There is incredible artistry in well recited Shakespeare. His words have stood the test of tune for centuries and when brilliant performers breathe life into them, there is little work in the English language that can rival them in poetry and power.

For his review of Shakespearean monologues and sonnets, Shakespeare Under the Moon, James Jennings at the American Theatre of Actors has assembled a fine team of Shakespearean performers. The team of ten performers consists of Amber Brookes, Jane Culley, Courtney Everette, Sam Hardy, Alan Hasnas, Karolina Larion, Monica Blaze Leavitt, Dustin Pazar, Jeremy Rafal, and Jake Smith. The evening consisted of each actor performing several monologues from Shakespeare’s plays and a sonnet. Most of the monologues came from the tragedies (there were four from Macbeth), but there were a few comedic pieces as well. Each actor got to play a dynamic range over the course of the evening. The incredible ensemble rose to the challenge spectacularly and with full gusto.

The monologues and poems selected for performance were all wonderful pieces from some of Shakespeare’s finest works, some incredibly famous and well known and others a little less. Most were great tragic monologues, often reflecting on or relating to death, but there were notable outliers which occasionally made it feel like an overarching theme for the selection might have been nice. But Shakespeare himself was a master of comedic relief. There were a few times some of the monologues felt like some of the gesturing was overacted, going too big is both hard to do and a common problem when performing Shakespeare. But as a whole, the performances were captivating, dynamic, and engaging. They captured the best of the passion Shakespeare is capable of.

There is no design team credited, but the backdrop for these performances in the Cullum Theater at the ATA was beautifully lit in blues and pinks with fairy lights along the sides of the stage. Fitting given the title.

From a director and a company that has produced so much of Shakespeare’s work, Shakespeare Under the Moon is a fitting tribute to one of history’s greatest playwrights.

The Memory Of — performing TUESDAY 4/23 @ 6:30 pm; THURSDAY 4/25 @ 6:30 pm; SATURDAY 4/27 @ 3:30 pm at the WILD PROJECT, 195 E 3rd St, New York City, as part of the Fresh Fruit Festival 2024. All seats: $23. Single Events or Build Your Own Schedule of Shows. Ticket Available HERE. Contact info@jaymichaelsarts.com for further details. 

Directed by Alysia Homminga, Rachel Schulte’s dramedy is about found families, and the important role they play in the lives of queer people.

The Memory Of follows the story of Renee, a young artist struggling to overcome personal trauma and the grief of losing a loved one. The family of friends she has built in New York, along with the sister who raised her, continue to try to navigate how to help her as she spirals. All the while, Renee and the others are coming to terms with the ever-changing relationships in their lives.

Throughout the play, we shift between memories of the past and present day, weaving in and out as thought and reality fight for dominance in Renee’s life.

Which is which? And will she realize the truth before it’s too late?

PLEASE NOTE: TRIGGER WARNING — Suicide, Grief, Mental Illness, Emotional Abuse

The vibrant cast includes Nikki Lyn Neuror (Billions, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Hunter Hopkins Dunn, Ria Meer, JulieThaxter-Gourlay (Law and Order: SVU), Tricia Mancuso Parks (Blacklist, Law and Order: SVU), Heather Abrado, Michael Thibeault, Russ Cusick (Law & Order, Wurtzle Brothers), and Julia Baker. Allison Hohman serves as stage manager.

Director Alysia Homminga has done extensive work in new work development in New York with credits that include Theater for the New City, The Tank, Gallery Players, and The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute.

Writer-actor-singer, Rachel Schulte, along with Julie Thaxter-Gourlay, founded The Lipstick Project, one of the producing entities of The Memory Of.

TLP strives to promote women and queer folks in the arts.

The Fresh Fruit Festival was the creation of two long established LGBT community arts groups: New Village Productions: and All Out Arts. Now the festival is presented by All Out Arts to celebrate the LGBTQ community’s unique perspective, creativity & diversity – local, national, and international – and as of two years ago – on stage, on film, and on the air.

The New York Institution, The Drama Book Shop, in association with Jay Michaels Global Communications presents a series of events featuring new theatrical literary works by authors and playwrights. Some deeply moving, some clever and witty, some downright funny, but all are geared to bring to light the power of the American theatre to a new and appreciative audience.

