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Basement Light Productions and Culture Lab LIC present
I'm Going to Eat You Alive
by Riley Elton McCarthy Directed by Brandon Urrutia
October 3-27
When pica-afflicted geologist Roach documents their van life road trip across America, more than their obsession with eating the national landmarks threatens to derail their journey.
The anniversary of the death of his mother and their sibling’s insistence of Roach’s attendance coincides with the unfortunate parole release of his ex who put her in the ground. When secrets lie six feet below, what erodes when the continents collide?
Developed in support of Workshop Theater's Trans Affinity Intensive.
Runtime of 80 minutes with no intermission
CONTENT WARNINGS:
Please be advised that this play contains violent language, raised voices, disturbing themes including domestic abuse, sexual and physical violence, ingestion of rocks and bugs, references to cannibalism, strobe, blood & gore, & misophonia.
Cast & Crew: KAI JUSTICE ROSALES Roach Kai Justice Rosales (he/they/she/all!) is a bicoastal multi-hyphenate artist. Kai is AZ born, CA bred, and NYC living! Kai has done a lil song and dance across various stages including La Jolla Playhouse, California Center for the Arts - Escondido, Synecdoche Works, The Tank NYC, Seven Devils New Play Foundry, The Dramatist’s Guild, Feinstein’s 54 Below, Green Room 42, and beyond! With Love and Light! ALVIN "BEN" CHRISTMAS* August/Something Lurking Alvin Christmas (he/him) is a dynamic actor known for his seamless transitions between contemporary and classical roles across stage and screen. Recently, he captivated audiences in New York City as Gravy in Mark McKnight's Like Father, Like Salt. On screen, Alvin will soon be seen in the body-positive queer horror film The Brooklyn Butcher as Antoine directed by Joshua Pangborn, in the stoner comedy Stranger Rager as Tiernan directed by Paul Riccio, and in an episode of the upcoming thriller tv show The Better Sister, coming soon to Amazon Prime. A Mississippi native, Alvin first attended Mississippi State University before moving to New York City to train at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. His stage credits include memorable performances as Caliban in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Mike in Sam Shepard’s Lie of the Mind, and the Poet in Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare’s one person show The Iliad. His screen work includes appearances in Discovery’s Evil Lives Here and the forthcoming film A TASTE of YOUTH. * Alvin "Ben" Christmas appears through the courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. DANIELLE BREITSTEIN Ez + Dramaturg Danielle Breitstein (she/they) is a Brooklyn-based musical theater writer, dramaturg, arranger and performer. Recent credits include Let There Be Light at DarkFest at The Tank (Dramaturg, Deviser), Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit at Rogue Theater Fest at The Flea (Dramaturg), Frog Dinner at The Tank (Vocal Arranger), Spelling Club at Miami’s LakeHouseRanchDotPDF (Writer), Plague Play at IATI (Dramaturg), Isabella of Boston Developmental Cast Recording (Orchestrator, Musician) and 54 Goes Horror (Performer) BRANDON URRUTIA Director Brandon Urrutia (they/them/él) is from South Florida (born and raised). Urrutia is the recipient of the ENGAGE@GableStage grant and was awarded “As Miamense as Possible” by the Antiheroes Project for their Solo Performance “Lo Siento mi Espanol es Tremendo Mal”. Urrutia’s previous work in New York was Plague Play by Erin Proctor. They are also Co-Founder and Artistic Director of LakehouseRanchDotPNG. They graduated from Florida International University with a BFA in Theatre in 2020. E.P. SLATTERY Production Stage Manager E.P. Slattery (they/them/theirs) is a Thai/American stage manager, writer, performer and wearer of many other hats, currently based out of NYC. They enjoy working on projects which explore the intersection of their queer and Asian identity. Notable past projects include: Stage Manager: ‘Peonies (Don’t Leave)’ by Chloe SelavkaT(The Tank) ‘People Don’t Shoot Up Schools In 1930’ By Annie Brown (Theatre Row), Other: ‘Elements: a genre bending war play featuring famous faces and Gwyneth Paltrow’ by Spencer Senzon (playing Sam) ‘It