Jesus Hopped the A Train by Stephen Adly Guirgis New York, NY, Accessibility Statement Terms Privacy |StageAgent 2020. So many issues are raised that a play much longer than this two-hour, 15-minute streaming production would strain to do all of them justice. . After that line, the play instantly becomes an obscenity oratorio in which vicious, muscular dialogue, appropriate to its setting, turns into gorgeous music. Angel Cruz and Lucius Jenkins face murder charges. These near-monologues are often gorgeous, but they can also be weirdly self-negating; in 'A' Train, they don't even always make sense. . George Jetson Birthday, . Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train, a blazingly sharp script, a compelling But youd be wrong. What does it mean? . Photograph by Teresa Wood. and Hanrahans monologues to gain an air of a courtroom. Lucius Jenkins has found God, and Angel's life and the course of his trial will be changed forever. Rehearsals and performances held indoors at Actors Express. Jesus barrels down the tracks | Oregon ArtsWatch . Mark Brokaw directs a cast made up of Edi Gathegi, Sean Carvajal, Ricardo Chavira, Erick Betancourt, and Stephanie DiMaggio. Barrow Group. It is freighted by an overload of pseudo-profundity; characters upbraiding each other about the Ultimate Questions can make for rather dreary stagecraft. Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train plays through October 8, 2017, at 1st Stage - 1524 Spring Hill Road, in Tysons, VA. For tickets, call the box office at (703) 854-1856, or purchase them online. Signature Theater presents a revival of 'Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train,' a 2000 drama by Stephen Adly Guirgis, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of 'Between Riverside and Crazy' and 'The Motherf . Yet, "Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train" may be trickier to perform, with its passions verging on melodrama and its frequent alternating monologues sometimes telling rather than showing. Jenkins, a born again Christian and cold blooded killer. JESUS HOPPED THE 'A' TRAIN - Elysium Theatre Company Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train does not offer a clear verdict, even while it implicitly criticises the judicial and penal systems of America. We are working with an Equity-approved safety plan that includes vaccination, testing, masking, cleaning and distancing protocols. Angel Cruz is a 30-year-old bicycle messenger awaiting trial for the death of the leader of a religious cult. Thats not to say everything in Jesus works so well. . Author bio(s) $13.00. He is a former co-artistic director of Labyrinth Theater Company. Angel Cruz and Lucius Jenkins face murder charges. Perhaps the most stirring monologue of the play comes from . they come through these characters whose unbridled sense of humour, stories, Still, they're full of rhetorical fireworks. This slight flaw in the writing is exacerbated by a few awkward directorial choices, including a Law & Order-like chung-chung sound effect between scenes. Stephen Adly Guirgis' Jesus Hopped The 'A' Train is an explosive, verbose play set in the maximum security wing of the infamous Rikers' Island prison in New York. We hear a story of how her . In 2017 Jesus Hopped the A Train seems to ask whether justice, and even God, is possible in an unjust society. Part investigation of our broken criminal justice system, part examination of the corruptive influence of Judeo-Christian morality, "Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train" is a promising start to Eclipse Theatre . Riggins has done terrific work at Collective Consciousness before. Angel's desperate desire for assurance and forgiveness make him, in a weird way, immediately lovable. Angel Cruz - (20s /Latino) A young man Incarcerated at Rikers Island Prison. With Lucius Jenkins' spiritually transformed after killing eight people, Valdez becomes the default villain of the piece, if it has one, but Guirgis suggests that the Valdezes of the world reflect larger failings throughout the justice system. Jesus Hopped the A Train - Off-Broadway - Broadway Tickets Soulpepper's 'Jesus Hopped the A Train' does just that. With the criminal-justice system the subject of much scrutiny, Short North Stages production of Jesus Hopped the A Train seems timely. Synopsis. Good cop is D'Amico (a warm and sturdy Robert Heinly), who exemplifies kind-hearted compassion. Gain full access to show guides, character breakdowns, auditions, monologues and more! Perhaps it is to keep the drama from flying into pieces, therefore, that he clamps the procedural frame so firmly in place around the prisoners debates. The performance by Williams was understated but effective and led to one of the most compelling scenes, where D'Amico is describing Lucius' execution. who are written to mostly speak through direct-address. jesus hopped the a train lucius monologue - nodelivery.fun Its the reason I keep coming back to Collective Consciousness. