The Arts in New York City

Explorations 2008

2008-12-24T22:47:13Z

My Cultural Passport Portfolio: Cover Statement - Yan Davydov

2008-12-19T10:13:14Z

Cultural Passport Portfolio: Cover Statement
I think that my Cultural Passport Portfolio is limited in the sense that it only features two of the many articles and reviews that I wrote during the IDC Arts in New York City course. It would be nice if the Portfolio encompassed more than just two, because I feel like I have developed considerably as a critical writer. All works considered, my Portfolio is like a time capsule for me, where my progress as a writer from early September right up to this statement is documented. But, more importantly than developments as a writer, the Portfolio chronicles my development as a patron of New York arts.
Nonetheless, I think that my two chosen Cultural Passports, I Served the King of England and Break Out, are two excellent examples of how I’ve changed because of this class as a whole. Both were useful in teaching or reinforcing some type of lessons for me. On the simplest level, I Served the King of England was important because it exemplified the importance of giving new things a chance, as this was my first time seeing an independent film. Break Out, on the other hand, allowed me to see a different, laid back and comedic side of New York for my first time. My writing was appropriately jovial as well. Through the varying types of performances we’ve seen in this class, I’ve learned to adapt my writing depending on what it is I’m writing about, such as a play, gallery, concert, one man show, dance presentation, or even an opera.
I’ve noticed that about the only thing that has remained throughout my reviews and responses is a general positive approach to the performances. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a generally optimistic person or if I was lucky enough to see good show after good show, but my reviews followed a trend of satisfactory responses. I think, as an open-minded person, I found it easy and natural to like and enjoy most of the performances. Also, having been on stage many times in high school, I can honestly say that I appreciate what actors and performers go through.
Apart from improvements in writing, this course, and the freedom of choice granted by the Cultural Passport assignment, has been so helpful in increasing my appreciation of the arts. From the successes I’ve enjoyed with my choices to see I Served the King of England and Break Out, I feel much more inclined to continue taking advantage of New York arts and culture on my own, which is the main point of my Portfolio.

POV Paper- Racism in Irena’s Vow and Madama Butterfly

2008-12-19T10:11:09Z

Irena Gut Opdyke from Dan Gordon’s Irena’s Vow and Madama Butterfly from Puccini’s Madama Butterfly both encountered racism from their significant others. Irena endured oppression during the Holocaust, when millions of Poles (among other victimized races, including Jews) perished under German tyranny. Her lover was Major Eduard Rugemer, a Nazi officer who clarified his distaste for non-Aryan, “inferior” races. Madama Butterfly encountered racism during the early 1900’s from her husband, American Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton. The libretto, written from a Western perspective, depicted Eastern nations as substandard. Westerners equated Easterners with feminine qualities, believing that Asians were submissive, fragile, and easily overpowered. Pinkerton exemplified that viewpoint by dominating and manipulating Madama Butterfly. Throughout their marriage, she became completely obedient and dependent upon him. On the contrary, Irena refused to be victimized in her relationship and fought for survival and independence.
Irena’s sexual relationship with Major Rugemer and Butterfly’s marriage to Pinkerton started under different circumstances. In the former, Major Rugemer despised Poles but allowed Irena to serve as his housekeeper. She lived in constant terror, worrying whether the twelve Jewish companions she was hiding would be discovered. Eventually, Rugemer found out and threatened to expose them publicly unless Irena became his mistress. While he loved her, Irena obliged solely to ensure her and her Jewish companions’ survival. Irena agreed to this relationship with honorable intentions, fighting the Nazi regime by protecting and saving Jews. Major Rugemer’s discovery of the Jews and his consequent request created an intense, dramatic scene. Shocked and outraged by Irena’s betrayal, Rugemer smoldered with pure wrath. He withdrew his gun, silencing Irena’s feeble attempts to explain the situation. It appeared certain that Rugemer would murder Irena, until he lowered the weapon and confessed that he loved her. Unless she returned his love and became his mistress, she and her Jewish companions would be murdered. Irena’s expressions betrayed her conflicted feelings and a dreadful silence loomed as she considered the request. Remembering her promise to keep the twelve Jews safe, she finally agreed in a soft, trembling voice. Major Rugemer calmly walked away, pretending as though the encounter never happened. Although he despised Jews, he manipulated the situation to serve his selfish purpose and degraded Irena.
Similarly to Rugemer, Pinkerton used Butterfly for sensual pleasure in Madama Butterfly. Similarly to Irena, Pinkerton feigned his love. His intentions and discriminatory viewpoints were clear from the very beginning. During his brief stay in Japan, he would marry a compliant and delicate native woman. When he returned to America, he would remarry an American woman indefinitely. He actually purchased Butterfly from a marriage-broker, as though she were a disposable product rather than a human being. In these terms, Pinkerton regarded Butterfly as a toy, something to play with until he became bored or found somebody better. Unlike Irena, Butterfly completely bought Pinkerton’s act and succumbed to racism; she was younger, 15-years-old, and naïve. She was initially unaware of the truth and unwilling to accept it after Pinkerton returned to America and deserted her.
Madama Butterfly’s submission was unrelated to honorable intentions; by marrying a Westerner and converting to Christianity, she rejected her Japanese roots. This destroyed her companions and family, who rejected her and furiously stormed out the wedding. By changing religions before marriage, Butterfly was already conforming to Pinkerton’s stereotypical belief that Easterners were easily influenced. When Madama Butterfly finally recognized Pinkerton’s true intentions and discriminatory views, she felt defeated. Unlike Irena, she could not overcome the oppression and gain control of the situation because it was too late; Pinkerton had married an American woman and her family and friends had disowned her. She had allowed herself to be swept away and dominated, coinciding with the Western world’s perception of Asians. Heartbroken by Pinkterton’s deceit and rejection because she was Japanese, Butterfly ultimately committed suicide.
Irena and Madama Butterfly both encountered different forms of racism. Irena endured oppression during the Holocaust for being Polish and therefore inferior by Nazi standards. Madama Butterfly was discriminated against Western nations viewed Eastern countries as substandard. Irena’s lover, SS officer Major Eduard Rugemer, and Butterfly’s husband, Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton, both discriminated against their significant others. Both relationships were founded on feigned interest and relatively short-term. However, Madama Butterfly was ambiguous to the racism and truly loved Pinkerton, becoming submissive and conforming to the Western perception of Asians. Irena recognized the prejudice and became Major Rugemer’s mistress to ensure her and her Jewish companions’ survival.

