Flux Theatre Ensemble

At long last nytheatre.com's Martin Denton attended a Flux show! We've been wooing him for a long time, and as readers of this blog know, we're big fans of all he does for our theatre community.

I'm thrilled that Matthew Archambault, Zack Calhoon, Jane Taylor, Jason Paradine, and Kelly O'Donnell are singled out for praise, and am fascinated by the question Martin ends the review on:

"I found myself thinking hard about the differences between being chosen by God to found a nation, as the Bible tells us Jacob was, and deciding more or less on your own that God sanctions all your actions, as this American Jacob seems to do. "

Is this a question you found yourself asking? For me, it seems clear that our American Jacob has a direct, personal relationship with a divine force of uncertain origin and intent; first, through the conduit of his mother, Rebecca; and later, through his three direct encounters with the Messenger. This divinity clearly wants him to take America as his own, but to what end is unknown; and how to morally interpret this sanction, and Jacob's wavering course in carrying out, is left open ended.

Regardless, I was thrilled to have Martin and Rochelle at last in our audience. So, read the whole thing here, then get your tickets, and after you've seen the show, please share your thoughts here. Read the full story

It's the listing time of year, and happily, Flux is featured in a number of Best of 2009 lists:

Just Shows To Go You: Patrick Lee featured The Lesser Seductions of History among his Sixteen Most Outstanding Shows of 2009. I also loved reading his 10 Memorable Moments At The Theatre This Decade.

That Sounds Cool: Aaron Riccio included The Lesser Seductions of History as part of his Theater of 2009 roundup.

Show Showdown: Wendy Caster included The Lesser Seductions of History as part of her Top Ten-ish of 2009.

Visible Soul: Zack Calhoon included The Lesser Seductions of History in his Top Six Plays of the Year.

The Guardian: Chris Wilkinson included this blog as one of his Top Five Theatre Blogs, along with other Flux favorites Scott Walters, Parabasis, Superfluities and On Theatre and Politics. This is especially exciting because The Guardian is a model for how a media institution can have a meaningful online presence.

On Theatre and Politics: Speaking of Matthew Freeman's blog, he was kind enough to include Flux on his Support Small Theater This Year list. And hey, why not support us this year, too?

But the past is the past, you say, what about the future? Well...

Broadway World: Michael Roderick featured Flux as one of his 10 to Watch in 2010!

New York Innvoative Theatre Awards: And why not move through this next year marking the days on the NYITA's 2010 Calendar, which features an October image to remember.

This past year also included great reviews for Pretty Theft, our 1st NYITA award for Asa Wember's Sound Design of The Angel Eaters Trilogy, and our Citation for Excellence from the ITBA. Thank you to everyone who made 2009 such a positive year for all of us in Flux.

And though they don't feature Flux on their lists, be sure to check out Martin Denton's diverse and fascinating list; Time Out New York's great compilation of David Cote, Adam Feldman, and Helen Shaw's lists (it's interesting to see where they overlap); and Terry Teachout's wider angle national best list (2009= The Year of David Cromer?)

Hopefully, we'll be posting our Best Of 2009 lists later in the week, but thank you to all the folks listed above for your support. Here's to a great 2010! Read the full story

A very nice post from Martin Denton on his blog, nytheatre i, about an email he received from New York International Fringe Festival Producing Artistic Director Elena K. Holy about the Fringe, Flux, Pretty Theft, and creating a community.
It's an honor to get a shout-out from two people we respect as much as Martin and Elena - thank you both! Read the full story

Martin Denton and the good people at nytheatre.com are kicking off a new series where playwrights interview playwrights 1-0n-1 (no steel cage, though, this is a podcast). They're kicking off the whole thing with playwright Matthew Freeman (When Is A Clock) interviewing our own Adam Szymkowicz, playwright of our upcoming production of Pretty Theft!

Want to be the first to hear it? Subscribe to nytheatre.cast here. Read the full story

On Monday of this week, Angel Eaters Trilogy playwright Johnna Adams, and Angel Eaters actor Marnie Schulenburg and I visited the studio of nytheatre.com and indietheater.org impresarios Martin and Rochelle Denton to record a podcast. This podcast was hosted by Trav SD, and also features interviews and performance excerpts from "The Complete Performer," "Time Step," "East 10th Street," "The Most Damaging Wound," and "As We Speak.

To listen to the podcast, just click this sentence and kick back with a cold drink or a hot coffee.

Angel Eaters is the second company featured on the podcast, and you can hear Marnie read an excerpt from Angel Eaters as her character, Joann. Thanks to Rochelle's editing, I sound much more coherent than I actually was; but Johnna's talk about growing up as a neighbor of President W was unfortunately cut. However, that was undoubtedly to make room for the other excellent companies, which include the fascinating Axis Company and a tap number! Check it out, and while your online, why not buy some tickets? Read the full story