Michael Tucker Brings 'Stories of My Life" to SHU

"LA Law" star Michael Tucker will share Stories of My Life in a one-night-only presentation Feb. 6 at Sacred Heart University's Community Theater.

The 7:30 reading of the stories involving a house in Italy, food, the actor’s life, more food and the eternal Rubik’s Cube of love will be " read with gusto by the author."

From the website:

These stories are told with humor, in the style, perhaps, of David Sedaris or Calvin Trillin. Although their styles are different from each other and mine is different from both of theirs. Let’s just say that the evening will be fun. Some of the stories are about living in Italy, where we’ve had a house for the last twenty-one years. And those stories are also about food, because how can you live in Italy and not talk about the food? There’s an actor story, which is entitled AN ACTOR PERSPIRES. There’s a story based in Big Sur, California, we had a house before we had a house in Italy and where we kept horses. That’s a horse story. There’s one about my childhood, which grows into a story about my adulthood. And there’s a story about my wife, Jill. Actually, all the stories are about Jill in one way or another. We’ve been together way more than half our lives, so our being together colors everything.

Tickets are $20. Visit https://www.shucommunitytheatre.org/all-events/michael-tucker%3A-stories-from-my-life

More here on YouTube.

2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards Announced

 

Jenn Colella, center, Carrie-Chapman-Catt and the Suffs Company. Photo: Joan Marcus

The Cast of Stereophonic. Photo: Julieta Cervantes

Outer Critics Circle Awards 2024

Winners noted in bold

 

Outstanding New Broadway Play

Jaja's African Hair Braiding

Mother Play: A Play in Five Evictions

Patriots

Stereophonic

The Shark Is Broken

 

Outstanding New Broadway Musical

Days of Wine and Roses
Suffs

The Great Gatsby

The Outsiders

Water for Elephants

 

Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical

Buena Vista Social Club

Dead Outlaw

Illinoise

Teeth

The Connector

 

Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play

Dig
King of the Jews
King James

Primary Trust
Swing State

 

John Gassner Award (new American play preferably by a new playwright)

Job

Manahatta

Oh, Mary!

The Apiary

Wet Brain

 

Outstanding Revival of a Musical

Cabaret

Here Lies Love
I Can Get It for You Wholesale

Monty Python's Spamalot

The Who's Tommy

Outstanding Revival of a Play

An Enemy of the People

Appropriate

Doubt: A Parable

Mary Jane

Philadelphia, Here I Come!

Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch

 

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play

Jessica Lange – Mother Play
Rachel McAdams – Mary Jane

Sarah Paulson – Appropriate

Jeremy Strong – An Enemy of the People

Michael Stuhlbarg – Patriots

 

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play

Billy Eugene Jones – Purlie Victorious

Celia Keenan-Bolger – Mother Play
Alex Moffat – The Cottage
Jim Parsons – Mother Play
Sarah Pidgeon - Stereophonic
Kara Young – Purlie Victorious

 

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical

Ali Louis Bourzgui – The Who's Tommy

Brian d'Arcy James – Days of Wine and Roses

Casey Likes – Back to the Future

Kelli O'Hara – Days of Wine and Roses

Maryann Plunkett – The Notebook

 

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical

Roger Bart – Back to the Future

Justin Guarini – Once Upon a One More Time

Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer – Spamalot

Kecia Lewis – Hell's Kitchen

Bebe Neuwirth – Cabaret

 

Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical

Jeb Brown – Dead Outlaw

Andrew Durand – Dead Outlaw

Alyse Alan Louis - Teeth

Ben Levi Ross – The Connector

Ricky Ubeda - Illinoise

 

Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical (tie)

Ben Cook – Illinoise

Hannah Cruz – The Connector

Julia Knitel – Dead Outlaw

Judy Kuhn – I Can Get It For You Wholesale

Jessica Molaskey – The Connector

Thom Sesma – Dead Outlaw

 

Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Play (tie)

Cole Escola – Oh, Mary!

Mary Beth Fisher – Swing State

William Jackson Harper – Primary Trust

Marie Mullen – The Saviour

Paul Sparks – Waiting for Godot

 

Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Play

Gus Birney – Our Class

April Matthis – Primary Trust

Conrad Ricamora – Oh, Mary!

