P.S. First performance is March 1st, so be sure to mark your calendars NOW!

This production is part of the Sublet Series@HERE, HERE’s curated rental program, which provides artists with subsidized space and equipment, as well as technical support.

THANKS FOR COMING ALL YE FAITHFUL
We’d like to thank everyone who made merry at last week’s Holiday Soiree, and everyone who volunteered their time and talents (i.e. Kelly DiNicolo, Masseuse Extraordinaire!).  It was just what we needed to face the remainder of the Holiday Season!

FROM THE DESK OF… NICK COTZ
Nick sorts through the best theatre of 2012. Move over Ben Brantley!

LAST CHANCE FOR A 2012 DONATION
One last chance to donate before your coach turns into a pumpkin! Get those tax deductible donations in before midnight strikes on 12.31.12, and then watch your tax return soar!

Super Night Shot by Gob Squad, Under the Radar Festival at the Public Theatre
They blew me away last year with their remake of Andy Warhol’s Kitchen documentary, and they did it again this year with Super Night Shot. The European company breaks all theatrical conventions by editing (in real time!) a new story each night on screens set up on stage. The skill, precision, and craft that go into this kind of work are nothing short of inspiring.

Mission Drift by the TEAM, Coil Festival at the Connelly Theater
Heather Christian. For those of you who don’t recognize that name, I’ll simply say this: the Team is one of the coolest collaborative theater troupes around, and I highly suggest you keep them on your radar.

Slowgirl by Greg Pierce, Claire Tow Theater at Lincoln Center
I’ve got a lot to say about the new little gem sitting atop Lincoln Center. The Claire Tow Theater is my favorite new NYC venue. At $20 a seat, this is the best deal in town. Slowgirl was so stellar that I was left momentarily breathless. Not only were Sarah Steele and Zeljko Ivanek amazing, but the set and production values rocked. Oh, and the script was amazing!

Disgraced by Ayad Ahktar, Claire Tow Theater at Lincoln Center
I went to the CTT for their second offering, nervous about a possible sophomore slump. My fears were for naught. Though Ahktar’s play was a bit wordy and ended with a few too many convenient plot twists, I’m still putting it on my list. This play brought up some great issues that are not spoken about nearly enough, and certainly not on the stage. Ahktar used his bully pulpit to have an open, honest, and awkward discussion about race, religion, and America’s obsession with and fear of Islam. I dug it.

*Sidenote: I want to urge my under-60 friends to start seeing every show that the Claire Tow offers. The shows are fresh, young, and full of life, but the audience is full of…let’s just say they are made up of a significantly older crowd. This is the PERFECT place for young, broke folks to see excellent, affordable theatre.

If There is I Haven’t Found It Yet by Nick Payne, Laura Pels Theater, The Roundabout
Jake Gyllenhaal? I went with low expectations, and I was quite pleasantly surprised. Gyllenhaal was a force to be reckoned with! It was also awesome to absorb the spectacular direction of Michael Longhurst, who took huge artistic chances and came out on top. Unfortunately, the script wasn’t quite up to snuff, and the story definitely fizzled once Gyllenhaal left the stage. But overall, the good outweighed the bad.

Look Back in Anger by John Osborne, Laura Pels Theater, The Roundabout
Here I go repeating theaters. I have my reasons: 1) The Roundabout has the HipTix program, which means $20 tickets to any show if you’re under 36. Three years left! 2) The Laura Pels is freaking beautiful. Obviously Osborne wrote an amazing play, but the reason this show stood out for me was the human wrecking ball known as Adam Driver. You might know him from Man and Boy or from his reoccurring role as Hanna’s boyfriend on HBO’s Girls. Trust me, keep your eye on this guy.

Methtacular by Steven Strafford, The Playroom Theater
It’s pretty hard to get me to see a one man show, but Steven Strafford’s story was amazing. The show was equal parts hilarious, tragic, and uplifting. Congrats to Steven and Director Adam Fitzgerald (a longtime PST friend!) for their amazing success.

Death of a Salesman  by Arthur Miller, Ethel Barrymore Theater
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Mike Nichols, and Arthur Miller. Big surprise: it was fucking amazing. And Andrew Garfield was unexpectedly excellent.

Oh Faithful PST Supporters! You’ve purchased raffle tickets, attended readings, and dressed like zombies.  You’ve donated your time, your money, even your space.  Now it’s time for you to sit back, relax, and enjoy a night on us.  Join PST on Thursday, December 13th, for a holiday party in your honor.  There will be food, drink (both child-friendly and alcoholic!), and eclectic holiday entertainment as we raise our glasses to toast YOU.

BREAKING NEWS: ROGERANDTOM

Two days ago we dropped a bomb.  What’s that?  You missed it?  Okay, here it is again:

For the past three years, we’ve been preparing.  We’ve scoured the city for just the right spot.  We’ve hosted fundraisers and courted donors.   We even went to Scotland for an international trial run.  Three long years, and now it’s all paying off…

ROGERANDTOM RETURNS
TO THE NEW YORK STAGE

playing at

HERE
MARCH 2nd – 23rd

This production is part of the Sublet Series@HERE, HERE’s curated rental program, which provides artists with subsidized space and equipment, as well as technical support.

Many, many details to come.  Be sure to LIKE us on Facebook, so you don’t miss a thing!

 LOCUSTS DISSECTED AT NOVEMBER’S
SALVAGED SPACE!

J. Julian Christopher’s Locusts Have No King was the perfect choice for our November Salvaged Space Reading. Because theatre is an ever-evolving process, the script was rewritten right before the final rehearsal. That kind of rapid-fire creativity is EXACTLY what Salvaged Space is all about. We wish Julian all the success in the world with his script and are proud to have been a step in his journey.

PST is proud to be a part of the development of new works, and we are always looking for the next great script. If you have a draft of a new play that you’d like us to consider for Salvaged Space, send it to scripts@personalspacetheatrics.org.

First of all, I am thankful that the PST staff and volunteer base all made it safely through Hurricane Sandy.

I’m thankful that the country elected a President who will support public art programs.

I am thankful for the two new employees we’ve welcomed into the PST family, Jane Claire Baker and Jon Eaddy.

I am thankful for the new relationships I’ve formed with playwrights and actors through the PST Salvaged Space Reading Series.

I am thankful that, after 12 years, a plethora of brilliant friends still come pouring out of the woodwork to volunteer their time and talent to help PST.

And I’m thankful that, after 3 years of blood, sweat, and tears, PST will produce rogerandtom at HERE, one of the finest venues in the city.