Game Play 2013
For the fifth year in a row, The Brick theater combines elements of live performance, video games, and modern technology in Game Play, a cutting-edge summer festival.
From July 5th through 28th, multiple theater companies are bringing their technologically-inspired performance pieces to this small theater in the Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn.
Two shows performed opening weekend showed not only the diversity of the festival productions, but also the enormity of this new approach to performance.
Legendary, Maybe tells stories through video game platforms that include Minecraft, Assassin’s Creed II, Super Mario, and World of Warcraft. Digital puppeteers manipulate the characters from these video games as puppets and piece together coherent, classic stories from the ancient Roman text Ab Urbe Condita. Making the technical elements of the performance even more impressive, all of the digital puppeteers are under the age of 18.
Meanwhile, The Photo Album combines mobile app technology with an immersive theater experience. Audience members are asked in advance to download a mobile app on a smartphone. Then the audience wanders the theater independently scanning photos and hearing stories from actors, learning little by little about a house from its prior tenants. Like many immersive theater experiences, there isn’t really an end to the story (but life can be like that too) and the performance becomes a bit of a competition between audience members to see who can collect the most stories. If you do not have a smartphone, a few are available at each performance to rent.
These are just two examples of the many different shows and events that are part of this entirely unique festival.
LOCATION
The Brick Theater
579 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn
RUNNING TIME
Various, depending on show
TICKETS
$15 for all performances (click for tickets)
DATES
July 5th – 28th
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
#plays