Flux Theatre Ensemble

(Ed. note: My sincere apologies, this lovely interview feel through the cracks! I truly hope later is better than never...)
What is Jacob's House?
What is ForePlay: Divine Reckonings?

Michael John Garcés
Playwright, Divine Reckonings

Previous Flux Experience: First timer!

Do you have a favorite Bible character?
The “voice” of the psalms.

Are you blessed?
Yes.

If you were wrestling an angel, what moves would you use?
I don’t know any wrestling moves, but I’d definitely cheat.

What would you do for more life?
If threatened, probably anything, as would most animals. If made a cold offer, nothing.

What's the weirdest thing in your parents' attic?
Every Olivia Newton-John album ever pressed.

What is your prior experience with the Old Testament?
Growing up in a catholic country.

If you believe in a deity or deities, what kind do you believe in?
I don’t.

Bio: Michael John Garcés is the artistic director of Cornerstone Theatre Company in Los Angeles. Recently, his play in the Zone was presented by Red Fern Theater Company as part of “+30 NYC.” Next season needtheatre in LA will produce his play THE WEB. Michael is a resident playwright at New Dramatists. Read the full story

Thanks for everyone who made part two such fun! Our ForePlay series Divine Reckonings continues this Monday the 19th at the Irondale Center, 85 South Oxford St in Brooklyn, at 7:30PM. Will you be there? (And have you nabbed your $11 discount tix for opening weekend of Jacob's House with the code MANIFEST?)

Please note, Zack Robidas has stepped in as a pinch hitting playwright for Leila Buck, who had to drop out. Zack acted in the 1st round (and in Pretty Theft and 8 Little Antichrists), so we're psyched he's writing for us!

Last Thursday the 6th Heather and I went to check out The Shalimar's latest offering, a collection of short plays called You People. We'd been smitten by The Shailmar's whale song contribution to the New York Theatre Review fundraiser, and wanted to see more of their work.

You People is a series of short plays wrestling with the theme of "The Other" in America, with songs by Tommy Smith and Davide Berardi. While I usually dislike short plays based on my bizarre affection for very long plays, both Heather and I enjoyed the great execution of these whimsical pieces.

Highlights included Michael John Garces Tostitos, a suddenly violent, suddenly comic look at disaffected kids given kinetic life by director May Adrales; and Hilly Hicks Jr.'s Blanco, a comic fantasia on longing centered by a radiant performance by Nina Freeman. There was also a charming song about plankton, furthering the whale theme of NYTR.

We also bumped into Alfredo Narciso, who this year acted in our staged reading of Ocatvio Solis' Dreamlandia and was excellent in NYTW's Misanthrope.

After that show, Shalimar featured Hamlet, the drinking game, which seemed to unite two of the passions of my life, but with too much to do the next day, I snuck away. Next up for Shalimar is an 80's hair band theme night of Tommy Smith's songs, which, whether or not they deal with whale or plankton, I very much hope to see. Read the full story