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A ten-minute documentary about the show and our premiere at Theatre Row with interviews with the playwright and cast.
Viewing entries by
The Production Team
Renowned architectural photographer Norman McGrath got behind the camera once again to shoot the set of The Eternal Space. McGrath, whose work is internationally acclaimed, lent many photos from his catalog to help recreate New York’s old Penn Station on our stage. Seeing the show earlier in the week, he called it a “masterpiece” and shot the set yesterday afternoon as a “dramatic and fitting climax” to his photography of Penn Station that began some 50 years ago.
Below are some photos of the master photographer shooting his own work in an unimaginable and unanticipated way. We also include a video with our Marketing Director, Malini Singh McDonald, to discuss his career, his inspiration to photograph Penn Station’s demolition and his critique of our production.
Watch the entire interview by clicking here.
Check out the entire post here.
Taken from Thursday, October 22, at the MAS Summit 2015 at the New York Times Center.
Photo by Malini Singh McDonald
The Eternal Space cast and crew were honored to be featured at the MAS Summit for New York City 2015. It was an amazing opportunity and a great success! We gained a new audience of thousands because of the MAS's live web stream of the event.
Below are some pictures and video from the evening at the Times Center.
Photo by Malini Singh McDonald
We were given a wonderful introduction by MAS Board Member, William H. Wright II who turned it over to Justin to provide context for the context for the scene.
Below is a portion of scene one read by Clyde Baldo as activist and English teacher, Joseph Lanza, and Matt Pilieci reading Paul Abbot the construction worker and photographer taking Penn Station down while photo documenting the process. Both actors will be playing the roles in our upcoming production starting November 14th.
Many thanks again to the MAS for letting us take part in such an incredible event! We were grateful to be a part of it.
From left to right: Rome (Production Manager), Clyde (Joseph), Justin (Playwright), Dan Stern (Narrator), Malini (Marketing), Matt Pilieci (Paul)
Photo by Malini
We had a blast... clearly.
Read the whole post here.
Click here to read our write up in Broadworld.com
On October 28, 1963 the Original Penn Station was Demolished, Forever Altering the NYC Landscape.
Over 50 Years Later, the Story of an Unlikely Friendship is Revealed.
THE ETERNAL SPACE
A World Premiere Production
Written By Justin Rivers
Directed By Mindy Cooper
Performances Begin November 13 at Theatre Row
NEW YORK, NY, October 15, 2015 – The world premiere of THE ETERNAL SPACE, a new play written by Justin Rivers and directed by Mindy Cooper, will begin performances at New York City’s Theatre Row on November 13, 2015.
October 28th, 1963 marked the end of an era in New York City history. The demolition of the old Pennsylvania Station had begun, and as the wrecking crew worked to dismantle the 53-year-old architectural marvel, a chance meeting between a construction worker running from his past and an English teacher who can’t let his go sparks a three year odyssey where one man fights to keep the station standing while the other tears it down.
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the demolition of the old Penn Station, THE ETERNAL SPACE uses original photography from the journalists who documented the station's destruction and recreations of broadcast recordings of the day to chart an unlikely friendship during the social and cultural upheavals of the mid-1960s.
"I decided the demolition photography would have to be central to the show,” said Rivers. “Not only would it provide the backdrop for all the scenes, it would be a living presence on the stage. Since these photos communicate so much, they really became the third character on the stage with their own story to tell. They even have their own stage directions." THE ETERNAL SPACE will feature the photography of Norman McGrath, Peter Moore, Alexander Hatos, Ron Ziel and Aaron Rose.
The loss of the beaux-arts Penn Station would invigorate the efforts of the preservation movement both locally and nationally. National legislation that followed would later be critical to saving Grand Central Terminal and many other NYC buildings.
Playwright Justin Rivers wrote the first draft of THE ETERNAL SPACE in 2002 as a testament to all the things we don't appreciate until they're gone. Currently he is the author and co-collaborator of The Wonder City, a graphic novel that re-imagines the history of NYC. He is also Founder and Executive Director of The Character Connection Initiative, a non-profit organization that brings character education to inner-city middle school students and teachers throughout NYC. He has written and produced fifteen plays.