Jay O. Sanders – Primary Trust

Bubba Weiler – Swing State

 

Outstanding Solo Performance

Eddie Izzard – Hamlet

Patrick Page – All the Devils are Here

Mona Pirnot – I Love You So Much I Could Die

Robert Montano – Small

John Rubenstein – Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground

 

Outstanding Book of a Musical

Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury - Illinoise

Anna K. Jacobs and Michael R. Jackson – Teeth

Itamar Moses – Dead Outlaw

Jonathan Marc Sherman – The Connector
Shaina Taub - Suffs

 

Outstanding Score

Jason Robert Brown – The Connector

Will Butler – Stereophonic

Adam Guettel – Days of Wine and Roses

David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna – Dead Outlaw

Shaina Taub - Suffs

Outstanding Orchestrations

Timo Andres - Illinoise

Adam Guettel and Jamie Lawrence – Days of Wine and Roses

Marco Paguia – Buena Vista Social Club

Michael Starobin – Suffs

Erik Della Penna, Dean Sharenow, and David Yazbek – Dead Outlaw

 

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

David Cromer – Dead Outlaw

Michael Greif – Days of Wine and Roses

Daisy Prince – The Connector

Leigh Silverman - Suffs

Jessica Stone – Water for Elephants

Outstanding Direction of a Play

Knud Adams – Primary Trust

Daniel Aukin – Stereophonic

Robert Falls – Swing State

Kenny Leon – Purlie Victorious

Lila Neugebauer – Appropriate

 

Outstanding Choreography

Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll – Water for Elephants

Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman – The Outsiders

Lorin Latarro – The Who's Tommy

Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck – Buena Vista Social Club

Justin Peck — Illinoise

 

Outstanding Scenic Design (tie)

David Korins – Here Lies Love

David Zinn – Stereophonic

Dots – Appropriate

Paul Tate dePoo III – The Cottage

Paul Tate dePoo III – The Great Gatsby

 

Outstanding Costume Design

Dede Ayite – Jaja's African Hair Braiding

Enver Chakartash – Stereophonic

Enver Chakartash – Teeth

Linda Cho – The Great Gatsby

Sydney Maresca – The Cottage

Outstanding Lighting Design

Bradley King – Water for Elephants

Brian MacDevitt – The Outsiders

Justin Townsend – Here Lies Love

Tim Lutkin and Hugh Vanstone – Back to the Future

Amanda Zieve – The Who's Tommy

 

Outstanding Sound Design
Tom Gibbons – Grey House

Gareth Owen – Back to the Future

Gareth Owen – The Who's Tommy
Ryan Rumery – Stereophonic

M.L. Dogg and Cody Spencer – Here Lies Love

 