-Ramandeep Singh

Reflective Essay

2008-12-19T09:59:11Z

New York City offers numerous forms of entertainment and cultural opportunities, which explains the flocks of tourists visiting annually. Living here, studying here, and working here, I ashamedly admit that I seldom take advantage of these opportunities. Before this course allowed me to discover New York City further, I rarely looked up and was unaware of the splendor surrounding me. Reflecting back, I realize that throughout my journeys, I toured museums I often passed by but hardly glanced at. The Cultural Passport provided me with the perfect opportunity to explore what I had been missing for some time.
For the September and October Cultural Passports, I visited historical museums, which taught me about my neighborhood and this country. The King Manor Museum informed me about Jamaica, Queens while the National Museum of the American Indian provided me with information about America’s history. Whether it was shopping at Jamaica Avenue, seeing a movie, or borrowing books from the Central Library, I always passed by the King Manor Museum. Surrounded by King Park, it looks displaced among the shopping stores and small businesses of Jamaica Avenue due to its colonial style structure. Furthermore, Jamaica is notorious for its drugs, violence, and bootlegged products- a museum is very unexpected in this instance and aroused my curiosity.
The National Museum of the American Indian is located in a better region, Battery Park, where the ferries to Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty are available. Although the latter focus on immigrants, the Museum focuses on America’s indigenous people. While working in Battery Park during the summer, I would rush past the Museum to and from work. I was focused solely on being punctual or returning home, ignoring the tourists gawking at the Museum. One evening, some Native American elders, musicians and dancers were performing and blocked the route to the subway station. After failed attempts at pushing through the crowd, I decided to watch and see what the fuss was about. The show was absolutely spectacular and left me breathless. While the elders chanted and beat drums, dancers wearing colorful headdresses and costumes performed energetically. Although I became fascinated by Indian culture, I never got the opportunity to visit the Museum and explore my interest. Through using the Cultural Passport, I satisfied my curiosity about the National Museum of the American Indian and the King Manor Museum.
Although I had learned about Native Americans in school, reading about them and personally seeing their culture are very different things. In contrast, I never learned about Queens or its neighborhoods during school and was completely blind to the borough’s history. At the King Manor Museum, I discovered that Rufus King- New York’s first U.S. senator and a framer of the Constitution- had lived and worked there. This was mind-blowing because I never expected a prominent figure to have resided in Jamaica, which currently breeds drug dealers and gangsters. Furthermore, I discovered that Jamaica was formerly a village, with dirt roads, horses, and buggies, and present-day Jamaica Avenue was actually Fulton Street. It is still connected to Fulton Street, Manhattan today. My experiences at the King Manor Museum provided me with a positive perspective on Jamaica and I felt enriched learning about my neighborhood.
At the Museum of the American Indian, I enhanced my previous knowledge about Native American lifestyles by visiting two exhibitions- “Identity by Design” and “Beauty Surrounds Us.” Both exhibits were dedicated to preserving and celebrating Indian traditions. “Identity by Design” displayed women’s dresses, created with intricate patterns, beadwork, and unusual materials like elk teeth. “Beauty Surrounds Us” focused on different aspects of Indian culture, including recreation and pastimes, instruments and household tools. These exhibitions expressed Native Americans’ pride about their unique heritage and taught me more than any textbook previously had.
After visiting the King Manor Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian, I felt relieved having satisfied my curiosity. It was great slowing down and enjoying the cultural opportunities New York City offers. I could finally appreciate my surroundings, which I never a second thought before. My explorations taught me the importance of understanding the background of your nation and your own neighborhood. The people and their contributions may surprise and inspire you.