The Drama Book Shop is located at 266 West 39th Street New York City
Visit their website to reserve a seat at any and all events
Most events are FREE with the purchase of the spotlighted book. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at rsvp@dramabookshop.com. Your Eventbrite ticket is your reservation for the event.

Tuesday, March 26
Brainteasers For Broadway Geniuses with Peter Filichia
Test your Broadway Brain with these Broadway Brainteasers

Tuesday, April 2
Second Edition- The Professional Actor’s Handbook: This second edition teaches updated strategies for today’s industry.

Tuesday, April 9
Zaglada: A Conversation with Richard Vetere: A conversation with Richard Vetere, author of Zaglada.

Tuesday, April 16
The Girls from Golden to Gilmore: A Signing and Talkback: A signing and talkback with author Stan Zimmerman and Marissa Jaret Winokur.

Tuesday, April 23
Piper Chen Sings- A Conversation With Phillipa Soo and Maris Pasquale Doran: An empowering story about a girl who turns her performance jitters into confidence when faced with singing a solo at her school concert.

Thursday, May 2
God, Sex, and Musical Theatre with Kristin Hanggi: Meditations for Unlocking the Powerful Self

Tuesday, May 14
My Sister: How One Sibling’s Transition Changed Us Both: A powerful memoir by two sisters about transitioning, family, and the path to self-realization.

Tuesday, May 21
Thrill Maker- A Conversation with Stephen Dolginoff: Stephen Dolginoff’s “Thrill Maker” unveils 30 years of tales behind his true-crime musical “Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story.”

Tuesday, June 4
The Perfect Story- With Karen Eber
Karen Eber offers storytelling tips from “The Perfect Story,” focusing on delivery’s impact and crafting compelling narratives.

Tuesday, July 16
Acting Professionally: The Essential Guide for the Actor

The Central Park Café is bringing the finest in New York cabaret to their restaurant across the street from Carnegie Hall. les chanteuses de cabaret featuring Meg Flather, Karen Mack, Rosemary Loar and Tracy Stark will be presented in an inaugural event produced by Marcello Rollando & Jay Michaels

The event will take place on Saturday Night, March 9 at 7:00 p.m.

Sidney Myer, a legendary figure in Cabaret, told the NewYork Times recently, “Cabaret has always offered performers an opportunity tobe themselves… In cabaret, it’s all your vision, your dream. Barbra Streisandwas a cabaret star before she was a star in movies or theater.”

With that in mind, the Central Park Café has brought together legendary names from the New York cabaret scene and Broadway to launchits new venue. Each a visionary performer with a story, a vision, a dream.

Maestra Tracy Stark, a definitive name in the cabaret world brught together for this event three of the genre’s most visisble names. Meg Flather, Karen Mack, and Broadway alum, Rosemary Loar.

Chatting with cabaret personality, MEG FLATHER, one can see firsthand what a celebrity does. In the same breath as sharing that she is an award-winning singer, songwriter, recording artist, and  cabaret artist, she shared that she is also a brand ambassador for StriVectin skincare having appeared – over the years – on all home shopping networks in North America and Australia as an expert in skincare sales. But she then gracefully segued into how her music compositions have been part of [not only] film and theatre but also on behalf of HIV/AIDS, 9/11, Alzheimer’s, Autism, suicide awareness, political activism, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

A real celebrity gives back, and Meg certainly has.

“While attending TISH/NYU my classmate, Christian Daizey, asked if I wanted to work on a “cabaret act,” Ms. Flather reminisced, “I had no idea what that was, but I trusted him.”

After a year of preparation and a few open mics (including Ye Olde Tripple Inn), she stepped into the historic original Duplex and auditioned for Mark Alan. Her first show was called “Leather & Flather” premiering at the Duplex in 1985.

“I never looked back. I was hooked! I am forever thankful for Christian’s push.”

We sat down with Ms. Flather and picked her brain about her career, inspirations, and the industry.  

Who or what inspires you?

What inspires me is when an artist gets out of the way, allows us to have our own experience, and feel OUR feelings through their performance. When an artist does not indicate, push, or get consumed with their own emotional life, I am inspired. 

