MUSIC Forum at canaaninstitute.org :: cinst.org

[Mike_L]

New Musical Waiting for Spring Opening at the Kitchen Theatre

Ithaca, NY: Spring is finally here, and what a great time for a musical in the Kitchen! Veteran Kitchen Theatre artistic collaborators Rachel Lampert & Larry Pressgrove’s Waiting for Spring is an expansion of Act 2 of their well-received Comfort Food. The production boasts a cast of Broadway veterans. Previews are May 30th, 31st, and June 1st, and Opening Night is Saturday, June 2nd. It runs for three weeks, closing June 17th, 2012.

It’s a snowy day a few days after New Year’s Eve 2006, and Estelle is preparing a perfect dinner. It’s been three years since Estelle’s husband Joe passed away, and every year since, she and her old best friend Stephanie have gotten together on the anniversary to reminisce, laugh and maybe cry a little. But Estelle’s vegetable chopping and appetizer arrangements are interrupted when a visitor from the past unexpectedly shows up at her front door. Saul was hoping to see Joe, but instead he meets his widow. Snow piles up outside and stories of the past are revealed inside as Estelle and Saul discover that they both have been waiting for Spring.

“The characters in the play have recently taken some direct hits in their lives. They are both hoping for change, but not quite sure how it will happen or who will help it happen. That’s what we started with, and it has been fun to figure out where they end up,” says writer Rachel Lampert.

This world premiere musical sports a score from the musical arranger of [title of show] and the recent Now. Here. This., Larry Pressgrove, with book and lyrics from KTC Artistic Director, Rachel Lampert. Directing Waiting for Spring is NYC director and Kitchen Theatre newcomer Barry Kleinbort. Kleinbort has directed and/or written material for Petula Clark, Marvin Hamlisch, Regis Philbin, Penny Fuller, Tony Roberts, Anita Gillette, and many others. Joining Barry from the city and starring are Broadway veterans Carole Schweid* (an original cast member of the Pulitzer Prize winning A Chorus Line, among many other credits) and Mark Zimmerman* (seen in the recent Broadway revival of West Side Story). *Member, AEA
Musical direction for Waiting for Spring is by Richard Montgomery. Alexander Woodward is the Set Designer, Tyler Perry is the Lighting Designer, Lesley Greene is the Sound Designer, and Lisa Boquist is the Costume Designer. The Production Stage Manager is LaShawn Keyser. Performances will be at the Kitchen Theatre, located at 417 W. State / Martin Luther King, Jr. Street in downtown Ithaca, NY.

Performance Dates:
Wed., May 30, 2012 at 7:30pm (Preview 1 of 3)
Thurs., May 31, 2012 at 7:30pm (Preview 2 of 3)
Fri., June 1, 2012 at 8:00pm (Preview 3 of 3)
Sat., June 2, 2012 at 8:00pm (Press Opening)
Sun., June 3, 2012 at 4:00pm
Wed., June 6, 2012 at 7:30pm
Thurs., June 7, 2012 at 2:00pm
Thurs., June 7, 2012 at 7:30pm
Fri., June 8, 2012 at 8:00pm
Sat., June 9, 2012 at 8:00pm
Sun., June 10, 2012 at 4:00pm
Wed., June 13, 2012 at 7:30pm
Thurs., June 14, 2012 at 7:30pm
Fri., June 15, 2012 at 8:00pm
Sat., June 16, 2012 at 8:00pm
Sun., June 17, 2012 at 4:00pm (Closing)

TICKETS: $18-35; CALL 607-273-4497; VISIT Ticket Center Ithaca, 171 The Commons, Ithaca, NY; or CLICK www.kitchentheatre.org and buy online.
GROUP RATES: Discounts are available when you come with a group. For details, call 607-272-0403.
WEBSITE: For more information on the Kitchen Theatre Company, visit www.kitchentheatre.org.

This piece is made possible by Underwriter Cayuga Medical Center and Sponsor Foster Custom Kitchens. This funding helps the Kitchen bring bold, intimate and engaging theater to life.

Bold, intimate, engaging...Kitchen Theatre Company (KTC), now in its 21st season, is downtown Ithaca’s critically acclaimed and nationally recognized year-round professional theater company, specializing in regional and world premiere plays and musicals. KTC’s intimate 99-seat theater is in its newly renovated “green” building in the West End neighborhood of downtown Ithaca, New York. KTC is the first not-for-profit recipient of the David R. Strong Memorial “Small Business of the Year” Award from the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and receives public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, and the Tompkins County Room Occupancy Tax Fund. The Kitchen Theatre Company also receives general operating support from the Shubert Foundation.

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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

===

[Mike_L]

Mrs Mannerly Opens as Final Show of Kitchen Theatre's 21st Season

Ithaca, NY: School will soon be out for summer, but class is in session when Jeffrey Hatcher's Mrs. Mannerly bursts on to the Kitchen Theatre Company's stage. Mrs. Mannerly previews on July 4th, 5th, and 6th, and opens on July 7th. It runs for three weeks, closing on July 22nd.

