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Welcome to 99 AND UNDER THE RADAR: A LOOK AT INDIE THEATER'S MOVERS AND SHAKERS, BroadwayWorld's new weekly series that showcases standout productions and production companies from the independent theater scene in New York City. Each week, independent producer Michael Roderick will be discussing the latest goings on in the theatrical wings, highlighting those with potentially bright futures.
This Week's Topic: ITG goes I.T. and Celebrates the Last Day on Earth
Impetuous Theater Group has previously been featured as one of the 10 to watch in 2010 and in the next two months, there will be a lot to watch. Coming off of the very successful run of Crystal Skillman's The Vigil or The Guided Cradle, the team at Impetuous has three upcoming events that are truly unique and one in particular organized by their company manager that could easily make the argument that their hearts are even bigger than their enormous talent.
First up is a very clever idea for a fundraiser. From the press release: "Were you a Donkey Kong champion in your youth? Did you stay up late playing Mike Tyson's Punch Out, Contra, Tetris, or Paper Boy on Nintendo? Here is your chance to get your nerd groove going and help us raise a little money to produce the kickass, laugh out loud show HACK! an I.T. Spaghetti Western by Crystal Skillman opening June 10 at the Brick." In a completely original move the company is hosting a video game night at the very popular Barcade. This a group that knows how to party and always throws great events, so it is definitely worth checking out. Ticket info can be found here. The show that the team is producing was a hit in the Vampire Cowboy's saloon series and has a hilarious premise. From the press release: " When Hedge fund I.T. employees, Cal, Dash, and Jay, discover that they've been hacked - and that the hack is one of them - they scramble to pin it on each other to snag the gold in this ultimate showdown of the Good, the Bad and the Geek. The production, will be part of the Brick's Too Soon Festival, yet another brilliant festival idea from the Brick that asked writers to deal with topics that addressed the idea of talking about something too soon after it has happened. One show in the festival takes shots at J.D. Salinger, while others tackle topics that most playwrights wouldn't touch right now. For more info about the festival and about Hack, check out the Brick's info page here.
Finally, Impetuous company manager Janet Zarecor is doing something that is amazing. Rather than celebrating her birthday in the traditional way, Janet decided to do something very different. From her letter: "So I hate birthdays. I always have as long as I remember. Not because the year passes and you get older. That I welcome. Youth is wasted often on silly things. I hate them because it tends to be a let down.As another year approaches, I thought about perhaps just letting it slide and not doing the obligatory bar night. Maybe no one would notice. To run away to another city and avoid it all together. I always work so hard to make it fun, it ends up being a ton of work and I don't enjoy myself. This year I think I will do something different. The work I will do anyway, due to a personality handed to me by genes, will be put to good use and I will pull out not only enjoyment but satisfaction as I pee away hard earned dollars with my dearest friends. Last year, I lost a man. He died at 40. He was one of my first friends in New York. He had been a rock during my divorce. He had guided me through many a dark place. He made me laugh. He made me question everything. He instilled in me to never give up. He pushed all my buttons, to make me better. He gave everything he had to everything he believed in. He would often text me during his bad trials with chemo that he wanted nothing else than to be at my shows, and that he loved me.This birthday, I want to give back in his memory. I want to host an evening of short plays with the following theme: Last Day on Earth." Over the month of April she amassed a large number of submissions and the event has come to fruition. All proceeds from this event will go to the What would Billy Do? Foundation and it promises to be an evening that will be a monument to this great man who inspired this Indie Artist. It's sure to be an inspirational and amazing evening and more info can be found here.
Impetuous is a groundbreaking company in many ways, from the fundraisers they create, to the shows they choose to do, to the incredible character of company members like Janet and the causes she supports. They are certainly ones to watch, but also ones who deserve the support of the Indie Theatre community. For those reading this that haven't seen their work. It's time.
