Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Press about Memory is a Culinary Affair

6/1/11
The Jewish Week

Ted Merwin wrote the article "Crying for Argentina" in The Jewish Week.

Go to:
www.thejewishweek.com/arts/theatre/crying_argentina

5/31/11

Channel 1 Noticias
Jose Simian interviews the director Fabian Gonzalez and actor Ron Sarcos about the new production
www.ny1noticias.com/content/140067/vuelve-a-la-ciudad-la-obra--memory-is-a-culinary-affair-

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

MEMORY IS COMING TO THE VILLAGE!!!

After moving from Argentina to New York City, Carina, 36, learns that it is never easy to leave the past behind- especially when the past is a childhood lived during a dictatorship that destroyed her family.

HORSE TRADE THEATER GROUP

PRESENTS


MEMORY IS A CULINARY AFFAIR


Written and produced by Graciela Berger Wegsman

Directed by Fabian Gonzalez

JUNE 9-17 @ THE RED ROOM


The production will feature George Bass*, Ben Bucher*, Michelle Concha, Ydaiber Orozco, Mariana Parma, and Ron Sarcos.


*AEA member appears courtesy of the Actors' Equity Association


Performances:

Thursdays: June 9 and 16 at 8 PM

Fridays: June 10 and 17 at 8 PM


Saturday: June 11 at 3 PM

Saturday: June 11 at 8 PM


Sunday: June 12 at 3 PM

The Red Room Theatre

85 East 4th Street, 3rd Floor

(no wheelchair access)

Between Second and Third Avenues (Bowery)

New York


Tickets are: $18 and $15 (students and seniors)

Tickets are available online at:
www.horsetrade.info


or by calling Smarttix: 212-868-4444



For more information you can contact me at: spanishconfidence@gmail.com

Thanks,

Graciela

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

REVIEWS OF MY PLAY MEMORY IS A CULINARY AFFAIR

MEMORY IS A CULINARY AFFAIR

Reviewed by Susan J. Maskin
Librarian, writer and composer

An historical event is never more poignant than when it is seen through the eyes of those living through it. It is also true that these events, especially traumatic ones, affect future generations.

In the late 1970's to the early years of the decade that followed, a dictatorship ruled Argentina, and the resulting consequences on the lives of many thousands were to be tragic. For reasons difficult to understand -or for no reason at all- perhaps at least 30,000 people were abducted, tortured and killed.
For all the families of "The Disappeared" the trauma was extreme, and passed down through the generations. The play, Memory is a Culinary Affair, written by Argentinean Graciela Berger Wegsman, shows the emotional effect the era of "the Disappeared" had on some young people living in the aftermath.

Carina, a 36 year old woman, brilliantly played by Mariana Parma is caught between two worlds: her new life in New York with her boyfriend Marc, portrayed by Ben Joseph and her life, family and former boyfriend still living in Argentina. Marc is insistent that Carina make a commitment to him and share an apartment. Carina is hesitant. The problem comes to the surface when Carina's sister Flor played by Ydaiber Orozco visits Carina.

The drama is excellent; the acting superb. When riding home with other people who attended the performance, there was a discussion about the characters as if they were real people that we all knew. My husband and I were talking about Carina and Flor several days later. What could be a better testament to the quality of a play than the audience reacting in such a way?

I am hopeful that this drama will be produced again so that others can have the same meaningful experience that I and my husband had.

###

Reviewed by Mariela Dreyfus, PhD
DGS, Creative Writing in Spanish
New York University

"Memory: you have the key"
Cito de memoria un verso de T.S. Eliot en el titulo para decirte que me gusto mucho tu obra; el modo en que la memoria se vuelve el eje para hilvanar una historia rica, compleja y sobre todo, bastante intensa y conmovedora. Excelente la manera en que elegiste las canciones para tu obra, desde el dramatismo de la Negra Sosa hasta ese final divertido con el estribillo mas famoso de Blades: "La vida te da sorpresas". Me gusta mucho tambien como manejas los distintos registros emocionales, desde la risa (muy bien dosificado el humor) hasta las lagrimas.
Felicidades!

