The World Premiere of John Adams New Play Opens This Week
The Taste of It
June 7th – 29th @ Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios
“This company doesn’t disappoint.” — New York Theatre Review
New York, NY – A brilliant dancer named Ross, and Sheila, a driven young director with a gift for language, carve out a place apart – for themselves and each other. Fierce love, talent, and ambition light up The Taste of It, a sensual, explosive romance set in 1970s Boston.
The World Premiere of John Adams full length play The Taste of It, will be presented at Theatre 54 at Shetler Studios, June 7th – 29th. This production is being directed by Alex Levy and produced by the Award Winning Ballybeg.
ABOUT BALLYBEG
Founded in 2012, Ballybeg is a non-profit theatre company committed to working in spaces where the barriers between the show and the audience can be eliminated. By presenting new plays (and American classics) in intimate venues, it is their goal to make the deepest possible connection with their audience.
Ballybeg’s previous productions include Broken Fences by Steven Simoncic which received rave reviews and the 2012 production of Empanada for a Dream, which was nominated for three New York Innovative Theatre Awards and won the prestigious Independent Theater Bloggers Association Award for “best solo performance”. Ballybeg’s artistic team includes Alex Levy (Artistic Director), John Adams (Managing Director) and Paul Deines (Associate Director).
The production stars Briana Pozner (The Wundelsteipen/The Flea), Jean Tafler (Romeo & Juliet/Lucille Lortel Theater) and Landon G. Woodson (Bike America/Ma-Yi Theater Company).
The creative team includes costume and scenic design by Kathryn Kawecki, lighting design by Adam H. Greene, sound design by Christopher Kriz, production management by Peter L. Smith, stage management by Allyson Namishia, assistant stage management by Daniel Ricken, and casting by Judy Bowman/Judy Bowman Casting. Director of promotion and fund raising, Hillary Cohen.
All performances take place at Theatre 54 at Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor. (Between Broadway & 8th Avenue). Subways: A/B/C/D/1 to Columbus Circle, N/Q/R to 57th Street.
Tickets are $18.00 and are available by calling (212) 868-4444 or at www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showcode=TAS6
Show Dates:
Saturday, June 7th @ 8:00 pm
Sunday, June 8th @ 3:00 pm
Thursday, June 12th @ 8:00 pm
Friday, June 13th @ 8:00 pm
Saturday, June 14th @ 8:00 pm
Wednesday, June 18th @ 8:00 pm
Thursday, June 19th @ 8:00 pm
Friday, June 20th @ 8:00 pm
Saturday, June 21st @ 8:00 pm
Sunday, June 22nd @ 3:00 pm
Wednesday, June 25th @ 8:00 pm
Thursday, June 26th @ 8:00 pm
Friday, June 27th @ 8:00 pm
Saturday, June 28th @ 2:30 pm & 8:00 pm
Sunday, June 29th @ 3:00 pm
Running time: 1:45. More info is available at www.ballybeg.org
CREATIVE TEAM BIOGRAPHIES
John Adams (Playwright/Managing Director) The Taste of It is a world premiere and the first of John’s plays to be presented in New York. Some of his earlier work includes The Marlowe Show (with William Kromm) and an adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Both productions received successful regional mountings. Prior to forming Ballybeg in 2012, John spent four decades as a director, producer and/or manager for national tour productions serving performing arts centers and universities nationwide. For his own company, Daedalus Productions, he produced, managed, and/or directed 35 productions including Home by Samm-Art Williams, The Blood Knot by Athol Fugard and Ain’t Misbehavin’ . Other highlights include the Royal Shakespeare Company program Sylvia Plath and the first Equity National of From the Mississippi Delta. For the past ten years, John has been the producer and managing director for The JENA Company, which he also founded. His productions for JENA have included Unsinkable Women: Stories and Songs from The Titanic, My Soul Is A Witness and Jackie, Vi & Lena, two chronicles of the Civil Rights Movement by award- winning Chicago playwright, David Barr III.
For Winter/Spring 2010, the company offered America Amerique. Highlighting stories of American Immigrants, 1845 to the present, this new piece was written by John in collaboration with historian Thomas Jessen Adams. The production was developed and directed by John’s partner in Ballybeg, Alex Levy.
Alex Levy’s (Director/Artistic Director) work has been seen throughout the United States and in numerous countries. For Ballybeg, he recently directed the world premiere of Broken Fencesby Steven Simoncic and will direct it again in 2015 for The Road Theatre in Los Angeles. He directed Empanada For a Dream at Ballybeg which was later produced at various theaters including the soloNOVA Arts Festival, Transport Co at The Duke Theatre and YO SOLO! FESTIVAL in Chicago where it was chosen as one of the best productions of the year by The Chicago Tribune and The Chicago Reader. Alex’s production of My Soul is a Witness was featured in the Hindu Metro-Plus International Theatre Festival in Chennai, India and toured several cities throughout India. Alex twice led international tours through Jordan, Egypt, Turkey and Morocco sponsored by The U.S. State Department. Other directing credits include the national tour of America Amerique (World Premiere) for the JENA Company. In Los Angeles, Macbeth for Savage Players; The world premiere of In the Red for the ARK Theatre. Copenhagen and Dead Man’s Cellphonefor UCLA. Before moving to Los Angeles, Alex served as Artistic Director of Pegasus Players in Chicago. Alex has also worked with The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Red Twist Theatre, Smoke and Mirrors, Serendipity Theatre Collective, Chicago Dramatists, Theatre Building Chicago, The Watts Village Theater Company, The Theatre at Boston Court and The Studio Theatre in Washington D.C. Alex has a BA in Political Science from The University of Rochester and an MFA in Directing from The University of California-Los Angeles.
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