This Week In New York

STARBOX

Playwright Mattie Brickman isn’t about to give away the secret of who’s inside the silver box (photo by twi-ny/mdr)

Bryant Park Fountain Terrace
41st St. & Sixth Ave.
Friday nights through August 13, 6:30 – 8:30
Admission: free
www.artpartytheatercompany.com
www.bryantpark.org
twi-ny slideshow

So, who’s in the box? In recent months, Tony-winning set designer Christine Jones has set up “Theatre for One” in Duffy Square and on Governors Island, a road box in which people wait in line to be entertained inside, one on one, by a rotating lineup of actors, poets, singers, magicians, puppeteers, and others. Now the art.party.theater.company, which brought “Bryant in the Park” to Bryant Park last summer, a production inspired by the work of park namesake William Cullen Bryant, is back with “Starbox.” Playing off the Theatre for One concept, the company invites people to wait in line to enter an eight foot by eight foot box, inside of which is promised to be a star; the box is covered in shiny silver Mylar in a nod to Andy Warhol. A script is involved and photography in the box is not permitted, so it’s not merely to get an autograph or have a picture taken with the secret person. In fact, before entering the box, everyone must sign a nondisclosure agreement ensuring that “what happens in Starbox stays in Starbox.” As we write this, the line is still wrapped around the fountain as people keep guessing who might be inside the box. Among the names being bandied about were James Franco, Lady GaGa, and Andre Agassi. Having been inside the box ourselves, all we can say is that, as far as tonight goes, some people will be happy, and some people won’t, although we can’t imagine how they’ll be able to keep the secret for long. (“Starbox” will be back for the next three Friday nights in Bryant Park.) Don’t get scared off by the line, as that’s all part of the show; artistic director Mary Birnbaum, artistic producer Jess Burkle, and writer Mattie Brickman have constructed a running narrative throughout the entire area, with “plants” in the line and wandering around the park, so that crazy person behind you or that annoying man on his cell phone might in fact be actors playing roles. Then again, they might just be crazy, annoying people. So, in the end, maybe it doesn’t really matter who is in the box. Or then again, maybe it does.