Press
Building Communities Through Drama
Piper Theatre Productions
Washington Park
4th Avenue @ 3rd Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Media Contact: Deb Orr
Piper Theatre Presents: John Connolly’s Nocturnes
Free and outdoors, 3rd Street at 4th Avenue
July 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23
8:30 pm
Old Stone House/Washington Park
Piper Theatre celebrates its 10th anniversary and 5th year in Brooklyn with the world premiere of “Nocturnes,” a chilling new play inspired by the otherworldly tales of John Connolly, one of mystery’s most important new voices.
To mark its 5th year of presenting free, high quality summer stage in Brooklyn, Piper Theater and Old Stone House are honoring Brooklyn’s love of literature with the debut of “Nocturnes,” directed by noted Scottish talent Nigel Williams. “Nocturnes” is a first on many fronts: it marks the first time that John Connolly, a New York Times best selling author, has had his stories adapted for the stage. It also will be the first public US production for director Nigel Williams, a regular recipient of awards and critical praise for his touring productions at the Edinburgh Festival and numerous other festivals throughout Europe. And this exciting collaboration is Piper’s first main stage world premiere, highlighting its 2010 schedule of free summer programming.
“Nocturnes” is drawn from the collection of haunting short stories of the same name, bringing to life the bedevilment found within ‘Deep Dark Green,’ and its sea hags; ‘The Underbury Witches;’ zombies in ‘The Bridal Bed;’ or the trees – not of the “Giving” kind – in ‘The Erlking.’ Connolly’s stories are proof that the art of the supernatural page-turner, in the spirit of King, Poe and M.R. James, is alive and well, with the power to keep a new generation lying awake at night. These dark summer night’s tales will satisfy fans of fast-paced mysteries, eerie ghost stories and innovative physical theatre alike.
And just in time to properly host the witches, demons and other fantastic creatures lifted from “Nocturnes”’ pages, Piper Theatre’s new stage, at the top of Washington Park’s new 4th Ave. Lawn, provides more room for action and audience than ever before. With a new, wide-open space for cast and audience to roam, there’s no barrier to hold the “Nocturnes”’ supernatural creatures at a safe distance from unsuspecting playgoers. All the better for a suspenseful summer night!
Second Stage:
“The Book of Liz”
By The Talent Family
Amy Sedaris and David Sedaris
Directed by David A. Miller
July 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25
8:30 pm
Sister Elizabeth Donderstock, despite a lifetime burden of heavy perspiration, must leave the comforts of her rigid Amish-eque home of Squeemish and take a journey outside to an Oz-like world of Ukrainian refugees with Cockney accents, gay recovering alcoholic waiters, and employment at Pilgrim-themed restaurants. The “Talent Family” supplies another distaff and hilarious comedy.
Piper Theatre Workshops:
Workshops July 1 – 30
Performances July 27 – 31
Full schedule: http://www.pipertheatre.org
Old Stone House/Washington Park
Lyceum Theatre July 31
Piper Theatre Productions’ twin commitments are: to produce noteworthy free summer performances for the community at large, as well as establishing and supporting educational programs for youth. With more than 100 children participating each year, Piper Theatre’s summer education workshops provide an exciting introduction to drama for kids of all ages, with performances to entertain the public and let the youthful actors, stagehands and assistants have a blast in the process. This year’s education programming schedule, which runs through July, is its most ambitious yet: The Piper Musical Project is making its debut with “Little Shop of Horrors” – the first time Piper has staged a musical with an all-youth cast.
In addition to “Little Shop of Horrors,” (dir. by Ryan Healey), the youth performance schedule includes “Witch’s Children” (written and dir. by J. McEneny), “The Pink Panther” (dir. by Laura Dillman), “Peer Gynt” (devised and directed by Scott Raker), and “Taming of the Shrew” (dir. by Michael Buffer).
Piper Theatre Productions is located in Washington Park, which serves as crossroads and town common for Brooklyn residents of all different backgrounds – the ideal location to draw dyed-in-the-wool theatre lovers as well as families with little or no prior play-going experience. Piper is dedicated to serving all aspects of its community with free productions in the neighborhood for adults and families and fun, intensive workshops for children. Graduates of Piper’s summer theatre youth workshops often return to take part in the equity productions.
Additional Piper Theatre productions for 2010:
The Living Series 2010: Making a Living
A one act festival for emerging writers.
June 18, 19, 20
7 pm
BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange in Park Slope, Brooklyn
Piper is proud to have presented our first festival of original plays by emerging playwrights; a series of plays that investigate the connections (or disconnections) between people’s identities and their “occupations”. How much does what we do make us who we are?
12 original one-act shows were performed.
The Legacy Program: Cycle 3 (in partnership with The Continuum Project)
Piper Theatre proudly supported the third cycle of The Legacy Program at MS 51 in Brooklyn; from The Continuum Project – Nikkole Salter and Glenn Gordon.
The Legacy Program is a 9-week workshop launched at MS 51 two years ago, and funded by Piper Theatre Productions. Nine middle school students create a theater piece on the theme of identity — how is one’s self image shaped through the prism of slavery? How do African American children see themselves in the age of Obama? The piece culminates with students opening their DNA test results – sometimes to astonishing discoveries.
re:Definition
Devised and performed by Nikkole Salter and Glenn Gordon.
June 26th
8 pm
A one-night only performance by Nikkole Salter (Obie and Helen Hayes award winning actress for Into the Continuum) and Glenn Gordon on the theme of identity, inspired by their experiences working with students from The Legacy Program.
http://www.nikkolesalter.com/
http://www.thecontinuumproject.org/
Since 2000, Piper has been committed
* To creating free accessible and dynamic theatre for families.
* To creating opportunities for emerging artists,
* And creating a safe and nurturing theatre experience for children.
