Theater Breaking Through Barriers (“TBTB”) is a theater company that for whatever reason was not on my radar. This company was founded in 1979 as Theater By The Blind with a mission of dedicating and advancing the work of artists with disabilities. Their production of The Other Plays: Short Play About Diversity and Otherness showcased that mission.
Staged at A.R.T/New York Theatres, the bare stage with minimal set pieces allows the audience to focus on the stories written by Dennis A. Allen, Tatiana G. Rivera, Neil La Bute, Bekah Brunstetter, and Lamece Issaq and the monologues written and performed by Pamela Sabaugh, Steven Drabicki, Ryan Haddad, and Russell Barnes. Each piece tells the story of life: love, notions of gender roles, sex, stardom, age, race and standards of beauty.
The diverse group of actors invite us into their worlds as they deal with their “otherness” through humor, sass, and honesty. The 90 minute show warmed our souls on a very crisp New York City evening.
The Other Plays runs through Sunday, March 26th at the Jeffrey and Paula Gural Theatre (A.R.T/New York Theatres).
Visit www.tbtb.org for more information.
Malini Singh mcdonald 