CU in the CITY: by Brenda Tobias

Tastes are socially constructed, which is really the only explanation for the popularity of edible bird’s nests (made of bird saliva.)  Professor Eric Tagliacozzo, Department of History, explained the “It Bag” phenomenon of the nests at last night’s “Curry Economics: Food as a Driving Force of Economic Development” at the American Museum of Natural History.  These nests, which are found in caves and are quite small, are gathered (from mostly Borneo) and exported to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei part of the U.S. and London.  Serving, or eating, them is a mark of serious wealth.  In recent years, there has been a surge in middle class families in China and Taiwan now serving the nests at weddings  (the U.S. equivalent of this would be registering in a big box store, no doubt.)

Eric Tagliocozzo @ AMNH - photo by Craig Chesek, AMNH

Professor Tagliacozzo was joined on stage at the Kaufmann Theater by Tom Standage, from The Economist, Julie Sahni, award-winning cookbook author and teacher.  The panel was moderated by the journalist, Sasha Issenberg.  Approximately 200 people attended the Silk Road exhibit lecture.

Curry Economics panel -photo by Craig Chesek, AMNH

The Kaufmann Theater - photo by Craig Chesek, AMNH

Brenda Tobias & William Guidara '01

There is eating and then there is fine dining.  Lunch at the restaurant Eleven Madison Park definitely constitutes the latter.  A bit ironic, considering the general manager, William Guidara ‘01 was adamant about not ever wanting to work in fine dining.   Eleven Madison Park, with its New York Times four stars, and James Beard awards,  definitely hits all the stellar hospitality marks that are synonymous with Danny Meyer.  Guidara ‘01 is no stranger to Danny Meyer’s charms, having spent two and a half years at Tabla.  There was a stint at Restaurant Associates in between, and a serendipitous bumping into Mr. Meyers on the street that led Will to his much loved current position as General Manager at Eleven Madison Park.   His determination to avoid the life of fine dining did not stand in the way of Guidara recognizing a fabulous opportunity (in the form of Eleven Madison Park)  when he saw it.  That appetite for adventure also served Guidara well as an undergraduate.  He refers to his time at Cornell as being “a kid in a candy store.”  Faced with a myriad of course and student life offerings, he grabbed fistfuls.   His enthusiasm for his Cornell experience is still evident in the dining room staffed with Cornellians, and his position on the advisory board of  Hotel Ezra Cornell.

The graciousness of the service, the majesty of the food and the attention to the most subtle of details (individual cloth towels in the restroom!) sets Eleven Madison Park apart.  It is not by accident that a guest feels exactly that; a guest.  The space is ravishing, with its soaring ceilings, polished wood and exquisite flower arrangements, but it is all designed to make the customer feel welcomed and special.  The service is tirelessly attentive but never obtrusive.  How wonderful to have one’s dining needs be attended to without interruptions of conversation or announcements of server names or endless robotic inquiries about “everything being alright.”

The meal was timed perfectly to feel indulgent but attentive to workday demands.  Appetites are whetted with the most lovely concoctions of amuse bouche and hors d’oeuvres.  A mushroom veloute with foam and a fois gras meringue sandwich were among today’s offerings.  Encouraging the diner to engage with his or her food, Chef Daniel Humm offers a little bit of whimsy in the form of various flavored syrups for the iced tea, and a selection of butters and salts for bread.  And really, who doesn’t like to play with their food?  It is this very approach to food as a means of pleasing the diner that is so delightful.

Tuna Tartare

The starter of the Big Eye Tuna Tartare with Radish, Yuzu and Sesame was a tantalizing blend of texture and taste.  The tuna, while perfect, was actually improved with the pairing of radish and yuzu.  It is difficult to improve on lobster, but infused with espelette pepper and meyer lemon?  A better marriage was never made.

Poached Nova Scotia lobster

The dessert cart (truly the most wondrous of transportation vehicles) was artful yet abundant in selection.  The fuji apple tart tartin is what caramel apples hope to be when they grow up.

Eleven Madison Park epitomizes fine dining.  Gorgeous food focused on pleasing the diner and the most welcoming of environments creates what can only be called the perfect meal.

Channel 198 in NYC will be covering the Cornell Men’s Basketball game against Columbia University on Saturday, January 16th @ 4:00 PM.

