Bushwick may be synonymous with street art and its thriving DIY scene, but a burgeoning theater movement is quietly taking root in the neighborhood. While Bushwick’s theater scene has long flown under the radar, venues like the recently reopened Bushwick Starr, the avant-garde XIV Theater, the ever-innovative House of Yes, and now the Gracemoon Arts Company are transforming the area into an off-Broadway haven. Gracemoon, which relocated to the neighborhood in June and has already staged three productions, is a particularly exciting addition.
This theater renaissance led me to Gracemoon Arts Center’s latest production, What We’re Up Against, for a review with Bushwick Daily. I attended the November 23rd preview with an open mind and left thoroughly impressed. While the marketing describes the play as a “feminist dromedy,” I found it to be an honest yet cynical exploration of being female in a male-dominated career and the harsh realities of leveraging power in an oppressive patriarchal system. Written by Theresa Rebeck and directed by Michele Lonsdale-Smith, the play delves into the frustrations, compromises, and moral ambiguities women face within oppressive patriarchal systems. While not perfect, the stage play is well worth your time and support. The show makes a great night out on your own or an even better second or third date for those of you who need to freshen up your Hinge dating routine.
The Gracemoon Arts Company itself offers an inviting atmosphere. Its spacious venue, excellent sound design, and intimate setting create the perfect backdrop for the show. Running 90 minutes without an intermission, the production is tightly paced and for the most part engaging. After the performance, attendees are invited to participate in a salon with the cast and crew—a rare opportunity to delve deeper into the themes and creative process behind the play. Located just a one-minute walk from the Morgan L train stop, the venue is surrounded by plenty of dinner and bar options, including our friends at Pinebox Rock Shop, making it easy to continue your night after seeing the show.
