Beginning in January 2006, the annual event will have The Public Theater as its host. Public Theater artistic director Oskar Eustis announced the news at a press conference on April 21.
The partnership is somewhat ironic, since Russell was once a candidate for the hotly sought Public job that Eustis eventually won.
The first "Under the Radar" was held Jan. 7-10, 2004, at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn. Among the companies participating were old P.S 122 habitues The Foundry Theatre and Elevator Repair Service.
The four-day event was Russell's first "theatre curating" undertaking since he surprised the downtown theatre world in late 2003 by resigning as head of P.S. 122—a post he had held for 20 years.
The five acts featured at St. Ann's Warehouse at 38 Water St. included: Cynthia Hopkins' Accidental Nostalgia; Herbert Siguenza's ¡Cantinflas!; Marc Bamuthi Joseph's Word Becomes Flesh, The Civilians' Gone Missing; and Ethel's Streaming Ethel. Participating off-site productions included the Elevator Repair Service's production of Gatz at The Performing Garage; The Foundry Theatre's staging of K.I. From Crime at The Freight Entrance Theater; and Big Dance Theater Plan B at DUMBO Stable.
