WHIGGED OUT We the People: America Rocks! (photo: Joan Marcus)

INSIDE INK

By John Rowell

 

 

THE PEOPLE HAVE... SUNG:

Quick, who was America’s first boy band? No, not the Monkees or the Lettermen or the Beach Boys. If we are to believe the new Theatreworks USA show We The People: America Rocks!, the first boy band was... The Founding Fathers. Yes, that would be George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin — Altar Boyz, eat your hearts out! Seems that in the musical, written by Joe Iconis and directed by Gordon Greenburg, high schooler Dawn, on a quest to win her school election, is more concerned about padding her college application than making her school a better place. So with the help of the Fab Four (trading powder wigs for power chords), she discovers that “We The People” have the power to get down and get patriotic at the same time and make a difference. A hip musical for the whole family, We The People begins performances July 8 at the Lucile Lortel Theatre, with performances continuing through August 13. On opening night, July 14, none other than Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond will serve as Opening Night Co-Chairs for Theatreworks USA’s 22nd Annual Free Summer Theatre Program. Rock on! For more info: www.twusa.org.

 

ICE, ICE, BABY!

It may be New York’s coolest, or hottest, festival, depending on which metaphor you prefer. Either way, it’s the 17th Annual Ice Factory Festival, (the 2010 edition), and it’s a cool, or hot, summer treat in any case. Sponsored by Soho Think Tank, the Obie Award-winning festival will feature six NY premieres over six weeks, with performances beginning this week and continuing through August 14. Some shows to keep an eye on this year’s line-up include: Hater, freely adapted and directed by Samuel Buggeln, from Moliere’s The Misanthrope, and featuring such Off-Broadway theater stalwarts as Merritt Weaver, Noah Weisberg, Maria Christina Oliveras, and Zoe Winters; Wanderlust: A History Of Walking, which has been adapted and directed by Matthew Earnest, from the book by Rebecca Solnit; and the festival’s final play, Nostradamus Predicts The Death Of Soho, written and directed by Robert Lyons. This last one is particularly interesting, and poignant, as all the productions in the Festival will be the last productions ever staged at Ohio Theater, the venerable downtown venue, which closes its doors forever on August 31st. But before that happens: Ice Factory is a great festival to look forward to. For more info, www.SohoThinkTank.org.

 

IT’S A PEARL

And speaking of festivals (which I seem to do so often in the summertime), along comes a new one: The Pearl Project, the first Filipino-American Theater Festival, sponsored by Diverse City Theater Company, which opens this week at Theatre Row’s Clurman Theatre. The festival will feature some of the finest Filipino-American artists working in the theater: Ching Valdes-Aran, Raul Aranas, Alan Ariano, among many others, and the actors will appear in world premiere presentations of original plays written by Palanca Award (Philippine’s Pulitzer Prize) winners Eric Gamalinda, Jorshinelle Taleon-Sonza and DCT Playwright Fellow Kristine M. Reyes. Performances continue through July 25. For more information, visit www.diversecitytheater.org.

 

GLOOM, DOOM, GET A ROOM!

Keep your eyes and ears out for Lovers, one of the most anticipated shows in the Midtown International Theatre Festival. Written by author composer Christopher Massimine, the show takes a look at Chip and Jolie, a 21st century Romeo and Juliet, played by Will Taylor and Courtney Hammond. The show features a score that spans rock, pop, contemporary punk and infused jazz to paint a portrait of an eight-year-relationship doomed from the moment it began. Sigh. Performances begin July 15 at The Beckett Theater on Theater Row. Visit www.LoversMusical.com.

 

FEEL THE RUSH

Applause to producer/professor Eric Krebs, who taught Theater Appreciation at Rutgers for over 30 years, and who has now started a wonderful new website called STUDENTRUSH.ORG, which provides comprehensive information on how to obtain student tickets, pre-curtain lottery seats, standing room tickets, and all other discounted theater tickets. The website is directed at young people who want to see live theater but often think that the only seats available are far too expensive for their budgets. Like Professor Krebs, I am in favor of anything that helps young people see live, professional theater that they may not be able to see otherwise, so hats off to this great new project. Student Rush will also be offering instant updates, special offers, and more on Twitter and Facebook. For more information, visit studentrush.org or call 212-967-2648.