While Theater is On Hold…

Since the COVID-19 epidemic began, theaters have shuttered their doors while the ghost light shines 24-7. Instantly theater professionals were out of work. Unlike other industries, theater will take a long time to bounce back.

Like many playwrights, I have lost productions to the suspension of live theater. DINNER THEATER was to be produced in April by Stage Door Productions in Fredericksburg, VA. That production has moved online. A production of BROAD DAYLIGHT is scheduled this fall at the Kraine Theater in New York City (my first NYC production since IT IS DONE in 2011-12) but that is also up in the air. And who knows what else will be postponed or canceled in the coming months or even years.

The good news: many of my plays are available for purchase to read. Here is a complete list of all full length plays, one acts, and monologues available for purchase:

Complete Plays
IT IS DONE: available for purchase from Original Works Publishing.
THE THIRD DATE and LYING NAKED: Turn the Page: two one-act plays about Closure. Original Works Publishing.
BREAKDOWN IN BABEL: Stage It! 4: 25 Ten-Minute Plays.

Monologues
AMERICA’S BRIGHTEST STAR: Applause Books 2014 Best Contemporary Monologues for Women 18-35.
AMERICA’S BRIGHTEST STAR and IT IS DONE: Smith & Kraus 2013 Best Annual Stage Monologues for Men and Women.
MAYOR OF THE 85TH FLOOR: Applause Books 2019 Best Men’s Monologues From New Plays and 2019 Best Women’s Monologues From New Plays.

Of course, if there is a play you are itching to read that is not listed above, just reach out to me directly and I’m happy to send you a copy.

IT IS DONE wins Scenie Awards

Theatre40‘s production of IT IS DONE was recognized by The Los Angeles Scenie Awards for outstanding achievement in Southern California Theatre by review site Stage Scene L.A.

IT IS DONE was awarded the following:

Outstanding Production of a Drama (Intimate Theater)

Outstanding Performance for Lead Actress in a Drama (Intimate Theater) – Kate Whitney

Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama (Intimate Theater)
Kurtis Bedford, George Villas and Kate Whitney

Outstanding Direction of a Drama (Intimate Theater) – Jeff G. Rack.

And a big congrats to Theatre40 for being selected as one of the BEST INTIMATE THEATERS this year and Michele Young being one of the COSTUME DESIGNER OF THE YEAR recipients.

Congratulations to the entire Theatre40 team!

IT IS DONE runs at Theatre40 in Beverly Hills

IT IS DONE will have its next production at Theatre40 in Beverly Hills.

The play runs January 17 – February 19th and tickets are now available for purchase for the entire run.

More information is available in this article in Broadway World.

 

 

DINNER THEATER to perform at Greenway Court Theatre

Dinner Theater, a one-act play about a couple and a deal they make, will have its world premiere at the Greenway Court Theatre in June as part of the INFIDELITY, in Pieces series of short plays. Dinner Theater is directed by Mitch Levine and stars Chris Parker, Dey Young, and Patrick Quinlan. Performances are June 9 – 12. More information and tickets can be found here:

GUELLEN, KANSAS – Antaeus Playwrights Lab

The brand new 10-minute play GUELLEN, KANSAS will have its first public presentation as part of the Antaeus Theatre Company’s 2nd Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival. The play was developed through the Playwrights Lab, and the theme of this year’s festival is Classics Redux, short plays inspired by classic works of art.

The Playwrights Lab hard at work.

The staged reading is part of Series A, with performances on February 4th and 6th. Reservations can be made here. Make sure to make a reservation in advance, as these shows will sell out.

Classic Redux
Thursday, February 4 and Saturday, February 6
7:00pm
Antaeus Theatre Company
5112 Lankershim Boulevard
North Hollywood, CA 91601
$10 Suggested Donation

Rave reviews for AMERICA’S BRIGHTEST STAR

America’s Brightest Star runs at Railroad Playhouse through November 3rd.  Audiences and critics alike have raved:

“Goldberg’s impudent and cheeky comedy makes great fun out of America’s love/hate relationship with fame and reality television…America’s Brightest Star is an impressive beginning for Railroad Playhouse.  It would be a shame to let this play leave the station without seeing it.”  Cynthia O. Topps, Times Herald Record

A ripe multi-media rapid-fire-succession stage-show embedded with mature scenes…Goldberg developed a dialogue littered with double entendres twirling alongside a subtle metaphor about the life of bees…The play is both funny and avant-garde.”  Happy Hudson Valley

“America’s Brightest Star is a carefully crafted tale of innocence inside a laugh out loud dark comedy that by the end, has you somehow rooting for each character.”  Jay Long, Hudson Valley Insider

LYING NAKED and IT IS DONE open in May

LYING NAKED, a one-act play about a couple in bed and the secrets they keep, will run at Railroad Playhouse in The First Annual Railroad Playhouse One Act Play Festival, May 11 – 19.  Tickets and more information can be found at http://www.rrplayhouse.org.

IT IS DONE, the dark comedic thriller comes to a bar in Los Angeles.  The West Coast Premiere will take place at the historic Pig n’ Whistle restaurant on Hollywood Boulevard.  Performances are Sundays at 7:00pm, and Monday and Tuesdays at 8:30pm, May 13 – June 12.  Doors open an hour prior to performances for food and drink purchase.  Tickets are available here, at http://www.itisdonetheplay.com.