Director Mindy Cooper has been a collaborator in the New York theater and dance communities for over 30 years. Her body of work as a performer, choreographer and director includes Broadway- (Chicago, Titanic, Dracula, Beauty and the Beast, Wrong Mountain, Song & Dance), Off Broadway- (Soul Doctor, 50 Shades- The Musical Parody, Mars/Venus Live, and Five Course Love), FringeNYC and NYMF, as well as The Broadway Series at Town Hall.
The cast of THE ETERNAL SPACE will feature Clyde Baldo and Matt Pilieci. Baldo is an actor, director and photographer whose credits span more than fifty plays and thirty films. His play Glimpses was first performed at Arclight Theatre and has been performed twice in Rio de Janeiro. He is a proud member of The Amoralist Theater Company. Pilieci is a Co-Founder and former Associate Artistic Director of The Amoralists Theater Company. He is a graduate and company member of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts whose credits include Through The Yellow Hour (Rattlestick Theater) and Hotel Motel (The Amoralists).
Scenic design is by Jason Sherwood (Goodspeed Musicals: The Circus in Winter, Yale Repertory Theater: In the Next Room). Projection design is by Brad Peterson (Broadway: Fish in the Dark). Lighting design is by Zach Blane (Roundabout: Too Much, Too Much, Too Many, Suicide Incorporated). Costume design is by Tristan Raines (NYC: Bare, Tribes, The Internationals, Soul Doctor). Sound design is by Benjamin Blank (Social Life The Musical). Sara Zick is the associate producer. Public relations services by John Capo Public Relations.
THE ETERNAL SPACE will be presented at Theatre Row’s Lion Theatre, located at 410 West 42nd Street in New York City.
Performances will be held from November 14 through December 6, 2015. All seats are $56.25.
To view the performance schedule and purchase tickets, visit www.TheEternalSpacePlay.com
www.TheEternalSpacePlay.com
@TheEternalSpace
Facebook.com/TheEternalSpacePlay
Instagram.com/TheEternalSpace
Untapped Cities has created a special deal for NYC history buffs and Penn Station enthusiasts. As our co-promoted tours continue to sell-out, Untapped Cities is offering a combo tour and show ticket for selected Sunday performances during the fall. Beginning at noon, attendees will enjoy the 90 minute tour, led by playwright Justin Rivers and licensed tour guide Tamara Agins. We'll hunt for the relics of Penn Station past before heading over to Theatre Row on 42nd for a 3pm curtain. During the roughly 90 minute intermission between events, attendees can take advantage of lunch deals that we have created in the vicinity of Theatre Row. Bookings for this combo deal are available exclusively through Untapped Cities and offer a 20% discount on the show ticket. Space is limited, but you can read all about it here and get the combo deal here.
We hope to see you all at the show this fall!
These tours keep selling out. As we work toward's the world premiere of the play in the fall, we have a busy fall full of events that celebrate Penn Station and our ultimate opening. First up, we have added a date to calendar for yet another Penn Station tour. Join playwright Justin Rivers and our friends at Untapped Cities for the September event. Clicking here will bring you to our new Other Events page where you can find out about all the exciting stuff planned around our Off-Broadway opening.
Our tours in partnership with Untapped Cities have proven to be one of NYC's most popular tours of 2015 with over 6 sold out tour dates so far. Below are some photographs courtesy of Untapped Cities contributor, Alex Wallach. Stay tuned for more dates and times!
