Opening night!

NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM opened last night for a two week run at Steps. The run was a big success and we can't wait to present it again! Tickets are still on sale here!

Meet the Creative Team

Paul Bedard (Director) is a theater artist obsessed with sex, death and insanity. He is a recent graduate of NYU's Tisch with a focus in theater directing. Past directing work includes SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER and an adaptation WOYZECK. Past design work includes ALLIGATOR SUMMER in the 2010 NYC Fringe Festival.

Katie Palmer (Choreographer), originally from San Diego, California, graduated from NYU, Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Drama. She began dancing at age three and never stopped, eventually supplementing her love of dance with theater training as an actor, singer/musician, director, designer, and ultimately a choreographer. Katie has begun to explore a hybrid of creation where she can combine her knowledge of dance and theatrical sensibilities to collaborate wherever movement is necessary. She has choreographed full-scale musicals, original musicals, original ballets, solo modern dance theater pieces, and concert dance pieces as well as consulted on movement-based theater projects. She also has performed as an actor and dancer in regional productions, musical and non, throughout the country. She is thrilled to be continuing this NIJISNKY journey and is so grateful for all the people it has brought into her life: the wonderful current company as well as the collaborators involved in the previous incarnation. Thank you to the dancers for your willingness and talent and the production team for your beautiful work, friendship, and sanity. Paul, love always for your inspiration, passion, and trust. To Mom, Dad, and Lizzy.

Randall Benichak (Orchestrator) is a Graduate student in the Film Scoring program at NYU Steinhardt. Having studied with Dr. Jerica Oblack and Dr. Marc Consoli in New York, and composer/producer Milan Slavicky in Prague, Randall completed his undergraduate degree in Music Theory and Composition at Steinhardt last spring. Now studying with David Spear, Randall's goal as a composer is to create and arrange music of all styles to accompany film, multimedia projects and theater

Kathryn Appleton (Stage Manager) is a recent graduate of Columbia University. She would like to thank Paul, Katie, and Rick for inviting her to become part of such a fantastic show. She would also like to thank the extremely talented cast and crew for their hard work and dedication. Hidyho!

Andrew Balmer (Lighting Design) has been working on lighting design since early high school.
His most recent credits include student productions of "Company,"
"The Secret Garden," "Songs for a New World," and "A New Brain."

Rick Fudge (Producer) is a recent Columbia University graduate looking for employment at an architecture firm. He is thrilled that the economy is strong, everyone is building so much, and architects are in such high demand. He will probably be making millions of dollars by next month.

Meghan Kennedy (Set Designer) is a recent graduate from Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Drama and a Concentration in Directing and Creating Original Work. While in school she designed the sets for a few other original works including Hello From the Children of Planet Earth (Max Reuben), and Sometimes I Can Almost See (Mark Costello). Other design credits include lighting for The Duende (Celine Nogueira) at the Stella Adler Studios earlier this year and costumes for her own piece The Devil, Tallahassee, and Mae. Thanks to Paul for bringing me on to the project!

Ramsey Scott (Costume Design) Recent designs include Red Over Red (31 Down/The Incubator Arts Project), Next Door (Manhattan Rep), The Remarkable Rooming-House of Mme. LeMonde (Target Margin/The Bushwick Starr), Company (CMTS), 4.48 Psychosis (Barnard), XMAS (Nomads), and Elektra (CU Players). Recent assistant projects include The Merchant of Venice (The Public), Next Fall (Broadway), and Thunder Above, Deeps Below (Second Generation). B.A. in Visual Arts from Columbia University.

Stephanie Warren recently graduated from University of South Carolina with her masters in integrated communications. She works at New York Theatre Workshop as the Office Manger and Development Database Assistant. Previously she has worked with the South Carolina Arts Commission, Carolina Alumni Association, Department of Theatre and Dance (USC) and The Brandon Agency.

Meet the Cast

Arielle Hader (Pulzsky) is a recent graduate from NYU Tisch holding a BFA in Theatre. Recent credits include Daphne in “Aboard the Carousel” (Ind. Feature Film), Erika Leslie in “12 Floors Up” (Ind. Short, premiering at the Boston Film Festival), and Mysha Marks in “The Mysha Marks Show” (Center Stage). Thanks to the remarkably talented cast and crew of Nijinsky. To Katie and Paul for taking a chance on me. To my friends and family, for their excellent hugging abilities.

