‘Bridges: A New Musical’ to Play at Amas Musical Theatre

Posted on October 18, 2018 by Karen Nowosad

The Amas Musical Theatre celebrates their 50th season with a presentation of Bridges: A New Musical. The show has book and lyrics by Cheryl L. Davis and music by Douglas J. Cohen, This is the first of four new musicals in development included in this year’s “Dare to Be Different” series.

Press notes describe the show as follows:

In 1965, a young woman boldly joins a march to fight for her civil rights. Decades later, another young woman faces her own battle for equality. As their stories collide across time and distance, each must come to terms with who she is in the context of a changing and complicated world. Full of soulful melodies, Bridges: A New Musical is an empowering story that explores our country’s past and present – how far we’ve come, how far we have to go, and the bridges we must cross to get there.

Amas Artistic Producer Donna Trinkoff adds: “Bridges” is a unique and highly original musical that juxtaposes two battles for civil rights in this country that take place almost 50 years apart. The struggle among the freedom fighters in 1960s Selma, Alabama and the fight against proposition 12 in Oakland, California in 2008 are told concurrently through the personal struggles of two young women. It is a compelling story told with great artistry through the words and music of Cheryl L. Davis and Douglas J. Cohen. We are very excited to continue to be a part of the development of this important show.”

The creatives include direction by Jeffrey Page with musical direction by Chris Ranney.

The cast features Tyla Collier, Christian Conner, DeMone, Tina Fabrique, Badia Farha, Philip Hoffman, Victoria Lanzillo, Judy McLane, Kevin Morrow, Zal Owen, David Rogue, Raun Ruffin, Cliff Sellers, and Jada Temple.

Tickets for Bridges: A New Musical are FREE, but reservations are required. Please email boxoffice@amasmusical.org or call (212) 563-2565. Seating is limited.

Performances are Thursday, November 15 at 3pm & 7pm and Friday, November 16 at 3pm at A.R.T./New York Theatres located at 502 West 53rd Street – 10th Avenue & 53rd Street.

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‘Black Tom Island’ Looks at America’s First Terrorist Attack

Posted on October 17, 2018 by Karen Nowosad
Black Tom Island – A Review

There is an important piece of history told in a new play called Black Tom Island. Produced by Premiere Stages at Kean, it is the story of the first documented terrorist attack on American soil. This attack occurred on a parcel of land named Black Tom Island which was located right off Jersey City where a major explosion occurred in 1916. The Island doesn’t exist anymore and there is not much mentioned about this event. However, it is significant and it is a part of the history of the New Jersey/New York area. This play provides a learning experience about the horrific bombing. It also shows attitudes and how people, particularly those in the immigrant community, felt they had to respond to authority figures.

Black Tom Island by playwright Martin Casella is the recipient of the 2017-2018 Liberty Live Commission. This a unique partnership between Premiere Stages and Liberty Hall Museum that supports the development of new plays that explore the rich and complex history of New Jersey. Over the course of two years, Garden State playwrights are given support to create an original play to be staged at Liberty Hall’s historic 1882 Carriage House.  A workshop/reading of Black Tom Island was held last year and now the play is available to the public.

Black Tom Island has an impressive approach as it unfolds its story. It is a chance to see a first -rate piece of storytelling from the gifted Martin Casella. Mr. Casella is also an actor perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Marty Casey in the 1982 classic, Poltergeist. He served as director Steven Spielberg’s assistant on Raiders of the Lost Ark. His writing for film and television includes projects for HBO, CBS, ABC, Disney, Universal, and Warner Brothers. Some of his other plays include The Report, Beautiful Dreamer, and the GLAAD-nominated The Irish Curse.

Black Tom Island carefully brings out necessary details at the right time to make the impact needed to move the story along at a good pace. There are no moments in this play where the action slows up. Every piece is carefully constructed to keep adding to the story line. This works very well with character development which allows a great reveal to occur before the final action of the play

There is also an interesting tie to life events today. John Wooten, Artistic Director of the Premiere Stage Company who directs the play said, “While the attack on Black Tom Island happened 100 years ago, the play’s subject matter is surprisingly topical. And what makes Marty’s study of an immigrant couple’s acclimation to America all the more fascinating is that it is based on a true story and is effectively dramatized against the backdrop of a lost New Jersey island.”

