Christian Frederickson News

BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) and Knight Blanc present Actors Theatre's original production of THE GLORY OF THE WORLD by Charles Mee in its New York Premiere.

Veteran New York actor and writer James Lecesne portrays every character in a small Jersey shore town as they unravel the story of Leonard Pelkey, a tenaciously optimistic and flamboyant 14-year-old boy who has gone missing. As he interviews the people from Leonard's life, Lecesne transforms himself into each of them with a quick turn of his body, completely changing his voice and physicality as be morphs from male to female, young to old. It is an amazing tour-de-force one-man performance that will enthrall you as several characters are brought fully to life without the use of costumes or props.

The critically acclaimed off-Broadway hit THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY, written by and starring James Lecesne, the writer of the Academy Award-winning film Trevor, begins a limited 23 performance engagement at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, tonight, January 13. The show runs through January 31, 2016 (press opening Thursday January 14).

The critically acclaimed off-Broadway hit THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY, written by and starring James Lecesne, the writer of the Academy Award-winning film Trevor, will have a limited 23 performance engagement at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, Wednesday, January 13 to Sunday, January 31, 2016 (press opening Thursday January 14).

Merging dance, live music and visual arts, Choreographer/Director Pavel Zuštiak examines the multiplicity of concepts of beauty and its permanence within art in CUSTODIANS OF BEAUTY.

The 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winner Julia Wolfe's art ballad STEEL HAMMER comes to BAM in a dramatic reincarnation by director Anne Bogart, performed by six members of SITI Company, Bang on a Can All-Stars, and three vocalists- Emily Eagen, Katie Geissinger, Molly Quinn.

Merging dance, live music and visual arts, Choreographer/Director Pavel Zuštiak examines the multiplicity of concepts of beauty and its permanence within art in CUSTODIANS OF BEAUTY.

The 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winner Julia Wolfe's art ballad STEEL HAMMER comes to BAM in a dramatic reincarnation by director Anne Bogart, performed by six members of SITI Company, Bang on a Can All-Stars, and three vocalists- Emily Eagen, Katie Geissinger, Molly Quinn. The production makes its New York Premiere, presented by Julia Wolfe, SITI Company and Bang on a Can All-Stars, at the BAM Harvey Theater (651 Fulton St), December 2-6, 2015.

BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) and Knight Blanc will present Actors Theatre's original production of The Glory of The World by Charles Mee in its New York Premiere, Actors Theatre's Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Jennifer Bielstein announced today.

The producers of the critically-acclaimed new play THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY announced today that the play written by and starring James Lecesne will play a strictly limited three week engagement in Los Angeles from Wednesday, January 13, 2016 through Sunday, January 31, 2016 as a guest production at the Kirk Douglas Theatre (9820 Washington Boulevard, Culver City).  The hit play ends its Off-Broadway engagement Sunday, October 18, 2015 at the Westside Theatre (407 West 43 Street).

THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY, the hit play written by and starring James Lecesne about an LGBT youth who chose to shine brighter than bullies, will lead the charge in the Broadway and Off-Broadway community to be #BrighterThanBullies in celebration of Stomp Out Bullying's Blue Shirt Day, the seventh annual World Day of Bully Prevention on Monday, October 5, 2015. 

Just last night, The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey presented Tony Award winning playwright, performer and activist Eve Ensler with the Absolute Brightness Award. The award, previously awarded to LGBT civil rights hero Edie Windsor and Tony Award Winner and activist Alan Cumming, is given to a unique individual who is a shining beacon in their community, and an inspiration to live as your truest self. 

The producers of the critically-acclaimed new play THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY announced today that the hit play written by and starring James Lecesne will extend its engagement and now play through Sunday, October 18 at the Westside Theatre (407 West 43 Street). A complete national tour schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.

The producers of the critically-acclaimed new play The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey announced today that Tony Award winning playwright, performer and activist Eve Ensler will be the next recipient of the Absolute Brightness Award. The award, previously awarded to LGBT civil rights hero Edie Windsor and Tony Award Winner and activist Alan Cumming, is given to a unique individual who is a shining beacon in their community, and an inspiration to live as your truest self. Ms. Ensler will be given the Absolute Brightness Award after the evening performance on Wednesday, September 23, 2015, at the Westside Theatre (407 West 43 Street).

Michael Urie and David Hyde Pierce stopped by THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY at the Westside Theatre last night, September 8, and posed with the show's creator and star James Lecesne after the show. Scroll down for a photo of the trio!

I am always excited by the opportunity to see an August Wilson play. Only Actors Theatre has managed to deliver them to Louisville audiences, the most recent having been an outstanding production of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom in 2010. Now we have Seven Guitars to feast upon.

 Celebrate "Absolute" August & September and "Bring Your Brightness" to the critically-acclaimed new play THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY, written and performed by James Lecesne. 

The producers of the critically-acclaimed new play THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY announced today that Tony winner and human rights activist Alan Cumming will be the recipient of the Absolute Brightness Award. The award, previously awarded to LGBT civil right hero Edie Windsor, is given to a unique individual who is a shining beacon in their community, and an inspiration to live as your truest self. Mr. Cumming will be given the Absolute Brightness Award after the evening performance on Monday, August 24, 2015, at the Westside Theatre (407 West 43 Street).

Following a sold-out run at Dixon Place, the limited 12- week engagement of the critically-acclaimed new play The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey officially opened on July 27, 2015, at the Westside Theatre (407 West 43 Street). THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY, the much talked-about new play written and performed by James Lecesne, will have scenic design by Jo Winiarski, lighting design by Matt Richards, sound design by Christian Frederickson, projection design by Aaron Rhyne, original animation & photography by Matthew Sandager, and costumes by Paul Marlow. 

Following a sold-out run at Dixon Place, the limited 12- week engagement of the critically-acclaimed new play The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey officially opened last night, July 27, 2015, at theWestside Theatre (407 West 43 Street). THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY, the much talked-about new play written and performed by James Lecesne, will have scenic design by Jo Winiarski, lighting design by Matt Richards, sound design by Christian Frederickson, projection design by Aaron Rhyne, original animation & photography by Matthew Sandager, and costumes by Paul Marlow. BroadwayWorld was there for opening night and you can check out photos below!