Marina Nebro: Arts and Culture

Sunday, the seventeenth of November, was a jam packed day of volunteering, exploring, and fun. Having recently joined the NYC Jewish Renewal congregation Romemu, my mother has been wanting to get more involved and to meet new people in the community. Together with Muslims Against Hunger, and other initiative groups, we helped make lunches for the homeless and the hungry in NYU’s Hillel Building – the Bronfman Center. Not only was I helping a great cause, I had tons of fun as well! I worked at the salad station, mixing a cauldron sized concoction of shredded lettuce, chickpeas, mangos, raisins, olive oil, and spices. The feeling of the ingredients between my gloved fingers is indescribably amazing! Similar to the feeling of the innards of pumpkins and the mushy-ness of hamburger meat. (more…)

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II are the epitome of classic musical theatre. They wrote and composed countless plays including Oklahoma, The King and I, Cinderella, and The Sound of Music. Among their most popular works is South Pacific, based on a book written by James Michener (the same author of The Source, Hawaii, Alaska, and more). Directed and staged by Charles Repole, the Queens College Drama, Theatre, & Dance Department, as well as the Aaron Copland School of Music, performed a “concert musical” adaptation.

My interpretation of a concert musical is one that puts more focus on the musical talent of the pit orchestra and actors, more so than the story and set. Sometimes, the entire production will simply be performances of important songs from the original, but very often the actors still follow the script in some manner. Starring George Dvorsky (Emile) and Siri Howard (Nellie), guests artists who also happen to be Broadway actors, the QC production was more of the latter. The set reminded one of the forested wilderness of South Pacific islands, and the costumes were ’40s and Navy inspired as the story takes place during World War II.

(more…)

I may frequent theatre and music concerts often, but dance performances are definitely a rarity in my cultural portfolio – ballets especially. In the past, I have seen Swan Lake, Sylvia, and Les Ballets Trocadero de Monte Carlo. I enjoyed all of these performances, but Matthew Bourne’s rendition of Sleeping Beauty at New York City Center was by far my favorite. Was it the costumes, the make-up, the wigs, the dancing, the dancers, the music, the set, the lighting, the puppetry, or something else that made this production so special? I believe it was the story.

(more…)

I first want to apologize for the lack of content as of late on Marina Nebro: Arts and Culture. My second year of college is off to a slow start in terms of my cultural endeavors, but I’m sure it will start picking up in no time! Let’s get on to the good stuff, shall we?!?!

Mostly drawn to the Roundabout Theatre Company’s play by its title, Joshua Harmon’s Bad Jews pleasantly surprised me as a moving and meaningful piece of theatre. With the death of Poppy, the patriarch of the Feygenbaum family, his grandchildren come together to celebrate his life and mourn his death. Diana/Daphna (Tracee Chimo) has returned home from college at Vassar for the funeral and is staying with her cousin Jonah (Philip Ettinger) for the time being at his New York City apartment. It seems like these cousins are complete opposites. As Jonah plays video games and keeps to himself, Daphna just doesn’t stop talking! She reflects on her life at Vassar, and her relationship with her family, especially her late grandfather. All she wants, she says, is his chai necklace – an important family heirloom with a lot of religious and sentimental significance. Will Liam let me have it, she asks? Jonah’s brother Liam (Michael Zegen) neglected to make his way to the funeral due to a ski trip he was on with his (non-Jewish, shicksa) girlfriend. An absolute disgrace, according to Daphna! This only proves that the chai truly belongs to her. For a translation, chai means “life” in Hebrew. (more…)

If you asked me about Romeo and Juliet prior to this summer, I would have told you all that I know about it: the play is by Shakespeare and I haven’t looked at it or thought about it since 9th grade when I read it for English class. But now, nearing the end of the summer, I have tons more to say! For one thing, I worked run-crew at Flushing Town Hall for Ralph Carhart’s Queens College production of the play. I interacted with the actors, the people back stage, and the audience throughout my week-long experience. Many of the lines, repeated over and over through rehearsals, got stuck in my head. I was so very used to the way the actors portrayed their characters, how Romeo (Thomas Stagnitta) was so gloomy and love struck, how the nurse (Nikki Daddiego) was impossibly funny with her accent and mannerisms (in this production, the Montagues and Capulets were distinguished by being Israeli Jews and Palestinian Muslims respectively). This all changed when I went to see Romeo and Juliet on Broadway, featuring Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad (a racial take on the star-crossed lovers).

There is absolutely no need for a synopsis of the play. Even those who have never seen a production of it have seen an adaptation of some sort – West Side Story being a popular one. Any tale of two lovers from feuding families or social circles originates from R and J! But how did this production, directed by David Leveaux, differ from all of these other adaptations? Let’s find out! (more…)

A model is to an artist as an actor is to an audience. Is this an accurate analogy? Through her monologue, nude model Beth (Harmony Stempel) explores the relationship between artist and muse – and perhaps in connection, the relationship between audience and performer. Are the latter of each pair undervalued, or are they admired and appreciated for what they bring to theatre and art? (more…)

There was no moment throughout the entire production of Unlock’d at the Duke on 42nd Street that I wasn’t smiling. Whether it was the beautiful music, the colorful costumes, the creative set, the excited musicians, the funny story, or the cute fairytale, it was impossible to wipe a grin off of my face! The audience was equally as giddy with happiness, as the actors danced, walked, and tally-ho’d across the set. The Prospect Theatre Company and writers Sam Carner and Derek Gregor could not have picked a better cast, a better story, a better venue, or a better anything! I literally have no bad words to say about my musical experience last night.

