Worlds of Dragons and Snakes

Worlds of Dragons and Snakes!

On Saturday September 24 we held a reading of Dragonslayer, the one woman show that I co-authored with the amazing Judy Sheehan http://www.judysheehan.com/. It was so exciting and HELPFUL!  I can’t believe how much work these four talented actresses were able to do in only two rehearsals.  Huge thanks to Shannon Altner, Emily Daly, Arielle Hader, and Hannah Tamminen.

 After the reading there ensued such a lively and helpful discussion with cast, staff and audience that I never wanted it to end.  Perhaps most gratifying for me was the participation of members of our creative community - Robert Gonyo, the artistic director of Co-Op Theatre East, the company in residence at Looking Glass this season, and Looking Glass staff members Aliza Shane, Rose Ginsberg and Erica Nilson.  Knowing that I have a community to lean on for my creative needs is tremendously important to me! 

I learned so many things about our play.  I saw who this young woman we’ve created was, and the audience has made it clear that they want to know more; more about her inner workings and more about who she is.  Who will she be after this play if she survives?  Why does she need the things she needs?  I am excited to continue to explore this character that I’ve come to love and this world I sometimes wish we all lived in.

Check out some clips of my fantastic four working as one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWAdmhD66Jc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAdjlzvH50Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mI7R58wNag

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4rUrsKLKZQ

The following Monday night I had the privilege of sitting in on rehearsal for Calamity Jane Battles the Horrible Hoopsnakes (Written by by E. J. C. Calvert, directed by Jacquelyn Honeybourne and featuringfor the first time.  To my great joy, our preview in Time Out NY Kids came out the very next morning! http://tinyurl.com/3audvt7
Abraham Adams, Gianna Cioffi, Jessica Kelly, David Mangiamele, Monica O’Malley, Katie Proulx and Sarah Pullman)

I greatly enjoyed listening to director Jacquelyn Honeybourne giving notes when I first arrived.  Then after getting the lowdown on set, scenes and snake costumes, the real fun began.  I only saw four scenes run in their entirety, but within them was an encapsulated world - courageous Jane and her mom heading off to make a new life for themselves only to encounter the cowardly (adorable) inhabitants of a town harassed by Hoopsnakes.  

As they try to fit in well enough to be allowed to spend the night something happens…Mom is mom-napped!  But never fear; Calamity Jane is not panicked.  She’s ready, willing and eager to embark on a rescue mission.  She has quite a lot of convincing to do with the Townies however who are quite happy with their cowering ways. 

We also see the other side of the situation.  Mom is in the lair of the snakes.  They have an interesting discussion (yup, discussion with snakes) regarding what Mom has done wrong (in her life or in Hoopersville is not certain yet) and discover things about snakes that you might not guess just by looking at them. 

Whenever I am in a rehearsal room I inevitably learn something, sometimes about theatre (usually), sometimes about life.  Last night I learned something that can be applied to both: snakes are not only scary (they’re a bit scary, that’s a given) they’re also funny.  Slithery, slimy, limbless silliness. 

Justine Lambert
Artistic Director
Looking Glass Theatre - http://www.lookingglasstheatrenyc.com/

Read my recent director to director interview - http://www.2amtheatre.com/2011/08/24/spotlight-meet-justine-lambert-director/

Follow us on Twitter! http://twitter.com/LookingGlassNYC
Find us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/LookingGlassTheatreNYC
Follow our blog! http://lookingglasstheatre.blogspot.com/

Notes From Justine 10-4-11

The Season is Upon Us- Fall Season HIGHLIGHTS from Artistic Director Justine Lambert

The Season is Upon Us!

You might think that since our first full production is opening in October we’re having a calm start to the season, but Fall is already barreling full steam ahead.  We’ve been so busy, in fact, with getting our programs up and running that I have barely had time to look up from the computer and appreciate the artists I’m working with.  Here’s a quick rundown of what to look for this season!

Our Fall acting internship is well under way with 12 wonderfully talented performers working in the office, taking improvisation classes with our Fall acting instructor Naima Moffet-Warden and getting ready to perform in our Writer/Director Forum in December.  The rising stars are: Joey Lozada, Olivia Boyle, Samantha Cains, Cindy de la Cruz, Nathalie Frederick, Josiah Laubenstein, Norma Perez-Hernandez, Kiley Rothweiler, Nathaniel Ryan, Jodi Savitz, Chanel Thomas and Nick Zappetti.

Dragonslayer -- A free developmental reading this Saturday, September 24 at 7 p.m.  I co-wrote this with long-standing collaborator Judy Sheehan.  This is the first time I’ve had the honor of co-authoring a piece with this consummate professional.  One of the original co-creators of Tony-N-Tina’s Wedding, Judy has had eight shows (I hope I counted them all!) produced here at Looking Glass.  I’m so excited to go on this journey as we create an entire world and one amazing character together.

