AJAX IN IRAQ Press Photos

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Raushanah Simmons, Stephen Conrad Moore, Christina Shipp)

Over the weekend, we rose early and shot our press photos for Ajax in Iraq in the suitably collumned confines of Astoria park. My favorite, the one above, is cut in such a way that the blog upload gets a wee but blurry, but we're sharing a few others and some candid shots, as well. Which do you like best?

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Stephen Conrad Moore, Christina Shipp, Raushanah Simmons)

Our goodly PR rep Emily Owens suggested we juxtapose the Trojan and Iraq war images in the press shot, and so settled on A.J. and Ajax, who mirror each other across time in the play, with Athena (the goddess of the play's action) watching.

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Raushanah Simmons, Stephen Conrad Moore, Christina Shipp)

We also explored the juxtaposition of contemporary and classic weapons.

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Stephen Conrad Moore, Christina Shipp, Raushanah Simmons)

Something Isaiah did a great job with is manipulating the light (with some Member helpers) - here Ajax's of what he's done is particularly striking.

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Raushanah Simmons, Stephen Conrad Moore, Christina Shipp)

Here's another that doesn't upload well, but captures the regret of the moment particularly well.

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Raushanah Simmons)

Now for some candids...with Raushanah giving new meaning to the term, "statuesque".

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Christina Shipp, Matthew Archambault)

Christina approached by Matthew "Blood Master" Archambault.

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Socrates, August Schulenburg)

He has a firm grip, for a philosopher.

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum)

We have fun.

So...what do you think? Which press photo do you like best? And while you ponder, why not nab one of your $10 tix before they're gone?

AJAX IN IRAQ Cast, Creative Team, and Tickets

(Illustration by Kristy Caldwell- click here to read about her creative process.)

$12 tickets to Opening Weekend - use code "WARDANCE"

(discount available June 3, 4, 5 & 7) - only 50 tickets available (previous code TROJANHORSE has sold out!)

Purchase Tickets

Preview - Friday, June 3

Opening - Saturday, June 4

Runs June 4-25 Thur-Sat at 8pm, Sun at 3pm
Additional performances: Tue 6/7 @7pm, Wed 6/22 @8pm

At the Flamboyan Theater at the Clemente Solo Velez Cultural & Educational Center

(107 Suffolk Street at Rivington)

Playwright: Ellen McLaughlin

Director: August Schulenburg

The cast features Matthew Archambault, Tiffany Clementi, Sol Crespo, Joshua Koopman, Mike Mihm, Stephen Conrad Moore, Lori E. Parquet, Anna Rahn Christina Shipp, Raushanah Simmons, Chudney Sykes and Chinaza Uche

The creative team includes Scenic Design by Will Lowy, Costume Design by Lara de Bruijn, Lighting Design by Kia Rogers, Sound Design by Asa Wember, Dramaturgy by Heidi Nelson, Assistant Direction by David Ian Lee, and Jodi Witherell as Stage Manager

The story:
Past and present collide in Ellen McLaughlin's mash-up of Sophocles' classic play Ajax and today's war in Iraq. The play follows the parallel narratives of the ancient Greek military hero Ajax and a female American soldier, both undone by the betrayal of a commanding officer. Originally developed over sixteen months in 2009 with the graduate acting students at A.R.T. and inspired by material collected from interviews with Iraq war veterans, Ajax in Iraq explores the timeless ways soldiers struggle to make sense of war.

Get Your Advocacy On

By August Schulenburg

For many reasons, I have been a little derelict with the Flux blog lately. Part of this is due to my blogging elsewhere, part is trying to keep up with my own writing, and a big year in my life, and greater responsibilities at work, and preparing to direct Ajax in Iraq, and so on to the forth.

Part of it, however, is the feeling that blogging (for me) was in part a communal brainstorming, some of which was inwardly directed towards Flux, but much of which was outward, wrestling with challenges that affect the field as a whole. And from that brainstorming came two ideas I am proud of: Indie Theatre Rep and The Homing Project.

My actual progress on those two ideas? Virtually nil. And so it seems to me the slivers of spare time that occasionally shine on my long-distance sprint of a life should be spent actualizing the ideas I've already had, not blogging towards new thoughts to abandon. But that's probably too absolute a plank to walk; and so, I'm going to try to get back in the saddle again.

I've also been increasingly aware that while these ideas are batted back and forth across our net in the light, the systems that govern how actual power is held and opportunity distributed are made (in large part) elsewhere. So I will also try to point the blog towards advocacy that may affect those systems, believing that those sometimes boring incremental changes can cumulatively make all the difference.

Which is a very long way of introducing three advocacy opportunities! Two are from the Performing Arts Alliance, an organization helped rally the support that sustained much of the FY11 funding for the NEA. That fraught victory was in some ways a rehearsal for the fight over the FY12 budget, and so now is a good time to thank (or berate) your Senators and Representative for their support (or lack thereof) of both the NEA and the Arts in Education Program. Both those links lead to customizable emails that take very little time to complete (and you should add yourself to the PAA email alerts, if you can take another email in your inbox).

The second is from A.R.T./NY. As you may know, the Mayor's Preliminary FY12 budget includes multiple cuts to the DCA that constitute a 32.5% cut to the Agency (learn more here). That link includes a letter template to send to Mayor Bloomberg and other city officials to reconsider those cuts.

