Art Stripped Down for Naked July at The National Pastime Theater
2011 Festival Offerings:
Purity: the unadulterated nature of nakedness.
PRESS
Naked July Art Stripped Down
“I highly recommend getting the festival pass or daily pass to enjoy more than one show … here is your chance to experience the liberating effect of live theater specifically designed to give you the feeling that your body - despite its quirks or flaws - is OK just the way it is. The National Pastime Theater has assembled a really wonderful assortment of plays that each utilizes nudity in an artistically sound fashion.”
-Kim Katz, Buzznews.net
The Living Canvas: Rain
New City
“The Living Canvas: Rain” is the real heart and soul of the festival. It includes the most nudity and in the least gimmicky fashion.”
“…moving, funny and visually striking piece that plays out beneath Guither’s projected images. Like the water that the show constantly references, “Rain” effortlessly flows from one vignette to the next till it reaches its impressively splashy finale. Most notably, “Rain” succeeds in its mission of letting the audience see the (non-sexual) beauty in bodies of all shapes and sizes.”
Beast Women
New City
“It’s a great cabaret-style lineup and there’s definitely talent on show here.”
“Beast Women features a rotating cast of thirty women, with titles ranging from standup comedian to burlesque performer to songstress, and each of the ten shows included in the Naked July lineup includes a mixture of six or seven of these performers displaying their talents one after the other.”
“…nakedness in the show I saw was much more emotional than physical.”
Chicago Stage Review
“Host Michelle Power kept this sleek production moving with precision, good humor, and class. ...this is the tightest incarnation of the Beast Women to date. Beast Women: Strong, Sultry, Stimulating is a gorgeous, intelligent rendering of a cabaret show perfectly placed in Naked July.” Four Stars ****
Chicago Reader
“The sincerity is endearing, the courage is touching…”
Salome
Chicago Theater Beat
“The phrase “Naked Art Festival” intrigued me. Although I have seen nudity on stage, I’ve never experienced a theatrical spectacle committed to complete nakedness…I did enjoy Salome and I’m not a pervert…I’m engaged by the tale of ancient greed and corruption…What does happen is a tightly paced show directed by Laurence Bryan. A standout, Kaitlin Chin (Herodias) dominates the stage with intense manipulation…The costumes by designer Julia Zayas-Melendez are exquisite.”
New City
“David Bettino carries the show acting-wise as an arrogant but troubled Herod, while Joshua Harris (Iokanaan) and Becca Wolfe (Salome) handle the nudity aspect—Harris for the entire show and Wolfe for the brief climax of her dance of the seven veils.”
Chicago Reader
“Laurence Bryan's striking production for National Pastime Theater's Naked July festival not only gives us a long full-frontal look at Salome in the raw but displays the Baptist's junk from the first moment until the executioner blocks our view…the principal actors are all excellent, especially David Bettino as Herod
Tickets to each Live Show are $20 and Cinema $10 per adventurous patron. Discounted festival passes and group rates are available.
Tickets ON SALE NOW through nakedjuly.com or NPT's box office at 773-327-7077 ext 503.
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