By Ron Hellman
Last week I had the opportunity to revisit two theaters in Queens, both remarkable as the all too rare significant theater venues in our borough of 2.2 million residents. I say significant in that these theaters are dedicated to the performing arts exclusively, and are not in schools or houses of worship or other places where space is shared with many other activities.
Queens Theatre calls itself the premier performing arts venue in Queens. And it’s true, since it really has almost no competition. What it does have are three performance spaces: a 472-seat main stage, a 99-seat studio, and a cabaret room. Established in 1989 and officially opened in 1993, Queens Theatre is in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in a building erected 50 years ago for the 1964 World’s Fair. (This locale was the Theaterama of the New York State Pavilion; the adjacent towers and Tent of Tomorrow have deteriorated over time and there’s been some talk of restoring them.) There’s plenty of free parking and a free shuttle runs frequently from the Mets-Willets Point Station.
Not far from the East River in the Hunter’s Point section of Long Island City is The Chain Theatre, a happening place in a happening neighborhood. Performing in a former factory building since 2012, it features an intimate black box theater with up to 75 seats, plus gallery space and rehearsal rooms. Just a few minutes from Manhattan, the Court Square Station of the No. 7 train is on the corner and lots of new condos and co-ops are within walking distance.
The performance I caught at Queens Theatre was Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” presented by the touring Aquila Theatre Company with a cast of seven playing all the roles. Love triumphed once again in this clever production. Managing Director of Queens Theatre Taryn Sacramone, on the job for little more than half a year, has lots of work ahead to revitalize the place after some recent hard times. But with her background, temperament and dedication, we can look forward to many splendid attractions at this major showcase.
At The Chain I saw a rare performance of “Hurlyburly” by David Rabe, produced by the resident Variations Theatre Group. Run by a couple of Hofstra University graduates, Rich Ferraioli and Kirk Gostkowski — Rich does a lot of the directing and Kirk a lot of the acting — the ambitions run high. In just three seasons, the group has produced three play revivals, three original works, and four theater festivals. Its catch phrase is “muscular theater” that is accessible and affordable. Off to a great start, Variations Theatre and The Chain are the wave of the future.
For those of us who value the past, especially when musicals were really musical, the community-minded Theatre By The Bay presents “Anything Goes” at the Bay Terrace Jewish Center on the first two weekends in March. The Cole Porter score includes such standards as “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “You’re The Top” and the title song, and stars as Reno Sweeny — originally played by Ethel Merman and more recently by Sutton Foster — a super Queens resident, Cathy Chimenti. Who could ask for anything more?
Contact Ron Hellman at RBHOFC@gmail.com.
