Theater: New Shows!

There may not be much that's new onstage this week, but what there is is choice! I'm jazzed to catch some rock-'em action at the Brick Theater's Fight Fest this month. And last week, when I gave thanks for Mike Daisey, I couldn't wait to catch his new monologue at the Public. Also on my list was St. Ann's Warehouse, where our Pick of the Week makes its bow. "Brief Encounter", a film/theater hybrid by a celebrated English company, arrives for a month-long visit. Let's check it out!

Brief Encounter
Where: St. Ann's Warehouse
First night: Wednesday, Dec. 2
Closing night: Sunday, Jan. 3
URL: StAnnsWarehouse.org
Theater lovers won't want to miss this, the New York debut of Kneehigh, an inventive company who've been hot in British theater for years. They bring a particularly English bit of drama to our shores: a cinema-stage hybrid with script by Noel Coward and filmed by David Lean ("Bridge on the River Kwai").

Fight Fest
Where: The Brick Theater
First night: Tuesday, Dec. 1
Closing night: Sunday, Jan. 10
URL: BrickTheater.com
A play with stage combat is better than one without it. Brooklyn's Brick takes this rule-of-thumb to its senses-shattering limit by arranging an entire festival of stage combat. Pirates, ninjas, monkeys, zombies, musketeers, and even a Christmas dinner: Fight Fest stages the most violent scenes their stage can hold!

The Last Cargo Cult
Where: The Public Theater
First night: Thursday, Dec. 3
Opening night: Monday, Dec. 7
Closing night: sunday, Dec. 13
URL: PublicTheater.org
We can't say enough about Mike Daisey's superb monologues that mingle savage cultural analysis, poignant personal history, and well-researched fact. Playing to his largest NYC audience yet, Daisey describes his three weeks spent with a tribe on a South Pacific volcanic island and investigates the fallout of Wall Street's financial meltdown.

Misalliance
Where: City Center Stage 2
First night: Friday, Dec. 4
Opening night: Sunday, Dec. 13
Closing night: Sunday, Jan. 24
URL: PearlTheatre.org
British aristos spend another lazy summer weekend at the country estate of an underwear magnate, escaping from the traps of love, marriage, and children while trying to get laid. Who better to teach you the facts of life than Bernard Shaw, the great socialist playwright? The Pearl revives his classic comedy at their new home in City Center.

Orpheus X
Where: The Duke on 42nd Street
First night: Wednesday, Dec. 2
Opening night: Thursday, Dec. 3
closing night: Sunday, Dec. 20
URL: TFANA.org
Reinventing an ancient myth for the 21st century, this rock musical follows a glamorous star who blames himself for the accidental death of a poet. He unplugs his electric guitar, but this production (from Boston's famed ART) promises to be high tech, with video and audio-scapes that will blow your mind.

Last chance!
After Miss Julie
Where: American Airlines Theater
URL: RoundaboutTheatre.org

Hamlet
Where: Broadhurst Theater
URL: HamletBroadway.com

A Steady Rain
Where: Schoenfeld Theater
URL: ASteadyRain.com

The Emperor Jones
where: Irish Repertory Theater
URL: IrishRep.org

Wolves at the Windows
Where: 59 East 59
URL: 59e59.org