For more information please visit Mens Basketball link

Dennis Shen '07 and Greta Kirchner '03 dispose of Christmas trees and distribute mulch at Mulchfest at Riverside Park - Cornell Chronicle

65 Cornell alumni and 15 Cornell students participated in Cornell Cares Day in New York City on Saturday.

Sonia Irving '09 volunteers at Sylvia's Place, a homeless shelter, for some heavy cleaning in the kitchen. - Cornell Chronicle

Read all about it in the Cornell Chronicle

Mike Lee before the jump

“Before jumping off the roof of the SkyTower, 1,076 feet above the streets of New Zealand, Mike Lee MBA ’10 (CQ,) reminded Domingo Vazquez MBA ’10 (CQ)and his wife Lauren, to look for a “Happy Anniversary” sign that Mike would be holding in their honor.

Bad idea – from their restaurant table in the tower, Domingo and Lauren, failed to spot the sign, got only a quick glimpse of Mike’s prisoner orange jumpsuit, and heard plenty of his screaming.

It was not all fun and games in New Zealand, as Domingo and Mike were in Auckland for their Global Business Project, a key part of the Cornell-Queens Executive MBA program.  The two worked closely with CCH New Zealand, a leading information services company, focusing on the growth of the firm’s Q&A service.

Mike points out that “marketing concepts from class came in very handy in assessing CCH’s product.”   “We were able to apply the 4 Ps – or was that the 3 Cs? – uh, I hope Professor Stayman isn’t reading this.””

On any given Saturday, approximately 25 Johnson EMBA Boardrooms across North America are learning simultaneously through their shared link to faculty.  The Cornell- Queens EMBA NYC boardroom includes two teams (Manhattan A and Manhattan B.)

Half of the Manhattan A team traveled to New Zealand as part of the Global Business Project.

Mike Lee MBA ‘10 (CQ) has shared a portion of his blog about his experience with his “Cornell Kiwis” team.

The Hotel Lenders Panel Luncheon
1/17 12:00 PM
Please join the CHS NYC chapter for an informative luncheon panel moderated by Alan Tantleff ‘87, Managing Director, Hotel Asset Value Enhancement. Our event will be held in the Balcony Room at the Crowne Plaza. Cost: $55 per person, includes networking, panel discussion and luncheon buffet.

For more information go to Event link
Location:: Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan
Cornell Contact: Erin Rodriguez   emr78@cornell.edu

Negro Spirituals: Songs of Our Ancestors
1.17  7:30 p.m.
Jonathon Hampton ‘04, baritone & Steve Hrycelak, piano
Jonathon Hampton (ALS ‘04) delivers a rich and moving vocal performance of traditional African-American Spirituals, religiously-themed songs about slave work, escape, and spiritual inspiration. He sings a variety of selections for tenor and baritone solo, with piano accompaniment by the versatile Steve Hrycelak. This emotionally powerful repertoire includes work songs, shouts, call-and-response, folk and concert Spirituals by Hogan, Burleigh, Hayes, and more. Classically trained and influenced by the Gospel and Blues music of his native Chicago, Hampton’s voice resonates with the passion and power of his ancestral roots, resulting in exceptional beauty and unique presence. Nearly 20 years of performing experience, including membership in the Cornell Glee Club, World Music Choir, and Chamber Singers, have afforded Hampton an extraordinary vocal range of nearly four octaves, in additional to rhythmic and stylistic versatility.
Tickets $10
Location: Broadway United Church of Christ/Advent Lutheran Church, 93rd & Broadway
Jonathon Hampton site

Cornell The Johnson School – Recognition Dinner
1.21  6:00 PM
3rd Annual Alumni Recognition and Celebration Dinner Special guest speaker: Jerry Hass James B. Rubin Professor of Finance Krause Faculty Fellow in Real Estate PhD, Carnegie Mellon

Award Recipients: Henry P. Renard, MBA ’55, Robert J. Swieringa, Sarah Brubacher, MBA ’99, Jeffery J. Weaver ’86, MBA ’90, J. Roger O’Neil, MBA ’61

Contact the Alumni Affairs office at 1-800-847-2082, or alumni@johnson.cornell.edu
Location: Grand Hyatt, 109 E 42nd St
For more information go to Event link
Outcomes & Effectiveness Research/Health Policy  Research-in-Progress Seminar
1.21  3:00 – 4:00 PM
Speaker: Nirav Shah, MD, Assistant Professor, NYU School of Medicine, Associate Investigator, Geisinger Health
Location: Weill Cornell Medical College Dept. of Public Health, 402 East 67th Street (between First and York Avenues)
Contact: Maritza Montalvo at 646-962-8005.

