Nine months of the year the Heights and
Gallery Players perform well-known plays by well-established
playwrights. But in June they turn their stages over to emerging
directors and playwrights.
This year, the Gallery Players’ Black Box Series includes two
full-length plays and 10 one-acts, as well as four Saturday afternoon
readings of works-in-progress – all by emerging playwrights.
The Heights Players’ Directors’ Workshops series presents two
weekends of dance, comedy and drama, all of which give directors
and performers the opportunity to explore and expand their creativity.
The Black Box Series fulfills the Gallery Players’ commitment
to providing playwrights with the artistic support they need
to develop their skills. Beginning in February, playwrights are
paired with experienced directors, and their plays are read,
re-written, discussed and re-read in preparation for their world
premieres.
This year, executive producer Sidney Fortner says she brought
on Yvonne Opffer Conybeare, Heather Siobahn Curran and David
Keller, three associate producers who will each serve as dramaturges
for one week in the four-week series. Fortner is the dramaturge
for the first week.
"Dramaturges work with the playwrights as extensions of
the audience’s consciousness," Fortner told GO Brooklyn.
"They view the play as the audience would and give the playwrights
feedback. They point out whatever might keep the audience from
getting the point of the play."
Fortner emphasizes that these productions are "a process
not a product," in the spirit of collaboration. Although
directors have full control of all aspects of production, playwrights
are invited to participate in casting decisions and may attend
as many rehearsals as they would like.
"It’s very gratifying to see playwrights benefit from the
process," she says. "Things actually happen We take
people from wherever they are, and they target their own weaknesses."
Fortner is particularly pleased to see playwrights who started
with one-acts progress to full-length plays. Staci Swedeen, who
wrote "AM/FM in the First Degree" (June 2023),
and David Keller, author of "Otherwise Engaged in a House
Half Full" (May 30-June 2) are two such examples.
In the past three years, Swedeen has written monologues and plays
for works-in-progress readings. Keller’s "The Messiah,"
a one-act about the encounter of a reporter and a reluctant superhero,
premiered in the Black Box Series last year.
Keller says "Otherwise Engaged in a House Half Full"
takes place backstage at a community theater and is loosely based
on his experiences as an actor and director in Brooklyn theater.
In fact, some of the people he has worked with are acting in
his play.
"Otherwise Engaged in a House Half Full" is, says the
playwright, "fundamentally a comedy with darker, more serious
issues." Keller, who works as an admissions counselor at
CUNY’s Baruch College, says he is "very interested in why
people take certain roads," which is the subject of both
his plays.
Joe Lauinger has had plays in the Black Box Series ever since
its inception five years ago.
"Every year he gets better and better," says Fortner.
"He’s a great writer." This year Lauinger has two plays
in Box 2.
"Red Weather" is about a woman who is an animal behaviorist
studying Bengal tigers in India and a man who is making a documentary
about her adventures. The play, which takes place in a hidden
platform in a tree in a jungle by the tigers’ water hole, reveals
their different perceptions about what is happening.
"Half in Love" is about a man and woman who meet in
a cemetery as the woman is dropping jellybeans on a grave. As
the play progresses, they get to know each other and share their
attempts to deal with the loss of a loved one.
Traci Parks, who lives in Carroll Gardens, is working with the
Gallery Players for the first time this year. Her one-act, "Dr.
Wills," is about a married couple contemplating having a
baby, the husband’s lover, and the wife’s doctor, who is also
a love interest.
The Heights Players’ Directors’ Workshops feature the works of
two choreographers – Rina Spielberg’s "Return of the Sun"
(June 7 and 8), a piece that is named after her Park Slope dance
company, and James Martinelli’s "Wake Dream" (June
14 and 15).
On the dramatic side, Susan Montez directs a one-act, "A
Matter of Respect" (June 14 and 15), which was written by
her father.
Comedy also plays an important part in this year’s workshops.
Jonathan Siregar is directing "Poison Ives" (June 6
and 8), three 10-minute comedies, and Steve Velardi ("Jake’s
Women") is directing "Skitwo" (last year he directed
"Skidoo").
Velardi says Skitwo is a "renaissance of vaudeville,"
with music, comedy, parody and beer.
"It’s the last show [it’s preceded by ’Poison Ives’ on June
6 and ’Poison Ives’ and ’A Matter of Respect’ on June 7]. After
sitting through the other show, the party begins," Velardi
explains.
For those who believe the theater season comes to an end in May,
the good news is that the Heights and Gallery Players have found
a way to extend the season with thought-provoking, original entertainment.
The Heights Players’ Directors’ Workshops
begin at 8 pm on June 6, 7, 8, 14 and 15 at 26 Willow Place at
State Street in Brooklyn Heights. There is a $5 suggested donation.
For reservations, call (718) 237-2752.
Gallery Players’ Black Box Series begins May 30. Box 1 presents
"Otherwise Engaged in a House Half Full" and runs May
30 to June 2. Box 2 includes "Good News," "Half
in Love," "Red Weather" and "Odd Man Out,"
and runs June 6-8. Box 3 includes "Name," "Mastitis,"
"Oh Happy Day," "Still Life," "Dr. Wills"
and "Table for Two" and runs June 13-16. Box 4 presents
"AM/FM in the First Degree" and runs June 20-23.
All Gallery Players performances begin at 8 pm on Thursdays,
Fridays and Saturdays; 3 pm on Sundays. There is a dialogue with
the playwrights after each Sunday matinee. Tickets are $15, $12
children under 12 and seniors.
Works-in-progress dialogues are at 4 pm on June 1, 8, 15 and
22. Admission is free. The Gallery Players’ theater is located
at 199 14th St. at Fourth Avenue in Park Slope. For reservations,
call (718) 595-0547.
