Theater for the New City | Crystal Field, Executive Director, presents
Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre 2024
THE GOOD SOLDIER ŠVEJK AND HIS FORTUNES IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR
Adapted and Directed by Vít Hořejš | Based on the novel by Jaroslav Hašek
Production Design, Costumes and Set: Theresa Linnihan | Lighting Design: Eric Norbury | Production Supervisor: Rebecca Werner | Assistant Director: Sayma Karim | Dramaturgy Book: Lana Scott Stringer | Technical Director: Brian Park | Hair Styling: Younghawk Bautista | Large Marionettes by Jakub “Kuba” Krejčí, Václav Krčál & Ivan Antoš |Toy-size Marionettes: Miloš Kasal | Poster/postcard Design: Andy Hadel
Production producer: Bonnie Sue Stein/GOH Productions
CAST: Deborah Beshaw-Farrell, Michelle Beshaw, Rocco George, Vít Hořejš, Theresa Linnihan, Gage Morgan, Sammy Rivas, Ben Watts
Feb 1 – 18, 2024 | Thur, Fri, Sat at 8:00 PM, Sun at 3:00 PM
THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY – 150 FIRST AVE NYC
Hašek’s classic GOOD SOLDIER SVEJK is the most translated book in the Czech language, celebrating its 100th anniversary. In the communist period, the Czech army was frequently afraid of being “Schweiked,” i.e. stymied by soldiers playing dumb. It’s a form of resistance now seen in the Russian army in Ukraine.
CZECHOSLOVAK-AMERICAN MARIONETTE THEATRE (CAMT) is dedicated to the preservation and presentation of traditional and not-so-traditional puppetry. TNC has presented CAMT shows including: “The Very Sad Story of Ethel & Julius, Lovers and Spyes, and about Their Untymelie End while Sitting in a Small Room at the Correctional Facility in Ossining New York ” exploring the Rosenberg trial. “Revolution!?”, a collaboration with three performers from Bohemia and Moravia, examining revolutions throughout history as a backdrop for the peaceful 1989 Velvet Revolution in former Czechoslovakia; “Mr. M” (2011), the first American stage adaptation of “Mr. Theodore Mundstock ” by Ladislav Fuks, a postwar Kafkaesque Czech writer. In 2013, an enigmatic tale of early World War II in “King Executioner,” loosely based on “When you are a King, You will be an Executioner” (1968) by the Polish magical realist Tadeusz Nowak.
In 2015, the company performed “The Magic Garden, or, The Princess Who Grew Antlers,” cheerfully assembled from Czech fairy tales, in 2019, the company re-imagined its breakthrough production, “Johannes Dokchtor Faust, a Petrifying Puppet Comedye,” updating it to the topsy-turvy political climate, and in 2020 & 2021, “A Christmas Carol, Oy! Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa” (live and streaming). At La MaMa, where the company is in residence, shows include: “Golem”, “Prose of Transiberrian”, “Life and Times of Lee Harvey Oswald”, “Rusalka” and “Dvorak in America”. Other venues include: The Vineyard Theater, Jane’s Carousel in DUMBO, Bohemian National Hall and Grand Army Plaza Memorial Arch. The company has played in 37 states in the U.S.A. and at international festivals in Poland, Turkey, Pakistan, Korea and the Czech Republic.
VÍT HOREJŠ (adaptation, director, performer) an émigré from Prague, founded Czechoslovak- American Marionette Theatre in 1990, utilizing century-old Czech puppets discovered at Jan Hus Church on East 74th Street. His trademark is using puppets of many sizes, from six-inch toy marionettes to twelve-foot rod puppets. He has translated, written, adapted, and directed over two dozen marionette plays for CAMT, is a resident artist at La MaMa Theater and honored to also be a frequent artist at TNC. He has performed on stage, film, and TV. Published works: Twelve Iron Sandals (1985); Pig and Bear (1989). He appeared as Krojak, in Woody Allen’s “Don’t Drink the Water”, starred in an Onur Tukel feature film, “Scenes From an Empty Church”, and Carnegie Hall/Centro Primo Levi film “The Scandal of the Imagination.” He co-produced “Faust on a String,” an award-winning documentary about Czech puppetry, and wrote the lead essay for Czechoslovak-American Puppetry (GOH Productions, 1994). He received the 2018 SVU Award in recognition of a lifetime achievement in fostering the art of Czech and Slovak puppetry; and the 2019 NY ACKER Award in a ceremony at TNC.
