WHO
The OPTimistiks is a group of international theatre artists learning and living in New York City. Working with American collaborators we express the unique experiences of our countries of origin in the context of our shared experiences as aliens in America. We will always find the funny side and thus hope to increase the positive impact of performance.
Old world words: new world voices.
What
Short Film/Web
“THE HANDYMAN'S TOOL - OFF RED” (4'01")
LOGLINE – Episode the first of a parody of Margaret Atwood & the hulu crew’s vg dystopian vision.
In Off-Red, June has been dispatched to Redd’s Lampshade Centre. She has no idea why and Aunt Lydia seems most unsympathetic. An unhinged – and injured – Janine bursts in with surprising insights.
- Written by: Jenny Green (with great respect for Margaret Atwood)
- DP & Editor: Gavin Peden
- Music by: Oisin Jayat & Adrianna Natalie
- Costume, Props & Set Design by: Jenny Green
- Production Assistants: Megan Harrison & Finty McBain
- CAST (in order of appearance)
- June - Fiona Walsh
- Aunt Lydia - Jenny D Green
- Janine - Elizabeth Jasicki
Produced by – The OPTimistiks LLC
“CORRIE IN THE HOOD”
LOGLINE – A couple of Northern women of a certain age find sanctuary in a local Brooklyn bar and re-create a slice of home
- Written by - Camilla Maxwell
- Directed by - Stephanie Staes
- Directors of Photography - Amy Bennett & Britton Woodruff
- Composer - Shelley Thomas
- Edited by - Britton Woodruff, Camilla Maxwell & Jenny Green
- Art Director - Carolyn J Morris
- Costume Design by - Jenny Green
- Script Supervisor - Claudia Morcroft
- Script Editor - Jenny Green
- CAST (in order of appearance)
- Bet - Gill Foster
- Ena - Jenny D Green
- Episode 1 Token Man (Lone Patron) - Alec Knox
- Episode 2 Token Man (Letch) - Vinnie Marano
- Episode 3 Token Man (Burglar) - Joshua R Pyne
- Sponsored by Tea & Sympathy, NYC
- Produced by - The OPTimistiks LLC
- With thanks to all at Floyd, Brooklyn
EPISODE 1 - People Are Cheap
Bet and Ena impart invaluable lessons about patience with their slice (or rather biscuit) of home.
EPISODE 2 - Spittin’ Image
Bet’s brings her brand of bartending relief to Ena and an especially leery patron.
EPISODE 3 - Daylight Robbery
Brooklyn’s fave bar flies, Bet and Ena, are unphased by an unwelcome intruder.
SARA PAIN’S PANTO CAMPAIGN
The Northern British presidential Panto hopeful, Sara Pain expounds the virtues of bringing a great tradition of British theatre to the New York Stage in a series of addresses from Times Square, NYC.
- CAST
- Sara Pain - Jenny D Green
- Written by - Jenny Green (with thanks to Sarah Palin’s 2011 speech writers and Donna Summer)
- Directed, Filmed & Edited by - Nathan Willis
- Costume Design by - Jenny Green
Campaign launch
The Ethical Choice
Fridge Magnet Politics
From MacArthur Park to Churchill
THEATRE
“VICTORIA WOOD - AS SEEN IN THE BIG APPLE”
Gala Tribute Comedy Event to celebrate the life and work of British national treasure Victoria Wood. Featuring favourite characters, sketches & scenes from the multi-award winning actor, comedian, musician & writer, who died unexpectedly in April 2016.
The OPTimistiks’ production, directed by Origin Theatre Company’s George C Heslin, includes Acorn Antiques, Two Soups, Kimberley & the Ballad of Barry & Freda [aka the ‘Can’t Do It’ song]. All proceeds to Victoria’s nominated charity, Jessie’s Fund to provide musical therapy for seriously ill children.
