The Poor of New York
By Dion Boucicault
Directed by Tyne Rafaeli
April 24-27, 2013
The Connelly Theater
220 East 4th Street, Manhattan
Bitingly relevant and radically entertaining, The Poor of New York powerfully dramatizes the world’s first global financial crisis, the New York Panic of 1857. The story follows the banker Gideon Bloodgood and the intertwining fates of the families he imperils, casting an uncompromising eye on characters in every strata of society, from Park Avenue privilege to Dickensian squalor. It is an extraordinary piece, shockingly relevant and uniquely theatrical; truly a New York story with global resonance.
The play is a lost American classic. Originally written in the midst of the 1857 crisis, it has not been performed since 1931, when it was revived in response to the Wall Street Crash and its aftermath.
This production seeks to reinvigorate the vibrant, but neglected, tradition of the American melodrama. A cast of 25 will be joined by eight live musicians for an electric evening of riotous humor, visceral emotion, and political potency.
Come and be part of the action!
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Over the course of the production, we will be bringing together diverse communities from all over New York to reflect on how we live together in this City, and the human experience and meaning of wealth and poverty.
Through a number of outreach programs, we will be working with high schools in the East Village and immigrant community institutions across the city. We will also present a staged reading preview of our production at the Museum of American Finance on Wall Street.
Throughout our run, the audience will be invited to join us in a series of talkbacks and events exploring the lost genre of melodrama, the role that the arts play in society today, and how artists have responded to social crises, past and present.
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Everyone on this project is volunteering their time, driven by a passion for theatre and a belief in the importance of the story we are telling.
But we need your help!
Please get involved; be part of the buzz. Every penny and act of generosity is so appreciated as we try to realize the unique artistic vision of this project. Help us bring something special to the stage.
What We Need & What You Get
All money raised here will go directly towards:
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Sets, Props and Costumes. We're creating a unique window into 19th century New York. From the riches of Wall Street to the infamous ‘Five Points’ slums, this was the era of elegant Victorian fashion and impoverished immigrant ghettoes, not to mention the origins of Vaudeville and the invention of Tapdance!
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Musician's expenses. Our extraordinarily gifted team of musicians have been incredibly generous in offering their time, talent, and creative energy toward this production for no fee. The very least we can do is to cover minimal reimbursement for instrument transport, music copying, strings etc.
Please check out our unique little Thank You's, and support us in any way you can. Every penny counts profoundly.
Thank you in advance, and see you at The Connelly Theatre in April.
Director: Tyne Rafaeli
Producer: Michael Csar
Production Stage Manager: Alexandra Hall*
Set & Lighting Designer: Jiyoun Chang
Composer & Music Director: Stephanie Johnstone
Costume Designer: Andrea Hood
Sound Supervisor: Jon Bremner
Movement Director: Rachel Garis
Dramaturgy: Christina Hurtado-Pierson
Props Designer: Katie Fleming
Assistant Stage Manager: Jenny Ainsworth
Associate Music Director: Chris Nolan
Assistant Music Director: Jaye Hunt
Company Manager: Christina Boursiquot
Featuring: Dana Berger, Matthew Bovee, Salty Brine, Andrew Broaddus, Tucker Bryan, Quincy Ellis, Tristan Farmer, Ben Fisher, David Goldberg*, Brian Hastert*, Arden Kelly*, Jarret Kerr, Drew Madland, Erin McGuff, Vayu O’Donnell*, Angel Joel Ortiz, Justin Perez, Kati Schwartz, Ariana Seigel, Andrina Smith, Hanley Smith*, Natalie Smith*, Adriana Spencer, Macy Sullivan, Chris Tocco*
Musicians: Blake Allen (viola), Alex Mallett (banjo), Susan D. Mandel (cello), Chris Nolan (drums), Mike Perdue (percussion), David Personne (guitar), Joe Wallace (bass), Helen Yee (violin)
*Appears Courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association
The Show
Whether you can contribute or not, please join us at The Connelly Theater from April 24th-27th, 2013 to see our production. Performances run at 8pm on April 24, 25 and 26, and at 2pm and 8pm on April 27th. For more information and tickets please visit www.columbiastages.org
Even if you cannot donate, please help us by spreading the word about our campaign and about The Poor of New York. And most importantly, come see the show!