LYING NAKED to be produced in May

LYING NAKED, the one-act play about a couple and the secrets they keep while in bed, will be produced at Railroad Playhouse May 11 – 19.  This play won outstanding overall production of a one-act play at Planet Connections Festivity in 2010 and the script was published by Original Works Publishing.

IT IS DONE is a hit!

The audience and critics alike are raving about It is Done.  Only four performances remain, so come check it out.

“It is Done will thrill you, surprise you, and have you walking away shaking a bit in your boots…As an active playgoer, I see a lot of shows and normally I can “see it coming.”  This one completely blindsided me especially the ending.  Although it works well in an actual bar, this could go on to a full sized Off-Broadway theater; it’s that good.”  Karen Nowosad, Newark Theater Examiner, November 16, 2011

http://www.examiner.com/theater-in-newark/it-is-done-will-thrill-and-chill-you

BACKSTAGE.COM CRITIC’S PICK: “Vague supernaturalism, whiskey, and Hank Williams on the jukebox make this Sam Shepard’s stomping ground, but Goldberg keeps a sure footing. The playwright has a keen gift for dark humor, as well as an enthralling style of slowly unspooling information. Ojeda’s performance drives the production, featuring densely textured line readings that make each word sound like its own sentence. She plays Ruby as the ultimate alpha female, zipping ably among the seductive, comical, and dangerous aspects of her character while leading poor Jonas (and us) to whatever grotesque place she pleases.” Mitch Montgomery, Back Stage, November 16, 2011

http://www.backstage.com/bso/reviews-ny-theatre-off-broadway/it-is-done-1005537422.story

“The acting is excellent. Kalman plays his comic relief role with great success. Ojeda plays Ruby with a sharpness that was more fun to watch as her character developed. Sheehy play Jonas with a vulnerability and desperateness that had me rooting for him as the story played out. Goldberg has written a smart script that entertains from start to finish. I’d honestly go see the show again — it’s a fantastic outing for any New York theatergoer and perfect for a date or an evening with friends. There is quality throughout this production and I highly recommend you check it out.“   Ben Charles, Theater is Easy, November 10, 2011

http://www.theasy.com/Reviews/2011/I/itisdone.php

“Tom Wojtunik’s direction is fabulous…The actors all come through with strong performances.  By putting the audience in the midst of the action the creepiness factor is upped, the tension is tightened and the payoff is higher.  If you’re looking for something different, you’ll find it here.  If you’re looking for a good night of theatre with a twist – this is it.  Either way, It Is Done gets it done.”  Karen Tortora-Lee, The Happiest Medium, November 16, 2011

http://thehappiestmedium.com/2011/11/it-is-done-careful-what-you-wish-for/#more-15184

“A tidy little thriller…(with) plenty of laughs along the way.  If you enjoy a darkly-humored mystery in an unusual setting, “It Is Done” is worth catching.”  Jennifer Farrar, Associated Press, November 9, 2011
http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/2011/11/devils-details-it-done

“I really enjoyed this piece.  It was fantastic.  I found it much better written than many other things I’ve seen lately.”  Michael Portantiere, Broadway Radio, November 14, 2011

“Alex Goldberg has written a compelling, not to mention scary, play about human nature.  Director Tom Wojtunik wonderfully brings out the other side of all of the characters.  Hats off to Catia Ojeda for so amazingly dominating the action of this unconventional story.”  Ed Malin, nytheatre.com, November 16, 2011

http://www.nytheatre.com/reviews.aspx?id=it-is-done

“An intimate, engaging comedy-thriller.  It Is Done is a fun, entertaining ninety minutes of theater that takes advantage of its site-specificity without feeling gimmicky — and as a bonus, each ticket comes with a free drink.”  This Week in New York, November 17, 2011

http://twi-ny.com/blog/2011/11/17/it-is-done

“A fun ride.”  Karen D’Onofrio, Electronic Link Journal, November 2011

http://www.eljnyc.com/Offbway.html

IT IS DONE runs in New York November 7 – December 5

22Q Entertainment LLC and GO AlleyCat Productions in association with Joe Coots present IT IS DONE, the thrilling new play by Alex Goldberg.

IT IS DONE is a dark, dirty, sexy thriller about the secrets we keep. During a howling windstorm, three strangers are trapped inside a desolate bar in the middle of nowhere. Hank, the bartender, has a dirty mind. Jonas, a man on the run, has a dirty secret. Ruby, marooned at the bar with car trouble, has a dirty job.

This tense and taut site-specific production is performed in the bowels of a Times Square bar with the tunes of Hank Williams running throughout.

Starring: Matt Kalman, Catia Ojeda, and Ean Sheehy

Directed by: Tom Wojtunik

Production Stage Manager: Amanda-Mae Goodridge
Production Design: Tim McMath
Lighting Design: Christopher Thielking
Sound Design: Colin Whitely
Press Representative: Joe Trentacosta/Springer Associates

Performance Schedule: All shows begin at 7:30pm. The bar will open at 6:30pm for food and drink and stay open after the show.

Monday, November 7
Tuesday, November 8
Monday, November 14
Tuesday, November 15
Monday, November 21
Monday, November 28
Tuesday, November 29
Monday, December 5

All tickets are $30, which includes ONE FREE DRINK!

To purchase tickets and for more information, go to www.itisdonetheplay.com.
Performances take place at The Mean Fiddler, 266 West 47th Street
**Due to the mature nature of this play, no one under 18 shall be admitted.**