A Thread for Live Performances Happening in NY

In the past few months, there have been a few scattered live performances being done around the NY area - with social distancing measures in place, obviously. And yet I keep finding out about them AFTER they've already happened (the most recent example being the Open Jar concert that Jordan posted about).

I know there was also the outdoor show that The Team (Rachel Chavkin's company) did in Bushwick - again, I found out about it just a few days after it ended. And then there was that immersive show that Michael Arden did upstate, though I know that was by invite only.

I think part of the reason I keep missing the announcements is that there's so much online theatre content right now, that my brain doesn't sift out the scattered live performance when glancing through the headlines. I just see "performance happening" and assume it's online. And because I haven't really been watching much online performance either, I especially can't keep track of when the live ones are happening.

So I'm starting this thread in the hopes that it can become a place to give a heads up about any and all live (socially distanced) performances that are happening in NY, and also to discuss them after the fact, if we so choose. 

So, does anyone know of anything coming up? Did anyone see Quince (the show from The Team) or the Michael Arden show? 

Updated On: 9/9/20 at 01:11 PM

I've been getting email updates from TimeOut and TDF

Thanks Anakela!! I think I might end up doing the Gelsey Bell thing! 

The Toulouse-Latrec one is a bit out of my price-range. Does anyone know if it's on TDF? I let my subscription expire. 

I happened across this Threepenny Opera production in late October through mid-November, for which you can buy tickets either for a live performance or for a livestream. Don't know anything else about it, but... it could be good? https://www.citylyricopera.org/threepenny-opera

Bill Irwin will be doing 18 performances of an 8-minute solo piece performed on the street. Unfortunately (for me), it's only available to Vineyard Theatre members. 

https://www.vineyardtheatre.org/the-busking-project/

This is along the lines of the Gelsey Bell piece - you download an app ahead of time, then listen/walk on your own - with the NY Phil, in Central Park. 

https://nyphil.org/concerts-tickets/explore/series-and-festivals/soundwalk

I managed to get a spot for Bill Irwin's performance on the street ("The Busking Project," produced by Vineyard, see the link in my post above). 

It was 9 minutes of Bill Irwin doing what he does best. It's very silly and deliberately nonsensical, but with a bit of a timely twist at the end, connecting the piece to the current protests for Black lives. It was cool to see a more "traditional" live performance for the first time in over 6 months months (obviously it was nontraditional in many ways, but compared to say, the Gelsey Bell piece, it's more obviously an example of live performance: there's a live actor, an audience, etc.). 

It's not life-changing theatre, nor is it meant to be. If getting to Flatiron is a real pain in the ass for where you live, and if it doesn't seem worth it for a 9-minute show, I wouldn't necessarily say it's a must-see experience. But if it's an easy subway ride, and if you're looking for some free, live theatre to see, I definitely recommend it. Especially if you're a fan of Bill Irwin's work. 

There are 9 performances left, this coming Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. It looked like they had some spots reserved for walk-ups - you just have to wear a mask and give your info for contact tracing. I guess they technically don't want to publicly post the exact location, so that they can save room for members of the public, but I wouldn't mind DM-ing the location to anyone who asks. 

I just found out about this and it only has two more dates, but the one-woman show Bette Davis Ain't For Sissies has been playing live performances in Central Park.

http://www.bettedavisaintforsissies.com/

Tickets are $20 but the October 11 show is currently on TDF for $11.

The Darryl Roth Theatre is producing the New York transfer of Blindness: http://www.darylroththeatre.com/productions/blindness/

tbh not too sure what exactly this is, but it sounds pretty interesting

Last night I went to to see the piece "Temping" at the Wild Project (which, again, I discovered from this thread!)

It was a fun experience - a great idea for an immersive, interactive piece, and it was executed well in many ways. I do wish it had been longer. I understand the logistical reasons why it needs to be only 60 minutes long, but from an artistic standpoint, I think the experience would have benefited from being at least an hour longer. Or actually, I could imagine a version of it that lasts all day. 

I also wish the story involved interaction with a greater variety of set elements. You're free to look around the office set as much as you want, and there are some fun easter eggs, but the story mostly just has you using the computer, the phone, and the printer. 

Still, I really enjoyed it! It was a smart piece to bring back at a time like this. 

For those in Brooklyn, live music tonight (5pm - 7pm) from the roof at St. Ann's Warehouse.

https://mailer.stannswarehouse.org/63KQ-CEL1-8C1F4F903DEAE5965JIXR3A5248E06338E1DE4/cr.aspx

I figured it's about time to bring this thread back.

In the fall, I had a great time getting to experience live theatre (in some form or another) again in New York, and then it seemed to calm down once the cold weather started. But Spring is around the corner, restrictions are loosening, and we've got some performances coming up! 

Obviously there is already a thread discussing "Blindness" (also linked by another user above), coming next month.

And we've also got a project from Bill T. Jones at the Armory in just a few weeks, followed by a project by David Byrne, Steven Hoggett, and Christine Jones with dates TBA. 

As discussed in some other recent threads, it's no coincidence that The Armory and the Daryl Roth are the first ones to open - these are both large, flexible spaces that can accommodate socially distanced seating. I hope we see a similar announcement soon from St. Ann's - a similarly flexible space. Maybe The Shed too?