NewsPHOTO CALL: Joel Grey, Lora Lee Gayer, Leslie Odom Jr. and More Celebrate PigPen's The Old Man and the Old Moon OpeningAcclaimed theatre troupe PigPen Theatre Co. debuts its first large-scale Off-Broadway production, The Old Man and the Old Moon, officially opening Oct. 7, following previews that began Sept. 26, at The Gym at Judson.
By
Matthew Blank
October 08, 2012
The work, a PigPen co-production with Britt Lafield/BKL Productions, Soho Playhouse, Inc. and Aaron Glick, continues through Nov. 25.
Alex Falberg, Ben Ferguson, Curtis Gillen, Ryan Melia, Matt Nuernberger, Arya Shahi and Dan Weschler are PigPen's troupe members, who create atmospheric theatrical fables through a blend of original music, shadow puppetry, live action and clever lighting effects.
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Joel Grey, Lora Lee Gayer, Leslie Odom Jr. and More Celebrate PigPen's The Old Man and the Old Moon Opening
The Old Man and the Old Moon, according to producers, "is the tale of an old man who must abandon his duties of filling up the moon every month to cross the seas in search of his missing wife, who left home in search of a mysterious melody carried in the ocean breeze. On his journey, the Old Man will encounter titanic leviathans of the deep, apocalyptic storms, civil wars, cantankerous ghosts and other startling and fantastical creatures."
The creative team includes Lydia Fine (scenography, puppetry), Bart Cortright (scenography) and PigPen Theatre Co. (puppetry). PigPen's animated short film "Bremen," featuring music from the album of the same name, serves as a companion piece and introduction to the Off-Broadway production. The film, produced by Gabrielle Nadig in partnership with Buffalo Picture House, introduces audiences to the "magical world" found in The Old Man and the Moon and is directed and animated by Brandon Roots with character design by Wylie Beckert.
In conjunction with The Old Man and the Old Moon, PigPen will re-release "Bremen" Oct. 9 and perform a live concert series at Joe's Pub on Monday evenings in October, November and December. Visit JoesPub.com.
PigPen Theatre Co. was formed at Carnegie Mellon School of Drama in 2008. PigPen has toured nationally and became the first company in history to win the top honor for a play at the New York City International Fringe Festival two years in a row (The Nightmare Story in 2010, and The Mountain Song in 2011). The troupe has performed in Chicago as well as New York's Barrow Street Theatre, the Boston Center for the Arts and The Irondale Center in Brooklyn.
The Gym at Judson is located at 243 Thompson Street at Washington Square South. For tickets, call (212) 691-1555 or visit OvationTix.com. For more information, visit SohoPlayhouse.com or PigPenTheatre.com.
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