A really solid weekend, but truly the best part of the weekend is getting to be in the midst of cool, likeminded friends. You definitely feel that you are surrounded by peers all weekend and that's an unusual thing - since most of the non-humana time of the year, you're working on an individual play or at your own insulated theater.
Disappointingly, I did not get to see Lee's play, great falls but managed to see the rest. I love lee and had a great time working on Lonesome Hollow last year at CATF. I'd be thrilled to work with him again, and hope to read this one.
First play I saw was Becky Shaw with girlfriend rachel's great friend mia and a wonderful cast. David wilson barnes's portrayal of max may have been my favorite at the fest. I thought it was good, mean, delicious nasty fun. Terrific direction from Peter DuBois
I really was entranced by This Beautiful City from the civilians too. (emily ackerman's voice and marsha stephanie blake's preacher speech were not far behind David Wilson Barnes's performance - see above).I know folk said it was too long - and it may be - but I also know that they'll have another year or two to develop it. It will be grand. And it was great to see brad heberlee shine onstage in various roles. Ian brennan is also a crackup.
Kip's work on neighborhood 3 was solid - I saw the show with a bunch of folks at 10am - and that's just crazy. Its about folks getting caught up - literally - in a video game. Thought his set - not sure who designed - was pretty and smart - felt like tetris or rubik's cube pieces.
The mensch - I am a huge fan of carly's and it was great to see her work staged on such a huge showcase of her work. I did a reading of ALL HAIL HURRICANE GORDO at ars nova last year and I was thrilled that she had the opportunity to go to Humana. I think Sean's production was a good demonstration of her intelligence, quirkiness, and humanity. The audience seemed to dig it and I hope it gets a continued life - I know that cleveland playhouse is doing it next. Go menschy!
Michael garces directed a hiphop solo performance piece complete with dance and video doc. The guy - marc bamuthi joseph - is a great performer/dancer/choreographer and I think the audience for the most part connected. I don't think the piece doesn't needed the video/doc that projections.
I've been to Humana three years now. The first was when I directed sharr white's six years. Last year was my first time as a tourist and it was cool. No pressure. Just coming back for fun. Hitting the old stomping grounds: Freddie's dive bar and The Evangelisto Annual Party.
This year a few other tcg/nea recipients went down. I stayed with davis at the brisket smelling galt house. And it was actually pretty darn nice
More to follow, including about the Apprentice show and the ten minute plays.
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