Hogan McLaughlin (Nijinsky) (Chicago, IL) began dancing at age two at The Academy of Movement and Music in Oak Park, IL, furthering his training at the Lou Conte Dance Studio, Ruth Page Dance Center, and at the School of the Boston Ballet. He joined Momenta Dance Company in 1998 before dancing for the Lyric Opera Ballet and Lucky Plush Productions. He became a member of Hubbard Street 2 in 2006, joining Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in 2007. McLaughlin founded Cabins (www.hoganmclaughin.com), where he showcases his visual art and designs. He moved to Manhattan in 2010.

Jake Weinstien (Diaghilev) is thrilled to be a part of the Nijinsky team! He is currently a student at NYU. Jake has been dancing for 15 years, competing nationally and appearing with companies such as the American Ballet Theatre. Favorite credits: RENT (Mark), Spelling Bee (Leaf), and A Chorus Line (Mark). Training from Charlotte Klein Dance Centers. Many thanks to friends and family!

Annie Chang (Nijinsky's mother, ensemble) recently graduated from NYU Tisch with a BFA in drama. She enjoys working on new works (currently creating an autobiographical performance piece) and is giddy for this opportunity to dance. Recent credits include The Burkinis at the Abingdon Theatre and Rebecca in the workshop of a new play Killing John Grisham at the Jerry H. Labowitz Theatre.

Allison Goodbaum (Nijinsky's ballet tutor, Diaghilev's whore, Diaghilev's whorehouse encounter, ensemble) began dancing soon after she started to walk. At five years old, she attended "Cathy Dance Studio" where she was the smallest swan in a "Swan Lake" performance. She was a dance major at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School and took Master Classes with Alvin Ailey, Battery Dance and NYC Ballet. Allison recently graduated from Manhattanville College (2010) with her Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Theater. She was in many of the college’s shows including the modern dance piece "Blue" by Neta Pulvermaker. Allison is very proud to be a part of "Nijinsky in Asylum" and to work with such talented dancers. Thank you Mom, Dad and Beth for your constant support and for encouraging me to reach for the stars. This is just the beginning...I love you!

Billy Hart (Diaghilev's first love Dima, ensemble) is a graduate of Tisch. He currently works at Playwrights Horizons Theater School as an assistant to the Advanced Musical Theatre Practicum. Favorite credits include: Jean-Michel (La Cage), Ren McCormack (Footloose), Wickersham (Seussical), and Pinball Wizard (Tommy). Love and thanks to his family and friends.

Andrea Marks (Diaghilev's stepmother Yelena, ensemble) graduated in 2009 from Skidmore College as an English major/Dance minor, and moved to NYC last October. She has been pursuing dance, taking classes at the Ailey School and Dance New Amsterdam. Nijinsky will be her first post-college performance, to be followed closely by her second, when she performs in RAW Materials at Dance New Amsterdam next week. She is so grateful to be involved in this project. Thanks everyone!

Katie Polin (Ballet Company producer Prince Lvov, Nijinsky's replacement Massine, ensemble) is delighted to be performing in Nijinsky in Asylum. Recent credits include How We Love (NYU/Tisch) and Rehearsal! (NYU/Tisch). You may also catch her in an episode of the Biography Channel's "Celebrity Ghost Stories," airing this October as Suzy in the Lolita Davidovich story. Katie is currently a junior at NYU/Tisch, PHTS. Thank you to Paul, Katie, Makha, the entire NIA cast and creative team, and most importantly, Mom.

Len Shaffer (Pulzsky's father, ensemble) is a Philadelphia native and has a BFA in theatre from NYU. Len has trained with Rex Henriques at the Bucks County Dance Center and he can be found in both the audiences and rehearsals for such new play development workshops as PlayPenn and Hot Ink. He recently finished work on Outside the Sandbox with the Midtown International Theatre Festival and he is very excited to be a part of this incarnation of Nijinsky In Asylum and work with these wonderful and talented people.