Outstanding Video/Projections

David Bengali – Water for Elephants

Paul Tate dePoo III — The Great Gatsby

Peter Nigrini – The Who's Tommy

Finn Ross – Back to the Future

Ash J. Woodward - Patriots

Outer Critics Circle Awards Nominations Announced

Off-Broadway’s Dead Outlaw leads the musical pack with nine nominations. Stereophonic is the most nominated Broadway show, with seven.   Nominees for the 2024 John Gassner Award for New American Play are Job by Max Wolf Friedlich Manahatta by Mary Kathryn Nagle Oh, Mary! by Cole Escola The Apiary by Kate Douglas (NEW YORK, NY – Tuesday, April 23, 2024) The Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of writers on New York theatre for out-of-town newspapers and national publications, today announced the nominees for the 2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards, honoring the 2023-2024 Broadway and Off-Broadway season. The announcement was made by the stars of the hit revival of Merrily We Roll Along, Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez, and livestreamed by BroadwayWorld.com from the Museum of Broadway.   Leading the pack with the most honors of the season is the Off-Broadway musical Dead Outlaw, with nine nominations, followed by The Connector with seven nominations.  Stereophonic leads in the play categories with seven nominations, followed by Primary Trust, with five nominations.   Nominees for the annual John Gassner Award — for a new American play, preferably by a new playwright — are Job by Max Wolf Friedlich, Manahatta by Mary Kathryn Nagle, Oh, Mary! by Cole Escola, The Apiary by Kate Douglas, and Wet Brain by John J. Caswell Jr.   Winners of the 2024 Annual Outer Critics Circle Awards will be announced via press release on Monday, May 13, followed by an awards ceremony held on Thursday, May 23, 2024.   Founded during the 1949-50 Broadway season by respected theater journalist John Gassner, The Outer Critics Circle is an esteemed association with members affiliated with more than ninety newspapers, magazines, broadcast stations, and online news organizations, in America and abroad. Led by its current President David Gordon, the OCC Board of Directors also includes Vice President Richard Ridge, Recording Secretary Joseph Cervelli, Corresponding Secretary Patrick Hoffman, Treasurer David Roberts, Cynthia Allen, Harry Haun, Dan Rubins, Janice Simpson and Doug Strassler. Simon Saltzman is President Emeritus & Board Member (Non-nominating) and Stanley L. Cohen serves as Financial Consultant & Board Member (Non-nominating). Lauren Yarger serves as the Outer Critics Circle Awards ceremony executive producer.   2024 OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD NOMINATIONS   Outstanding New Broadway Play Jaja's African Hair Braiding by Jocelyn Bioh Mother Play: A Play in Five Evictions by Paula Vogel Patriots by Peter Morgan Stereophonic by David Adjmi The Shark Is Broken by Joseph Nixon and Ian Shaw   Outstanding New Broadway Musical Days of Wine and Roses Suffs The Great Gatsby The Outsiders Water for Elephants   Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical Buena Vista Social Club Dead Outlaw Illinoise Teeth The Connector   Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play Dig by Theresa Rebeck King of the Jews by Leslie Epstein King James by Rajiv Joseph Primary Trust by Eboni Booth Swing State by Rebecca Gilman   John Gassner Award (new American play preferably by a new playwright) Job by Max Wolf Friedlich Manahatta by Mary Kathryn Nagle Oh, Mary! by Cole Escola The Apiary by Kate Douglas Wet Brain by John J. Caswell Jr.   Outstanding Revival of a Musical Cabaret Here Lies Love I Can Get It for You Wholesale Monty Python's Spamalot The Who's Tommy   Outstanding Revival of a Play An Enemy of the People Appropriate Doubt: A Parable Mary Jane Philadelphia, Here I Come! Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch   Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play Jessica Lange – Mother Play Rachel McAdams – Mary Jane Sarah Paulson – Appropriate Jeremy Strong – An Enemy of the People Michael Stuhlbarg – Patriots   Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play Billy Eugene Jones – Purlie Victorious Celia Keenan-Bolger – Mother Play Alex Moffat – The Cottage Jim Parsons – Mother Play Sarah Pidgeon - Stereophonic Kara Young – Purlie Victorious   Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical Ali Louis Bourzgui – The Who's Tommy Brian d'Arcy James – Days of Wine and Roses Casey Likes – Back to the Future Kelli O'Hara – Days of Wine and Roses Maryann Plunkett – The Notebook   Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical Roger Bart – Back to the Future Justin Guarini – Once Upon a One More Time Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer – Spamalot Kecia Lewis – Hell's Kitchen Bebe Neuwirth – Cabaret   Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical Jeb Brown – Dead Outlaw Andrew Durand – Dead Outlaw Alyse Alan Louis - Teeth Ben Levi Ross – The Connector Ricky Ubeda - Illinoise   Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical Ben Cook – Illinoise Hannah Cruz – The Connector Julia Knitel – Dead Outlaw Judy Kuhn – I Can Get It For You Wholesale Jessica Molaskey – The Connector Thom Sesma – Dead Outlaw   Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Play Cole Escola – Oh, Mary! Mary Beth Fisher – Swing State William Jackson Harper – Primary Trust Marie Mullen – The Saviour Paul Sparks – Waiting for Godot   Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Play Gus Birney – Our Class April Matthis – Primary Trust Conrad Ricamora – Oh, Mary! Jay O. Sanders – Primary Trust Bubba Weiler – Swing State   Outstanding Solo Performance Eddie Izzard – Hamlet Patrick Page – All the Devils are Here Mona Pirnot – I Love You So Much I Could Die Robert Montano – Small John Rubenstein – Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground   Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury - Illinoise Anna K. Jacobs and Michael R. Jackson – Teeth Itamar Moses – Dead Outlaw Jonathan Marc Sherman – The Connector Shaina Taub - Suffs   Outstanding Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Jason Robert Brown – The Connector Will Butler – Stereophonic Adam Guettel – Days of Wine and Roses David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna – Dead Outlaw Shaina Taub - Suffs   Outstanding Orchestrations (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Timo Andres - Illinoise Adam Guettel and Jamie Lawrence – Days of Wine and Roses Marco Paguia – Buena Vista Social Club Michael Starobin – Suffs Erik Della Penna, Dean Sharenow, and David Yazbek – Dead Outlaw   Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) David Cromer – Dead Outlaw Michael Greif – Days of Wine and Roses Daisy Prince – The Connector Leigh Silverman - Suffs Jessica Stone – Water for Elephants Outstanding Direction of a Play (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Knud Adams – Primary Trust Daniel Aukin – Stereophonic Robert Falls – Swing State Kenny Leon – Purlie Victorious Lila Neugebauer – Appropriate   Outstanding Choreography (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll – Water for Elephants Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman – The Outsiders Lorin Latarro – The Who's Tommy Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck – Buena Vista Social Club Justin Peck — Illinoise   Outstanding Scenic Design (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Paul Tate dePoo III – The Cottage Paul Tate dePoo III – The Great Gatsby Dots – Appropriate David Korins – Here Lies Love David Zinn – Stereophonic   Outstanding Costume Design (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Dede Ayite – Jaja's African Hair Braiding Enver Chakartash – Stereophonic Enver Chakartash – Teeth Linda Cho – The Great Gatsby Sydney Maresca – The Cottage   Outstanding Lighting Design (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Bradley King – Water for Elephants Brian MacDevitt – The Outsiders Justin Townsend – Here Lies Love Tim Lutkin and Hugh Vanstone – Back to the Future Amanda Zieve – The Who's Tommy   Outstanding Sound Design (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Tom Gibbons – Grey House Gareth Owen – Back to the Future Gareth Owen – The Who's Tommy Ryan Rumery – Stereophonic M.L. Dogg and Cody Spencer – Here Lies Love   Outstanding Video/Projections (Broadway or Off-Broadway) David Bengali – Water for Elephants Paul Tate dePoo III — The Great Gatsby Peter Nigrini – The Who's Tommy Finn Ross – Back to the Future Ash J. Woodward - Patriots