In Steubenville Ohio, in 1967, Mrs. Mannerly's etiquette class is an institution. For years, students have come to her to learn poise, grace, the polka, and the proper placement of forks and spoons when setting a table. Mrs. Mannerly has graduated countless students from her class, but no one has ever managed to get a perfect score on the final exam. Jeffrey, Mrs. Mannerly's newest student, is determined to be the first, and will do just about anything to make it happen. Audiences will fall in love with this madcap comedy about what it means to learn and grow, and how friends can be found in the most surprising places.

Margarett Perry, a Kitchen Theatre Company veteran (At the Kitchen: Call Me Waldo, Private Lives, STRANGERHORSE, A Marriage Minuet, The Two of You, among others) will direct Mrs. Mannerly with an all Actors' Equity cast. Karl Gregory, a long-time favorite at the Kitchen Theatre Company (At the Kitchen: Fully Committed, Santaland Diaries, The Glass Menagerie, The Drunken City, A Perfect Ganesh, among others), will play ten-year-old Jeffrey as well as eight other roles in the production, rapidly switching from character to character in his patented physical comedic style. Elizabeth Meadows Rouse, new to the Kitchen Theatre Company (London: A Chaste Maid in Cheapside at Shakespeare's Globe. New York: understudy for The Rose Tattoo on Broadway, Othello and Comedy of Errors at Theater for a New Audience, Sealed for Freshness at New World Stages, among others) will star alongside Gregory as Mrs. Mannerly.

David Arsenault (Broke-ology, Call Me Waldo, Mary's Wedding, The Brothers Size) will design the set and the lighting for Mrs Mannerly. Lisa Boquist (Broke-ology, Red Light Winter, Neat, Circle Mirror Transformation, Private Lives) will design the costumes. Sound Design is by Ariana Hawthorne Davis. The Production Stage Manager is LaShawn Keyser. Performances will be at the Kitchen Theatre, located at 417 W. State / Martin Luther King, Jr. Street in Ithaca's West End neighborhood, just three blocks from The Commons.

Performance Dates:
Wed., July 4, 2012 at 7:30pm (Preview 1 of 3)
Thurs., July 5, 2012 at 7:30pm (Preview 2 of 3)
Fri., July 6, 2012 at 8:00pm (Preview 3 of 3)
Sat., July 7, 2012 at 8:00pm (Press Opening)
Sun., July 8, 2012 at 4:00pm
Wed., July 11, 2012 at 7:30pm
Thurs., July 12, 2012 at 7:30pm
Fri., July 13, 2012 at 8:00pm
Sat., July 14, 2012 at 8:00pm
Sun., July 15, 2012 at 4:00pm
Wed., July 18, 2012 at 7:30pm
Thurs., July 19, 2012 at 7:30pm
Fri., July 20, 2012 at 8:00pm
Sat., July 21, 2012 at 8:00pm
Sun., July 22, 2012 at 4:00pm (Closing)

Bold, intimate, engaging... Kitchen Theatre Company (KTC), in its 21st season, is downtown Ithaca's critically acclaimed and nationally recognized year-round professional theater company, specializing in regional and world premiere plays and musicals. KTC's intimate 99-seat theater is in its newly renovated "green" building in the West End neighborhood of downtown Ithaca, New York. KTC is the first not-for-profit recipient of the David R. Strong Memorial "Small Business of the Year" Award from the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and receives public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, and the Tompkins County Room Occupancy Tax Fund. The Kitchen Theatre Company also receives general operating support from the Shubert Foundation.

TICKETS: $15-35; CALL 607-273-4497; VISIT Ticket Center Ithaca, 171 The Commons, Ithaca, NY; or CLICK www.kitchentheatre.org to buy online.
GROUP RATES: Discounts are available when you come with a group. For details, call 607-272-0403.
WEBSITE: For more information on the Kitchen Theatre Company, visit
www.kitchentheatre.org

This piece is made possible by Sponsor C.S.P. Management. This funding helps the Kitchen bring bold, intimate and engaging theater to life.

###
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

===

[Mike_L]

Local Youth Premiere Between a Rock and a Hard Place on the Kitchen Theatre's Sink Series

Ithaca, NY: The Kitchen Theatre's Kitchen Sink Series, a venue for regional theater artists to develop work through staged readings and informal performances of works-in-progress, concludes this season with a powerful new play performed by Ithaca youth. Between a Rock and a Hard Place is revolutionary local youth-run theater. The story takes place in two different time periods, and both parts deal with aspects of the African American experience. The first half of the play reaches back to the late 1800s, when sharecropping and blackface minstrel shows were commonplace in America. The second half fast forwards to the present, where low-income housing and negative media representation of people of color through industry-driven Rap music is commonplace. In both time periods, characters struggle with their circumstances and attempt to play up to the stereotypes of the given time period in order to reach a level of material comfort. Male and female relations are explored as well as the struggle for self identity.



The cast is made up of 9 youth of color from the city of Ithaca who are deeply honored to get a chance to make a profound statement to their community, and hopefully shake things up for the better. The play also features a well-respected professional actor and phenomenal hip hop artist in our community, Darryl Johnson. The youth developed the play with Jhakeem Haltom, Youth Program Leader at the Ithaca Youth Bureau.