-Ramandeep Singh

Cover Statement

2008-12-19T09:58:54Z

This semester, I visited the King Manor Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian for my Cultural Passport journeys. This collection reflects my interest in history, which probably developed during my internship at The Museum of Jewish Heritage-A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. I like discovering new facts and ideas, especially outside the classroom and textbooks. Visiting historical museums allowed me to explore subjects without rigid boundaries and my enjoyment was reflected across my writing.
My writing depends upon my thinking and view of the subject matter. If the topic is boring, my writing suffers because my disinterest is obvious. I become careless about grammar and the content, jotting down anything that comes to mind. For several of my high school and college courses, I wrote research papers, droning on fact after fact and keeping my personal feelings separate. Usually, the research topics were assigned and even if I disliked them, I was powerless to change them. However, when papers were assigned about subjects I passionately liked or disliked, my writing improved and became more focused. By using the Cultural Passport, I could explore cultural institutions of my choosing and disclose personal feelings and express my thoughts. Rather than staying neutral, I could select a side and explore it further.
Initially, it was difficult to break away from my research-paper mode. I was used to being told which topic to write about and the format to write it in. Now, suddenly, there was this freedom to choose and I struggled to figure out the topic and tone of my writing. I wondered what would happen if I disliked what I saw. Was criticism acceptable or should I hold back, staying positive throughout? In this situation, I learned not to restrain criticism and clarify why I disliked certain artifacts. However, since my journeys involved museums I found interesting, my writing turned out mostly positive anyways.
I explored the King Manor Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian because despite walking past them quite often, I rarely glanced up. During my visits, I paid greater attention to artifacts and their detail to provide better descriptions in my writing. It helped me appreciate the artistry and history behind the artifacts, and gain new perspectives. Through my journeys, I developed a better understanding of New York City’s history and improved my descriptive and reflective writing.

-Ramandeep Singh

Mariya Morgaylo’s Cover Statement

2008-12-19T09:43:03Z

Throughout the last five years I have done art, acting, creative writing, design, photography, dance; and as a result I have considered myself an undeclared artist. Undeclared because amateur scribbles in a notebook move no one. I wrote for the Arts section of my school newspaper for two years and I don’t think I wrote a single article that the reader could connect to. Mundane writing is a waste of time, so I stopped and assumed I would never again have to write about something I knew nothing of. The extent of my art trickled to nothing but doodles along margins.
When I was asked to write about the arts again, my first instinct was to write about paintings, an old favorite of mine. But even in the Metropolitan Museum, I was compelled to look at exhibits I had not seen before, namely of modern art; and this small step of trying something new, embracing the unfamiliar, began to change my attitude. I became eager to try new things, and more importantly, understand the motive behind them. This portfolio marks my first attempt to write about modern art, foreign film and comedy. It holds the details that stood out to me, trifles that a reader might find appreciation for: white-gloved hands, bejeweled groping the floor for loose change, changing the personal insecurity of a performer into foreign fear, a foreign perspective of what I had considered home. These are just snippets from the creative views I produced as a result.
My writing has become a lot more focused, I picked details that stood out to me and attempted to bring them to life rather than providing an impersonal, comprehensive account of an event. I began to see writing about the arts as an art in itself, it is a reflection of my experience and my attempt to articulate it the best I can. I suppose I still worry about whether a reader will get anything from my responses, but as I continue to pursue the arts, I’m sure my voice as a writer will gain resonance.

