henry Eden
• Taylor Maas
• Katie Mitchell
• Hannah Sgambellone

Creative:

• Written by Charise Greene
• Directed by Tiffany Greene
• Set Designer/Technical Director - Joe Leonard
• Lighting Designer - Joe Beumer
• Costume Designer - Jessica Pitcairn
• Props Designer - Kelly Markle
• Sound Designer/Assistant Director - Lily Dennstaedt
• Producer - Stephen Skiles
• Stage Manager - Emi Suarez
• Assistant Stage Managers - Ellie Conniff & Meaghan Vaders

What We're Seeing: The Wave

You may remember back in April, Aaron Rossini directed a production of Jon Kovach's one-man show The Wave in SAG Habor at the Bay Street Theater. Now the production is coming to the Big City for one night only at The Tank. We'll see you there!

The Tank
312 West 36th Street
New York, NY, 10018

A Little About The Show

Based on a true story, a young 1967 history teacher dealing with The Vietnam War and integration into the public school system, tries to deter his students from fascism through a social experiment that spirals out of his control. Individual freedoms are abandoned and repressed for collective goals as happened in the rise of Nazi Germany and the treatment of the Jews during World War II.

Following the performance, Mark Hancock, an original Wave participant in 1967, will be in attendance for a Q&A.

You may be familiar with Todd Strasser's novel, or Norman Leer's 1981 after-school special, that share the same title. Our production is unique, being co-authored by the teacher who experienced the actual event in 1967, Ron Jones. If you or anyone you know is wondering why we're still dealing with Nazi's, this story shows a few reasons.

Cast

• Jon Kovach

Creative

• Directed by Aaron Rossini
• Co-Written by Ron Jones
• Co-Written and Produced by Jon Kovach
• Lighting Design - Zach Weeks
• Costume Design - Kelsey Torstveit
• Sound Design - Nathan Leigh
• Q & A - Mark Hancock

What We're Seeing: Fridge Fest

Summer in New York has always meant lots of opportunities to catch some awesome downtown theatre. But with the New York Fringe Festival taking the year off, what is a theatre fan to do? We may have an option for you. There is still a chance to catch some great short plays at the Arctic Group's New York Fridge Festival featuring works by both established and up-and-coming playwrights, such as Daniel Talbott, Katie Cappiello, and Korde Arrington Tuttle. Best of all, for half of the performances tickets can be purchased with non-perishable goods instead of money. 

Need more convincing? Our very own John Racioppo is starring in the production of Funny Voices, or a thing I cannot name by Matthew Minnicino directed by Kate Hopkins.

August 31 - September 10, 2017
IRT Theater
154 Christopher St
New York, NY 10014

A Little About The Festival

Born in response to the news that the NY Fringe Festival would not take place in the summer of 2017, The FRIDGE Festival is a multidisciplinary theater festival which will feature new works. We place no restrictions on pieces and are excited to present a wide variety of genres. We do, however, require that all plays include (nay, feature) a fridge.

Half of all performances will be FILL OUR FRIDGE nights; in which tickets can be purchased with non-perishable goods instead of money. These donations will be delivered to a food bank local to the theater. FILL OUR FRIDGE is our way to solidify our belief that The Arts play an essential role in the community and in anticipation of National Hunger Month.

Playwrights:

• Matthew Minnicino
• Daniel Talbott
• Katie Cappiello
• Korde Arrington Tuttle
• Jordan G. Teicher
• Jenny King (The Barrington Collective)
• Glenn Marla
• Steven McMahon
• Suzanne Willett
• MJ Halberstadt.

Announcing Irons in the Fire

Fault Line Theatre is pleased to announce our year-round, new play initiative: Irons in the Fire.

Beginning with the 2017-2018 season, we’ll regularly be presenting workshop readings of new plays in development. Each public presentation will be hosted in an environment that appropriately celebrates that particular new script, and will be supported by a social event that brings the Downtown Theatre Community together in a fun and meaningful way. Each event will take place in a unique venue around the city, with audiences and artists together creating and celebrating new plays. These reading events will be the culmination of a few hours, a few weeks, or even a few months of rehearsal, depending on what each project requires. This format for both process and presentation is intentionally malleable, as we know every play and every playwright requires something a little different. We want to give artists we love a sandbox to play freely within. We also want to give you, our audience, the opportunity to join us in the process of creating new work.