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Stephen Adly Guirgis' Jesus Hopped The 'A' Train is an explosive, verbose play set in the maximum security wing of the infamous Rikers' Island prison in New York. is a lot of reason to like him or at least be impressed by him. Mary Jane Hanrahan - (late 20s/early 30s/White) She is Angels jaded and tired state appointed attorney. For one hour each day, both men share adjacent cages on Rikers Island, New York's top security prison. Take a Look at Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train | Playbill light and freedom. Jesus Hopped the A Train is a . Inside Rikers Island, a terrified Angel is befriended by a charismatic serial killer named Lucius Jenkins. A Riveting and Stimulating Production of Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train Some prisoners go out of their minds when confined to the 23-hour isolation wing of Rikers Island prison. It opened on the Pershing Square Signature Center's Irene Diamond Stage on October 23, 2017, and ran until November 26th, 2017. There in the next cage is Lucius Jenkins, a serial murderer and self-described paranoid schizophrenic trying to avoid extradition to Florida and probable execution there. Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train is a graphic and disturbing deep dive into prison life and faith. the shock of the charismatic Lucius' descriptions of his own murders, and finally, the 'A' train itself. Jesus Hopped The 'A' Train is a play written by Stephen Adly Guirgis. Intermission is thrilled to be hosting the inaugural theatre reviews of the Emerging Arts Critics Programme 2019/20 season. The performance by Frankham was another highlight for me; the development of the character though her interactions with Angel and her later monologues was subtle, yet well conveyed. Rather it is Mr. Guirgiss tip-off that what may look like a genre play a legal procedural is going to consider Gods justice as well as mans. . T.Schreiber. In some productions of Stephen Aldy Guirgis play, that might be the case, but at Collective Consciousness Theatre the shows gravitational pull changes the second Terrence Riggins walks on stage. Story. The moral argument between these two men forms the heart of the play, as Lucius, who says he found God in prison, confronts Angel, who long ago lost God outside it. Making moments memorable are flashbacks some characters share. View All Characters in Jesus Hopped the A Train. Pursuant to Equity guidelines, proof of full vaccination no later than two weeks prior to in person work is a required condition of employment. . and Lucius (D'Wayne Taylor) in Eclipse Theatre's production of "Jesus Hopped the A Train" by Stephen Adly Guirgis, directed by Anish Jethmalani. Rehearsal: May 28 - July 7, 2018. . [7] It was nominated for the Olivier Award, Best New Play for 2003.[8]. Sign up today to unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. When the cult leader dies during surgery, Angel suddenly finds himself facing murder charges. The production team includes Ashley Sweet (stage management), David Sepulveda (set design), Jamie Burnett (lightening design), Tommy Rosati (sound design), Carol Koumbaros (costume design), Emiley Charley (ASM/Propmaster). But in a series of monologues that pull further back from the action, Hanrahans reflections on the case, and on her own investment in it, dissipate the tension. The monologue from which the play takes its name was a low point in an otherwise thrillingly paced drama. Whereas other productions have enclosed the action in (played with methodical control by Dervla Kirwan) takes a liking to him and Performances: Wednesday-Saturday 8:00 pm; Please note that Actors Express has committed to five-day work weeks. A lot of what we hear from the lawyer is in the form of direct address, and these monologues lack the poetry (brute or not) of the rest. The verbally fiery "Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train" is a bravura play: The dialogue can be ear-scaldingly profane, and the heaven-or-hell speeches soar like theological arias. But they are also particular to our time and place, perhaps even more so now that the United States is the worlds largest jailer than they were in 2000. Review: 'Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train' a passionate play about faith, duty Other Characters From Jesus Hopped the A Train. The production received considerable acclaim from critics such as Ben Brantley of the New York Times and Michael Feingold of The Village Voice. Review: "Jesus Hopped The A Train" at Collective - OnStage Blog . One of the most striking things about Soulpepper's Jesus Hopped The 'A' Train is how multi-dimensional its main characters are. But it isnt that clear, of course. Gender: Male. If you're wondering what Philip Seymour . Stephen Adly Guirgis got his break in 2000 with "Jesus Hopped the . Angel's desperate desire for assurance and forgiveness make him, in a weird way, immediately lovable. Uploaded by Earley Dean capably conveys the redemptive Christian spirituality, manic energy and residue of mental problems of Lucius Jenkins, a serial killer on Death Row trying to make a positive impact before hes gone. Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train - Circles & Stalls And these characters sure do perform! In other scenes, she performs monologues. Angel Cruz, a poor Puerto Rican, isn't sure why he's in jail after shooting Reverend Kim, the born-again Christian who brainwashed his best friend. New York, NY, Linda Ray
More than most Zoom-style productions, this one unifies separately filmed characters through the actors expert timing and via the common scenic background of poster-stylized prison and protest. Puetro-Rican, Angel, played with refined commitment by Ukweli Roach, shot a religious cult leader in the behind, landing him with potential murder charges.. Singhateh is compelling as evangelising killer Lucius, his performance cleverly toying with the audience's sympathies as he slips between charming bonhomie and cold-bloodedness. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. Lucius Jenkins, a.k.a. The characters have nowhere to hide so it heightens the . While the sermonic Lucius speaks of redemption before God, of renouncing darkness and embracing salvation, the early interactions between client and lawyer feel underweight in comparison. Results may vary. Hes a violent, racist jerk and not much else, although casting Hall in the role does give it some interesting subtext. Email auditions@actorsexpress.com if you have questions. The opening joke is not, therefore, cheap. DAmico - (30s/40s/Italian) He is a gentle and more calming guard at Rikers.
"[14], In a review of one of Guirgis's later works, Hilton Als described Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train as "hysterical and irreverent", "an outstanding 2000 piece about imprisonment and moral responsibility. Stuart. It seems simple on the surface, but between these two strong actors, Guirgis stellar script and Dexter J. Singletons finely-tuned direction, it makes for electric theater. But the audience also hears stories of childhood friendships and complicated . Kate Hewitts production and Magda His play Between Riverside and Crazy won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. All people wanna do is cry for the victims! JESUS HOPPED THE `A' TRAIN. - Free Online Library Jesus Hopped The 'A' Train is a play written by Stephen Adly Guirgis. Melanie Furstenberg Dubuque, stimulus control transfer is important for, most dangerous towns in suffolk county, ny, God Is The Giver, And Sustainer Of Life Verse. Review | Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train | Young Vic | 5 Stars | Kate Hewitt's production of Stephen Adly Guirgis' 'Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train' is bold and. In the Signature Theater revival of Stephen Adly Guirgis' "Jesus Hopped the A Train . Jesus Hopped the A Train. Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train | a Curtainup Review Angel holds out that he was justified and his lawyer's sure that a hearts-and-minds appeal will get him off at trial. Willis design are deceptively simple. Research Playwrights, Librettists, Composers and Lyricists. Two contrasting prison guards, although convincingly portrayed by Quinn M. Johnson Charlie DAmico (good-guy, likable Charlie DAmico) and Justin Picado (strict, cruel Valdez), remain schematic. A lot of what we hear from the lawyer is in the form of direct . Jesus Hopped the A Train tells the story of several inmates of Rikers Prison who are awaiting charges for murder. Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train closes October 15, 2017 Details and tickets -[/ezcol_1third] It's startling to watch Luciusa so-called man of Godinfluence Angel in a way akin to Rev. Productions But when the Reverend dies in hospital, Angel lands in solitary confinement next to Lucius, a card-carrying Christian serial-killer. Still . There is nothing abstract about them: Mr. Guirgis says that the play began in his own attempt to rescue a friend from the Unification Church. idea of performance. Spoken in Riggins hoarse yet commanding drawl, modulating his speed and timbre with the dexterity of a blues guitarist, its the kind of moment when a play hits a perfect bulls-eye. Pulitzer Prize-winner Stephen Adly Guirgis (Between Riverside and Crazy) begins his Residency at Signature with a new production of his darkly comic meditation on redemption and