One of the perks to interning at Lincoln Center Theater is getting to see and be part of so many amazing productions. This season, LCT is producing an original musical, FLYING OVER SUNSET, Christopher Chen’s THE HEADLANDS, and a new opera, INTIMATE APPAREL, with music by Ricky Ian Gordon and libretto by Lynn Nottage, based on her play by the same name.

For weeks, INTIMATE APPAREL has been in rehearsals, and I’ve had the honor of being involved every step of the way. I met the full company on their first day, saw their performance at the Guggenheim’s Works and Process event, and was able to see their last dress rehearsal before going into previews. The production is stacked with talented, powerhouse singers. Their voices have enough power to break down even the sturdiest walls, and as someone who’s used to seeing and being part of musicals, it was quite the experience seeing an opera for the first time. The biggest difference? Knowing when and where it was appropriate to applaud.

The production follows Esther (Kearstin Piper Brown), a lonely African-American seamstress who eventually embarks on a letter writing relationship with George (played by Justin Austin), a laborer from Panama. They eventually wed and embark on an unhappy marriage, leading Esther to realize that only her self-confidence will see her through life’s challenges. It’s a beautiful story, and while I’ve been told opera’s can be difficult to follow, I had no trouble following this story. While at times it was difficult to understand certain words, it helped having projected subtitles to reference.

The opera is performed in Lincoln Center Theater’s Mitzi E. Newhouse, one of LCT’s more intimate spaces, no pun intended. When Catherine Zuber’s costumes hit the stage, it was hard to look away. They are absolutely breathtaking, and it’s clear that a lot of thought went into each character. The set design, by Michael Yeargan, is STUNNING, made of natural wood planks which provides a nice canvas for the tale. There’s even a turntable that’s utilized throughout in Bartlett Sher’s (Director) blocking. It’s certainly a BEAUTIFUL production!

Some of my favorite performances from INTIMATE APPAREL include Naomi Louisa O’Connell as Mrs. Dickson, Krysty Swann as Mayme, Arnold Livingston Geis as Mr. Marks, and Kearstin Piper Brown as Esther. It was clear that each of these singers put their hearts into each character, and their performances left me drawn in throughout. I hope to see it again on opening night, and if you have the opportunity, you don’t want to miss this new opera!

PREVIEWS: February 27th through March 22nd | PERFORMANCES: March 23rd through

Growing up in a small Pennsylvania town, nature has always been a place of comfort for me. Some of my favorite memories involve curling up next to a campfire or going for a walk in the park. Since I moved to New York City, I’ve found nature to be even more important, discovering parks to explore, and meeting up with friends along the way.

On my first trip to Central Park, I decided to take my roommate, Kenneth, along with me. We took the subway from 168th to the 96th street station and were lucky to have a warm day to explore. It was nice being able to unwind from our busy day to day lives. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we ended up walking about 35 blocks in total, stopping by the lake on our way to take in its beauty. I grew up right by Lake Erie, so whenever I’m surrounded by water, I feel at home.

As we continued on our journey, we came across several statues, an obelisk, gifted by the Egyptian government, several theatre spaces, and Belvedere Castle. The amount of sites to see within the park is AMAZING! We weren’t able to see everything in Central Park that day, but we covered a lot of ground and left excited to explore it further in the future.

One day, I met up with my friend Dorian, whom I met at Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre this past year. I loved catching up and seeing sites I hadn’t yet explored within Central Park. On our journey, we came across a cute marketplace and found ourselves in the Besthesda Terrace; the place where part of the “Stuart Little” movie was filmed, as Dorian reminded me. There are still places within Central Park I haven’t seen, like the Central Park Zoo, but already what I’ve observed has left me satisfied. Every time I go, there’s always something new to see. There’s a different energy in the park, and it always leaves me feeling renewed.

Luckily, I also live right next to a dog park with a GORGEOUS view of the George Washington bridge. I look forward to the spring when I can easily sit outside, watch the dogs happily play with one another, and breath in the beauteous nature that surrounds me. It’s amazing how much a trip to the park can renew your energy and leave you feeling whole again. It’s my escape, and I can’t wait to find other nature spots within this wondrous city.