Off-Broadway Review: Tuesdays with Morrie with Len Cariou

 

Chris Domig and Len Cariou. Photo: Jeremy Varner

Tuesdays with Morrie
By Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom, based on the book by Mitch Albom

Directed by Erwin Maas
Presented by Sea Dog Theater
St. George’s Episcopal Church, 209 East 16 St. NYC

Through April 20

By Lauren Yarger
Len Cariou gives a truly moving performance in a story of friendship and forgiveness in an Off-Broadway adaptation of Mitch Albom's bestselling book Tuesdays with Morrie.

Cariou is Morrie Schwartz, a sociology professor at Brandeis University who strikes up a friendship with his student,  Mitch Albom, (Cris Domig). The two meet at office hours, mostly on Tuesdays and soon find they are chatting about much more than the various classes Mitch takes during his college years. They talk about life and whether Mitch will follow his dream of being a jazz pianist. It is a friendship that has the student calling Morrie "Coach" and promising to stay in touch with his mentor after graduation.

But he doesn't. Time speeds ahead with Mitch becoming a sports writer accumulating all that someone earning big bucks at the top of his profession can enjoy. He seems to be cruising with the addition of a wife who is a professional singer, but his life comes to a screeching halt when he hears that Morrie is dying of ALS, the debilitating disease that claimed Lou Gehrig's life.

Mitch begins flying from Detroit to Boston every Tuesday to visit with Morrie, who encourages Mitch to ask any questions he would like. The first visit is awkward for Mitch . He feels guilty. Why didn't he keep up with this friend after he promised he would. Morrie's attempts to reach out had gone unanswered. But Morrie holds no grudge. He is genuinely thrilled to see his old friend and the men take up where they left off 16 years ago. What follows is a masterclass on the meaning of life. 

