Lori Adams

The Human Terrain System is a military initiative designed to utilize the research capabilities of individuals in areas where there are conflicts in order to forge a better understanding of the population of a region by gathering sociocultural information. For example, the intrepid protagonist of playwright Jennifer Blackmer's work, THE HUMAN TERRAIN, is a civilian anthropologist who's been shipped to Fallujah, Iraq (circa 2007-2008). It's her job to attempt to figure out, through intelligence data drawn from contacts, the issues that are driving the local people to commit acts of aggression directed at each other and the military presence that resides there. But, doing so requires her to gain the trust of individuals while also remaining loyal to her country. It's a fine line and a slippery slope to tread, and this powerful and effective production by Mustard Seed Theatre reveals the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by participants in this program.

The Off-Broadway premiere of Falling will resume performances Saturday evening, November 3rd, following a shut down caused by Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath.

When 18-year-old Josh pulls the string hanging from a box propped up on a shelf in his family's living room, he gets showered with dozens of soft white feathers.  The mile-wide smile and limitlessly joyful expression on his face, and the happy tingle you can imagine must be tickling his body all over, tells you that playing with this homemade toy is something he does frequently to bring him comfort and momentary, completely innocent happiness.

Stephen Sondheim's “Uptown, Downtown,” that axed-from-Follies number about a woman who splits her personality between Schlitz and The Ritz, might well apply to the most recent plays of A.R. Gurney.

Falling, the new play by Deanna Jent, opened last night, Monday, October 15th and began previews for an open-ended run on Thursday, September 27th at the Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Lane, one block south of West 3rd Street, just off Sixth Avenue). BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the big opening night after party below!

Falling opened last night, Monday, October 15th at 7 p.m. The new play by Deanna Jent, began previews for an open-ended run on Thursday, September 27th at the Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Lane, one block south of West 3rd Street, just off Sixth Avenue). BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the first curtain call below!

Falling premieres tonight, Monday, October 15th at 7 p.m. The new play by Deanna Jent, began previews for an open-ended run on Thursday, September 27th at the Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Lane, one block south of West 3rd Street, just off Sixth Avenue). BroadwayWorld brings you video highlights from the production below!

Falling premieres tonight, Monday, October 15th at 7. Terry Schnuck, James & Catherine Berges, Crystal Beuerlein, and Michael & Noemi Neidorff, producers of the new Off-Broadway play, recently announced that they will donate $5 for each full-price ticket purchased for performances in October to Autism Speaks. Falling, the new play by Deanna Jent, began previews for an open-ended run Thursday September 27th at the Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Lane, one block south of West 3rd Street, just off Sixth Avenue).

Producers Terry Schnuck, James & Catherine Berges, Crystal Beuerlein and Michael F. Neidorff will present the Off-Broadway premiere of Falling, the new play by Deanna Jent, that will begin an open-ended run Thursday September 27th at the Minetta Lane Theater (18 Minetta Lane, one block south of West 3rd Street, just off of Sixth Avenue). Opening Night is set for Monday October 15th (7PM). Check out just-released production shots below!

Producers Terry Schnuck, James & Catherine Berges, Crystal Beuerlein and Michael F. Neidorff today announced that they will present the Off-Broadway premiere of Falling, the new play by Deanna Jent, that will begin an open-ended run tonight, September 27th at the Minetta Lane Theater (18 Minetta Lane, one block south of West 3rd Street, just off of Sixth Avenue). Opening Night is set for Monday October 15th (7PM).

Terry Schnuck, James & Catherine Berges, Crystal Beuerlein, and Michael & Noemi Neidorff, producers of the new Off-Broadway play Falling, have announced that they will donate $5 for each full-price ticket purchased for performances in October to Autism Speaks.

Producers Terry Schnuck, James & Catherine Berges, Crystal Beuerlein and Michael F. Neidorff will present the Off-Broadway premiere of Falling, the new play by Deanna Jent, that will begin an open-ended run Thursday September 27th at the Minetta Lane Theater (18 Minetta Lane, one block south of West 3rd Street, just off of Sixth Avenue). Opening Night is set for Monday October 15th (7PM). The marquee just went up at the Minetta Lane Theatre and you can check out a photo below!

Producers Terry Schnuck, James & Catherine Berges, Crystal Beuerlein and Michael F. Neidorff today announced that they will present the Off-Broadway premiere of Falling, the new play by Deanna Jent, that will begin an open-ended run Thursday September 27th at the Minetta Lane Theater (18 Minetta Lane, one block south of West 3rd Street, just off of Sixth Avenue). Opening Night is set for Monday October 15th (7PM).

Playwright Deanna Jent's FALLING is an intriguing piece of theatre, drawing on her own real life experiences caring for a teenager with autism, but creating something wholly original in the process. As the parent of a five year old, there's a frightening aspect to watching this tale unfold, thinking all the while that this could have been something I'd have had to deal with had this specific condition occurred to my own darling little boy. It's a scary thought indeed, and one that constantly cropped up in my head as I watched the story unfold. Would I have had the inner strength necessary to cope with such a problematic situation? Would my marriage have been able to withstand the strain? Mustard Seed Theatre's production raises these questions and more while also managing to entertain and bring a certain degree of good humor to the proceedings as well.

Mustard Seed Theatre's fifth season will open and close with a celebration of New Plays. The world premiere of Falling, by Artistic Director Deanna Jent, will run September 1-11, 2011. Both funny and frightening, the play explores the life of a family caring for an aggressive teen-aged boy with severe autism. Falling will be directed by Lori Adams, who directed Mustard Seed Theatre's acclaimed production of Fires in the Mirror.

Anna-Deveare Smith's play, FIRES IN THE MIRROR, attempts to capture a specific, largely forgotten moment in our history, suspending it in time for a little over an hour, so that it can be properly reflected upon and digested. Though, like life itself, things tend to get a bit untidy in spots, the play ultimately succeeds not by dissecting the logic behind the Crown Heights riots of 1991, but by clarifying the human toll that intolerance extracts from our society. Mustard Seed Theatre's current production is well acted and thoughtfully conceived.

Mustard Seed Theatre presents FIRES IN THE MIRROR by playwright Anna Deavere Smith. The play chronicles the viewpoints of people connected to the Crown Heights, Brooklyn, crisis that occurred in 1991.