SPRING READINGS

Willy's Boys
by Joe Leo

The actors of the King's Men originated Shakespeare's greatest roles, but how much of them went into the characters they portrayed and what was their daily life like? Shakespeare has retired, six different shows a week are taking their toll on the aging actors, and some new blood is desperately needed. Will Richard Burbage ever give up Hamlet and at what cost? Can the Company survive the departure of their greatest playwright? This irreverent new comedy offers a fascinating look at the staging of Elizabethan theatre as it presents one of world's most beloved theatre companies at a crossroads with every avenue leading deeper into chaos!

Congratulations to the cast of

Bullied
by Joe Leo

A free staged reading of this cautionary new play was performed on Tuesday June 23rd at the Shell Theatre  and plans are now under way for a full production for the Fall. This was an exciting opportunity to watch a new work proceed through its development process. Please be sure to join our mailing list to receive updates on performance dates!

Life is a constant series of trials for thirteen-year-old Robbie. A priest, a mother, a father, a coach, and a detective, and each one wants something different. A brutal cycle of physical and emotional pain extends from the schoolyard to permeate every pore of his being. The struggle in his working class home is echoed at school as Robbie is harassed at every turn. It runs deeper than anyone could ever know. Everyone gets bullied sometimes, and most of us are seen as bullies at some point by others, even when we fail to see it in ourselves. But what happens when the usual admonition to “stand up for yourself” gets pushed to an unexpected extreme? Sometimes a kid just can’t get a break. Sometimes a kid has to break something.

Congratulations to the cast and crew of The Taming of the Shrew and The Tamer Tamed on their fine productions!

On The Taming of the Shrew, Martin Denton of NYTheatre.com wrote:

"But, as one expects from Shakespeare, there is much in Shrew that is poetic and/or wise, and the play is a ribald, raucous good time, at least when done without adornment and apology, which is exactly how director Joe Leo is serving it up in his new production of it for Misfit Toys Repertory Company."

"In Nathaniel Kressen and Fabiola Reis, the production has a lively, likable, sexy pair of lovers for us to root for, and we observe the precise moment when the two realize that they've fallen for each other ... Reis may in fact be the best Kate I've ever seen, with an underlying intelligence and humor that makes her eminently sympathetic."

"Leo's staging is fast and funny, never missing an opportunity for a gag or some shtick. Shakespeare's puns are punched up for comic effect, and antic scenes like the welcoming "dinner party" for Kate at Petruchio's house are amped up to the level of circus ... All serves to remind us that Shrew... is a lark, and a goof, and indeed always has been and always will be. Leo lets us laugh at the frivolity without a single pang of P.C. worry. Well done."

Read the complete review at www.NYTheatre.com

and Fred Backus (NYTheatre.com) said of The Tamer Tamed:

The 1st Annual Misfit Festival was a huge success! Thanks to everyone who came to see our productions of CSI: Verona (read the review!) and Mixed Signals, or joined us for the staged readings and cabarets. Special thanks to our amazing casts, talented directors, inspirational playwrights, and hard working designers and crews. 

So What's Next?

The Company is ramping up for its Summer productions after some well-deserved recovery time. We spent the Winter reading plays, sharpening our skills, and refining our business and membership models. We've also begun planning our 2nd Annual Misfit Festival!  We've been hard at work with several playwrights and will be doing readings of new works over the next few months. Finally, we're fine tuning our educational programs... is that enough to stay busy or what???  Keep checking back for details!