Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" by New York Classical Theatre

“Well, heaven forgive him! and forgive us all!
Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall” 

~William Shakespeare, "Measure for Measure"

 

Here are some reportage drawings from this summer's staging of "Measure for Measure" by New York Classical Theater at the Battery Park. This is their 16th season, and if you haven't been lucky yet to catch one of their performances (which are free to attend, and take place in Manhattan and Brooklyn parks), the best way to describe them is to quote The New York Times: "a movable feast! All the park's a stage!"

In New York Classical Theater's panoramic productions,  the audience is prompted to get up and follow actors to a new location  about every 10 minutes or so. It's such a fun way of experiencing classical plays! The actors are hysterical, the costumes are beautiful, and Shakespeare is...timeless.

Check out upcoming performances on New York Classical Theater's site.

 

“Our doubts are traitors and make us loose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt"

~William Shakespeare, "Measure for Measure"

 

“ Music oft hath such a charm
To make bad good, and good provoke to harm."

~William Shakespeare, "Measure for Measure"

 

 

Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" by New York Classical Theatre

 

“ There's small choice in rotten apples"

~William Shakespeare, "The Taming of the Shrew" 

  “I see a woman may be made a fool,
If she had not a spirit to resist.”  

~William Shakespeare, "The Taming of the Shrew"

 

 

 

   “Sit by my side, and let the world slip: we shall ne'er be younger.” 

~William Shakespeare, "The Taming of the Shrew"

 

 

  “No profit grows where is no pleasure ta'en”  

~William Shakespeare, "The Taming of the Shrew"

 

 

Here are reportage drawings from this summer's staging of "The Taming of the Shrew" by New York Classical Theater in Prospect Park and Central Park. This is their 16th season, and if you haven't been lucky yet to catch one of their performances (which are free to attend, and take place in Manhattan and Brooklyn parks), the best way to describe them is to quote The New York Times: "a movable feast! All the park's a stage!"

In New York Classical Theater's panoramic productions, the audience is prompted to get up and follow actors to a new location  about every 10 minutes or so. It's such a fun way of experiencing classical plays! The actors are hysterical, the costumes are beautiful, and Shakespeare is...timeless.

Check out upcoming performances on New York Classical Theater's site.

 

 

 

"The Winter's Tale" by New York Classical Theatre

Mairin Lee as Hermione and Brad Fraizer as Leontes

Here are my (way overdue) summer reportage drawings of The Winter's Tale production by the amazing New York Classical Theatre, directed by Stephen Burdman. The main theme of this Shakespearian comedy (which, to me, felt more like a tragedy 'till the last act) is marital fidelity, devastating power of jealousy, forgiveness and Time.

I attended performances in both Battery and Brooklyn Bridge parks. Each park transforms the play. Battery park feels much more intimate, in contrast with the magnitude of Manhattan skyline in Brooklyn Bridge Park. What a luxury it is to attend awesome off-Broadway productions on summer nights,  for free, outdoors, in some of the most beautiful parks in New York...and be able to see it again, as long as it doesn't rain! If you're not familiar with the panoramic nature of New York Classical theater, here's one of the latest reviews.

The Winter's Tale was the second production of New York Classical's 17th summer season, the first being  A Midsummer Night's Dream (drawings here). I look forward to the 18th season, wondering what kind of magic Stephen Burdman, theatre's Artistic Director, is preparing for us next.

p.s. Check out this fantastic illustrated synopsis of the Battery Park staging by my friend, artist Evan Turk! 

Sunset in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brad Fraizer as Leontes, Peyton Lusk as Mamillius, David Heron as Polixenes (foreground)

Leontes and Paulina

Brad Fraizer as Leontes and Lisa Tharps as Paulina

John Michalski as Camillo

Leontes:

“Is whispering nothing?
Is leaning cheek to cheek? Is meeting noses?
Kissing with inside lip? Stopping the career
Of laughter with a sigh?- a note infallible
Of breaking honesty. Horsing foot on foot?
Skulking in corners? Wishing clocks more swift;
Hours, minutes; noon, midnight? And all eyes
Blind with the pin and web but theirs, theirs only,
That would unseen be wicked - is this nothing?
Why, then the world and all that's in't is nothing;
The covering sky is nothing; Bohemia nothing;
My is nothing; nor nothing have these nothings,
If this be nothing.”

