News – Page 4 – Andy Bragen

“Monster” – a brand new play, getting workshopped at New Dramatists

I’m in the midst of a two week workshop of “Monster”, at New Dramatists, as part of the Playtime Developmental Studio. I’m collaborating on the workshop with the director Portia Krieger. We’ll probably be doing a public showing next thursday the 19th at 3pm – check the New Dramatists site for further details next tuesday. Here’s a brief description of this very new piece:

Monster”, very loosely inspired by “Beowulf” tells the story of Brenda, who, having had her daughter taken away by the state, comes back to small town she grew up in. The town, dominated now by a big box store, is unrecognizable to her. She gets a job at the store, which is infested with a monster, which is eating goods and employees. Brenda will take on the monster, and in doing so will have to reckon with her own monstrosity.

Guest artist at the Missoula Colony

I’m thrilled to be travelling to Missoula, Montana next week to be a guest artist and workshop leader at the 20th Missoula Colony. I was interviewed last weekabout my tennis plays by the journalist Erika Fredrikson, who wrote a terrific article for the Missoula Independent.

Workshop of “Don’t You Fucking Say a Word” at New Dramatists

I’m excited to be collaborating with the director Lee Sunday Evans on a workshop of my play Don’t You Fucking Say a Word. There will be a reading, open to the public, at New Dramatists on June 8th at 6pm.

UPDATE/October 2016 – Tickets are now on sale for our November 2016 production here.

Some coverage/writing about MOBRO.

*MOBRO makes best ’25 Best Jazz Albums of the Year’ by Wondering Sound.

*A long review/description of the piece on Bird is the Worm jazz blog.

*Learn more and listen to the newly compiled 15 minute MOBRO sampler at www.mobromusic.com.

Governor’s Island Residency with LMCC.

Starting August 1st, through mid-December, I’ll be working out on Governor’s Island, have a Process Space Studio Residency from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. There will be public “Open Studio” events on Saturday/Sunday September 27-28, and on Friday, December 12th, during which we artists-in-residence will present work.

This is My Office featured in Chance Magazine.

This Is My Office‘s fall production with Playco is one of the shows presented in Volume 3 of Chance Magazine , which “[looks] at the world through the lens of theatrical design.” There is a great spread featuring Drama Desk Nominee David Barlow, focusing on the terrific work of set designer Andrew Boyce, lighting designer Tyler Micoleau, costume designer Kaye Voyce, and director Davis McCallum. It was a great team, one that I really loved working with. (And while I’m at it – let me sing the praises of our amazing sound designer Peter John Still!) Chance is a really cool magazine, and the photos, at least the ones I’ve seen thusfar, really capture some interesting tones from my play.

Mobro!

I’m thrilled to report that the studio recording of MOBRO, my collaboration with the jazz saxophonist John Ellis, is now available on itunes, and on our newly redesigned website: www.mobromusic.com. Tickets are also available for live performances of MOBRO on May 30 and 31 at The Jazz Gallery. You can read an interview with John and me here.

The Two Tanyas – workshop and reading at New Dramatists

My script for one actress, The Two Tanyas, will be workshopped at New Dramatists next week as part of their Creativity Fund workshop. There will be a reading of the piece on the 27th at 3pm. This is a play I’ve been working on for a while. It was formerly entitled “The Dowager”. Recently, I’ve been collaborating with the actress Florencia Lozano, and the director Erik Pearson.

A Brief Summary of 2013

2013 was a busy year. Among my activities:

-A production of This is My Office, my off-Broadway debut, with The Play Company, perhaps the most personally and artistically satisfying endeavor of my career.

The Subcontractor

I wrote The Subcontractor for Baltimore Centerstage’s My America Project, a terrific undertaking. The piece was directed by Hal Hartley, and performed by Crystal Finn.