Author: Stebos

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Whereas Puppies Are Adorable by Tom Reed

The PIT, NYC

Within the Raucous Caucus political theatre festival organized by Box Wine Theatre at The PIT, I directed Tom Reed's Whereas Puppies Are Adorable, a scathing critique of the current over-conflicted Congressional atmosphere. Everything is debatable, even the most innocuous bill proposed by a rookie house representative simply arguing that puppies are adorable. On stage an ensemble of energetic "political animals" embodied by Charlotte Grady, Mahmoud Hakima, Anthony Paglia, Maya Schnaider, and Dennis Zavolock. With them, I worked on a gradual transition from civil discussion to grotesque physical confrontation when the beastly natures of politicians emerge. Everything, of course, is immediately broadcast through social media as the representatives soon find out.

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Fru Mary by Berioska Ipinza

440 Studios, Black Box Studio, NYC

In my second collaboration with Chilean NYC-based company LaMicro Theater, I directed Berioska Ipinza's Fru Mary, an exploration of how two siblings use their imagination to cope with being abandoned by their mother. Digging into the potentiality of this play, two talented performers, Daniela Thome and Roberto Sanabria have made rehearsals a true process of discovery. We presented this piece during LaMicro's Summer Session.

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Changing Neighborhoods

Center for Performance Research, NYC

In April/May 2015 I collaborated as dramaturg and director with three performer-choreographers – Lori Hamilton, J Reese, Sarah Starkweather – and musician Ken Kruper on a dance piece that tries to capture the spirit of a neighborhood as it changes over time. New people are first attracted and then pushed out in a constant recursive flux that materializes at different times during the exhibition through movement and music. This dance piece was created during the "Your [_____] Neighborhood collaborate:create residency produced by ForwardFlux. Photos: Stebos © 2015

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Your [_____] Neighborhood

Center for Performance Research, NYC

Between April and May 2015 I was invited to my second artist residency with Forwardflux for three weeks of intense collaborative exploration of how neighborhoods are transformed, gentrified, or even colonized. Through meetings once a week with the whole group of participants and more intimate rehearsals with two smaller groups, for the first time I worked as dramaturg of a dance piece, Changing Neighborhoods. For the exhibition program, click here.

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The Cutthroat Series: Grandguignol Duels at The Flea

The Flea Theater, New York City.

The Fall season of 2014 at The Flea was dedicated to the Cutthroat Series, eleven Grand-Guignol plays organized in four pods. Each of them replicated the concept of the douche écossaise, a mix of gory and lustful pieces. I directed Tics, or Doing the Deed (Apres Coup!... ou Tics) by René Berton with a cast of BATS, the resident company. Not only did the title of the series apply to the stories portrayed, it also meant that each evening the audience voted for the best play, eliminating the others. Tics received the most votes and was extended for a run in January 2015 for the Winners' Victory Lap. For pictures and program of Tics, or Doing the Deed, click here. To publicize the entire event The Flea produced a scary video where my cast experimented with makeup and grandguignol grimaces. You can watch it below.

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The Mysteries at The Flea

This project was my first collaboration with the Flea Theater in New York City and lasted from January to June 2014. With 48 playwrights involved, 54 actors and singers, a large group of associate and assistant directors, an indefatigable stage manager and 11 assistant stage managers, the show was an exercise in coordination of an incredible number of creative inputs and professional skills. For the full program, click here.

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Tics, or Doing the Deed by René Berton

The Flea Theater, New York City.

The Fall season of 2014 at The Flea was dedicated to the Cutthroat series, eleven Grand-Guignol plays organized in four pods. Each of them replicated the concept of the douche écossaise, a mix of gory and lustful pieces. Not only did the title of the series apply to the stories portrayed, it also meant that each evening the audience voted for the best play, eliminating the others. I directed Tics, or Doing the Deed (Apres Coup!... ou Tics) by René Berton with a cast of BATS, the resident company. In this outright farce, animal instincts resurface and human impediments disrupt the tranquil and boring routines of the bourgeoisie in the country. Everything ends with a loud and chaotic pandemonium. Tics received the most votes and was extended for a run in January 2015 for the Winners' Victory Lap. For more info and a full color program click here (Gore) and here (Victory Lap).

Photo: Stebos © 2014

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The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov

Theaterlab, New York City.

The 110th anniversary of The Cherry Orchard prompted me to stage this phenomenal play with my company, on the exact dates of the anniversary of its premiere at the Moscow Art Theatre. For this show I wore several hats: director, producer, set designer, event manager, translator, and a few others. You can find the Playbill for the show, including my director's notes, here. Here's the promotional video for the show, which captures the mix of serious and funny that Chekhov writes in every line and we tried to match at every step.

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Photos: Jeff Becker © 2014 Photos: Jeff Becker © 2014 Photos: Jeff Becker © 2014

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Resident Director: The Flea Theater - New York City

In October 2013 Jim Simpson, artistic director of The Flea Theater, accepted me as Resident Director and part of the team of this Off-Off Broadway venue. It's a very exciting development in my career and I look forward to many collaborative projects, especially now that another more spacious building is being prepared to host a brand new version of The Flea.