NEW YORK CITY PLAYERS INC

In 2023, NYCP had a rebounding of program activities that had been limited or put on hold due to the Covid pandemic. Throughout this recent active period, weve tried to evolve our projects to continue challenging ourselves artistically and investigating ways to form greater connection with audience and community. Our recent artistic output continues a commitment to producing work that breaks new ground and challenges received notions of form, audience and performing space. In January this year, NYUs Skirball Center for the Arts had the international premiere of FIELD OF MARS, written and directed by Richard Maxwell, in a two week run from January 19th - 29th. The work was co-commissioned by The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, and produced in association with the Under The Radar Festival. In FIELD OF MARS, a chain restaurant in Chapel Hill is used as a way to measure the progress of primates, from hunter/gatherer to fast casual dining experience, exploring topics: Music, Food, Nature, and Spirituality. The play doubled in size from a previously workshopped Part 1 (supported by 2022 NYSCA awards) adding a Part 2 which expanded the cast and narrative scope of production. The resulting performance ran 2hrs 15mins and featured a cast of 11 performers: Lakpa Bhutia, Nicholas Elliott, Jim Fletcher, Eleanor Hutchins, Paige Martin, Brian Mendes, James Moore, Phil Moore, Steven Thompson, Tory Vazquez and Gillian Walsh. The set and production created an intimacy in the vast Skirball space by placing the audience in risers onstage and close to a restaurant set stripped down to essentials. The performance was well attended with sold out performances of a 200 seat house, reaching a total audience of 2000. Expanding the work in such a short period of time and bringing it to a premiere was a significant achievement artistically and organizationally. Incoming Theater Division (ITD), a program started by Tory Vazquez in 2016 and now run by Katiana Gonales Rangel presented its 2023 show AFTER HOURS on June 1, 2, 3 at The Clemente (NYC), and reached an audience of 200. ITDs mission is to give newcomers (to this country and to the stage) a forum whereby they can write and tell stories. AFTER HOURS was written by Yasmn Sanchez, Rossana Appleton, Katiana Gonales Rangel, and Zulay Vanessa Ziga Zapata. The project brought in new ITD members, Amelia Carbajal, Macky Diallo, and Zulay Vanessa Ziga Zapata, who joined returning members Kai Stokes, Linda Mancini, Katiana Rangel, and Gillian Walsh. The development of this years project began with a writing prompt open to all ITD members on experiences working and holding down jobs. This collective writing process has been a defining aspect of ITD since its inception in 2016. For ITD 2023, NYCP sought to continue our association with the Clemente and its unique community and theater spaces. Los Kabayitos theater at The Clemente provided an intimate environment for new ITD members and a simple and direct avenue to present new and original writing and explore the mechanics of theater. The task of directing was shared by Richard Maxwell, Katiana Rangel, and Gillian Walsh.Another program NYCP returned to in 2023 was the Summer School performance workshop series, the fourth iteration. Summer School 2023 was held at Brick Aux space in Brooklyn June 6th -10th and led by company members Richard Maxwell and Gillian Walsh. 12 participants came from a variety of backgrounds and artistic disciplines to investigate the ideas about performance presented in Maxwells book, Theater For Beginners (TCG, 2015). The workshop culminates in final performances of original pieces written, developed, and performed by participants. Through Summer School, NYCP has increased the access to our artistic process, cultivated an open dialogue about our work and art in general, and helped outreach to expand our audience and community.