LI Weekly: EastLine Theatre brings Angels in America to Long Island
Feature by Jennifer Corr
“It is ambitious, for what it requires, and the possibility of doing it in our local community, which has never been done, checked a lot of boxes for us. EastLine is celebrating its 10 year anniversary. All roads led to Angels in America.”
It’s been a longtime coming for all those involved with Angels in America, as the planning for the production began a year ago. Auditions were held in July, and rehearsals, with just how lengthy this production is, began in September.
“I think it’s exciting,” Clingan said when asked how they felt being weeks away from the premiere. “These characters are just once in a lifetime opportunities.”
Read the article here.
Newsday: Taking Center Stage
Feature by Barbara Schuler
Directing was never on Sheila Barksdale’s wish list. “I’m happy on stage,” said the African-American actress from West Babylon.
But when EastLine Theatre asked Barksdale to co-direct its production of Intimate Apparel, which runs from Saturday through Feb. 27 at the BACCA Arts Center in Lindenhurst, she just couldn’t say no.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement made her realize she needed to become more outspoken and active in pushing Long Island theaters to present stories that showcase the talents of African Americans. “This is something I’ve been asking for,” she says. “For me to turn it down kind of makes me a hypocrite.”
Read the article here.
LI Theatre Scene Review: In the Next Room, or the vibrator play
Review by Jaime Zahl
There is much more to say about this brilliant production, but in this case I would suggest letting your mind freshly experience all the nuances and powerful metaphor in Ruhl’s play. On par with an Off-Broadway show, I would implore Long Island audiences to make it a priority to see this rare gem of a production that raises the bar of creativity for all theaters.
Read the review here.
Newsday: LI Theatres spotlight black talent
Video by Steve Pfost
“I brought to the production the black voice in directing. I know this character, I’m from the south, I’m African American and as a black woman with that background I can bring that out of the character I think maybe a little better than someone who’s not used to that culture.”
Fire Island News: Two Gentlemen from Verona visit Fire Island
Review by Shoshanna McCollum
The slim spot of shade grew over larger over the course of that afternoon, so that all who wanted in on it was welcome. I returned home with that beach chair on my back hoping for the chance to enjoy more Shakespeare in the Park on Fire Island for many summers to come.
Read the article here.
Newsday: Shakespeare in the Park is back on LI
Video by Thomas A. Ferrara & Danielle Silverman
“There’s definitely more distractions being outside: there’s boats, there’s kids, there’s birds, but there’s also the sun, and it’s easier to get grounded, and it’s the way that theatre always has been performed and especially with this awesome group of people.”
Newsday: Much Ado About Summer
Feature by Barbara Schuler
“The pandemic made it a necessity,” he says, explaining that as the organization’s leaders planned a comeback, they were unsure when or how they’d be able to perform. “We decided to work toward doing something outside and just felt like Shakespeare was the right choice,” he says, noting that the Bard worked — and possibly wrote a play — during “one pandemic or another.”
As Higgins puts it, theater is about “community … we’ve just been through a very dark time where we’ve been forced apart.” With “Romeo and Juliet,” he says, we can “laugh, cry and grieve and find joy in life again. Theater is good medicine.”
Read the article here.
Newsday: An Act of Their Own
Feature by Claude Solnik
‘“I was hoping to film during an actual storm,” Gaug said. “The weather was fine, so we had to create our own storm by shooting near dark with a fan, a small light and sound effects from a cellphone. We were fortunate that the sky looked ominous that evening.”
With theaters closed and stages silent, Gaug is among nearly 40 Long Island actors, including many in their 50s and older, who have been performing Shakespeare solo outdoors, typically in a backyard, driveway or elsewhere on their property.
Newsday: A Provocative Farewell
Feature by Deidre S. Greben
‘Indecent is also an unsurprising pick for EastLine because of the show’s challenging nature. “It is a very demanding play,” says Higgins. “We had to find seven actors to portray 35 roles who could all sing and dance and convincingly speak a multitude of languages.”
