only Three shows left!

Tonight (6.26.08), Friday & Saturday.

TICKETS $20 general admission
To purchase, visit www.arthouseproductions.org
or call (201) 915-9911

(Adult show, suitable for 15 yrs+)

Thanks for the post, Super Furry!!!

5 more performances of SEA STORY -- hope you can join us!!

**SPOILER ALERT**
Check out the fabulous cover story in this week's Hudson Current: www.hudsoncurrent.com

See you on the high seas!
-Art House Productions
****************


Art House Productions presents
an original play

SEA STORY

Val is down on her luck in Crabcake Bay. When she answers an ad promising adventure, a journey unfolds that will take her beyond the borders of imagination. A secret society of women, a busted ham radio, and mythological creatures come to life in this immersive theatrical experience, where the audience sits on board the ship!

PERFORMANCE DATES
June 12th ? June 28th, 2008 @ 8:00pm (Thurs, Fri, Sat)

STARRING
Maggie Cino, Katherine Damigos, Janice Ducate, Christine Goodman*, Ron Leir, Judy Nunez, Malachy Orozco, Jen Ponton, David Ribyat, and Helene Taylor

*Appearing courtesy of Actors? Equity Association

DIRECTED BY Jack Halpin
WRITTEN BY Art House Productions (Katherine Damigos, Christine Goodman, Jack Halpin, Richard Kirkwood, and Judy Nunez)
PRODUCTION ASSISTANCE BY Carlo Fiorletta, Judy Nunez

TICKETS $20 general admission
To purchase, visit www.arthouseproductions.org or call (201) 915-9911
For group and senior rates, call (201) 915-9911
(Adult show, suitable for 15 yrs+)

Seating extremely limited! Buy your tickets today!
Please note: Due to nature of this play, there will be no late seating

LOCATION
Art House Productions
Hamilton Square, 1 McWilliams Place, 6th Fl., Jersey City, NJ
(SE Corner of Hamilton Park near Erie St./8th St.)

PRE-SHOW DINNER!
Looking for a place to eat before the show? Art House Productions recommends THE EMBANKMENT restaurant, located at 234 10th St. (corner of Erie St.), just 2 blocks away from our theater! www.TheEmbankmentNJ.com. (201) 222-6115


This event is made possible by Exeter Properties and Hamilton Square. For more information, please visit www.livingonthepark.com.


www.arthouseproductions.org

06/17/2008
A multi-media adventure

Art House presents the original play 'Sea Story' in JC
Diana Schwaeble
Managing Editor

ON THE HIGH SEAS ? In ?Sea Story,? the crew finds plenty of adventure when they run into a severe storm miles from land. Photo by Steve Gold.
Fans of Art House Productions who witnessed the stunning adaptation of Tennessee Williams' "Camino Real" last year are in for a real treat with this year's multi-media production of "Sea Story."

The play features all the colors one has grown to expect from the acclaimed company (such as dance, film, and music aspects flawlessly incorporated into a piece), yet takes it to another level as the audience is part of the action.

But even if you haven't seen previous work, "Sea Story" is an outstanding work of truly innovative theater that has classical themes such as a sea adventure, yet pushes the boundaries by incorporating contemporary issues like homosexuality, bigotry, and more.

This original, collaborative play was written by the talented members of Art House Productions including: Katherine Damigos, Christine Goodman, Jack Halpin, Richard Kirkwood, and Judy Nunez.

The play, which opened last weekend in Jersey City, runs Thursday to Saturday until June 28 at 8 p.m. at Art House theater at 1 McWilliams Place, near Hamilton Park.

An adventure in theater

At the start of the show, ticket-holders are invited to find seats, which turn out to be in the middle of the theater. The fabulous set design by Tommy Halpin, Jack Halpin, Nyugen Smith, and Lynn Maffessoli, which is constructed as areas on a ship, gives one the feeling that they are on open water as they view the prow of the ship and the crow's nest from the inside.

Adding to that feel is the staging and direction of the actors by Director Jack Halpin who has wisely put the audience in the center and directed this piece as theater in the round.

The action takes place in every imaginable space and gives the audience a chance to test their own sea legs as they are invited to stand or spin their chairs around the place to view all angles.

A sea worthy cast

The tight-knit ensemble cast is delightful in this production. The crew of the ship - all misfits in their own way - has signed on "for adventure" and travel wherever the whims of their captain takes them.

Christine Goodman, founder of Art House Productions, stars as Margaret Mayfair St. James, the captain and owner of the 17th century vessel.