Proceeds from the play go toward a local scholarship fund that helps City of Ithaca youth handle the financial burden of college. The cast is made up of seven youth from the Paul Schreurs Memorial Program and two students from New Roots School. The play also features live music from the New Roots Jazz Ensemble and an amazing vocal and acting performance by recent Ithaca High School graduate Felicia Barrett. Shows are July 16th and 17th at the Kitchen Theatre starting at 6 pm. Tickets are $10 dollars and can be purchased at the door that evening or in advance at the Ticket Center Ithaca or online at www.kitchentheatre.org.

TICKETS: $10; CALL 607-273-4497; VISIT Ticket Center Ithaca, 171 The Commons, Ithaca, NY; or CLICK www.kitchentheatre.org to buy online.
WEBSITE: For more information on the Kitchen Theatre Company, visit
www.kitchentheatre.org


Bold, intimate, engaging... Kitchen Theatre Company (KTC), beginning its 22nd season in August, is downtown Ithaca's critically acclaimed and nationally recognized year-round professional theater company, specializing in regional and world premiere plays and musicals. KTC's intimate 99-seat theater is in its newly renovated "green" building in the West End neighborhood of downtown Ithaca, New York. KTC is the first not-for-profit recipient of the David R. Strong Memorial "Small Business of the Year" Award from the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and receives public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, and the Tompkins County Room Occupancy Tax Fund. The Kitchen Theatre Company also receives general operating support from the Shubert Foundation.


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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

===

[Mike_L]

Kitchen Theatre Company is Pleased to Announce its 2012-2013 Main Stage Season
22nd Season to include three wide-ranging dramas, two new plays, an intense coming-of-age story, and a recent Broadway sensation

Ithaca, NY: The Kitchen Theatre Company announces its 22nd Main Stage Season, bringing seven exciting plays to Central New York and the Finger Lakes. The Main Stage line-up includes Terrence McNally's enduring Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Michael Hollinger's dramatic Opus, Brian Dykstra's solo tour de force, Brian Dykstra Selling Out, Matthew Lopez's stunning drama The Whipping Man, Catherine Trieschmann's intense Crooked, Stephen Adly Guirgis's hilarious The Motherf**ker with the Hat, and Alice Eve Cohen's touching new play, What I Thought I Knew.



Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune by Terrence McNally

August 29-September 16, 2012

A terrific and enduring play about two 40-somethings whose first date is like a thunderstorm, with lightning strikes of emotion, sexuality, and - maybe - love. From the pen of one of the most treasured playwrights, this is a treatise on possibilities.



Opus by Michael Hollinger

October 17-November 11, 2012

A world-class string quartet is about to perform at the White House. One of the founding members, brilliant but mercurial, is ousted and replaced by a young woman. Tensions escalate as they prepare for the concert in this music-filled play that has been exciting audiences across the country.



Brian Dykstra's Selling Out by Brian Dykstra

November 28-December 16, 2012

It's a world premiere event! The latest uncensored solo tour de force from HBO def poet, award-winning playwright and actor, Brian Dykstra. The Village Voice says, "Brian Dykstra is working hard to turn ranting into a new genre, and if he succeeds, comedy may not be safe. He can make you think as hard as you laugh." You don't want to miss his latest exploration of the American condition.



The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez

January 23-February 10, 2013

In the final days of the Civil War, a Jewish Confederate soldier returns to his now-destroyed Richmond home. Wounded in body and spirit, he is taken in by two former slaves - one who raised him, and one who was raised with him. An unthinkable past and secrets held for a lifetime are finally on the table as the three men sit down for a Seder and grapple with the meaning of freedom at the dawn of post-emancipation America.



Crooked by Catherine Trieschmann

February 27-March 17, 2013

14-year-old Laney and her recently divorced mom have moved back to Oxford, Mississipi. Laney doesn't easily fit into her new school - too brainy, too tomboyish, too, too. Her unlikely friendship with another outcast, Mirabel, begins a journey to self-understanding. Religion, sexuality, teenage angst and mother-daughter struggles are insightfully woven into this contemporary coming-of-age story. Playwright Catherine Trieschmann is an exciting new voice on the American theater scene.



The Motherf**cker with the Hat by Stephen Adly Guirgis

April 10-28, 2013

Last season's sensation on Broadway is a comedy about addiction, recovery, and adultery. Yes, it has a title that cannot be printed, but don't let that deter you, this is a razor sharp look at struggles with addiction, friendship, love, and the challenges of adulthood.



What I Thought I Knew by Alice Eve Cohen

June 12-30, 2013

Based on her best selling book, an Oprah 25 Best Summer Books pick, Alice Eve Cohen's story is about motherhood, our fractured medical system, and the startlingly complicated choices that make up our lives. Steeped in her NYC roots, Alice Eve Cohen's brand of humor, insight and irony are combined in a unique theatrical event. A brilliant writer and one of the most engaging solo performers, you will be at the edge of your seat hearing her story unfold.



