At one moment or another we’ve all told ourselves the following: I’m an outcast.  No one likes me. I feel ugly.  I feel weird.  If you’re looking for a little Schadenfreude this weekend, come check out Bat Boy at PW.  This funny and touching musical, directed by Alex Ostroff ’14, follows the journey of a boy (half bat, half human) as he tries to become an accepted member of society. The show is fast-paced with catchy songs and more costume changes then one person can fathom.

Be warned that what seems like a silly story about a bat boy finding his way in a misguided rancher town on a mountain is actually loaded with serious messages. However, these are easily passed with a tall glass of fake blood with a side of humor and absurdity. When asked what he wants the audience to walk away with, Ostroff said, “There are a lot of ‘morals’ in the show, and we’ve talked about some of them as a cast, but I’d have a hard time choosing one that is most important.”  Set in West Virginia, this show questions Christianity, modern science, and how much freedom you should give children. The black cage-like set, designed by Becca Balton ’14, allows the actors to amazingly transform it: Whether it’s a living room, slaughterhouse, cave, or a forest filled with talking animals, the energy and dedication of the actors fills the space and transports you. [Read more →]

If you went to high school in an English-speaking country, chances are you were forced to read  “Romeo and Juliet” at one point or another. If you haven’t read it, you’re at least somewhat familiar with one of the many great stage and screen adaptations of the play. Regardless of your previous exposure to Shakespeare’s work, you should make it to the Downspace this weekend to see PW’s production of “Romeo and Juliet.”

With a strong ensemble cast, and some interesting interpretations and directorial choices (for instance, turning ballroom scene into a pseudo-Renaissance rave with some comically raunchy dancing, a pretty homoerotic rendition of Mercutio and Benvolio’s relationship, and a mix of modern formal and punk costuming), “Romeo and Juliet” makes the difficult Shakespearean language come together in a relatable way and successfully tells the story of two young people in love under unfortunate circumstances. The earnestness, energy, and relatability of the performances, injected with humor at the right moments, makes the play both accessible and enjoyable.

The show begins with plumes of smoke covering the stage as Mercutio (Kerry Hall ’13) steps out and delivers the opening lines of the play’s prologue. The rest of the cast gradually joins him on stage, each beginning the prologue themselves as they enter. Their voices come together to form an entrancing, loud mesh that propels the play into action.

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This weekend, escape into the twisted logic of the underworld with PW’s March show Goose and Tomtom – or as I like to call it, WWE Smackdown in the Downspace. Goose and Tomtom tells the story of how these two friends react to the theft of Tomtom’s girlfriend’s prized jewels and diamonds. However, what might seem like a common story about two thieves turns into a complex study of power and social dynamics.

Once you give in to the play’s bizarre world and unique language, director Jenny Gorelick ’14 takes you on a funny and crazy ride. With the help of talented stunt choreographer Trevor Olds ’14, this show uses physical humor and fight scenes more than any other production I’ve ever seen at Brown. Gorelick steps beyond the text and has directed an interpretation of the show that takes advantage of every potential moment of comedy. As director, she has created a mix of gripping scenes and high action moments that are sure to grab your attention.

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To everyone that slept through too many of Prof. Hayden’s 9 a.m. Abnormal Psychology classes, Next to Normal is here to refresh your memory. Zach Rufa ’14 has taken on the daunting task of directing this Pulitzer Prize-winning musical about a woman suffering from bipolar disorder. This show examines the toll mental illness can take on a family. Rufa does a nice job of handling such challenging material with support from his talented cast and crew.

A small cast of characters keeps the show moving with their powerful vocal talent. Emily Kassie ’14, who plays the bipolar mother, captures the complexity and conflict of someone who can’t comprehend reality. Although Kassie is half her character’s age, her presence and commitment to every moment combats this and is really the backbone of the show. Sarah Gage ‘15 plays the family’s daughter and stuns with her emotional variability and belting abilities. Similarly, Alex Ostroff ’14, Gavin Kramar ’15, and Elias Spector-Zabuksy ’15 all hold their own against these two talented women who control the world of Next to Normal. [Read more →]

You’re handed your program for The Old Queen and enter PW’s Upspace to find Anna Muselmann ’14 facing away from you seated on a crate. Her hands rest gracefully on her knees. A small potted flower and a pair of green worker’s rain boots rest on either side of her. The room is quiet and peaceful. But as the lights dim, this solid and calm image turns into a dark and haunted glimpse into the imprisoned power Muselmann and director Ari Rodriguez ’13 have captured together.

