Bliss Street

By Abra Bigham
Directed by Lissa Moira
April 27 – May 20
APR 27 - MAY 20; WED, THU, FRI, SAT at 8 PM, SUN at 3 PM

THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY
Executive Director, Crystal Field

in association with Sound Dog Properties

Presents

Bliss Street

Extended performances to May 18, 19, 20

April 27, 2023 – May 14, 2023  May 20, 2023
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8:00PM, Sunday at 3:00 PM
Running Time: 2 hours 30 minutes with 10 minute intermission
Tickets $18, Students and Seniors $12

Previews April 27 & 28. Critics are invited on or after April 29 (opening date).
Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/f8Kq7Do2EPhKjLDu6
Bliss Street Official Press Release

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02vskmSnBRp4nXJNHa3iff8GXnsfBtJXmZSUvxTLor5ZEwQF8EbmnFe9mXa1LtYFL5l&id=100050926987849&mibextid=qC1gEa

Theater for the New City
155 First Avenue (between 9th & 10th Street)
JOHNSON THEATER

“Bliss Street” is a new musical recounting a significant chapter of New York’s iconic 70’s Rock & Roll history. It documents the life and legacy of Paul Sub, who founded and ran a succession of New York music clubs in the 1970’s. These included the short-lived Popcorn Pub (1972-3) and the more enduring Coventry on Bliss Street in Queens (1974-76), where artists such as Kiss, The Ramones and The New York Dolls debuted. Written by Abra Bigham from a concept by Rich Brotman, with songs by Charlie Sub, directed by Lissa Moira, it is both an homage to Paul and a coming of age story of his son, Charlie, who grew up in the “revolutionary” 60’s and 70’s in the gritty atmosphere of his father’s clubs. Creatively stymied in his own musical career, Charlie moved to California to find his purpose but ultimately came back to NY and his father’s milieu to find his Rock ‘n Roll voice as leader of the band Charlie Sub & Sound Dogs.

In “Bliss Street,” this family story of the Subs will be staged inside an intricate and powerful multimedia milieu designed by Andrew Levin of StageTrip Industries using virtual scenery by Carlos Almonte of MotionBlur. The idea is for audiences to be visually immersed in a unique era of the Big Apple’s history as seen through the eyes of Charlie Sub, an introverted teenager whose true feelings were only expressed in his songs. Music is from the repertoire of Charlie Sub & Sound Dogs, played by the actual six-member band but re-imagined for theater, with lead vocals sung by the actors. The saga is narrated by Ethyl, an all-seeing character who is the dramatic personification of the spirit of the club.

L-R: Blaize Adler-Ivanbrook, JC Augustin. Photo by Jonathan Slaff
L-R: Thomas Dean Baker, Zach Birdsall, Blaize Adler-Ivanbrook, Patrick Kenner. Photo by Jonathan Slaff
Ensemble of “Bliss Street.” Center: Marlaine Angelides. Photo by Jonathan Slaff.

CAST
Blaize Adler-Ivanbrook – Charlie Sub
Marlain Angelides* – Ethyl
JC Augustin
Thomas Deen Baker
Ella Baldwin
Zach Birdsall
Jef Canter* – Paul Sub
Tyler Egesdal
Alisa Ermolaev
Patrick Kenner*
Milo Longenecker
Sarah MacDonnell* – Ethyl on two nights, 4/28 and 5/13
Alyson Reim*
Felice Rose*
Amelia Sasson*
Toni Renee Taylor
Fang Tseng

PRODUCTION
Director – Lissa Moira
Book and additional lyrics – Abra Bigham
Music and Lyrics – Charlie Sub
Concept and Story – Rich Brotman and Charlie Sub
Music Supervisor – Paul Guzzone
Set Design – Mark Marcante
Set Decoration and Props – Lytza Colón
Lighting Design – Alexander Bartenieff
Choreography – Sage Buchalter
Musical Director – Jonathan Fox Powers
Costume Design – Billy Little
Assistant Director/Production Stage Manager – Charles C. Casano
Virtual Scenery – Carlos Almonte of MotionBlur
Video Production and Projection – Andrew Levin of StageTrip Industries
Art Design – Taylor Cardamone and Andrea Perry of Total Boar
Audio Support – Nick Graci of Northstream Live
Assistant Stage Manager – Samantha Green
Video loops and image research – Tommy James
Additional marketing – Scott Bayer

Musicians of the Bliss Street Show Band
Jonathan Fox Powers – Bandleader, Piano
Charlie Sub – Rhythm Guitar
Pat Branci – Bass
Richie Brotman – Keyboard
James Wormworth – Drums
Paul Jacobs – Guitar
Kevin Hunter – Lead Guitar
Arno Hecht – Reeds

Book writer Abra Bigham is an award-winning actor, singer, playwright, lyricist and poet, George London grantee, two time Heideman Finalist and veteran of America-in- Play, sometimes known as Georgia James. Her works include the film “White Lies” and the plays “Mary S.” (a gothic chamber musical about Mary Shelley), “Stone Rabbit” (semi-finalist Beverly Hills Theater Guild/Julie Harris Award) and “The Last Battle of Olustee” (part of a triad that explores the aftershocks of the American Civil War in three different centuries). Other works have been staged at 78th Street Theater Lab, The Duplex, Westbeth, HOME for Contemporary Music and Art, HERE, Upstairs at O’Neill’s, Laurie Beechman Theater, Barrington Stage Company (MA), Moonwater Theater (TX), and National Musical Theater Network.

Director Lissa Moira is a playwright, screenwriter, director, artist and poet. Her last TNC production,”Who Murdered Love?” (February, 2023), which she directed and co-wrote with Richard West, was a Dadaist musical comedy. Front Row Center (Ed Kliszus) called it “a delight from start to finish.” Steve DiLauro wrote in Village Sun, “Calling all commercial producers. This show has legs. Man, does it ever.” Moira is two-time Jerome Foundation grantee and an OOBR Award-winning actress. She directed and was dramaturg of “Siren’s Heart, Norma Jean and Marilyn in Purgatory” by Walt Stepp, which enjoyed a seven-week run at TNC in 2011 and then played 14 months Off-Broadway at the Actors Temple starring Louisa Bradshaw. The following year, she directed “Skybox,” also by Walt Stepp, at TNC. Richmond Shepard (lively-arts.com) described Moira’s “The Seduction of Time” (TNC, 2014) as “a fascinating mixture of text, music, song and dance exploring a personification of the mythic relationship between nature and time as they mate.” Her direction of “Cocaine Dreams” at the Kraine was described by the NY Post (Chip Deffaa) as “inspired.”

COVID Protocol:
As of September 26th, 2022, we are no longer requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for our audience upon entry.
Wearing of masks is suggested in the lobby, restrooms and performance spaces at Theater for the New City, but they are not required.