Review: Wowed by the Workshop Theater in NYC

This time of year faithful pilgrims travel to Bethlehem. I recently made a journey to a special birthplace, too: The Workshop Theater on West 36th Street where new American plays and musicals are born. Founded in 1994 as an informal artistic collective, the company has since grown, and its venue has improved, but it's fundamental purpose is the same: to support the rigorous development and production of new theatrical works. It's a dynamic place!

Their ongoing Sundays@Six program in The Jewel Box Theater (as opposed to their larger Main Stage) is free to the public and requires no tickets or reservations. Those engaging evenings typically consist of a table read of a work-in-progress by a company playwright, followed by a moderated talk back session in which everyone present is encouraged to ask questions and/or weigh in. This candid dialogue provides valuable feedback for the playwright, while at the same time providing audience members the unique opportunity to see and participate in the creative development process. Some great works have come out of this company. Most notable, perhaps, was Allan Knee's play "THE MAN WHO WAS PETER PAN" which was later adapted into the Oscar winning film "FINDING NEVERLAND."

Though Sundays@Six is focused primarily on new works in progress, Artistic Director Thomas Coté explained that they make occasional departures from this format, as they did on Sunday, December 20th when I was there. That night company actors read an established play: Tom Cole's MEDAL OF HONOR RAG.

That poignant one-act drama, set in 1971, is based on the true story of Dwight Johnson, a young black man who grew up in a housing project in Detroit, went to fight in Vietnam, was awarded the Medal of Honor, and battled severe PTSD.

This superbly cast reading featured founding member, Charles E. Gerber as the Doctor, Workshop Theater student, Zack Banks, as Dale Jackson (D.J.), and J. Warren Weber as the Hospital M.P. Stage directions were read by Donte' Bonner.

It was inspiring to watch these skilled actors bring this intensely-focused one act to life. Though they remained seated in chairs, scripts in hand, and were dressed in street clothes, the presentation was compelling and believable. Under the expert direction of Tom Herman, their performances were fine-tuned and scaled precisely for the intimate venue.

Sitting near these actors made their tension more visceral, their revelations more disquieting, and their pain more palpable.

No staging needed.

Pairing material this good with characters that richly inhabited made for magic energy. A lot happened in that hour, and I felt more like a fly on the wall in the psychiatric unit of a VA Hospital than an audience member.

Whether you live in the New York metro area or plan to visit, these free Sunday evening programs at 312 W 36 Street, (between 8th and 9th) provide a phenomenal opportunity to immerse yourself in good theater. There is no reserved seating, and the Jewel Box is small, so arrive early to claim your seat. The Workshop Theater also offers main stage productions, a variety of classes, and a other professional creative opportunities. Everyone I met there was welcoming. Go if you possibly can!

For more information, visit www.workshoptheater.org

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