Award-winning pop-opera/musical featuring text by Gertrude Stein returns for limited engagement.
June 12 - 28 at Abrons Arts Center
“★★★★★ Irresistible… It’s hard to imagine a more heavenly jam.” -- Time Out
“★★★★★ Run, don’t walk to Gertrude Stein SAINTS! This isn’t a play, or a ballet or a concert––it is a happening. In its joyful, creative, critical, surprising way, it is also a love letter to America.” -- Examiner.com
"An explosion of creativity… 'Irrational exuberance' has found a new meaning. Standing O, baby, standing O." -- Curtain Up
"Truly earns its exclamation mark, Gertrude Stein SAINTS! is like nothing you’ve ever seen." -- Gay City News
“A wonderful theatrical event...should be on everyone’s must-see list… Nimbly confronts the essence of American language and joyfully engenders its soul.” -- nytheatre.com
“Beautiful harmonies packaged with elegant choreography and direction make this show an uplifting experience. It feels abstract, irrational, and transcendental, and we enjoyed every minute of it.” -- Maxamoo
“Remarkable… It is hard not to find the joy in Gertrude Stein SAINTS! ” -- BroadwayWorld.com
After winning two FringeNYC Overall Excellence Awards last summer, Theater Plastique returns to New York with an updated production of its acclaimed musical Gertrude Stein SAINTS! Preview performances of this limited engagement begin June 12 at Abrons Arts Center with opening slated for June 17.
One of Gertrude Stein's artistic projects was to write the sound of American language. Theater Plastique advances this idea, setting Stein's 'saints' librettos to distinctly American genres of music. Featuring rap, country, rock n' roll, hollerin', gospel, Shaker, bounce, jazz, and bluegrass,Gertrude Stein SAINTS! is an award-winning pop-opera that celebrates what it is to be American.
Directed by Michelle Sutherland, Gertrude Stein SAINTS! features original music composed and performed by the cast: Chante' Adams, Henry Ayres-Brown, Molly Griggs, Arica Jackson, Amanda Leigh Jerry, Johari Mackey, Jimmy Nicholas, Cara Ronzetti, Nathan Salstone, Siddiq Saunderson, Kelsey Tarantino, Jacob Vine, and Carter Woodson. The production also features costumes & set by Diego Montoya, projections by Kevan Loney, lighting by Justin Keenan Miller, sound by Elijah Miguel, and dramaturgy by Emma McFarland. Completing the production team are Jordan Harrison (Producer), Mitch Marois and Lauren Adleman (Assistant Directors), and Nzinga Williams (Stage Manager).
Founded in 2013 by Artistic Director Michelle Sutherland, Theater Plastique is an artist collective that develops original music theater, opera, and plays called The New American POP Theater. The collective is organized around principles of diversity, multiplicity, plasticity; the collective is diverse, multiple, plastic. Theater Plastique's first production, Gertrude Stein SAINTS! was produced at La MaMa Experimental Theater Club as part of the 2013 New York International Fringe Festival. The production won two awards: Overall Excellence in Music and Overall Excellence in Directing (Michelle Sutherland). The collective is currently developing new work using jazz techniques as the basis for collaboration and exploration. Theatre Plastique's second in a triptych of shows celebrating American poetry, Emily Dickinson OUTER SPACE! will be workshopped this summer at the Fury Factory in San Francisco and performed at in New York at The Bushwick Starr in September 2014.
Michelle Sutherland is a theater director and performance creator who develops highly original music theater and opera. Michelle began her work in the field of performance as the guitarist of an eight-piece gypsy jazz punk band. Her work with the Theater Plastique ensemble has spanned five years. Recent credits include the world premiere of ‘Bridal Suite’ by Rob Handel and Dwayne Fulton at Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh. She received her B.A. in drama from Stanford University, where she also staged original work. She is currently a John Wells Fellow at Carnegie Mellon's School of Drama.
Gertrude Stein SAINTS! runs June 12 - 28, Thursday - Saturday at 8pm with an additional performance June 17 at 8pm. Abrons Arts Center is located at 466 Grand Street at Pit Street. Tickets are $20 ($15 for students & seniors), and can be purchased online at www.abronsartscenter.org or by phone at 212-351-3101.