Happened In August’ Short Film by Artima Sakulkoo (OST composer/recording artist) NEKA CECELIA KNOWLES Intimacy Director + Costume Designer Neka Cecilia Knowles (she/they) born and raised in Nassau, The Bahamas. She received a BA in Directing from Marymount Manhattan College 21’. They are currently in their final year of the Contemporary Theatre Performance MFA at The New School. She takes great care in developing new work and is so passionate about creating a better world for artists like them. RILEY ELTON MCCARTHY Playwright REM (they/he) is an internationally produced and published playwright. Their hit horror play IVORIES is currently on a European tour with upcoming engagements in London and Copenhagen, and FROG DINNER is about to open at Edinburgh Horror Festival. Their work has been developed all over the world, including 59E59, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Literaturhaus Copenhagen, The International World Pride Festival, The Triad Theater, Edinburgh Fringe, Yale School for Drama, The Brick, and The Tank. They are a two-time Dramatists Guild Fellowship finalist, a two-time Eugene O'Neill Semi-finalist (including for i'm going to eat you alive), and a two-time SheNYCArts semi-finalist. They are a resident playwright with Lakehouseranchdotpng, and studying for their MFA in Musical Theatre Writing at New York University. Their greatest achievement, however, is getting to spend time on earth with the people they love. Thank you to Brandon, Emily, Tess, and the company and creative team of i'm going to eat you alive for making this show happen. Massive thank you to Christian, Raffi, Dante, Eliana, Sabrina, and my other dear friends and loved ones who have held me through the many moments I have needed my friends in my corner. Double thank you to Raffi for your enduring optimism, our spontaneous coffee dates, and for your endless faith in me to evolve, grow, and adapt as a collaborator. Life is short and every moment spent in the company of great people is a gift that I hold onto and cherish. Thank you Culture Lab LIC for believing in our buggy show and letting us come dig in the dirt in your warehouse. MICHAEL RUIZ-DEL VIZIO Scenic Designer + Graphics + Props Designer Michael Ruiz-del-Vizo (he/they) is a Queer, Hispanic Scenic Designer based in New York and Miami. Selected Credits: The Fairy Queen (Manhattan School of Music), Randy’s Dandy Coaster Castle (Egg&Spoon Theatre), Empanada Loca (Savannah Repertory Theatre), The Bluest Eye, Little Women (Theatreworks), ON YOUR FEET! (MAS, Carol Morsani Hall). Selected Associate Credits: CLUE; A New Comedy (National Tour, Lee Savage), Bye Bye Birdie (The Kennedy Center, Lee Savage), A Knock on the Roof (New York Theatre Workshop, Frank J. Oliva), MISTY (TheShed, Rajha Shakiry), Walden (Second Stage, Matt Saunders). Michael is an avid fan of Drag, Comedy, and Podcasts and is an all-around nice person. MARK ALBERTO MCKNIGHT Projection Designer + Sound Designer Mark Alberto McKnight (he/him) is a multimedia artist who has given his passion to productions at The Dorset Theater Festival, The Tank, Marymount Manhattan College, Culture Lab LIC, and other venues across New York City. He is from Texas. In the fall of 2024, he will be interning at the Manhattan Theatre Club on the Broadway production of Eureka Day. PAUL T. KENNEDY Lighting Designer Paul T. Kenedy (he/him) works with all things luminous; exploring light, shadow, and the environments in which they exist in. CHRISTOPHER McCANN Composer Christopher McCann is a musician whose talents have carried him from Austin, Texas to New York City. An alumni from the University of Texas at Austin, Chris has carved out a niche in the music world unique to himself. He often records under the name “Casavedes”; check out his debut EP album, “In These Flats” out now on SoundCloud. INDIGO VII Makeup Indigo is a visual artist who paints with all kinds of mediums, including makeup and face paint. After discovering their love for the creative side of appearance enhancement while learning to dye hair and apply SFX makeup during cosmetology school, they decided to pursue a formal art education. Currently, Indigo creates SFX looks for theatre productions along with their personal creative projects, and attends classes for a Fine Arts degree at LaGuardia College.
