The New York Innovative Theatre Awards are independent theatre's equivalent to comedy's... [more]

The New York Innovative Theatre Awards are independent theatre's equivalent to comedy's ECNY Awards;
a system for recognizing outstanding work in a field where tireless
toil often goes unremarked.  Though the system is imperfect--awards are
based on the votes of audience members who take the time to log on to
the NYITA site after the play, create an account, and scroll through
the various categories to vote--it's exciting to see buzz around the
community as the season draws to a close.  Follow the jump for the
complete list of nominees--the Stolen Chair Theatre Company, who we've profiled previously, scored two nods for The Accidental Patriot.
Outstanding Ensemble


Tanya Calamoneri, Heather Harpham, Lisa Ramirez, Cassie Terman
Art of Memory, Company SoGoNo


Jessica Burr, Zenzele Cooper, Dave Edson, Jason Griffin, Anna Kepe,
Eunjee Lee, Celli Pitt, Matthew Sincell, Darrell Stokes, Laura Wickens
Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest


Elena Chang, Noshir Dalal, Jon Hoche, Kelley Rae O'Donnell, Melissa
Paladino, Maureen Sebastian, Andrea Marie Smith, Paco Tolson, Temar
Underwood
Fight Girl Battle World, Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company


Michael Crane, Andrew Guilarte, Sanjiv Jhaveri, Rock Kohli, Ramiz Monsef, Gita Reddy, David Sajadi
The Leopard and The Fox, Alter Ego Productions


Danny Ashkenasi, Matt W. Cody, Paul Daily, Tatiana Gomberg, Emily Hartford, Ned Massey
The Night of Nosferatu, Rabbit Hole Ensemble


Joe Basile, Christopher Borg, Jeffrey Cranor, Kevin R. Free, Ryan
Good, Eevin Hartsough, Jacquelyn Landgraf, Sarah Levy, Erica
Livingston, Rob Neill, Joey Rizzolo, Justin Tolley, Jenny Williams Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, New York Neo-Futurists


 

Outstanding Solo Performance

Dana Berger Washing Machine, Fist In The Pocket Theater in association with The Chocolate Factory

Andrea Caban You Got Questions? I Got Answers!, Coyote REP Theatre Company

Taylor Mac The Young Ladies Of..., HERE Arts Center

Petronia Paley On the Way to Timbuktu, Ensemble Studio Theatre

Jonathan Pereira American Cake, Prickly Pear Productions in association with the FRIGID Festival

Melle Powers Whence Came Ye Scarlett O'Hara O'Hanrahan?, 53 Hysterics in association with the FRIGID Festival

 

Outstanding Actor in a Featured Role


Tom Bain The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side, The Amoralists Theatre Company

Jason Griffin Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest

Greg T. Parente Night of Nigro, The Strain Theatre Company

Rob Sheridan The Two Lives of Napoleon Beazley, Incumbo Theater Company

Matthew Sincell Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest

Paco Tolson Fight Girl Battle World, Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company


 

Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role


Britney Burgess Professional Skepticism, Zootopia Theatre Company

Megan Byrne No End of Blame, Potomac Theatre Project

Kaylin Lee Clinton The Round of Pleasure, New Stage Theatre Company

Catherine Correa The Round of Pleasure, New Stage Theatre Company

Tatiana Gomberg The Night of Nosferatu, Rabbit Hole Ensemble

Erica Terpening Night of Nigro, The Strain Theatre Company
 

 

Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role


Michael DiGioia Elizabeth Rex, Nicu's Spoon

Alex Draper No End of Blame, Potomac Theatre Project

Peter Judd You Can't Take It With You, T. Schreiber Studio

Cameron J. Oro The Accidental Patriot: The Lamentable Tragedy
of the Pirate Desmond Connelly, Irish by Birth, English by Blood, and
American by Inclination The Stolen Chair Theatre Company

Maximilian Osinski Cherry Docs, Theatre of the Expendable

Bobby Steggert Yank! A New Musical, The Gallery Players


 

Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role


Abby Baum Triumph of Love, Astoria Performing Arts Center

Stephanie Barton-Farcas Elizabeth Rex, Nicu's Spoon

Laura Heidinger Six Degrees of Separation, The Gallery Players

Lauren Kelston Mill Fire, Retro Productions

Kira Sternbach Gerald's Method, Gallant Arts

Kristen Vaughan Mill Fire, Retro Productions
 

 

Outstanding Choreography/Movement


Julie Atlas Muz The Round of Pleasure, New Stage Theatre Company

Barbara Charlene The Accidental Patriot: The Lamentable
Tragedy of the Pirate Desmond Connelly, Irish by Birth, English by
Blood, and American by Inclination The Stolen Chair Theatre Company

