The solo show recouped its entire investment of $200,000 within seven weeks of the first preview performance. Previews began Feb. 6 at the 45 Bleecker Street Theatre and the show opened Feb. 19 for a run originally slated through June 13. The show is "scheduled to open on Broadway in March 2005," according to a release.
Actress Meryl Streep produces Sarah Jones' bridge and tunnel with The Culture Project, Allan Buchman, Robert Dragotta, Jayson Jackson, Michael Alden, Eric Falkenstein, Marcia Roberts and Tom Wirt Shafter to present the latest one-woman work from the writer-performer of Surface Transit. Tony Taccone (Continental Divide) directs.
"Sarah Jones first burned her astonishing characters into my consciousness three years ago at an Equality Now Event," stated Streep in a release. "Her writers' gift is equal to her talents as an actress. Her compassionate, tough and hilarious take on what makes us different as human beings and the commonality we can't deny is unique in my experience."
bridge and tunnel once again plays to Jones' chameleon-like talents as she tackles 15 characters including a Pakistani accountant, a Chinese mother and a young Latina at a local community poetry slam. The characters in the work explore issues of assimilation in modern urban America, putting the New York melting pot to the test.
"Whether we are women or men; older or younger; straight-laced or queer-eyed; whether we pray Saturday, Sunday, everyday or only at football games; whether we're born here or not; barely scraping by or more comfortable than most, we are all much more connected than any of us realize," states Jones. "By neighborhood, by circumstance, by chance and most importantly by our basic human dignity, we are all cosmically, and of course, often comically linked." Jones has penned and performed works including Waking the American Dream, Women Can't Wait and Surface Transit. The actress also appeared in the Spike Lee film "Bamboozled" and Off-Broadway in Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues. As a poet, Jones has performed on HBO's "Def Poetry Jam."
Alexander V. Nichols provides set and lighting design for bridge and tunnel.
Director Taccone most recently directed the acclaimed world premiere of David Edgar's two-play cycle Continental Divide (Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Berkeley Repertory Theatre). Other credits include Cloud Nine, Homebody/ Kabul, The Oresteia, The Alchemist, Skylight, Pentecost, Slavs!, The Caucasian Chalk Circle and Serious Money.
bridge and tunnel performed at the 45 Bleecker Street Theatre. For more information, visit www.45bleecker.com.
