Monday, June 16, 2014

SPECIAL EVENT: TSP UNPLUGGED reading of "GROSS INDECENCY: THE THREE TRIALS OF OSCAR WILDE"

We’re thrilled to be bringing back to New York Moises Kaufman's compelling: GROSS INDECENCY: THE THREE TRIALS OF OSCAR WILDE as a part of The Seeing Place’s TSP UNPLUGGED Reading Series.

GROSS INDECENCY uses trial transcripts, personal correspondence, interviews and other source materials to tell the story of the downfall of the great man of letters whose artistic genius has long been overshadowed by the scandal surrounding his imprisonment. From the NY Times: "His style was his umbrella, his armor, his all-purpose defense system, and for many years it seemed to shelter Oscar Wilde most effectively. There came a moment, however, in 1895 when the playwright was betrayed by his own wit, after which he would never again be able to gain control of his life. In the absolutely gripping GROSS INDECENCY: THE THREE TRIALS OF OSCAR WILDE, written with a scintillating style of its own by Moisés Kaufman, that moment is identified with such startling precision and clarity that it feels like the inexorable moment of reversal in a classic tragedy."


EVENT DETAILS

What:
GROSS INDECENCY: THE THREE TRIALS OF OSCAR WILDE
by Moises Kaufman
A reading by The Seeing Place ensemble, followed by a talkback with director, Lila Smith.

When:
Tuesday, June 17, 2014 (7pm)
Arrive by 6:45pm to guarantee seating; wine, drinks and snacks available for purchase.

Where:
The Seeing Place @ ATAs Sargent Theater
(314 W 54th St, 4th Floor - look for red sign outside, then proceed to rear elevator)

Tickets:
Free (though donations will be accepted!)


Note: This play is being read during our MainStage production of THE LARAMIE PROJECT, which runs June 13-29, 2014, Wed-Sat 8pm & Sat-Sun 2pm. Click here for full details.


About Moises Kaufman:
Playwright Moisés Kaufman is a Tony- and Emmy-nominated director and the founder of Tectonic Theater Project. Kaufman’s plays Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde and The Laramie Project are among the most performed plays in the US over the last decade. He is also the author of 33 Variations. Kaufman received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2002 and made his Broadway directing debut in 2004 with Doug Wright’s I Am My Own Wife, for which he received an Obie Award and a Tony Award nomination for Best Direction of a Play.

For more information, visit www.tectonictheaterproject.org 


About The Seeing Place:
Now in its 5th Season, The Seeing Place is an actor-driven company: built by actors and managed by actors to be a base for actors who want to grow & hone their craft in a creative and supportive artistic home. We are forcefully committed to four elements of theatre-making: developing actors into thriving self-producers; honoring the craft of the actor’s process through rehearsal and into performance; bringing organic, “fully lived” storytelling to our community; and making theater accessible for all New Yorkers by keeping ticket prices low and affordable.


Questions? Email outreach@seeingplacetheater.com. For more information, please visit www.seeingplacetheater.com

SPECIAL EVENT: Panel Discussion "Erase Hate, Choose Love" at THE LARAMIE PROJECT June 26, 2014

We’re honored to welcome Lila Smith, Lasheen Williams, and Qamrosh Khan to The Seeing Place, where they will be our special guest speakers on Thursday, June 26, 2014, immediately following a performance of the award-winning play, THE LARAMIE PROJECT.

This talkback will be an intimate post-show discussion about personal experiences, confronting prejudice and taking a stand in everyday life. The three speakers will talk about their personal experiences with prejudice and bullying and lead the audience through a conversation on making a positive impact in their community.


EVENT DETAILS

What:
THE LARAMIE PROJECT, followed by the talkback: “Erase Hate, Choose Love."

When:
Thursday, June 26, 2014 (8pm)

Where:
The Seeing Place @ ATAs Sargent Theater
(314 W 54th St, 4th Floor - look for red sign outside, then proceed to rear elevator)

Tickets:
$12 General Admission
Purchase by phone: 212-868-4444

(Note: be sure to choose June 26 as the event date)

Running Time:
The play runs 2 hours 25 minutes including two brief intermissions. The talkback will start immediately following the play and will last 20-30 minutes.

