Instead of doling out big bucks for date night, take a stroll to Buffalo's historic Pierce Arrow Building's Manny Fried Playhouse, where you'll find the Subversive Theatre. The radical troupe writes openly hostile letters to the Buffalo Artie Committee, performs Hamlet as a rock opera and produces plays about feminist bees re-writing the Bible, Egyptian gods scolding Al Gore, and post-apocalyptic prostitutes stealing icicles.
Their current summer-long series, titled sUBVERsIVE sHORTs, is one of the only theater competitions devoted exclusively to political plays by American playwrights; provocative, and presented cabaret style in multiple vignettes performed in repertory. The event started in 2005 after Kurt Schneiderman, Artistic Director, encountered a showing of new political work while traveling and thought it would be interesting to bring those plays he had found to Buffalo. "The evils of the Bush regime triggered a real revitalization of politically oriented protest theater. We created our program in an attempt to both highlight and encourage the growth of this trend. Above all, I wanted to illustrate both to Buffalo theatregoers and to the world at large that political theatre was not dead in America. In fact, it's experiencing an important renaissance," says Schneiderman.
The series continued in 2007 as a bi-annual event in the cramped back room of Rust Belt Books. That year, the Subversive Theater put out a call for work and received over one hundred submissions, a substantial increase from the first year. They showcased eight plays. In 2009, when over two hundred and fifty submissions arrived at their door, it was decided that two line-ups on alternating nights had to be planned. As of this year, sUBVERsIVE sHORTs will be a yearly occurrence with curator and troupe member Lara Haberberger overseeing the planning and hand-picking ten of the most arousing plot lines.
Tickets are $15 or $10 for students, seniors, and Subversive Theatre members.
Details on individual plays are as follows:
"Artaud Nights"
June 17, 20, 26 and 27
July 1, 8, 10 and 11
THE EAGLE AND THE DRAGON
Written by Matt Hanf and Directed by Kelly Beuth
A clever parody of global politics as two high school students engage in intense "negotiations" on the inner workings of a school dance and the eternal struggle of boys vs. girls.
DO/DON'T DO
Written by Craig Abernethy and Directed by Tamara S. Hopersberger
An absurdist piece questions the nature of free will and freedom of thought as three everyday pedestrians are confronted with orders from an unseen voice.
GOD'S TEETH
Written by Michael O'Donohoe and Directed by Lara Haberberger
This brave and touching one-woman monologue is told from the perspective of the sister of a nun whose life has been torn apart by the Catholic Church's priest pedophilia scandals.
IN THE BEGINNING
Written by Joan Dunayer and Directed by Megan Callahan
A hilariously over-the-top story of two feminist bees who re-write the Bible to advance their gender and species.
HOW YOU PLAY THE GAME
Written by Diane Sampson and Directed by Bob Van Valin
Can you ever really beat the system? This vignette offers a sober look at the real world obstacles to gaining economic independence for Blacks in post-Apartied South Africa.
"Brecht Nights"
June 18, 19, 24 and 25
July 2, 9 and 11
IN GODS WE TRUST
Written by Diane Sampson and Directed by Tilke Hill
Two ancient Egyptian gods fight Al Gore for the hearts and minds of two middle American farmers straight out of America Gothic!
CLIMATE CONTROL AND THE COURTESAN
Written and Directed by Michael Fanelli
In a bizarre global warming near-future world where natural resources are as desperately sought after as prostitutes, one lady of the night makes a stand for justice.
MEDALS
Written by Mark Cornell and Directed by Virginia Brannon
This down-to-earth story follows the drama that unfolds as the parents of an American soldier in Iraq learn that their son is preparing to defect.
HONEY-COATED HAM
Written by Joan Dunayer and Directed by Michael Fanelli
An uncomfortably honest look at the savagery of the meat industry as a young idealist learns the truth about the inner workings of her uncle's pig farm.
STRONG SISTAHS
Written by B.M. Brown and Directed by Kurt Schneiderman
A devastating day-in-the-life portrayal of the experiences of five women as they wait for the chance to visit their loved ones in a minimum security prison.
June 17 - July 11
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 PM
Sundays at 4 PM
Manny Fried Playhouse
255 Great Arrow Avenue
3rd floor
Buffalo, NY 14216
----
Laura Duquette is a former ballerina who now dances with words and punctuation. She has a knack for asking questions faster than the speed of sound, and her interviews are often off the cuff and personal. She is Co-Owner of 12 Grain Studio, a Buffalo based creative firm that gives typical web design a kick in the ass.