Mariya Morgaylo

Mariya Morgaylo’s Reflective Essay

2008-12-19T09:43:20Z

On the first day of Interdisciplinary Studies class, I was asked to write about my Bali Hai. I wrote about a song, Lateralus, that encourages drawing way outside the lines, embracing the random, trying something new; and ultimately exploring unclaimed territory. In retrospect, it feels like an epigraph to a semester of exploration and discovery, both as a writer of the arts and an artist. In addition to the broad spectrum of shows I saw with the class, I used the cultural passport project as an opportunity to try new forms of art, in particular modern art at the Metropolitan Museum and foreign film.
I selected my trip to the Jeff Koons exhibit on the roof of the Met as a starting point for this reflection because it captures the beginning of my development in relation to the arts. I set off to the Met, initially hoping to look at the impressionist art exhibit. The blurred details, beautiful colors, outlines of nature are so easy to relate to when I remove my eyeglasses. Monet did not just capture the world around us; he painted to world I see on a daily basis. But before I had a chance to reach that section of the museum, I saw a sign inviting me to see a giant glass balloon animal on the roof.
What began as purely experimental became an unexpectedly moving experience. It was the end of September, and still warm enough to get away with leaving the jacket at home. Surrounded by the foreign language of tourists, I looked at my reflection in the Koons’s “Coloring Book” and saw some of my dearest personal philosophies captured on painted stainless steel. There was no definite form, no harmony or balance – overlapping layers of pastels that reflected the New York City skyline, and me. The myriad of perspectives with which the same reality is perceived was embodied in this statue and I, for the first time since pre-school, could appreciate drawing way outside the lines. For the first time, I could appreciate asymmetry and the abstract.
At that point, I thought to change the focus of my trip to the Met. I sought out the Modern Art exhibit, looking for innovativeness, perhaps merely to be avant garde. I saw some pieces that showed great originality, but none had moved me as I had hoped. The seed was sewn, as they say, and I developed the urge to re-experience the feeling of connecting with something I could have never hoped to understand.
One might imagine that an independent foreign film might not be too great a step from a Hollywood flick, minus the special effects and recognizable plastic faces. Even on a basic level, however, the cinematic experience was completely different. The reason why I had never sat through a foreign film before was because I’d always reasoned that I don’t watch a film to read subtitles. Half of the details are bound to be lost in translation. Once again, quite unexpectedly, “I Served the King of England” turned out to be a pleasant surprise. On a thematic scale, the screenplay employed satire beautifully. It got you to laugh at prostitution, Nazism, and greed, and recognize how ridiculous it all is.
Similarly to Koons’s exhibit, this film left me with a new perspective, this time about greed. It mocked the fact that greed touches everyone, from a lowly waiter to rich investors to classy ladies, to a point that they bend down on all fours at the sound of coins hitting the pavement. Furthermore, wealth didn’t seem to change the protagonist, although it is a common saying that money changes people. This absurdist insight on human nature: that it’s laughable rather than terrible was most memorable at all because it’s so applicable to real life. A lyric from Lateralus suggests that over-thinking and overanalyzing withers our intuition and is overall detrimental to our beings. To think that you could just laugh off the adversities you face, to think that wealth and poverty are miserable in their own rights.
There is an old piece of advice that goes, “Write what you know,” and generally I’ve tried to follow its wisdom. This semester I was pushed into a variety of media I had never encountered before (partially by the Honors Program, partially on my own initiative). I realized that just because you don’t know something, doesn’t mean that you can’t write about it, it’s all the more reason to explore it. Embracing the random, the undiscovered, I just may go where no one’s been.

Mariya Morgaylo

Renelle Lawrence: Cultural Passport Portfolio

2008-12-19T06:11:50Z

Cover Statement:

I have lived in New York City for almost all of my life. Before taking this Arts in New York City Interdisciplinary Course, the city was just bright lights and an energetic source of entertainment. Diversity and culture came from music, food and the people themselves. But I failed to realize that this city possesses so much more. Art is all around us. The graffiti lining the subway walls, the sculptures in our parks, and the dancers on the sidewalks are all art in different forms. I have also been exposed to art forms beyond what I see in everyday life. On my own I ventured to museums such as the Modern Museum of Art and I’ve even gotten the chance to hear a presentation from a real Director.

