Theater for the New City’s free 2021 Street Theater Tour will pay in parks, playgrounds and closed-off streets throughout the five boroughs from Saturday, July 12 through Sunday, September 12 with Critical Care. Book, lyrics and direction are by Crystal Field; the musical score is composed and arranged by Joseph Vernon Banks.
Critical Care, or Rehearsals for a Nurse is an original musical that tells the story of a hird year nursing student, who, in order to pay for tuition and books, takes a job in a nursing home, where residents dance before her eyes, becoming superstars as they sing “Who We Really Are.” Although they are menaced by the Covid-19 virus, they fight back, eventually solving larger problems through a wide community effort.
The production will be staged with an elaborate assemblage of trap doors, giant puppets, smoke machines, masks, original choreography and a huge (9′ x 12′) running screen or “cranky” providing continuous moving scenery behind the actors. The company of 30 actors, ten crew members, two stage managers, three assistant directors and five live musicians (led by the composer at the keyboard) will share the challenge of performing outside and holding a large, non-captive audience. The music will vary in style from Bossa Nova to Hip Hop to Musical Comedy to classical Cantata.
The schedule of Critical Care is as follows:
Saturday, July 31@ 2:00 PM: MANHATTAN — Outside Theater for the New City at E. 10th Street & 1st Ave.
Sunday, Aug 1 @ 2:00 PM: BRONX — Pontiac Playground at St. Mary’s Park, 350 St. Ann’s Ave.
Saturday. Aug 7 @ 2:00 PM: MANHATTAN — Wise Towers, 117 West 90th Street
Sunday, Aug 8 @ 2:00 PM: MANHATTAN — Central Park Bandshell, 72nd Street Crosswalk
Friday, Aug13 @ 6:30 PM: BROOKLYN — Coney Island Boardwalk @ W. 10th Street
Sat, Aug 14 @ 2:00 PM: MANHATTAN — Abe Lebwohl Park @St. Marks Church, E. 10th St. & 2nd Ave.
Sunday, Aug 15 @2:00 PM: MANHATTAN — Jackie Robinson Park, W. 147th St. & Bradhurst Ave.
Saturday, Aug 21 @ 2:00 PM: MANHATTAN — Washington Square Park
Sunday, August 22 @ 2:00 PM: QUEENS — Travers Park, 34th Avenue Between 77th and 78th Street
Saturday, August 28 @ 2:00 PM: BROOKLYN — Sunset Park, 6th Ave. & 44th Street
Sun, Aug 29 @ 2:00 PM: BROOKLYN — Ft. Greene Park, Myrtle Ave. bet. N. Portland Ave. & St. Edwards St.
Saturday, Sept. 4 @ 2:00 PM: MANHATTAN — Outside Theater for the New City at E. 10th Street & 1st Ave.
Saturday, September 11 @ 2:00 PM: STATEN ISLAND — Tappen Park at Canal, Bay and Water Streets
Sunday, September 12 @ 2:00 PM: MANHATTAN — Tompkins Square Park at E. 7th St. & Ave A
For more information: 212-254-1109, www.theaterforthenewcity.net.
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