Calamity Jane Battles the Horrible Hoopsnakes -- Already cast with rehearsals underway, this family show is a piece of laughter and childhood.  Inspired by our own Jacquelyn Honeybourne’s love of the traditional American Tall Tales, E. J.C. Calvert has written an original story about the plucky heroine as a young girl faced with an unusual and hilarious situation involving scaredy snakes- wait, I meant scary snakes of course… or did I? ;-) Runs October 15 through November 20.

Co-Op Theatre East Residency-- We are so excited by our new partnership with this amazing company.  They will be an artist in residence for the entire season starting this Fall with bi-monthly workshops and Radio COTE, their 2nd annual radio play festival on November 15.

Staged Readings of New Works – The 5 shorts for $5 bucks series returns! Title TBA. On Wednesday, October 26, we’ll be holding the third of our exciting new short play reading series.  Based on the set of the current show (in this case it will be Calamity Jane, so who knows??!), so far the themes have been “Submerged” and “Naked.”  With an open call for artists to create “on theme,” we’ve already had amazing and inspired work come out of this series from veterans and rookies alike.  I am truly excited about the potential for growth and new projects this program is bringing us.

Big Benefit Party- Our Fall benefit party is set for Tuesday, November 8 from 6-10pm.  That’s right, Election Day!  So put it in your calendar; after you rock the vote, come rock with us.  Planning is well underway; our interns have begun soliciting (and getting!) exciting raffle prizes and musical guests are banging down the doors (well…they’re emailing) for the opportunity to perform.  It’s going to be a blast!

theater IN ASYLUM’s Frankenstein – This exciting Fall space grant recipient presents their re-imaging of Mary Shelley’s classic November 15-19.  I enjoyed reading this proposal so much, and I can’t wait to see this show happen in our space.

Winter 2011 Writer/Director Forum -- Of course, this half of our season will culminate with our semi-annual festival of new works in December.  We have a very full Forum with ten talented directors currently in the process of choosing their projects and getting geared up for the big meeting in early October.  We have a perfect mix of experienced artists and new blood this go round and I am not exaggerating when I say this one promises to be one of the best. With planning started earlier than ever and the ideas flowing so smoothly already, I can’t believe I have to wait until December to see these shows!

-----------
Justine Lambert
Artistic Director
Looking Glass Theatre - www.lookingglasstheatrenyc.com

Read my recent director to director interview - http://www.2amtheatre.com/2011/08/24/spotlight-meet-justine-lambert-director/

Follow us on Twitter! http://twitter.com/LookingGlassNYC
Find us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/LookingGlassTheatreNYC
Follow our blog! http://lookingglasstheatre.blogspot.com/

Notes from Justine- Three By The Sea

Notes from Justine -Three By the Sea

Three By the Sea is opening this Saturday, March 5th at noon. I will be there with bells on with my family! I have been lucky enough to be a fly on the wall at three rehearsals for this complex, elegant bit of story theatre. This show manages to be both lyrical and fast paced. A study in the use of complexity in the service of simplicity this production uses multiple theatrical elements to tell its three enchanting stories. The stories are simple and sweet, funny and timeless.

“Paddy and the Mermaid” tells of an ordinary man who traps a mermaid. He learns that some things can’t be held by force, even if they are loved; perhaps especially if they are loved.

“Coyote’s Moon” is a classic tale of brains over brawn. In this case the brains belong to one sweet little bunny and the brawn to a coyote in a cowboy hat!

“Foghorn Franny” is a take on the idea that something seen as a weakness or even a fault can turn out to be a heroic strength. This story also addresses the timely theme of teasing and exclusion ever so gently and resolves with the teaser realizing the error of her ways.

This trio of tales comes across with clarity and a touch of the poetic and is wonderfully served by puppetry, music, lighting effects, shadow puppets, clever costuming, a beautiful set and even dancing umbrellas!

Speaking of those umbrellas, it’s worth mentioning that each play involves a body of water and each body of water is uniquely staged. As often seems to happen, the creativity and imagination involved in children’s theatre brings out the best (and hardest work!) in the creative team and cast. This group is no exception. Under the direction of Julia Martin this team has been in overdrive to realize the imaginings of playwright Donna Latham!

Justine Lambert
Founding Artistic Director

Seeking Assistant Directors/Stage Managers!

Seeking Assistant Directors/Stage Managers for Three By the Sea - a new children’s play by Donna Latham featuring tales of the sea- produced by/at Looking Glass Theatre, directed by Julia Martin.

