Love Lost at the Playhouse

“If I knew there would be this kind of turn out, we would have written better plays,” joked Israel Horovitz, the internationally acclaimed playwright, as he addressed the full house on Wednesday night for the premiere of the Red Rope Playhouse at the Westside Theater.

Hosted by Chopin Vodka with 10 Cane Rum, “Ex-Lovers - An Evening Reading of Short Plays,” presented in partnership with New York Magazine and the Accompanied Literary Society, was written by members of The New York Playwrights Lab, which was founded by Horovitz in 1975. The exclusive, one-night-only event featured 8 ten minute plays by Horovitz, Richard Vetere, Nicole Burdette, Neena Beber, Michael Hollinger, Daniel Reitz, Jonathan Marc Sherman and Ellen Melaver.

The cast, directed by Carolyn Cantor, included both young talent and theater veterans such as Jessica Hecht, Marin Ireland, Zoe Kazan, Scott Cohen, Jason Shuchman, Ato Essandoh and Ned Eisenberg.

Created by Eddie Shieh to introduce a younger audience to the world of theater, the Red Rope Playhouse was developed as a follow up to the wildly successful Red Rope Screening, which Shieh launched last year to bring attention to short films. For Shieh, understanding how to connect with what he calls “the A.D.D. generation,” (which he mastered during his years as an advertising creative director) was an important element of the event.

To find the perfect host that would resonate with his target audience, Shieh didn’t have to look very far. He simply asked his basketball buddy, Adam Horovitz of The Beastie Boys, who also happens to be Israel’s son.

After a captivating night filled with sweet, bitter and bittersweet love stories, guests joined the playwrights and actors for a reception at Happy Monkey Studio which was catered by Jade Made Foods with specialty cocktails, such as the Red Rope Playhouse Martini by Chopin Vodka as well as other specialty drinks by 10 Cane Rum.

For more information on the Red Rope Playhouse, visit the web site.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Chris Leary

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