Hilarious Comedy “The Z Team” on Theatre Row in NYC until November 23

November 12, 2024 / lolitaland / Leave a comment

I had the opportunity to attend the opening show for “The Z Team” on November 10th. “The Z Team” is a hilarious new off-broadway play, written by Jeff and Jacob Foy, a father and son playwright duo. They’ve always wanted to write a pure comedy together, and “The Z Team” is the result!

The play follows a failing advertising company’s creation of the Z Team, a team tasked with creating a commercial for a truly terrible product – the Bend and Blend (it’s a yoga mat with a blender stuck to it). The boss of the company, Jerry, assembles a team of the worst employees from each department to create the commercial. What ensues is a chaotic and hilarious journey filled with mishaps, misunderstandings, and unexpected camaraderie.

The show has a clever script, strong performances, and fun direction. I laughed out loud many times during the show, and the message of finding strength in unlikely places and the power of human connection resonated with me. I was also thrilled with the queer representation in this play. The ending was also super cute and fun (and with a sapphic surprise) — but I won’t say any more details since I’m keeping this spoiler free.

Don’t miss your chance to see this show!

“The Z Team”

Venue: Theatre Row (41o W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036)
Run Dates: limited engagement November 8 – November 23, 2024
Director: Jeff Whiting
Writer/Producer: Jeff Foy and Jacob Foy
Cast: Allie Trimm, Tyler Cruz, Ze’ev Barmor, Jakob Martinez-Cooper, Kaelee Albritton, Darby McDonough, Joe Mucciolo, Drew Starlin, Daniel Arana, Gabrielle Filloux

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The Opposite of Love

June 8, 2024June 8, 2024 / lolitaland / Leave a comment

As a huge fan of theatre, I was excited to be invited as a member of press to attend “The Opposite of Love,” presented by NewYorkRep. This play was staged at the Royal Family Performing Arts Space in New York City, a beautiful venue with an intimate setting in a restored landmark building.

Theatre has always been a space where complex human emotions are laid bare, inviting audiences to confront issues, reflect on meaning, and empathize with characters. “The Opposite of Love” is no exception. This powerful play dives deep into themes of love, intimacy, trauma, and healing, offering a poignant exploration that resonates on multiple levels.

Opening night photo – May 30, 2024, by Jeremy Varner

Trigger Warnings

“The Opposite of Love” tackles potentially triggering topics, including:

Sexual abuse, asssault, and non-consensual acts
Emotional and psychological trauma
Discussion of suicide
Graphic sexual language
Depictions of intimacy

The Story

“The Opposite of Love” is a contemporary drama set in NYC that centers around two characters: a young wealthy woman who is grappling with the aftermath of childhood sexual trauma and a down-on-his-luck male prostitute who learns more about himself and his own trauma. In the script, Eloise is described as a beautiful girl with tragic thoughts and Will is described as a tragic boy with beautiful thoughts. These descriptions ring true!

When we think about the opposite of love, the first thing that comes to mind is hatred but actually — the opposite of love is really indifference.

The Talkback with NYSCASA

Following the performance, there was an insightful and impactful talkback session with the cast of the play and a representative from the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NYSCASA). NYSCASA plays a crucial role in supporting survivors of sexual violence and advocating for systemic change to prevent future violence. They are working to create a world where survivors are believed, supported, and empowered to heal.

The talkbalk highlighted the importance of community support and resources for those affected by sexual violence. It was a reminder of the real-world implications of the play’s themes and the ongoing efforts needed to address these critical issues.

The Cast and Crew

The strength of “The Opposite of Love” lies in its exceptional cast and crew, who bring the story to life with nuanced performances and sensitive direction.

Written by Ashley Griffin
Directed by Rachel Klein

Starring Danny Gardner as Will
Starring Ashley Griffin as Eloise

Set: Brendan Mc Cann
Lighting: Zach Pizza

Intimacy Director: Crista Marie Jackson

Stage Manager: Kelly Merritt

General Manager: Kaylin Kellin

Human beings…we’re not meant to be alone. To never be touched.
Eloise

The Opposite of Love has limited engagement plays until June 15. If you attend this play, I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments!

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Stranger Sings

March 10, 2023 / lolitaland / Leave a comment

Are you a Stranger Things fan? If so, you should definitely check out the Stranger Sings musical! This is a parody off-broadway musical. Recently, they announced the show has been extended through April 30, 2023. You can still grab tickets if you want to check it out!

The Stranger Sings musical is at Playhouse 46 at St. Luke’s (308 W. 46th Street) in NYC. Jonathan Hogue wrote the book, music, and lyrics for the show, and it’s a fun experience. The theatre is on the smaller side, so you don’t have to worry about not being able to see. The way the show is set up has the audience surrounding the stage on all four sides. It’s very immersive! If you’re looking for a serious show, this is not it. It’s very campy and funny. I also don’t think you need to be a Stranger Things fan to enjoy the show, although being a fan definitely helps since you’ll get the references. It might be confusing if you aren’t familiar with Stranger Things (plus there may be spoilers for you!). If you’re worried about being spoiled but have started Stranger Things, you should be good as long as you finished Season 1.

The most surprising thing about this musical is the puppet! The character Will is portrayed by a puppet, performed by Caroline Huerta, the same person who plays Joyce. This was really unique and memorable for me. Some of the other actors also played multiple characters: Kyle Mangold played both Steve and Jonathan, and Harley Seger played both Eleven and Nancy. I was impressed by how quickly Kyle and Harley were able to change wigs and costumes! They were definitely skilled at quick changes.

I don’t want to spoil the show, so I won’t be going into detail about plot and specifics. You’ll have to check it out for yourself!

Here are some of my favorite things about the musical without spoilers:

The music is lively and cute!
They break the fourth wall (which was one of my favorite moments — Winona Ryder deserves an Emmy!)
Also — justice for Barb Holland!!!