MICHELLE BESHAW is a Brooklyn theatre artist, designer, writer, performer and storyteller who has played at La MaMa, Mabou Mines, St. Ann’s Warehouse, the Actor’s Studio, numerous city parks, community centers, on street corners, in stairwells, at a monument and in a broom closet. Favorite projects include: CAMT’s “The Life and Times of Lee Harvey Oswald” as Oswald’s wife and mother; “Twelfth Night” as Viola, Sebastian, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and Curio; “The Very Sad Story of Ethel & Julius” as Roy Cohn and costume designer, for which she won the 2009 Innovative Theatre Award. Highlights from her own original works: “The Napier Project”, developed as a resident artist in Mabou Mines Suite; “Sheep Musing in the Valley of Sleeping Dogs” in 2011’s Labapalooza at St. Ann’s Warehouse, “En Mer Avec Louise Bourgeois” in the 2016 Philadelphia Fringe Festival and “WAVE: An Incantation” in La Mama’s 2019 Puppet Slam.
DEBORAH BESHAW-FARRELL Is an actress, singer and puppeteer who, for the last 27 years, has worked with Drama of Works, Puppeteers Cooperative and Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre. With CAMT, she’s played Mefistofl in “Johannes Dokchtor Faust: A Petrifying Puppet Comedye”; Horatio, Ophelia, Gertrude and all of Fortinbras’ army in “Hamlet” (in Prague, Buson, South Korea and parks all over Manhattan); 28 different individuals in “Once There Was a Village” at LaMama, and many others. Most recently, she worked on the Drama of Works video project, “Tempest_2342” as Gonzalo and participated in LaMa’s Puppet Slam 2019 as an ensemble member in Michelle Beshaw’s “WAVE: An Incantation.” She is also an enthusiastic amateur photographer.
ROCCO GEORGE is an actor, puppet maker, and puppeteer based in Brooklyn. Rocco has starred in numerous horror, comedy, and experimental films, but he is best known for playing Coach Rocco on the “The Ellie Sparkles Show” on YouTube. Working with Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre is a dream come true for Rocco. To see what he is up to go to www.roccogeorge.com.
SAYMA KARIM (Asst Director) stands at the intersection of creativity and education, defining her journey through the enchanting world of puppetry. As puppeteer and educator, Sayma trains emerging artists in voice, acting, and puppetry. She is a freelance Script Supervisor at BBC Action Media, a Women Violence Researcher at United Network Limited, and a Puppeteer Trainer and Coordinator at Puppet Tuppet, and also works as an Action Director at Eyedrop Films, and TV actor. She is committed to social causes and community engagement, expressed through work with autistic and preschool children. Sayma Karim weaves tales that captivate, educate, and inspire.
THERESA LINNIHAN (production/set/costume design, performer) joined CAMT in 1996 playing Polonius in “HAMLET”. For the next two decades and until now, she has served as performer, designer and associate director as the company developed original, provocative productions, re-imagined classics; and toured to Turkey, Pakistan, Korea and the Czech Republic. In 2016 she relocated to Minneapolis where she worked with In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater and Barebones Puppets creating parades and pageants as well as a number of original cabaret shows. In 2021 she returned to NYC to perform and co-create CAMT’s acclaimed production of Vaclav Havel’s “AUDIENCE” which played in NYC at The Rehearsal for Truth Festival in Bohemian Hall and La Mama Ellen Stewart Theatre; and toured to Colby College’s conference on Havel. Theresa is also a long-standing member of The Puppeteers Cooperative, and is currently performing a monthly series at The Old Stone House in Brooklyn.
