sexy satyagraha (with apologies to MKG)

The only protest better than a nonviolent sit-in? A kiss-in. Oh, yes.

The pub which shut its doors in response to a gay kiss-in storm last week has closed again today in response to a planned second anti-homophobia protest. The John Snow, in Soho, central London, provoked headlines when staff allegedly ejected two men who were kissing. One of the men, Jonathan Williams, tweeted about the incident, leading to a flurry of media attention and a Facebook-organised "kiss-in" at the pub last Friday. It closed on the day – although the event went ahead as planned, attracting around 300 people. A second kiss-in had been planned for tonight, with over 1,100 saying they would attend, but the pub closed again this afternoon.

How can we make mass displays of public affection the default form of protest by activists? That would be awesome.

[The Guardian]

New Episode of "Diary of a Chorus Girl" is live online

"Diary of a Chorus Girl," the documentary series directed and edited by COItc's Sara Wolkowitz, continues with episode five. You can watch below...



[the You Tube]

documentary work from A2K Productions

Another dispatch from COItc's creative team:

COItc Artistic Director Adam Karsten's production company (A2K Productions) has teamed up with PJ Benjamin (the Wizard in the Broadway production of Wicked) to form the driving force behind a new pilot series Living Treasures. Their newly formed production company (PJLou Productions) will create the pilot for a 12-episode series featuring the last living survivor and witness to the Hindenburg disaster.

John Iannacone was a member of the navy and on the field when the Hindenburg burst into flames. In addition, they will be creating a documentary film for the Hindenburg Museum in New Jersey that will be screened for the first time this May 6, 2011 (the anniversary of the disaster).

[image via Cruise Line History]

Leah Bonvissuto leads the revolution -- TONIGHT

COItc Managing Director of Stage Leah Bonvissuto helms a celebration of the new collection BAsics, from the Talks and Writings of Bob Avakian, the Revolutionary Communist Party chairman, at the Harlem Stage Gatehouse tonight at 7pm. Featuring Ruby Dee, Cornel West, and others...

Harlem Stage Gatehouse, Mon 7pm. 150 Convent Ave (at 135th St)
(212) 691-3345 | revolutionbooksnyc.org
Subway: 1 to 137th St–City CollegeGet directions
$35, students and unemployed $15, premium $100

[TONY]

War Crimes @ Tunxis Community College -- TOMORROW

Don't forget:

Tunxis Community College presents a a revival of “War Crimes” April 8 & 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Founders Hall.

The cast includes Steven Mackenzie, Elizabeth Coffey, Lauren Austin, Alyssa Wasley, Bernard Sniadack III, Tommy Jackson, Tasya Abbot, Derek Guibert, Christian Torres and Johanna Yodkin.

For more information, call George Sebastian-Coleman at 860.255.3731 or e-mail gsebastian-coleman[at]txcc.commnet.edu.

Tunxis is located at the junction of Routes 6 and 177 in Farmington. For more on 40th anniversary events at Tunxis, visit tunxis.commnet.edu/40th.

your ad here [af(sw)]

If you have a product or service in need of exposure, have we got a deal for you. All's Fair (Six Western) has endorsement deals available for the following "Official..." categories:

• Energy Drink
• Tobacco Product
• Tax Preparer
• Financial Consultant
• Sportswear
• Bookseller
• Personal Hygiene Product
• Deodorant
• Alcoholic Drink
• Car Dealership
• Bail Bondsman
• Private Security Firm 
• Taxidermist

Have another niche category? Drop us a line!

(You can also give us fewer-strings-attached money here. We like that kind even more.)

[af(sw) Campaign Page]

War Crimes @ Tunxis Community College

To our Friends and Family in the Connecticut Capitol Region...

Tunxis Community College will present a theatrical production of Sergei Burbank’s “War Crimes” on campus April 8 & 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Founders Hall.

A description of the play states, “In a possible present, the former president of the United States has been arrested and is on trial at The Hague for the deaths of American Muslims held in a detainment camp. Narrating these events is a 17th-century Dutch merchant from New Amsterdam. Over the course of the play we realize it is as much Europe’s expectations for America as the ‘light upon the hill’ that are on trial as it is the American president. Responsibility for the excesses of dreams becomes the currency as all parties barter with fate.”