Subscriptions are available for the full 7-Play Main Stage Season or 5-Play Partial Season (choose your shows). More information about the Kitchen and an online subscription form can be found at www.kitchentheatre.org. We invite you to become a subscriber and join the "important conversations!"



ALSO AHEAD ON THE 2012-2013 SEASON:



The 2012-2013 Season also includes a behind-the-scenes discussion series, a new play by Artistic Director Rachel Lampert, a holiday party with guest actors and musicians, and the third year of our super successful Dance the Night Away dance party with featured celebrity dancers.



Around the Kitchen Table - Join Artistic Director Rachel Lampert and guest directors, designers, and actors for a series of discussions about what goes on behind the scenes at the Kitchen Theatre at 7:30 PM on the following dates:

Oct 30 - Lights, Music, Action
Nov 20 - Fun with Margarett Perry & Brian Dykstra
Jan 29 - Producing a Period Piece
Mar 5 - Directing a Play

Holiday Party!

December 18, 2012

Join Kitchen Theatre favorite performers and special guests on December 18th for an evening of stories and music. A fun time and a great way to support the Kitchen Theatre!



Dance the Night Away

March 23, 2013

Dust off your dancing shoes and join us for delicious food, great cocktails, and fun dance tunes from Little Joe and the Big Shots. Dance the night away and watch as local celebrities take the floor in exhibition dances. This is the third year of this fabulous party. Check our website in January to find out the names of our celebrity dancers!



And, Lately... by Rachel Lampert
May 8 - 19, 2013 From the author of The Soup Comes Last, Losing Myself, Precious Nonsense, Tony & the Soprano and more comes And, lately... a new work with music and movement. Kitchen Theatre Company Artistic Director, Rachel Lampert, working with composer Richard Montgomery, takes a personal census-with the help of a few friends. Occasionally thoughtful, rarely linear, and always funny, it will be a site-specific event beckoning the spring.



Bold, intimate, engaging... Kitchen Theatre Company (KTC), beginning its 22nd season, is downtown Ithaca's critically acclaimed and nationally recognized year-round professional theater company, specializing in regional and world premiere plays and musicals. KTC's intimate 99-seat theater is in its newly renovated "green" building in the West End neighborhood of downtown Ithaca, New York. KTC is the first not-for-profit recipient of the David R. Strong Memorial "Small Business of the Year" Award from the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and receives public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency, and the Tompkins County Tourism Program. The Kitchen Theatre Company also receives general operating support from the Shubert Foundation.


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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

===

[Mike_L]

Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune to open Kitchen Theatre's 22nd Season

Ithaca, NY: As the temperature cools down in the city, the Kitchen Theatre Company heats up with the first play of the theater's 22nd season. Previews start August 29, opening night is September 1, and the play runs through September 16,2012.

Frankie is a waitress. Johnny is a cook. Each has had a good helping of disappointments. She is resigned and cautious. He is a torrent of words and a desperate romantic. They spend an incredible night together: wild abandon at first, regret and doubt next, with laughing, crying, pushing and pulling along the way. Is there any that hope that a relationship can blossom out of the revelations of this tumultuous night? This could be just a one-night stand, or, maybe, this is the moment in time from which these two imperfect halves begin to fashion a whole. Are they willing to take the risk?



Rachel Lampert, Artistic Director of the KTC (Director: Broke-ology, Mary's Wedding, Red Light Winter and many others), directs an all Actors' Equity cast. Brandon Morris* (Stage: A Streetcar Named Desire, Fill Our Mouths. TV: Burn Notice, Law & Order SVU, Dexter) will play the motor-mouthed Johnny to Rachel Burttram's* (Stage: Rabbit Hole, Proof, Opus. TV: Burn Notice) guarded Frankie. Both actors make their Kitchen Theatre Company debut with this performance. The creative team also includes: Scenic Designer Kent Goetz, Lighting Designer: Tyler M. Perry, Sound Designer: Michael Doliner, Properties Designer: Abby Smith and the KTC Production Stage Manager LaShawn Keyser*. Performances take place in the Kitchen Theatre, located at 417 W. State / Martin Luther King, Jr. Street in Ithaca's West End neighborhood, just three blocks from The Commons.



This is the Kitchen Theatre's 22nd Season opener, and we will celebrate with a reception before each and every performance. Come early for a toast to the new season! Other special events connected to this production include a free pre-show talk on September 13th by with Ithaca College Associate Professor of Sociology Rebecca F. Plante, Book Review Editor of the Journal of Sex Research and member of the Editorial Board of Sexualities. Dr. Plante will be speaking on "The Intimacy of Hooking up."



The Kitchen Theatre is grateful for the support of production Underwriter Viva Taqueria & Cantina, Sponsor Foster Custom Kitchens, and Media Sponsor Cayuga Radio Group.