In the coming season, and the years beyond, we can’t wait to create and develop new socially relevant, character driven plays with an ever expanding group of emerging and veteran writers, directors, and actors. We hope you’ll join us!

…and check back in the coming weeks to our brand new Development Page on the website for the announcement of the first installment of Irons in the Fire!

What We're Seeing: Dog Sees God

This is the last weekend to catch our buddy Ben Dworken in the EPIC Players production of Bert V. Royal's Dog See God. This is the inaugural show for the EPIC Players, whose first season includes a wonderful mix of Shakespeare, musicals, and devised pieces. Check it out!

July 27 - August 6th, 2017
Kraine Theater
85 E 4th St.
New York, NY 10003

A Little About The Show

The neuro-inclusive cast of the EPIC Players, comprised of actors living with and without disabilities, are proud to present their inaugural production of Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, a dark reimagining of the classic Peanut’s gang during their formative teenage years

Cast:

• Samantha Elisofon
• Ben Dworken
• Christian Patane
• Gideon Pianko
• Bree Klauser
• Jessica Saul
• Travis Burbee
• Isabel Kruse

Creative:

• Written by Bert V. Royal
• Directed by David Bonderoff

#GoSeePlays: The Tempest

Back in June, we brought together a group of friends and theatre-lovers to go see a sold-out performance of Lesser America's in a word . This was so much fun, we thought we should do it all again!

On August 7th, we'll be seeing the Backroom Shakespeare Production of The Tempest, starring our friend and collaborator Ali Rose Dachis (The Wedge Horse). We invite you to join us, have a chat at the bar, and see some Shakespeare!

Here's a quick refresher on what #GoSeePlays is all about.

A Little About The Show

August 7, 2017
Soda Bar
629 Vanerbilt Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11238

Bar opens at 6:30pm
Play starts at 7:30pm

Shakespeare's actors had no director. They rehearsed only the fights and dances. They got their lines and their cues, they grabbed their balls and tried to tell the truth. When they failed, they probably really bit it. 

Hell of a legend, right? 

The Back Room Shakespeare Project takes as much of it as seems useful. We read the play once, we memorize our parts, and we rehearse it once. We have no director, and we perform in bars, for free. For you! An unruly bunch of drunks! 

So. Welcome!

What We're Seeing: Noises Off

Happy opening to our co-founder and co-artistic director Craig Wesley Divino! He will be appearing in Chautauqua Theater Company's production of Noises Off in beautiful upstate New York. If you're in the area, don't miss Craig in this outrageous comedy!

June 30 - July 16, 2017
Bratton Theater at the Chautauqua Institution
1 Ames Ave
Chautauqua, NY 14722

A Little About The Show

Michael Frayn’s Noises Off is a roller-coaster, side-splittingly funny look at theatre – both onstage and off – as a hapless troupe of actors attempt to mount a dreadful, ill-fated farce of a play. From the disastrous dress rehearsal as the cast fumbles entrances, exits and bothersome props, to the final performance of missed cues and forgotten lines, Noises Off will have you roaring with laughter as the cast’s collective sanity slowly unravels. New York Times critic Frank Rich called it, “the funniest play written in my lifetime.”

We recommend this production for the whole family, ages 10 and up.

Cast:

• Emily Daly
• Craig Wesley Divino
• Patrick Foley
• Yonatan Gebeyehu
• Carol Halstead
• Will Harrison
• Kelsey Jenison
• Maggie Mason
• John Seidman

Creative:

• Directed by Andrew Borba
• Written by Michael Frayn
• Scenic Design - Tom Buderwitz
• Costume Design - Angela Calin
• Lighting Design - Scott Bolman
• Sound Design - Rob Kaplowitz

What We're Seeing: in a word

You may remember Laura Ramadei from our production of Bekah Brunstetter's The Oregon Trail. You may also know that Laura is a founding member of the theatre company Lesser America. We're massive fans of Lesser America's work and can't wait to catch their latest production of Lauren Yee's in a word. We'll be there on Sunday, June 18th at 8:00pm. We'd love to see you there!