The show runs approximately 90 minutes and is suitable for teens and adults. Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased at the door or in advance at the Tunxis Information Desk.

The cast includes Steven Mackenzie, Elizabeth Coffey, Lauren Austin, Alyssa Wasley, Bernard Sniadack III, Tommy Jackson, Tasya Abbot, Derek Guibert, Christian Torres and Johanna Yodkin.

For more information, call George Sebastian-Coleman at 860.255.3731 or e-mail gsebastian-coleman[at]txcc.commnet.edu.

The production is one of a series of events at Tunxis Community College celebrating 40 years of education in the Farmington Valley and beyond. The College first opened for classes in October 1970 and currently offers almost 60 associate’s degrees and certificates, providing critical thinking and problem-solving skills that prepare students for transfer to bachelor’s degree programs and employment in areas with industry need. Tunxis is located at the junction of Routes 6 and 177 in Farmington. For more on 40th anniversary events at Tunxis, visit tunxis.commnet.edu/40th.

Noooooooooo

After I was handicapping the Republican primaries, someone said I sounded like I was talking about baseball. It's just as well baseball season opens today, because this is some depressing stuff, as far as I'm concerned:

In an unusual move, the coveted first debate of the 2012 presidential primary season is being rescheduled. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation announced that it is moving its "Reagan Centennial GOP Presidential Primary Candidates Debate" from May 2 to Sept. 14, 2011.

But where can I find a televised train wreck that is as excruciating as it is pleasurable to watch this Spring?

Oh, wait... never mind.

[CBS News and Meet the Mets, Meet the Mets...]

Sara Wolkowitz directs

A note from our managing director of film:

I was recently hired to direct and edit a new webseries. "Diary Of A Chorus Girl" is about Alex Ellis making her broadway debut in "Catch Me if You Can" the new musical opening on broadway in April. There will be 9 more, one premiering every Wednesday.

What are you waiting for? Watch it right now!



[YouTube]

Dancing at Lughnasa -- Next Week

Timothy Roselle in War Crimes

Friend of the company and brilliant lead in War Crimes Tim Roselle is appearing next week in a revival of Dancing at Lughnasa at the Amateur Comedy Club. Information is below; check it out!

Dancing at Lughnasa
by Brian Friel
March 21-27, 2011
Mo-Sa @ 8p
Sa-Su @ 2p
The Amateur Comedy Club
150 East 36th Street

Reservations:
212-414-5172
thesnarksltd@earthlink.net

your weekly af(sw) update

The waters keep rising.

Our friends and family keep coming through, helping us build a base of funds to continue our campaign into the fall. Of course, we need you to join up sooner rather than later.

There will be some chances for you to join us before the main event. We are an official selection as a staged reading in the 2011 Planet Connections Theater Festivity, and keep tuned to this space for more details on that and other opportunities for you to rub elbows with our spectacular cast and crew.

In the meantime, toss a couple nickels our way, wont you?

All’s Fair (Six Western) is made possible through the generous support of the Puffin Foundation, Centrum, Anonymous, Leonardo Giadone, Andrew Grosso, Barbara Hohlt, Eunice Inquimboy, Aaron Isquith, Janet Isquith, Steven Leshnower, Esq., Jackie Miller, Cristian Ossa, and Laura Rubin.



Conflict of Interest theater company (COItc) is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of COItc may be made payable to Fractured Atlas. The value of various goods or services is variable depending on contribution level. Any contribution above amounts specified on the campaign page is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

[af(sw) campaign]

your weekly af(sw) update

Let's keep it going, everyone!

Slow but steady wins the race, and our campaign for all's fair (six western) is a tortoise -- which is why the status bar for our graphic is green. (Uh, no. But it sounded good.)

It's early days, so we understand that it's hard to get excited about a project with very little to see. We're working on that; some visual and aural goodies are coming your way. (For now, you can go here, though.)

Come join the party; it's not a party until you get there...