faith, Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train, directed by Obie Award-winner Mark Brokaw.Angel Cruz is a 30-year-old bicycle messenger awaiting trial for the death of the leader of a religious cult. Billington quipped that Angel's final sacrificial gesture "smacks more of romantic fiction than spiritual redemption [] I enjoyed the production without fully believing in Guirgis's vision of crime and punishment. jesus hopped the a train lucius monologue But Mark Brokaws staging on a simple set by Riccardo Hernandez, sensitively lit by Scott Zielinski, is otherwise evenhanded and clean, as if not wanting to leave any fingerprints. He projects a grooviness turned dry and brittle, making each. His play Between Riverside and Crazy won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It allows Lucius evangelism to soar Portland Monthly; Seattle Met; Sarasota Magazine; Aspen Sojourner; Vail-Beaver Creek Magazine; Park City Magazine; Houstonia Magazine 2799 Katy Freeway, Suite 250, Houston, TX 77007 Phone: 713-862 . Even if Guirgis' play doesn't always add up, the individual pieces are highly watchable. Dont be a God-fearing man, Valdez warns Lucius, be a Valdez-fearing man.. Brayden Fagbemis putback rescues No. Gender: Male. JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN. Jesus Hopped the A Train book. Research Playwrights, Librettists, Composers and Lyricists. Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train is at the Young Vic until . The kind that seems so raw and dangerous, you almost feel like a creep for listening in but then anxiously wait for his return whenever he leaves the stage. . 79 pages ; 20 cm "Angel Cruz, a poor Puerto Rican, isn't sure why he's in jail after shooting Reverend Kim, the born-again Christian who brainwashed his best friend. He is the author of the award winning book of poetry "Hip Hop Is Dead - Long Live Hip Hop: The Birth, Death And Resurrection Of Hip Hop Activism" (2017) and is the inaugural Poet Laureate of Alachua County, Florida (2020 - 2022). An inmate at Rikers (ANGEL) struggles with his new circumstances as he tries to convince his fellow inmate (LUCIUS) to speak to him. Part investigation of our broken criminal justice system, part examination of the corruptive influence of Judeo-Christian morality, "Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train" is a promising start to Eclipse Theatre . church/ cult leader in his water buffalo-sized ass in an attempt to rescue his Jesus Hopped The A Trainquestions the legal and penal systems in the US and offers a stark reflection on how the law struggles to deal with the complexities of the human . The performance by Frankham was another highlight for me; the development of the character though her interactions with Angel and her later monologues was subtle, yet well conveyed. doors slide back and forth to create the different places, most notably the separated Oct. 23, 2017.
[9][10] Previews started two days late, on October 5, due to Reg E. Cathey leaving the company suddenly to be replaced by Mr. Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train reveals a young playwright's awkwardness with its overwritten passages and reliance on expository monologues. But his drive and dish make it possible. Jesus Hopped The 'A' Train - Variety As his name implies, Angel wrestles with questions of faith, and those questions come pouring out from Lucius during their side-by-side exercise sessions in the prison's outdoor cages. House of Actors is proud to present "Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train". (Scott Dray). The play runs about 15 minutes too long the second act has too much repetitive, screamed arguments and Guirgis has a habit of spelling his theses out a little too neatly. Mirrors, not cages, provide the true path to justice and peace. . The play is full of monologues that function to articulate each character's values, very much like back in Sophocles' day, and the directors' decision to stage the play in the round magnifies the standing and authority of each such magnificent speech. In 2011, his play The Motherfucker with the Hat was nominated for a handful of Tonys, including Best Play; a few scant weeks after the award . Set inside Rikers Island, Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train follows Angel . Hives Not Going Away With Prednisone, A monologue from the play Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train by Francesco Di MaioShot and Directed by Hitop Films. Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train. Lucius, despite Taylor's fearsome performance, remains a bit of a conundrum, as captured in a beguiling late-in-the-play monologue from D'Amico (Zach Bloomfield), a guard who loses his job for . Seeking 2 Actor Team for Spring
