After a long and storied career as a theatre professional, radio host, activist, and author, the 91 year old David Rothenberg will release “Manhattan Mayhem” in April 2025.
“Manhattan Meyhem” is a collection of 18 short fiction stories, inspired by his life in Manhattan. For anyone captivated by New York, Mr. Rothenberg’s 18 stories are essential. He captures the city’s heartbeat with humor, heartbreak, and hope, exploring themes of friendship, faith, family, and fortune.
Mr. Rothenberg represented a remarkable roster of acclaimed and commercially successful productions, encompassing iconic works such as Richard Burton’s Hamlet, the groundbreaking Hair, the satirical Beyond The Fringe, Sir John Gielgud’s The School for Scandal, Tennessee Williams’ Night Of The Iguana and Slapstick Tragedy, Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party, and a substantial collection of Edward Albee’s plays, including Everything In The Garden, Box Mao Box, Sandbox, The Death of Bessie Smith, and The American Dream. Their portfolio also featured the innovative Blue Man Group, the interactive Tony and Tina’s Wedding, An Evening with Maurice Chevalier, and nearly 200 other diverse productions.
Witnessing the Attica Prison riot as a civilian observer had a profound and transformative effect, sparking a lifelong commitment to prisoner’s rights that culminated in the 1967 founding of The Fortune Society, a leading national organization in criminal justice advocacy and service. Today, The Fortune Society has a staff of 600 people and six residences for formerly incarcerated men and women.
In addition, featuring a distinctive cast of formerly incarcerated men and women, The Castle, conceived and directed by Mr. Rothenberg, enjoyed an off-Broadway run exceeding a year and remains a fixture in college and church productions.
For more than 50 years, David Rothenberg has anchored a weekly radio program on WBAI in New York, alongside his work as a guest columnist for various newspapers.
On March 30 at 3PM, Mr. Rothenberg will launch Manhattan Mayhem with at The Castle, 625 West 140th Street New York, NY 10031 (between Broadway & Riverside Dr.).
The program shall consist of an author reading, panel discussions with Mr. Rothenberg and esteemed guests, including two-time Tony Award® winner Christine Ebersole, former New Jersey Governor James McGreevey, and representatives of the Fortune Society, JoAnne Page and Stanley Richards. Additionally, Casimiro Torres of “The Castle” will provide commentary, and a performance by actor Richard Hoehler and The Fortune Society Choir is scheduled.
Reservations, email dprfortune@hotmail.com On April 14th at 7 PM, Rothenberg will host a reading from Manhattan Mayhem and discuss his career at Ernie O’Malley’s: 140 E 27th Street New York, NY 10001 (between 3rd and Lexington Aves).
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