New York Theater: My yearly list of New York stage shows for which I’m most grateful, which I started posting every Thanksgiving more than a decade ago, returns more or less to normal this year, as the theater itself has returned more or less to normal, after a year of shutdown (and online innovation), a second year of reopening, and a third year of recovery.
4 comments:
Wow, these theaters seem super diverse and cool. The way that theaters can hold entire communities within them is pretty beautiful. It can be a safe space where stories are told and expressed, people can feel like they belong somewhere, and not only that but be creative somewhere– which is extremely important to me. A safe space to make art is something hard to achieve, somewhere where people can feel at ‘home’-- some people really need to belong to a community to feel whole. Personally, this doesn’t apply but I can appreciate somewhere that feels safe and accepting. From Jewish heritage to celebrating less able people is great. Something that has been noticed with marginalized groups is that when put together nuanced art is created. After reading this article I feel very grateful for these theaters mentioned, they are all keeping the industry alive and well. Although it will be hard to keep this true, it must be attempted.
I really liked this article for so many reasons. I think in a world filled with controversy and disappointing news we sometimes forget to highlight the little positive lights in our world. Often the articles I read are about the strikes, shows that are closing, or some sort of controversial topic or opinion. I found it incredibly peaceful to take a step back and reflect on the shows we are grateful for. Another thing I really appreciated was that not only was this a positive reflection but it was a positive reflection that focused on shows that do not get as much attention. I think it is so important. As for shows in this article that caught my attention I really liked life of pie and dark disabled stories. I already had prior knowledge of life of pie and I am incredibly grateful for it. While the performance itself warrants many different opinions I think that everyone can agree that the technical performance is absolutely astonishing. It showed me that I have just begun to see the limits in which we can push in technical theater. I really enjoyed reading about dark disabled stories and the quote “Why must a play be about people with disabilities in order to get ASL-interpreted, audio-described and Open Captions at every performance?” stopped me dead in my tracks and made me think. I can only imagine the impact of the show on its audiences.
The article resonates with the enchantment that theater brings. In my head, these snapshots capture the essence of the theatrical storytelling, providing a glimpse into the creativity, emotions, and craftsmanship that make theater truly magical. In a world increasingly dominated by digital experiences (as we continue to discuss), the enduring power of live performances shines through. The emphasis on new stories and innovations underscores the dynamic nature of theater, an art form that constantly reinvents itself. As technology and societal shifts shape the creative landscape, it's inspiring to see theaters embracing change while staying true to the core essence of storytelling. Reflecting on this article, it reaffirms the profound impact of theater on the human experience (both in those creating the piece and those experiencing). It serves as a reminder of the unique ability of live performances to evoke emotions, provoke thought, and create lasting memories—an enduring source of gratitude in the ever-evolving world of the stage.
I absolutely love this article for many reasons. 1. there is so much diversity in the theaters talked about. Being a brown student who is a DP, you don't see many of us in the field or sometimes even on stage especially when it comes to western theatre. Now, just to go on a small tangent, it made me pretty upset to see an indian woman play Jasmine in Aladdin on Broadway. Like listen, yes she's brown, but Jasmine isn't Indian. Anyways, it made me so so happy to see proper representation in Life of Pi. All the characters, with the exception of the actors playing the tiger, are indian as the movie and book was written originally. I am very thankful for the chance for such a brown dominated production to be on a western stage. It would be such a goal one day to be on such a production with a brown cast and maybe a brown prod staff as well.
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