Previous Productions
Season 8
Transformation Through Love & Humility
Transformation Through Love & Humility
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Teach Me How to Die
Written by Lisa Monde "Will Professor Mirrormord be able to teach them the impossible?" A master class in suicide note writing is being conducted by a professor of Philology – Scott Mirrormord. The group consists of six listeners – five men and a woman. Each of the participants made a decision to part with life. During the following two weeks of periodic classes, a number of events take place – both extraordinary and tragic, funny and sad… How did their meeting with the professor influence their decision to sever all ties with life? What conclusions did professor draw for himself? The borderline state of consciousness – is a fitting psychological term to describe what occurs to all participants of the master class. The thin edge of reality is slowly slipping away from them… They are all very different and have their own reasons, that prompted them to come to such a decision. The play is dedicated to the very relevant issue of the present – suicide, the statistics of which is scarily increasing in the whole civilized world. This work gives hope, and states that almost any decision to take one’s own life can be reversed, and the prime cause – can be seen from a different angle. |
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Dracula: Finding of a Shadow
Written by Lisa Monde "A Musical Inspection of Love & Identity" Most people think they know who the man “Dracula” is. How the Count Vlad Tepes became the prototype for the famous vampire novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. But they do not know the real truth of “Dracula’s” identity. How the loss of his beloved shattered him and his touch with humanity, creating a Shadow… a Shadow named Alucard. Now, through the æther of his castle, Dracula is searching for a new Shadow. Meanwhile, powerful forces are struggling for the soul of a woman named Mina Murray, a woman said to be romantically linked to both Dracula and a lawyer named Johnathan Harker. Alucard, fearing the Count’s search for his new Shadow conspires against Dracula seeking to prevent his inevitable connection to Mina. But who is really fighting for Love and who is conspiring for Evil: Count Dracula or his Shadow, Alucard? Please join the Onomatopoeia Theatre Company and Monli International Company, LLC for a new take on a modern classic filled with love, blood and rhetoric this October at the Gene Frankel Theatre. |
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The Man Who Shot Libert Valance
Written by Jethro Compton Based on the short story by Dorothy M. Johnson "A Classic Tale of Law & Order Versus Intimidation & Violence in the Old West” When Ransome Foster, a scholar from New York City, first came to the town of Twotrees he arrived bloody and beaten. Yet after a quick recovery and a promise to a young woman to help her learn to read, Foster begins to change the small town he starts to call home with love & education. This catches the attention of Liberty Valance, an outlaw who seeks to restore his view of ”the norms of society” through terror & bloodshed. Suddenly, Foster finds himself on a collision course with the experienced gunman forcing him to make a choice: to run or to stand up for what he believes in, to live or to fight for what is right… Please join Onomatopoeia for this classic tale of good versus evil, of law & order versus intimidation & violence, of one man versus Liberty Valance. |
Season 7
Love & Sacrifice
Love & Sacrifice
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The Gift of the Magi
& Other Short Stories from The Four Million By O. Henry | Adapted by Thomas R. Gordon "An Earnest Exploration of Love and Sacrifice in New York City" The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company and Rina Tee Productions present an anthology of holiday themed short stories exploring love and sacrifice from New York author O’Henry. Included are “The Cop and the Anthem”, “The Last Leaf”, and O’Henry’s beloved classic “The Gift of the Magi”. The Cop and the Anthem Soapy is a homeless woman living in Madison Square Park. With the coming of winter, she decides it is better to find another place for herself. Soapy prefers winter at Rikers Island. But after every attempt to get arrested fails, Soapy finally finds herself in front of an old church. Here she hears the faint anthem of the choir which remind her of old times with family and friends… The Last Leaf Two artist and best friends, Sue and Johnsy, live in a little apartment west of Washington Square Park. During a cold and snowy December, Johnsy becomes seriously ill. Growing increasingly fatalistic Johnsy becomes obsessed with the leaves falling from a vine outside her window. She tells Sue she has a theory: after the last leaf falls, she will die. Concerned, Sue tells her neighbor and friend Behrman about Johnsy’s theory. But what can they do before the last leaf falls? Gift of the Magi James and Della Young are a poor young couple living in a small apartment east of Union Square. Despite their poverty, they both individually decide to give each other the “perfect” gift on Christmas Eve. Though each of them fails to find the “perfect” gift, they each are reminded that loving one another is the best gift of all. |