(more…)

Zangara, Byck, Moore, Booth, Oswald, Czolgosz, Guiteau, Hinckley, Fromme

Lee Harvey Oswald and John Wilkes Booth are two infamous assassins in history that I think every student has learned about, but who knew there were so many other people who tried to kill presidents in the past two-hundred plus years? Charles Guiteau (assassinated Garfield), Leon Czolgosz (assassinated McKinley), Giuseppe Zangara (attempted FDR), Samuel Byck (attempted Nixon), John Hinckley (attempted Reagan), Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme (attempted Ford), and Sarah Jane Moore (attempted Ford) are an additional six murderers (or “wannabe” murderers) that I learned about last night. John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln are part of what I would call the “Well Known Presidents Club.” For this reason, their assassins are also well known. Garfield was killed before he could celebrate his one-year presidential anniversary, and for some reason, McKinley doesn’t ring a bell for most people – hence, Guiteau and Czolgosz are not common household names. And for everyone else? They failed to kill their presidential target, so unless you lived through the event, you won’t remember them. (more…)

Please click here to listen to the overture as you read my review.

I’m not much of a ballet goer, and the performances that I have had the fortune to see are all similar in one way: their plot. The story always involves some sort of magical or supernatural element: witches, Greek gods, nymphs, you name it! At first, this doesn’t make for an easy understanding of what’s going on. You should have seen my mother trying to decipher the dance as she read the synopsis in the Playbill! But as the production progressed, I believe the story line was easy to follow and quite enjoyable. (more…)

If you want to read about a funny, quirky, and meaningful new musical, then you’ve come to the right place! Second Stage Theatre presents: Nobody Loves You! This is my second time frequenting this cozy and quaint performance space, thanks to Alyssa Blumenthal, an intern for the theatre company.

Meet Jeff (Bryan Fenkart), an average guy pouring his heart and soul into his philosophy (ontology) dissertation at the expense of his relationship with girlfriend, Tanya (Leslie Kritzer). (more…)

“I fled before it was over but if you want witnesses then I am one and I can tell you now, when you say that he redeemed the world, I will say that it was not worth it. It was not worth it.”

The Testament of Mary, written by Colm Tóibín and directed by Deborah Warner, is not a religious play. Outside the Walter Kerr Theatre on the first night, there were protests against its “anti-Christian” messages. I also am pretty sure that during the show, a woman walked out – now, was it because of the sacrilegiousness of it? I’m not sure, but I decided to put that story on the exiting woman.

(more…)

In the words of Aziz Ansari, stand up is a form of art. I agree, ’cause I sure as hell couldn’t do it! That being said, it’s a very different art than I’ve been exposed to. Sure, I’ve watched Larry the Cable Guy on Comedy Central, or Joan Rivers in her documentary, but I’ve never actually gone to see a comedian live. To be honest, I was a bit nervous. What if I didn’t find the jokes funny? I mean, it’s very often that I select Comedy Central Stand Up on demand and am quite disappointed with my choice. I’m glad to say, sitting in ROW C at Colden Auditorium, I really did enjoy the show. (more…)

I had no idea that the song Comedy Tonight was from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum! All I remember about this Stephen Sondheim musical is that it was once performed at Great Neck North High School, and being young, my impression of my future high school was that it was not best known for its theatrical talents – at least it couldn’t compare to “Theatre South” on the opposite end of town. But enough reminiscing! I am much older now and can appreciate a performance for what it is, and I must say, I really enjoyed Queens College’s production.

The time is two hundred years before the Christian era, a day in spring. The place is a street in Rome in front of the houses of Lycus, Erronius, and Senex. (more…)

If only this was the last blog post of the semester, I would have come full circle as my second post this year was about the Queens College Drama Department’s production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. But alas, this is not my last blog for you all to read before May 25th (when I move out of my dorm). That being said, seeing Macbeth yet again has made me realize that it has been the only Shakespeare production I’ve ever seen, and THREE TIMES at that!

I thought that since I’ve already written about the basic plot of “The Scottish Play,” and because it’s easy enough to google “Synopsis of Macbeth,” I’d focus more on this specific National Theatre of Scotland’s production featuring the talent of Alan Cumming. (more…)

Happy Passover, Easter, and vacation to all! It has not been much of a break for me, though, as I have been working really hard on various aspects of my blog, particularly my theatre vault page. One thing I have not done, however, is posted in a while! This break has found me at home rather than on campus, and because of this, I haven’t been exposed to as many events as usual – not to mention I doubt there was anything happening in Queens this past week anyhow! But, yesterday I was fortunate enough to venture into the city with my mother to see a lovely play called The Trip to Bountiful, starring Cicely Tyson, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Vanessa Williams. (more…)