Black Tom Island opens with a fictionalized Slovak immigrant couple, Martin Babek, and his wife, Ewa, in their Jersey City flat. Times are tough because Martin is on strike with other workers from his regular day job. To help make ends meet, he has a job on Black Tom Island as a night watchman. He discloses to Ewa that he was approached by some people to carry a satchel in that evening and was paid $500. He has no idea what is going on with these people or even who they are. But he tells her he is doing this so they can return to their homeland in Slovakia. She disagrees with this plan and is determined to stay in the United States to allow the child she is carrying to be born here.

Recognizing the trouble this could cause then, she begs him to go to the police and turn in the satchel.  Action is quick from that point on and it is startling to hear the sounds of explosions. What follows afterwards becomes a series of events where the need to find who is responsible for the explosion takes place. The answers revealed are stunning. At the show I attended, there were many audience members who gasped when a big reveal was made. This is darn good storytelling and the kind that sticks with you!

The cast does an outstanding job of creating characters who will also remain with you. Mason Hensley and Jenna Krasowski play the immigrant couple, Martin and Ewa Babek with great passion. Their determination to succeed is evident every step of the way. Damian Buzzerio plays Father Oskar Prosco who is known to the authorities for providing sanctuary in his church for those in need. His devotion to the church and the people who attend is important to the plot as is his savvy in figuring out what is really going on. Bart Shatto plays Tim McMillan, a Pinkerton Detective assigned to find the culprits behind the explosion. His character does not enter the play until late in the action but his role is instrumental in determining the outcome.

Using the Carriage House at Liberty Hall Museum provides the audience with a very intimate theatrical experience.  The seating is set up so that no row is far from the stage making one feel they are a part of what is taking place.

Black Tom Island only runs through October 21, 2018. Seeing it will be a chance to journey back to an important piece of history and view it with an objective eye on then and now. Good theater can do that and this play does.

Additional Information about Black Tom Island

Running Time: 90 minutes

Location:  The 1882 Carriage House at Liberty Hall Museum, 1003 Morris Ave., Union, NJ

Performances: Thursday, October 11-Sunday, October 21 at various times

Contact for Info and Tickets: call the box office at 908-737-7469 or visit Premiere Stages online at www.premierestagesatkean.com.

Suggested Audience: This show has a good overall appeal but especially for people who enjoy history or suspense stories.

Guests attending the matinees of Black Tom Island the weekend of October 20–21 can also enjoy a free tour of the museum’s first floor in conjunction with Four Centuries in a Weekend, Union County’s annual historic homes tour sponsored by the Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs.

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Beautiful Musical Performances Abound in ‘The Color Purple’

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Karen Nowosad

The Color Purple at Paper Mill Playhouse; Photo by Jerry Dalia; Carla R. Stewart (Shug Avery) and The Company of The Color Purple

The Color Purple – A Review

Seeing The Color Purple at the Paper Mill Playhouse reminds us of how impactful musical theater can be. Directed by Tony Award winner John Doyle, The Color Purple received Tony Awards on Broadway. It is based on the novel written by Alice Walker and the motion picture of the same name. For this musical production, the book is by Marsha Norman with music by Brenda Russell, Alliee Willis, and Stephen Bray.

If the story line in the film moved you, just wait until you go to see this at the Paper Mill. The music alone is worth the price of admission.  Add to that a marvelous cast with superb staging, and you have one unforgettable show.

The Color Purple marks the first show of the 2018 – 2019 season at the Paper Mill Playhouse and also their 80th season. In this time period when women are becoming more vocal about their situations in life, this show is  a perfect fit. It depicts women who have rough beginnings  and how they can succeed and rise up above life issues that are not pleasant. The main character, Celie, is a poor young girl who has no self-confidence. She is molested by her father and gives birth to twin babies. She is not permitted to keep them. The only positive relationship in her life is her sister, Nettie, who leaves shortly after Celie is made to marry a very cruel man. He berates her and forces her into a life of servitude for him on his farm.

