IS THIS A ROOM Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 9/23/21 at 12:43am

The new play Is This a Room begins previews at the Lyceum Theatre tomorrow night, prior to an October 11 official opening. The six-person cast is led by Emily Davis in her Broadway debut; the play is written and directed by Tina Satter. It is currently set to play a limited engagement through January 16.

“It’s 2017. Air Force intelligence specialist Reality Winner has just been surprised at home by the FBI. She’s accused and charged with leaking evidence of Russian interference in U.S. elections. Her interrogation gets brought to life on stage in Is This a Room, conceived and directed by Obie Award winner Tina Satter.” 

Who’s going?

[kwoc91]

Posted: 9/23/21 at 9:55am

My office is super close to the Lyceum so I'll probably check it out one night after work. I can't imagine it will be hard to get a ticket for this, considering the general state of affairs for plays at the moment. 

I'll probably also see Dana H, which is alternating performances with Is This a Room at the Lyceum.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 9/23/21 at 10:33am

To be honest, I saw this thread, and thought "they're reviving that vibrator play"? That's a good 'ol Broadway welcome.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 9/24/21 at 9:58pm

Did anyone go to first preview tonight (besides Jordan Catalano, who did not post on this thread)?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/24/21 at 10:15pm

Like i said in the other thread, some powerful stuff on that stage that only that good because of the stellar work Emily Davis is doing.

As much as I enjoyed I’ll say again that what’s on the stage doesn’t really warrant the ticket price and I think that’s a fair criticism. If this and the other one (both one hour shows) ran together it would make much more sense. Having them done on two separate nights makes zero sense to me.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/24/21 at 10:34pm

I do wonder how they'll do it via set and stuff? 

And I agree, why not make it an EVENT and have both shows? 

[kwoc91]

Posted: 9/28/21 at 8:59am

I just noticed on the Telecharge page that they are doing a $35 in-person rush for this show. I'll swing by next week and grab a ticket!

[JBroadway]

Posted: 9/28/21 at 10:14am

RippedMan said: "I do wonder how they'll do it via set and stuff?"

 

Don't underestimate tech crews! :) 

As you probably know, there’s a long history in the theatre world of shows that primarily operate on a repertory schedule, and that continues to this day – especially in Europe. It’s a little mind-boggling that repertory companies rotate between different sets several times a week, but as with all things on the tech side of theatre, it comes down to a combination of hard-working tech crews, and clever short-cuts to help the process go more smoothly (such as building the sets strategically to make them easier to disassemble and transport)

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 9/28/21 at 10:16am

Will probably be grabbing a rush tickets for this! I missed it when it was off Broadway and have regretted it ever since.

[gibsons2]

Posted: 9/28/21 at 10:23am

chrishuyen said: "Will probably be grabbing a rush tickets for this! I missed it when it was off Broadway and have regretted it ever since."

Please report on what seats you get with a rush ticket

[GoodThingGoing3]

Posted: 9/28/21 at 9:37pm

Grabbed a rush ticket (front row center mezz) around noon today for this evening's performance. I really enjoyed it! It's a very captivating story with some thrilling performances (especially from Emily Davis) and excellent staging. I do agree that it would make a lot more sense to have both plays in one evening, but I felt fine paying the $35 rush price for tonight.

[raddersons]

Posted: 9/29/21 at 10:29pm

Considering I felt the buzz around this play was that it was a “must see”, I really didn’t get it. The verbatim aspect was extremely well done, but mixed with a blank stage and the occasionally surreal staging … it was just a total disconnect for me. Good work, yes. Tense, sure, at times. But groundbreaking? I don’t know about that.

If you do go, I think it would help to read up a little bit about Reality Winner (whose name I truly can’t believe is real). With portions of the transcript redacted, I was left wondering more about the specifics during the show and got a little frustrated with that as well.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 9/29/21 at 11:33pm

Is it just a lip sync?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/29/21 at 11:37pm

No, that’s “Dana H.”

[InTheBathroom1]

Posted: 9/30/21 at 10:55am

This really knocked me out! What a tense, gripping, and emotional ride.  Incredible performances, especially from Emily Davis.  Can't believe one of the most exciting plays I've seen in recent memory isn't even really a play at all.  My jaw is still on the floor and I'm so happy to see this after missing it Off-Broadway.

Do agree that it's hard to justify Broadway ticket prices for such a short play.  A two-hander might be better, but also an intense night to be sure.  I rushed at 10:30 yesterday and got a seat that was front row center.  Pretty dead in the theatre which makes me sad, but I understand this is a hard sell.

[chuckydisc]

Posted: 10/11/21 at 7:50pm

InTheBathroom1 said: "I rushed at 10:30 yesterday and got a seat that was front row center. Pretty dead in the theatre which makes me sad, but I understand this is a hard sell."

So that's one front row Orchestra to go along with a front row Mezzanine from a few days earlier. Any other Rush seat info out there?   Thanks!

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 10/20/21 at 9:30pm

Emily Davis is giving a fantastic performance.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 10/20/21 at 11:22pm

I heard the performance today had 200 people in attendence, what a mess