Big Feelings
An Immersive Puppet Play for Ages 6-10
Written by Heloise Wilson
Presented by Little Clouds and Culture Lab for Kids
Free admission.
(Donations welcome.)
Saturday, October 12, 4pm
Sunday, October 13, 4pm
Time to travel the universe and learn about emotions with Smoll!
Alma is a little girl who had to leave the island where she was raised, listening to ancient myths and the sound of the ocean. Now living in the big city where she can’t see the stars, Alma struggles to cope and feels overwhelmed by “her bad feelings.”
One day, a scientist Muppet named Smoll shows up in the broken television in the attic. He has a message: He is an expert on feelings and wants to study Alma’s because grown-ups don’t know much about kids’ feelings. In exchange, he will take her out of the Big City and show her the universe.
The Big Feelings experience aims to create an intergenerational bridge and empower elementary school children with the long- term tools they need to spark necessary dialogues about well-being, mental health, and feelings.
Produced by Little Clouds, Big Feelings is a recipient of the NYFA Queens Arts Fund for “New Work” and created with the support of psychologist Christie Stiff.
Thanks to the New York Foundation for the Arts, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and NYFA Queens Art Funds.
Cycle To Recycle by The Blue Bus Project
Sunday, October 13, 4 - 7pm at Culture Lab LIC
Pedal to recycle! Join us to shred plastic, learn about upcycling, and create a keychain with Precious Plastic NYC!
The Blue Bus Project, in partnership with Precious Plastic NYC, Millwright, and Kids Ride Club, presents Cycle to Recycle! A human-powered bicycle shredder where you get to pedal and help us shred plastic waste.
Precious Plastic NYC will demonstrate the full shredding process. You'll also learn about different types of plastic and make a usable item—a keychain—to take home as a reminder of the power of upcycling. Come, bike, and be part of the solution! Free; Outdoors; All Ages!
Culture Lab After Dark presents
Nice One! Comedy
Thursday, October 17, 8-10pm
Enjoy New York City's funniest standup comics in the unique setting of our art gallery. Check out the art, enjoy live comedy!
October 3 Lineup:
Usama Siddiquee, Pranav Behari, Greg Giraldo Jr, Rob Rego, Shakers Sharpe, Fernando Ruiz
Sponsored by QNSY SPARKLING COCKTAILS, providing a complimentary drink for every ticket so bring your friends!
NICE ONE! COMEDY, presented by Culture Lab After Dark, is a BOAST: Best of Astoria & LIC 2023 Award Winner for Best Standup Comedy Venue!
Special thanks to our sponsors: Plaxall Inc, TF Cornerstone, MetLife, IndieSpace, Con Edison, Volume Industries, Astound Broadband, Steve Madden, Cushman & Wakefield, HRA, M&T Bank, IPG, Wells Fargo Advisors, Cosmopolitan Houses, Gotham, TV Boy, Eventscape, Forrest Sound & Vision, Taylor Creative Inc
Rubber Culture & Mark V Classics present
Kulture Fest
Outdoor Motorcycle Event
October 19, 2-9pm
Free Admission
Come see who will take Motorcycle Mike's $2,500 cash prize for best garage build - all bikes of all styles are welcome!
Also, enjoy live performances by Kid Java and Pat Irwin Music PI Power Trio!
The Wonder Market presents
FALL FEST
at Culture Lab LIC
October 26 & 27, 4pm
Free fun for the whole family!
Enjoy shopping from a curated roster of 20+ local handmade brands, live music performances at the Malt Drive Stage (kicking off at 3:30pm), a "Paint Your Own Wooden Pumpkin" Station (4pm-7pm) and yummy snacks and sips from the on-site concession stand (we hear the grilled cheese is a crowd favorite!).
Free Admission; Outdoors.
Schedule subject to change.
Be sure to check Culture Lab LIC on Instagram and Facebook for latest schedule and lineup updates.
Ducky & Patsy’s Fairytales for Sophisticated Adults
Oktoberfest Screening
Saturday, October 26, 4 - 6pm
Drag meets animation during this mixed format screening! For those of you who asked for more screening opportunities - this is for you! Catch the Sophisticated Fairytales for Adults crew at Culture Lab for another chance to view our quirky series in the making.
