Culture Project

Culture Project is back! @cultureproject.org

This is where I first saw Trevor Noah (pre-​Daily Show blow up) and then caught a Fringe Festival show here as well. The Culture Project is discerning and forward thinking in an accessible yet challenging and entertaining sort of way. This is a place to go to see something that will make you think (sometimes outside the box, sometimes outside the triangle, sometimes why are you even trying to draw lines around this man!?) and leaves you with that «that was evocative and I wish I had seen it sooner in my lifetime» feeling.
I recommend grabbing a seat in the very center near the back, or towards the side near the front. I find the sound and sight lines are best there. The theater is small, so if you are small too (like me!) make sure you consider your seat choice so as not to be blocked by that inevitable tall person in front of you. Shows are typically on the affordable side and there is almost always something worthwhile running, so on those weekends when you just can’t think of something to do, check to see what’s running at the Culture Project, pick a time and go. It’ll likely be a satisfying choice.

The Culture Project presented «The Lion» at the Lynn Redgrave Theater. The theater is a small space, the kind of «shabby» that has character. The stage was spare (chairs and guitars), the house was packed, and without much fanfare the writer/​performer Benjamin Scheuer stepped onto the stage and began to sing his story. The music in «The Lion» is irresistible and oh can this man play guitar. The anecdotes (in song) that make up this play are charming and wrenching and real, and Scheuer tells them without parody, martyrdom, or self-​congratulation.​
Scheuer seemed humbled by the standing ovation, or maybe he was physically and emotionally spent. «The Lion» is 75 non-​stop minutes of folk-​rock-​pop-​opera and a one-​man performance rich in affection, anger, love, fear, and forgiveness. I caught myself leaning forward, with the rest of the audience. We were wholly engaged with Scheuer, leveraging our collective will to comfort the boy, mend the heartache, and heal the patient. Perhaps we did.

Saw Hamlet and Saint Joan here recently… really impressed! (sorry, this was an un-​posted review from a year ago)

I’ve been to this theater for several events and each time I’m impressed by how friendly everyone is. There are several festivals hosted there, and although the topics might be a bit heavier than other theaters, it is often balanced by humor.
Tickets are also affordable ($ 10 – 15), so it’s an excellent alternative theater staple. In addition, if you happen to be a creative (or would be creative type) you can go in and participate in a Think Tank discussion and meet with other creative types.

Watching Macy Gray and David Infinity Quartet.

I was here last month and Shaheed was absolutely phenomenal… I love their location too!

We saw «The Exonerated» today and it was quite compelling. The stories are all true (literally verbatim from interviews) and the actors gave a *superb* performance. The show has been extended until December 2 and I really recommend it.
(I would have posted this review a week ago, since we had tickets for last Saturday night’s performance — but they had to cancel last weekend’s shows because of the hurricane’s aftermath). Also, the staff are very friendly (both in person, on the phone and via e-​mail).

Simply put, I don’t think any other theater company in the city does work that is as timely, relavant, and important as the work that Culture Project puts on time and time again. They continue to amplify marginalized voices, bring issues to the forefront, and raise the level of dialogue on today’s important issues, through exciting theater, debates, film, etc.
If you like a nice mix of politics and art, if you like to consume and be entertained and be given something to think about for days after, than check out Culture Project. I’m so glad they’re back on Bleecker Street where they belong.

I saw Tennessee Williams’ ‘In Masks Outrageous and Austere’ here last week– wow what a great space for a show. The space is intimate and the staff is very friendly. We had tickets on hold for us, and the woman working knew right away who were were and had us seated. I would come here again for another show any day.
Also, the location is great, the 6 train lets off right in front.

I just saw Betrayed performed here and it was amazing. The space provided just the right atmosphere for such a powerful work. I would like to go more into the play itself, but I won’t since this is for the Culture Project. To find reviews on Betrayed go here:
I now have faith in Culture Project for supporting great work. At the end it feels like the whole audience was right there with the actors, and we could all feel the depth of these characters from each of our hearts. Will definitely be going back there to see what other gifts this theater will bring.