A Thread for Live Performances Happening in NY- Page 2

[JBroadway]

Posted: 3/9/21 at 3:01pm

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? 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/9/21 at 3:12pm

Green Room 42 is also reopening in a few weeks with Lillias White.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/9/21 at 4:16pm

Waiting for Lincoln Center to put out their schedule of outdoor performances for the Spring.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/9/21 at 4:31pm

Curious if Jazz at Lincoln Center will open for any concerts this spring/summer.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 3/10/21 at 5:43pm

JBroadway said: "Maybe The Shed too?"

 

The Shed too! 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/The-Shed-Announces-Indoor-Live-Music-and-Comedy-Series-Featuring-Rene-Fleming-Michelle-Wolf-and-More-20210310

 

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 3/10/21 at 6:07pm

While I understand they need to sell seats in bubbles, it is really frustrating that all of these require pairs. Many single folk who have been alone on their own for a year would like to go to the theatre. It would be nice if there was at least SOME effort to offer a few single seats.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/10/21 at 7:26pm

I agree about needing single seats. Half the shows I see on Broadway and elsewhere I'm usually solo.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/10/21 at 7:31pm

I think (hope) because of so many vaccinations predicted over the next 8 weeks, these extremely limited seating arrangements won’t be a thing for very long, as capacity is upped more and more.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/4/21 at 5:39pm

Did anyone see Blindness this weekend?

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 4/6/21 at 11:47pm

I went to Blindness last Thursday, and I think it's definitely a unique experience, though it's very different from theater in the traditional sense.  The best way to classify it is probably to call it an "immersive radio drama" as the entire story is told through the audio in the headphones you put on.  The lighting mostly serves to immerse you in a specific environment, which for the most part helps you focus on what's happening in your ears even more (though be warned that there's quite a bit of flashing lights and extended periods of total darkness, if that bothers anyone).  The entire second third of the show is told in spatial audio, as you assume the place of one of the characters and you can hear the main character walking around and whispering in your ear before walking away.  It's definitely super realistic to the point where I kept shivering because I could've sworn I felt someone touching me.  The first and third parts of the story are told by a more classical narrator (the first part is told in third person and sounds an awful lot like an audio book, while the third part is told in first person of the same character you were hearing during the second part).

The story itself I wasn't too crazed about and it's interesting enough to keep you invested in it, though I admit my mind wandered a bit during the first part of the show.  It was a bit too metaphorical for my taste, especially the way it ended, where I felt I couldn't quite grasp exactly what it was trying to say, but the middle section did a tremendous job of putting you directly in the middle of the action so that it felt like you were actually experiencing what was happening.  I'm curious to read the novel it was based on just to see how it plays out differently in that format.

Overall, I think it was an interesting experience to have, though I wouldn't call it a must-see, and it doesn't exactly scratch the live theater bug since it's quite different from a traditional stage show.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 4/8/21 at 4:30pm

New York Popsup is overseen by Scott Rudin, along with Jane Rosenthal. Wonder if he can be pushed out...

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/13/21 at 3:29pm

I can't believe I'm seeing THREE shows this week! 

"Taxilandia" with NYTW/Bushwick Starr - a theatre piece for 1 pod of audience members, performed in a moving "taxi"

The Bengsons at St. Ann's Warehouse 

And "Social! The Social Distance Dance Club!" at the Armory 

Almost like old times! I spent almost $125 on these 3 tickets, which is a little bit luxurious for my current income, so I'll probably have to cool it after this week. Luckily there isn't anything else that I urgently want to see in the next month. I decided to hold off on seeing Blindness partly because I have plenty of time to see it, and also in the hopes that tickets might get cheaper in the coming months. 

