Les Freres Corbusier is a
New York
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* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
based theatre company, founded in 2003 by three then-recent
Yale
Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wor ...
graduates
Alex Timbers
Alex Timbers (born August 7, 1978) is an American writer and director and the recipient of Tony, Golden Globe, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and London Evening Standard Awards, as well as two OBIE and Lucile Lortel Awards. He is the recipie ...
, Aaron Lemon-Strauss, and Jennifer Rogien. It is led by Artistic Director Timbers. Its most recent production was "Love's Labour's Lost" in 2013 and has several new shows in active development. ''Here's Hoover!'' premieres at Abrons Arts Center in December 2014.
Productions
Les Freres Corbusier is responsible for the
Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
**Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
production of ''
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
''Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson'' is a rock musical with music and lyrics written by Michael Friedman and a book written by its director Alex Timbers.
The show is a comedic historical rock musical about the founding of the Democratic Party. It r ...
''. Other works include ''Love's Labour's Lost'' at Shakespeare in the Park 2013, ''
Heddatron'', ''Hell House'', ''Boozy'', ''Dance Dance Revolution'', ''President Harding is a Rock Star'', ''The Franklin Thesis'', and ''
A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant
''A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant'' is a satirical musical about Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard, written by Kyle Jarrow from a concept by Alex Timbers, the show's original director. Jarrow based the story of the one-ac ...
''.
[Sellar, To]
"Revolution, An Odd (And Big!) New Show"
''Village Voice'', December 3, 2008
Les Freres is devoted to creating irreverent work that re-envisions well-known historical figures in new idioms and contexts, which allow for their fresh reappraisal and suggest contemporary relevancies. The company makes aggressively visceral theater that combines historical revisionism, sophomoric humor, and rigorous academic research. Les Freres is committed to the notion of a Populist Theater that draws on prevailing pop cultural tastes and comedic sensibilities to speak directly to a mainstream audience. Timbers stated "The idea of mixing comedy and politics has been around as long as mankind has been doing theater." Referring to ''Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson'', he noted that "It’s political theater, but one that happens to have this giddy, pop-rock soundtrack."
With ''Heddatron'', "Les Freres Corbusier claims to be forging on in its 'irreverent massacre of historical icons and academic esoterica by taking on famed playwright
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential playw ...
, the well-made play, and contemporary issues in robotics.'"
Awards and honors
* ''Love's Labour's Lost'' was named one of the best shows of 2013 in ''The New York Times'' by Charles Isherwood.
* ''Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson'' was nominated for two 2011 Tony Awards: Best Book of a Musical and Best Scenic Design. It won an LA Critics Award for "Best Score" for composer Michael Friedman, as well as a
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. First bestowed in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award, the prize initially honored Off-Broadway productions, as well as Off-off-Broadway, and those in the vicinity. Fo ...
for "Best Book of a Musical" for writer Alex Timbers. The musical won the
Lucille Lortel Award
The Lucille Lortel Awards recognize excellence in New York Off-Broadway theatre. The Awards are named for Lucille Lortel, an actress and theater producer, and have been awarded since 1986. They are produced by the League of Off-Broadway Theatre ...
and
Outer Critics Circle Award
The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. They are presented by the Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of New York theater writers for out-of-town newspa ...
for "Best Musical" and the Broadway.com Audience Award for "Favorite Off-Broadway Musical".
* ''Hell House'' was nominated for a 2007 Drama Desk Award for "Unique Theatrical Experience".
* ''Heddatron'' won the 2006 George Oppenheimer Award from ''
Newsday
''Newsday'' is an American daily newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, although it is also sold throughout the New York metropolitan area. The slogan of the newspaper is "Newsday, Your Eye on LI", and f ...
''.
* ''Boozy'' was named "Ten Best of 2005" by both the ''
New York Daily News
The New York ''Daily News'', officially titled the ''Daily News'', is an American newspaper based in Jersey City, NJ. It was founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson as the ''Illustrated Daily News''. It was the first U.S. daily printed in ta ...
'' and ''
Time Out New York
''Time Out'' is a global magazine published by Time Out Group. ''Time Out'' started as a London-only publication in 1968 and has expanded its editorial recommendations to 328 cities in 58 countries worldwide.
In 2012, the London edition becam ...
''.
[Hetrick, Ada]
"'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson' Will Rock the Public Through May 9"
playbill.com, April 8, 2010 Its video design, by Jacob Pinholster, was nominated for a 2005
American Theatre Wing
The American Theatre Wing (the Wing for short) is a New York City–based non-profit organization "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre", according to its mission statement. Originally known as the Stage Women's War Relief ...
Hewes Design Award. The script was published, with a foreword by playwright Timbers, by ''Theater Magazine''.
* ''A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant'' was the winner of two 2005 Backstage West GARLAND Awards for its LA Production including "Best Production" and "Best Director". Its New York production won an
Obie Award
The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards originally given by ''The Village Voice'' newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City. In September 2014, the awards were jointly presented and administered with the A ...
. The cast recording was released on Sh-K-Boom Records.
* ''The Franklin Thesis'' was named "Best of New York 2004" by ''The Village Voice'' and was the winner of "Best in Festival" at the 2002 American Living Room Festival.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Freres Corbusier, Les
Theatre companies in New York (state)
2003 establishments in New York City
Performing groups established in 2003