Every time I sat down to write my cultural passports I was forced to look at my experiences in different ways. For the first time I was able to actually think about what art meant to me and contemplate the lessons I’ve learned from it. I would have never guessed that someone’s art could affect me in any way, but it did. I’ve learned so much from other people’s visions and outlooks throughout this semester. From now on whenever I visit a museum or watch a performance I will not only enjoy it visually but I will also take into consideration it’s meaning.

My portfolio is a gradual look on my progression as a person. Each cultural passport contains the knowledge I’ve learned from each event or artwork I have come across. I’ve not only learned to appreciate other people’s visions even if they are not the same as my own but also I’ve learned life lessons. This portfolio is very important to me because it is written proof that I am steadily developing intellectually and opening myself to new experiences.

Reflective Essay:

Two events stand out very clearly to me. It was difficult to figure out how they related to each other because one has to do with architecture and the other was a conversation with a film director. But what I realized is that these two, although completely unrelated in topics, both taught me a great deal about life. They made me aware of the conditions of our world and even just lessons on how to be a better me.

Tadashi Kawamata is the artist behind the Tree Huts at Madison Square Park. These tree huts struck me in an unimaginable way. While sitting and admiring Kawamatas’s work, a sense of nostalgia engulfed me. I remembered my childhood days and how much I wanted a tree house. These huts, in the middle of the city that never sleeps, provided a childhood aspect to it. Businessmen and women in their suits speed walk past Madison Square Park only stopping to grab lunch at the Shake Shack. Everyone has been forced to grownup so fast that their childhood is just a blur. For a few moments while waiting on line for lunch in the park, Kawamata has given us an escape from this world. We are allowed to delve into our hearts and memories and grasp the child in all of us. My view of the tree huts is one that represents innocence and purity. The tree huts provided a vision where life does not have to be industrialized to be fun. Fun can be simple and your imagination can offer you an experience more enjoyable than anything technology. Our society is forcing children to grow up too fast and we should realize that sometimes innocence is not such a bad thing. Kawamata’s work allowed for this realization to occur within me and I am grateful to him for that. To me the most meaningful of art is the ones you learn from.

The second event that I went to, I learned even more from. It was a common event at the Macaulay Building. A film director David Holbrooke was there to discuss with us the movies he had made and the ins and outs of the movie business. At the beginning Holbrooke showed us different works from different artists. While doing this he gave a commentary on the work and the meanings that the artists were trying to portray. At this point I was extremely bored. I thought, I could’ve just gone to a museum for this. But luckily for me Holbrooke then proceeded to show us clips from three documentaries that he directed. One of the films was about global warming and another was about religious fanaticism in America. Both films were surprisingly entertaining but the third film that he showed us was one I will never forget. It centered on an eccentric man, Speed Levitch, who gave New York City tours on the double-decker buses in NYC. Speed loved New York more than any one else. He knew everything about it and could tell you wonderful stories about every city block. But the part of Holbrooke’s presentation on this film that struck me the most was the story he told about Speed. Speed was a strange man to everyone around him. Even Holbrooke admitted that Speed was bizarre but what Holbrooke loved about him was his uniqueness. Speed had no home. He crashed at different peoples houses and lets life take him to where ever he should go. The problem with Speed is although he was in love with New York, in a way; New York did not love him back. He had suffered from many hardships because of the way people had treated him. They did not understand him therefore they ridiculed him. Holbrooke stated that people like Speed are the true artists of our time. His lesson was that people should not care too much about other people’s opinions but instead we should stay exactly they way we are. Holbrooke’s message spoke to me and led me to realize that I should not be hindered by criticism but instead try my hardest to be the best at what I do.

My portfolio as a whole is a reflection on the education that art provides. If some one were to read my portfolio I would want to encourage them to go out and not only view art but to also consider its message. It may not be flashing right in your face but its there hidden and waiting to be discovered.

Cover Statement

2008-12-19T05:21:40Z

Although I was born and raised in New York City, a place known internationally for its theater, film, dance, and other types of visual arts, I took for granted the resources I had around me. The only type of cultural performance I attended before my entrance into college was a Broadway production of Walt Disney’s The Lion King. I have never been interested in the arts because I did not consider myself a creative person. I have no artistic talent (I cannot even draw stick figures) or musical talent (I learned the piano for a few yeas and ultimately gave up because I did not make any progress). I stayed away from museums because they bored me. The only type of theater I would go to was a movie cinema. Taking this course, however, changed my perspective and broadened my horizons.