 

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/13/21 at 4:27pm

Perfect Crime is indeed returning, but will anyone actually want to go see it?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/16/21 at 12:53am

Buncha stuff happening at Radial Park in Astoria again, including online simulcasts! Cool and familiar names in the casts.

https://www.resounding.live/radialpark

Clu-eth: April 23, 24

Beyond the Veil: April 30 - May 1

The Tempest: May 7, 8

Treasure Island: May 14, 15

Triassic Parq: May 21-23

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/16/21 at 10:47am

I saw "Taxilandia" the other day - very cool experience. Highly recommend! It runs through May 2nd. Tickets are lottery-only, but I got it on my first try I think. It's a deeply personal piece, which explores themes of gentrification and loss, but all of that is woven into a fun, intimate experience. 

The Bengsons show last night was profoundly moving. I can't tell you how meaningful it was to be back in St. Ann's - one of the theatres I've been missing the most during the shutdowns. The show is more concert-y than their past NYC shows, even more so than Hundred Days, but it definitely still had a theatrical quality, especially as it explored Shaun's experience with hearing loss and religion. There were some no-shows last night, so it might be worth inquiring about cancellations for tonight? Otherwise, I think it would be worth joining on Zoom

Up next: the "Social Distance Dance Club" show at the Armory, and later this month, Andre Holland is doing a reading at 92y which I bought tickets to. 

Also, this event has already passed, but I just noticed that BAM presented a modern dance show on ice last week. Anyone go to that? Next they'll be doing 10-minute classical concerts in the park for 1 person at a time - https://www.bam.org/1-1-concerts

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 4/18/21 at 3:20pm

Nowhere else to put this without starting a separate thread.

I went to a performance last night to Pirates of Penzance in Brisbane Australia, my first live show in forever.,

 

The theatre was packed, not a spare seat anywhere, no masks, everyone chatting before and no rules except the sign in with phones. All flowed perfectly and show started on time. What joy and how fortunate we are here, so please everyone, don't FIU !

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/18/21 at 3:38pm

Wow. I guess Australia is just done with Covid. Weird. Glad you had a fun time, though!!!

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/19/21 at 8:50am

Jealous of those in Australia & Korea that have shows up and running.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/19/21 at 9:36am

And we’re less than 5 weeks away from performances resuming in the UK. Slowly but surely, we’re getting there.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/19/21 at 10:30am

Want to be even more jealous? Check out this event list from New Zealand:
http://www.mtnz.org.nz/

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/19/21 at 10:39am

Just wanted to pop back in and say: 

I went to the "Social!" experience at the Armory this weekend. It was ok, but probably one of the lesser experiences I've had with pandemic theatre. Not necessarily through any fault of the creators, but it just wasn't exactly my cup of tea. It really is 1 hour of allowing the audience to dance in their individual designated areas, guided by a curated playlist and narration by David Byrne. There were times when I was having a lot of fun, but I couldn't keep up my energy for that full hour. I wish there had been a bit more to it than that. It occurred to me that any outside viewer with no context might think that we were in some bizarre, dystopian cult. 

But the lighting design is fantastic, and easily the coolest thing about the experience. 

I'd also like to commend the team at the Armory for running this complex operation so smoothly. The pre-show routine (with every audience member getting a rapid test) is impressive enough, but I was especially impressed that they stood by their word, and they actually ejected an audience member for neglecting to keep his mask on after a couple of warnings. Bravo! 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/19/21 at 10:47am

LizzieCurry said: "Want to be even more jealous? Check out this event list from New Zealand:
http://www.mtnz.org.nz/"

*sigh*......

[HogansHero]

Posted: 4/19/21 at 10:55am

There is a good and interesting piece (see link) by David Leonhardt in today's morning briefing in the Times about irrational Covid fears and why folks have them (and why they will get over it eventually). It's a significant part of the slowly but surely and especially pertinent to Broadway because of the obvious need to have a continuous supply of the willing. I think our timing (necessarily stunted vis-a-vis the UK because of our fairly widespread Covid lunacy) remains as it has, modest steps in the fall, more confident ones in the spring, and then hopefully approaching "normal" for the 22-23 season.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/19/briefing/european-soccer-league-mars-helicopter-navalny.html?searchResultPosition=2

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/28/21 at 8:54pm

Taxilandia has been extended until May 30th - and got a great review in the Times 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/28/theater/taxilandia-review.html

I really recommend catching this one if you can!