Practice Makes Perfect

Since the workshop, the cast has been charging ahead learning some new choreography and polishing the old. On Thursday the dancers performed a run through of the entire show for the creative team and Sunday night begins tech! There is lots to be done in the coming week leading up to the first performance, but the magic of last-week theater always makes it happen. Here are a few shots from the rehearsal:

Visit our Facebook page to see all the photos.

Watch a Preview!

A Great Night at Montien's

Thank you so much to everyone who came to our fundraiser party last night and thank you to Johnny and Montien's Thai for hosting us! It was a lovely night with Crazy White Russians and laughs all around.

Some of the cast and crew of NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM

Tickets are still on sale here!

Get your tickets!

You can now buy tickets to NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM's upcoming performances on September 25 & 26 and October 2 & 3. Simply click here and you will be directed to Brown Paper Tickets. There you can choose which performance and buy tickets. Note that all tickets are will call.

See you at the show!

Poster Image!

Thank You!

We want to extend a huge thank you to those who contributed to the upcoming performances of NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM! None of this would be possible without the generosity and support of friends and family.

$10 or more

Maureen McVeigh, Lindsey Pogson, Clement Gomes, Kathryn Appleton, Rick Fudge, Claudia Gutierrez, Kate Gazzaniga, Evan Watkins, Alicia, Andrea Marks, William Vaughn, Cyndi, Cassie, Meghana, Rachel, Kate, Elizabeth Spano, Jake Millgard, Connie L. Wussow, Sean Tiemey, Mary Catherine Moore, Susan Marks, Kelly Preski, Judy Berger, Katie Dragon, Amanda Robbins, Chad Larson.

$50 or more

Kathy Durham, Janice E. Robbins, Christopher Kenendy, Jerry & Mary, Trisha and George Dagon, Zack Wussow, Ramona Krapp, Diana Bosse, Tammy Nelson-Matthews, Debra Kresch, Agnes Arquilla, Berdadette Heffern.

$100 or more

Phyllis Delahoyde, Eve and Bill Appleton, Bessie Taliaferro, Justin Gilmore, Tom Leonard, David Palmer, Linda Benichak, Lynn Kohrn, Sharlene Bedard.

$500 or more

Marilyn Lawson

We would also like to thank Playgarden for their continuing support and generous donation of space!

- The NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM Production Team

A Workshop, a Goodbye and a Space!

On August 19th, 2010 NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM was presented in workshop form to an audience of 23 people in lower Manhattan. The night was a great success and garnered wonderful feedback that we are now hard at work on implementing. In the audience was a mix of dancers, directors, friends, roommates and a few friends-of-friends that served as an essential outside perspective to the work. About an hour of material was presented with an hourlong discussion immediately following. The night was ended with a cocktail party on Katie Palmer's (choreographer) roof. The night was delightful and we look forward to the further development of the piece!

In other news, we are sad to say that Makha Mthembu (our stage manager) has returned to Iowa for school. She has been endlessly helpful and mood-lifting throughout the summer and we hate to see her go. Thank you so much to Makha for the hard work, love and humor! We now look to Kathryn Appleton, a Columbia graduate and friend of our producer, to take the reins and carry us to the end.

And last but certainly not least, we are proud to announce that we have booked a performance venue!! NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM will be presented at Steps on Broadway in the Upper West Side in just one short month! We will be performing:

Saturday, September 25th @ 9 PM

Sunday, September 26th @ 9 PM

Saturday, October 2nd @ 9 PM

Sunday, October 3rd @ 9 PM

Ticket information coming soon!

Also, we are in our last few days of fundraising with Kickstarter. If you haven't seen our page, please check it out. We depend on your support and would so much appreciate any help you are able to give us! Click HERE to see the page!

- Paul Bedard

Director, NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM

Fundraising for NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM

Hello friends,

We are in the thick of it now! Rehearsals have been underway for a month and we now begin looking towards our August 19th workshop in a few weeks. The cast and crew have been working very hard and are charging full speed ahead.