As of a few minutes ago, our 40 day Kickstarter campaign came to its official end. We are happy to announce that not only did we meet our goal, but exceeded it! So from the bottom of our hearts, thank you, thank you, and thank you! And now, as the real work begins to mount our showcase production, stayed tuned, because there will be dozens of announcements in the coming months. And lastly, some sincere statements:
"For everyone's support and belief in this play, my gratitude is endless. Each and every person who pledged helped to make this dream come true. Now, my job is deliver the best possible show I have in me to honor your generosity." -- Justin Rivers, playwright
“I can speak for the entire production team, that we are eternally grateful to the over 200 donors who took the time to learn about and support The Eternal Space. The funds raised will propel us forward so that we may continue to finesse and produce the caliber of show that is worthy of everyone’s donation. Your donation will be rewarded with an intelligent and thoughtful production that will not disappoint!” -- Dennis D. McCarthy, producer
Whew! What a week we have had! With only 5 days left in our Kickstarter Campaign, the pressure is on! Every dollar, every pledge helps. Will you be the next Kickstarter backer? Like PBS and public radio, awesome rewards await you.
Yesterday, Metropolis Magazine ran a brilliant blog post regarding the show and our campaign. And, in the middle of sugar-induced mayhem yesterday, Curbed NY ran a news brief on us. As the kids continue to recover, check them out.
We had a very busy day yesterday, as October 28th marked the 51st anniversary of Penn Station's demolition. Our playwright, Justin Rivers, was invited to guest author a blog post on the renowned urban discovery site Untapped Cities. In case you missed it, you can read it here. We are proud to say that it has been the one of the most popular entries on the site for the past two days!
To spread the word about the show and our Kickstarter campaign we also authored a Buzzfeed post on 10 Things You Didn't Know About NYC's Old Penn Station. Full of unknown facts and never before seen photos, it's worth a look here.
As we approach the final seven days in our Kickstarter campaign, we thank all of our backers from the bottom of our hearts. It's going to be a long climb to the finish line, but we will undoubtedly make it. Please help us by continuing to spread the word.
As the Municipal Arts Society's NYC Summit wrapped up last week, the arguments, plans and dreams of a new Penn Station, were once again topics of conversation throughout the city. Today, Amy Verel, ASLA, offers some insights of her own on Penn Station.
As a landscape architect who has always worked in cities, I am occasionally asked “wouldn't there be more work for you in the suburbs?” The assumption is that the practice of landscape architecture is constrained to lawns and gardens, betraying a fundamental lack of understanding about the vital role of landscape architecture in urban design. While lawns and gardens are certainly one aspect of landscape architecture, the practice encompasses the design of the entire urban environment. As licensed professionals entrusted with designing and engineering the health, safety and welfare of the public, landscape architects work to comprehensively shape our shared urban space. Counter-intuitive as it may seem, the less space there is for lawns, trees and animals, the more attention and careful design the outdoor environment requires.
Architecture aspires to construct the sublime human experience within the walls of the building; landscape architecture aspires to do the same in the spaces between the buildings. Seen in this light, landscape architecture encompasses the entire exterior urban environment and is inextricably linked to the architecture within it. The most successful expressions of both fields unite our built spaces - indoors and out, public and private - in a way that fosters the highest human experience.
While phenomenal works of landscape architecture and architecture can be found in all human settings, both become more important as our density increases. We are communal animals that enjoy being together and who work best together when we cluster and collaborate in the form of the city. In our closely shared physical places, every inch matters inside and out and the role of the designer is paramount in defining our experience of the entire built environment.
We have a distinct choice in design – to meet the minimum requirements for safety and function, or to exceed our basic needs in order to create spaces that make us feel connected to each other and inspire us to sustain community and beauty in our lives. The old Pennsylvania Station was one such space and although most of us can only experience it through the photography of its life and demise, it was undeniably a space that made an indelible mark on the identity and collective memory of New York City. It was with us for a short time, even by the scale of an individual lifetime, and yet its soaring, elegant design leaves us with a powerful legacy that reminds us that not only are we capable of creating such beauty, but that it does not come easily and we must scrupulously protect it.
“We have a distinct choice in design – to meet the minimum requirements for safety and function, or to exceed our basic needs in order to create spaces that make us feel connected to each other and inspire us to sustain community and beauty in our lives.”
