Cotton Patch in NYC

Special thanks to The Jalopy Theatre and the cool folks at First Evangelical Free Church. You make Brooklyn a better place!

'We Go Everywhere Together' Charms Charleston

Jeffrey Querin and Stephen W. Baldwin get compared to Pixar's "Up" in a review of 34west's recent production at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC...

Published by the Post and Courier, June 5, 2011

By Diep Tran
 

(from left) Jeffrey Querin, Stephen W. BaldwinWatching 34 West Theater Company’s original play “We Go Everywhere Together,” about two old men and their “bucket of fish,” I was reminded of the Pixar movie “Up.” Both pieces of beautiful art are about octogenarians getting one more kick at life, showing that living la dolce vita is not only for those who are young. The good life is ageless.

"We Go Everywhere" is about two friends, George and Henry. George doesn’t hear well and Henry doesn’t see well. Together, they decide to undertake Henry’s bucket list, mislabeled as a “bucket of fish.” The list is simple: hike the Grand Canyon, skydive, sing on Broadway, speed date, and learn a foreign language. The play is based on the lives of two real friends. It's a bit cliche of a concept but the execution - doing the items in a non-linear sequence and the humorous dialogue - makes up for the flaws.

Stephen W. Baldwin and Jeffrey D. Querin play George and Henry respectively. They also wrote the play and are the creative and artistic directors of 34 West Theater.

George is prone to making bad jokes and non-sequiturs. The character could easily turn into a one-dimensional, one-joke, act but Baldwin’s performance is so winning and delightful that it’s easy to be charmed by George. And really, doesn't everyone have friends like that in real life whose sole purpose seems to be making everyone laugh, even when the jokes aren't really funny?

Jeffrey QuerinConsequently, George is a lovely compliment to Henry who is more cautious and less open to possibilities, despite his bucket list. George also had the potential to be grating, but Querin is able to bring out the sweetness in the character’s cautious attitude. After all, it’s not a strange thing to be afraid of the world when you’re old. In fact, it seems to be an unfortunate byproduct of aging, like bad hearing or shaky posture. But Querin is able to conquer those fears and eventually skydive and sing on stage, alongside his best friend. It’s a natural, and not overwrought development.

"We Go Everywhere" has plenty of jokes about being old. It can be a bit much at times, though not enough to be offensive to senior citizens. But the dialogue is unpretentious, a mixture of life-true aphorisms and humorous quips. At a speed-dating session, George says to a love interest, “True loves comes along only once in a lifetime. It’s like chickenpox, but in a good way.”

Such good-natured asides prevent the play from devolving into the senior citizen comedy hour or a sentimental act about life’s brevity. Instead, it’s an affirmation. That no matter what age, opportunities and wonders is limitless.

Pics: We Go Everywhere Together

Thanks to Tom Terleski, we got some great shots of our Piccolo Spoleto matinee of We Go Everywhere Together. Enjoy!

Featuring Jeffrey Querin, Stephen W. Baldwin, and Magdalyn Donnelly...

Post and Courier Review: We Go Everywhere Together

(from left) Stephen W. Baldwin, Jeffrey Querin

Crowd favorite "We Go Everywhere Together" gets compared to Pixar's "Up" in Diep Tran's Post and Courier Review... 

Featuring Stephen W. Baldwin, Jeffrey Querin, and Magdalyn Donnelly.

Flying High: We Go Everywhere Together

(from left) Jeffrey Querin, Stephen W. Baldwin

"We Go Everywhere Together" takes flight with full and raucous houses at Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston, SC.

Thanks for the pic Tom T! (more to come)

Featuring Stephen W. Baldwin, Jeffrey Querin, and Magdalyn Donnelly.

Nick Fancher's Latest

Here's some fun pics from our recent photo shoot with the coolest photographer in the states...Nick Fancher of Shutter-Think Photography.

Magdalyn DonnellyMaria Householder, Stephen W. BaldwinMagdalyn Donnelly, Jeffrey QuerinStephen W. BaldwinJeffrey Querin, Maria HouseholderMagdalyn DonnellyStephen W. Baldwin(from left) Stephen W. Baldwin, Jeffrey QuerinJeffrey QuerinCast of Yuletide JamboreeMaria HouseholderYuletide JamboreeJeffrey Querin, Maria HouseholderMagdalyn Donnelly

Special thanks to 34west actors Jeffrey Querin, Magdalyn Donnelly, Maria Householder and Stephen W. Baldwin. 

Retirement Party!

34westie Debbie Haverstock celebrated her retirement from teaching by bringing 48 teachers to Friday night's performance of "We Go Everywhere Together."   And what a wild bunch they turned out to be!

On the Road with J-Bone, Magda, and Rusty Kittens: We Go Everywhere Together

Jeffrey Querin, Magdalyn Donnelly

(from left) Jeffrey Querin, Stephen W. Baldwin

 Jeffrey Querin, Stephen W. Baldwin and Magdalyn Donnelly tour northeast Ohio in a marathon weekend of "We Go Everywhere Together" and "Waiting for Joshua."

Old Guys are Rehearsing the Big Show!

Rehearsals began in New York this week for the highly anticipated, much ballyhooed, and overmedicated WE GO EVERYWHERE TOGETHER featuring 34west's lovable "old guys".

Old Guys Road Trip: We Go Everywhere Together

George and Henry have been invited to the 2011 Piccolo Spoletto Festival in Charleston, SC.  

"We Go Everywhere Together" will run
May 27- June 12.

Stay tuned for blogs, videos, twitts, and geeks!

...at the moment Henry's still looking for his UFO 45 sunblock. George is packing his speedo.

Sneak Peek: We Go Everywhere Together

Future set design for "We Go Everywhere Together"

Inspirations while at the Met...possibly for "We Go Everywhere Together"?...one never knows...

Not So Silent Night

Jeffrey Querin and Stephen W. Baldwin bring down the house with "the old guys."

Jingling All The Way!

(from left) Stephen W. Baldwin, Maria Householder, and Jeffrey Querin 

One of the funniest and most popular shows in 34west history! Now thru December 18.

Spoiler Alert!

If you've seen Jingle Jingle Wedding Bells then you already know just how beautiful this cake is in the flesh (or frosting). Thank you Jane Bush and our friends at Das Dutch Haus for making one darling of a "fake" Christmas wedding cake.

...George and Henry thank you too...

10 Years in the Making

This is long overdue but back in early May, 34west and friends gathered in Columbiana, OH, to celebrate 10 marvelous years with a very special gala performance of "John, His Story."  

Here's some interesting tid-bits about the cast who last performed this show together in 2001...

At a 2001 conference in St. Louis, with a 1000 teenagers watching, Jessica Burger's mic failed and she subsequently performed this scene unflinchingly with a handheld mic given to her by an out-of-breath sound tech.

Jeffrey Querin as 'John.'

Originally, Jeffrey and Stephen played opposite parts but quickly switched roles in 2001 because they wanted each other's characters.

Whitney Presley will grin and tell you her favorite line remains "Silence and solitude are to long impacted weariness as sun and rain to seeded blooms."

Jessica Burger first learned her role for a Houston touring show but then 34west asked her to learn the other role for their show. Typical 34west.

Whitney Presley amazes all...again.

And again.

The four actors favorite moment of JHS ten years ago...pulling the plug on their own light at the end of the show.

Don't miss the return of JHS in 2020.