So... a few things that have been happening since the last time I wrote...
- Tigers Be Still - Not sure if it's because I went into this show not knowing or expecting anything, but it was seriously THE BEST thing I think I saw so far on this trip! I saw this VERY early on... possibly my second day in the city and I have still not seen anything that has affected or moved me more. It's a cute story about a very dysfunctional group of people... Sherry - who is an art-therapist (but who might need some counseling herself), her clinically depressed sister, Grace who is not dealing well with the break up with her fiance, Zach - a disturbed teenager, and his father - who are both not dealing well with the loss of their mother & wife, respectively. What might seem like a really depressing story was actually SO HEARTFELT and amazing. I had never heard of any of the actors before, but they were all superb in their roles. The story itself was just SOOO moving and personal and oddly uplifting for such depressing subject matter. I absolutely CRIED my eyes out at the end because it was SOOOOO incredibly touching. Seriously, it was such a small production, but one of the (if not the best) things I've seen so far on this trip.
- Things As They Are - this was the first fully staged NYMF production I saw and it was INCREDIBLE. It was about the life of Dorothea Lange - who I studied in school at Brooks and have always admired for her convictions. She was the first outside photographer to photograph the Japanese-American evacuation and relocation camps... Sadly she was banned by the government for her stark, frank photos and her photos and negatives were taken away from her. The show had a lovely, heartfelt score, used the screen above wonderfully to display the photos that she'd taken and told a story very fitting of such heroic woman. LOVED it.
- Time Stand Still - Loved this play! The entire cast was completely amazing, but the performance that stood out to me the most was Brian d'Arcy James. He's simply amazing (and SOOOO incredibly attractive, but I'm going off the subject here...) He's just an INCREDIBLY gifted actor. And he's wonderful in this as boyfriend / partner / husband James - who helps to put Sarah's (Laura Linney) life back together after she is seriously injured on a photojournalism assignment in the Middle-East. It's about their relationship, how it grows and stagnates in the months that she is home, her need for the rush of the excitement of her job, and his need to finally want a normal life. It was heartbreaking and beautiful and real...
- Angels in America - What can I say? I was mesmerized from start to finish by this incredible piece. It was gritty and raw and just amazing. The cast... OMG... the cast alone is reason to see this! Christian Borle was phenomenal as Prior, Bill Heck (is gorgeous, but that's getting off track...) was amazing as Joe, and Zach Quinto (though I've never been a fan of his prior to this) was incredible as Louis. This was just a remarkable production!!
I still have a week left here in the city and I will try my hardest to update a bit more (and to keep up with all of your entries!) Hope you all are having a nice week!! HUGS!