As we approach the halfway point in our process we are planning out the September production and gauging its demands. As with most things, producing theater is very expensive. We have just launched a site with Kickstarter to raise the funds needed for the production. If you are at all able to donate, we would appreciate it so much. Every little bit puts us that much closer to our dream production.

Thank you so much, everyone, for all the support you have given us thus far. I hope you'll check out our Kickstarter and keep following our blog as we approach our production in September.

Paul Bedard

Director of NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM

nijinskytheater@gmail.com

ANNOUNCING THE CAST OF NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM

NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM

Conceived and directed by Paul Bedard

Choreographed by Katie Palmer

Arranged and musically directed by Randall Benichak

Performed by (in order of appearance):

Nijinsky - Inna Yureneva

Mama Nijinska & The Baron - Annie Chang

Sonia, Nijinsky's First Encounter - Ally Goodbaum

Prince Lvov - Katie Polin

Diaghilev - Aleks Krutanis

Pulszky - Arielle Hader

Papa Diaghilev & Papa Pulszky - Len Shaffer

Yelena & Cecchetti - Ashley Marinelli

Ensemble - Andrea Marks

In addition Matt Polacek will be assisting the generation of character and choreography.

AUDITIONS

NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM

conceived & directed by Paul Bedard
choreographed by Katie Palmer
arranged & musically directed by Randall Benichak

NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM is a dance-theater piece depicting the passions and struggles of Russian dancer Vaslov Nijinsky and his two significant others – producer Sergei Diaghilev and wife Romola Pulszky. Drawing on classics of the time, this narrative and dance spectacle triumphs instinct over reason, emotion over thought and, for Nijinsky, art over the self. NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM performs September 2010 with 15 performers accompanied by a live orchestra.


AUDITION INFORMATION

Location:
440 Lafayette, 4th Floor

Dates & Times:
Please attend one of the two following 2-hour calls-
Sunday, June 27th, 8:30-10:30 PM
Wednesday, June 30th, 8:30-10:30 PM

Callbacks will be held by appointment as necessary.

Details:
Please provide headshot and resume
A series of short dance combinations will be taught
Dancing en pointe a plus

Roles:
6 male and 9 female dancers
Looking for collaborative dancers excited to generate material

Characters:

Vaslav Nijinsky
Sergei Diaghilev
Romola Pulszky

Mama Nijinsky
Prince Lvov
Leonide Massine

Papa Diaghilev
Yelena Diaghileva
Dmitry “Dima” Filosofov

Papa Pulszky
The Baron
Enrico Cecchetti

an Ensemble


For more information please email nijinskytheater@gmail.com

NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM

"People think that life depends on the sun. I know that life depends on people"

- V. Nijinsky

NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM is a dance-theater piece telling the life and struggles of Russian dancer Vaslov Nijinsky and his two significant others: producer Sergei Diaghilev and wife Romola Pulszky. The work combines the theatricality and styles of classical ballet, modern dance and visual narrative theater while collaging the work of the choreographers and composers of the time. Choreographically and musically, the piece pulls from such classics as Afternoon of the Faun and The Rite of Spring, both choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky, as well as Giselle, Petrouschka, The Firebird and others. The embodied and orchestrated collage uses the styles and mood of each piece to tell the biographies of our three central characters: Nijinsky, Diaghilev and Pulszky. With acore cast of 5 and an ensemble cast of 10, NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM fills the stage with narrative and dance spectacle to provide an experience that triumphs instinct over reason, emotion over thought and, for Nijinsky, art over the self.

Conceived and Directed by Paul Bedard

Choreographed by Katie Palmer

Musical Directed by Randall Benichak

Coming Fall 2010

- - -

NIJINSKY IN ASYLUM plans to workshop August 2010 and perform Fall 2010.
This production builds on a December 2009 workshop production at Playwrights Horizons Theater School with design and dramaturgy by Meghan Kennedy, Katie Key, Julia Locascio, Lindsey Sikes and Dan Stearns. The December 2009 workshop featured:
Nijinsky: Tripp Fountain
Pulszky / Women: Rachel Sussman
Mother / Doctor Frenkel: Theresa Burns

Diaghilev / First Doctor: Aleks Krutainis
Prince Lvov / Massine: Matt Polacek