*member, AEA



Performance Dates:

Wed., Aug. 29, 2012 at 7:30pm (Preview 1 of 3)

Thurs., Aug. 30, 2012 at 7:30pm (Preview 2 of 3)

Fri., Aug. 31, 2012 at 8:00pm (Preview 3 of 3)

Sat., Sept. 1, 2012 at 8:00pm (Press opening)

Sun., Sept. 2, 2012 at 4:00pm

Wed., Sept. 5, 2012 at 7:30pm

Thurs., Sept 6, 2012 at 2pm (Matinee)

Thurs., Sept. 6, 2012 at 7:30pm

Fri., Sept. 7, 2012 at 8:00pm

Sat., Sept. 8, 2012 at 8:00pm

Sun., Sept. 9, 2012 at 4:00pm

Wed., Sept. 12 at 7:30pm

Thurs., Sept. 13, 2012 at 7:30pm

Fri., Sept 14, 2012 at 8:00pm

Sat., Sept 15, 2012 at 8:00pm

Sun., Sept 16, 2012 at 4:00pm (Closing)





Bold, intimate, engaging... Kitchen Theatre Company (KTC), beginning its 22nd season, is downtown Ithaca's critically acclaimed and nationally recognized year-round professional theater company, specializing in regional and world premiere plays and musicals. KTC's intimate 99-seat theater is in its newly renovated "green" building in the West End neighborhood of downtown Ithaca, New York. KTC is the first not-for-profit recipient of the David R. Strong Memorial "Small Business of the Year" Award from the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and receives public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency, and the Tompkins County Tourism Program. The Kitchen Theatre Company also receives general operating support from the Shubert Foundation.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $15-$35; CALL TICKET CENTER 607-273-4497 or purchase online at www.kitchentheatre.org
GROUP RATES: Discounts are available when you come with a group. For details, call 607-272-0403.
WEBSITE: For more information on the Kitchen Theatre Company, visit
www.kitchentheatre.org

This piece is made possible by production Underwriter Viva Taqueria and Cantina, Sponsor Foster Custom Kitchens and Media Sponsor Cayuga Radio Group. This funding helps the Kitchen bring bold, intimate and engaging theater to life.





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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

===

[Mike_L]

Acting Classes at the Kitchen Theatre


Monday evenings in October, 7-9PM (5 sessions)
Ages 15 and up. Fee: $125


"I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being." - Oscar Wilde

This Fall, the Kitchen Theatre will offer a series of acting classes every Monday in October from 7-9PM. Geared for participants ages 15 and up, the classes will include a mix of theatre games and exercises along with detailed discussions and demonstrations on how to break down a script, how to establish objectives and beats, and how to build a character. Eventually, the group will take to the stage, rehearsing short scenes and exploring staging and how to play to an audience. The series will conclude with an informal gathering on October 29th.

The classes will be taught by new-to-Ithaca professional actor Brendan Powers. Brendan's experiences as an actor and singer include the Tony Award-winning play Art and The Big Knife, both with Alec Baldwin; the Drama League's Tribute to Liza Minnelli; Star Crossed Lovers with the Southwest Florida Symphony; Leonard Bernstein's acclaimed Mass; and numerous regional theatre productions. Television credits include Sex & the City, All My Children and numerous TV commercials, web videos and industrials. Brendan is a director as well and has served as Artistic Director of Niagara University's Theatre Studies department and as a company member of the Florida Repertory Theatre in Fort Myers.

Acting classes at the Kitchen Theatre with Brendan Powers are a great way to hone your skills or try something new. Space is limited, so enroll today! To register for the classes, email Ally at ally@kitchentheatre.org or call (607) 272-0403.



Bold, intimate, engaging... Kitchen Theatre Company (KTC), beginning its 22nd season, is downtown Ithaca's critically acclaimed and nationally recognized year-round professional theater company, specializing in regional and world premiere plays and musicals. KTC's intimate 99-seat theater is in its newly renovated "green" building in the West End neighborhood of downtown Ithaca, New York. KTC is the first not-for-profit recipient of the David R. Strong Memorial "Small Business of the Year" Award from the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and receives public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency, and the Tompkins County Tourism Program. The Kitchen Theatre Company also receives general operating support from the Shubert Foundation.


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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

===

[Mike_L]

Michael Hollinger's OPUS

Kitchen Theatre Company's 22nd Season continues with Michael Hollinger's OPUS

Ithaca, NY: Sex, Drugs and Chamber Music! The Kitchen Theatre Company's 22nd Season continues with a deliciously constructed and dramatic play about a renowned string quartet. Equal parts mystery, romance, and backstage drama, Opus by Michael Hollinger runs October 17th to November 11th at the Kitchen Theatre in downtown Ithaca. Previews are October 17, 18, and 19, Opening Night is October 20, and the play continues through November 11, 2012.

Opus is a smart, funny and insightful portrait of the fictional Lazara String Quartet. As the foursome prepares for a high profile performance at the White House, tensions mount and personalities clash. Their brilliant but unpredictable violist disappears altogether, leaving them to scramble for a last minute replacement. Will the talented young woman they select fit into a group of men with a complex history? Violist-turned playwright Michael Hollinger skillfully shows how four very distinct personalities navigate discord in order to create a beautiful sound.