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Life is a Dream
By Pedro Calderón de la Barca | Adapted by Thomas R. Gordon "An Allegoric Examination of Reality and Illusion" Flying over the wild riding a hippogriff, a woman named Rosaura comes upon a forbidding tower. As if from a dream Rosaura dismounts the winged beast and overhears a young man, chained to the doorway of the castle, lament the harshness of his life. He is Segismundo, a prince, who has been locked away in this dungeon for fear of a prophecy foretelling that he will be a tyrant who brings disaster to the country and death to the king. Rosaura and Segismundo soon find that their lives and their fate are bound together. But is this all real? Or was it just an illusion? Another dream… Please join Onomatopoeia as we celebrate the return of theatre in New York City with work that truly comes from our heart. |
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The Picture of Dorian Gray
Adapted by John Osborne from the novel by Oscar Wilde "A Moral Entertainment" Innocent young Dorian Gray has his portrait painted by his close friend, Basil Hallward. Dorian also meets Basil’s friend, Lord Henry Wotton, who introduces him to London's social circuit and a decadent world of self-indulgence. While Dorian's appearance remains youthful, he eventually discovers that his portrait ages, reflecting his sinful ways and growing uglier with each offense. Dorian then keeps the portrait safely hidden in his attic, but his mysterious behavior and ageless appearance begin to attract suspicion... |
Season 6
Modern Heroes & Modern Legends
Modern Heroes & Modern Legends
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Betty's Summer Vacation
by Christopher Durang "A Raucous Satire of Media & Pop Culture" Looking for a little rest and time to herself, Betty rents a summer share at the beach. But Betty’s luck turns to delicious lunacy when this sensible Everywoman gets drawn into the chaotic world of some very unsavory housemates – her friend Trudy who talks too much; the lewd, seminaked Buck, who tries to have sex with everyone; and Keith, a possible serial killer who hides in his room with a mysterious hat box. With sand between her toes, walking a thin line between sanity and survival, poor Betty will leave her summer vacation more terrorized than tan. |
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The House of Bernarda Alba
by Federico Garcia Lorca "A Drama of Women Enduring Oppression" After the death of her husband, Bernada Alba forces her five daughters to endure a brutal mourning period that doesn't allow them to leave the house for years. Trapped in a repressive home, jealousy & envy soon erupts among the sisters as they each struggle for personal freedom. Passionate, lyrical & haunting, "The House of Bernarda Alba" is an epic Spanish tragedy that seeks to incite revelation & revolution from its audience. Please join The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company this summer as we explore what makes this play a timeless classic that still speaks to modern audiences. |
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A Piece of my Heart
by Shirley Lauro "A Recollection of the Stories of the Women Who Served in Vietnam" This is a powerful, true drama of six women who went to Vietnam: five nurses and a country western singer booked by an unscrupulous agent to entertain the troops. The play portrays each young woman before, during, and after her tour in the war-torn nation and ends as each leaves a personal token at the memorial wall in Washington. |
Season 5
Searching For Honor In Desperate Times
Searching For Honor In Desperate Times
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Exploring Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
by William Shakespeare adapted by Thomas R. Gordon "An Anti-Violent Inspection of the Death Throes of Democracy" Julius Caesar enters Rome on the Feast of Lupercal as a hero beloved by the populace. He has triumphed first over the Gauls, then over the army of the Roman general, Pompey. When the senators see the reaction—including Mark Antony attempting three times to crown him as a king—some take this as a threat to Rome. Senator Cassius in particular has serious misgivings about Caesar's ambition. As a great storm besets Rome, Brutus ponders his course of action. Disaster threatens the Republic, but the cure may be worse than the disease. Please join The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company as we explore what would cause the senators of Rome to remove Caesar from power. We also want to examine how these senators ignored / misread the will of the people of Rome, causing a long and bloody civil war once Caesar was gone. The last great generation of the Roman Republic was full of legendary people… What lessons can we learn from these people for ourselves today? |
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Of Mice & Men