LGBT Winter Mixed Cocktails at the Rubin Museum of Art
1.22  6:30 – 8:30 PM

Tri-Institutional Noon Recital (Music Program)
1.22   12:00 – 1:00 PM
Pianist Benjamin Moser will perform pieces by Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff.  In its 24th season, the free Tri-Institutional Noon Recitals are jointly sponsored by Weill Cornell Medical College, Rockefeller University and Memorial Sloan Kettering.  All members of the tri-institutional community and their guests are welcome.
Location: Rockefeller University (Caspary Auditorium.) York Avenue
For more information, call the events hotline at (212) 327-7007.

Men’s Hockey Televised

LGBT Tour of Galleries in Chelsea
1.23  1:00 PM
Tour guide, Rafael Risemberg, Ph.D., Cornell ‘80, was art critic for the New York Blade
Location: Meet at 526 West 26th Street (near 10th Avenue)
Fee $20. Request $5-off coupon by e-mail to nygallerytours@yahoo.com. Specify tour date

One Day University featuring Prof. Jeff Hancock
1.23
Jeff Hancock, associate professor of Communications, will be teaching a class on “The Brand New World of Lying and Deception in the Digital Age” at One Day University.  A special rate is offered to Cornellians of $99 for the day of classes (regular price: $249)
Please contact nyc@cornell.edu for the code
Location: Hilton Hotel, 1335 Avenue of the Americas
Event link

Cornell Club 3rd Annual All-Ivy Intensive Wine Course

1.23 & 1.24
The Cornell Club NYC presents this social and educational weekend helps enthusiasts at all levels expand their wine knowledge to an ever-expanding portfolio of global wines selected by Alyssa Rapp, Founder & CEO, Bottlenotes.  Alyssa will be teaming up with Artisanal Cheese and TCHO Chocolates to ensure perfect pairings throughout the weekend!

Morning Session: Cheese 101 – 1.23
Hosted by Artisanal Cheese. Select cheeses from the tasting will be paired at the afternoon session.

Afternoon Session: Around the World in 80 Sips – 1.23
We’ll be tasting wines from around the world and learn about the key attributes of wine from each featured region. Attendees will receive tasting notes and a copy of Bottlenotes Guide to Wine: Around the World in 80 Sips.

Morning Session: Wine and Chocolate Pairing -1.24
A pairing of wine and chocolate, discussing how terrior impacts the final product in each.  Featured drinks include; port, sherry, Madeira, and Moscato d’asti.

Afternoon Session: Champagne Brunch – 1.24
Discuss what you learned with guests and instructors over brunch. All guests will leave with their new found knowledge and a goody bag!

$275.00 per person for the weekend package, a copy of Bottlenotes, and brunch. Inclusive of tax and gratuity.
Interested in a single session? Please contact Kerry Strassel for availability!

For additional details and to RSVP: Kerry Strassel at k.strassel@cornellclubnyc.comor 212.692.1381.

Cornell Club link

Public Health Grand Rounds
1.25  12:00 – 1:00 PM
Speaker: William Trochim, PhD, Professor, Policy Analysis & Management, Cornell University, Director, Cornell Office for Research on Evaluation (CORE)
Director of Evaluation, Weill Cornell Clinical and Translational Science Center
Location: Weill Cornell Medical College Dept. of Public Health, 402 East 67th Street (between First and York Avenues)
Contact: Maritza Montalvo at 646-962-8005.

Yearbook photograph of Sarah E. Thomas, ’37, charter member of AKA, Beta Xi Chapter

Part and Apart: Black and Jewish Students at Cornell, 1869 – 1969
1.26  7:00 – 9:00 PM
Cornell on the Road presents Elaine Engst, MA ‘72, Cornell University Archivist and Carol Kammen, Tompkins County Historian.

It’s the promise on which Cornell was founded – access to an elite education for any qualified person, rich or poor, regardless of gender, race, or ideology.
Yet it wasn’t easy – not for the students of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, many the first in their families to pursue higher education, who came to Cornell in those early years; nor for the administrators and faculty who provided for their minds, but were sometimes at a loss as to how best provide for their need for community, social life, and academic and personal guidance.