Note: if you cannot attend this event but would like to see the play on another day, you may choose any date June 13-29, 2014, Wed-Sat 8pm & Sat-Sun 2pm. Click here for full details.

About Our Speakers:

Lasheen Williams was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, in the East New York section. As a child, he had limited exposure to other cultures but had the drive to branch out from his neighborhood and broaden his Horizons. As an adult, in the "dating game" his preference is Caucasian females. Throughout his dating experiences and life in general, he has encountered numerous roadblocks, negativity, and profiling, but he doesn't allow them to stop him in his pursuit.

"…I was messaging a few women. One white girl responded, 'What makes you think that you can date a race that will never accept you and never want you?' "

Qamrosh Khan is a Middle School and High School English teacher in New York City. She holds a Bachelors degree in English Literature with a concentration in creative writing, and a Masters degree in English Adolescent Education (grades 7-12). Her interests include writing short fiction & poetry, teaching, her love for the theater, and is currently working on her novel. Her goal is to provide inspiration through her writing, and build togetherness, and tolerance between people and communities around the world. She has recently created her own blog cite to inspire and address issues that people go through in everyday life at:www.thejourneyintoyourself.weebly.com. She appreciates all the support she has received from her family and friends.

"Clearly, all HE saw when he got on that bus was two women wearing Hijab (head scarf), and thought he could bully us... this is just plain sad, that things like this still happen."

Lila Smith is a born-and-raised New Yorker who is grateful for having been exposed to diversity and culture her entire life. It is this background, along with a passion for inclusiveness, which brings her to lead this talkback. Her hopes are that this evening's discussion will leave us all feeling more aware of our own behavior, and more prepared to embrace others for the differences between us. Lila is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association, a women's personal-garment fit expert with TrioFit Technology, and a company member of The Seeing Place, of which she is also Outreach Manager.

"I have to check myself every time I make a snap judgment about someone I don't know. I do it way more often than I'd like to admit. Being conscious of it is the first step."

About The Seeing Place:
Now in its 5th Season, The Seeing Place is an actor-driven company: built by actors and managed by actors to be a base for actors who want to grow & hone their craft in a creative and supportive artistic home. We are forcefully committed to four elements of theatre-making: developing actors into thriving self-producers; honoring the craft of the actor’s process through rehearsal and into performance; bringing organic, “fully lived” storytelling to our community; and making theater accessible for all New Yorkers by keeping ticket prices low and affordable.

Questions? Email outreach@seeingplacetheater.com. For more information, please visit www.seeingplacetheater.com

SPECIAL EVENT: Believe Out Loud Speaks at THE LARAMIE PROJECT June 25, 2014

We’re honored to welcome James Rowe and Alison Amyx of Believe Out Loud to The Seeing Place, where they will be our special guest speakers on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, immediately following a performance of the award-winning play, THE LARAMIE PROJECT.

During this intimate post-show discussion, James and Alison will lead our audience through a conversation about faith and sexual identity, exploring the many spiritual themes of the play and their modern relevance in today's society. 

Believe Out Loud is an online network that empowers Christians to work for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality. Reaching nearly one million individuals a week, they work to elevate the people and places where Christianity and LGBT justice intersect.Through their new-media platform, friends and allies gather, share, grow, build community and take action. If you are new to LGBT inclusion and Christianity, they are a safe space to learn about how others tie their faith to LGBT equality. Everyone is invited to their table.


EVENT DETAILS

What:
THE LARAMIE PROJECT, followed by a talkback on "Faith and Sexual Identity"

When:
Wednesday, June 25, 2014 (8pm)

Where:
The Seeing Place @ ATAs Sargent Theater
(314 W 54th St, 4th Floor - look for red sign outside, then proceed to rear elevator)

Tickets:
$12 General Admission
Purchase by phone: 212-868-4444

(Note: be sure to choose June 25 as the event date)

Running Time:
The play runs 2 hours 25 minutes including two brief intermissions. The talkback will start immediately following the play and will last 20-30 minutes.

Note: if you cannot attend this event but would like to see the play on another day, you may choose any date June 13-29, 2014, Wed-Sat 8pm & Sat-Sun 2pm. Click here for full details.

