Our amazing puppet-theatre creatin' friends at Concrete Temple Theatre are remounting one of the most visually stunning shows, early in September, at the Secret Theatre, Long Island City. Go see this (all info below) and then go see our hot In/Out Festival Presentation the following week. Totally different pieces on a similar topic: technology versus the imagination:
Concrete Temple Theatre
presents
Bird Machine
Limited Engagement!
OPENS Thursday, September 9th at 7PM
Closes Saturday, September 11th.
PERFORMANCES
Thursday, September 9th;
Friday, September 10th,
Saturday, September 11th
at 7 PM & 9 PM
at The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd Street, #104, Long Island City, NY
New York-based multi-disciplinary theatre ensemble Concrete Temple Theatre proudly presents its multimedia, puppetry-driven allegory: Bird Machine. Developed through workshops and support from The Jerome Foundation, The Jim Henson Foundation, St. Ann’s Puppet Lab, Workspace for Choreographers, Ensemble Studio Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Science & Technology Project Commission, DCA, NYSCA, and chashama, this critically-acclaimed encore presentation will be staged as a limited 6-show run in early September.
Using a visceral mixture of object art, choreography, and puppets -- from the creation of the play's whimsical environment/landscape, to enchanting rod puppets birds, to imaginative shadow sequences and projections -- Bird Machine is a play about technology, a contemporary fable that explores the desire to live beyond human limitations. Part one reveals: Leo, the dreamer, obsessed with flying; Vince, the realist, trying to control his world through miniaturization; and their Emperor, who destroys Leo and his flying machine, out of fear that others will use the technology to destroy the city walls. In part two, Vince vindicates Leo’s murder by turning his miniature garden into a larger-than-life garden, to lure and trap the Emperor.
Audiences of Bird Machine will experience two distinctive worlds and technologies. The beginning of piece depicts a world that is pastoral, with mechanics that are primitive and simple: a bird flaps across stage then soars overhead. As Vince dreams, his desk transforms into the city of the Emperor and the People. Part two is a puppet-driven environment--however, projections, shadows and multimedia are used to introduce the invasion of contemporary technology in Vince and Leo’s world.
Bird Machine is a co-creation of veteran theatre creators and Concrete Temple co-heads Renee Philippi and Carlo Adinolfi. Carlo Adinolfi designs sets & puppets; Renee Philippi directs. David Pinkard is composer and sound designer for the through-composed piece. Renée Molina designs lights. Casey McLain is stage manager. Cast includes: Carlo Adinolfi, Brian Carson, Ayako Dean, Christopher Hurt**, Sook Kim, Zdenko Slobodnik, and Stacey Weingarten.
Bird Machine runs for a strictly limited engagement, opening Thursday, September 9th at 7 PM and closing Saturday, September 11th. PERFORMANCES are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 PM & 9 PM, at The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd Street, #104, Long Island City, NY. The show is appropriate for all ages. Tickets are $18; $12 for students w/valid id. Purchase tix online: http://www.secrettheatre.com or at box office. For info: www.ConcreteTempleTheatre.com, 212/598-9135. Closest subways: 7 to 45th Rd/Courthouse or E,V, & G to 23rd St./Ely. Close to N, W, & R trains at Queensboro Plaza.
**Appearing Courtesy of Actors’ Equity.