On January 26, come hear two of Cornell’s most notable historians, University Archivist Elaine Engst and Tompkins County historian Carol Kammen, talk about the stories of two of these groups of students – blacks and Jews -  who were simultaneously “part and apart” of the student body at Cornell from the very beginning.  Using archival materials from the Library, including letters, diaries, student records, newspapers and photographs, Elaine and Carol describe how these early pioneers of diversity navigated campus life; the relationships they fostered among themselves and their white counterparts; the obstacles they faced and the resources they used to overcome these obstacles, and the way in which they maintained their identity in a predominantly white and Christian community.

This event is co-sponsored by Cornell Hillel and Cornell Black Alumni Association. It’s the beginning of a series of conversations on Cornell history.
Cost: $20 per person (includes light refreshments)

Location: UJA Federation New York,130 East 59th Street, Room 710
Contact Francine Darling at francine.darling@cornell.edu or  607-254-7147.

Hepatitis C. Therapy: Challenges and promises
1.26  12:00 PM
Speaker: Ira M. Jacobson, M.D.,Vincent Astor Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology,Department of Medicine
New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
Location: Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenus, Uris Auditorium

Cornell Wall Street (CWS): First Happy Hour Meet and Greet for Cornellians!
1.26  6:30 PM
Are you looking to connect with other Cornellian’s in the finance industry?  Join us at the first Cornell Wall Street (CWS) Happy Hour Meet and Greet!  Come to the Bubble Lounge in Soho for a great opportunity to casually network with other Cornellians in finance, law, accounting, or any other field that intersects with “Wall Street”, organized by fellow financial industry alumna Bani Arora MEng ‘05.
Cost: Free, just register online Event link

Location The Bubble Lounge, 228 West Broadway

Cornell University Glee Club is coming to Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall as part of its 2010 Northeast Tour. The concert program will feature both classical and contemporary men’s choral music, including the New York City premiere of two works commissioned by the Glee Club this year from composer Daniel Kellogg. The concert is a joint effort with the University Glee Club of New York and each group will perform its own set. The program will conclude with the groups combining to sing together.
The Glee Club just concluded a stellar performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Washington Post review link

Tickets and more information available at: Glee Club link

Richard Meiers ‘57 celebrated his 75th birthday at AAP’s NYC Center (50 West 17th Street.)  The party, initiated by Dean Kent Kleinman and organized by the NYC students was a smashing success.

Read all about it and view additional photos at Blog of Architecture student Tim Liddell

NYC Cornell Cares 2008

Cornell Cares Day
1/9  9:00 – 2:00 PM
Cornell Cares Day is an international day of service, designed to connect Cornell students, alumni and staff with their local community. We will gather on Saturday, January 9th at 9 am in Manhattan to touch base for introductions and instructions before heading off to service projects around NYC.

Location: Central Park Arsenal (64th and 5th)
For more informationCornell Cares Facebook link

Cornell Wall Street (CWS) Presents: Make a Difference in Your Community; a presentation by the Robin Hood Foundation
1.11  6:00 PM
Heather Andrysiak Benveniste ‘95, Manager of Board Recruitment of the Robin Hood Foundation, who will speak on why it is important to expand your resume, get involved to do social good,  and join local community boards to give back to the people around you.
An intimate dialogue of similar occupational peers to discuss and hear how, after years of experience in the financial industry, you can expand your own knowledge, experiences and networks to gain even more success – both personally and professionally.  Robin Hood recruits qualified, senior-level professionals to serve on the governing boards of the organizations they fund. Your professional expertise will help the fundraising, strategic planning, and growth of a nonprofit organization.  Heather will lead a round table discussion on what kinds of opportunities are available, how you can get involved, what they are looking for in leadership, and how you can benefit from those types of involvements.

In order to promote an open dialogue, this event is limited to 40 people.
We are the encouraging the audience to be made up of folks who have been in the industry for a number of years, who are well established in their jobs and who have the time and interest to get involved in local leadership.
We also are limiting the event to graduates from 1999 and earlier.Event Registration link

Urban Environment and Central Park Conservancy kick off the 2010
1.13  9:00 – 4:00 PM
Urban Horticulture and Ecology Training Program with30 staff and volunteers from Central Park Conservancy and other NYC parks will participate in a 16 class certification training program. Classes will cover topics such as urban biodiversity, geology, plant identification, pruning, turf management, among others.