The more he prepares to die, Morrie, rells us, the more he knows about how to live.

Domig effectively portrays the conflicted Mitch who wonders whether he is a good person or whether he knows how to really love.

"It was taught from experience." he tells us "There was no required reading, but many topics were covered: love, work, aging, family, community, forgiveness ... and death. The class met

on Tuesdays and had only one student. I was that student." 

Cariou himself gives a masterclass in acting. Direction by Erwin Maas is minimal with Cariou hugging the grand piano dominating Guy de Lancey's set, or sitting in a wheel chair as the disease takes hold of Morrie's body. We have no doubt of the man's spirit, conveyed by Cariou through dialogue, body movement (or lack of it) and facial expressions. Morrie helps Mitch forgive himself and discover that his life has meaning. He gives him hope through his own death-- not a bad trick for the professor who used to be agnostic.

It's moving and like the book (which Albom adapted with Jeffrey Hatcher), leaves us wishing we all had a Morrie in our lives. The old church setting lends to some echoing and sound and music effects can be stark and overwhelming at times. And the seats are exceptionally uncomfortable -- bring a pillow. But the experience is worth the trip and Tuesdays with Morrie has just been extended through April 20.  seadogtheater.org

Additional credits:

Lighting, Set, and Costume Designer: Guy de Lancey; Sound Designer: Eamon Goodman; 

Recorded Vocal Performance: Sally Shaw; Original Music Composition: Chris Domig; 
Sound Mixer: Chris White

Family-Friendly Factors:

No notes

Artist Portrait Series: Len Cariou + Heather Summerhayes Cariou from Sea Dog Theater on Vimeo.

Theater Review: The 12 -- Goodspeed Musicals, CT

 

The cast of Goodspeed's THE 12. Photo: Diane Sobolewski

The 12

Music and Lyrics by Neil Berg
Book and Lyrics by Robert Schenkkan
Directed by John Doyle
Goodspeed Musicals 
Through Oct. 29, 2023

By Lauren Yarger

A compelling story about religion without an agenda? In the theater world, 
this is nothing short of a miracle!

But with a book and lyrics by Robert Schenkkan, told to the beat of a pop-rock score
and lyrics from Neil Berg, that is exactly what Goodspeed Musical audiences witness
in The 12, a moving story of how Jesus’s disciples walk through a journey of sorrow
and faith following his death.

This tale, emotionally staged by Director John Doyle (who doubles as scenic designer), 
focuses on the disciples as they hide out in the upper room (an abandoned industrial
space covered in graffiti) after the crucifixion of Jesus (called Teacher, rather than by name).
They arrive devastated, angry, uncertain and scared about what will happen to them if they
are identified as being affiliated with Jesus. They have conflicts with each other, as well as
a crisis of faith over the loss of their leader. For those not up to speed on who the 12 were,
they are listed in a neat cheat sheet in the show program (which offers more details than here):

• Andrew (Wonza Johnson), a fisherman
•  “Bart” (Robert Morrison) a.k.a. Bartholomew
•  James (Kelvin Moon Loh), brother of John
•  “Jimmy” (Etai Benson) the other James, often called the brother of Jesus
•  John (Kyle Scatliffe) brother of James
• Matt (F. Michale Haynie) the tax collector Matthew
• Pete (Akron Lanier Watson) Simon Peter, brother of Andrew
• Phil (Brandon J. Ellis) Philip, friend of Bartholomew
• Simon (Gregory Treco) the zealot
•  “Tee” (Mel Johnson Jr.) a.k.a. Thaddeus
•  “Tom” (Wesley Taylor) doubting Thomas

For those of you who are counting, Judas doesn’t make an appearance. The action takes
place after his death too – possibly at the hands of one of the group. The 12^th disciple
completing a last-supper tableau, subtly created by Doyle, is Mary Magdalene (Adrienne
Walker), called “Mags” by Jimmy, who might be more than just a friend, and the rest.
In a nice choice, Mary, the mother of Jesus (Rema Webb), also gets some stage time and
the two women have some of the most moving and melodic songs of the production.

Mags sings:

So much pain

Heart so sore

Thoughts so bleak

Please, no more.