I am drawn to urban planning and landscape architecture because I am fascinated by how the spaces we occupy influence how we feel – about ourselves and about those around us – and how we behave in response to those emotions. The astounding, uplifting physical experience of being in Grand Central Terminal today, and the disoriented, trapped feeling of being in Penn Station’s modern replacement, encapsulate both ends of this spectrum. We are exceptionally fortunate that Grand Central was saved for us to experience today largely because of the unfortunate demise of Pennsylvania Station, but the loss of Pennsylvania Station left a hole in the physical and mental fabric of the city that can never be filled.
Remembering the sublime design of Pennsylvania Station, and experiencing what it must have felt like to be in that space through the power of photography, reminds us that we are still capable and worthy of spaces that raise us up as a community of human beings. Good design is always worth striving for, and transcendent design should always be the goal of the designer. Memorializing the terribly shortsighted destruction of such a space through the elegiac photography that so elegantly documented the demolition instills the lesson that we must vigilantly protect the monumental spaces we manage to create.
Amy Verel, ASLA has served as a Board Member for the New York Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects since 2010. She works for the New York City Department of Recreation as an Assistant Landscape Architect. She is also an Certified Municipal Specialist with the International Society of Arboriculture and a member of the New York Chapter of Women's Transportation Seminar. She received dual Masters of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and BA in Urban Studies from Fordham University. She was an active member of Fordham Experimental Theater, where she met Justin and acted in one of his early plays.
VISIT OUR KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN
Pennsylvania Railroad GG1s in the Boonton Restoration Yard of URHS on September 20, 2014. Photo credit: Dennis A Livesey
With thirteen days left in their online Kickstarter campaign, the producers of the stage play, The Eternal Space, announced today three additional rewards for Kickstarter backers.
Added backer rewards include:
- A replica of the original 1910 train ticket used by the LIRR on its maiden run into NYC Pennsylvania Station.
- A digital ticket to allow fans of the show, anywhere, access to video footage of an upcoming showcase performance.
- A family-friendly visit to the United Railroad Historical Societies of NJ (URHS) train yard in Boonton, NJ. Railroad fans, young and old, will experience tours, witness restoration progress and access restored passenger cars, expertly restored by URHS volunteers. The excursion will also feature photo opportunities behind the controls of a PRR GG1 locomotive, a mainstay of the former Pennsylvania Railroad’s fleet.
These additions compliment existing rewards from notable photographer, Norman McGrath and other limited-edition items from NYC area artists.
Playwright Justin Rivers says, “I’m thrilled to be adding these new rewards for our backers. They complement our existing rewards and allow fans anywhere and everywhere, young and old, to participate in this show’s development”. Cassie Farrelly, producer, offered “We are thankful to the URHS for their involvement and support. We look forward to visiting Boonton and will continue to support the URHS in all of their impressive railroad preservation efforts”.
Kevin Phalon, spokesperson for the URHS, says: "The GG1 was the cornerstone locomotive of the Pennsylvania Railroad's electric fleet. They have one of the longest tenures on any locomotive ever built, and the fleet of 139 units pulled almost every train out of Penn Station from the late 1930s to the day the station was demolished. Exceeding speeds of 100 miles per hour, the GG1 carried passengers from New York City to the state of Pennsylvania, the nation's capital, and beyond. The URHS is the only railroad preservation group in the country to have two of these locomotives restored. They are two of the key existing artifacts for telling the story of Penn Station and we are proud to partner with The Eternal Space to share them with those who have contributed to the project."
About the URHS: The United Railroad Historical Society of NJ is a historic preservation group tasked with restoring a collection of railroad equipment for the future NJ Railroad Museum. The organization was formed in 1987 and is governed by delegates from 15 NJ-based railroad groups. In lieu of permanent museum site, the URHS preserves railroad history by leasing operational equipment to railroads, running excursions with Amtrak-certified train cars, and restoring locomotives and cars at the Boonton Yard Restoration Facility.