Blue Wizard/Black Wizard – Location, Tickets Reviews
Blue Wizard/Black Wizard or Black Wizard/Blue Wizard (whichever you prefer) is a new musical from Dave Malloy (the mastermind behind super hit Natasha, Pierre and the Comet of 1812) and Eliza Bent (playwright, The Hotel Colors).
Wizard is a layered rumination on friendships and romantic relationships, the pursuit and abandonment of artistic dreams in a capitalist market, and big moral questions. The characters Blue Wizard and Black Wizard, and their alter egos who toil at a Dunkin’ Donuts, compete to prevent humanity’s inexorable decline towards mediocrity.
If you are not connected to a member of the cast and crew by blood, friendship, or artistic interest then the current iteration of Wizard is probably not for you. Although it has the trappings of an interesting production (talented creative team, quirky concept, and pop culture details), the mix isn’t quite right yet, concurred the New York Times, it “doesn’t yet feel all of a piece.” It drowns under the weight of its own conceit. The story and themes are unnecessarily muddled such that universal ideas become esoteric. It also suffers from technical problems that make it difficult to hear the lyrics over the underlying music track. This wasn’t just a problem at the performance we attended, New York Theatre Review mentioned it in a review based on an earlier performance.
We enjoyed the music and the performances, especially Andy Strain who plays the trombone. We hope this production isn’t the end of this show. It needs some reworking but the seeds of a promising musical are present.
LOCATION
Incubator Arts Project
131 East 10th St, Second Floor (entrance is on the East side of the building)
New York City
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RUNNING TIME
One hour and thirty minutes, no intermission
DATES
Part of the Other Forces 2014 Festival, January 9 – 26, 2014
TICKETS
$36.00 (click to purchase tickets from OvationTix, the official online ticket seller for Black Wizard/Blue Wizard at Incubator Arts Project)
Rush tickets are available at the theater 45 minutes before each performance for $18.00, subject to availability
REVIEWS
Reviews from Other Forces 2014 Festival
NYtheater Now
Black Wizard/Blue Wizard is totally fun to watch, while bringing up gnawing truths about the clash between our ideals and our reality.
Reviews from 1st run at Incubator Arts Project
New York Theatre Review
It’s hard to critique a musical about the encroaching tide of mediocrity. How do we discern the purposefully mediocre from the unintended?
New York Times
Hey, Mediocrity, Two Wizards Want You Gone
Village Voice
Magic Moments: Two Unconventional Musicals Celebrate Love, Doughnuts
CAST & CREW
(partial list)
Text by Eliza Bent (and Dave Malloy)
Music by Dave Malloy (and Eliza Bent)
Directed by Dan Safer
Featuring Eliza Bent, Nikki Calonge, Mikeah Ernest Jennings, Dave Malloy, and Andy Strain on trombone