About Believe Out Loud:
Publicly launched in 2009, they have worked to support conflicted Christians and advance the decades-long movement for LGBT-inclusion within mainline Protestantism. Today, Believe Out Loud represents the breadth of Christianity – from Catholics to Evangelicals, Baptists to Presbyterians, to individuals who are Christian but have no formal faith community. They are also home to atheists, agnostics and those from other religious traditions who share their passion for LGBT equality. Their members are united behind a simple pledge: to stand up for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in their churches, their communities, their schools and their workplaces.

For more information, visit www.believeoutloud.com

About The Seeing Place:
Now in its 5th Season, The Seeing Place is an actor-driven company: built by actors and managed by actors to be a base for actors who want to grow & hone their craft in a creative and supportive artistic home. We are forcefully committed to four elements of theatre-making: developing actors into thriving self-producers; honoring the craft of the actor’s process through rehearsal and into performance; bringing organic, “fully lived” storytelling to our community; and making theater accessible for all New Yorkers by keeping ticket prices low and affordable.

Questions? Email outreach@seeingplacetheater.com. For more information, please visit www.seeingplacetheater.com

SPECIAL EVENT: TSP UNPLUGGED reading of "THE LARAMIE PROJECT: TEN YEARS LATER"

We’re thrilled to be bringing back to New York Tectonic's chilling epilogue: THE LARAMIE PROJECT: TEN YEARS LATER as a part of The Seeing Place’s TSP UNPLUGGED Reading Series.

This play is being presented as a free reading as a companion to our mainstage production of THE LARAMIE PROJECT. We are only the 2nd NY company to produce both plays of THE LARAMIE PROJECT CYCLE in Manhattan, so this is a rare opportunity to see this full story told.

On November 14th, 1998, ten members of Tectonic Theatre Project traveled to Laramie, Wyoming and conducted interviews with the people of the town. Over the next year, the company returned to Laramie six times and conducted over 200 interviews. These texts became the basis for the play The Laramie Project. Ten years later on September 12th, 2008, five members of Tectonic returned to Laramie to try to understand the long-term effect of the murder. They found a town wrestling with its legacy and its place in history. In addition to revisiting the folks whose words riveted us in the original play, this time around, the company also spoke with the two murderers, McKinney and Henderson, as well as Matthew's mother, Judy Shepard. THE LARAMIE PROJECT: TEN YEARS LATER is a bold new work, which asks the question, "How does society write its own history?"


EVENT DETAILS

What:
THE LARAMIE PROJECT: TEN YEARS LATER
by Moises Kaufman and members of Tectonic Theatre Project

A reading by The Seeing Place ensemble, followed by a talkback with co-directors, Erin Cronican and Brandon Walker.

When:
Two reading dates:

• Monday, June 16, 2014 (7pm)
• Tuesday, June 24, 2014 (7pm)

Arrive by 6:45pm to guarantee seating; wine, drinks and snacks available for purchase.

Where:
The Seeing Place @ ATAs Sargent Theater
(314 W 54th St, 4th Floor - look for red sign outside, then proceed to rear elevator)

Tickets:
Free (though donations will be accepted!)

Cast:
Erin Cronican, John D'Arcangelo, Virginia Gregory, Meg Grujon, Logan Keeler, Daniel Perez, Lori Romero, and Brandon Walker. 

Note: This play is being read during our MainStage production of THE LARAMIE PROJECT, which runs June 13-29, 2014, Wed-Sat 8pm & Sat-Sun 2pm. Click here for full details.


About Tectonic Theater Project:
TECTONIC THEATER PROJECT is an award-winning company whose plays have been performed around the world.  The company is dedicated to developing innovative works that explore theatrical language and form, fostering an artistic dialogue with our audiences on the social, political and human issues that affect us all.  In service to this goal, Tectonic supports readings, workshops, and full theatrical productions, as well as training for students around the country in our play-making techniques. Tectonic Theater Project was founded in 1991 by Moisés Kaufman and Jeffrey LaHoste.  Tectonic refers to the art and science of structure and was chosen to emphasize the company’s interest in construction– how things are made, and how they might be made differently. Its groundbreaking plays, The Laramie Project, Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, and I Am My Own Wife, have sparked national discourse about their subjects and have inspired artists and audiences worldwide.

