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Andre Royo in Audible Theater's production of "Drinking in America," written by Eric Bogosian and directed by Mark Armstrong. Off-Broadway / Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Lane, NYC). Photo (c) Jeremy Daniel
Off Broadway
Victoria L. Dammer

Drinking in America at the Minetta Lane Theater

Royo delivered a resounding performance, transforming into over 12 characters experiencing the stages of alcoholism and its effects on each character’s interaction with himself and others. At times, it’s hard to tell who Man is, as his toxic masculinity dominates and elevates with the abuse of alcohol.

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In a scene of The Conductor at The Theater for the New City. Above: Brian Simmons as Warren Chipp. Below: Imran Javaid as Shashi Parmar. Photo by Jonathan Slaff.
Off Broadway
Edward A Kliszus

The Conductor at the Theater for the New City

The Conductor celebrated emotionally charged discourse governed by mutual respect, intellectual rigor, and passionate argument without the hostility, recriminations, and violence sometimes seen in today’s national debate. As with any well-crafted, intellectually fueled discourse, Reed’s work evoked exciting questions and ideas for viewers desiring continued debate.

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Britt Genelin as Catherine in a scene from Washington Square. Photo by Pavel Antonov
Off Broadway
Edward A Kliszus

Washington Square at the Axis Theatre

The cast, setting, dramatization, and well-crafted script evoked yearning, hope, sadness, heartache, and disillusionment. Sharp’s adaptation explored family, love, and social status themes as Catherine navigated whether to follow her heart or obey her father’s wishes. The audience was inexorably drawn into a story conveyed through a 90-minute production in a seemingly virtual moment.

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L-R Andy De La Cruz,Ricky O.I. and Cotton Wood in Cold Feet, A Comedy Extravanganza. Photo credit Stephen Panos
Off Broadway
Edward A Kliszus

Cold Feet, A Comedy Extravaganza

From the onset, Cold Feet was saucy with an eccentric style of humor, bizarre characters like Shelly the orangutan with her goofy grunts and screams, and off-the-wall skits. Laughs were guaranteed through the sequences of impudence, knee-slapping silliness, physical comedy, parody, surrealism, and wordplay.

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Hyun Ju Baek performs her play "Han!" directed by Thomas Richards at La MaMa (The Downstairs). Photo by Jonathan Slaff
Off Broadway
Edward A Kliszus

Han! by Theatre No Theatre at La MaMa

The well-crafted descriptive language in Han! was fundamental to creating vivid and evocative imagery that transported viewers to other times, places, and states of mind. Through rich sensory details, figurative language, dance, movement, and expression, Hyun Ju Baek created a virtual, tangible, and intangible world, drawing the audience into her vision while inviting them to experience it uniquely.

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A Scene from Kissing the Floor with Christina Bennett Lind (Annie) and Leon Ingulsrud (Paul). Photo by Russ Rowland
Off Broadway
Edward A Kliszus

Kissing the Floor at Theater Row

Kissing the Floor was a well-conceived, powerful dramatization akin to the legendary “sins of the father,” ably expressing the overpowering tragedies of Antigone brought to life in the demise of a family during the Great Depression. It is a profound exploration of human nature, grief, and the destructive consequences of–so many things.

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A scene from Who Murdered Love? L-R: John David West, Jef Canter, Rori Nogee, Sage Buchalter, William Vraderick, Louisa Bradshaw. Photo by Jonathan Slaff
Off Broadway
Edward A Kliszus

Who Murdered Love?

Who Murdered Love was a musical comedy extraordinaire At the Theater for the New City. The scene for fun was set as DaDa Love (Elyp Johnson), and the cast sang Mad for Love. This setting projected a mysterious pallor tempered by the comedic references to DaDaism, which had emerged in the early 20th century in reaction to the Great War. We were set to embrace chaos, satire, parody, collage, and streams of consciousness. We were not disappointed.

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The Village! 2023. Photo by Peter Yesley
Off Broadway
Edward A Kliszus

The Village! A Disco Daydream at Dixon Place

Tonight’s Disco Daydream was an immersive fun-fete celebrating the universal quest for elusive love and where it might be found. The cast touched hearts and drew inspiration from an empathetic audience that sighed at hints of romance, camaraderie, and reminiscences of disco’s glory days. The music never stopped in this story of love and tragedy as it unfolded through incredible dance routines, driving music, humor, charm, and physicality.

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Shedding Load. From 59e59.org
Off Broadway
Edward A Kliszus

Shedding Load at 59E59

Shedding Load represented an exciting portent of American theater. It garnered an intense attraction to those who understand and appreciate the vitality and expressive power of dramatic arts. This art form makes us empathize, hurt, care, reflect, and remember.

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