(RE-)Quote of The Day – Howard Thurman

Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” –Howard Thurman ( Via Josh Allen)

Quote of The Day – Stephen Sondheim

“Art is an attempt to bring order out of chaos.” 

Atlantic Theater Company presents Partial Comfort’s Welcome Mat Series 2012

Partial Comfort Productions will present its 8th annual WELCOME MAT READING SERIES of new plays. The four-week series will be staged at Atlantic Theater Company’s Studio Theater (330 W 16th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues) beginning April 16.

 

The schedule for the WELCOME MAT READING SERIES is as follows.

Monday, April 16 @ 7:30 pm
TREVOR
Written by Nick Jones (The Coward, Jollyship the Whiz-Bang, and The Nosemaker’s Apprentice with Rachel Shukert). Directed by Lila Neugebauer (The Aliens – West Coast Premiere, SF Playhouse), Nick Jones‘ Grizzly at Joe’s Pub).

Monday, April 23 @ 7:30 pm
THE OLD MASTERS
Written by Sam Marks (The Old Masters–Steppenwolf’s First Look, The Joke–Studio Dante, Nelson–Partial Comfort). Directed by Daniel Aukin (4000 Miles at Lincoln Center, The Ugly One at Soho Rep and THIS at Center Theatre Group).

Sunday, April 29 @ 7:30 pm
THE WHAT?
Written by Chad Beckim (After., The Maine Play, nami). Directed by Davis McCallum (A Bright New Boise – Drama Desk Nominations for Best Play and Best Director; Upcoming: February House at Public Theater and Sam Hunter’s The Whale at Playwrights Horizons.)

Monday, May 7 @ 7:30 pm
THE MORNING THE SUN FELL DOWN
Written by Jonathan Caren (The Recommendation – Old Globe; 2011-12 Dramatist Guild Fellow, The 2011 New York Stage and Film Founder’s Award Winner; Most Outstanding Play, 2007 New York Fringe Fest for Catch the Fish.) Directed by Mia Rovegno (We Play For The Gods at The Women’s Project; Burnt Umber by Erik Ehn at LaMaMa); Underland by Alexandra Collier (The New Ohio).

Admission is free. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis with no advance reservation required.

Partial Comfort Productions is a collaborative ensemble devoted to the development and presentation of original new theater. The company was co-founded in 2002 by Chad Beckim and Molly Pearson. Past productions include Samuel D. Hunter’s A Bright New Boise (Best of 2010, New York Magazine), Thomas Bradshaw‘s The Bereaved (Best of 2009, Time Out New York), a quartet of acclaimed works by Beckim (After., nami, The Maine Play and …a matter of choice), Ross Maxwell’s Open House (Best Ensemble Award winner at FringeNYC 2006); Craft and Nelson by Sam Marks; Kidstuff by Edith Freni, Booty Candy by Robert O’Hara; and Play by OHara, Chay Yew, Kia Corthron, Eddie Sanchez, Keith Adkins and Tracey Scott Wilson.

For more information visit www.partialcomfort.org.
Read more: http://offbroadway.broadwayworld.com/article/Atlantic-Theater-Company-Presents-Partial-Comforts-WELCOME-MAT-READING-SERIES-416-507-20120403#ixzz1rHrfZX6R

San Diego Uptown News – The Recommendation Review

Latest review for The Recommendation. 

Brandon Gill in The Recommendation at The Old Globe

 

 

The Recommendation at The Old Globe – Critics Choice

THE CRITICS RECOMMEND THE RECOMMENDATION!

Evan Todd and Brandon Gil in The Recommendation

(2/5/12) • The world premiere of The Recommendation is enthusiastically recommended by audiences and critics alike! Don’t miss out on this exciting new play now playing at The Old Globe through Feb. 26!

CRITIC’S CHOICE!
“A rousing ‘Recommendation’… This is one show about connections that really does connect.”
U-T SAN DIEGO

CRITICS CHOICE!
“Here’s a recommendation for you:  Don’t miss Jonathan Caren’s whip-smart, shape shifting The Recommendation.
It’s one of the best new plays I’ve seen in years.”
NORTH COUNTY TIMES

“Tautly written, imaginatively directed and exquisitely acted, it’s a chilling, often thrilling piece of theater.”
KSDS JAZZ 88

“The production, directed by the fast-rising British director Jonathan Mumby on a spare industrial set designed by Alexander Dodge and dynamically lighted by Philip S. Rosenberg, is sleek and vigorous.”
LOS ANGELES TIMES

WOW!
“A terrific world premiere drama that will keep you guessing from its exhilarating start to its suspenseful finish…
A rollercoaster ride of a play, particularly as brought to energetic life by its three sensational stars.”
STAGE SCENE LA

The Best Quote Yet For Reviews: The Recommendation at The Old Globe

“Don’t let friends or other reviews give anything more away. The less you know, the more you’ll delight in Caren’s roller-coaster ride of a play, particularly as brought to energetic life by its three sensational stars.”

The Catch-22 with reviews.  #spoilers.  THANK YOU @Steven Stanley for being the first reviewer to be aware of how sensitive this is.  

Response to Reviews

I’d actually prefer not to read them at all, but in this modern age it’s virtually impossible not to somehow catch a glimpse of them.  I’m not surprised they run the gamut.  There have been some incredibly glowing (and humbling) write-ups by reviewers such as Welton Jones who says, “How can author Jonathan Caren, who just graduated from Juilliard, have gotten this all so right? He senses life’s labyrinths before he can have experienced them and he offers wise observations, if not cautionary guidance, on how best to survive and perhaps flourish.”  All I can say is…. Welton, you get me.  You really, really get me.

And then there’s my favorite, Pam Kragen from the North County Times:  “Here’s a recommendation for you: Don’t miss Jonathan Caren’s whip-smart, shape-shifting “The Recommendation.” It’s one of the best new plays I’ve seen in years.   This is the kind of audience I am writing this play for.  She get’s my characters and the point of the play.

There are more critical reviews, which aim to pick apart at minor plot points or frame their opinions by suggesting the play would be better sans a central character. “ ”Every time they’re on a collision course, a passive, boring narrator sashays in to steal focus and reduce the heat. An otherwise handsome, absorbing production ends up meriting only a qualified recommendation..  All I can say is… I’m not sure I’d personally want to see the kind of play as  Mr. Verini suggested I write it.   (Though I actually appreciate the backhanded compliment he makes comparing my characters to those in The Great Gatsby.)

I can pretty much tell which night a critic has come based on their reviews.   That’s the thing about theater, especially something making it’s world première after a quick rehearsal process.  It’s different every night!  Unfortunately critics can’t be privy to the process, but I appreciate everyone’s opinion.  I hope I have started a dialogue with this play and I am proud to see people leaving the theater talking, debating and reflecting on the subjects.   A lot of the comments have been overwhelmingly positive and supportive.  I appreciate the insights from all angles and  I thank everyone who was willing to come spend the night in the theater with us and for their contribution to the show. That’s all I can ask for. The whole thing has been a blessing.