For more information, visit www.tectonictheaterproject.org 


About The Seeing Place:
Now in its 5th Season, The Seeing Place is an actor-driven company: built by actors and managed by actors to be a base for actors who want to grow & hone their craft in a creative and supportive artistic home. We are forcefully committed to four elements of theatre-making: developing actors into thriving self-producers; honoring the craft of the actor’s process through rehearsal and into performance; bringing organic, “fully lived” storytelling to our community; and making theater accessible for all New Yorkers by keeping ticket prices low and affordable.


Questions? Email outreach@seeingplacetheater.com. For more information, please visit www.seeingplacetheater.com

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

SPECIAL EVENT: TSP UNPLUGGED reading of "WELL WITH MY SOUL"

Playwright Gregory G Allen
We’re thrilled to introduce NY audiences to the new play, WELL WITH MY SOUL by Gregory G Allen, as a part of The Seeing Place’s TSP UNPLUGGED Reading Series.

This play tells the story of Jacob Garrett, a transplant southern minister living in New York City in the late 80s, believes he is doing God's will by trying to get a young gay man to pray away the gay. But while sharing stories of his past that included drugs, homosexuality, and an arrogant lifestyle, Jacob's own life as a married father seems to have more turmoil than peace. Told in a non-linear way, WELL WITH MY SOUL captures two lifetimes battling within one soul.

EVENT DETAILS

What:
WELL WITH MY SOUL
A reading followed by a talkback with playwright Gregory G. Allen

When:
June 23, 2014 (7pm)
Arrive by 6:45pm to guarantee seating; wine, drinks and snacks available for purchase.
(An after party will be held at Bar Nine, 9th Ave between 53rd & 54th Aves, immediately following the reading.)

Where:
The Seeing Place @ ATAs Sargent Theater
(314 W 54th St, 4th Floor - look for red sign outside, then proceed to rear elevator)

Tickets:
Free (though donations will be accepted!)

Note: This play is being read during our MainStage production of THE LARAMIE PROJECT, which runs June 13-29, 2014, Wed-Sat 8pm & Sat-Sun 2pm. Click here for full details.


About Gregory G. Allen:
A member of the Dramatist Guild and an award-winning writer, Gregory G. Allen has been in the entertainment business for over twenty five years as an actor, director, writer, and producer. He’s had over ten shows that he has served as book writer and/or composer/lyricists produced on stage, been the recipient of musical grants from BMI, ASCAP and the Watershed Foundation, and has been featured and interviewed in The Advocate, Huffington Post, PBS One-on-One with Steve Adubato, Sirius Radio The Morning Jolt, and Next Magazine. Allen is a published author of three novels, two children’s book on autism awareness, and has written the screenplay for the film, He is Gone, currently filming a trailer in New England.

For more information, visit www.gregorygallen.com


About The Seeing Place:
Now in its 5th Season, The Seeing Place is an actor-driven company: built by actors and managed by actors to be a base for actors who want to grow & hone their craft in a creative and supportive artistic home. We are forcefully committed to four elements of theatre-making: developing actors into thriving self-producers; honoring the craft of the actor’s process through rehearsal and into performance; bringing organic, “fully lived” storytelling to our community; and making theater accessible for all New Yorkers by keeping ticket prices low and affordable.


Questions? Email outreach@seeingplacetheater.com. For more information, please visit www.seeingplacetheater.com

Sunday, June 8, 2014

SPECIAL EVENT: Tectonic Theater Project Speaks at THE LARAMIE PROJECT June 19, 2014

We’re honored to welcome Tectonic Theater Project’s Matthew Freeman to The Seeing Place, where he will be our special guest speaker on Thursday, June 19, 2014, immediately following a performance of the award-winning play, THE LARAMIE PROJECT.

In this compelling post-show discussion, Matthew will lead our audience in a conversation about “Moment Work” - the unique theater-making technique used by Tectonic company members to create innovative works that explore theatrical language and form. It was this technique that shaped more than 200 interviews into the narrative of THE LARAMIE PROJECT, which is one of the more frequently produced plays in the US and beyond.


