New Second Stage Productions, Hedwig & Mini-August Preview
Second Stage opened two new productions this week, Sex with Strangers, at its main stage in Midtown, and Mala Hierba, at its smaller venue on the Upper West Side. Lindsay, Nicole, and Isaac discuss these and revisit Michael Mayer’s production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch starring Neil Patrick Harris and Lena Hall. They also do a mini-preview of upcoming August shows, including Bedlam Nightmares, Shakesbeer, and King Lear at Shakespeare in the Park.
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SHOWS DISCUSSED
Sex With Strangers
Written by Laura Eason
Directed by David Schwimmer
A popular blogger (Billy Magnussen, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike) and a reserved novelist (Anna Gunn, TV’s Breaking Bad) spend a long weekend at a snowy bed and breakfast, each hoping to make progress on their latest writing projects. As the title suggests, it’s not a productive weekend work-wise.
Performances through August 24, 2014
Mala Hierba
Written by Tanya Saracho
Directed by Jerry Ruiz
Liliana is married to an abusive yet powerful border magnate in Texas whose resources pay for her father’s health care, mother’s home, and sister’s college tuition. An old flame reappears in her life and she must decide whether to flee or stay.
Performances through August 9, 2014
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
By John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask
Directed by Michael Mayer
Tony Award winner Neil Patrick Harris ends his run as Hedwig on August 17, 2014. After that, Andrew Rannells will take over the role. Tony Award winner Lena Hall will continue in the role of Yitzhak. Although we discussed the production before, we offer a few additional thoughts on Michael Mayer’s production and the 2001 movie version.
Performances through October 12, 2014
SHOW PREVIEWS
The Maids
Written by Jean Genet
New English translation by Benedict Andrews and Andrew Upton
Directed by Benedict Andrews
The Sydney Theatre Company brings The Maids to New York City, in a production starring Cate Blanchett and Isabelle Huppert as two sisters who aim to kill their employer. This is a high demand ticket but last we checked there was availability.
August 6, 2014 through August 16, 2014
BUY TICKETSAt Lincoln Center Festival
Untitled Vampire Cowboys Project
Written by Qui Nguyen
Directed by Robert Ross Parker
The Vampire Cowboys, a group known for mixing the mediums of theater and comic books, are bringing a new project to this year’s Ice Factory, an annual summer theater festival featuring new works. There’s not a lot of information about it available but it is sure to feature the Cowboys’ signature stage combat and low budget hi-fi special effects. Ticket availability is extremely limited but if this is the first you’re hearing of it then you aren’t paying attention to Maxamoo on Twitter.
July 30, 2014 through August 2, 2014
BUY TICKETSAt The New Ohio Theater
Bedlam Nightmares Part Three: Losing Patients
Written by Nat Cassidy, Mariah MacCarthy, and Mac Rogers
Directed by Pete Boisvert and Patrick Shearer
Bedlam Nightmares, a Blood Brothers production, consists of three mini horror plays by excellent New York City based playwrights Nat Cassidy, Mariah MacCarthy, and Mac Rogers. In this entry, the Blood Brothers find themselves held captive in a hospital by the sinister Doctor Queen.
July 31, 2014 through August 2, 2014
Shakesbeer
Shakesbeer from the New York Shakespeare Exchange merges a beer crawl with scenes from Shakespeare. If that sounds like the best thing ever, it is, if it sounds like the worst thing ever, it’s actually a lot of fun and the Shakespeare is well done. Tickets are $40 and that includes drinks.
BUY TICKETSBy New York Shakespeare Exchange
King Lear
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Daniel Sullivan
Shakespeare in the Park presents King Lear, starring John Lithgow and Annette Bening, directed by Daniel Sullivan.
July 29, 2014 through August 17, 2014
For information on how to get tickets and other tips see Maxamoo’s Insider Guide to Shakespeare in the Park.
At The Delacorte Theatre