Stockings!

Preparation for the next MBCT production has officially begun! Though the performance is still over a year away, it's never too early to start designing. And I need your help!

I am collecting hundreds of stockings for a very awesome design concept. Hundreds of stockings means hundreds of legs, and any and all donations are fully welcome! Nude, black, gray, knee-high, full length, ripped, torn, with holes and runs, missing legs, missing toes, old and worn... I'm taking all (as long as, you know, you wash them first). So before you throw out that old pair of pantyhose, think about my stockings collection and send them my way.

If you need my address, I'm happy to send it you. Otherwise, I'll collect your used stockings whenever we meet.

Happy holidays everyone!

The Trial

Though MBCT is taking a respite from producing works, Miriam is not! She is currently the Assistant Director for The Trial, the first school show at NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study. Directed by Kristin Horton, it is the Steven Berkoff version of Kafka's novel. The costumes, set, lighting, and music are pretty amazing!

Joseph K, a bank manager, wakes up one morning to find two guards in his bedroom. He's arrested, not told why, and thrown around a dizzying bureaucratic system. Everyone he meets seems to know his business and have a tidbit of advise to help him get to the next level... but the levels are infinite, and the advise borders on nonsensical.

Ticket information:
* $10 for the public, free with an NYU ID
* http://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/69837

Ideas are Brewing

Grad school is intense. Grad school is not easy. Grad school is secretly kind-of fun.

MBCT will only benefit from all the rich ideas grad school provides. And already, the next show is being formed, ideas are being tossed around, and words are finding their way to the page.

The next MBCT play, Ladies and Gentlemen, is well on its way to formation!

MBCT has her nose in the books

MBCT supporters,

I have been accepted into NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study with a focus on Theatre Directing, specifically adapting classic stories for the stage and physical theatre.

Due to my studies, MBCT will be taking a break from producing. The next show was officially announced at MEDEA: a Tragedy of Revenge's cast/crew party (but not yet to the public, so for now it's still a secret), and I am so excited for such an amazing project. Instead of going ahead with it this fall, it is deferred until further notice. This means more time to research, write, and focus on the project.

Until then, MBCT is happy to continue the discussion about classic stories for a modern audience: How do we continually reinvent these plays without exhausting them? How can our bodies and voices train to tell the stories? How big and bold can we tell these tales?

So go out there and watch some theatre! Support your local companies, donate to your favorite houses, stand and shout "BRAVO!" when you love a show! Directors, playwrights, actors, designers, stage managers, ushers, technicians, administrators all depend on both your physical and financial support.

Thank you,
Miriam Tobin

MBCT
Artisitc Director (and now grad student!)
mbct@tobins.org


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MBCT; Modern But Classical Theatre is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a not-for-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of MBCT may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.https://www.fracturedatlas.org/donate/2340

angst

It's always sad when a show ends. The family you've built for the past couple of months breaks apart, the costumes you've lived in are washed and put away, the hair is uncurled, the lights are taken down, the extra postcards are archived, the...

... And you go back to work and wonder "what now?" How do you slip back into the real world after going through something so extraordinary? How do you adjust back to your individual routine after sharing so intimately with a community?

Theatre grips you with its claws and squeezes you from the inside out, and then one day it just lets go... and you're on your own again.

So that's why I'm at it again -- reading, researching, and writing. The next MBCT show is in preparation for a fall show. It's a story of angst, anxiety, nail-biting nerves, and impatience. The characters whine and moan and pray aloud. Nature vs. domesticity. Want vs. action. City vs. country. Happiness vs. indifference.

MEDEA Has Begun!

Last night, previews for MEDEA; a Tragedy of Revenge opened. The actors were stretched, the lights were focused, the costumes were starched, the audience was perched on their seats... and off we went!

It was a wonderful opening. You could feel the tension in the room... the audience not moving, listening for every word, watching and letting the story flow along. Medea raged, Jason pleaded, the Nurse predicted, Creusa mistook, Glauce struggled, and the Chorus Leader witnessed. The women sang in beautiful harmony about the horrors they saw, and the notes floated above the intensity of Medea's wrath.

Tickets may be bought at smarttix.com or at the box office: CSV, 107 Suffolk Street, NYC

the beginning of the end...

Today is the first day of the last week of rehearsals.

Tomorrow is the first run before the slew of runs that happen before tech.

We're off and running.

Stand back, world, there's a MEDEA coming at you.

Hey everybody! Apparently the gods do not look favorably on the NY/NJ area tonight. So, because of inclement weather we are canceling the party! Boo! we're heartbroken. Our cry is "a wail of pain, pain and deep sorrow!" (It's a line from the play. See MEDEA and remember this joke, and perhaps you'll chuckle.) There will be ANOTHER party scheduled, however, and it will be indoors. Rain is good for some things, but not for outdoor parties. See you at the theatre!

Are you dusting off your party attire?

Are you ready to party with MBCT?

In just 24 hours, you'll be pulling on your party boots, combing your party hair, pulling on your party clothes, and planning your party subway trip.

See you at the party!

(Bring smiles)

We like to party!

Is it a party or a festival of music? We can't decide, and neither should you! Come to Marcie and Ruthie's place for an extravaganza to kick off what almost appears to be summer! Bryan Fenkart, Samantha Brown, Marcie Grambeau, plus other surprise musical guests are slated to perform.

$10 for ALL YOU CAN DRINK!
Free food!
Live music!

