After all the media coverage our production of The Tempest received — newspaper after newspaper, website after website — we didn’t think it could get any better. But we were wrong.
Salon just ran a gorgeous, thoughtful video piece about us, filmed by Janet Upadhye and Peter Cooper, titled This NSFW nude production of “The Tempest” is the most brave and beautiful thing you will see today. In it, you can see some really stunning footage from the performance along with interviews with two of the actors in the show as well as one of the show’s directors.
Not to be outdone, NBC News ran a video story of their own — Female Cast Performs Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ in Central Park — in the Nude, filmed by Jennifer Weiss — featuring interviews with audience members, and with another of our actors.
The combination of these two pieces really goes a long way toward illuminating our motives for putting on this play and demonstrating that we were able to get our message across. It is honestly one of the most gratifying experiences any of us have ever had, and the fact that it has now reached not just hundreds of people in the park but millions around the world makes us so very proud.
Brava, ladies!
I recall how important my costume was to cementing my character was as a novice actor. I can only imagine how difficult performing without any costume — or clothing — might be. Kudos to all you strong and brave actors!
BRAVO!!!! To all actors !!!!!!
Too bad you can’t take your cast and travel to different cities. Except, I’m in Kansas.Lol.
For to the OCTPFAS –
I am so happy and pleased for you and delighted at your success. Please accept my most sincere appreciation and congratulations.
Stephen Anderson
Chester, VA
On 5/23/2016 8:05 PM, The Outdoor Co-ed Topless Pulp Fiction Appreciati
BRAVO to the entire team!
Is there any recording of the full thing? I would love to watch this in it’s entirety; I would have come if I had known about it, and I wasn’t on the wrong continent… It’s such a wonderful thing you have done.
Afraid not — it was a live performance and meant to be seen that way. No full recording exists.
Congratulations, ladies.
great job ladies…..!!!!
Major kudos to all involved in this production. I only saw photos and the Salon video, but could tell the level of commitment from your company in beyond exemplary. Ferdinand’s handling of Shakespeare’s text in the “log” speech was beautiful….alive, modern, in the moment but totally respectful of the bard’s verse and meter. Was everyone in the cast already a member of OCTPFA at the time of the audition? If not, how difficult was it to have “outsiders” embrace the body freedom aspect?
PS: I was a nude Caliban in Tempest roughly 20 years back. Body paint and dirt/mud….like a combo of your Ariel and Miranda, but not as colorful.
Very brave, well done.
I love how well the media picked up on your message – doing this was a brilliant move. I missed it, but hopefully you’ll do more things like this in the future.
Btw, did you see the petition that’s circulating to get a clothing-optional area in an NYC park? What do you think of that?
I’m skeptical, but I think it’s really cool that they’re trying.
No, we didn’t see that! What a terrific idea.
This one:
https://www.change.org/p/mitchell-j-silver-allow-public-nudity-in-an-area-of-a-new-york-city-park?recruiter=111669820&utm_source=petitions_show_components_action_panel_wrapper&utm_medium=copylink
The idea is a terrific idea — but a petition with only 155 signatures is barely a petition at all. Even with 200. Even with 2,000. Get to 20,000 and maybe the city will start to pay attention.
Brava to all the actors, musicians, directors and crew!
Bravo again! Brave and beautiful you are.
being skeptical but I just can’t imagine a Tempest without Caliban. PS have you watched Peter Greenaway’s Prospero’s Books? You might find it interesting.
Yes, a number of us have seen “Prospero’s Books.” And the show worked fine without Caliban. That whole subplot can be extracted pretty much seamlessly, and in the interest of shortening the running time (among other reasons), we felt it was the best decision in this case.
Ass in the last pic. my God she is a lovely women. I must admire the confidence of these young ladies. I am really sad and incompetent that I would never be able to go naked in public even I am a male. But these young ladies give me courage. Good job on the success of your drama and best of luck for future.
Cheers,
Leonardo
Have any of the women in the play appeared in any of your other posted reading (or non-reading) events ?
Some, yes.
I saw thursday’s performance of “The Tempest”, and was really impressed! Even tho the play itself is rather dialogue-heavy, and filled with old-fashioned language, the acting and production were first-rate. Only ‘blip’ came when a passing cyclist yelled out something sort of crude at the cast, but thankfully he then quickly left. I hope no one in the cast took that remark personally, he was clearly a judgmental idiot.