- Writer & Composer - Victoria Wood CBE
- Director - George Heslin
- Stage Manager/Asst Director - Amy Elizabeth Bennett
- Music Director/Accompanist - William TN Hall
- Sound & Projection Design - Jack Gilliat
- Costume Design & Props - Jenny Green
- Technical Director & Lighting - Shannon Epstein
- Marketing & Publicity - Jenny Green
- Asst Stage Manager - Jenni Wales
- CAST
- Continuity-SM-Announcer - Connie Wookey
- Asst Continuity-SM/Head Waitress - Jenni Wales
- Official Guide/Miss Berta - Jenny D Green
- Miss Babs/Jane - Elizabeth Jasicki
- Mrs Overall/Waitress - Fiona Walsh
- Mr Kenneth/Businessmen - Christopher Wharton
- Kitty - Barbara Drum Sullivan
- Madeline/Waitress - Amy Scanlon
- Derek/Businessman - Martin Ewens
- Soloist/Trixie/Kimberley - Claudia Borruso
- Producer - The OPTimistiks
DICK WHITTINGTON - AN XMAS PANTO FOR NYC
Larger-than-life-characters, a fairytale love-story and a poor boy following his dream in the hustle and bustle of New York City, is the recipe for an all new family show for the holiday season. Served up with a healthy dash of musical comedy and audience interaction to complete the feast of Panto, a British tradition dating back to the early days of the West End.
A lovingly crafted hybrid of the genre, set very firmly in the Big Apple. Our boy Dick – who, according to panto tradition, is played by a girl – comes to NYC to seek fame and fortune on the P-Factor Talent Show, but is pitched against the dastardly forces of a bungling Mayor Gloomberg and scheming Sara Pain. He finds an ally in talented street-performer, Cat, and wins the affections of the Pantomime Dame, Lady Goo-Goo – who, according to another panto tradition, is played by a large man – as he rails against the Subway Rats, his main competition.
The OPTimistiks – who achieved critical acclaim with their 2010 premiere, Billy Carver & the Children in Mind, Montserrat Mendez’s play about a J.K. Rowling-type author – offered up this winning bag of delights to New Yorkers as a new Christmas tradition, one that is fun and affordable for all families.
Watch Highlights of “Dick Whittington: An Xmas Panto for NYC”
- Written by - Jenny Green &Mary McLaughlin
- Director - Jenny Lee Mitchell
- Asst Directors - Wes Seals & Katherine O'Sullivan
- Music Director - Michael Hopewell
- Stage Manager - Rebekkah Rosenberg
- Asst Stage Manager - Vanessa Villalobos
- Lighting Designer - Kia Rogers
- Sound Designer - Aldo Perez
- Costume Designer - Jenny Green
- Costume Asst/Wardrobe - Billie Aken-Tyers
- Set Designer - John Peery
- Additional Design - Cornelia Jensen & Sheelagh Appleby
- Projection Designer - Lucia Lee
- Composer - Will Hall
- Lyricist 1 - Kevin Hammonds
- Composer 2 - Teresa Lotz
- Choreographer - Mitchell Wayne
- Publicity - Lanie Zipoy
- Marketing asst - Laysha Duran
- Videographer - JiYe Kim
- Photographer - John Watts & Jim Moore
- CAST
- Good Fairy Winfree/Cat - Mitchell Wayne
- Kingrat Murdock/Henry - James Parks
- Dick - Aimee Whelan
- Alice - Anwen Darcy
- Lady Goo-Goo - Matt Borruso
- Mayor Gloomberg - Will Shaw
- Rata-twoie - Carol Sirugo
- Ratatat - John DiSciasco
- Ratiquah - Matthew Donnell
- Sara Pain - Jenny D Green
- Eugenie - Ashleigh Awusie
- Beatrice - Claudia Morcroft
- Producer The OPTimistiks
BILLY CARVER & THE CHILDREN IN MIND
Billy is the werewolfian brainchild of feted writer Joannie Roman Redd, but she thinks of ending it all when reviews for her latest book recommend she puts her stories on the big screen. A fast-paced farce ensues as her pack of hangers-on are horrified at the prospect of their livelihood being killed, but all that Joannie wants is a chance for true love. Will Tristan find his tart? Will Priscilla ever leave her BAFTA behind? Will Rick’s silver bullet do the trick? Will William ever get his words out? Will May make it on her own? Will Christopher leave his wife? And what’s the big deal with diaphanous? Written and directed by the award-winning writer of “Thoroughly Stupid Things”, MontSerrat Mendez.