Leontes, torn by jealousy

Leontes, Camillo and Polixenes

Peyton Lusk as Time

Mark August as Autolycus

Mark August as Autolycus and Ian Gould as Shepherd

Paulina, Hermione and Leontes

John Michalski as Camillo

Mark August as Autolycus

Shakespeare's "As You Like It" by New York Classical Theater

“All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players"

The magnificent New York Classical panoramic theater celebrates 15h anniversary summer season with the staging of William Shakespeare's "As You Like It", directed by Stephen Burdman.  I attended a couple of their performances, first in Central Park and then in Battery Park. It's been so fun to draw the actors and to follow them from scene to scene, as they prompt the sometimes unsuspecting audience that it's time to get up and move to a new location. That's what "panoramic theater" is all about: the action happens practically in the audience, and the park's beautiful landscape becomes the stage set. It's only so appropriate for "As You Like It", because most of the play is set inside the Forest of Ardenne. The powerful energy of the actors keeps me coming back year after year-I can't get enough of drawing their movement, expressions and emotions.  New York Classical theater delivers free public performances all over New York, and most of their funding comes from donations. Please spread the word about them, like them on Facebook, and attend their amazing free stagings of the best classical masterpieces. No ticket needed-just show up. Congratulations on the 15th anniversary, and cheers to many more!

Crowds gathering in front of Castle Clinton in Battery Park, NYC

First scene in Battery Park

Rosalind, with cousin Celia, being banished by Duke Frederick.

Duke Frederick on why he's banishing Rosalind from his court: " Thou art thy father's daughter, there's enough." Celia is terrified. 

Rosalind, disguised as a young man, in the Forest of Ardenne.

Rosalind, Touchstone and the shepherd

This very young actor, who played the old faithful servant Adam, practically stole the show. His name is Jackson Demott Hill. It was very sweet to meet his grandmother on one of the nights I was drawing at the Battery Park. She proudly told me that's her grandson out there. This brilliant casting decision me think of Shakespeare's words:  "An old man is twice a child."

Orlando and Jaques

Celia, Orlando and Rosalind in disguise

Celia

Touchstone: “The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.”

Phoebe and Charles

Touchstone and Audrey

Rosalind: “Men are April when they woo, December when they wed...”

Orlando, Rosalind and Celia

Orlando

Rosalind to Orlando: "“Do you not know I am a woman? When I think, I must speak.”

Adam and Orlando

Adam: “You and you are sure together,
As the winter to foul weather.”

“Love is merely a madness.”

Chekhov's "The Seagull" by New York Classical Theater

Masha and the audience in Central Park.

New York Classical Theater's 14th season is in full swing. I loved their performance of The Seagull by Anton Chekhov in Central Park, and later attended the Brooklyn premiere in Prospect Park. As a Brooklynite who lives close to the Park, I'm beyond thrilled that they came to Brooklyn. Welcome!

Panoramic nature of New York Classical stagings means the audience gets up every 10-15 minutes and moves to a new location, as actors change scenes. I've been following this theater for a few years now. One noticeable trend from year to year is that the audiences grow in numbers. It's no wonder, really: these actors put on masterful performances of some of the best classics out there (Shakespeare, Moliere, Chekhov.) The plays are brilliantly directed by Stephen Burdman with plenty of humour and dynamism. He baffles me with his ability to deliver most convoluted storylines with grace and simplicity, The Seagull being his latest feat. Plus, the actors exert super-powerful energy. Clearly, they love what they do. And there's beautiful costumes. Did I mention it's free to the public? Seems like New York's best kept secret is finally leaking out...

Wonderful NYTimes reviews help spread the word, too...

Don't miss their next set of stagings. This time, it's Shakespeare's The Tempest (Directed by Sean Hagerty) in Battery Park, July-August. See you there!

Masha & Semyon Semyonovich

Pyotr Nikolayevich Sorin

Nina and Trigorin

Trigorin and Nina

Pyotr Nikolayevich Sorin

Kostya & Pyotr Nikolayevich Sorin

Irina Nikolayevna & Trigorin

Trigorin & Irina Nikolayevna 

Nina & Trigorin

Yevgeny Sergeyevich Dorn

Masha, Paulina Andreyevna & Yevgeny Sergeyevich Dorn

Pyotr Nikolayevich & Polina Andreyevna

Kostya, Irina Nikolayevna & Pyotr Nikolayevich