Always Love Lucy Theatre

Growing up in the 1970s and 1980s, founder Saima Huq didn't see a South Asian on TV or in magazines until 1990 --- in the form of Apu on the cartoon The Simpsons. She hopes by creating more work, new generations can see themselves in the arts as more than the sidekick or comic relief.

 

In September 2013, on a trip to Beijing, Saima read Arthur Miller's memoir Timebends, and came across the story of how Miller went to Beijing in the early 1980s for a production of his Death of a Salesman. He advised the Chinese cast to scrap their idea of using the original Western setting and costumes, and do it as suited their culture, as the family situation was universal to all. He was so moved by the production and friendships that he wrote an entire book on it called Salesman in Beijing. 

 

Upon Saima's return to the USA, she decided to produce Death of a Salesman with a South Asian Loman family. It ran for 15 shows a block from Times Square, and was seen by 500 people.

 

George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion is our sophomore production and will run for 7 shows in May 2016.

 

Our name comes from our inspiration: Lucille Ball and her groundbreaking show I Love Lucy. Ms. Ball was told to give up acting, did small roles in B movies for years, married a man six years younger than she, had her first child at age 40, was told by TV execs she could not have her real-life Cuban husband on her show because America wouldn't accept a mixed-race couple. They did it anyway, had the #1 rated show for 10 years and she became the first woman to own her own film studio as the head of Desilu Productions (which lives on as Paramount Pictures.) Just more reasons to love Lucy.

 

So what better actor to name this after?

Death of a Salesman ran June 19-29, 2014

Times Square Arts Center

W 43rd Street & 8th Avenue

 

Design: Chris Siarkiewicz

Jenny (Maite Uzal) and Howard (Charlie Gorrilla) after another great performance.

 

Photo: Stefon Simmons