While Indecent is not characterized as a musical, the director notes, “it is interspersed with Yiddish music performed by a three-person klezmer pit.” And then there is the task of re-creating its controversial rain-soaked love scene, in which an actual downpour occurs on stage.’
Read the article here.
BWW REVIEW: Treasure Island
Review by Jaime Zahl
‘From the abstract use of hoops to an exciting surprise from the ceiling in Act II, Treasure Island is bursting at the seams with imagination.
EastLine Theatre has garnered a reputation for ingenuity when it comes to their productions and their latest proves to be no exception. Both fans of classic literature and innovative theatre are sure to delight in this summer treat.’
Read the full review here.
LI Press: Performances Most Intimate
Feature by Nick Fodera
‘EastLine takes a different approach than a standard venue might, eschewing bigger-budget, higher-profile Broadway shows in favor of a more left-field approach that speaks directly to the community it is a part of.
“We felt that the one thing Long Island lacked was that it did not have a theatre that was producing work specifically for Long Island.”’
Read the article here.
BWW Review: Hand to God
Review by Anthony Hazzard & Scott Stolzenberg
‘Had we known sooner about the EastLine Theatre in Wantagh, we would have made multiple trips to see their hilarious production of Hand To God by Robert Askins.
The intimate and quaint space recently housed Broadway’s Tony Award nominated comedy and the venue appears to be Long Island’s best kept secret tucked away on Wantagh Avenue.’
Read the full review here.
Newsday: The Changing of the Bard
Feature by Jim Merritt
‘As a result, he said, “you are going to see a woman Oberon kissing a female Titania.”
He said that audiences should take away a message that “it doesn’t matter what your gender is or if you are transitioning genders or are straight or gay, love is love.”’
Read the article here.
LI Theatre Scene: Columbinus Explores an American Tragedy
Feature by Jaime Zahl
‘“Art is art. It’s supposed to invoke emotions in us – sometimes ones that may not be so pleasant,” said Mr. Noto.
Ms. Black said that columbinus ultimately portrays violence and puts tragic events and reality in front of people to inform and be honest.
“Origins matter. Precedents matter. Reflecting on where we came from and seeing how much or how little we’ve learned and grown is an important catalyst of change,” she said.’
Read the article here.
LIW: EastLine Theatre Presents Prospero, A Modern Tempest
Feature by Colleen Martin
‘“I got into this play through a confluence of events, almost accidentally, almost against my will,” he said, drawing laughter from his costars. He does acknowledge, though, that he’s lucky that he did.
“This is the most welcoming theatrical community that I’ve discovered yet,” Geffner said.’
Read the article here.
New Hyde Park Illustrated: Lifting the Iron Curtain on Comedy
Feature by Jillian Forstadt
‘The eight-person production toys with gender-bended casting, featuring a lead in drag and several other minor characters portrayed by actors of the opposite gender.
“We have our lead actor playing an actress and we also have two or three other men playing about three or four other roles, some of those roles being also women.”’
Read the article here.
Levittown Weekly: A Space for Theatrics
Feature by Jillian Forstadt
‘Just as the off-Broadway theater circuit in Manhattan influences the Broadway circuit, Daniel Higgins hopes EastLine Theatre can play a role in shaping conversations within the communities it serves.
“If we do the work that reflects the world we want to see or the topics that we want to talk about it, then the community around us will start to discuss them, and hopefully, eventually, deal with them.”’
Read the article here.
LI Herald: Freeport Native Brings Broadway to Wantagh
Feature by James Mattone
‘Nestled between a candy store and a carpentry shop, EastLine Productions sits modestly on Wantagh Avenue in Wantagh.
Broadway theaters have flashing neon signs that light up Manhattan. EastLine Theatre has a simple black banner. On the Upper West Side, the Vivian Beaumont Theater can seat 1,200 patrons. EastLine holds 48.’
Read the article here.