All’s Fair (Six Western) is made possible through the generous support of the Puffin Foundation, Centrum, Anonymous, Leonardo Giadone, Andrew Grosso, Barbara Hohlt, Eunice Inquimboy, Aaron Isquith, Janet Isquith, Steven Leshnower, Esq., Jackie Miller, and Laura Rubin.



Conflict of Interest theater company (COItc) is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of COItc may be made payable to Fractured Atlas. The value of various goods or services is variable depending on contribution level. Any contribution above amounts specified on the campaign page is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

[All's Fair (Six Western)]

JapJAP -- tomorrow

A new show to tell you about this week. Hope to see you there...

a Keep It Movin' Production of

JapJAP

written and performed by Una Aya Osato

directed by Moises Belizario

in the FRIGID NY Festival

Friday, February 25, 5:30PM
Saturday, February 26, 2:30PM
Tuesday, March 1, 10:30PM
Friday, March 4, 7:00PM
Sunday, March 6, 7:00PM

at The Kraine Theater
85 East 4th Street
(btwn. 2nd Ave & Bowery),
NY, NY, 10003

$15/$10 students/seniors/struggling artists
Buy your tickets now!
www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?EID=&showCode=JAP6&BundleCode=&GUID=

"JapJAP is trying to find out who she is, tearing down borders and
tearing off clothes. Her body is her only road map as she embarks on a
journey through identity, culture, and history. Join award-winning
team, performer/playwright Una Aya Osato and director Moises
Belizario, for the world premiere of Una's newest, freshest,
full-bodied one-woman show: JapJAP."

[Show Site]

your weekly af(sw) update

Our fundraising campaign continues over at Fractured Atlas. Help us get the fundraising over with, so that we can focus on the more important things. Like where the heck I'm going to get giant mutant flowers for Kina's production design, an example of which is above.

All’s Fair (Six Western) Is made possible through the generous support of the Puffin Foundation, Centrum, Anonymous, Leonardo Giadone, Aaron Isquith, and Janet Isquith.



Conflict of Interest theater company (COItc) is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of COItc may be made payable to Fractured Atlas. The value of various goods or services is variable depending on contribution level. Any contribution above amounts specified on the campaign page is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

"The Hail Mary Pass" -- LAST CHANCE

Our friend Patrice Hamilton is presenting a one act play, The Hail Mary Pass, at The Manhattan Repertory Theater for its final performance on Saturday, Feb. 12th at 5:00 PM.

Tamara is marrying Curtis Thompson, who manages mutual funds for Langdon Financial Advisors, and it is the day before the wedding. Tamara is sitting in bed sneaking a cigarette and talking to Curt on her cell when her ex-boyfriend knocks at the door pretending to deliver room service. He knows of Tamara’s upcoming marriage and is determined to stop her from making a mistake. He overpowers Tamara and ties her hands together. When he discovers Curt is on the cell, he devises a game: If Curt can answer three of the eight questions right, Jake will concede defeat and leave them alone. Curt agrees and the game is on. At first, Jake’s questions seem insignificant, but as the play progresses, the game becomes more sinister. Eventually, Curt and Tamara are forced to acknowledge how little they know one another. When Curt finally ends the game, he’s got a score to settle with Jake and some questions of his own for Tamara.

Presenting at:
Manhattan Repertory Theater
303 W 42nd St # 3
New York, NY 10036-6908

FOR TICKETS, CALL: (646) 329-6588

your af(sw) weekly update

A roaring start to our fundraising campaign, barely a week old, thanks in no small part to COItc's oldest and dearest friends.

You can help, too.

We are well on track to make our targets, but that can only happen with your help. Hop on over to the campaign site and see what inducements we have to coax your coins. Shall we sing your praises to the heavens? Shower you with baubles and face paint? Toast your heath? All is possible.

Give early and give often...

All’s Fair (Six Western) is made possible through the generous support of the Puffin Foundation, Centrum, Anonymous, Leonardo Giadone, Aaron Isquith, and Janet Isquith.



Conflict of Interest theater company (COItc) is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of COItc may be made payable to Fractured Atlas. The value of various goods or services is variable depending on contribution level. Any contribution above amounts specified on the campaign page is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

give us your money.

