Compulsion 2011

Opened: February 17, 2011
Closing: March 13, 2011

Compulsion - 2011 - Off-Broadway History , Info & More

Joseph Papp Public Theater/Martinson Hall
425 Lafayette Street New York, NY 10003

It is 1951 and Sid Silver is on a mission to be the guardian of one of the most moving and provocative accounts of the 20th century. Deeply moved by Anne Frank's diary, he is driven to bring her story to the American masses by promoting the book's publication and adapting the diary into a work of theater. Inspired by the story of Meyer Levin, COMPULSION brings playwright Rinne Groff and The Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis (The Ruby Sunrise) together again with a complex and inventive telling that is part historical fiction, part investigation into what makes a man obsess, and part exploration of an untold dimension of Anne Frank's powerful and enduring legacy.

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Review - Compulsion
by Ben Peltz - February 19, 2011

The most touching, delicately nuanced and beautifully realized work in The Public Theater's premiere production of Compulsion is, quite honestly, a wooden performance.   Rinne Groff's fictionalized tale of the Broadway dramatization of Anne Frank's diary begins with a life-sized marionette depicting the young girl, pencil in hand, innocently writing down thoughts that she most likely never dreamed would be so immortalized.  As a voice quotes how the adolescent feels, 'in spite of everything,' Matt Acheson's creation, manuevered by Emily DeCola, Daniel Fay and Eric Wright, moves with remarkably understated detail, her frozen face and stiff body nevertheless communicating heartbreaking sincerity through Anne Frank's words.  Unfortunately the rest of the evening seems freakishly overplayed by comparison.

BWW TV: COMPULSION On Stage at the Public! Opens Tonight, 2/17
by Jessica Lewis - February 17, 2011

The Public Theater began previews Tuesday, February 1 for the world premiere production of Rinne Groff's COMPULSION, directed by Oskar Eustis. The cast features Hannah Cabell, Matte Osian, and Mandy Patinkin, with puppet design and puppetry supervision by Matt Acheson. COMPULSION runs through Sunday, March 13 at The Public Theater (425 Lafayette Street). The official press opening is tonight, February 17. In celebration of the opening, BroadwayWorld brings you a preview of Compulsion on stage below!

Public Theater Adds 2 Performances to COMPULSION
by Nicole Rosky - February 14, 2011

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Interim Executive Director Joey Parnes) has added two additional performances to the world premiere production of Rinne Groff's COMPULSION, directed by Oskar Eustis and featuring Hannah Cabell, Matte Osian and Mandy Patinkin. COMPULSION, which opens on Thursday, February 17 and must close on Sunday, March 13, has added two additional weekend performances on Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5 at 8 p.m. Tickets for the added performances are on sale now at (212) 967-7555 or www.publictheater.org.

Photo Flash: Patinkin, Cabell Lead The Public's COMPULSION
by Gabrielle Sierra - February 9, 2011

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Interim Executive Director Joey Parnes) will begin previews Tuesday, February 1 for the world premiere production of Rinne Groff's COMPULSION, directed by Oskar Eustis.

Photo Flash: Patinkin, Cabell Lead The Public's COMPULSION
by Gabrielle Sierra - February 8, 2011

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Interim Executive Director Joey Parnes) will begin previews Tuesday, February 1 for the world premiere production of Rinne Groff's COMPULSION, directed by Oskar Eustis. The cast features Hannah Cabell, Matte Osian, and Mandy Patinkin, with puppet design and puppetry supervision by Matt Acheson. COMPULSION runs through Sunday, March 13 at The Public Theater (425 Lafayette Street) with an official press opening on Thursday, February 17. Tickets are on sale now.

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Compulsion has had 1 productions including Off-Broadway which opened in 2011.

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