by John Steinbeck "A Timeless Story of Companionship & Love In Desperate Times" In the bleak & gritty California of the Great Depression migrant workers wander up and down the fertile valley in search of work. They are homeless, dispossessed, discriminated against and desperate to survive. Among these throngs of men we meet George Milton & Lennie Small, an unlikely pair with a dream of a better life. George is a guardian & big brother to Lennie and Lennie is a constant & loyal companion to George. They arrive a few miles south of Soledad where they find work, and for the first time, a real chance at a better future. Of Mice and Men is a classic parable about two men finding hope in each other in an otherwise bleak reality... A lonely world where lives intersect but seldom connect. |
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Medea
by Euripides adapted by Thomas R. Gordon "An Unflinching View of Pride, Betrayal & Love" Medea is a wife and a mother who has been betrayed. Her husband, Jason has left her for a younger Greek woman. Now Medea faces not only banishment but also being separated from her two sons, Mermeros & Pheres. Medea is not a woman who can accept such an insult however. Her pride will not allow it. So she turns all of her dark energies into wreaking the most horrific and terrible revenge possible against the man she loved more than life itself. |
Season 4
Playing In Literature & The Absurd
Playing In Literature & The Absurd
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Arsène Lupin VS Sherlock Holmes
based on characters created by Maurice Leblanc & Sir Arthur Conan Doyle adapted by Thomas R. Gordon "The Mystery of the Fair Haired Lady" There is a great secret surrounding the Chateau Thibermesnil and the mysterious fair-haired lady! A strange murder as well as the theft of the famous Blue Diamond have both taken place right under the noses of the French Police, and the gentleman thief Arsène Lupin is the primary suspect! After a failed investigation by the Sûreté’s Inspector Ganimard the French Police decide to call for the help of the famous English detective, Sherlock Holmes, who has sworn to solve the mystery, recover the stone and arrest his rival – all in less than three days! |
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Rosencrantz & Guildernstern Are Dead
by Tom Stoppard "A Comedic Odyssey Of Theatre & Reality" Two minor characters from the play Hamlet, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern, are unaware of their scripted lives and are unable to deviate from them. Will Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (or Guildenstern and Rosencrantz) manage to discover the source of Hamlet's malaise as requested by the new king? Are the answers as important as the questions? Will the mysterious players who are strolling around the castle reveal the secrets they evidently know? Can we ever really know what's going on? And whose serve is it? |
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Rhinoceros
by Eugene Ionesco "An Absurdist Journey Of Transformation & Identity" A small peaceful town in provincial France has a big problem. A pair of rhinoceroses have just arrived and they are tearing up the neighborhood! What is even more bizarre is that these are not ordinary rhinoceroses but people who have been victims of "rhinoceritis". Or is it something else entirely? Why are people really turning into rhinoceroses and what is Ionesco trying to tell us about society? |
Season 3
Love, Dada, Love
Love, Dada, Love
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Inspecting: Romeo & Juliet
by William Shakespeare adapted by Thomas R. Gordon "A Passionate Examination Of Love, Hate And Inevitable Fate" The tale of Romeo and Juliet is one of the most well known stories in the world. It is a story that has been told many different times, with many highly regarded interpretations. Throughout history many famous thespians such as William Davenant, David Garrick, Edwin Boothe and Laurence Olivier have all tried their own personal spins on the star-crossed lovers. There have operas, ballets, musicals and films all interpreting the romantic myth in their own way as well. Now The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company is looking to give the audience an opportunity to choose how this legendary story unfolds. Each night we will ask our audience a number of questions before the show which will determine which direction and interpretation the performance takes. So please come be a part of our theatrical adventure as we lovingly inspect Romeo & Juliet! |
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Let's Play: A Midsummer Night's Dream
by William Shakespeare adapted by Thomas R. Gordon "A Magical Game Of Love And Inspiration" Do you want to play a game? Well Shakespeare's faeries are upset because last year The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company did not produce any comedies… So to make up for this they are magically forcing our company to play a chaotic game of love based around A Midsummer Night's Dream! It will be a night of organized theatrical chaos full of music, laughter and dance as an audience of magical creatures play with a group of foolish mortal actors! Please join The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company as we lovingly tear apart this timeless classic searching for romantic love while also trying to appease all things magical! |