EVENT DETAILS

What:
THE LARAMIE PROJECT, with talkback by Tectonic Theater Project’s Matthew Freeman

When:
Thursday, June 19, 2014 (8pm)

Where:
The Seeing Place @ ATAs Sargent Theater
(314 W 54th St, 4th Floor - look for red sign outside, then proceed to rear elevator)

Tickets:
$12 General Admission
Purchase by phone: 212-868-4444

(Note: be sure to choose June 19 as the event date)

Running Time:
The play runs 2 hours 30 minutes including two brief intermissions. The talkback will start immediately following the play and will last 20-30 minutes.

Note: if you cannot attend this event but would like to see the play on another day, you may choose any date June 13-29, 2014, Wed-Sat 8pm & Sat-Sun 2pm. Click here for full details.

About Tectonic Theater Project:
Tectonic Theater Project is an award-winning company whose plays have been performed around the world. The company is dedicated to developing innovative works that explore theatrical language and form, fostering an artistic dialogue with our audiences on the social, political and human issues that affect us all. In service to this goal, Tectonic supports readings, workshops, and full theatrical productions, as well as training for students around the country in our play-making techniques. Its groundbreaking plays, THE LARAMIE PROJECT, GROSS INDECENCY: THE THREE TRIALS OF OSCAR WILDE, and I AM MY OWN WIFE, have sparked national discourse about their subjects and have inspired artists and audiences worldwide.

For more information, visit www.tectonictheaterproject.org

About The Seeing Place:
Now in its 5th Season, The Seeing Place is an actor-driven company: built by actors and managed by actors to be a base for actors who want to grow & hone their craft in a creative and supportive artistic home. We are forcefully committed to four elements of theatre-making: developing actors into thriving self-producers; honoring the craft of the actor’s process through rehearsal and into performance; bringing organic, “fully lived” storytelling to our community; and making theater accessible for all New Yorkers by keeping ticket prices low and affordable.

Questions? Email outreach@seeingplacetheater.com. For more information, please visit www.seeingplacetheater.com

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

SPECIAL EVENT: Ruth Rothbart-Mayer Speaks at THE LARAMIE PROJECT June 18, 2014

We’re honored to welcome Ruth Rothbart-Mayer to The Seeing Place, where she will be our special guest speaker on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, immediately following a performance of the award-winning play, THE LARAMIE PROJECT.

In this compelling post-show discussion, Ruth will be lead our audience in a conversation about the nature of healing and caregiving, and how the creation and use of art can address community and individual issues in the wake of a tragedy.


EVENT DETAILS

What:
THE LARAMIE PROJECT, with talkback by Ruth Rothbart-Mayer

When:
June 18, 2014 (8pm)

Where:
The Seeing Place @ ATAs Sargent Theater
(314 W 54th St, 4th Floor - look for red sign outside, then proceed to rear elevator)

Tickets:
$12 General Admission 
Purchase by phone: 212-868-4444

(Note: be sure to choose June 18 as the event date)

Running Time:
The play runs 2 hours 15 minutes plus a 15 minute intermission. The talkback will start immediately following the play and will last 20-30 minutes.

Note: if you cannot attend this event but would like to see the play on another day, you may choose any date June 13-29, 2014, Wed-Sat 8pm & Sat-Sun 2pm. Click here for full details.

About Ruth Rothbart-Mayer:
Ruth Rothbart-Mayer has been a multiple-degree-holding social worker and psychotherapist for more than 25 years. Among her specialties are support groups, individual and group therapy for individuals coping with LGBT issues, and healing following traumatic events. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and is the Committee Chair of the United Way Northern New Jersey Caregivers Coalition.

For more information, visit http://www.ruthrothbart-mayer.com

About The Seeing Place:
Now in its 5th Season, The Seeing Place is an actor-driven company: built by actors and managed by actors to be a base for actors who want to grow & hone their craft in a creative and supportive artistic home. We are forcefully committed to four elements of theatre-making: developing actors into thriving self-producers; honoring the craft of the actor's process through rehearsal and into performance; bringing organic, "fully lived" storytelling to our community; and making theater accessible for all New Yorkers by keeping ticket prices low and affordable.

Questions? Email outreach@seeingplacetheater.com. For more information, please visit www.seeingplacetheater.com