GAGE MORGAN is an NYC based actor/musician from Tampa, FL. He recently performed as Paul Chapman in “Just Us”, a new climate play, and Mike in “Truck Stop Queen” for the “Ways to (Dis)Connect Festival”. You can find him on instagram at @gage_morgan
SAMMY RIVAS is an actor, writer, director, producer, musician, and puppet designer based inf NYC. He has a B.F.A. in Drama from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and studied at the Experimental Theater Wing and Stone Street Studios Film Acting Residency. He is co-founder of The Fool Volk theater collective, and currently working on a satirical puppet musical feature-film. He is ecstatic to be returning to Theater for the New City after making his debut at TNC in 2023’s Joseph and Marsha, and would like to thank his friends, family, and all the awesome people involved in this project! Insta: @sammyrivas.1
BEN WATTS came from England and performed with numerous choreographers and dance companies in the USA throughout the 80’s and early 90’s. From 1993 to 2015, Ben and his life partner Tiina Dohrmann, set up and operated the Greenspan Center, a multi use Physical Arts and Watsu (Water Shiatsu) facility in Williamsburg where he hosted and produced gallery shows, photo sessions, ran workshops, and organized classes. Ben was a member of the Dzieci Service and Art Theater Group, (2013 to 2015), participating in paratheatrical events and performances. Ben was Dvořák in “Dvořák in America”, and appeared in four other Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theater productions.
ERIC NORBURY (Lighting Design) Select credits include “Hong Kong Mississippi” (La MaMa ETC), “Dodi & Diana” (HERE Arts), “The Prom” (WPPAC), “Footloose” (Argyle Theatre), “Xerxes” (Detroit Opera), “Blue” (Seattle Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Dutch National Opera), “Only Human: A Musical” (Theatre St. Clement’s), “Till: A Musical” (NYMF), Nimbus Dance at BAM Fisher,. Previous work: La Mama ETC, NYTW, Playwrights Horizons, Barrington Stage Company, La Jolla Playhouse, New School of Drama, Washington National Opera, 5th Avenue Theatre, The Glimmerglass Festival, Seán Curran Dance Company, De Funes Dance, Second Avenue Dance Company and many others. MFA NYU/Tisch. Member USA829. www.ericnorburylighting.com
REBECCA WERNER (Prod Supervisor) is grateful to return to the Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre to honor her grandparents & family from Czechoslovakia. She’s a production freelancer, performer and teaching artist in NYC. Off Broadway: “Arcadia” (PSM), “The Comeuppance” (A2), “Letters from Max” (Video Op). Select credits: “Audience” (CAMT), “New York Sings Yiddish!” at Summerstage (NYTF), “Black Snow”, “A View From the Bridge”, “Dance Nation”, “Exit Strategy” (Atlantic Acting School), “Windfall”, “Ragtime” (Bay Street), “Seussical”, “Matilda”, “Spring Awakening” (LUX Performing Arts), “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”, “Forbidden Broadway” (Arc Stages). Rebecca is an AV Tech & Stagehand for Off Broadway and National Tours. She studied & performed Commedia dell’arte in Florence, Italy and is a teaching artist with Zara Aina in the U.S. and Madagascar. Thank you Vít, Bonnie, CAMT team, fam & friends for your love and support! www.rebeccawerner.com
BONNIE SUE STEIN (Producer) is a producer, director, performer, writer, and lens-based artist, and Executive Director of GOH Productions founded in New York City in 1984. She has worked in production and international collaborations in 25 countries, including all of CAMT productions, from early shows at the decrepit Bohemian National Hall in the 1980s, all nine shows with TNC, and several at La MaMa. In 1989, with Vit Horejs, she interviewed Vaclav Havel days before he became president of Czechoslovakia for a feature story in the “Village Voice”. She received a 2019 ACKER Award; and also creates lens-based artworks with IGUANA Collaborative with Sherry and John Erskine. Gohproductions.org
Czechoslovak American Marionette Theatre (CAMT) is produced by GOH Productions, a nonprofit organization and receives public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, National Endowment for the Arts, and NY City Council. Additional support: Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences, Czech Center, Materials for the Arts, Maturity Works, and BrouCzech Beer. Special thanks: Crystal, Emily, Dan, Mark, Alex, Susan, Jon, Roy, Bill and the whole TNC Staff! Thanks to: Heinrich Spilliman, Maxim Tumenev (Massimo Touch), Tanya Friedman, Lucy and Bill Friedman, Biblioteque du Roy, Barbara and Roy Rosenstein, ABC Beer Co, Suzanna Halsey & SVU, Josef Balaz & BBLA, Two Trees DUMBO, Sermin Kardestuncer, Tulein Hamdan, Lawrence Lanier.
Younghawk Bautista, Master Hair Stylist, Younghawk76@aol.com, tel: 929-510-6541
Master Chef: Massimo Touch, Massimo.touch@icloud.com
Contact: info@czechmarionettes.org | czechmarionettes.org | Press Agent: Jonathan Slaff Associates www.jsnyc.com