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Their current summer-long series, titled sUBVERsIVE sHORTs, is one of the only theater competitions devoted exclusively to political plays by American playwrights; provocative, and presented cabaret style in multiple vignettes performed in repertory. The event started in 2005 after Kurt Schneiderman, Artistic Director, encountered a showing of new political work while traveling and thought it would be interesting to bring those plays he had found to Buffalo. "The evils of the Bush regime triggered a real revitalization of politically oriented protest theater. We created our program in an attempt to both highlight and encourage the growth of this trend. Above all, I wanted to illustrate both to Buffalo theatregoers and to the world at large that political theatre was not dead in America. In fact, it's experiencing an important renaissance," says Schneiderman.
The series continued in 2007 as a bi-annual event in the cramped back room of Rust Belt Books. That year, the Subversive Theater put out a call for work and received over one hundred submissions, a substantial increase from the first year. They showcased eight plays. In 2009, when over two hundred and fifty submissions arrived at their door, it was decided that two line-ups on alternating nights had to be planned. As of this year, sUBVERsIVE sHORTs will be a yearly occurrence with curator and troupe member Lara Haberberger overseeing the planning and hand-picking ten of the most arousing plot lines.
Tickets are $15 or $10 for students, seniors, and Subversive Theatre members.
Details on individual plays are as follows:
"Artaud Nights"
June 17, 20, 26 and 27
July 1, 8, 10 and 11
THE EAGLE AND THE DRAGON
Written by Matt Hanf and Directed by Kelly Beuth
A clever parody of global politics as two high school students engage in intense "negotiations" on the inner workings of a school dance and the eternal struggle of boys vs. girls.
DO/DON'T DO
Written by Craig Abernethy and Directed by Tamara S. Hopersberger
An absurdist piece questions the nature of free will and freedom of thought as three everyday pedestrians are confronted with orders from an unseen voice.
GOD'S TEETH
Written by Michael O'Donohoe and Directed by Lara Haberberger
This brave and touching one-woman monologue is told from the perspective of the sister of a nun whose life has been torn apart by the Catholic Church's priest pedophilia scandals.
IN THE BEGINNING
Written by Joan Dunayer and Directed by Megan Callahan
A hilariously over-the-top story of two feminist bees who re-write the Bible to advance their gender and species.
HOW YOU PLAY THE GAME
Written by Diane Sampson and Directed by Bob Van Valin
Can you ever really beat the system? This vignette offers a sober look at the real world obstacles to gaining economic independence for Blacks in post-Apartied South Africa.
"Brecht Nights"
June 18, 19, 24 and 25
July 2, 9 and 11
IN GODS WE TRUST
Written by Diane Sampson and Directed by Tilke Hill
Two ancient Egyptian gods fight Al Gore for the hearts and minds of two middle American farmers straight out of America Gothic!
CLIMATE CONTROL AND THE COURTESAN
Written and Directed by Michael Fanelli
In a bizarre global warming near-future world where natural resources are as desperately sought after as prostitutes, one lady of the night makes a stand for justice.
MEDALS
Written by Mark Cornell and Directed by Virginia Brannon
This down-to-earth story follows the drama that unfolds as the parents of an American soldier in Iraq learn that their son is preparing to defect.
HONEY-COATED HAM
Written by Joan Dunayer and Directed by Michael Fanelli
An uncomfortably honest look at the savagery of the meat industry as a young idealist learns the truth about the inner workings of her uncle's pig farm.
STRONG SISTAHS
Written by B.M. Brown and Directed by Kurt Schneiderman
A devastating day-in-the-life portrayal of the experiences of five women as they wait for the chance to visit their loved ones in a minimum security prison.
June 17 - July 11
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 PM
Sundays at 4 PM
Manny Fried Playhouse
255 Great Arrow Avenue
3rd floor
Buffalo, NY 14216
----
Laura Duquette is a former ballerina who now dances with words and punctuation. She has a knack for asking questions faster than the speed of sound, and her interviews are often off the cuff and personal. She is Co-Owner of 12 Grain Studio, a Buffalo based creative firm that gives typical web design a kick in the ass.
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