Poetic Theater Productions brings back it's popular Love, Redefined for a final salute the Valentine's season.
Expect to see some amazing work.
I spoke with Alex Mallory and Jeremy Karafin, Co-Artistic Directors of Poetic Theater Productions, about the production.
I understand the original Love, Redefined was Poetic Theater Productions' first show in 2010. How did it come to be?
Alex: Jeremy moved to New York in 2009 and reconnected with former California poets Daniel Silber Baker, Edward McWilliams and Christine Hatch who introduced him to the New York poetry scene. In February of 2010, he recruited several of them to do a show that would provide an alternative to the traditional Valentine's Day commercialized concept of love. This seed of connection between poets and theater and the extremely positive feedback from both artists and audience launched the concept of Poetic Theater Productions, so Love, Redefined has a very special place in our company's history.
How has the show developed over the years?
Jeremy: We skipped Love, Redefined in 2011, when Alex came on board and we began a shift towards producing more theater, and brought it back in 2012 with the idea of using traditional sonnets as inspiration for new work. The unique thing about this event was that it offered the opportunity for actors to perform poetry - both classical and brand new, and create their own theatrical moments within it, in addition to the infusion of music, dance, multimedia and the fantastic Josh Henderson on hip-hop violin playing the transitions.
We were so thrilled with the results that we decided to keep the structure this year and are thrilled to incorporate many of last year's artists performing new pieces as well as an incredible array of artists we have been wanting to work with and those new to our community.
How many artists will be participating in this year's version?
Alex: 42 artists performing 40 pieces including playwrights, poets, actors, singers, a dancer, a beatboxer and musicians on violin, guitar and ukulele.
The artists will be performing original pieces based on poems by a variety of poets. Who's work will be used for inspiration?
Jeremy: William Shakespeare, Pablo Neruda, John Donne, Ghandi, George Herbert, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and E. E. Cummings.
What kind of audience are you looking for and what sort of reaction do you want from them?
Alex: There's something for everyone in this show - whether you love Shakespeare or think he is theater's most famous impostor, whether you're deeply in love or despise the word. We are looking for people who want to be inspired by the incredible wealth of talent this city has to offer and the funny and heartbreaking stories they have to tell.
Poetic Theater Productions presents
Love, Redefined
Remixes, Re-imaginings and Riffs on Non-Commercial, Non-Traditional Love
Join us for a thrilling evening of familiar sonnets turned into original spoken word poetry, theater, dance and music!
featuring new work by
Mia Anderson, Scotty Arnold, Mickey Bolmer, Mahogany L. Browne, Darian Dauchan, Maurice DeCaul, Sarah Duncan, Safia Elhillo, Madeline Fendrick & Brian Peck, Kate Foster & Anna Gothard, Nicole Goodwin, Ish Islam, Joell Jackson, Ryan F Johnson, Kashi Johnson, Teniece Divya Johnson, David Trevor Lawson, Mary McCarthy, Margaret McCarthy, Christine J. Schmidt, Vassilea Terzaki, Tanaya Winder, Catherine Weingarten, and Donte Wright da Storyteller
based on traditional sonnets and love poems by William Shakespeare, Pablo Neruda, Ghandi, John Donne, George Herbert, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and e. e. cummings.
also featuring Jenny Aaron, Amanda Berry, Samantha Cooper, Dontonio Demarco, Karen Eilbacher, Kristen Islas, Wade Ray, Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld, Temesgen Tocruray, Nabil Viñas, Leal Vona and more!
with Josh Henderson on Hip Hop Violin and beats by Leal Vona
Wednesday, February 27 at 8PM
The Wild Project – 195 East 3rd Street
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