* Looking for highly-organized, creative, and well-rounded Assistant Directors/Stage Managers able to attend all performances and most rehearsals. Daytime rehearsals on Fridays, weekends and some weekdays begin January 21. Tech scheduled for February 28 – March 4. Show opens March 5, performances Saturday at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. through April 10.

AD/SMs should have knowledge of basic lighting and sound board operation, an interest in directing and great time management skills. No pay, but possible future directing opportunities. This is a great way to start a wonderful relationship with a great local theatre company.

More information at www.lookingglasstheatrenyc.com

Rehearsals Begin: 1/21/11
Opens: 3/5/11
Closes: 4/10/11

Please send all cover letters and resumes to juliastirlingmartin@gmail.com.
Place AD/SM in title of email when submitting.

Interviews for AD/SMs are currently being conducted.

THANK YOU!

THE LOOKING GLASS PERFORMANCE SPACE GRANT-Feb.-March, 2010

ANNOUNCING THE LOOKING GLASS PERFORMANCE SPACE GRANT-Feb.-March, 2010

Seeking proposals from theatre companies!
Grantee(s) will receive performance space (anytime between February 17-March 6, 2010) including one technical rehearsal, and marketing and publicity (text provided by you) to our email press and audience lists and a listing or link on our website.

85% of ticket sales go to Looking Glass with 15% going to the Grant Recipient.
Grantee shows will be credited as COMPANY NAME, in conjunction with The Looking Glass Space Grant Program, presents SHOW TITLE

Additional rehearsal time will be made available at a deep discount when available.
DEADLINE: Applications accepted beginning Monday, December 14, 2009 through Monday, December 21 at 6pm.
Final Deadline Monday, December 21 at 6pm.

Proposals must be submitted via email to Artistic Director Justine Lambert at LookGlassJustine@aol.com as one (1) attachment. Companies are encouraged to make contact (via the above email address) in advance indicating their intent to apply and/or with any questions.

Applicants will be contacted with the final decision no later than Wednesday, December 23, 2009.

What you provide: A production(s) that reflects our mission statement.
OUR MISSION-Reflecting life on the stage with truth and theatricality while exploring a female vision. See web site for more! http://www.lookingglasstheatrenyc.com

Bottom line-Either playwright or director must be female (both is great but not required). Cast must be half or more female (for classics gender bending casts are accepted to meet this requirement). Female subject matter not required.

1) The Proposal-A one page description of the project including story, concept, and tone. Include running time. Include technical requirements and keep them MINIMAL, shows will be sharing the space.

2) Creative Team-List of all creative team members already on board with short bios. (Director or Playwright must already be chosen)

3) Space Request- Your ideal opening date and performance dates requested between February 17-March 6, 2010 (Maximum of 12 performances).

4) Marketing Description-A description of how you will attract a crowd!

5) Company Mission-Your mission statement and a description of activities along with current staff list.

Please put the above sections in their stated order and include the number and name of each section at the top of that section. Recommended length about 4 pages. Scripts are not required but may be requested after initial proposal review.

Please note: The Looking Glass Theatre is in an old and historic, but drafty building. Shows should be appropriate for winter (warm costumes, etc.)

The Looking Glass Theatre is located at 422 West 57th Street (btwn 9th/10th Aves). 212-307-9467 www.lookingglasstheatrenyc.com

Justine Lambert, Artistic Director
Jenn Boehm, Managing Director

SPRING FORUM 2009- PRODUCTION BLOGS

FORUM BLOGSSPRING 2009 WRITER/DIRECTOR FORUM
A semi-annual festival of new works featuring women playwrights and directors
JUNE 4 -28

Another set of blogs about our upcoming Forum:

NOTES FROM WEEK THREE, June 18-21

Please Remove this Stuffed Animal From My Head by Crystal Jackson, directed by Rebecca Lewis-Whitson
Featuring Andrew Hargrove, Sergio LoDolce, Jack Payne and Rosanna Plasencia

Casina by Plautus, adapted & directed by Jacquelyn Honeybourne
Featuring Katherine Booze-Mooney, Lindy Flowers, Laura Harrison, Sarah Pullman, Hanlon Smith-Dorsey and Audrey Yeoman

WEEK THREE AD: Elizabeth Carlson

Casina rehearsals have been going splendidly! The actors are well off book, with some paraphrasing/ad-libbing exceptions that actually work better than some of the true lines (thank you Lysidamus). The show has been a collaboration between myself and our actors, so when these ad-libs work, we're all more than willing to make them permanent. Looking Glass acting intern Katie Booze-Mooney, who plays Olympio, has come up with several good moments of improv herself which are now integrated into the script. We're now in the home stretch and making smaller, perfectionist adjustments most of which have to do with cranking that “character amp” up to 11. We're finding slight and specific ways to hone in and fine tune. Chalinus has developed a habitual manly scratch which is hilarious and Pardalisca is developing an inappropriate laugh that's cracking everyone up. Also, together with the actress playing Cleostrata, we've perfected the quick switch from jealous /harpy/mad woman to loving/hurt wife. All in all it's wonderful and we laugh until it hurts. I hope we get an audience, or as our Player calls them "Good spectators, men and women," ready to chuckle.