It is only when Shug Avery comes to visit that Celie begins to have someone take an interest in her and show her love. This and learning the whereabouts of her sister and children give Celie the strength to take control of her life. It leads to a very satisfying ending and some startling revelations of change in the nasty Mister also called Albert.

You might feel the violence that was such a part of Celie’s life more in this show than from the movie version. This is probably because it is a live production and the action is taking place right in the same place where you are at.  The tragic moments are difficult to digest but the joyful moments are readily there to lift up the mood of the show.

The Music

Using a very minimalist set, some of the most stirring moments in the show occur through song. There are songs that have a gospel flavor to them, some are jazzy and others are forms of ballads and the blues that lend themselves well to story telling. The orchestra is in grand form as it vibrantly plays songs sure to make an impression. Some of these include:

“Hell No!” sung by Carrie Compere as Sofia. Ms. Compere gets the audience with her from the start. As her character evolves, sympathy and joy are felt as we see her triumph. Jay Donnell plays Harpo, her husband. He adds a very much needed aspect of the male in Sofia’s life when he respects, comforts, and admires Sofia for what she truly is.

Photo by Matthew Murphy; Adrianna Hicks (Celie) and The Company of The Color Purple

A totally fun moment is when Celie and the Women of the Company sing “Miss Celie’s Pants.” Adrianna Hicks takes her character, Celie, through a range of stages of her life. Her gorgeous singing voice brings out feelings in her songs that depict so well what Celie is going through. As you hear “Miss Celie’s Pants” you are applauding a woman who has survived and now is starting to prosper. Her final solo, “I’m Here” is an anthem that is very moving. In fact, I noticed I wasn’t the only one who needed tissues for that song.

For something a bit more suggestive, Shug and Company sing “Push da Button.” Carla R. Stewart plays Shug Avery warmly and with a maturity that allows the later turns in the plot to make a lot of sense.

Photo by Jerry Dalia; Gavin Gregory (Mister)

On the male side, Gavin Gregory as Mister brings the house down when he sings “Celie’s Curse.” Mr. Gregory plays the part as it needs to be done; nasty, mean, but in the end contrite.

The exchanges from the letters between Celie and sister Nettie are well done in “African Homeland.” N’Jameh Camara plays the role of Nettie and upon her return, she softly interacts with her sister. Make sure you keep your tissues out for that part too.

Additional cast members who do a first rate job as ensemble members include Darnell Abraham, Amar Atkins, Kyle E. Baird, Angela Birchett, Erica Durham, Bianca Horn, Jamal James, Mekhai Lee, Gabrielle Reid, C.E. Smith, Will T. Travis, Nyla Watson, J.D. Webster, Brit West and Nikisha Williams.

The Color Purple only plays through Sunday, October 21 at the Paper Mill Playhouse. Definitely include this on your list of “must sees.”

Additional Information about The Color Purple

Running Time: Approx. 2 hr. 15 minutes with one intermission

Location: Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, NJ

Performances: Now through Oct. 21, 2018. The show runs eight times a week, Wednesday through Sunday. Performance schedule: Wednesday at 7:30pm, Thursday at 1:30pm and 7:30pm, Friday at 8:00pm, Saturday at 1:30pm and 8:00pm and Sunday at 1:30pm and 7:00pm.

For More Information and to Buy Tickets: Call 973.376.4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.PaperMill.org.

Accessibility Performances: Audio-described performances are Saturday, October 20, 2018, at 1:30pm and Sunday, October 21, 2018, at 1:30pm. Prior to these performances at noon, the theater will offer free sensory seminars.

There will be a sign-interpreted and open-captioned performance on Sunday, October 21, 2018, at 7:00pm.

Free Audience Enrichment Activities:

  •  The Conversation Club: Thursday evenings, September 27, October 4, October 11 and October 18 one hour before curtain.
  • The Director’s Viewpoint: One hour before curtain at 6:30pm on Wednesday, September 26, there is a pre-show discussion in the Renee Foosaner Art Gallery.
  • Q&A with the Cast: After the matinee on Saturday, October 20.
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