June 16th - July 8th, 2017
Studio at Cherry Lane Theatre
38 Commerce Street
New York, NY 10014

A Little About The Show

Today is the two-year anniversary of Fiona's son's disappearance, and still, nothing makes sense to her. Not her blasé husband, the incompetent detective, or the neighborhood kidnapper who keeps introducing himself in the checkout line. As Fiona delves back into her memories of that fateful day to uncover that crucial missing piece, grief and comedy collide, and ordinary turns of phrase take on dangerous new meanings.

Cast:

• Justin Mark
• José Joaquin Perez
• Laura Ramadei

Crew:

• Written by Lauren Yee
• Directed by Tyne Rafaeli
• Producing Directors - Daniel Abeles & Nate Miller
• Scenic and Lighting Design - Oona Curley
• Costume Design - Andrea Hood
• Sound Design - Stowe Nelson

#GoSeePlays

In the last few months, you may have noticed the tag #GoSeePlays being used a lot on our social media profiles. What’s up with that?

Our favorite part about working in New York City is the massive community of artists constantly working on cool projects. It feels like every street you walk down has a play, an installation, a one-person show, or a musical inviting you to take a seat. This can be at once inspiring and a little overwhelming. With so many choices, where do you begin? And when you leave a theatre with that feeling in your chest that the world must see this show, how do you let everyone know?

We felt the same way. So we started using #GoSeePlays as a way of collecting all the things we see that we want you to know about. We wanted an easy way for friends, colleagues, collaborators, audience members, and theatres alike to spread the word about the shows that excite and inspire them. We encourage you to join in!

Snapped a cool pic of your Playbill in a Broadway theatre?
#GoSeePlays.

Want to let everyone know about your friend’s downtown show that you loved?
#GoSeePlays.

How about that wild, immersive show in that Brooklyn warehouse?
Definitely #GoSeePlays.

Sound good so far, but don’t know where to begin? Well on June 18th at 8:00pm Co-Artistic Director of Fault Line Theatre, Aaron Rossini, has invited a large group of friends and collaborators to join him in attending Lesser America’s production of in a word at the Cherry Lane Theatre in the West Village for his 36th birthday (yeah, he’s that old). We love Lesser America’s work and we think you will too. You can purchase your tickets here. No discount code. No special promotion. No fancy-schmancy panel or talkback with the cast. Simply come see a play with us. Go celebrate Aaron. Go celebrate theatre. Go See Plays.

Love,
Fault Line Theatre

What We're Seeing: An Enemy of the People

Our friends at the Wheelhouse Theater Company are presenting a production of Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy Of The People. Originally written in Scandinavia in 1882, this play has found a new context and significance in contemporary American society. What's more, all proceeds from the show are going towards the ACLU of Flint, Michigan. Every single dollar you spend, from ticket sales to concessions, goes towards supporting a good cause. Head downtown and don't miss this one!

June 9th - 24th
Gene Frankel Theater
24 Bond Street
New York, NY 10012

A Little About The Show

AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE is a meditation on the foundation of a small towns democratic system, the tyranny of the majority, and the poisoning nature of bureaucracy and economic self interest. When Dr. Thomas Stockman makes an alarming discovery that the water supply to the small towns healing spa baths is poisoned with dangerous bacteria, causing significant illness to those that utilize the facility, he is eager to share the news with his brother Peter, the towns mayor and Chairman of the Board of Baths. Relieved at the life-saving discovery, he prepares a manuscript, which to his surprise is met with significant resistance, first by the Mayor, then by the editors of the People's Messenger, and ultimately by the town as a whole. In the end, fueled by a strong moral adherence to facts, Dr. Stockman declares "the strongest man in the world is the man who stands alone."  How difficult is it to stand up for what you know is true?

Cast:

• Michael Schantz
• David Kenner
• Joshua David Robinson
• Ben Graney
• Christina Toth
• Stacey Linnartz

Creative:

• Directed by Jeff Wise
• Written by Henrik Ibsen
• Set Designer: Brittany Vasta
• Costume Designer: Christopher Metzger
• Lighting Designer: Drew Florida