The Arts Thrive all over NYC & our Students are in them!

With the visual and performing arts at our disposal, of course many of us will go and venture into any venue that will allow us the opportunity to quench our thirst. New York has so many theatre and dance companies, that at any time one can come across an off-Broadway or off-off Broadway production. And though Lincoln Center houses such a huge portion of the performing arts, one can go to a local playhouse anywhere in the city and find a more affordable entrance to an art setting.

As a matter of fact, Rebecca Zoltowski (FCLC '13 Theatre and Visual Arts Double major) and I went to capture some theatre after a long day of work in the city. We attended “12 Incompetent (and Women)” presented by the Fringe Festival at The SoHo Playhouse located at 15 Vandam between Varick Street and Sixth Avenue.

The play consisted of a juror who tries to persuade his fellow jury men (and women) from convicting a man of abducting cats from his neighbor's yard sale. This hilarious play, contains an eclectic group of characters that when placed together create an atmosphere in which their personalities and intentions constantly collide against each other.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the production was the diverse collection of Fordham Alumni from our theatre program in both the cast and the production crew. It was quite in fact a very pleasant surprise to see some many alumni collaborating in an after-Fordham production. To name some of those involved in the cast there were:

Ian Mcwethy (both playwright and actor in the show)
Jessica Howell
Marco Formosa (FCLC ’03)
Amir Wachterman (FCLC ’09)
Josh Lacasse (FCLC ’05)
Chris Bester
Kim Carpenter

The cast had a range of students from recent grads to current students:

The costume designs were made by Cassie Foote (FCLC ’10). The sound was designed by Chris Barlow (FCLC ’10), to which he included popular theme sounds of TV programs like Law and Order. Dan Durkin (FCLC ’11), the assistant director is a rising senior director, who will be working on an adaptation of slaughterhouse-five this fall.

In addition some of our other past graduates on the production include:

David Ruttura (Scenic Design/Producer)
Jeff Glaser (Director)
Phil Gutierrez FCLC ’06 (Production Stage Manager)

As a student with a passion for the arts it was completely invigorating to see a performance made by an alumni network from different years. The fact that there is such a strong community even after many years of graduation that collaborated in this project defies any misconception of people not coming together once they’ve left college.

So with that I say Go Fordham Alumni!

For further information on the cast and production go to their website: http://www.12incompetentmen.us/THE_SUMMONS.html

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A few days after I went back to the SoHo Playhouse to visit my good friend Preciosa Sipin (Theatre FCLC ’12) who interns at the SoHo Playhouse and she encouraged me to see a show featured that day called “Naked in a Fishbowl” which by its title drew my immediate attention.

So that very day, I witnessed an additional comedic performance at SoHo unlike anything I had seen before in the stage.

“Naked in a Fishbowl” is practically a one-hour improvised sitcom show based on the lives of four girlfriends in New York City. Every week a new chapter in their story as friends comes to life in front of the audience as an improvised episodic performance.

Like a meet-and-greet between you and your close friends, every Monday-night one can capture an unexpected performance full comedy and dramatic honesty. Though one may not be familiar to these actors or the show’s history (which has been running since 2007 for every season of the fringe festival), the dynamics between friends are universal. So if you casually walk around and stumble upon it, go see it! Or if you happen to set a date with your friends, that’s even better because this is an opportunity in NY theatre not to be missed.

It’s quite hilarious and tender as true friends can be, but with a unique twist to improvised comedy. After the show, I had gone to see the cast and director sat with the audience for an opportunity for to ask questions and come to get to know the show and the actors in the production.

It really is unlike anything else currently on the New York stage. For further information, visit their website http://www.nakedinafishbowl.com/ for clips, episodes, and future ticket information.
And with there goes to show you that the arts are unlimited just explore anywhere in New York City and open yourself to the endless possibilities!