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Pseudolus
by Titus Maccius Plautus adapted by Thomas R. Gordon "A Comedic Investigation Of Love And Improvisation" A young Roman by the name of Calidorus has a problem. He is in love with Phœnicium, a girl who belongs to a Madame named Ballio, but a bargain has been made to sell her to an old and ugly Macedonian soldier. Calidorus will do anything to stop this, so it falls to Pseudolus, the clever slave, to help her master save Phœnicium from this Macedonian nightmare and win her freedom or she will lose her head. The stakes are high, and it is clear that Pseudolus does not entirely have a clear plan. Can Pseudolus improvise her way out of this awful mess and save the day for a happy ending? |
Season 2
Dreams Of Expression
Dreams Of Expression
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A Dream Play
by August Strindberg adapted by Thomas R. Gordon "An Existential Inspection of Happiness and Suffering" The daughter of Indra has come to earth seeking an understanding of humankind. On her journey she sees stories, people, and places merge and break like the waves of the sea. Can she understand why people suffer in a world so beautiful? Is there hope for humankind? Will we be able to find happiness? Help us search for these answers as The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company presents a compassionate examination of the play Strindberg called "my greatest joy". |
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Dracula: Bloodlines
by Thomas R. Gordon "An Exciting Exploration of Dreams and Reality" It was Jonathan Harker, with the help of Abraham Van Helsing, who succeeded in finally ending the evil of Count Dracula, Lord of Vampires, back in 1893. Now, one hundred and twenty years later, citizens of New York City have started having recurring dreams involving vampires, causing rumor of a new and spreading darkness. Meanwhile, powerful forces are struggling for the soul of a man named Morris Harker, the great-great grandson of the man who supposedly defeated the immortal vampire all those years ago... |
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Macbeth
by William Shakespeare adapted by Thomas R. Gordon "An Expressionist Realization of a Timeless Classic" Shakespeare's ancient myth tells the story of a man who is willing to sacrifice anything for his own gain. But as Macbeth's dream of becoming king turns into his worst nightmare, his anger and desperation only grow... Join us as The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company explores an expressionistic vision of this classic tale of ambition, magic and betrayal! |
Season 1
Timeless New York City
Timeless New York City
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The Three Sisters
by Anton Chekhov adapted by Thomas R. Gordon "A Surreal View Of Passionate Yearning" In a small rural Virginia town, three sisters (Olga, Irina, and Masha) and their brother live with their father while dreaming of returning to their former home, New York City. Soldiers from the local military base, Fort Lee, provide them some companionship but there is still something clearly missing in each of their lives... Olga attempts to find satisfaction in teaching but secretly longs for a home and family. Masha, unhappy with her marriage, falls hopelessly in love with a married colonel. And while Irina works at a call center she longs to be a part of the party scene in New York. Will these women find what is missing in each of them? Please join The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company as we re-examine Chekhov's timeless classic! |
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The Tempest
by William Shakespeare adapted by Thomas R. Gordon "A Musical Mixture Of Modern And Classic Love" Exiled on a distant floating island with her daughter Miranda, the sorceress Prospera has spent twelve years perfecting her technology and magic. Now, with the help of the islands spirits, she raises a storm in the sky, bringing within her grasp the enemies who ostracized her long ago. Somewhere close by, this magical tempest leaves the crew of an airship abandoned on the same floating island... What mystic forces will these people face in this place? What will they find? And what do Prospera and the inhabitants of the enchanted isle plan to do with them? Please join us as The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company combines elements of modern classical music with elements of modern classical theatre for this timeless tale of magic and love. |
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Lysistrata
by Aristophanes adapted by Thomas R. Gordon "A Daring Excoriation Of Politics In America" Fed up with all of the political fighting in Washington D.C. an American woman named Lysistrata comes up with a plan to get everyone’s attention and help bring Republicans, Democrats, and the nation together. Please join us for this modern adaptation of Aristophanes’ classic Greek comedy as the women of America join Lysistrata’s cause, Occupy Wall Street and eventually find a way to save America from itself. |