The Record (Troy, NY)

Inside the Box at Adirondack Theatre Festival is outside the box thinking

- By Bob Goepfert

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. » “I see this pandemic as an opportunit­y. It is a chance to innovate and grow the art form.”

So says Chad Rabinovitz, the Producing-Artistic Director of Adirondack Theatre Festival in Glens Falls, as he describes the company’s new innovative alternativ­e to producing live theater. The concept is called, “In the Box Entertainm­ent,” and offers an interactiv­e evening for a family or group to spend at home.

It is a series of six monthly programs, which can be bought as a series or individual­ly. Just before the scheduled running date a box is delivered to your home containing a number of items that keep you involved with the digital program being offered on the device of your choice. They are designed not only to keep you involved, but to add to the theatrical­ity of the event.

And some are just clever. My favorite cute gimmick is included in the cruise package. Of course, the shipboard entertainm­ent will be fun, but the idea of including a towel with instructio­ns on how to make bed animal ornaments is a great touch.

Rabinovitz not only runs Adirondack Theatre Festival, he is also the Producing Artistic Director of the Bloomingto­n Playwright­s Company in Bloomingto­n, Indiana, another organizati­on devoted to new work. He is the only person in the country to lead two theater companies, both of which are devoted to new work.

He insists the most important thing that he’s learned in his career working with new material is that the key to drawing an audience to unfamiliar titles is that the experience is almost as important as is the product. Rabinovitz always ends his curtain speech at the Wood Theatre reminding his audience that what they are in a Box” on February 9-20. experienci­ng is unique to However, Rabinovitz inthem and not happening sists that the content is anywhere else in the world. more than a magic show, a

This is the idea behind talent competitio­n, a mur

“In the Box.” It’s an ender mystery or a paint by tirely new concept that is numbers experience. Great designed for the digital age. pains are being taken to as

“It’s like the wild, wild west. sure that the visuals of each

We are making the rules as show are the highest qualwe go. By fall people will be ity and will avoid the flat tired of reruns of familiar two- dimensiona­l look of a work that can work on “It’s one thing to be in a shows and will be seeking too many digital offerings. stage as well as on digital theater, and have the manew material. We will be ofHe points out that in platforms. The box contains gician pick the card you’ve fering an entirely new expesome ways they are comequipme­nt to paint with a chosen. It elevates hunrience that has familiar elepeting against Netflix and local PBS favorite painting dreds of degrees when at ments but will be presented Amazon. show, “Painting for Two”. home you open a sealed in an entirely new way.” “We cannot go head to Except the host’s partner box and find the card you’ve

The six titles offer some head against the vast cataisn’t there and he has to do chosen.” He says much the idea of what to expect. The logues of their product. We the show alone. And since same about the murder first is “Magic in a Box,” need to be different and the financiall­y troubled mystery, which turns into which is offered September fresh.” station has lost most of the the idea that perhaps it is 10-19. Next is “Film Festival He adds an important caother hosts, he finds himself you who are being hunted. in a Box,” October 15-18, folveat. “Neither can we look being a one-man television Indeed, the series is lowed by “A Cruise in a Box” shabby. We have to offer a station – which is ripe for called “Inside the Box,” but on November 3-14. The Delook that matches the qualoutrag­eous comedy. it is outside the box thinkcembe­r programing.“Talentinit­yofourcont­ent.”HeisAsfort­heopeningm­agic a Box” is a talent competials­o aware that at an asking show, he promises a numFor more details on tion, which is offered only price of $35-$40 per show, ber of “mind blowing tricks the programs, dates, conon December 17. there must be obvious value never seen before.” Howtents of boxes (a couple are

The series continues in to the content. ever, on the most elemengear­ed for only one or two 2021 with “Mystery in a He is high on the thetary level he uses the most participan­ts)) and cost inBox,” offered January 12-23 atricality of the material, familiar card trick known formation go to atfestival. and closes with “Painting calling “Painting in A Box” as an impressive visual. org

 ?? JIM MCLAUGHLIN PHOTO ?? Chad Rabinovitz addressing Adirondack Theatre Festival audience.
JIM MCLAUGHLIN PHOTO Chad Rabinovitz addressing Adirondack Theatre Festival audience.

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