Neared his tomb

Lightening flashed;

Heard a savage roar.

The earth rose up!

An awful sound.

Choked by dust

Fell to the ground.

I heard the stones go crashing by;

Terrified that I would die.

The shaking stopped

Then broke the dawn

Revealed his grave -

The rock was gone.

Powerful stuff in there.

The storytelling, even with some more modern elements like guitars on stage and police
sirens blaring while the disciples wear more modern looking clothing in dark hues
(Ann Hould-Ward, costumes), never loses its way because it stays anchored in the scriptures
and pure human emotion to which everyone can relate. Who hasn’t suffered a devastating
loss? Who hasn’t felt betrayed? Who hasn’t felt terrified of what lies ahead? If you ever have
experienced a real-life nightmare from which you can’t awaken, you’ll relate to the emotions
being expressed by each character. Excellent storytelling by Schenkkan (who has a Pulitzer
for The Kentucky Cycle and a Tony for All the Way.)

This also isn’t a feel-good, just-have-faith tale either. There is no attempt to convert or
condemn. Much like God himself, the creators of this work give free choice. What you
believe is up to you (and this show will unlikely offend regardless of what religion you
follow). Instead, they offer a genuine story of human emotion and the search for something
in which to believe, then cling to, even when faith has been dashed. Despite their renewed
hope, the disciples are very much aware of the price they will pay for following their beliefs.
When they leave the safety of their hideout to go out into the world to share their faith, it’s an
inspiring moment, thanks to the direction of Doyle who brings his Tony-award-winning
experience -- and apparently some long-ago hopes of becoming a priest -- to this project.

Honesty, I kept waiting for the story to veer off in the way most Christian-hostile theater
does: Jesus and Mary Magdalene were lovers and had a child; Jesus never claimed to be
the son of God or was illegitimate and it all was a ruse by Mary to avoid hide her
pre-wedding sexual activity; Jesus didn’t really rise from the dead and the disciples
carried out a hoax, etc. But it never did. And Thomas, with his many doubts and questions,
gives a voice to those watching who might be skeptical, whether or not they come from a
believing background:

·      “Where’s the proof?”

·      “Could have been a coincidence…”

·      “What if he made a mistake?"

•  "Why did he have to die?"

The 12 is a Godspell/Jesus Christ Superstar for a new generation. It had a successful run
in Denver, where it won a Henry Award for Outstanding New Musical. You can catch it
at Goodspeed in East Haddam, CT through Oct. 29. Or, if prayers are answered, perhaps
someday on Broadway.

Additional credits: Greg Jarrett, Music Supervisor/Orchestrator; Adam Souza, Music
Director; Ben Covello, Associate Music Director; Japhy Weideman, Lighting Designer;
Jay Hilton, Sound Designer.

Off-Broadway Review: Out of the Apple Orchard

 

Out of the Apple Orchard
By Ellen W. Kaplan, based on the book by Yvonne David
Directed by Nicole Raphael
Actors Temple

By Lauren Yarger

A sweet tale of forgiveness offers a breath of fresh air for theater goers in the New York premiere of Ellen W. Kaplan's Out of the Apple Orchard which recently had an all-too-short run at the Actors Temple in New York.

Based on the first in a series of children's books written by Yvonne David, and themselves inspired by Joseph Stein's Fiddler on the Roof, Sholom Aleichem’s “Tevye the Dairyman," and Charles Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol," the stories follow the Jewish Bieman family which immigrates to the lower east side of Manhattan in 1910, then moves to the Catskills.

When Papa (Erik Endsley) is too sick to continue working on the fine suits he tailors, Mama (Lori Leifer), Bubbe (Alyssa Simon), Adam (Caleb Hafen) and Sarah (Emma Kantor) all offer to pitch in.  They offer the doctor (Gershon Tarabulus) a pair of trousers in payment, but how will they ever have money to buy ingredients for a holiday cake to bring in a sweet new year?

Adam decides that stealing apples from the orchard of Farmer Friedland (Ken Dillion) is the solution, but he soon finds that his actions have unexpected consequences. His guilt leads him to seek counsel from the family's rabbi (also played by Tarabulus), who tells him he must confess to Friedland and see what he can do to make up for his crime. But will the farmer forgive him?