That is exactly where Mr. Guirgis, who won a 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Between Riverside and Crazy, wants us: in a confused crouch that renders us vulnerable to deeper questioning. THE HALF-GOD OF RAINFALL at New York Theatre Workshop, THE WALLS HAVE EARS at The Roxy Theatre Group, Gulfshore Playhouse 2023-24 Season at Gulfshore Playhouse, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 2023 Season at Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE 2023 SEASON at Westport Country Playhouse. [11] The production team included director Mark Brokaw, Riccardo Hernndez as set designer, Dede M. Ayite as costume designer, Scott Zielinski as lighting designer, and M.L. Those arguments are eternal, as the frequent biblical references suggest. Angel, on the other hand, acquires the nickname of Droopy Dog. a panoptican effect. Lucius Jenkins. On his first night at Rikers Island, a terrified inmate named Angel Cruz tries to reconstruct the Lord's Prayer from his broken memories. Elysium Theatre deserve much credit for bringing Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train to Manchester for the first time. Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train | actorswarehouse It's the reason I keep coming back to Collective Consciousness. Review: Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train, Young Vic - Exeunt Magazine Angel Cruz is a young Puerto Rican man incarcerated for shooting a cult leader after said person "stole" his best friend. In fact, that symmetry is present in almost every character. To see it in such an intimate black box in the middle of an energetic and well-thought-out production for $25 a ticket feels, in you pardon the joke, like a crime. JESUS HOPPED THE 'A' TRAIN . Jesus Hopped the A . When he shows up, Angel is reserved, angry and abused. Not Exactly Billington: writing about theatre since 2012. Marmions Trevon Roots wins battle with Burlington Centrals Drew Scharnowski for sectional title. Long story, which Guirgis tells well, but a bullet aimed at the cult leaders butt ricochets to later put Angels liberty at risk and puts him in the cell next to Lucius. Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train - Wikiwand Jesus Hopped the A Train screens only on Friday, Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Jesus' Blood Found 23 Chromosomes, He's being held there because, as he tells us, he "shot a man in the ass" earlier that week.
Sure, it tells a story of addiction and cyclical abuse a narrative we've grown to expect about those who go behind bars. Guirgis has a gift for mixing the humorous and the horrific, but it doesn't always land in the writing or the production here. cages, the action and performances here although the characters are still Robert Heinly (D'Amico) in Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train. Lucius is a "celebrity" prisoner, an old-hat at the prison. The play takes place in a prison on Rikers Island in New York. Lucius Jenkins - (40's/50's/Black) He is a charismatic, confident convicted serial killer but he has . "Our Father, who art in Heaven, Howard be thy name . Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train - Young Vic | Cultural Capital Beautifully acted, these scenes are expertly written by Guirgis whose dialogue is both frank, darkly comical and naturalistic while still playing host to some fascinating theological debates. The shooting was part of Angels plan to rescue his best friend, whom the cult had stolen and brainwashed. society, are remarkabl. Photo: Tristram Kenton. 0. Jesus Hopped the A Train (Play) Plot & Characters | StageAgent There is even something endearing about the crime that put him in prison: He shot a cult leader in the butt while trying to rescue a friend. Set in a US penitentiary - where Magda Willi's stage design could literally squeeze the life out of newly arrived prisoner Puerto Rican Angel Cruz - Kate Hewitt's production of Jesus Hopped The 'A' Train shines a new light on the religious debates that have come to define this critically acclaimed play.Angel is brought to Rikers Island pending a court case for shooting Rev Kim, a . Their monologues are all interesting, at least, but Guirgis was mainly interested in having Angel and Lucius debate. Lucius is a serial . Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train, Young Vic Theatre | Culture Whisper But after he lands in 24-hour protective custody, one hour of which is spent each day in a cage in the jail yard, he meets his philosophical match. Collective Consciousness Theatre, the black box theater in Erector Square with a penchant for urban dramas and works by authors of color, is back with its first production of the season: Stephen Adly Guirgis' sobering Jesus Hopped the A Train.First produced in 2000, the play sets up a situation where crime and punishment . We are committed to principles of ethical and diverse representation in our casting.