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Longing for the old country? Wish you could have studied abroad in Prague? Missed your cousin’s wedding because of an exam? Well then you will love PW’s production of “The Golem… or Get These Nazis Out of My Wedding” written and directed by Phoebe Nir ’14. This show is more fun than my bat mitzvah, granted I’m not Jewish, but now I wish I were.

Set in 1938 Prague, Nir’s interactive play transports the audience to a secret Jewish wedding after the Nazis have invaded and outlawed any such ceremony. A smart mix of written material, improv, and audience participation creates the unexpectedly wild and comedic ride through romance, secrecy, and Nazi violations. I don’t want to ruin the many surprises Phoebe has in store, but be ready to eat, dance, and be merry—oy vey, someone is getting married, remember!

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“It’s the little things you do together, that make perfect relationships,” sings Alexis Shusterman ’13 as the jaded and boozy Joanne, and though she’s crooning sarcastically about the creeping and crippling frustrations of marriage, she might as well be referring to the fascinating relationships among the characters in PW’s production of Company premiering tonight in the Downspace.

Relationships stand at the center of this swanky metropolitan 1970s musical, and the care with which each actor has taken in crafting his/her character and creating the unique and captivating relationships with every member of the cast pulls the audience in from the moment the lights go up.

With brides conflicted about an impending wedding, housewives contemplating the philosophy of marriage while smoking pot, flight attendents grappling with one-night stands, or a young man facing a life of perpetual bachelor-dom, Company is jam-packed with complex mature relationships expertly acted by the ensemble cast. [Read more →]

The wise sage Jason Mraz once said, “The sophomore slump is an uphill battle.” Sure, it may seem that way, but we’re here to make that hill a little less daunting. Introducing The Anti-Slump, a new series that gives you the motivation to win that uphill battle. So flock to us whenever you feel the slump creeping up on you — we’ll be here every other week with another helpful piece of guidance or generally inspirational tid-bits to help you shake up your sophomore year.

The myth of the sophomore slump is real. But it doesn’t have to be. Sophomore year is a time when academics get more serious, things get familiar enough for you to breathe, and a lowly second-year realizes how much of Brown there is left to discover. But sophomore year is all about motivating yourself — and that’s where we come in — because there’s no one else that’s going to force you to. At this stage in the game there are no Meikeljohns, First-Year Seminars or unit meetings, but there are still so many questions left unanswered.

To start you off, here is a lil bucket list that we have compiled, which will help us motivate ourselves, too. We’re setting the bar high and so should you! It’s all about keeping up the ambition. Check it out after the jump.

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Looking for something to do this weekend (…or Monday night)? Look no further! Go see 3c2c, a festival of short student-directed plays produced by Brown’s only completely student run theater group, Production Workshop. 3c2c, which stands for 3 Chairs 2 Cubes, features five fantastically diverse short plays with one common feature: each play must work with an extremely minimal set that consists of a maximum of three chairs and two cubes.

This year’s short plays are “This is a Fish,” written and directed by Ari Rodiguez ’13, “Tea & Cakes,” written by Madeleine Heil ’13 and directed by Rebecca Maxfield ’13, “Shining Armor,” written by Simon Henriquez ’15 and directed by Evan Silver ’16, “About Circles,” written by Eli Petzold ’14 and directed by Alice Preminger ’14, and “Five Incarnations of King Midas as He Attempts to Right His Wrongs,” written by Thom Finley ’14 and directed by Emma Johnson ’14.

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Have you ever looked at a painting and wanted to know the story of the painter or the people in it? If your answer is “Yes!” or “Duh, I’m an art history major,” then seeing MF’s current production of Sunday in the Park with George is the perfect way to spend your weekend.

Sunday in the Park with George, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, takes the audience straight into 1884 France as crazed painter Georges Seurat works on “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” This work, pictured above, is done in Seurat’s complex pointilistic style (aka all tiny dots). The first act of the musical focuses on Seurat and the many people in the park — including his love interest Dot and their dysfunctional affair.  Then the second act jumps to the 1980s where Seurat’s alleged great-grandson is putting on an art exhibit of his own. Sunday focuses on what it means to be an artist, what it means to see light and beauty in unseen places, and how to keep moving on in an ever-changing world. [Read more →]