The Happiest Medium calls our production of “The Thyme Of The Season” a great, colorful and worthy successor to the “prequel”. Today’s show was amazing. I’m so lucky to be working with such a brilliant cast of actors and as I mentioned Duncan’s a brilliant writer. We have three more performances: Friday, June 18th at 5pm, Saturday June 19th at 7pm, and Wednesday, June 23rd at 5:30pm.

Here’s the full review for those that are interested:

http://thehappiestmedium.com/2010/06/the-thyme-of-the-season-even-better-the-second-thyme-around-planet-connections-2010/

Though I was too busy learning iambic pentameter to ever sit down and announce it, I’m currently performing as Demetrius in a sequel to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s another Duncan Pflaster play — love him — called “The Thyme of the Season” or “A Midautumn Night’s Dream.”

The review says:

“it is all acted with infectious spirit. There is not a weak link in this gorgeous, enthusiastic cast.”

And mentions me specifically:

“The dialogue simulates Shakespearean verse with the occasional hilarious veer into modern language; “I want not the fount of rumor—not—well, I want people not to know about it,” says Demetrius.”

Pretty cool! Check out the entire story here: http://www.theasy.com/Reviews/thethymeoftheseason.php.

I was recently offered a lead role in “A Raisin in the Salad, Black Plays for White People” (yes it’s a reference to Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raising in the Sun). While I was very excited about the role, I had to turn it down for several reasons including the uncertainty of the actual dates of the performance and rehearsal due to my current show. I’d like to thank director Christopher Burris for this amazing opportunity and wish his production team lots of luck with the project.

I recently had the chance to step in for an actor that broke his leg (teach me to use that expression) in a short play by Duncan Pflaster called “Pocket Universe.” Jeff Martin was supposed to play my role of Zack, though I’ve never met him I hope he gets better. Anyway, it was a brief one act where I was someone’s boyfriend in their fantasy world but just their co-worker in the “real world.” I had a blast and got to perform in the Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe is the East Village. I could swear I could feel the presence of Jack Kerouac and others like him who’d no doubt spent countless hours in that very space. I love my life.

If you’ve never seen a show at the Gallery Players, you’re cheating yourself out of some very good theatre. Right now they’re doing “City of Angels” (which is on my must-see list) but they have a reputation of producing original shows that go on to have pretty long lives like “Yank!” and “Enter Laughing: The Musical”. It’s true that you must enter the borough of Brooklyn to get there, but I hear they actually have indoor plumbing there now. Anyway, the point is they’re doing a one-act play festival and I was called back for three separate plays. Keep your fingers crossed.

In addition, I just had photos taken for an upcoming NYC FRINGE show which I can’t say any more about at this time. Mysterious huh?

It’s my third time in “Divine Will” but in the latest carnation I play a young priest who blackmails the protagonist’s uncle. It’s very exciting. I also play a different priest in a confessional at the end of the show. So much fun. Rehearsal starts in a little under an hour and I can’t wait. We’re performing the piece down in Orlando and I’m looking forward to being flown down and housed in a beautiful house with a pool, game room, and lots of space (something not commonly found in New York).

If you follow me on Twitter (@mattfalber),you’d know that today at 2pm I’m performing in a reading of a new play called “In Spirit” by the talented Duncan Pflaster. In it I play a young, attractive, con artist who winds up getting possessed by a renowned author’s dead lover. It’s a little like a modern day Blythe Spirit. In the mean time I’m chilling out and drinking some chai tea and getting ready to have a really great time!

Details below:

Where Eagles Dare Studios
347 W. 36th St. 13th fl.
New York, NY 10018
Between 8th and 9th Aves.

More readings with McCarter, a musical improv show at the Magnet, a twenty-one hour play festival, improv comedy, a film short… gasp… did I forget anything? Probably. February has been so fricken busy. My laptop also stopped working so I’ve had a hard time reporting on all the fun. But, there’s plenty more on the horizon. Can’t wait to really catch up but I’m on my way out the door into the daunting and amazing streets of New York City.

Lots of rehearsing lately. Tonight I’m singing at The Royal Oak in Brooklyn (594 Union Av at 11th St). We’re doing some four-part a cappella music!

I also had my first rehearsal with Cherub Improv this month and am looking forward to performing regularly with them. We perform at hospitals, senior homes, hospice, homeless shelter, cancer support organizations and many other venues where we can utilize our talent to make a positive impact in the lives of those who really need to smile.

Lastly (for this update) I’m performing in a reading on Friday called “Collected Stories: The Best and Worst of Me and You” by Corey Pajka. I portray a playwright that’s trying to sort through his recently failed relationship and possibly win back his ex-girlfriend by writing a play. The show plays at 11pm in the Richmond Shepard Theater at 309 East 26th Street, New York, NY after Wide-Eyed’s presentation of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. Admission is $10 at the door.

Whew! Well, I’m off to Brooklyn.

Every year McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ works with five different New Jersey schools to talented cultivate young playwrights. Over the period of ten weeks selected students create one act plays that will eventually be performed in New York. I was fortunate enough to spend an amazing day recently performing readings of the plays with other NY actors so that students could get a chance to hear their play for the first time. It was an amazing experience to perform play after play all day long. The calibre of the high school senior’s work was astounding. If all goes well I’ll be doing three more readings of a similar fashion with McCarter.