The class roster is currently closed for this year. However, if you are interested in any of our classes, please contact us.
Location: Central Park
Contact: Susan Cheng 212-340-2900

Johnson EMBA Information Session
1/13 and 1/14  6:00 PM
Cornell’s Executive MBA Programs are specifically designed for mid-career managers, executives, and senior professionals and offer classes right in the New York metropolitan area. Through classes on alternate weekends (Saturday-Sunday) in Palisades, NY or classes three Saturdays per month in Manhattan (offered in conjunction with Canada’s Queen’s University), Cornell Executive MBA students earn the internationally recognized Johnson School MBA degree in either 17 or 22 months without career interruption.
Location: Cornell Club 6 E 44th St
Contact: Rachel Shelton  rvs36@cornell.edu
Event Registration link

An Evening with Broadway Legend Arthur Laurents ‘37

1.13  6:00 PM

The "West Side Story" gang in 1957: Sondheim, Arthur Laurents, Hal Prince, Robert Griffith (a co-producer, seated), Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins

For six decades, Arthur Laurents ‘37 has been one of the great figures of Broadway.  His first hit came in 1952 with The Time of the Cuckoo. His long list of accomplishments since then includes writing the books for West Side Story and Gypsy; directing the original Broadway productions of I Can Get  It For You Wholesale (which made Barbra Streisand a star), Hallelujah Baby, and La Cage aux Folles; and writing screenplays that include The Snake Pit, Hitchcock’s Rope, Bonjour Tristesse, The Way We Were, and The Turning Point.

Laurents has received six Tony nominations, winning twice:  Best Musical (1968, for Hallelujah Baby!) and Best Director of a Musical (1984, for La Cage aux Folles).  His 1975 production of Gypsy earned him the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical.  He has been nominated for two Academy Awards.

Mr Laurents will be interviewed by Victoria Wilson, Vice President and Associate Publisher at Alfred A. Knopf.  Among the authors with whom she has worked are Lauren Bacall, Peter Bodganovich, William Gass, Christopher Plummer, Meryle Secrest, and Arthur Laurents.

Location: The Down Town Association is at 60 Pine Street

Contact: Anaiza Morales  anaiza@immunoactiv.com

Event Registration link

Curry Economics: Food as a Driving Force of Economic Development- AMNH
1/14  6:30 PM
Find out how food is an ongoing force behind society’s organization, geopolitical competition, industrial development, military conflict and economic expansion in a panel discussion at the American Museum of Natural History, which includes Eric Tagliacozzo, Cornell associate professor of history.  The panelists: Eric Tagliacozzo, author of Secret Trades, Porous Borders: Smuggling and States Along a Southeast Asian Frontier; Tom Standage, business affairs editor of The Economist and author of An Edible History of Humanity; and award-winning culinary expert Julie Sahni, author of the seminal Classic Indian Cooking, will discuss food as a driving force behind economic expansion, industrial development, and geopolitical competition. Journalist Sasha Issenberg, author of The Sushi Economy, will moderate.  This panel discussion is part of the Silk Road exhibit.
General admission is $15, but $13.50 for museum members, students and seniors.
Tickets may be obtained at:Event link

Location: The Kaufman Theater, American Museum of Natural History

Cornell University Gay & Lesbian Alumni Monthly Happy Hour

1/14  6:00 – 8:00 PM

It’s a New Year so CUGALA NYC invites you to check out one of the newest editions to the Hells Kitchen Bar Scene – Bartini Ultra Lounge!  Join us Cornelians for 2-4-1 Drink Specials until 8pm and catch up with friends both old and new!

CUGALA NYC is hosting these Monthly Happy Hours and we invite all of our Ivy League, Seven Sisters, NYU Stanford, Duke, UVA, Georgetown, Northwestern, Amherst, USC & Emory friends to join us Cornellians!  Alumni, faculty, staff, and students that are over 21 are welcome. Please RSVP to our host, David Chipurnoi at dic4@cornell.edu.

Location: Bartini Ultra Lounge 642 Tenth Ave. (bet 45th &46th St.)
COST: FREE!!!  2-4-1 Drink Specials Until 8pm!
RSVP: Requested, but not required.