Kelly Hayes Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest

Patrick Hogan & Robert O'Neill EchoLake, Embodiment Productions

Anabella Lenzu & Qui Nguyen (RUS)H, HERE Arts Center

Qui Nguyen Fight Girl Battle World, Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company


 

Outstanding Director


Edward Elefterion The Night of Nosferatu, Rabbit Hole Ensemble

David Gow Cherry Docs, Theatre of the Expendable

Emma Griffin Removable Parts, HERE Arts Center

Richard Romagnoli No End of Blame, Potomac Theatre Project

Robert Ross Parker Fight Girl Battle World, Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company

Damen Scranton Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest


 

Outstanding Lighting Design


Christopher Brown (RUS)H, HERE Arts Center

Deborah Constantine Same Train, Algonquin Theater Productions

Kevin Hardy The Night of Nosferatu, Rabbit Hole Ensemble

Kerrie Lovercheck Mill Fire, Retro Productions

Philip Sandstrom EchoLake, Embodiment Productions

Benjamin C. Tevelow Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest


 

Outstanding Costume Design


Rebecca Cunningham What I Did Last Summer, Retro Productions

Leon Dobkowski The Leopard and The Fox, Alter Ego Productions

Jessica Sofia Mitrani & Ildiko Nemeth The Round of Pleasure, New Stage Theatre Company

Mioko Mochizuki Art of Memory, Company SoGoNo

Bobby Pearce The Chaos Theories, Shotgun Productions in association with The Resistance Theatre Company and MILJam Productions

Jessica Wegener Fight Girl Battle World, Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company


 

Outstanding Set Design


Sean Breault Art of Memory, Company SoGoNo

Jack Cunningham & Rebecca Cunningham Mill Fire, Retro Productions

Michael Kramer Proof, Astoria Performing Arts Center

Michael Kramer Triumph of Love, Astoria Performing Arts Center

Travis McHale The People vs. Mona, Ground Up Productions

Tim McMath Six Degrees of Separation, The Gallery Players

Matt Ward Mary Trilogy, Mir Productions


 

Outstanding Sound Design


Amy Altadonna Mill Fire, Retro Productions

Dan Bianchi The Invisible Man, Radiotheatre

Dan Bianchi The Island of Dr. Moreau, Radiotheatre

Miguel Frasconi Art of Memory, Company SoGoNo

Damen Scranton Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest

Patrick Shearer Fight Girl Battle World, Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company


 

Outstanding Original Music


Dan Bianchi The Invisible Man, Radiotheatre

Dan Bianchi The Island of Dr. Moreau, Radiotheatre

Mark Bruckner Same Train, Algonquin Theater Productions

Larry Lees The Magic of Mrs. Crowling, Royal Circus in association with Horse Trade

Pete Mills The Rockae, Prospect Theater Company

Mitun Sinha The Leopard and The Fox, Alter Ego Productions

Min Xiao-Fen On the Way to Timbuktu, Ensemble Studio Theatre


 

Outstanding Full-Length Script


Bekah Brunstetter You May Go Now, Babel Theatre Project

Qui Nguyen Fight Girl Battle World, Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company

Matthew Opatrny Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest

David Pumo Auntie Mayhem, Gato Flaco Productions and Wings Theatre Company

James Scruggs (RUS)H, HERE Arts Center

Stanton Wood The Night of Nosferatu, Rabbit Hole Ensemble


 

Outstanding Short Script


Andrea Caban You Got Questions? I Got Answers!, Coyote REP Theatre Company

Bronwen Denton-Davis Pealing Figs, Mind The Gap Theatre

Daniel Gallant Gerald's Method, Gallant Arts

Philip Gawthorne Modern Life is Rubbish, Mind The Gap Theatre

Nancy Harris Girl in a Bath, Mind The Gap Theatre

Aliza Shane The Three Sillies, The Looking Glass Theatre

C. Denby Swanson Potato Feast, The Drilling Company


 

Outstanding Performance Art Production


Art of Memory, Company SoGoNo

The Island of Dr. Moreau, Radiotheatre

Removable Parts, HERE Arts Center

Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, New York Neo-Futurists

You Got Questions? I Got Answers!, Coyote REP Theatre Company

The Young Ladies Of..., HERE Arts Center
 

 

Outstanding Production of a Musical


Conjur Woman, LaMaMa Experimental Theater Club

Honor, Prospect Theater Company

The People vs. Mona, Ground Up Productions

The Rockae, Prospect Theater Company

Triumph of Love, Astoria Performing Arts Center

Yank! A New Musical, The Gallery Players


 