Does it get any better than that??? We think not. All proceeds will go to MBCT's production of MEDEA, and where else in the greater Manhattan area can you get booze that cheap? Uh... almost nowhere.

Friday, May 1, 8pm - 2am May 2
Marcie and Ruthie's
214 Devoe Street
Brooklyn, NY

donating to MBCT

Producing a play takes time, passion, and finances. Even in this economy, MBCT is proud to stick its chest out, poke its nose above the clouds, and put one foot in front of the other until we walk right into a packed theatre! To get there, your help is needed. MBCT is a one-woman company, and I am grateful for the artists with whom I work. However, it is your financial support that prints the postcards, rents the theatre, builds the costumes, lights the stage, and allows us to rehearse night after night. I call on your generosity to help MBCT bring the story of MEDEA come to life.

The foremost way to contribute is a personal donation:

* $20 and up will receive a Thank You in the program
* $50 and up will receive a Thank You in the program and priority seating
* $100 and up will receive a Thank You in the program, priority seating, and an invitation to the cast party

MBCT; Modern But Classical Theatre is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a not-for-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of MBCT may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Please go to https://www.fracturedatlas.org/donate/2340 to contribute to MBCT.

All donations are greatly appreciated. MBCT started as a dream and quickly became a reality, and your support is the air that keeps our Greek Chorus singing!

Thank you,

Miriam Tobin
Artistic Director
MBCT; Modern But Classical Theatre
mbct@tobins.org

MEDEA ensemble:

ACTORS: Ruthie Bornstein, Samantha Brown, Elizabeth Eggers, Marcie Grambeau, Laryn Stout, Matthew Wise

PRODUCTION TEAM: Marcie Grambeau, Amanda Jenks, Chikara Kakizawa, Hannah Senter, Cameron Shreve, Miriam Tobin, Alex Vincent, Joshua Young

Tickets! Tickets!

MEDEA: a Tragedy of Revenge has tickets to sell!


PREVIEWS: May 9 (8pm), May 10 (3pm)
RUN: May 12-16 (8pm), May 16 & 17 (3pm)


previews = $15
run = $18 (students/seniors/groups of 3 or more = $15)


www.smarttix.com
(212) 868-4444

MBCT announces the dates for the upcoming production of MEDEA: a Tragedy of Revenge.

previews: May 9, 10
run: May 11-17
Tuesday - Saturday @ 8pm
Saturday 5/16, Sundays @ 3pm

Influenced by German Expressionism, Film Noir, and 1940's Radio Dramas, Medea is the terrifying tale of a powerful sorceress wronged by her husband, ravaged by domesticity, and driven by revenge.

with: Ruthie Bornstein, Samantha Brown, Elizabeth Eggers, Marcie Grambeau, Laryn Stout, Matthew Wise

a German Expressionist photo shoot

The cast of MEDEA: a Tragedy of Revenge transforms itself into a German Expressionist film.

Jason finds himself torn between the naive Princess Creusa and the terrifying Sorceress Medea.

"My father, the King, says you're mine," Creusa bats her eyelashes.

"He is my husband and the father of my children," Medea screams.

Jason, the leader of the most powerful army of all time, lets the women pick the flesh off his bones as he weighs his options. Princess or Sorceress? Stranger or wife? Young girl or experienced women? He can only look up in horror.

.

The Nurse suddenly realizes she may be a little more involved in Medea's crimes than she'd previously realized.

"My head hurts," the Nurse mews. She tries to control her dizzying thoughts, but realizes it's no use -- her fate is in the hands of the Sorceress Medea.

"Here, let me help," Medea offers, and places her claw on the Nurse's head.

The Corinthian Women are scared for their lives.

"Oh no," they chant, "this Medea is becoming a problem!"

They freeze in fear.

A New Logo!

LOOK!
<------

A new logo! A beautiful old stamp of a daisy with a thousand petals. It's a modern but classical flower.

Thank you to all who came out to support us last night!

MBCT is super happy to present this new version of Medea to the world, and the first step is to find the funding to get it going.  Your dollars at the door, your bucks in the tip jars, your moolah into the raffle envelope all bring us steps and steps closer to producing the best damn Greek Drama-German Expressionist-1940's-Film Noir-Radio Drama-play-about-a-crazy-lady ever!

the MADNESS begins...

Are you ready to scream and yell?' Cause where there's cheap beer and trivia, there's MADNESS!

MBCT is sharpening its claws in preparation for the ranting and raving that's coming this THURSDAY at DEACON BRODIES in NYC.

We hope to see you there... if your vocal chords can take it.

MEDEA MADNESS!!!

We're having a PARTY to celebrate the Madness of Medea!

MEDEA MADNESS: GAME NIGHT!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Deacon Brodies
370 W46th, between 8th and 9th
New York, NY

$5 donations at the door
GREEK MYTHOLOGY TRIVIA!
cheap beer, food, prizes, and... MEDEA MONEY!

Inspiration

Inspiration can be found anywhere.

When I start a project, my favorite thing to do is look at pictures of past productions. With Medea, I have found so many amazing images to pull inspiration from. Just a quick search on the web, and lookie:

in dance:


in opera:



in theatre:



in art:

The Next

MBCT is officially announcing its next project, coming this May! Ready?....

Medea; a Tragedy of Revenge

Spooky, I know.

Production is in the beginning stages, but keep watch for the announcement of the cast and updates on the project.