Audience members will be able to delight in the campy masterpiece that is Episode 1: Empress’ New Clothes where Ducky & Patsy scheme and plot against a self absorbed Empress. But that’s not all we have tucked up under these wigs! The audience will find themselves transported to a mighty fine glimpse of Episode 2: Gretel & Gretel. Not to give away all the good stuff…but it is going to be a multimedia HOOT! With a moral included, of course. Entry is pay what you will. Every dollar is greatly appreciated and truly helps push forward this project. Doors at 3:30 PM with a sharp 4 PM screening time. Guests will have a moment to take a photo with Ducky & Patsy afterwards.
The Long Island City
HALLOWEEN PAW'RADE 2024
Sunday, October 27, 12 - 5pm
IT'S HERE... the DogBeautyPageant and Culture Lab LIC collaboration event! There will be local vendors, rescues, music... and soooo many puppies!
Plus, the first Queens Puppy Treats n' Tricks WALK! You and your pooch will takle a stroll down Vernon BLVD in LIC, stopping off at local restaurants, bars, pet care providers and more to grab some fun goodies, alongside strolling your precious pups in their most revered Halloween Costumes! Plus, there will be prizes both for 'Best Dressed Dog, and the best 'Dog x Human Combo Costume! Think outside the box!
Kick-off is at Culture Lab LIC. Directions will be given there and the WALK will end at THE BARONESS bar where there will be fun treats for your glorious four-legged friend!
Bodies in Motion
An Exhibition Exploring the Power of the Human Body
Curated by Edjo Wheeler
On view: September 26 - November 3 during gallery hours: Thursday & Friday, 5-9pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 2-9pm.
Opening reception: September 26, 6-9pm (live music and refreshments)
An exhibition celebrating the power, grace, and resilience of the human form with figurative works that capture the human body in dynamic motion or showcasing its incredible capabilities.
Great Art, networking, live performances, savory bits, wine, beer.
Free Admission.
I'll Tell You What Freedom Is
Photobooks and Portraits from the Queensbridge Photo Collective
Curated by Five Corners Collective
On View: November 7 - December 15 during gallery hours: Thursday & Friday, 5-9pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 2-9pm.
The Queensbridge Photo collective is a group of photographers, all over the age of 65, who live at the Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City, New York. The Queensbridge Houses were opened in 1939 when Long Island City was still primarily an area of industry. Queensbridge is the nation's largest publicly-funded housing complex, it is home to over 7,000 residents from diverse incomes, backgrounds and cultures.
Entitled, I'll Tell You What freedom Is To Me, The QBPC is proud to present an exhibition of large scale portraits and handmade photobooks at The Culture Lab this November. During the last year, The QBPC, working with teaching artists from Five Corners Colllective, inc. book maker Maria Veronica San Martin and support from the Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement, have created hand bound cloth covered accordion books containing photographs and text. These accordion books are tributes to family and to the community the collective are a part of. In addition to the photobooks, the collective will be displaying large scale photographic portraits they have made of each other on the walls of the gallery.
PinProductions Presents
Famous Lake Park
Saturday, November 30, 7-7:30pm at Culture Lab LIC
Take a comedic, half-hour, animated ride through Famous Lake Park, which like most things named famous, is not. The rides are outdated and dilapidated, the eccentric owner values amusement more than human life, and the riffraff staff has a debilitating morale problem. Oh yes, and the Lake is drying up due to global warming.
In an ode to American debauchery, Famous Lake Park is a jolly jaunt through the agonizing death of the American Dream.
Written by Susannah Dalton and Braden Greenawalt
Directed by José Ignacio Vivero and Susan Lambert
The production of Famous Lake Park is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Free Admission (Donations Appreciated)
Culture Lab LIC's premiere New Works Festival will showcase the year-long, original work of our four 2024 Emergence Artists in Residence! Featuring four separate works by Danie Kohn, Helixx C. Armageddon, Yvonne Huatin Chow, and Gaby FeBland.
