Independent filmmaker Frank Kuzler is a relative of sorts. His wife, Jennifer, is first cousin to my daughter-in-law and, what’s more, my fabulous daughter-in-law is Godmother to Frank and Jennifer’s adorable son. So when I saw this article in the Wall Street Journal highlighting Frank and Jen’s love of Off-Off Broadway, I just had to share it with you all. Frank is presently filming “Burning to Communicate” which he hopes will bring the history and the present story of Off-Off Broadway into the current consciousness of New Yorkers and tourists.
When I was young, theater in New York City was exploding. The fifties and sixties were decades of great experiment. Artists were free to explore and expand. Ah, but where to find an audience? Cafes and coffee houses provided space for small shows. These sites were far from the glittering Broadway houses and far from the Off Broadway venues that stood just outside the shadow of The Great White Way. You can find Off-Off Broadway shows almost anywhere. They are so legitimate that the New York Times devotes listing and review space to the dozens of Off-Off shows around town each week.
The next time you want to see something new and different, look for Manson: The Musical! which is playing at The Ace way downtown, or travel to The Brick in Brooklyn to see Nerdlesque.
And if you want to support great theatre by doing more than just buying tickets to see a show, Frank Kuzler has set up The Awareness Project over at the DecadesOut Website, where you can find lots of information about how you can help. You will also find Twitter and Facebook links so you can keep in touch.
For more My Town Monday posts, click on over to the My Town Monday blog and see what people are talking about this week.
Terrie
Monday, November 29, 2010
MTM: Off-Off Broadway, Family Style
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13 comments:
Terrie, it's good to know the off-off is still current. Exploring is important and new and different keeps us thinking.
Leah,
I couldn't agree more!
Terrie
An interesting piece in the WSJ, Terrie. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
I remember Cafe Cino and LaMama very well. Those were also the days when you could get a second balcony seat on Broadway for under two dollars.
As impoverished students, we sometimes managed to see the last act of a show for free--but I'll tell y'all about that when no one else is listening.
Hi Anita,
Ahh, the good old days.
Terrie
Hi Terrie,
This is so great. Thank you so much for the shout out and for obviously caring and knowing so much about downtown/OOB/indie theatre.
We're truly excited about all the support surrounding the documentary, and we'll be posting more videos of the Awareness project weekly on the DecadesOutwebsite.
Best and see you soon,
Frank
I've seen plenty of off-off B'way in my day, some fun, some serious, some fabulous, some atrocious. It's always interesting to try "the road less traveled."
When I was a high school senior, my friend Kate and I used to go to B'way and get standing room tix to see matinees of The Pirates of Penzance. I think we saw it about six times. Now, I can't imagine high school kids doing such a thing. Not only is it far too expensive, but it seems...much more out of reach, despite the fact that the area is cleaner now than it used to be!
Hi Frank,
Keep up the grand work. And thanks for relinking Decades Out. My link in the post broke but I just managed to get it fixed. Good to have a back up.
Laura,
Your good old days are not as long ago as mine and yet they seem impossible. And all this Disneyfication of Times Square has removed much of the atmosphere and while it is a great family place, do teenagers really want to be on their own there amid all the moms and pops? May as well be home.
Terrie
Off off is so much more exhilarating than Broadway where you just see the same type of show at every theater.
I heard a happy rumor about Terrie, EQMM, fluttering eyelashes, and…
Congratulations, Terrie!
Great post, Terrie. Truly what MTM is all about, because this is especially New Yorky!
And just like I enjoy discovering new authors and supporting them, I'm happy to try new companies and playwrights.
Off-off can be fabulous, but I have had some awkward moments...inviting some conservative out-of-towners to Hedwig and the Angry Inch back in '98 when it played at the Jane Street Theater, for example. Although I suppose it doesn't qualify as off-off given its cult status and talk of bringing it to Broadway. Good example of letting yourself 'go' as a writer! Hmmm....
Oh, congratulations Terrie!
Patti,
Broadway does have a certain type of sameness and when they can't find a show like the others currently playing they do a revival!
Leigh,
I think it was the lash lengthening mascara that got me in!
Clare,
New is always interesting and frequently good.
Lois,
Love the Hedwig story! And thanks!
Terrie
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