- Jacquelyn Honeybourne, Director of CASINA


For more info and tickets go to our website; www.lookingglasstheatrenyc.com
Friend us on Facebook! LookGlass Thr

Shakespeare in the Living Room

The Times reports that the Ohio Theater has six months to figure out how to pay competitive rent to their greedy new landlord:(http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/theater/22Ohio.html?ref=theater).

This is sad, of course. But, for me, it's also surreal. The little, struggling theaters are always on the verge of closing. But these bigger spaces are just, you know, THERE. The Ohio Theater doesn't just cease to exist!

Theater is all about space. To tell a story, you have to block out distractions. As the size of the audience increases, the steps you have to take to shut out distractions grow more complicated.
Most of the challenges we face in theater spring from our collective idea about what level of complexity must be achieved to make a storytelling event qualify as "theater."
If I get some actors to perform a Shakespeare play in my living room for four weeks, does it count? Would it qualify? Let me put it another way: how quickly would an actor drop out if another opportunity came up? He'd say, "I'm really sorry, but ..." But what? But this other thing is a real production. Why is it real? Because it will occur in a space set aside for doing plays.

We all collectively draw a line. On this side is activity that uses theater-related abilities. On that side is a "real play." Of course, attitudes in this regard differ from individual to individual, but the collective result is that theater that matters has to take place in an indoor space used exclusively for performance.

Therefore, theater is real estate.

Think about this. Think about what we all go through to find a place to live in New York. Nothing makes the people back in North Dakota think we're complete idiots for living here more than the rent we pay and the tiny boxes we get for that rent.

Now imagine that you have to rent a 3-bedroom apartment in a doorman building on the upper east side to present your cross-dressing version of "The Taming of The Shrew."

Everything you experience both doing and consuming theater is a correlation of real estate. The texture of the toilet paper. The stray extension cord. The graphics on the flyer. The tear in the seat. The wobbly set piece. The house slippers peeping out under Julius Caesar's toga. It all goes back to real estate.

We need to redraw the line.

Acting in 3-D- Beware of flying chairs!

Theater lovers should be amused by an article in The NY Times today about the headaches Hollywood faces with its 3-D agenda: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/12/business/media/12film.html?ref=technology

Here's the deal; movies are dying because everyone wants to stay at home. Hollywood is making this big bet on 3-D to offer a big enough spectacle to inspire people to get off the sofa.
Sound familiar? It's an old story. Theater began losing audiences to movies, then TV. So Broadway pumped up the spectacle ... the chandeleirs, helicopters, ocean liners. Now when some actor at The Looking Glass convinces Aunt Martha to come see her show, Aunt Martha wonders, "Where's the boat?" Off and Off Off Broadway still have to compete with this expectation of some sort of spectacle ... a helicopter or a movie star.

Now Hollywood is FINALLY facing the same sort of threat. We're all turning into those tubs of lard in Wall-E. People don't want to get off the sofa.

Plus, of course, we're dealing with this weird thing called "culture." Be honest; back when it was only the so-called "high arts" that had to worry about apathy, weren't you kind of thinking, "Well, you know, I have to admit I'd rather see Raiders of The Lost Ark than an opera"? But now, shock of shocks, watching a narrative sequence acted by human beings is "culture," it's old fashioned, and increasingly requires specialized education about what you're supposed to think and feel ... in the same way that you have to "develop a taste" for opera or theater. Researchers are finding that if you ask a tween "would you rather watch a movie or do stuff on the internet?" the latter wins hands down.

But think about Hollywood's solution: expensive, high tech 3-D. Meanwhile, what is theater? Isn't a live play the ultimate 3-D movie? You know, think of the hours of design and programing it takes to make someone feel as though an object is zooming right at her. Hey, an actor can just pick up a book or chair and lob it right out there.

Maybe someone should develop a play, maybe just an abbreviated Shakespeare show, as "The Ultimate 3D movie" ... work out the whole thing as though it really is the end result of years of production at PIXAR just to "create the illusion" of human beings on a stage, you know, "acting."

Happy 2009!
Hope to see you at "The Glass" this year...