Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Flying to Martha's Vineyard....
What a great way to travel to the Vineyard....no traffic, no waiting in the car for hours, no ferry. Just 30 minutes in the air and you are there. Leaving Boston...
The views are spectacular...
A few months ago Matt Wilkas invited me to come to the Vineyard and see the premiere reading of his new play "Big Babies". He had been invited to be a part of the Vineyard Arts Project and ArtFarm Enterprises collaboration called "New Writers, New Plays".
The Arts Project property in Edgartown was beautiful and Matt was fortunate to stay there for a couple of weeks along with two other playwrights and work on his play.
The cast included Lucas Papaelias, Jenn Harris, Daiva Deupree, Phillip Taratula, and Mike Doyle...
The production was directed by Martha Banta. Big Babies is a comedy about a surrogate mother who can't stop getting pregnant for people, a gay couple trying to have a baby, a plastic surgery addict, and the one thing they all have in common...
I loved the play. It is funny and tells a good story. But I never like to just take my word for it, here is a quote from the Vineyard Arts Facebook page from someone who saw a performance: "I SAW 'BIG BABIES" THIS AFTERNOON AT THE VINEYARD ARTS PROJECT,NEW WRITERS,NEW PLAYS. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EVENT. I WAS HARD PRESSED TO REMEMBER THAT IT WAS NOT A FULL PRODUCTION. THE WRITING, THE ACTING AND THE DIRECTING WAS WONDERFUL. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE HEARD SUCH VOLUMES OF LAUGHTER."
Drama was represented by the play "Disgraced" by Ayad Akhtar and directed by Will Frears. When Amir Randawa—an affluent Muslim-American lawyer married to the gorgeous (and white) Nicole—finds out that he’s been passed up at his law firm for a partnership he’s long been expecting, the wheels come off.
I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire second act of this very intense drama. I was also astonished to learn that this was Ayad's first play! Extremely intense. It took me awhile to process all the feelings that the dialog aroused in me when it was over.
The Musical play was "Witness: Uganda". Book and lyrics by Matt Gould and directed by Griffin Mathews. In the summer of 2005, Griffin Matthews traveled to Uganda to volunteer at a village orphanage. During his six-week journey, he stumbled upon a group of orphaned teenagers living in squalor and decided to help find sponsors for their educations. The book is based on Griffin's true experience and the story by itself is inspiring. Add Matt's beautiful music and you have something truly magical.
The singing by Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette Robinson was pure joy to listen to. This play has already been commissioned to play in Los Angeles next year by Steven Schwartz of Wicked and Pippin fame.
On my last night there was a party at a beautiful ocean front home for everyone involved. Here is a picture of the whole crew...
Who wouldn't have a good time with such handsome escorts as Matt and Travis...
Here is a view of Menemsha harbor where Captain Quint set out to do battle with Jaws...
I love the bike ferry....
And this was the view from my lunch table....
Thanks so much, Matt. I'll never forget this special time.
The cast included Lucas Papaelias, Jenn Harris, Daiva Deupree, Phillip Taratula, and Mike Doyle...
I loved the play. It is funny and tells a good story. But I never like to just take my word for it, here is a quote from the Vineyard Arts Facebook page from someone who saw a performance: "I SAW 'BIG BABIES" THIS AFTERNOON AT THE VINEYARD ARTS PROJECT,NEW WRITERS,NEW PLAYS. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EVENT. I WAS HARD PRESSED TO REMEMBER THAT IT WAS NOT A FULL PRODUCTION. THE WRITING, THE ACTING AND THE DIRECTING WAS WONDERFUL. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE HEARD SUCH VOLUMES OF LAUGHTER."
Drama was represented by the play "Disgraced" by Ayad Akhtar and directed by Will Frears. When Amir Randawa—an affluent Muslim-American lawyer married to the gorgeous (and white) Nicole—finds out that he’s been passed up at his law firm for a partnership he’s long been expecting, the wheels come off.
I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire second act of this very intense drama. I was also astonished to learn that this was Ayad's first play! Extremely intense. It took me awhile to process all the feelings that the dialog aroused in me when it was over.
The Musical play was "Witness: Uganda". Book and lyrics by Matt Gould and directed by Griffin Mathews. In the summer of 2005, Griffin Matthews traveled to Uganda to volunteer at a village orphanage. During his six-week journey, he stumbled upon a group of orphaned teenagers living in squalor and decided to help find sponsors for their educations. The book is based on Griffin's true experience and the story by itself is inspiring. Add Matt's beautiful music and you have something truly magical.
The singing by Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette Robinson was pure joy to listen to. This play has already been commissioned to play in Los Angeles next year by Steven Schwartz of Wicked and Pippin fame.
On my last night there was a party at a beautiful ocean front home for everyone involved. Here is a picture of the whole crew...
I also did some touring around this beautiful island. It was my first trip so I wanted to just soak up some of the atmosphere. Matt took me to see the 'campground' in Oak Bluff which is full of colorful Victorian cottages. He had already picked out "The Countess Cottage"....
Countess Bedelia 7/06/2010 10:01:00 PM