BIG NEWS! Here's the 50th Issue of NJ Stage Magazine -- Click here
Live Storytelling with Sand: Spanish Theatre Company Brings Dreams to Jersey City
originally published: 01/08/2018
(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) opens 2018 with a dream you will not forget. JCTC presents the New Jersey premiere of Dreams of Sand, an internationally acclaimed multimedia production at Merseles Studios, Wednesday, January 17. Dreams of Sand utilizes projections, puppetry, music and yes – sand – to tell the life-story of two people – from their childhood dreams through adulthood. The story is told by sand painting, where multicolored sand images are hand-crafted live on a light table and projected on screen, accompanied by live music and large-format puppets. Dreams of Sand is a production by Ytuquepintas, a Catalan multimedia theatre company based in Barcelona and founded by the multidisciplinary artist, Borja González. The storytelling resembles a dream not only through its imagery and music, but the fact an elaborate sand painting is created anew during each performance. “Part of the JCTC mission is to support innovative artists, and Borja and his company Ytuquepintas, certainly fits that criteria,” said Olga Levina, Artistic Director, JCTC. “Dreams of Sand combines different art forms and ways of expression to create what is truly art in the moment. The audience experiences art that is immediate and live Whatever happens that night at Meseles Studios will never happen in the same way again..” González created Dreams of Sand five years ago, and since then, his show has had more than 500 performances worldwide, including Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Poland, China, Turkey. The only stateside production prior to the Merseles Studios was two years ago in New York. “Now we are back and for me it is a dream to bring my show to this amazing part of the world,” said González. “It's the first time I'm going to act in New Jersey and I'm very excited.”
The article continues after this ad
González is a multitalented performer, actor and artist. His love of visual storytelling began while working as a circus acrobat when he decided to draw pictures while performing. But 12 years ago, a sand painting video inspired him to create this new form of theatre. “I discovered that the technique of sand is magical. Seeing how drawings are created, then transformed into stories is completely magical, hypnotizes you. It is a spectacle that makes you travel through a sea of feelings.” The underlying theme of Dreams of Sand is our shared humanity. “The message is clear,” he said. “No matter your race, your culture, we are all born naked and look for similar dreams.” Jersey City Theater Center - Merseles Studios is located at 339 Newark Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey.
J CITY Theater Returns With "Bakersfield Mist"
(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- J CITY Theater launches their first full season in four years with their Fall show: Bakersfield Mist by Stephen Sachs at their new location – The Barrow Mansion, 83 Wayne Street. The production runs Thursdays through Sundays from September 28th through October 13th. Set in a downtrodden trailer park in California, Bakersfield Mist is the story of Maude Gutman (Sandy Cockrell) who has recently purchased an ugly painting at Daisy’s Junk Shop for three dollars. Turns out, the painting may actually be a lost masterpiece by Jackson Pollock.
Old Library Theatre Presents "Parade"
(FAIR LAWN, NJ) -- Old Library Theatre, Fair Lawn Recreation Department's resident theater company, presents Parade. Six performances only: October 12, 13, 19 & 20 at 8:00pm and October 14 & 21 at 2:00pm. Parade tells the story of Leo Frank, a Brooklyn-raised Jew living in Georgia in 1913, who is put on trial for the murder of thirteen-year-old Mary Phagan, a factory worker under his employ.
The Lord Stirling Theater Company Presents "Treasure Island"
(BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- The Lord Stirling Theater Company will present Treasure Island in the English Barn Theater at the Farmstead Arts Center October 5-7 and October 12-14. Adapted for the stage by award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor, Crazy for You) from the classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island follows the adventures of a boy named Jim Hawkins who comes into possession of a treasure map.
Premiere Stages to Present World Premiere of Liberty Live Commission "Black Tom Island"
(UNION, NJ) -- Premiere Stages at Kean University will present Martin Casella’s Black Tom Island from October 11-21 at Liberty Hall Museum (1003 Morris Avenue, Union, N.J.). Originally commissioned over a two-year cycle through Premiere’s Liberty Live Commission, Black Tom Island will feature actors Damian Buzzerio, Mason Hensley, Jenna Krasowski and Bart Shatto. Producing artistic director John J. Wooten directs.
American Poetry Theater Presents "Gun Love"
(LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- The American Poetry Theater presents Gun Love from October 5-7. The play, written by cast and community members, runs about one hour and is a collection of monologues and a skit dealing with gun violence in America.
Two River Theater Presents The World Premiere of "Pamela's First Musical"
If anyone ever doubts that New Jersey is home to great theatre, just point them to the world premiere of “Pamela’s First Musical” at Two River Theater. The cast and creative behind this show by Wendy Wasserstein and Christopher Durang includes a combined total of more than 25 Tony Award nominations and seven wins. It’s a cast that would look impressive at any theatre – Broadway or otherwise. According to one of the stars, the opportunity to work with the 10-time Tony Award nominee director/choreographer Graciela Daniele and to be part of a new musical was too good to pass up.
The Jersey Devil on stage: An interview with playwright Brandon Monokian
Up-and-coming New Jersey native Brandon Monokian has worked as an actor, writer, director, producer, and popcorn sample distributor. He wrote and starred in the film Happy Yummy Chicken and co-founded the production company Love Drunk Life with Katie Frazer. Together they have produced plays, films, books, and, to support their creative work financially, a product line: lovedrunklife.com. Monokian received national attention through Revolutionary Readings (his TEDx talk at Princeton Library), which was used to fight the banning of the book Revolutionary Voices from two New Jersey libraries.
An Interview With Nicole Pandolfo
Nicole Pandolfo is a talented playwright from New Jersey whose work has been produced on four continents along with readings and productions throughout the Garden State. Her play, Brick City, is currently being presented at Premiere Stages at Kean University now through September 23rd. The play was commissioned and developed via the NJPAC Stage Exchange program. Premiere's production features Rafael Benoit, Jacqueline Correa, Madison Ferris and Chris Grant under the direction of Jessi D. Hill.
Ritz Opens Season With "Incorruptible"
Fun seems to be the operative word for “Incorruptible,” the production that opens the fall season at the Ritz Theatre Company on Thursday, September 13.
"Bright Star" at Surflight Theatre
Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s Broadway musical “Bright Star” has come to Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven. The comedian and the songwriter created the show after collaborating on a Grammy-winning bluegrass album called “Love Has Come For You.” “Bright Star” is set in the American South in the 1920s and ’40s, and it’s on a similar musical wavelength. We recently spoke with Surflight’s Artistic Director Steve Steiner, actor Adrianne Hick and director Elizabeth Lucas about bringing “Bright Star” to Long Beach Island.
Event calendar
Saturday, Sep 22, 2018
MUSIC
 |
Echoes @ The Stone Pony, Asbury Park - 7:00pm |
|
|
Cole Swindell @ Hard Rock Live Etess Arena at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City, Atlantic City - 8:00pm |
|
|
GRUPO NICHE @ Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC), Englewood - 8:00pm |
THEATRE
|
|
Souvenir @ Surflight Theatre, Beach Haven - 8:00pm |
|
|
The Shuck @ Cape May Stage, Cape May - 3:00pm and 7:30pm
|
|
|
Evita @ Broadway Theatre of Pitman, Pitman - 2:00pm and 8:00pm
|
|
|
Brick City @ Premiere Stages at Kean University, Union - 3:00pm |
DANCE
|
|
SOLE Defined @ Mainstage @ Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC), Rahway - 8:00pm |
LITERATURE
View all events
|
| | |
