Theater for the New City Presents LAUGHING IN THE WIND and GENERATION (BU)Y, 4/30-5/23

This weekend, April 30-May 2, The Theater for the New City is closing two shows, and opening a new one. Closing this weekend, are the productions THE SPRING AND FALL OF Eve AdamS, written by Barbara Kahn, and DENIAL! TIME TO FACE THE MUSICAL, written by Nikki Jenkins. Opening this weekend is a new show from the Yangtze Repertory Theatre Of America, LAUGHING IN THE WIND. A new play from Philip Suraci, author of the TNC hit "Lysistrata's Children," GENERATION (BU)Y, opens May 6th.

THE SPRING AND FALL OF Eve AdamS-Written and directed by BARBARA KAHN

The Spring and Fall of Eve Adams recounts the true story of an extraordinary woman, a Jewish lesbian from Poland, who was proprietor of "Eve's Hangout" at 129 Macdougal Street in1926, a tearoom where local poets, musicians and actors congregated to meet and share their work in salon evenings. Eve's Hangout, a haven of artistic and sexual freedom, was soon threatened by religious and governmental authorities, leading to Eve's arrest, imprisonment and deportation. The conflict between progressive and reactionary forces provides the dramatic tension in the play as the characters attempt to live and love free from discrimination. The play conveys not only a long forgotten moment in history but sheds light on current threats by holding a mirror to the past.

Playing at the Community Space Theater, Thursday - Sunday, April 29 - May 2. Thursday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm. All Seats $12/TDF Vouchers Accepted

DENIAL! TIME TO FACE THE MUSICAL-Book & Lyrics by NIKKI JENKINS, Directed by Aaron PratT, Music Composed by Michael Ross & BRAD GARDNER

It's amazing to what lengths people will go to avoid reality! Whether it's our age, our weight, or even our sexual orientation; we're all a little guilty of denying certain "uncomfortable" truths...Nikki Jenkins' new satire, "Denial! Time to Face the Musical," pushes this concept to the extreme in the fairytale of "Princess" Mandi, a wealthy New York socialite who doesn't know (or doesn't want to know) that she's Black. 

Playing at the Cabaret Theater, Thursday - Sunday, April 29 - May 2. Thursday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm. All Seats $12/TDF Vouchers accepted

LAUGHING IN THE WIND-Based on a novel by Jin Yong, Adapted and Directed by Joanna Chan

Yangtze Repertory Theatre Of America will present "Laughing in the Wind: A Cautionary Tale in Martial Arts," based on a novel by Jin Yong, China's most popular writer of the Martial Arts (Wuxia) genre, and arguably the most widely read author in the Chinese speaking world.

The play is a martial arts epic with a fighting/kicking ensemble of 18 actors playing 26 speaking parts.  It is based on a story about friendship and love, deception and betrayal, ambition and lust for power. In the story, various parties are vying to recover a scroll that contains a powerful martial arts technique that can propel the owner to premiere leadership, but are eventually outdone by a young lad, Little Fox, who is devoid of all ambitions. The story deals with Little Fox's journey: his development as a swordsman and his witnessing the various intrigues which take place.  Many warlords and fighters from six clans lust after the manuscript, among them the leader of a so-called Five Mountains Alliance.  Despite the popularity of Jin Yong's novel, the symbolism of the six clans has never been coherently interpreted. The Five Mountains Clan might be taken to be an indirect reference to the five sacred mountains in China.  The various clans have also been interpreted as a parody of one people with multiple political systems. The title "Laughing in the Wind" refers to a piece of music jointly created in friendship by two elderly swordsmen of opposing clans, which eventually leads to their tragic deaths.

Playing at Johnson Theater, Thursday - Sunday, April 30 - May 23, Thursday - Saturday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 3pm. Additional Performance Wednesday, May 19 at 7:30pm. All Seats $25, $20 Students & Seniors. 20% discount for groups of 10 or more

GENERATION (BU)Y-Conceived & Directed by PHILIP SURACI

"Generation (bu)Y" explains our slavery to marketing from the mouths of babes.  Conceived and directed by Philip Suraci, written by Suraci and the cast, the play will be performed by an ensemble of 18 young actors (aged 11 to 13) plus three adult actors.  It is meant to be played for an audience of adults and children over the age of ten. The intent of the production is to raise awareness of the effects marketing and advertising upon children.  "Generation (bu)Y" examines strategies used by marketers such as the belittlement of parents and adults (parent/child alienation) and the exploitation of child needs of acceptance by peers. 

In the play, a 13 year-old girl is in crisis.  She is suffering from anxiety and subject to angry outbursts at school.  Her grades are suffering.  Her mother has sent her to therapy.  Through her sessions with her therapist, the audience comes to learn about the source of her distress: the pressure to conform to what she feels others wish her to be and her perceived inability to meet those expectations (as conveyed by her peers and media).  The dialogue between the therapist and the girl introduces scenes where kids meet, like at school, the mall, a birthday party, or a bad dream.  Interspersed with these are conversations between a consultant specializing in marketing to children and a prospective client.  The marketer is "selling" her expertise while explaining to her client (and the audience) how marketers target Generation Y--those born between 1980 and 2000.  The play is contains both dialogue and songs.  In the end, the girl develops a liberating understanding of herself and is transformed to a more aware and confident state of being.  The audience is charged with the responsibility to value children as human beings rather than as sources of commerce and profit. 

Playing at Cino Theater, Thursday - Sunday, May 6 - 16. Thursday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm. All Seats $15. Students, Seniors, Teachers and Children under 12 are $5. TDF vouchers accepted.

Theater for the New City is located at 155 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10003. To buy tickets to performances, visit www.theaterforthenewcity.net/

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