###
Reviewed by Barbara Haimowitz, PhD
We wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed "Memory is a Culinary Affair." The play was outstanding, the dialogue lively and intense, the actors entrenched in their roles...loved Blanca as mother and "ghost" steering her daughter Carina to make her own decisions in her life. Great portrayal of the tight-knit bond between the sisters carina and Flor. What an excellent use of voice overs in the letter from Jorge! Striking contrast between the Buenos Aires -born and typical American Marc!
We think that this play should be adapted for a movie...
Many thanks and much continued success, here is to Broadway!
Your friends,
Barbara and Ira



Wednesday, September 8, 2010

WE WERE SOLD OUT FOR THE THREE SHOWS!!!

My play Memory is a Culinary Affair had a succesful run on August 18, 20 and 21 at Manhattan Repertory Theatre in New York City.

The three shows were sold out and there was a waiting list.

Memory is a Culinary Affair explores the impact of the 1970's dictatorship in Argentina through the eyes of Carina, who was a small child at the time. Now in her mid-30s and living in New York, Carina must decide whether to return to Argentina and her former boyfriend, who is still in love with her, or to stay in New York and make a new life with her current boyfriend. As she ponders her choices, Carina must confront the scars left by events that tore her family apart during her childhood. Her family is Jewish.

A Spanish-language version of the play was a recipient of an award in the 2007 MetLife Nuestras Voces National Playwriting Competition at Repertorio Espanol.

PRESS ABOUT THE PLAY

The NY Daily News
www.nydailynews.com/latino
Two Latina playwrights draw on childhood experiences for new works "Memory is a Culinary Affair" and "Viva la Evolucion! open this week.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/latino/2010/08/18/2020-08-18 stages of life.html#ixzzOxTZOSZOJ

The Forward
http://blogs.forward.com/the-arty-semite/130353/

Channel 1 Noticias
Interview in Spanish
http://www.ny1noticias.com/content/123744/teatro---la-memoria-es-un-affaire-culinario-

El Diario
Arte y Cultura: Drama de una Dictadura
www.impre.com/laraza/...2010/8/.../drama-de-una-dictadura-203477-1.html

Daily News/Hora Hispana
El Blog de Pablo

I'm trying to bring the play to a bigger venue.

Thank you for your support.
Graciela

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

PRESS FOR MEMORY IS A CULINARY AFFAIR

If you go to channel NY 1 Noticias you can see an interview about the play "Memory is a Culinary Affair" (Teatro)

Also check the article in El Diario: Drama de una dictadura.

Check my last posting about the Daily News/Hora Hispana.
And we are in many blogs and listings including the Village Voice.

Don't forget to get tickets. Wednesday is sold out with a waiting list but there are tickets left on Friday and Saturday.
For reservations please call:646-329-6588 $20

It opens tomorrow!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

MEMORY IS A CULINARY AFFAIR












MANHATTAN REPERTORY THEATRE
SUMMERFEST 2010

WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY GRACIELA BERGER WEGSMAN

DIRECTED BY HEATHER VIOLANTI

WITH: MARIANA PARMA, MICHELLE CONCHA, YDAIBER OROZCO, MIGUEL BELMONTE, BENJAMIN JOSEPH AND JUAN VILLARREAL

SET DESIGN: MARIANO CINAT

PERFORMANCES:
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 18 AT 9 PM
FRIDAY AUGUST 20 AT 9 PM
SATURDAY AUGUST 21 AT 9 PM

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! PLEASE CALL: (646) 329-6588 $20
After moving from Argentina to New York City, Carina, 36, learns that is never easy to leave the past behind-especially when that past is a childhood lived during a dictatorship that destroyed her family.


MANHATTAN REPERTORY THEATRE
303 WEST 42ND STREET 3RD FLOOR
NEW YORK CITY
http://www.manhattanrep.com/