Rachel Lampert, Artistic Director of the KTC (Director: Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Broke-ology, Mary's Wedding, Red Light Winter and many others), directs an all Actors' Equity cast: Jesse Bush*, Michael Samuel Kaplan*, Brendan Powers*, Alison Scaramella*, Alexander Thomas*. The creative team also includes: Scenic and Lighting Designer: Tyler M. Perry, Costume Designer: Lisa Boquist, Sound Designer: Lesley Greene, Properties Designer: Megan Gerber, Music Consultant Linda Case, and the KTC Production Stage Manager LaShawn Keyser*. Performances take place in the Kitchen Theatre, located at 417 W. State / Martin Luther King, Jr. Street in Ithaca's West End neighborhood, just three blocks from The Commons.

In conjunction with the Ithaca premiere of Opus, the Kitchen Theatre Company will present a number of other events: free pre-show discussions with local experts on small group dynamics in general and chamber music specifically, live music by a string quartet composed of Ithaca High School students, and talk backs with the cast and director. Thursday night pre-show talks begin at 6:30 and feature the following speakers: on October 25th, Cornell Assistant Professor Jack Goncalo on "The Dark Side of Creativity," on November 1st, IC Associate Professor of Violin Susan Waterbury on "Life as a Foursome," and on November 8th, IC Assistant Professor of Performance Studies Nicholas DiEugenio on "Trust and Respect: The four way marriage of a professional string quartet."

The Kitchen Theatre is grateful for the support of production Co-Producer Tompkins Trust Company and Media Sponsor WSKG Public Broadcasting.

*member, AEA

DETAILS FOR CALENDAR LISTINGS OPUS

WHAT:
Opus - Sex, Drugs, and Chamber Music! - a deliciously constructed and dramatic play about a renowned string quartet. On the brink of a breakthrough concert at the White House, one of the players of the Lazara String Quartet has disappeared. A replacement must be found! An exceptionally talented young woman joins the previously all-male ensemble, and rehearsals for the monumental Beethoven Opus 131 begin. Equal parts mystery, romance, and backstage drama, Opus runs October 17th to November 11th at the Kitchen Theatre in downtown Ithaca.

In conjunction with the Ithaca premiere of Opus, the Kitchen Theatre Company will present a number of other events: free pre-show discussions with local experts on small group dynamics in general and chamber music specifically, live music by a string quartet composed of Ithaca High School students, and talk backs with the cast and director. Thursday night pre-show talks begin at 6:30 and feature the following speakers: on October 25th, Cornell Assistant Professor Jack Goncalo on "The Dark Side of Creativity," on November 1st, IC Associate Professor of Violin Susan Waterbury on "Life as a Foursome," and on November 8th, IC Assistant Professor of Performance Studies Nicholas DiEugenio on "Trust and Respect: The four way marriage of a professional string quartet."



WHO:

Written by Michael Hollinger
Directed by Rachel Lampert
Starring Jesse Bush, Michael Samuel Kaplan, Brendan Powers, Alison Scaramella, Alexander Thomas


WHEN:
Previews: October 17 - 19

Performances: October 20 - November 11

Wednesdays at 7:30 pm: October 17 (preview), 24, 31; November 7

Thursdays at 2 pm: October 25

Thursdays at 7:30 pm: October 18 (preview), 25; November 1, 8

Fridays at 8 pm: October 19 (preview), 26; November 2, 9

Saturdays at 8 pm: October 20 (Opening), 27: November 3, 10

Sundays at 4 pm: October 21, 28: November 4, 11



WHERE: The Kitchen Theatre Company 417 W State Street Ithaca, NY 14850


HOW: (607) 273-4497 or www.kitchentheatre.org

TICKETS: Previews: $27

Opening Night (June 19): $35 adult, $32 senior
Regular performances: $34 adult, $29 senior
Students (with ID): $25
Student Rush (30 minutes before the performance): $15

Bold, intimate, engaging... Kitchen Theatre Company (KTC), beginning its 22nd season, is downtown Ithaca's critically acclaimed and nationally recognized year-round professional theater company, specializing in regional and world premiere plays and musicals. KTC's intimate 99-seat theater is in its newly renovated "green" building in the West End neighborhood of downtown Ithaca, New York. KTC is the first not-for-profit recipient of the David R. Strong Memorial "Small Business of the Year" Award from the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and receives public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency, and the Tompkins County Tourism Program. The Kitchen Theatre Company also receives general operating support from the Shubert Foundation.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $15-$35; CALL TICKET CENTER 607-273-4497 or purchase online at www.kitchentheatre.org
GROUP RATES: Discounts are available when you come with a group. For details, call 607-272-0403.
WEBSITE: For more information on the Kitchen Theatre Company, visit
www.kitchentheatre.org.

This piece is made possible by production Co-Producer Tompkins Trust Company and Media Sponsor WSKG Public Broadcasting. This funding helps the Kitchen bring bold, intimate and engaging theater to life.