Directed by Nicole Raphael of The Mesaper Theatre, the tale unfolds with music and puppetry (Victoria Chaieb, violinist, who also composes original music and arrangements; Rebecca Porticello, red bird -- puppets by Vandy Wood) set against paintings by Robert Sauber and lighting by Maarten Cornelis. Choreography is by Hafen and Kantor.

This charming tale, told in about 80 minutes without intermission, bakes a perfect pie by blending the ingredients of wholesome family values, vivid storytelling and lighthearted entertainment whose aroma will appeal to audiences of all ages. The run at the Actors Temple was just seven performances. Here's hoping it returns or has runs in other cities. And maybe the other books in the series will find their way t the stage as well. For info in the books click here.

2023 Outer Critics Circle Winners Announced: Some Like it Hot, Leopoldstadt Lead Honors

Joshua Satine in Leopoldstadt. Photo: Joan Marcus

The cast of Some Like it Hot. Photo: Marc J. Franklin

The Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of writers on New York theatre for out-of-town newspapers and national publications, is pleased to announce the winners of the 72nd Annual Outer Critics Circle Awards, honoring the 2022-2023 Broadway and Off-Broadway season. Some Like it Hot and Leopoldstadt take top musical and play honors.

The awards ceremony honoring the winners will take place on Thursday, May 25 at 3 pm in the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center’s New York Public Library for The Performing Arts. Lauren Yarger serves as the ceremony's executive producer.

2023 OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNERS

The Marjorie Gunner Award for Outstanding New Broadway Musical

& Juliet

A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical

New York, New York

Shucked

**Some Like It Hot**

Outstanding New Broadway Play

Good Night, Oscar

**Leopoldstadt**

Life of Pi

Peter Pan Goes Wrong

Summer, 1976

Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical

The Bedwetter

Between the Lines

**The Harder They Come**

Only Gold

Without You

Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play

Becomes a Woman

A Case for the Existence of God

Chester Bailey

**Downstate**

Letters from Max, a ritual

John Gassner Award for New American Play (Preferably by a New Playwright)

Dark Disabled Stories by Ryan J. Haddad

Epiphany by Brian Watkins

**Fat Ham by James Ijames**

Wolf Play by Hansol Jung

You Will Get Sick by Noah Diaz

Outstanding Revival of a Play (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Death of a Salesman

Endgame

Ohio State Murders

**Topdog/Underdog**

Wedding Band

Outstanding Revival of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

A Man of No Importance

Into the Woods

Merrily We Roll Along

**Parade**

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical

Micaela Diamond – Parade

**J. Harrison Ghee – Some Like It Hot**

Caroline Innerbichler – Shucked

Colton Ryan – New York, New York

Anna Uzele – New York, New York

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical

Kevin Del Aguila – Some Like It Hot

Julia Lester – Into the Woods

**Alex Newell – Shucked**

NaTasha Yvette Williams – Some Like It Hot

Betsy Wolfe - & Juliet

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play

Hiran Abeysekera – Life of Pi

Jessica Chastain – A Doll's House

Corey Hawkins – Topdog/Underdog

**Sean Hayes – Good Night, Oscar**

Audra McDonald – Ohio State Murders

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play

Danielle Brooks – The Piano Lesson

Sharon D Clarke – Death of a Salesman

Michael Potts – The Piano Lesson

**Brandon Uranowitz – Leopoldstadt**

David Zayas – Cost of Living

Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Play

Ephraim Birney – Chester Bailey

Brittany Bradford – Wedding Band

Marylouise Burke - Epiphany

**Bill Irwin – Endgame**

Emma Pfitzer Price – Becomes a Woman

Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Play

Veanne Cox – Wedding Band

Glenn Davis – Downstate

**K. Todd Freeman – Downstate**

Francis Guinan - Downstate

Susanna Guzman - Downstate

Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical

Nicholas Barasch – The Butcher Boy

Callum Francis – Kinky Boots

**Jonathan Groff – Merrily We Roll Along**

Natey Jones – The Harder They Come

Marla Mindelle – Titanique

Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical

Vicki Lewis – Between the Lines

**Lindsay Mendez – Merrily We Roll Along**

Daniel Radcliffe – Merrily We Roll Along

A.J. Shively – A Man of No Importance

Mare Winningham – A Man of No Importance

Outstanding Solo Performance

Mike Birbiglia – The Old Man & the Pool

**Jodie Comer – Prima Facie**

Jefferson Mays – A Christmas Carol

Sam Morrison – Sugar Daddy

Anthony Rapp – Without You

Outstanding New Score

Kate Anderson and Elyssa Samsel – Between the Lines

Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally – Shucked

John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Lin-Manuel Miranda – New York, New York