I have probably gone to more cultural events this term alone than all the previous years in my life. I experienced my first taste of dance and opera. This course also forced to me think about the performances on a much more intellectual level. Previously, I simply watched something and either enjoyed or disliked it. Never before have I been asked to judge the lighting, sounds, or director’s decisions. Never before have I been asked to think about why a performance conveyed particular emotions in me. My biggest accomplishment in this course is learning how to interpret and critique a piece of work creatively yet still manage to keep my own “voice.” I have made sure to show that voice in my Cultural Passport Portfolio reflective essay and cover statement because it not only shows what I am like as a writer, but a thinker as well. My voice allows people reading my work to connect with me on a personal level.

Attending shows both with the class and on my own has allowed me to develop a small but keen interest for the arts. I still cannot draw, nor can I play any musical instruments, but I would probably be interested in going to a museum or a theater performance for non-academic purposes. If there is one thing this course has taught me, it is that I should always be open to experience new things; something that I reject could potentially turn out to be life-changing. This Cultural Passport Portfolio marks the beginning of my appreciation for the arts in New York City.

Carissa Dech

Reflective Essay

2008-12-19T05:22:29Z

Prior to this course, I never knew a theater world existed outside of Broadway. I did not know that Off-Broadway existed, let alone Off-off-Broadway. Unintentionally, I found myself focusing my monthly Cultural Passports on theater productions. From September to early October, I went to Broadway musicals such as A Tale of Two Cities and Legally Blond. From late October to November, I ventured outside the Broadway Box and explored Off-Broadway shows such as Fuerzabruta and Break Out. Besides the disparity in ticket prices and number of seats, Broadway and Off-Broadway did not prove to be much different for me. I go to performances to be entertained and I enjoyed most of the productions, with an exception of one of the above.

Although I had been told that in Fuerzabruta, the audience was part of the performance, I expected an event show with a plot. Needless to say, I was disappointed. It was very interactive – the cast members came down from their platforms and engaged themselves with the audience – but Fuerzabruta was simply not for me. I very much prefer watching actors perform completely separated from the viewers.

I felt that Fuerzabruta was not only pointless, but harmful to the environment. One of the skits involved Styrofoam and pieces of paper. After dancing on a platform for a few minutes, the actors proceeded to break up all the Styrofoam boxes, filled with pieces of paper, on stage. Because that was not enough, every few minutes, a block of paper would fall onto the actors’ heads and burst into little pieces everywhere. Then, the cast members left their platforms and hit some audience members with a few more Styrofoam boxes filled with paper.

After this, the DJ sprayed people with water as they danced. Many audience members screamed with enthusiasm; the wetter they got, the more excited they got. Even though I made sure to stay clear of the water, I also absorbed the music and started dancing with my friend. Despite the fact that I had an enjoyable time, I was annoyed after Fuerzabruta ended. There were tiny pieces of wet paper all over the floor. This show is performed many times a week and the wasted water and paper accumulates. Killing trees and using up our limited supply of water for entertainment purposes is not exactly my idea of fun.

Ironically, when I attended Break Out, I expected a show without a plot; I thought the production would consist of dancing. This time, I was wrong. The storyline consisted of a group of prisoners that run away from jail. They would also start break-dancing or beat-boxing spontaneously from time to time. Nonetheless, the set designs, and not the actors, were the aspects of the performance that entertained me the most.

A large book is seen on the stage before the show begins. Its cover is the same as the one belonging to the mysterious text that magically drops into the prison while the group is fixing a car. (Apparently, that is the task that one would do in jail.) Such a strange occurrence inspires the protagonists to escape and witness all the other wonders of the outside world.

On the first page, there is a rectangular cutout for the car that the group is working on. As the group runs off the stage, the pages turn and the backgrounds change. Now, there is a miniature maze that represents the tunnel that the group manages to dig through. To add a comedic effect, as well as to put everything to scale, the actors attach little stuffed bodies to their heads, which are the only parts of their body visible in this scene, to show how the group struggles to crawl out of prison. More pages turn to become a hospital and a church. The last page of the book is blank. Overhead projections are used to show the group members frolicking on the beach. I believe this was done to make the ending open to interpretation. It is never shown whether the protagonists were sent back to jail.

Fuertzbruta and Break Out are examples of productions in which the audience should expect the unexpected. They break from the tradition examples of theater. Although I know that there will still be performances I may attend and not enjoy, I am now more inclined to watch something I have never experienced before. From what I was told, there are performances that are even more obscure than Fuertzbruta. Now that I have seen both Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, it is time for me to explore the world of Off-off-Broadway.

Carissa Dech