Crystal Field News

'Possibility Junkie' is a new musical theater work by David Ippolito (music, lyrics, book) and directed by Gretchen Cryer ('I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It On the Road'), who co-authored the book. The story is based loosely on the career of David Ippolito, who is known to hundreds of thousands of people across the country and around the world as 'That Guitar Man from Central Park.' Part singer/songwriter, part storyteller, part social-commentator and humorist, Ippolito has become famous for his simple catch phrase, 'It's just us,' and his ability to turn a large crowd of strangers into a group of friends. Theater for the New City will present the world premiere tonight, September 28 to October 20, 2013.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre kicks off its 44th season with 'The Ed Bullins Project' - two revivals from his 'Twentieth Century Cycle of Plays' - In The Wine Time and The Fabulous Miss Marie. Bullins, winner of the prestigious NY Drama Critics' Circle Award and OBIE Award for The Taking of Miss Janie, has greatly influenced American theatre, especially Black theatre. His work, characterized by disdain for ineffective political rhetoric as a substitute for action, most often examines the lives of Black people in the inner city. In 1968, Clive Barnes, writing in the New York Times called Bullins 'a welcome addition to the ranks of New York playwrights.' Four years later, Barnes added 'Bullins writes the way Charlie Parker played: It is all so easy and effortless. It sounds improvised, and yet it doesn't sound improvised, simply because it is the improvisation of formality.' Today, Bullins is regarded as a seminal force in the American theater.

Theater for the New City, Crystal Field, Executive Director, presents the Lesser America production of Just Right Just Now, directed by Peter James Cook and Stella Powell-Jones. The show is an evening of original and premiere short plays by Clare Barron (Baby Screams Miracle), Eric Dufault (The Year of the Rooster), Anna Kerrigan (The Talls), Lauren Morelli (Orange is the New Black), Marco Ramirez (Sons of Anarchy), and Brian Watkins (The Prairie Plays).

In 'Playing Sinatra' by Bernard Kops, grown up siblings in Streatham, London, resist their lonely future by idolizing ol' Blue Eyes. Norman can't leave their family nest; his sister, Sandra, knows she must try. Her new friend, Philip, is drawn into their trap to escape his painful past. Theater for the New City will present the play's American premiere tonight, September 12 to October 6, performed by Austin Pendleton, Katharine Cullison and Richard McElvain. Kelly Morgan directs.

In 'The Vatican Knows (about the kidnapping of that young woman),' a new play by Mario Fratti, a young girl's fantasies about being fathered by the Pope lead to a brutal kidnapping. Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave., will present the work October 3 to 20, directed by Stephan Morrow.

JULIAN & ROMERO, a world-premiere play by Alex Perez, will be presented as part of the Dream Up Festival at Theater for the New City, today, September 3rd -September 8th , 2013.

'Possibility Junkie' is a new musical theater work by David Ippolito (music, lyrics, book) and directed by Gretchen Cryer ('I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It On the Road'), who co-authored the book. The story is based loosely on the career of David Ippolito, who is known to hundreds of thousands of people across the country and around the world as 'That Guitar Man from Central Park.' Part singer/songwriter, part storyteller, part social-commentator and humorist, Ippolito has become famous for his simple catch phrase, 'It's just us,' and his ability to turn a large crowd of strangers into a group of friends. Theater for the New City will present the world premiere September 28 to October 20, 2013.

LISELOTTE IN MAY, by Hungarian playwright Zsolt Pozsgai will have its US Premiere as part of the Dream Up Festival at Theater for the New City and will run from August 28th to September 8th. The show's website is http://www.dreamupfestival.org/liselotte.html.

CONCRETE TIMBRE & D'MOISELLES in association with the Paris-based La Compagnie Cosmopolite du Pierrot Lunaire, and Theater for the New City, Crystal Field (Artistic Director) are pleased to announce the world premiere production of COQ TÔT, directed by Sylvaine Hinglais, Manuela Lechler, Jasmina Sinanovic, and Ann Warren. COQ TÔT will play a one week limited engagement at the Theater for New City (155 First Avenue, NYC), as part of the Dream Up Festival. Performances begin tonight, August 21.

