YAAKOV BRESSLER
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  • About
  • Resources
  • Theatre
  • Analysis
  • What's New?

theatre

Click below to read reviews of shows I've seen:
My Theatre Reviews
Below you will see details of shows I'm working or have worked on. Sample through some photos, read their synopsis and visit their websites!

Current Projects:

MAGIC THE PLAY
What happens when government doesn't represent its people?
Synopsis: Magic the Play tells the story of the magical kingdom Alterria where chaos ensues when spells, potions, and pendants begin to lose their powers. When the government of Alterria fails to fix magic, its cunning Prime Minister sinisterly blames the issue on two traveling charlatan-magicians as scapegoats. It’s up to these misfits to stand up against the immense power of Alterria’s Prime Minister. Cheerful and fun, Magic the Play tackles the question of what people should do when their government fails to represent them

Mission Statement: My specific interest in this piece (aside from its all rhyming underscored style), is the political anxiety our society faces today. Further, I am intrigued as to how and why government officials behave unethically, which this play allows me to explore, both as a writer and producer.

Run Time: 95 minutes
Cast Size: 4 principle, 2 supporting. 2 understudies with ensemble roles.
Music Sample:  Link.

Website: www.MagicthePlay.com

Position: Lead Producer, Co-Writer
Collaborators: Chris Erlendson (website), Kelly Catlin (website)
BETWEEN THE LINES
 A drama about cocaine, sex, and nightlife.
Synopsis: Is it possible for a young black woman in New York City to have a wholesome relationship without any vices? Kylie would like to think so, but begins to give up after her steady stream of dates which she meets at her favorite nightclubs turn out to be jerks or drug users. After persuasion from her friends, forces herself out of her comfort zone by smoking pot, and soon enough she finds burning romance. Her new relationship however questions the lines she drew which separate her from the lifestyle she despises. Can lines be drawn between love and vice? Can lines of cocaine be separated from anything at all?

Mission Statement:  This play is exciting me to me in that it tackles the difficult topic of addiction, blending the lines separating excessiveness and dependency. Moreover, the diversity in the piece is accurate of NYC demographics and highlights the benefits of multiculturalism.
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Run Time: 90 minutes
Cast Size: 6 principle, 1-3 supporting

Position: Lead Producer
Collaborators: Chris Patterson, Playwright. Phillip Williams, Director (website).
JUNG & CRAZY
A dark comedy about anxiety,  love, and the ghost of Carl Jung.
Synopsis: When Samantha attends a session with her new psychiatrist, Dr. Benjamin Weinberg, for what appears to be a severe--and rather difficult to treat--anxiety disorder that is related to her love life, doctor and patient quickly begin to switch roles, as the normally cool, calm, and collected Dr. Weinberg seems to have awakened the ghost of Carl Jung, whose voice only he can hear. Has the spirit of the formidable founder of analytical psychology truly come back from the dead to help Dr. Weinberg treat Samantha’s unique disorder? Or is Dr. Weinberg just losing his grip on reality? This dark comedy explores the intersection of mental health and intuition, with a twist of magical realism. 

Mission Statement: To be filled out later.

Run Time: 95 minutes
Cast Size: 2 principle, 4 supporting

Website: None

Position: Co-Writer
Collaborator: Robert Keller (website)
SOME LOVERS
A pop-driven musical by Spring Awakening's Steven Sater and music icon Burt Bacharach.
Synopsis: Tony and Grammy Award winner Steven Sater (Spring Awakening) joins forces with Academy and Grammy Award-winning music legend Burt Bacharach for a world premiere musical inspired by the classic O Henry tale The Gift of the Magi. On Christmas Eve, estranged lovers Molly and Ben are haunted by visions from long ago. Over the course of one unforgettable night, past and present collide, as the ghosts of their former selves help them find forgiveness and fall in love again. Featuring a new score by Bacharach, SOME LOVERS is a love story for today.

Mission Statement: The simplistically elegant music with striking lyrics of this musical make an inspiring and emotionally provocative show. I am attracted to energy this simple yet touching story carries.

Run Time: 125 minutes (with intermission)
Cast Size: 4 principle,
Music Sample:​ LINK

Website: NA
Position: 
Associate Producer with Cody Lassen.
Collaborators: Burt Bachrach, Lyrics (wikipedia), Steven Sater, Music (wikipedia), Anthony De Angelis, Music Director, (IBDB), Louis Hobson, Producer (wikipedia​), Cody Lassen, Producer (website), John Styles, Producer (IBDB),

Past Productions:

THE GOLDEN SMILE
An absurdist musical comedy on a psych ward.
Blurb: When five mental patients get in trouble for misusing their rec room, they decide making a play will prevent them from getting kicked out.

Synopsis: There's violence on the ward and Messenger (the caretaker) wants everyone to refrain from using it – or else they'll lose rec room permission. Caught fighting, our cast faces removal but Writer is determined to cover it all up as a play. Director thinks it's a bad idea but wants to be in charge. The actors Sarcastic, Angry, and Loathing, have deep characteristics that disallow successful execution of their roles. The Critics are non-participatory observers who offer little help. How will these characters make a play (ironically called The Golden Smile) to save themselves?

Mission Statement: I wrote The Golden Smile because it was incredible fun. The extreme personalities in this historical analytic psychology thriller gave me the ability to find voice in parts of my personality that I had left buried. The plot of this absurdist musical lies mostly in the characters' individual journey to accepting the fate that their fantasy play (they themselves are creating a play) can redeem them from worsening psychological states. I'd say more importantly than anything, this play gave me an appreciation for theater and the people who tire within a production to bring about its reality.

Run Time: 80 minutes
Cast Size: 6 principle, 1-3 supporting

Role: Playwright
Why do I Produce and Write Theatre?
Entertainment as whole is a beautiful and unparalleled way of sharing ideas. Theatre as a live presentation is unique that it allows audiences and performers to gauge their experiences on their counterpart. My interest in the writing of theatre is exactly that: to write plays that are socially applicable and allow contributing artists to maleate the work to the palatability of an audience. This is a fancy way of saying that I want my audience to have a type of performance they like and for my shows to match that style, allowing for maximum transfer of ideas both from audience to artist and from artist to audience.


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