The crew features First Mate McKenzie (played by Helene Taylor), Billie (played by Janice Ducate), Evelyn (played by Jen Ponton), Hopper (played by Katherine Damigos) and Malachy Orozco as "Bob" the only male among the all-female crew, who all wear provocative sea wench outfits - complete with the bodice and boots. The talented cast members each bring to life their varied characters. There is the innocent Evelyn; Jersey girl Billie, who leaves behind a husband and drudgery; the hyper, hostile, yet fiercely loyal Hopper; straight forward and sharp-eyed McKenzie; and the poet Bob, who likes to wear women's clothing and talk in rhyming verse.

While at dock in Crabcake Bay, Valerie (played by Maggie Cino), answers an ad that asks for crewmen "looking for adventure." Although seemingly down on her luck and walking with a slight limp, Valerie says that she is more than capable to handle the heavy lifting requirements.

She is delayed however, when the Harbormaster (played with aplomb by Ron Leir) tells McKenzie that the boat has to shove off since Crabcake Bay doesn't allow "whores."

Captain Margaret glides down from the prow of the ship to correct the Harbormaster, who becomes apologetic when he realizes that the captain is none other than Margaret Mayfair St. James, the famous inspirational writer.

Goodman literally commands attention as Captain Margaret with her sonorous voice and sweeping Victorian dress. She is perfectly cast as the confident captain. Part healer, part guru, and part crazy, Captain Margaret tells her crew that they "are all sisters" and orders members to "testify" each time before they cast off for sea.

Fast-paced

The show comes in under 90 minutes with no intermission, but chances are you won't notice the time as there are no wasted minutes. The script is fast-paced and moving and is sure to keep audience members engrossed in the unfolding drama.

Other members of the cast and crew include: Judy Nunez, David Ribyat, and Carlo Fiorletta.

This event was made possible with the generous support of their sponsors, Exter Properties and Hamilton Square.

"Sea Story" runs June 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, and 28, with all performances at 8 p.m. at Art House theater at 1 McWilliams Place, Sixth floor, in Jersey City.

The cost per ticket is $20 and discounts are available for seniors. Tickets are limited so reservations are recommended. For more information, call (201) 915-9911 or visit: www.arthouseproductions.org.



http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?br ... v_sec=68514&nr=1&nostat=1

Set sail on high seas with 'Story'
Jersey City troupe testing the waters with original work
Friday, June 13, 2008
By JEFF THEODORE

JOURNAL ARTS EDITOR

W ith summer well on its way, it's a perfect time to embrace all things nautical.

For its first original piece of work, Art House Productions, a Jersey City performance company, is summoning water lovers to see "Sea Story," a play that runs through June 28.

The play, which has been in development for about a year, will have its audiences seated in a simulated ship on a journey to Crabcake Bay. There, Val, the main character, answers an ad promising adventure. Other elements of the play includes a secret society of women, a busted ham radio and mythological creatures that come to life.

Christine Goodman, founder and artistic director for Art House, says she imagined the show in her mind a year ago.

"This has been a beautiful labor of love," Goodman says. "I brought in people that Art House has worked with in previous productions, and then we started writing the script as a team. As it turns out, everybody in our development team had various relationships with the water, having lived around it or had experiences. We all had a personal investment and really connected to the theme."

The production will feature an actual ship, although not full-size, with a bow, canvas featuring aquatic scenes and a crow's nest. The audience will sit in an in-the-round setting as the actors perform.

It's the first time Art House has done in-the-round and also the first full-scale production in its new space at Hamilton Square.

"This is the first of hopefully a lot of projects we're excited about," Goodman says. "This has definitely been an ambitious undertaking but everybody has been game for it and put their all into it."

Goodman, who also has a role in the show, says it was intimidating to take on creating an original play. Generally, Art House has presented their version of plays and musicals already on the theater circuit.

"I didn't know if people would agree with my idea," Goodman says. "But as soon as we sat down and started writing it, the energy was remarkable. We have a tremendous cast and a visionary director."

Jack Halpin is the director, while the cast also includes The Jersey Journal's own intrepid reporter, Ronald Leir.

Goodman says the play came to fruition because she's always been an avid fan of water.

"I'm captivated by the mythology of the sea and the stories surrounding it," she says. "This play will be a great way to kick off the summer. I hope people will come and see what we've created. Great theater is happening on this side of the Hudson and Art House is proud to be part of the movement."



Sea Story is NOW PLAYING! I saw the play and it is really great!
http://arthouseproductions.org/calendar.html