I have been the long time production photographer for the Castillo Theater, www.castillo.org, based in NYC. Castillo has a history of producing avant-garde politically themed productions that are provocative, entertaining and visually stimulating. I photograph a rehearsal just prior to opening night so the show is pretty much set. I usually know very little about what will unfold, hence i shoot a lot images in a 1.5 – 2.5 hour period. Exposure is always a nightmare, so there is a lot of editing to uncover the gems. Fortunately i am given a lot of leeway to shoot which allows me to find unique angles. Recently we have begun to shoot some promo images for advertising which is a controlled situation. The challenge here is capture a dramatic moment. Here are some recent images.
All images: © Photo: Ronald L. Glassman
www.rlgmedia.com
production: Mr. Hirsch Died Yesterday
written by Fred Newman
directed by Woodie King Jr.
The two images above where shot for publicity purposes on a partially built set. The first image features (l-r) LIndsay Arber, Lenora B. Fulani and Moshe Yassur. In the second shot the actor Ben Prayz is on the left. Below are some shots from the production.
production: Safe at Third (or Josh Gibson Don’t Bunt)
written & directed by Fred Newman
cast: Earl Griffin, Gabrielle Kurlander, David Nackman, Johanny Paulino
All images: © Photo: Ronald L. Glassman
www.rlgmedia.com
Produced in October 2010, Safe at Third (or Josh Gibson Don’t Bunt) is the story of legendary Negro League Baseball great Josh Gibson’s surreal encounter with Albert Einstein, Amelia Earhart and Otto Rene Castillo (the revolutionary poet). Think of the laws of relativity meeting The Wizard of Oz at home plate.
production: Playing with Heiner Muller
texts by Heiner Muller, songs by Fred Newman
directed by Gabrielle L. Kurlander
All images: © Photo: Ronald L. Glassman
www.rlgmedia.com
Castillo has been the long time presenter of works by East German playwright Heiner Muller, who according to Wikipedia is, “arguably the most important German dramatist of the 20th century after Bertolt Brecht. His “enigmatic, fragmentary pieces” are a significant contribution to postmodern drama and postdramatic theatre.” The drama is driven by politics, religion, sex, life and death. Below are some images from the fall of 2010. The first set of images are the promotional shots and following are the production stills.