Outstanding Production of a Play


Burn, Crave, Hold: The James Wilde Project, Blessed Unrest

The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Hipgnosis Theatre Company

Cherry Docs, Theatre of the Expendable

Fight Girl Battle World, Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company

The Night of Nosferatu, Rabbit Hole Ensemble

No End of Blame, Potomac Theatre Project

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For those of you who aren't in the know (you know who you are), 826NYC is a great workshop... [more]

For those of you who aren't in the know (you know who you are), 826NYC is a great workshop for aspiring filmmakers/writers/film buffs by presenting their work in great forums like the BAM over in Brooklyn.  Said BAM is showing shorts from the 826NYC crew on August 20 at 6:50pm.  Here's the blip:826NYC and BAM present a program of new short films by student
filmmakers for 826NYC's summer workshops. 826NYC offers free writing
programs designed to strengthen a student's power to express ideas as
well as offering filmmaking labs, animation and radio production
classes, and screenwriting workshops. This free screening will feature
some of the new work that students have created. For more information
visit 826NYC.org. [less]

Passing Poston: An American Story, Gold again, and Last Stop for Paul at Two Boots.That... [more]

Passing Poston: An American Story, Gold again, and Last Stop for Paul at Two Boots.That French guy's movie and Baghead are on display at the Angelikas.The Fall and The Visitor at Cinema Village.Lindsay Anderson: Revolutionary Romantic is at the Filmlinc.There's a Patti Smith film, some shirtless Frenchmen, and a giant spider at the Film Forum.There's a whole lotta Arthur-ness at Anthology in the next few days.That French guy's back on the wire, Dennis Hopper rides more motorcycles in Hell Ride, and landmark punk outfit the Germs get their due at Sunshine.Some Azazel Jacobs films are at BAM until Saturday night, as well as a focus showcase on Elliot Gould that runs pretty much runs through the entire month of August. [less]

Starting its run at the IFC Center this week is Beautiful Losers,
a great little... [more]

Starting its run at the IFC Center this week is Beautiful Losers,
a great little film by Aaron Rose and (co-director) Joshua Leonard
about the sub-culture of DIY artists that emerged in the 1990s.
Combining art, music, and film, these street artists tried to reverse
the flow of commercial artistry and make expression as instinctive and
impulsive as possible. The film focuses on said street art artists like
Thomas Campbell, Mike Mills, Cheryl Dunn, Harmony Korine, and Aaron
Rose himself, as well as many others from around this distinctive
community. It's
a great flick that is sure to set some fireworks off in your mind and
make you question why you purchased all of those bastardized Warhol
posters. Beautiful Losers ends its run at IFC
on Thursday the 21st, so make sure you check this one out while it's
still ripe and fresh in one of the best venues for film discovery in
the city. Here's a blurb from the film's website, followed by the trailer:Developing their craft with almost no influence from the
"establishment" art world, this group, and the subcultures they sprang
from, have now become a movement that has been transforming pop
culture. Starring a selection of artists who are considered leaders
within this culture, Beautiful Losers focuses on the telling of
personal stories...speaking to themes of what happens when the outside
becomes "in" as it explores the creative ethos connecting these artists
and today's youth. [less]

An email today from Byron Asher of M34 Productions, who's Be Brave Anna! is currently... [more]

An email today from Byron Asher of M34 Productions, who's Be Brave Anna! is currently generating buzz at the New York International Fringe Festival.  As he describes it:Presented in the 19th century French melodrama style, it is a new
comedy based on the life and times of Anna Nicole Smith.  But this is
not your average run-of-the-mill celebrity farce that is so common in
the Fringe these days.  Our play is a loving and respectful, yet
hilarious, account of a simple woman fallen from innocence.  It follows
the life of our heroine from Texas to Hollywood and on
its way explores what it is to be virtuous in this society driven by
celebrity culture.  "Discover American virtue: trash, glitter,
ambition, and your own series on E! In a world of reality television,
YouTube confessionals, and celebrity worship, what's a girl from Texas
to do?"Mr. Asher portrays J. Howard Marhsall.  Here's a video of the piece from it's inaugural production at Brown University last year: I'm looking forward to checking out this one and so many others in this year's festival.  If you've seen anything and want to recommend, please let us know in the comments! [less]

Now that underground movies are now both outdoors... [more]

Now that underground movies are now both outdoors and viral, Rooftop Films has their own section on IFC.com dedicated to the short films they have/are/will present in their yearly spectacles.  There's a selection of over 100 films to be had at the Rooftop/IFC fork, and it is a great way to see some of the greatness being exhumed at the Rooftop shows.  They add three new films each week, so the rotation is fresh and different with each go-around.  The films range from regular human to experimental to animation, so you'll definitely get some variety with your meal.  If you are reading this post today and decide to check out the site, might I suggest Pumpkin Hell, A Film About Violence, The Morning Sun, and Princess.  The featured one, Polvo, is pretty good too. Also available at said fork, the Rooftop Shorts blog.  Pretty insightful it can be, yes. [less]