Theater for the New City and Crystal Field, Artistic Director have announced the world premiere production of Gaspare DiBlasi's 'L'Chayim', directed by Jesse Marchese (Assistant to the Artistic Director of Off-Broadway's award-winning Mint Theater Company) as part of their 2013 Dream Up Festival. Both artists are returning to both TNC and the Dream Up Festival after last year's sold-out production of DiBlasi's '50 Things I Love About Frank'. L'Chayim will play a limited engagement at Theater for the New City, 155 1st Avenue (Between 9th and 10th Streets). New York, New York, 10003. Performances begin tonight, August 21 and continue through Sunday, August 25.

Theater for the New City and Crystal Field (Artistic Director) present To Dream of Trees as part of the 2013 Dream Up Festival. To Dream of Trees is an imaginative piece of storytelling set in an apocalyptic world.

In 'Playing Sinatra' by Bernard Kops, grown up siblings in Streatham, London, resist their lonely future by idolizing ol' Blue Eyes. Norman can't leave their family nest; his sister, Sandra, knows she must try. Her new friend, Philip, is drawn into their trap to escape his painful past. Theater for the New City will present the play's American premiere September 12 to October 6, performed by Austin Pendleton, Katharine Cullison and Richard McElvain. Kelly Morgan directs.

Theater for the New City and Crystal Field (Artistic Director) present To Dream of Trees as part of the 2013 Dream Up Festival. To Dream of Trees is an imaginative piece of storytelling set in an apocalyptic world.

THE CONNECTOR, a world-premiere of a new play by Tim Murray, will be presented as part of the Dream Up Festival at Theater for the New City, August 18th-26th, 2013.

Theater for the New City's award-winning Street Theater Company opens its 37th annual tour today, August 3 with 'Sanitation, or Off the Grid,' a rip-roaring musical which will tour City streets, parks and playgrounds throughout the five boroughs through September 15. The production, free to all New Yorkers, will have book, lyrics and direction by Crystal Field and musical score composed by Joseph Vernon Banks. (Schedule follows at bottom of this document.)

CONCRETE TIMBRE & D'MOISELLES in association with the Paris-based La Compagnie Cosmopolite du Pierrot Lunaire, and Theater for the New City, Crystal Field (Artistic Director) are pleased to announce the world premiere production of COQ TÔT, directed by Sylvaine Hinglais, Manuela Lechler, Jasmina Sinanovic, and Ann Warren. COQ TÔT will play a one week limited engagement at the Theater for New City (155 First Avenue, NYC), as part of the Dream Up Festival. Performances begin Wednesday, August 21.

Theater for the New City and Crystal Field, Artistic Director are pleased to announce the world premiere production of Gaspare DiBlasi's 'L'Chayim', directed by Jesse Marchese (Assistant to the Artistic Director of Off-Broadway's award-winning Mint Theater Company) as part of their 2013 Dream Up Festival. Both artists are returning to both TNC and the Dream Up Festival after last year's sold-out production of DiBlasi's '50 Things I Love About Frank'. L'Chayim will play a limited engagement at Theater for the New City, 155 1st Avenue (Between 9th and 10th Streets). New York, New York, 10003. Performances begin Wednesday, August 21 and continue through Sunday, August 25.

JULIAN & ROMERO, a world-premiere play by Alex Perez, will be presented as part of the Dream Up Festival at Theater for the New City, September 3rd -September 8th , 2013. The show's website is: www.dreamupfestival.org/julianromero.html

From August 18 to September 8, 2013 Theater for the New City (TNC), under the direction of Crystal Field, Artistic Director, will present its fourth 'Dream Up Festival,' a festival of adventurous theater featuring new works from across the country and abroad. Curated by the theater's Literary Manager, Michael Scott-Price, the festival offers 24 plays, of which 23 are world premieres and one is an American premiere.