Invisible Theatre News

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Claassen & Co. mostly deliver the goods in 'Dancing' Look Ma, IT has a winner, if imperfect Kathleen Allen Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Sunday, February 12, 2012 Two weddings and a funeral serve as the backdrop for Invisible Theatre's latest, the world premiere of Janet Neipris' "Look Ma We're Dancing." So does some mighty intense sibling rivalry in this production directed by Gail Fitzhugh. And no one can do intense quite as well as Susan Claassen, IT's artistic director and one of the two sisters in this comedy. Claassen's Vi has a strong wit, impeccable timing and a New York City sophistication. She brings all that to Montana to attend her sister Franny's wedding (Franny is nicely portrayed by Susan Kovitz). Trouble is, she and Franny haven't spoken in a year, when something went terribly wrong at their mother's funeral. Franny isn't as interesting as Vi; nevertheless, Kovitz holds her own against Claassen - which isn't...

LOOK MA WE'RE DANCING : GENTLE REMINDERS FILL "LOOK MA WE'RE DANCING" By Chuck Graham TucsonStage.com Family members may not be the world's most reliable support group, but we always have to remember: home is the place where, when you go there, they have to take you in. Playwright Janet Neipris and the players at Invisible Theatre celebrate such enduring truths in the world premiere production of her light comedy with a heart, "Look Ma We're Dancing" directed by Gail Fitzhugh. Susan Claassen is full of feisty confusion as Vi, the intellectual sister of Franny (Susan Kovitz) the sociable sister – the one mom always liked best, at least in Vi's opinion. Read the entire review here: LOOK MA WE'RE DANCING

'Look Ma, We’re Dancing' is gentle Jewish-centric comedy | The Invisible Theatre : The Invisible Theatre 'Look Ma, We’re Dancing' is gentle Jewish-centric comedy Play is a funny, acerbic exploration of sibling rivalry Feb 9, 2012 Dave Irwin TucsonSentinel.com The Invisible Theatre’s latest play, “Look Ma, We’re Dancing,” is a gently acerbic comedy of sibling rivalry. The protagonists are two grown-up hyper-competitive New York Jewish-American princesses. We watch as they try to reconnect to their individual lives and their sisterhood following the death of their mother — the glue that had held their family together. Tim Fuller/Invisible Theatre From left, Burney Starks, Susan Kovitz, Susan Claassen and James Blair star in The Invisible Theatre's production of 'Look Ma, We're Dancing. Vi, played note-perfect and knowingly by IT artistic director Susan Claassen, arrives in Montana to surprise her sister, Franny, played by Susan Kovitz, before Fran...

Sibling rivalry lives in 'Dancing' : Sisters vie for late mom's attention at Invisible Theatre premieres comedy Sibling rivalry lives in 'Dancing' Tayler Wancour For The Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Thursday, February 2, 2012 Death doesn't always kill the need for mom's approval. In "Look Ma We're Dancing," two adult sisters fight over their dead mother's affection. Funny moments, sibling rivalry at its finest and family issues take center stage in the Janet Neipris play, which has its world premiere at Invisible Theatre Tuesday. "The humor is in the characters, and then it has moments that are poignant where it moves the audience. I love that combination," said playwright Neipris, chairwoman of the Dramatic Writing Department at the Tisch School for the Arts at New York University. IT collaborated with Neipris for about two years on "Look Ma We're Dancing." The company has been producing Neipris' work since she...

Amos' 'Comet' hits Invisible Theatre : Patty Machelor Pmachelor@azstarnet.com | Posted: Thursday, January 12, 2012 This time around, Tucsonans can see Hollywood star and philanthropist John Amos perform his sometimes comical, sometimes heartbreaking one-man show, "Halley's Comet." Amos, 72, has been taking "Halley's Comet" to theaters across the United States and abroad for nearly two decades. This is his first Tucson performance, courtesy of Invisible Theatre. The story is that of an 86-year-old man who returns to the same spot where he first watched Halley's Comet 75 years earlier, perched on his father's shoulders. The two-hour play takes the audience from the turn of the century to modern times, as "Old Man" remembers and relives parts of his life, including his childhood dreams, the advent of fast food, the civil rights era and battle scenes in the Pacific. Read more: http://azstarnet.com/entertainment/arts-and-theat...

CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION : UNIQUELY DIFFERENT "CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION" By Chuck Graham, Tucsonstage.com The mystery of communication is being explored quite inventively with Invisible Theatre's production of "Circle Mirror Transformation" by Annie Baker, directed here by Betsy Kruse Craig. The play won an Obie in 2010 for Best New American Play. To some extent, to fully enjoy "Circle Mirror Transformation" you have to be ready for something a little different. Be assured, however, the effort will be well worth it, because this play will also stick in your head on the way home. Each of us could be asking "How much different would my life be today if I had just spoken out that one time, so long ago?" The cast is excellent and well balanced. It's always fun to see McKasson back on stage, her eyes twinkling bright as ever. Henriksen, a veteran Los Angeles actor, makes an engaging Tucson debut. Petty, just starting her career upo...