Off we go.

It's a crass beginning to our campaign, but these are desperate times, and the work going into this piece is just too good. The gloves have to come off.

Yesterday our crowd funding site went live over at Fractured Atlas. Go visit now. Visit often. And tell your friends.

All's Fair (Six Western) is political, yes, but the tale of this play goes beyond the plot. This is about where COItc has come in the four years since we started mounting plays; it's about the new faces that have joined our journey towards God-knows-what; it's about losing the distractions of short term, frenetic productions and returning to our roots of in-depth dramatic exploration. Most especially, it's about a group of talented theater practitioners presenting a outstanding example of their craft.

Certainly the Puffin Foundation and Centrum haven't seen potential in this work for any political motives, but because the story we're trying to tell, and the group of artists enlisted to take the journey alongside that story's development.

Over the next eight months we're going to delve into a process that a lot of us haven't enjoyed in years. No more four-week sprints. No more hectic, ad-hoc, production decisions taken on vapors, too much caffeine, and too little sleep. Instead, we're going to get it right -- because otherwise, why bother? It's about making a thousand and one smaller, more reasoned gestures, and resisting the ill-conceived big splash.

But we need your help. Oh boy, do we need your help. Take a look at what Kina Park has come up with so far. Take a quick gander of the faces of the incredible lineup behind this project. We'll be telling you a bit more about their stories in the weeks and months to come.

And give us your money.

Watch this space for updates. And see you in the fall.

[Fractured Atlas]

"The Hail Mary Pass" -- THIS WEEK

Our friend Patrice Hamilton is presenting a one act play, The Hail Mary Pass, at The Manhattan Repertory Theater on Wednesday, Feb. 2nd at 9:00 PM and Saturday, Feb. 12th at 5:00 PM.

Tamara is marrying Curtis Thompson, who manages mutual funds for Langdon Financial Advisors, and it is the day before the wedding. Tamara is sitting in bed sneaking a cigarette and talking to Curt on her cell when her ex-boyfriend knocks at the door pretending to deliver room service. He knows of Tamara’s upcoming marriage and is determined to stop her from making a mistake. He overpowers Tamara and ties her hands together. When he discovers Curt is on the cell, he devises a game: If Curt can answer three of the eight questions right, Jake will concede defeat and leave them alone. Curt agrees and the game is on. At first, Jake’s questions seem insignificant, but as the play progresses, the game becomes more sinister. Eventually, Curt and Tamara are forced to acknowledge how little they know one another. When Curt finally ends the game, he’s got a score to settle with Jake and some questions of his own for Tamara.

Presenting at:
Manhattan Repertory Theater
303 W 42nd St # 3
New York, NY 10036-6908

FOR TICKETS, CALL: (646) 329-6588

batman mash-up

Would love to see Kate Beaton's submission to the Brick. Can we make this happen?

"The Hail Mary Pass" -- NEXT WEEK

Our friend Patrice Hamilton is presenting a one act play, The Hail Mary Pass, at The Manhattan Repertory Theater on Wednesday, Feb. 2nd at 9:00 PM and Saturday, Feb. 12th at 5:00 PM.

Tamara is marrying Curtis Thompson, who manages mutual funds for Langdon Financial Advisors, and it is the day before the wedding. Tamara is sitting in bed sneaking a cigarette and talking to Curt on her cell when her ex-boyfriend knocks at the door pretending to deliver room service. He knows of Tamara’s upcoming marriage and is determined to stop her from making a mistake. He overpowers Tamara and ties her hands together. When he discovers Curt is on the cell, he devises a game: If Curt can answer three of the eight questions right, Jake will concede defeat and leave them alone. Curt agrees and the game is on. At first, Jake’s questions seem insignificant, but as the play progresses, the game becomes more sinister. Eventually, Curt and Tamara are forced to acknowledge how little they know one another. When Curt finally ends the game, he’s got a score to settle with Jake and some questions of his own for Tamara.

Presenting at:
Manhattan Repertory Theater
303 W 42nd St # 3
New York, NY 10036-6908

FOR TICKETS, CALL: (646) 329-6588