- Written and Directed by Montserrat Mendez
- Designed by - Jenny Green & Montserrat Mendez
- Stage Manager - Paige Strothman
- Workshopped with the Original
- Produced by The OPTimistiks LLC
- CAST
- Armistead Johnson
- Aimee Whelan
- Jenny D Green
- Lauren Roth
- Monroe Robertson
- Nathan Willis
- Stuart Williams
SPECIAL EVENTS
Salon sYmphoNY
Annual International Women’s Day event, in collaboration with the International Women Artists Salon, to celebrate NYC-based international women artists from history and the here and now.
A multi-disciplinary staging, including monologues, songs, dance & commentaries, celebrating the legacy of cultural riches created by women around the world & sustained today by international women creatives living in The City of New York.
Salon sYmphoNY first found its voice in the Lounge at Dixon Place in 2012 and continued virtually during the COVID restrictions of 2021 and 2022 with NYC-based women and non-binary artists, from across the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe paying homage to women artists from their homelands by presenting pieces of their work.
P-FACTOR TALENT SHOW:
- Great live entertainment in a Great British Boozer just $10
- Drinks specials & Great British food!
- If you want to showcase your talent: Industry Judges & Top Prizes! Just $5 to enter
- Email theoptimistiks@gmail.com for further details & to reserve your spot see www.theoptimistiks.org for further info
- All proceeds to Dick Whittington: An Xmas Panto for NYC
International theatre collective The OPTimistiks is bringing a new piece of olde world entertainment to NYC. Panto is an essential staple of the British theatrical calendar, which is genuine fun for all the family: an interactive musical parody, which for many kids is their first trip to the theatre.
WHERE
Contact us at Productions @theoptimistiks.org
Victoria Wood: As Seen in the Big Apple
- Played at The Triad Theatre, 158 West 72nd Street b/t Broadway-Amsterdam/Columbus, above a Turkish kebab shop
- http://www.triadnyc.com
- On Saturday 3rd December, 3pm 2016.
Dick Whittington: An Xmas Panto for NYC
- Played at Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie Street (between Rivington/Delancey), NY10002
- http://www.dixonplace.org/
- On Fridays 21 & 28th & Saturday 22nd December at 7pm and Saturday 29th December at 3pm, 2012.
- Tickets at tickets@theoptimistiks.org
- $18 or email for group & advance purchase rates
The P-Factor Talent Show
- Took place at The Churchill Tavern, 45 East 28th Street (between Madison/Park), NY10016
- http://www.thechurchillny.com/
- On Wednesday 24th October 2012 7-11pm
- Register your interest at Talentshow@theoptimistiks.org Or
- https://www.facebook.com/events/473187576046219/
Billy Carver and the Children in Mind
- Played at Manhattan Theatre Source, 177 MacDougal Street, b/t W8/Waverly, W4 subway (W8 side) Wednesdays through Saturdays 7th to 24th July 2010 at 8pm with Saturday matinees at 2pm
- https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/745045/prm/IG CODE IG or take advantage of our 'matinee madness' offer for just $10 https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/745045/prm/MM CODE MM
HOW
We are a small artists’ collective funded by the generosity of our friends and families and any other angels looking out for work which adds a big + to the sum total of human happiness!
All donations gratefully received via fundraising@theoptimistiks.org
See our Panto indiegogo campaign here: Click Here
By George - A Panto for NYC! Appeal trailer
By George! Aimee's Appeal Trailer
What is Panto Teaser