Over the last couple of years, I have been working on a project called The Eternal Space. This project is unique to me as it is a play based on an actual New York City historical moment. In 1963, the beautiful Pennsylvania Station was demolished due to a lack of funding and did not go down with a fight. There was uproar and protests but alas nothing could stop the plans. As a direct result of the destruction and the current replacement, the landmarks preservation act was created. This protected Grand Central Terminal from having the same demise.
Justin Rivers, the playwright of this wonderful piece, shares the journey of this play.
Malini: My goal with this column is to discuss theatre that is being created beyond Broadway. “The Eternal Space” definitely falls within my goal as it is being produced at Theatre Row, two blocks from Broadway, as well-being a play that encompasses more than storytelling. The demolition of Penn Station 52 years ago was also a monumental moment in New York City history. How did you know that you were going to write it as a play?
Justin: The original draft of The Eternal Space was conceived in the winter of 2002. I always say it was a direct response to 9-11, another monumental moment in NYC’s history. At the time it didn’t dawn on me that it should be anything other than a play because the circumstances surrounding the station’s demolition were so dramatic. Also knowing that there was a body of photographic work documenting the station’s demolition really informed my decision to bring it to the stage. I immediately saw the photos as forming the show’s entire set. Then as I was writing, they really became another character on the stage. They even have stage directions. No joke.
Malini: When producing a show, there’s always the marketing and promotion aspect of the planning. What approaches did you and your team consider and/or are executing to gain interest in the piece?
Justin: Hahaha! I love this question. What haven’t we done? We’ve had co-sponsored reading events with the American Institute of Architects, the New York Transit Museum, and Fordham University. Once a month I’ve been giving Penn Station Remnant Tours with the urban exploration blog, Untapped Cities, which started as a marketing plot to get people in the seats for the show. Now, almost a year later and all these sold out tours under my belt, I find I really like giving the tours. I love all the grumpy faces at the start with those scowls that read, “we shelled out 25 bucks to have you walk us through this dump so this better be good.” Then by the end of the tour they’re acting like little kids when they realize how much of the old station can be found in the current one. Someone once tweeted: “Thanks for showing me the beauty that can be found at Penn Station” and I rank that as one of my greatest accomplishments to date. If I can help to associate Penn Station with beauty I can probably turn a base metal into gold somewhere down the line.
Malini: How does this show add to the landscape of independent theatre?
Justin: The Eternal Space has been Indie from the get-go. It was partially Kickstarter funded and I have been producing, GM’ing, and rumor is I’ll be understudying the ASM who also happens to be the understudy for both of the guys in the show. It doesn’t get more indie than that.
Malini: What’s next?
Justin: Well I have a show about the Flemish painter Hiernymous Bosch befriending Anne Boleyn in a nebulous afterlife situation somewhere in my repertoire. I also have a good friend begging me to resurrect a Star Trek parody play I wrote in college. My imagination runs the gamut and although I spent a good long time working in non-profit education (still do), I look forward to going back and digging down deep to those playwriting roots again. Who knows what will happen. I keep threatening to write a show that takes place entirely over Google chat. If I told you who it was between, they would ride me out of this city on a rail.
Justin Rivers has written and produced 15 plays. He wrote the first draft of The Eternal Space in 2002 as a testament to all the things we don’t appreciate until they’re gone. Currently Justin is author and co-collaborator of The Wonder City, a graphic novel that re-imagines the history of New York City. He is also Founder and Executive Director of The Character Connection Initiative, a non-profit organization that brings character education to inner-city middle school students and teachers throughout NYC. He currently lives in Brooklyn.
The Eternal Space opens November 13th at the Lion Theatre – Theatre Row – hope to see you all there!
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