What influences your song choices?

I tend to be drawn to story songs; songs that paint pictures of real human experiences. I love songs with specifics, detailed imagery, and well crafted characters. 

Tell us about your original works.

Yes, I was challenged by a very wise woman after one of my shows in the early 1990’s. I had just covered many Joni Mitchell songs and she said, “If you don’t start writing songs yourself, Meg, you will be a very unhappy woman.” Wow. I know! But that was that. I am now in the process of recording my 9th album of original songs. I am proudest of my two songwriting awards, and my United Solo Award for “Best Storytelling Show” for my original musical, “Hold On Tight” which features my songs about caregiving. 

In this post-pandemic cyber obsessed world – what does the future hold for the artform of cabaret?

Like so many of my peers, I am so thankful to sing to and with people again. Period. I have redefined my “grand” goals of 2019. I simply want to create, grow, share, and learn in any room that will have me. During this post-pandemic time, I am just thankful we are all here with any place to gather. So, for me the future of cabaret rests in our ability to be flexible, explore new “rooms,” and remember what the artform is about. 

What’s next for you?

I have begun my “Brick Room Tour” at Don’t Tell Mama’s Brick Room. I am revisiting shows that I performed in the Brick Room over the last nine years. Lennie Watts is my director. Tracy Stark is my musical director. Our next “stop” on our “tour” is on April 21 at 4 pm with “Back When We Were Beautiful.”

Sometimes even when a show is clearly born out of a specific moment in time, a specific movement in the collective culture, the themes it touches on remain eternally relevant. Until Dark is such a piece. While clearly rooted in time in the midst of the Me Too movement, specifically dated as taking place in 2017, its discussions around yes sexual assault and consent but also past trauma and how it continues to impact our lives and how much it shapes our actions and how we take accountability for them is are bigger than one movement.

The script by Federica Borlenghi focuses on three sisters; Cass, Jackie, and Lisa. When one of Cass’ students from the yoga classes she teaches presses criminal charges against her following an incident, Jackie steps forward to act as her attorney. Most of the action takes place in the time leading up to Cass’ trial, an with all three sisters staying in Cass’ apartment, it becomes a breeding ground for tensions and unspoken resentments.

It’s a tightly written show with a fairly short run time that still manages to give a good idea of who these three people are and deliver a lot of information without it ever feeling rushed or cramped. Since much of the show is conversations between characters about past or off stage events, the script ran a risk of falling into telling too much and showing too little. Whether because of Borglenghi’s writing, her staging in her role as the show’s director, compelling performances by the cast, or a combination of the three, watching it never feels like it’s not showing you enough. The descriptions of specific events are appropriately evocative without needing to be overly detailed. The personalities and relationships of these sisters are clear and present.

            As the youngest sister, Lisa, Luísa Galatti brings a frenetic energy that fits the youngest sibling role perfectly. She is caring and hopeful, almost naively so. Giorgia Valenti plays a Jackie who is so used to being the caregiver, the problem solver, and is feeling the weight of years of trying to handle everyone else’s problems. It’s clear that she cares, but it’s also easy to see her exasperation and exhaustion. Rounding out the cast is Maria Müller as Cass. Her performance is incredibly powerful, and she manages to capture a lot of complexity. All three shine in their respective roles.

            The show features set and props by Andrés López-Alicea. For a simple space, López-Alicea added a lot of detail to really create a detailed and fleshed out design that made for a lived-in world. The sound design by Stephanie L. Carlin was simple in that the show had simple needs when it came to diegetic sound, but her music composed for the show to underscore transitions and similar moments added a perfect amount of unease. Adrian Yuen’s lighting design was instrumental in helping shape the space and complimented the set perfectly. The whole design team (including costumes also by Borglenghi) did a great job creating a full and beautiful piece that filled but never felt too large for the venue.

            A complex piece that handles difficult subject matter skillfully and delicately, talking about explanations for behavior without ever making excuses, Until Dark is a powerful show. And it manages to be on in a way that doesn’t lecture the audience or try and hit them over the head with a message. It simply presents three people amid a difficult situation without judgement. That sort of presentation is the best way to create a full picture of a complicated subject. For its compact run time, Until Dark manages to do that quite well.