Staff Picks No. 7
Summer Arts Festival: Bushwick Starr Friends
The Bushwick Starr
Sunday, August 27th 2023
This is a FREE annual event with free food, tunes, arts, games, and more — and it's at the Starr’s new location at 419 Eldert Street. Who doesn't love a summer block party? This gathering ain't til next week, Aug 27, but let's get the word out and all be SuperStarrs.
Staffer: Billy McEntee
ANTI • VENOM: Andrew Thomas Huang, Le'Andra LeSeur, Anna Parisi, Jacolby Satterwhite, Corinne Spencer, Joaquin Trujillo, and Amelia Winger-Bearskin
Lower Gallery at The Arts Center at Governors Island
Until October 1st, 2023
A video exhibition featuring multidisciplinary artists' takes on ways we can affirm our humanity, our future. I'm especially excited about Corinne Spencer's HUNGER, which explores the divine Black feminine and, how for us, the margining of our inner and outer just might offer possibilities towards healing.
Staffer: Marissa Joyce Stamps
When the Rain Runs Out: Max Mooney, Emma Richmond, Featuring Miles Gutierrez Riley, Chris Erdman, Zoey Peacock-Jones, Sam Gonzalez, and Meghan Finn
The Tank
Monday, August 21st 2023
I have a soft spot in my little heart for plays dealing with death - the grieving of it as well as the experience itself. This play, that follows a prescribed rain cloud, does the work of collapsing walls of reality and the mystic - something I always look for in theater.
Staffer: kanishk pandey
Tracy's Game: Directed by Angelina Hoffman. Starring Pei Pei Barth-Wu, Anya Bernstein, and Fiona Spiegler, with music composed by Jacob Lazovik and played live by Sharleen Chidiac
pageant
August 17th - August 18th 2023
I'm lucky to have been in a process with Angelina these past few weeks and there is something very special about her: an ineffable mix of authenticity and coolness that is quite rare and hard to achieve. And as I've been slinking around pageant these past few weeks, I've noticed some props from the show lying around: a yellow folder, cigarettes, a high heel... I'm curious to see what springs forth from the brain that resides below the mass of amazing red hair that she has, and how it features all the trappings I've caught glimpses of. See you there? I'm going Friday.
Staffer: Lena Engelstein
Simple Town: Simple Town, Karli Marulli , Richard Perez
Union Hall
Wednesday, August 16th 2023
EXTREME BIAS ALERT: But it's so funny. Seamless sketch, two of the best damn stand-ups working the BK circuit right now... Yes, this week I am sending you to that little basement on Union Street to be watched by the lady in the portrait on the stage. Because in front of her you'll find yourself laughing, humor's knife twisting in you with each strange linguistic riff. And you should know that, that THAT is what it's going to be like.
Staffer: Lena Engelstein
WHAT ELSE IS TRUE?: David Rosenberg, Jake Beckhard, and Adam Coy
Jeffrey and Paula Gural Theatre @ A.R.T./New York Theatres
August 15th - August 26th 2023
If your glory days were spent on a college improv team, see this show. If your glory days weren't spent on a college improv team, see this show.
Staffer: Marissa Joyce Stamps
I am so into media that explores the dynamics of friendship. But this piece isn't about just regular friendship-- it's a friendship that's more intense: one between members of a college improv group. And how it changes with time? So excited.
Staffer: Hillary Gao
Gemma // Felicia Douglass
C'mon Everybody // Union Pool
Thursday, August 17th
Across all of her musical expressions (Dirty Projectors, Ava Luna, Gemma, solo) Felicia Douglass brings joy, ease, craft, and a voice that can stop time. Or maybe make time. Or maybe time is just like jamming and listening and bopping too. Two chances to check her soon: 8/17 Gemma play’s C’mon Everybody, and 8/24 solo at Union Pool. Come through!
Staffer: Joshua Dumas
Bonefruit: Leah Plante-Wiener, Eulàlia Comas
The Tank
August 17th - August 19th 2023
This dynamic pairing of writer and director make me more certain than ever that theater and performance are absolutely not dead (as all the media outlets are panic-claiming). They are passionate, interesting, they see so much art and care deeply about creating. I hope they keep making and growing and weirdening for many years to come.
Staffer: Theresa Buchheister
Hot August Nights: Hosted by Matt Barats featuring Alexandra Tartarsky, Jo Firestone, Mike Hanford, Peter BD
Union Hall
Thursday, August 17th
Is it Neil Diamond or Matt Barats? Diamond's 1970s album by the same name was called a "fine presentation of the entire spectrum" by Rolling Stone. I can confidently say that this show will be a similarly comprehensive comedic experience. And that in whatever wide range of places these performers take you, you'll be laughing. Of that I am certain. Tartarsky! Peter DB! Jo, Mike, Matt! Need I go on...so what if it's late! On a Thursday! Come find your Solitary Man, your Kentucky Woman, or your Holly Holly.
Staffer: Lena Engelstein
SHABOOM!: Silky Shoemaker, Lex Vaughn and Paul Soileau
Parkside Lounge
September 8th - September 10th 2023
"a messy spectacle" is all i need to hear to know i should be somewhere. i've been following the shaboom collaboration on instagram for awhile now and am constantly drooling at what looks like a wild and good time. you may know one of the artists paul soileau from their iconic CHRISTEENE
Staffer: Travis Amiel