Welcome to a new world of Gourmet Salon Shakespeare. New Place Players combines intimate theater with exquisite dining t
Dining with Shakespeare
Welcome to a new world of Gourmet Salon Shakespeare. New Place Players combines intimate theater with exquisite dining to create an unforgettable experience. Whether for a corporate event, a charity benefit, or a private celebration at home, we perform full productions of Shakespeare as part of a feast of live music, gourmet food, and fine wine.
Who we are – an ensemble of fifteen professional Equity actors and musicians dedicated to bringing Shakespeare directly to its audience. By combining our performance with the pleasures of food and wine, we seek to recreate the intimate spectacle of a private Elizabethan feast, just as the Lord Chamberlain’s Men did for their guests at Middle Temple in 1602.
PRESS BROOKLYN MAGAZINE
“Our twin passions for gourmet fare and iambic pentameter were both equally and delightfully indulged.” – Sarah Zorn Brooklyn Magazine
THE GUARDIAN
“The productions are a harmonious blend of music, lighting, theatre, food and drink, amounting to a communal atmosphere that harks back to the experience of catching a theatre performance in Elizabethan times…New Place Players emphasize the sense of actor and audience sharing the same space, with only the subtlest of fourth-wall-breaking antics.” – Darryn King The Guardian
TIME OUT NY
We team up with several exciting new and seasoned chefs, including Thomas Keller protégé Max Hansen and his kitchen, to create exquisite five course menus. We can also work with your favorite caterer to add your own personal touch.
SAMPLE MENU Hippolyta’s Hors D’oeuvres A Roasted Cherry Tomato and Goat Cheese Tartlet with Fresh Thyme and Garlic Smoked Salmon Rillettes on Crostini with a Lemon Caper Crème Fraiche First Course Act I, scene i and ii Act II, scene i Hippolyta’s Herb Marinated and Grilled Shrimp with an Anchovy Butter, Fregola Sarda, Sautéed Spinach served with Grilled Ciabatta Second Course Act II, scene ii Act III, scene i Titania’s Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho with Avocado and a Cilantro Oil Main Course Act III, scene ii Bottom’s Chianti Braised Boneless Beef Short Ribs, a Farro Risotto with Shibumi Mushrooms, and Sautéed Broccoli Rabe Salad Course Act IV, scene i and ii Puck’s Blue Moon Acres Arugula with Currants, Toasted Pine Nuts, Shaved Reggiano Parmesan Cheese and a Citrus Vinaigrette Dessert Act V, scene i The Lovers’ Individual Fruit Napoleons Raspberries, Blackberries and Blueberries with Puff Pastry Crisps and a Brown Sugar Whipped Cream
A Shakespeare Feast with New Place Players...
WHAT WE OFFER • We perform throughout the Northeast Corridor in event spaces, restaurants, private homes, and Casa Duse–a 19th century Park Slope townhouse. • A full production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream or Twelfth Night with professional Equity actors and live music. • The performance surrounds and envelops the audience, creating an atmosphere of intimacy and excitement. • Thomas Keller protégé Max Hansen (or one of our other seasoned chefs) creates a gourmet five-course menu inspired by the world of the play. We can also work with your favorite caterer/chef. • Several menu budget options available. • A one hour pre-event consultation in the space is required. • A professional Equity stage manager assures good communication, maximum efficiency and minimal inconvenience. • Perfect for corporate events, charity benefits, holiday parties, special celebrations.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE SHOW About the Production: - The troupe comes with 15 Equity actors and musicians, plus an Equity stage manager. - Each play is performed in Shakespeare's original five acts. - Lighting, scenic and floral design are portable and easily installed in any space. - Live music is offered during and in between acts.
About the Meal: - Hors d'oeuvres are followed by a five course menu, served during the play's short interludes. - Includes chef, service & rentals, food, and non-alcoholic beverages. - Choice of wines and spirits is at additional cost. - Our knowledgeable staff is available for consultation.
HOSTING YOUR EVENT AT CASA DUSE Casa Duse, the artistic home of New Place Players is available for corporate and private performances. Located at 16 Prospect Park West in Park Slope, this elegant 19th century townhouse was named in honor of the great Italian actress Eleonora Duse (1858-1924). Rich in theater history, its walls are adorned with numerous original portraits of La Duse, as well as autographed photos of theater and opera luminaries of the likes of Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Noel Coward, Charlie Chaplin, Enrico Caruso, Zinka Milanov, Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Giuseppe Verdi, and Arturo Toscanini, among others. New Place Players productions in the intimate and elegant Casa Duse have been praised as "a harmonious blend of music, lighting, theatre, food and drink, amounting to a communal atmosphere that harks back to the experience of catching a theatre performance in Elizabethan times" (The Guardian).
16 Casa Duse 16 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, NY, 11215
TESTIMONIALS “What can I say? I could never have dreamt up a more perfect evening or way to celebrate a special event. What a memorable evening, for everyone! I had a great time and I know that everyone enjoyed it every bit as much as I did…And I got a sense from the actors and from chef Max Hansen that they also had a good time pulling it all together. You made such great use of a difficult space as well. I got so many comments from friends about the quality and creativity of the production, the menu, the music…and there were even a few who mused about the possibility of hiring the troupe for future functions–yay! Thank you for all your thoughtful hard work on this. You thought of everything. I hope to have an excuse to do this again sooner rather than later. A luxury, yes, but also an exceptional value.” –Donald Matteson Owner, At Home in Brooklyn
Great food, great Shakespeare and excellent company offered a remarkable respite from a troubled world. We thank the New Place Players with directors Craig Bacon and James Ortiz and super chef Max Hansen for making the Casa Duse Supper Club a continuing place for such soirées. It was "a moveable feast” of stimulation, illumination and sensation, as we gravitated toward the light only such magical evenings can provide. –Nino Pantano The Brooklyn Eagle
“How can I thank you for one of the most enjoyable evenings I’ve had here in NYC? It was superb! The acting, the music, the food, the company–what a peak experience! I think your acting group should be highly commended for a truly honest, language-honoring presentation of one of my favorite Shakespeare plays.” –Anne Clark Long-time lover of all things Shakespeare
If music be the food of love, play on.
New Place Players 300 West 109th St., Apt. 9JK New York, NY. 10025 (646) 266 2762
newplaceplayersnyc.com
Craig Bacon, Artistic Director Flavio Gaete, Managing Director
[email protected] 