After finishing my first week interning with the Press Office at Lincoln Center Theater, I got the chance to see their production of GREATER CLEMENTS on January 11th. Samuel D. Hunter is the brilliant man behind this masterpiece, and it was beautifully directed by Davis McCallum. Having seen a Broadway musical the week prior, it was nice to sit back and enjoy the wonderful things a play had to offer.

The production was performed in the Mitzi E. Newhouse theater; a very intimate space. From the moment the show started, I was transported to the Idaho mining community in which the play takes place. The production was staged in the round which helped make the audience feel as though they were flies on the wall. Never was there a time I felt distanced from the performances happening in front of me. The show truly held my attention, especially during Act 3, one of the most impactful acts within the show. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next.

Between Sam Hunter’s writing, Davis McCallum’s direction, and the work each actor put into their performances, the show was like nothing I’d ever seen before. Each performance felt grounded and real, rooted in truth. Edmund Donovan’s performance was TRANFORMATIVE! Throughout the production, he dealt with mental health issues. You could tell something was off with Edmund’s character, Joe, from the beginning, but never was the character played insensitively. It was clear that a lot of research had gone into sculpting his character.

I was also lucky enough to see Judith Ivey, despite her having to miss previous performances due to health complications. Her performance as Maggie, Joe’s mother, was STUNING! Every moment felt natural. Playing the role of Maggie would be no easy task, but she did it without batting an eye. The specificity, control and command she held on stage made her performance something I could watch again and again. It felt as though I was watching a masterclass. The way her character was written touched me deeply, and it illustrated the many sacrifices we make for those we love so dearly. The play dealt with societal issues as well, such as Japanese concentration camps and small towns being torn apart by richer upper-class society.

I am still amazed by the journey this show took me on. It was a three hour play with two intermissions, but I never felt like I was counting the time. I laughed, I cried, I connected with each of the characters. I’m THRILLED I was able to see this production before it closed, and it was a nice reminder to enjoy the little things in life. I can’t wait to work on future productions with Lincoln Center Theater, and look forward to seeing what Sam Hunter decides to write next.

After moving to NYC, I started off the new year by seeing JAGGED LITTLE PILL with my roommate, Kenneth Remaklus, on the evening of Saturday, January 4th. The musical is based on an album by the world renowned Alanis Morissette, with orchestrations and arrangements by Tom Kitt. Its book was developed by Diablo Cody, and the cast was lead under the direction of Diane Paulus. The production touches upon a lot of societal issues throughout; the largest being rape and sexual assault, how one deals with the aftermath, and how healing takes time.

Many aspects of this show reminded me of NEXT TO NORMAL, not so much because of the music, but because of how the story was mapped out. The main family involves a mom struggling with mental health, a father who’s always working, a son who can do no wrong, and an angsty teenage daughter who doesn’t understand why her mom acts the way she does. While the musical bounces from one character’s perspective to the next, it mainly focuses on Mary Jane Healy, the mother figure in the production, who’s played by Elizabeth Stanley. As the play goes on, we discover that Mrs. Healy was in a car accident, and that she was given a prescription to help with the pain. However, the physical pain is not the only thing she must endure. As time passes, it’s revealed that Mrs. Healy was raped during high school. She blamed herself for many years and never dealt with it. Later in the show, a girl from her daughter’s school reports being raped and Mary’s son was a witness. Mrs. Healy finds it difficult to cope with the monsters of her past and an addiction forms because of it.

The performances from the actors were strong, and the ensemble dancers showcased incredible movement that included a blend of modern and hip hop dance. The real standout of the show was Lauren Patten as Jo. Her song, “You Oughta Know,” in the middle of Act 2, was by far the most powerful piece in the production and was awarded a standing ovation mid show. With a production like JAGGED LITTLE PILL, it is clear audiences love pop/rock musicals, and with shows like MOULIN ROUGE, MJ THE MUSICAL, and SIX already in performances or coming to Broadway this spring, audiences are sure to be pleased.

©Mark Mineart

Kyle recently ended his run in Otterbein’s 2019 Dance Concert, Together Again. He started off the concert as a dancer in And it Begins, choreographed by Maria Glimcher. The piece focused on the evolution of man, and Kyle spent much time learning how to move with a primal, ape like physicality. He also performed in Progressions, a piece choregraphed by the dynamic duo, Tammy Plaxico and Kathy Bartelt. He is honored to have performed with many gorgeous dancers, and is thankful for the opportunity to have worked on such amazing pieces.