###
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

===

[Mike_L]

Playwright/Poet/Actor Brian Dykstra premieres his new work at the Kitchen Theatre

Ithaca, NY: And now for something completely different! The next offering on the Kitchen Theatre's 22nd Main Stage season is a world premiere by award winning playwright, actor and HBO Def Poet Brian Dykstra*. A solo performance that combines standup comedy with storytelling, rabble rousing and down-home preaching, Brian Dykstra Selling Out runs November 28th to December 16th at the Kitchen Theatre in downtown Ithaca. Previews are November 28, 29, and 30, Opening Night is December 1st, and performances continue through December 16, 2012.

From the power of money to the pursuit of happiness, Dykstra questions everything. Part lecture, part rant, Brian Dykstra Selling Out is a call to action and a highly charged, wildly comic theatrical event by a master of many mediums. Kitchen Theatre Artistic Director Rachel Lampert describes him this way: "Brian is part dancer, part boxer. I say that because sometimes he tiptoes around an idea for a while, giving us a multifaceted exploration of the concept, and then comes pounding down on the point he is making. His energy on stage is extraordinary."

Kitchen Theatre audiences are familiar with Brian Dykstra's work as a playwright and actor. He appeared last season as Gus in Rob Ackerman's Call Me Waldo and was seen in Kitchen Theatre productions of Private Lives and A Marriage Minuet as well as his plays Clean Alternatives, A Play on Words, Strangerhorse, The Jesus Factor, and HO!. In addition to regional theater work across the country, he has numerous film and television credits, including "Def Poetry" "Third Watch", "Law & Order" "Chappelle's Show", "(718)", Corn, Spectropia, Another Bed, Freedomland and Knight & Day. The Village Voice says, "Brian Dykstra is working hard to turn ranting into a new genre, and if he succeeds, comedy might not be safe. He can make you think as hard as you laugh."

Directing the play is Dykstra's long-time collaborator and Kitchen Theatre favorite, Margarett Perry** (at the Kitchen: Brian Dykstra's Clean Alernatives, A Play on Words, The Two of You, Strangerhorse, The Jesus Factor and HO! as well as Mrs. Mannerly, Call Me Waldo, Private Lives, A Marriage Minuet, and more). Scenic and Lighting designer David Arsenault has designed an extraordinary set inspired by Jasper Johns' "Flag," and Sound Designer Don Tindall provides a soundscape to match the range and intensity of Brian's script. The Costume Designer is Lisa Boquist and the Stage Manager is Jennifer Schilansky*. Performances take place in the Kitchen Theatre, located at 417 W. State / Martin Luther King, Jr. Street in Ithaca's West End neighborhood, just three blocks from The Commons.

In conjunction with the premiere of Brian Dykstra Selling Out, the Kitchen Theatre Company will present a number of additional events: free pre-show discussions with local experts, talk backs with the cast and director, and a special Around the Kitchen Table session devoted to Brian and Margarett. Thursday night pre-show talks begin at 6:30 and feature Vice Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature Nathan Shinagawa on December 6th and Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature Martha Robertson on December 13th. Talk backs are scheduled for November 28-30th, December 7th, and December 14th, and Around the Kitchen Table is on Tuesday, November 20th at 7:30 PM. For more information on these events, visit our website at www.kitchentheatre.org.

The Kitchen Theatre is grateful for the support of production Sponsors Barry Chester and Elissa Cogan.

*member, AEA

**member, SDC

DETAILS FOR CALENDAR LISTINGS
BRIAN DYKSTRA SELLING OUT



WHAT:
Brian Dykstra Selling Out - A world premiere by award winning playwright, actor and HBO Def Poet Brian Dykstra. Combining standup comedy with storytelling, rabble rousing and down-home preaching, Brian Dykstra Selling Out is a solo performance that runs November 28th to December 16th at the Kitchen Theatre in downtown Ithaca. Previews are November 28, 29, and 30, Opening Night is December 1st, and performances continue through December 16, 2012.



In conjunction with the premiere of Brian Dykstra Selling Out, the Kitchen Theatre Company will present a number of additional events: free pre-show discussions with local experts, talk backs with the cast and director, and a special Around the Kitchen Table session devoted to Brian and Margarett. Thursday night pre-show talks begin at 6:30 and feature Vice Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature Nathan Shinagawa on December 6th and Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature Martha Robertson on December 13th. Talk backs are scheduled for November 28-30th, December 7th, and December 14th, and Around the Kitchen Table is on Tuesday, November 20th at 7:30 PM. For more information on these events, visit our website at www.kitchentheatre.org.


WHO:

Written and Performed by Brian Dykstra
Directed by Margarett Perry


WHEN:
Previews: November 28 - 30

Performances: December 1 - 16

Wednesdays at 7:30 pm: November 28 (preview); December 5, 12 Thursdays at 7:30 pm: November 29 (preview); December 6, 13 Fridays at 8 pm: November 30 (preview); December 7, 14

Saturdays at 8 pm: December 1 (Opening), 8, 15

Sundays at 4 pm: December 2, 9, 16



WHERE:
The Kitchen Theatre Company 417 W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street
Ithaca, NY 14850


HOW:
(607) 273-4497 or www.kitchentheatre.org

TICKETS:
Previews: $27

Opening Night (December 1): $35 adult, $32 senior

Regular performances: $34 adult, $29 senior
Students (with ID): $25
Student Rush (30 minutes before the performance): $15





Bold, intimate, engaging... Kitchen Theatre Company (KTC), in its 22nd season, is downtown Ithaca's critically acclaimed and nationally recognized year-round professional theater company, specializing in regional and world premiere plays and musicals. KTC's intimate 99-seat theater is in its newly renovated "green" building in the West End neighborhood of downtown Ithaca, New York. KTC is the first not-for-profit recipient of the David R. Strong Memorial "Small Business of the Year" Award from the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and receives public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency, and the Tompkins County Tourism Program. The Kitchen Theatre Company also receives general operating support from the Shubert Foundation.

