COMPILED BY SCOTT STIFFLER
THEATER: THE AMORALISTS PRESENT “HOTELMOTEL”
The Amoralists — that pensive, well-sharpened theater company dedicated to morally ambiguous characters — do so with a vengeance in this site-specific production known as “HotelMotel.” If you like that notion, you can help by giving them more than just your time and the cost of your ticket.
Between now and the start of “HotelMotel” (on August 4), The Amoralists have a goal to raise $26,000 to jump-start their new year-round fundraising campaign. Make a donation and you’ll instantly be christened an “Amoralyte” — a title that would be flattering yet relatively meaningless were it not for the fact that you’ll receive the opportunity to partake in parties with the cast and attend various behind-the-scenes tours, talks and more. Amoralytes who donate $50 or more will get instant pre-sale access to guarantee their tickets for “HotelMotel” (donations of $175 or above will guarantee the donor a free ticket along with their tax-deductible donation.). For the full list of benefits, to donate online and to find out what “HotelMotel” is actually about, visit theamoralists.com.
Previews begin Aug. 4. The official run: Aug. 10-29. At The Gershwin Hotel (7 E. 27th St., btw. 5th & Madison Aves.). Performances are Wed. – Sat. and Mon. at 7pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased at smarttix.com or by calling 212-868-4444. No one under 17.
PHOTOGRAPHY: THE DIGNITY OF ISOLATION
Once described as a “fantastic, tattered land of hope,” Romania is tradition-bound yet economically and technologically on the move. “The Dignity of Isolation” covers the period from 2003-2007 during which photographer Tamas Dezso documented its villages (as the country’s EU membership approached). Motivated by the “romantic and naive idea” of showing Hungarians how Romanians live (Dezso is Hungarian), Dezso made over ten trips during his five-year project. “Hungarians know very few Romanians and the two countries do not like each other,” says Dezso — who hopes you’ll emerge from the exhibit having gained some insight of your own. Artist’s reception: Tues., Aug. 2, 7:30pm. Exhibit dates: Aug. 2 through Sept. 25. At The Half King (505 W. 23rd St., btw. 10th & 11th Aves.). Visit thehalfking.com/gallery.
RUMBLE ON THE RIVER: MUAY THAI
When Hudson River Park Trust, Church Street Boxing Gym and Chang Beer combine their formidable forces, you’d better be ready — to rumble. “Rumble on the River” is a night of Muay Thai kickboxing under the stars. As the sun sets, amateur boxers from the New York area will compete in the square circle. Justin Blair, whose Church Street Boxing Gym has been championing the artful form of self defense and cultural expression for over a decade, notes, “When we started the Rumble on the River back in 2005, we never anticipated it would become a real New York City sporting institution. There’s nothing quite like sitting outside on a warm summer night watching a fight with the Hudson River in front of you and the New York City skyline behind you.”
Thurs., Aug. 4, 7pm (rain date, Aug. 5). At Hudson River Park’s Pier 84 (W. 44th St. at the Hudson River). The event is free and open to the public, with special ticketed VIP ringside seating. VIP tickets are on sale at fridaynightfightsnyc.com. Visit hudsonriverpark.org, nyboxinggym.com and changbeer.com.
DIXON PLACE’S HOT! FESTIVAL
Just because we’ve rounded the hairpin curve of Dixon Place’s annual HOT! Festival doesn’t mean things have cooled down. The last batch of lavender leaning shows by thoroughly queer performers promises to help the festival go out, or come out, with a bang. Brimming with intriguing offerings, this well-curated fest (dedicated to “theater, dance, music, burlesque, performance art and homoeroticism for the whole family”) is just the ticket for LGBTQs, their allies and same sex honeymooners on the prowl.
On Wed., Aug. 3 at 7:30pm, Thain Torres sets his Wayback Machine for post-9/11 NYC and pre-Democratic South Africa, in the solo show “How to Fall in Love Before the Apocalypse.” It’s followed by “How to Stop Smoking in Nineteen-Thousand, Two-Hundred and Eighty-Seven Seconds” (a multimedia reading by Chavisa Woods, with animation by Itziar Barrio). On Fri., Aug. 5 at 9:30pm, “Butch Burlesque: An Evening of Swagger” is co-curated and emceed by Victoria Libertore and Lea Robinson. Expect hot, queer women displaying barrels of butch swagga! On Aug. 6 at 7:30pm, writer/performer Steve Hayes supplies anecdotes and quips throughout this look at movie musical stars who’ve had their less-than-adequate voices dubbed (“Tired Old Queen at the Movies LIVE: Movie Stars Sing at Last!”). All HOT! Festival shows take place at Dixon Place (161A Chrystie St., btw. Rivington & Delancey). For info, call 212-219-0736 or visit hotfestival.org.