Adam Schlesinger and Sarah Silverman – The Bedwetter

**Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman – Some Like It Hot**

Outstanding Book of a Musical

Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli - Titanique

**Robert Horn – Shucked**

Matthew López and Amber Ruffin – Some Like it Hot

Suzan-Lori Parks – The Harder They Come

David West Read - & Juliet

Outstanding Scenic Design (Play or Musical)

Jason Ardizzone-West – Wedding Band

John Lee Beatty - Epiphany

**Beowulf Boritt – New York, New York**

Mimi Lien – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Simon Scullion – Peter Pan Goes Wrong

Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical)

Dede Ayite – Topdog/Underdog

**Gregg Barnes – Some Like it Hot**

Brigitte Reiffenstuel – Leopoldstadt

Paloma Young - & Juliet

Donna Zakowska – New York, New York

Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical)

Neil Austin – Leopoldstadt

Ken Billington – New York, New York

Ben Stanton – A Christmas Carol

Natasha Katz – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

**Tim Lutkin – Life of Pi**

Outstanding Sound Design (Play or Musical)

John Gromada - Jasper

Kai Harada – New York, New York

Daniel Kluger – Epiphany

André Pluess – Good Night, Oscar

**Joshua D. Reid – A Christmas Carol**

Outstanding Video or Projection Design (Play or Musical)

Christopher Ash and Beowulf Boritt – New York, New York

**Andrzej Goulding – Life of Pi**

Lucy Mackinnon – A Christmas Carol

Isaac Madge - Leopoldstadt

Sven Ortel – Parade

Outstanding Orchestrations

**Bryan Carter and Charlie Rosen – Some Like It Hot**

Sam Davis and Daryl Waters – New York, New York

Jason Howland – Shucked

Dominic Fallacaro and Bill Sherman - & Juliet

Jonathan Tunick – Merrily We Roll Along

Outstanding Director of a Musical

**Michael Arden – Parade**

Maria Friedman – Merrily We Roll Along

Casey Nicholaw – Some Like It Hot

Jack O'Brien – Shucked

Susan Stroman – New York, New York

Outstanding Choreography

Andy Blankenbuehler – Only Gold

Edgar Godineaux – The Harder They Come

Casey Nicholaw – Some Like It Hot

**Susan Stroman – New York, New York**

Jennifer Weber - & Juliet

Outstanding Director of a Play

Kenny Leon – Topdog/Underdog

Pam MacKinnon – Downstate

**Patrick Marber – Leopoldstadt**

Adam Meggido – Peter Pan Goes Wrong

Max Webster – Life of Pi

Special Achievement Award

To B.H. Barry, one of the world's foremost fight directors, in recognition of a distinguished six-decade career capped off with Camelot at Lincoln Center Theater.

About the OCCs:

Founded during the 1949-50 Broadway season by respected theater journalist John Gassner, The Outer Critics Circle is an esteemed association with members affiliated with more than ninety newspapers, magazines, broadcast stations, and online news organizations, in America and abroad.

As previously announced, this is the first season with newly reconstructed acting categories, which have removed gender specifications, and been expanded to separately include off-Broadway performers. In the previous configuration, actors in Broadway and off-Broadway productions had been nominated together in the same category.

Led by its current president David Gordon, the OCC Board of Directors also includes Vice President Richard Ridge, Recording Secretary Joseph Cervelli, Corresponding Secretary Patrick Hoffman, Treasurer David Roberts, Harry Haun, Cynthia Allen, Janice Simpson and Doug Strassler. Simon Saltzman is President Emeritus & Board Member (Non-nominating) and Stanley L. Cohen serves as Financial Consultant & Board Member (Non-nominating).