Staff Picks No. 46
How to Eat an Orange: Catherine Filloux, Elena Araoz, Paula Pizzi
La MaMa
May 30th - June 16th 2024
It's been a year for learning about bold female artists via stage productions about their lives, first with Tamara de Lempicka on Broadway and now Claudia Bernardi in 'How to Eat an Orange.' Playwright Catherine Filloux has lived a worldly career, and she will no doubt bring insight and celebration to this Argentine artist and human rights activist.
Staffer: Billy McEntee
Koma Otake: You
La MaMa
May 17th - May 19th 2024
I've actually never seen Koma Otake's solo work, but I have known/learned about his work when he was in a duo with his wife and creative partner (Eiko Otake). When I think of their work I think a lot about stillness, slowness, and the outdoors. I'm excited to see this.
Staffer: hillary gao
Ghetto Academy
The Tank
Closes May 19th 2024
Sometimes I make a Pick before seeing the show because I have some real belief it will be good. Listen though. I saw this. There are a handful of performances left. GO. Jesus F@cking Chr!st. Maleek is... everything. Get into them.
Staffer: Theresa Buchheister
Common Fetish: Anh Vo
Shisanwu LLC Studio
May 18th - May 19th 2024
Artists are performing some kind of warehouse full of hosiery products...Anh is continuing their investigation into northern Vietnamese possession rituals (maybe you attended my previous Staff Picks-pick from Anh?). I'm so curious to see what's being cooked up from this exciting new curatorial collective, Lunch Hour, presenting Common Fetish in a larger group exhibition!
Staffer: Travis Amiel
Invasive Species: Maia Novi, Michael Breslin
The Vineyard's Dimson Theater
May 7th - June 30th 2024
I missed this at The Tank, heard the physicality was to die for, and am loving all the merch I'm seeing. Make theater merch sexy! While tackling themes of identity! And something about an invasive species (bugs) coming to The Vineyard (wine) feels appropriately icky. I'm going, and bringing gingham.
Staffer: Billy McEntee
Not Calm: William Sydney
Brick Aux
Closes May 19th 2024
This is one you kinda just have to experience: words don't do a ton in the play (complimentary), so they might not here either. William Sydney refers to theater as a "Biblia Pauperum," a pauper's bible, made of pictures for those who might not read but sure can see. Open your eyes. Confound your heart. Share in the meal — a strange and holy communion of slurped and spat out wine.
Staffer: Billy McEntee
USUS
The Wild Project
May 16th - May 28th 2024
by T. Adamson
directed by Emma Miller
with
Ugo Chukwu, Annie Fang, Crystal Finn, Yonatan Gebeyehu, David Greenspan, Mary Lou Rosato and Jon Norman Schneider
sets Ant Ma costumes Phuong Nguyen
lights Marika Kent sound Carsen Joenk
choreographer Sunny Hitt stage manager Siena Yusi
I RSVPed based on DAVID GREENSPAN because OBVIOUSLY. But then, I was like - oooooh look at the rest of this team! Magnifique! I am also eternally intrigued by friars...
Staffer: Theresa Buchheister
Taylor Deupree's Sti.ll: Taylor Deupree, Jack Quartet, Joseph Branciforte
Public Records
Wednesday, May 22nd 2024
In 2002, pioneering sound artist and ambient music composer Taylor Deupree release “Stil.”, a stunning album that used loops and electronics to explore patience and beauty. Here in 2024, Deupree re-imagines these compositions for woodwinds, strings, and mallet percussion. The result is impossibly gorgeous breathing and seeking and asking and answering and longing and waiting. And we can see it live! At the best sounding room in the city! Jack Quartet headlines, Joseph Branciforte opens. Come through!
Staffer: Joshua Dumas
Package Deal! - Never Let Go and No, But I'm Definitely in a Better Place Than I've Been in a Long Time
The Brick Theater
May 22nd - June 1st 2024
Never Let Go - Michael Kinnan
No, But I'm Definitely in a Better Place Than I've Been in a Long Time - Michael Feldman and Tom DeTrinis
Everyone knows I love a deal. And this is the deal you have been waiting for! Two solo shows that are tight, hilarious, warm, silly, campy, spicy... running in rep at The Brick.
I have been part of the life of Never Let Go (the one person show of Titanic that was a NYT Critics Pick and which led Billy Zane to bow to Kinnan in LA) since 2016 when it did two wild nights at Vital Joint. I have seen it well over 50 times and I cannot wait to be in the booth 10 more times this month. It is pure joy. And I hated the movie when I saw it in High School because I was edgy and arty and thought it was trash.
No, But I'm Definitely in a Better Place Than I've Been in a Long Time is a project that came to me because Kinnan moved to LA and made an intro! Then I encouraged them to do it at Union Hall for one night last year and after I saw it I said - you gotta do this again in NY. Is that possible?!
And here we are. Come to both! You will be glad you did.
Staffer: Travis Amiel