Review: IDEATION at 59E59 Theaters is Captivating

"Laugh about it, cry about it, a job is still a job."

-IDEATION

IDEATION, a dynamic piece of modern theater, is now onstage at 59E59 Street Theatres through April 17th. This thought provoking play features an excellent cast and terrific staging. Written by Aaron Loeb and directed by Josh Costello, metropolitan area audiences will want to see this show. It is a timely, wonderfully crafted play that is both insightful and humorous.

IDEATION is set in a conference room where a small team of expert corporate consultants set out to collaborate on a mysterious and ethically ambiguous mission, Project Senna. Hannah is the executive who is overseeing the group that includes an intern, Scooter and industry experts, Sandeep, Brock and Ted. The team ideates a logistical support plan for infected people in the event of a cataclysmic viral outbreak. They must ready a detailed proposal for their CEO, J.D. Moral dilemmas arise along with personal conflicts. As tensions mount, the group even becomes suspicious about the true reason for the assignment and wonder if they are a part of a larger covert mission. The spirit of leadership and teamwork goes awry as an overwhelming sense of paranoia leads to total chaos. When the deadline for the formal presentation looms large, the team puts the "blame game" into play.

Each member of the cast of IDEATION strikes just the right tenor between the serious nature of their characters and their hilarious, unpredictable foibles. The fast-paced dialogue is delivered seamlessly by the talented troupe. The cast includes Ben Euphrat as Scooter; Jason Kapoor as Sandeep; Carrie Paff as Hannah; Mark Anderson Phillips as Brock; Michael Ray Wisley as Ted; Brian Dykstra as J.D (voiceover) and Joe Estlack as the understudy.

The Creative Team has done a fantastic job of bringing IDEATION to the 59E59 Theaters with costume design by Abra Berman, set design by Bill English, lighting design by Gertjan Houben, sound design by Theodore J.H. Hulsker and properties and set dressing by Jacqueline Scott. The Stage Manager is Courteney Lynn Leggett, Assistant Stage Manager is Joe Estlack and the casting is by Lauren English.

You will be captivated by every moment of IDEATION. It is a show you will be thinking about long after the curtain call. Get your tickets now.

Produced by San Francisco Playhouse, IDEATION has performances through April 17. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7 PM; Friday at 8 PM; Saturday at 2 PM & 8 PM; and Sunday at 3 PM. The show runs 90 minutes with no intermission. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Single tickets are $70 ($49 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org.

Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg

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