2024 Emergence Artist
Residency Program
Culture Lab LIC is excited to announce our 2024 Emergence Artist in Residence!
These diverse and exceptional performace based artists will be a part of Culture Lab LIC's New Works Festival coming this Fall!
Culture Lab LIC's Emergence Artist Residency is a developmental performing arts program geared toward the support and creation of new work. It offers artists & companies free rehearsal and performance space to develop and produce new performance based work.
Developed in 2021 by Culture Lab LIC Co-Founder and former Director of Performing Arts, Tana Sirois, works created at Culture Lab LIC will be showcased on one of Culture Lab's stages and presented and promoted as a part of the Culture Lab LIC’s Emergence Artist New Works Festival this November. Artists retain creative rights to the work created.
Synchronicity
by Adrien Marçais
On view during gallery hours: Thursday & Friday, 5-9pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 2-9pm. Part of LIC Arts Open. Free Admission.
"In my artistic exploration, I am captivated by the phenomenon of synchronicity, where seemingly unrelated events align in meaningful ways. Through my work, I aim to capture the delicate dance between chance and intention, weaving together elements of serendipity and design. Drawing inspiration from Jungian psychology and Eastern philosophy, I delve into the interconnectedness of all things, exploring the harmonious rhythms that underlie the fabric of existence. By intertwining disparate elements in my compositions, I invite viewers to contemplate the mysteries of synchronicity and the profound beauty found in the synchronistic moments of our lives." -Adrien Marçais
Open Call for Art
Off the Wall: The Affordable Art Fair
On View: November 7 - December 15
Opening Reception: November 7, 6pm
Submission Deadline: 11:59pm, October 14
LIC-A presents Off the Wall, the annual Holiday Art Fair-style exhibition where every piece is priced at $999 or below -perfect for holiday shoppers and new art collectors alike!
Featuring over 100 talented local artists, this diverse showcase includes paintings, drawings, 2D and 3D sculptures, photography, textiles, and more. We will also have a special collaboration with the LIC based BrickHouse Ceramic Center again for the 2024 edition of “Off the Wall”, showcasing work by many talented local ceramic artists.
Open Call for Art:
Hunter’s Point South Park Mural Project
Public Art Installation - 3rd Round
The Project: Hunter’s Point South Park lies in the vicinity of Center Boulevard, 50th Avenue, Second Street, and the East River in Western Long Island City. Administered by NYC Parks, the public space includes a central green, the NYC Ferry’s LIC Landing station, playgrounds, fitness equipment, a dog run, a bikeway, a promenade, picnic terraces, basketball courts, a 30-foot-tall cantilevered platform for viewing the Midtown Manhattan Skyline and East River, and the approximately one square acre for the Ottomanelli by the Water restaurant which includes a Pavilion Area, Garden Area, and a 4,000 square foot special event area.
Ottomanelli by the Water is the lead sponsor of the Hunter’s Point South Park Mural Project. The owner, Frank Ottomanelli, is endeavoring to create a long, three-foot-high, public art piece consisting of a contiguous series of paintings or other visual images. In this RFP, it will be called “the Installation.”
The Installation will be on exhibit for as long as possible. Currently, it has no end date.
Project Intent: This is the third open call for proposals for the community mural at Ottomanelli’s By The Water. Frank Ottomanelli has already installed five sections, and now he’s looking for more art as he builds a roughly 11,000-square-foot, three-foot-high panorama that’ll wrap around his concession’s outside dining area in Hunter’s Point Park South.
“The goal is to erect a large, beautiful, and diverse mural created by local individuals and groups that promotes the wonderful things about Queens,” stated the Maspeth native, who also owns F. Ottomanelli’s Burgers & Belgian Fries in Woodside. “A secondary goal relates to the mural becoming a tourism destination whose image is shared on many visitors’ social media channels.”
Deadlines:
- Design proposals due - Friday, October 18, 2024
- Selected artists will be announced by November 1
- Materials will be ordered for the artists in the following week.