TICKETS: $15-$35; CALL TICKET CENTER 607-273-4497 or purchase online at www.kitchentheatre.org
GROUP RATES: Discounts are available when you come with a group. For details, call 607-272-0403.
WEBSITE: For more information on the Kitchen Theatre Company, visit
www.kitchentheatre.org.

This production is made possible in part by Sponsors Barry Chester and Elissa Cogan. This funding helps the Kitchen bring bold, intimate and engaging theater to life.



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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Kitchen Theatre's 22nd Season concludes with Alice Eve Cohen's WHAT I THOUGHT I KNEW

Ithaca, NY: "Mrs. Cohen, we found a baby in you." This was the news that greeted Alice Eve Cohen after six months of doctor's appointments and concern over her feelings of lethargy and discomfort - and the alarming lump growing in her abdomen. Cohen's funny and frightening story was the basis for an acclaimed 2009 memoir that she has now adapted for the stage. What I Thought I Knew runs at the Kitchen Theatre from June 12 to 30, with preview performances June 12, 13 and 14. Opening Night is June 15, and the closing performance is on June 30.

After receiving the unexpected news at age 44 that she was six months pregnant, with no prenatal care and no physician willing to take on her high-risk pregnancy, Alice was inundated with opinions from doctors and friends telling her what was ethical, what was loving, and what was right. With humor and candor, Cohen describes her unexpected odyssey through doubt, a broken medical system, and the complexities of motherhood and family in today's world.

Alice Eve Cohen* has written for Nickelodeon, the Children's Television Workshop and CBS and has toured nationally as a playwright and author. At the Kitchen, she has performed two of her works for young audiences - The Parrot and The Balinese Frog Prince ­- and her solo piece for adults, Thin Walls. Her play Hannah and the Hollow Challah was a sell-out in 2009. Her memoir, also entitled What I Thought I Knew, won the Elle's Lettres 2009 Grand Prix for non-fiction and was selected as a Best Book by Oprah Magazine. Anne Lamott called it her favorite book of 2009, saying, "It is just lovely, everything we love in a book - profound, honest, hilarious, humane, surprising. It's the book I foisted on everyone."

What I Thought I Knew was originally directed by Elizabeth Margid, Alice's long-time collaborator and head of the directing program at Fordham University. Kitchen Theatre Company Artistic Director Rachel Lampert has restaged the play for the Kitchen's performance space. The set designer is Alexander Woodard (at the Kitchen: Waiting for Spring), lighting design is by Tyler M. Perry (recent designs at the Kitchen: And, lately..., The Motherf**ker with the Hat, The Whipping Man, Opus), and the sound design is by NYC designer Eric Nightengale. The stage manager is Jennifer Schilansky*. Performances take place in the Kitchen Theatre, located at 417 W. State / Martin Luther King, Jr. Street in Ithaca's West End neighborhood, just three blocks from The Commons.

In conjunction with the Ithaca premiere of What I Thought I Knew, the Kitchen Theatre Company will present a number of ancillary events: free pre-show discussions with local experts on issues related to the play and post-show talk backs with Alice Eve Cohen and Rachel Lampert. Pre-show talks are scheduled for Thursdays June 20th and 27th, and talkbacks are scheduled for Fridays, June 21st and June 28th. Cohen will be signing books at the Ithaca Barnes and Noble on Saturday, June 22nd. Please check our website for more events: www.kitchentheatre.org.

The Kitchen Theatre is grateful for the support of production Underwriter C.S.P. Management.

WHO:

Written and Performed by Alice Eve Cohen*
Directed by Elizabeth Margid

Restaged for the Kitchen by Rachel Lampert



WHEN:
Previews: June 12 - 30

Performances: June 15 - 30

Wednesdays at 7:30 pm: June 12 (preview), 19, 26

Thursdays at 2:00 pm: June 20

Thursdays at 7:30 pm: June 13 (preview), 20, 27

Fridays at 8 pm: June 14 (preview), 21, 28

Saturdays at 8 pm: June 15 (Opening), 22, 29

Sundays at 4 pm: June 16, 23, 30


WHERE:
The Kitchen Theatre Company
417 W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street
Ithaca, NY 14850

HOW:
(607) 273-4497 or www.kitchentheatre.org

TICKETS:
Previews: $27

Opening Night: $35 adult, $32 senior
Regular performances: $34 adult, $29 senior
Students (with ID): $25
Student Rush (30 minutes before the performance): $15
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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