Passageways is a groundbreaking synthesis of over 200 artworks and original musical arrangements to create the internal and external landscape of an extraordinarily theatrical coming of age story. This unique theatrical experience is a compelling journey through the physical and emotional repairs through complex trauma, as the creativity of the artist is itself the passageway through profound crisis. There's no way in, no way out, only through. So why not laugh, dance and paint our way towards the light?
Written, performed, composed, and mixed media art created by Amy Oestreicher

The 75-minute musical will be followed by an artist talkback/Q & A, as well as a book signing to celebrate the launch of Amy's memoir, My Beautiful Detour: An Unthinkable Journey from Gutless to Grateful.

Musical Direction & Arrangements by Bob Goldstone
Direction by Shellen Lubin
Video Production Design by Shannon Epstein

August 6, 7 and 8th at 8:30pm

HERE Arts Center, 145 6th Ave, NYC

Approximate running time: 75 minutes

This original solo fantastical multimedia musical follows a young woman creating a world of her own design after a decade of physical and emotional trauma, utilizing song, mixed media artwork, and humor as a way through the most unexpected passageways.

Amy Oestreicher (creator/performer) is an Audie award-nominated playwright, performer, and multidisciplinary creator. A singer, librettist, and visual mixed media artist, she dedicates her work to celebrating everyday miracles, untold stories, and the detours in life that can spark connection and transform communities. Amy overcame a decade of trauma to become a sought-after PTSD specialist, artist, author, writer for The Huffington Post, speaker for TEDx and RAINN, and health advocate. Following sexual abuse by a trusted mentor, rapidly succeeded by a gastrectomy, coma, organ failure, six years unable to eat or drink a drop of fluid, 28 reconstructive surgeries, and the accompanying PTSD, her story has appeared on NBC’s Today, CBS, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen Magazine, The Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, and MSNBC, among others. Amy has written, directed, and starred in her autobiographical musical, Gutless & Grateful, which has toured over 200 venues from 54 Below to Barrington Stage Company since its 2012 NYC debut. She is currently developing her full-length play, Flicker and a Firestarter, which just had its first AEA Staged Reading with Playlight Theatre Company. Her book, My Beautiful Detour, is now available for preorder. See more at www.amyoes.com.

Bob Goldstone (music direction & arrangements) His career has spanned the Music Theater, Classical, and Pop worlds. On Broadway, he was pianist for Evita and assistant musical director for Charlie and Algernon. Off-Broadway, he was musical director and arranger for Asylum, Tallulah Hallelujah, Kleynkunst!, Bubbe Meises(also on PBS-TV), Das Lusitania Songspiel, Guilt Without S*x, The Coolest Cat in Town, and pianist for the Radio City Christmas Spectacularand The Knife. Bob has worked with many top cabaret and nightclub performers including Karen Akers, Tovah Feldshuh, Eileen Fulton, Eddie Fisher, Liliane Montevecchi, Bruce Adler, Dick Shawn, Estelle Parsons, and lyricists Sheldon Harnick and Carolyn Leigh. Bob arranged, orchestrated, and conducted the score for the feature film "High Stakes," and has orchestrated many shows including Joe Raposo’s The Little Rascals, Asylum, Bob Merrill’s Hannah 1939, Michel Legrand’s A Christmas Carol, The Housewives’ Cantata, Sheldon Harnick’s Dragons,and The Phantom Tollbooth. Bob graduated cum laude from Yale, where, as an undergraduate, he worked on many shows at the Yale Drama School including Stephen Sondheim’s Frogs at the Yale Swimming Pool, and was accompanist for the New Haven Opera. Bob has played orchestral piano with both the 92nd St. Y and Centre Symphonies, was the featured piano soloist in a concert celebrating the work of Vladimir Heifetz, and played in chamber music recitals at the Mannes School of Music. He recently arranged and orchestrated a symphonic-pops concert for violinist/singer/pianist/acrobat Janice Martin.

Shellen Lubin (director) works professionally as a Director, Playwright, Songwriter, and Actor/Singer. Her plays have been produced and workshopped at Manhattan Class Company, the Public Theatre, Pacific Resident Theatre, Hubbard Hall, West Coast Ensemble, American Jewish Theatre, and more. Her songs have been featured on radio and cable TV; in Milos Forman’s first American film, "Taking Off;" in numerous cabaret acts including her own; and in a one-hour special on WBAI-FM, Shellen Lubin - Songwriter/Singer. As a director/dramaturg assisting in the development of new plays, she has directed across the country--currently working on projects with Stuart Warmflash, Lanie Robertson, Susan Cinoman, and Amy Oestreicher--most recently at the Pawling Theatre Exchange and in the Playwright Directors Workshop of the Actors Studio--and is the resident director for the Bistro Awards for Sherry Eaker, Producer. She also teaches and coaches actors, singers, and writers both privately and as a guest artist. As the Artistic Director of Untold Stories of Jewish Women, she helmed a three-day theatre festival at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in March 2018. As an advocate for women+ in theatre, she is the incoming Co-President of the League of Professional Theatre Women, the 1st Vice President and Past President of the Women in the Arts & Media Coalition, and chair of the Women Playwrights Initiative for the National Theatre Conference. Her reflections on artistry and life have been featured in five cover pieces for Back Stage Publications (archived on her website) and are read weekly in her Monday Morning Quotes think-pieces (www.mondaymorningquotes.com). Proud member of DG, SDC, AEA, and more. www.shellenlubin.com@SHLubin

Shannon Epstein (video production) is the current technical director and head designer of many off Broadway shows including the MAC award winning show of the year Spamilton. Shannon has been the technical director of the legendary Triad Theatre for the past 7 years and has worked and designed many acclaimed shows including My Son The Waiter a Jewish tragedy, Celebrity Autobiography and Disaster the musical.


Past praise for Amy Oestreicher

“Oestreicher’s story is always inspirational and surprisingly funny.” – Paulanne Simmons, Times Square Chronicles

“One part moving testament to human indomitability, the other a thoroughly satisfying evening of song. While each element is strong enough to stand on its own, combined they illuminate and enhance each other. Rarely have I seen narration and song so artfully meshed, and Oestreicher’s likeability, good humor, interpretive skill, and manifest commitment to what she is saying and singing make us not only understand her story, but also feel it on a very deep level.” - Roy Sander, critic for BistroAwards.com



HERE
145 6th Ave.
(Enter on Dominick, 1 Block South of Spring)

For Tickets & Information: visit here.org or
call 212-352-3101
https://here.org/shows/passageways/

This production is a part of SubletSeries@HERE: Co-op, HERE's curated summer rental program, which provides artists with subsidized space and equipment, as well as technical support.