Are you a fan of the New York City comedy scene who wishes there was a website that provided beautifully-rendered images... [more]

Are you a fan of the New York City comedy scene who wishes there was a website that provided beautifully-rendered images of the most recent performances from around the scene?If so, then Improv Is Good For You will make your dreams come true, because that is exactly what it provides.  Maintained by Keith Huang, himself a skilled performer, this blog-style running photo album has pics of the previous night's shows posted almost immediately following the conclusion of the performance.  It's a great way to get a feel for the wide variety of styles and personalities on display every night. [less]

Indiewire has a featured article about the recent Animation... [more]

Indiewire has a featured article about the recent Animation Block Party (in conjunction with good ol' Rooftop Films)
event which took place at various points in Brooklyn from July 25th to
July 27th. It seems the party took in record attendance and featured
great live musical performances coupled with lots of beer and sponsored after parties. I love outdoor venues for anything film related, and Mark Rosenberg, along with the others in the Rooftop crew, know exactly how to do it right. Read up on the results here. [less]

Gold, Red 71, and a Late Bloomer at Two Boots.A Madame Kawakita retrospective... [more]

Gold, Red 71, and a Late Bloomer at Two Boots.A Madame Kawakita retrospective is occurring at the Filmlinc.There's Altman mania and a Coney Island tribute at BAM! A Kino International collection can be found at the collection paradise known as Anthology Film Archives!Screw crowded bars, go In Search of A Midnight Kiss at the IFC Center.  You can catch that, as well as the Animation Show, with their filmmakers in person too!It's not really on the weekend, but Thursday is the only night you'll be able to see Days And Clouds at the Quad.Before I Forget, go to Cinema Village.  [less]

We here in New York have the dubious luck of having a local network (channel Thirteen)[more]

We here in New York have the dubious luck of having a local network (channel Thirteen)
that understands the appeal and reach of the independent film market
here in the boroughs. And so, the great tradition of the Reel New York Film Festival
has flavored up this summer and with it comes a great lineup of some
great flicks to catch for free (more or less) on the limitless creative
landscape that is public access television. Known as PBS in some
corners of the nation, Channel Thirteen has become a haven for those of us
who wish to have their grainy, meandering political ravings mixed with
a dash of independent art (there's more of us than you would think).
The selections feature up-and-coming filmmakers throughout the area,
and tackle subject matter that is both relevant and meaningful to those
of us in the NYC jurisdiction. From June 27th to this coming
August 1st, the good people at Thirteen are supplying us with said goodness
and even though the end is near (sorry for the late report), you can
still catch some great films before this unique festival goes the way
of the Dodo (at least until next year). The routine occurs every
Friday at a little passed midnight. This week's edition will feature Sally Gross - The Pleasure of Stillness.
I'm willing to bet that most people my age consider themselves masters
of gaining pleasure from sitting still on their ass and watching
marathons of Lost or playing GTA IV, but there's pleasure in a different kind of stillness for Ms. Gross. She's a dancer/choreographer and Sally Gross... plans to shed some light on her exploits in an "intimate portrait". Following this week will be the August 1 (and therefore, final) edition, which will include films such as Let's Build a Fire, Miriam, and Barbara Leather. Check the programming schedule for more details.Also, do yourself a favor and read up on the films that have been shown already (including my personal faves, Wrigley and Broadway Express). Thirteen's site has information on how to find the films and allows you see a preview of each. Expand your horizons my pretties. [less]

The Queen alumni Stephen Frears and Peter Morgan are at the
Walter Reade Center this August 6th at 8pm for a screening... [more]

The Queen alumni Stephen Frears and Peter Morgan are at the
Walter Reade Center this August 6th at 8pm for a screening of their '03
film, The Deal, courtesy of the Filmlinc.
The film is about the rise of both Tony Blair (the infamous British
Prime Minister) and Gordon Brown (not an infamous British Prime
Minister) as they battle for leadership of the Labour Party.
They will be joined by Film Comment editor Gavin Smith for a discussion about all things Deal, and most likely other things involving non-Deal
issues. I receive most of my knowledge of Britain's politics from this
duo, so I'm sure they can shine some light on those of you who are
checking into a career in gripping and contemporary-based filmmaking (and/or British politics).
Check the Filmlinc site for more details on tickets and scheduling. [less]