So there we go; back in the ring. Stay tuned for some updates on the production process, and an announcement of the cast of Ajax in Iraq.

Flux Sunday, April 10th

(What is Flux Sunday?)

Playwrights: David Ian Lee (The Curing Room)

Actors: Ken Glickfeld, Jane Taylor, Matthew Archambault, Isaiah Tanenbaum, Kari Riely, Brian Pracht.

This was a very different Flux Sunday. One playwright, one play, no directors, two laptops, and an iPad 2 (no trees were harmed in the making of this Flux Sunday). This intimate group had the pleasure of reading David's The Curing Room...in its entirety!

Highlights:
- Jane Lincoln Taylor's beautiful reading of Sukuruk's monologue about his 'tiny wife' Lludmila.
- Silently reading the stage directions of Scene 5 together as a group and finding it hard to...*ahem*...swallow.
- The scene between Kari's Kozlov and Ken's Ehrenberg, a scene of fear, revelation, and, ultimately, sacrifice.
- Having the opportunity to discuss the play after, with specific questions from the playwright.

If you were there, what do you remember (other than haunting images of human flesh & bones)?

Post By Matthew Archambault

Have Another #6 Pictures

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Jessica Angleskhan, Matthew Archambault, David Crommett, Paco Tolson)

Our sixth Have Another was a lot of fun, with new artists and old favorites joining a warm house to share recent scenes from Flux Sunday. To learn more about the artists involved, click here. if you were there, please leave your thoughts on the night in the comments below!

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Will Lowry, James Comtois, Tiffany Clementi, Ingrid Nordstrom, Damon Kinard)

No, this is not a play about a mosh pit. Devil Dog Six is about horse racing, can't you tell?

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured:Tiffany Clementi, Damon Kinard, Ingrid Nordstrom)

Love is in the air for Devon and Fonner...but not everyone approves.

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Ingrid Nordstrom, Tiffany Clementi)

If given a choice between messing with Texas or missing with Tiffany, choose Texas.

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Will Lowry, James Comtois, Ingrid Nordstrom)

Hey, kid. Ever see a girl transform into a horse before?

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Brian Pracht, Matthew Murumba)

In Deinde, evolving beyond humanity sometimes makes you feel sad.

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Brian Pracht, Matthew Murumba)

Othertimes, it makes you feel angry.

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Matthew Murumba, Brian Pracht)

Very angry.

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Brian Pracht)

On the plus side, you will greatly enjoy music that moves in four infinite directions...

(

Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Jessica Angleskhan, Matthew Archambault, David Crommett, Paco Tolson)

Throw your hands in the air, and wave them around if you know what's good for you (and shout Viva Fidel while you're at it).

(

Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Jessica Angleskhan, Paco Tolson)

Wouldn't you pray with Rosalva? (Pablo won't).

(

Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum. Pictured: Jessica Angleskhan, Matthew Archambault, David Crommett)

Who is that terrifying assassin with the great hair?

(Photo: Isaiah Tanenbaum.)

How many Have Another veterans can you spot?

For pics from past Have Anothers, click here, and here, and here, and here, and here. And if you were there, share your thoughts in the comments below!

Have Another #6

Our next installment of Have Another is Wednesday the 6th from 7PM-10PM. We'll be returning to the friendly confines of Jimmy's #43, located downstairs at 43 East 7th Street between 2nd and 3rd Ave. There is no cover, just some of our favorite scenes from Flux Sunday shared over drinks with friends.

I'm especially excited that we've been able to make this Have Another happen. Our partnership with Judson Memorial Church's Bailout Theatre has really jumpstarted our Food:Soul program, but Have Another has often fallen by the wayside, and there have been some years where we've only had one (which is sadly ironic, given the programs title).

Members Isaiah Tanenbaum (picture to the left is his) and Matthew Archambault have taken up the reins of this Have Another, and that gives me great hope that this program will resume the more regular schedule that our Flux Sunday artists deserve.

The line-up!

Devil Dog Six
Written by Fengar Gael
Directed by Leigh Hile
Featuring Ingrid Nordstrom, James Comtois, Damon Kinard, Will Lowry, and Tiffany Clementi

Deinde
Written by August Schulenburg
Directed by Pete Boisvert
Featuring Brian Pracht and Matthew Murumba

!Viva Fidel!
Written by Isaiah Tanenbaum
Directed by Kelly O'Donnell
Featuring Jessica Angleskhan, David Crommett, Paco Tolson, and Matthew Archambault

Doors open at 7PM, with scenes beginning at 7:30PM and running through 9PM, with hanging out to follow.

Why is this line up a must see? Because Have Another gives you a chance to see the plays that Flux is developing at Flux Sundays, all the while tipping back a beer or two and enjoying Jimmy's great locally inspired food (local theatre pairs well with local food, no?) It's one of our ways of sharing our development process with you.

And this particular line up of scenes features horse racing, neuroscience, crumbling regimes, animal souls, cyborgs and corpse puppetry. It features Fengar Gael's second Have Another (after the wonders of Opaline) and Member Isaiah Tanenbaum's first as a playwright. Regulars like Matthews Murumba and Archambault team up with awesome first timers Paco Tolson and Damon Kinard.

So many good reasons to join us and Have Another...