- Murals will be completed on boards (on site or at home) through the month of November (final dates TBD)
Reverse Bloom
J. Pavone String Ensemble Student Composition Workshop - In collaboration with Western Queens Piano and Strings
Sunday, December 1, 2 - 8pm
For the first-ever student composition workshop hosted by the J. Pavone String Ensemble, the students of Western Queens Piano and Strings will co-create original pieces of chamber music with the ensemble.
In addition to taking part in the creative process, the students will experience firsthand how a chamber music ensemble rehearses new material and have the opportunity to discuss musical concepts with the group.
The students will hear their newly constructed pieces performed in concert on a program with other repertoire from the ensemble's newly released album, Reverse Bloom.
Western Queens Piano is a music lesson business established by Jessica Pavone in 2017 to offer private music instruction in piano, violin, viola, music theory, and composition. This event aims to provide those who study music privately an opportunity to engage in a group musical activity, expanding the scope of their musical education. In the same year, Pavone also created the J. Pavone String Ensemble to present her original music compositions for string trio that experiment with indeterminate techniques that alternate between metered and time-based scores and improvisational and notated instructions. The scores often include time frames that direct musicians to move freely between sections, creating an overlap of sonic textures, and the ensemble approach focuses on a vision of collective improvisation that prioritizes a collaboratively woven fabric, in contrast to the traditional improvisatory method that prizes the showmanship of the soloist. The group has performed at the Suoni Per Il Popolo Festival (Montreal), Bang on a Can Long Play Festival (NYC), Logan Center for the Arts (Chicago), Dartmouth New Music Festival (Hannover), NYC Winter Jazzfest, Roulette and ISSUE Project Room (Brooklyn), Firehouse12 (New Haven), Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (Asheville), the Garner Arts Center (Garnerville, NY), and The Rotunda (Philadelphia). Four studio albums have been released to critical acclaim from The Wire, The New Yorker, Pitchfork, JazzTimes, and San Francisco Classical Voice. Brad Cohen of Jazz Times described Pavone as "a free-thinker who can't be pigeonholed."
Reverse Bloom is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. With additional support from a 2024 Queens Arts Fund (QAF) New Work Grant administered by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York Foundation for the Arts.
Meet the People
behind Culture Lab LIC...
Without our team, none of our programming would be possible. Catch a glimpse into the lives of the people who make up the Culture Lab team, and all of the beautiful qualities and characteristics they posses to "make art happen!"
And be sure to check out all the ways you can help make 2024 Culture Lab's best year ever!
Summer is Amost Over!
And we find ourselves reflecting on the extraordinary journey we've had at Culture Lab LIC. Thanks to you, our mission to bring impactful art to Western Queens has flourished beyond our wildest dreams. Your contributions--whether through donations, volunteer efforts, or simply by spreading the word about our initiatives--have helped us to make a profound difference in the lives of artists and art lovers in our community.
Your generous support not only fueled our programs but also directly impacted the artists we serve, providing them with invaluable opportunities and resources, and a platform to share their stories, visions, and inspirations with the world.
With your continued support in 2024, we aim to expand our reach, continue to present local and international artists, and further enrich our community through art.
Here are 3 ways you can help...
Donate so we can continue to present the great art & events you love.
Join the Culture Lab LIC Family by Becoming a Member!
Help us keep our doors open by becoming an Official Sponsor!
You voted and we won!
We are proud to announce that we have been awarded the following titles:
• Best Place for Live Music
• Best Local Organization
• Best Performing Arts Venue
• Best Stand-up Comedy Venue
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who voted for us and to Boast NYC. We are committed to being a space where the community can enjoy arts and culture in all its forms.
Our ART GALLERY is open Thursday & Friday, 5-9pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 2-10pm. Keep your eye on our social media for updates on our upcoming theatre, dance and comedy performances!
As a member of Culture Lab LIC, you directly support dozens of arts, cultural and neighborhood organizations enjoyed by the entire community. As a Thank You for your awesomeness, each of our membership levels offer something for everyone: $2 off drinks, early viewings to monthly exhibitions, artists talks, Culture Lab LIC swag, and discounts to theater, dance, music concerts, and special events. We have an exciting season ahead of us and we cannot wait to share it with you!