Ethics, Technology, and Dignity: What 20th Century Philosophy Can Teach Us About Medical Humanities in the 21st Century
1.14  4:00 – 5:30 PM

Department of Public Health & Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Ethics presents a seminar series designed for general informed readers whose interests are primarily in bioethics, clinical practice, public health, and law.  No prior background in philosophy is required or assumed.

Speakers:
Inmaculada de Melo-Martin, PhD, MS, Associate Professor of Public Health, Division of Medical Ethics, Weill Cornell Medical College
Wayne Shelton, PhD, MSW,Associate Professor, Alden March Bioethics Institute, Albany Medical College; Adjunct Associate Professor of Public Health, Division of Medical Ethics, Weill Cornell Medical College

Location:Location: Public Health Department’s Conference Center 402 East 67 Street, Level C1
Contact: Kerrine Carter 212 746-4246 or kec9014@nyp.org

A Conversation with Wilma Liebman:The NLRB: Poised for Change?
1/15  8:30 – 11:00 AM
Will the Liebman Board bring us a new, more dynamic NLRB?  The agency has been suffering from what some call a “crisis of confidence.” Is rule-making the answer to the constant shifting of Board decisions?  Can the NLRB adapt to the new realities of the workplace and the internet age without statutory change?
Join us for a frank and lively discussion with Wilma Liebman, Chairman of the NLRB, and commentary from David Prouty, Chief Labor Counsel,  Major League Baseball Players Association, and Steven Wall, Managing Partner, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP.
Location:  ILR Conference Center 16 East 34th Street, 6th flr.
Event Registration link

Cornell Glee Club Concert @ Lincoln Center
1/16  8:00 PM
The CU Glee Club is performing at Alice Tully as part of its 2010 Northeast Tour.  The concert program will feature both classical and contemporary men’s choral music, including the New York City premiere of two works commissioned by the Glee Club this year from composer Daniel Kellogg. The concert is a joint effort with the University Glee Club of New York and each group will perform its own set and the program will conclude with the groups combining to sing together. The Glee Club’s Lincoln Center appearance is the continuation of a tour that also features performances in Boston’s historic Old South Church and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
The Glee Club’s a cappella subset, The Hangovers, will also perform a few pop favorites, and the program will close with beloved Cornell Songs including the Evening Song and Alma Mater.

Tickets for the concert are available for $35 through the Glee Club. Tickets for the event are limited, so we suggest purchasing them early.  The University Glee Club of New York has also invited Cornell alumni to participate in their “After Glow” reception immediately following the concert; tickets for the reception are also available on the Glee Club website.  Get your tickets early, as we expect the concert to sell out.

Location: Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center
Cornell Contact: Tristan Fields   tgf6@cornell.edu    607-255-6012

Event Registration link

The Hotel Lenders Panel Luncheon
1/17 12:00 PM
Please join the CHS NYC chapter for an informative luncheon panel moderated by Alan Tantleff ‘87, Managing Director, Hotel Asset Value Enhancement. Our event will be held in the Balcony Room at the Crowne Plaza. Cost: $55 per person, includes networking, panel discussion and luncheon buffet.

For more information go to Event Registration link.
Location:: Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan
Cornell Contact: Erin Rodriguez   emr78@cornell.edu

Deirdre O'Connel, Tracee Chimo, Peter Friedman - Circle Mirror Transformation

“Just let yourself give in to the experience.  Get out of your head,” instructs Marty to her community center acting class.  These instructions if taken by the audience as well, ensures a delicious and transporting experience watching Circle Mirror Transformation.  This production, directed by Sam Gold ‘00 has been extended at Playwrights Horizons, and for good reason.  It is a clean, poetic, poignant portrayal of five lives in a small New England town.  This intelligent play, by Annie Baker tells the tale through the device of a summer long theatre class.  The painstakingly accurate acting exercises lay bare the inner lives of the class (and teacher.)  The realness is reminiscent of G-d of Carnage, and the result is the same; the audience forgets they are watching a play.  In many ways that is the highest compliment in the theatre.  Mr. Gold’s direction of the ensemble and his stunning use of light and space are to be commended.   It takes a very skilled director to create this level of authenticity.

Circle Mirror Transformation is  running until January 17th

Playwrights Horizons link