Dear Prospective Students,

Last weekend, for my “Examining the 60s” class, we went on a trip to New York City to see two shows. Paid for by a grant, all we had to spring for was train and subway fare and whatever we ate for dinner.

Meeting up at the Fairfield train station for the 12 p.m. train, we all hopped aboard and headed to Grand Central Station in order to make it to Broadway for the two o’clock showing of Tom Stoppard’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll”.

Me and my friend Sarah keeping ourselves entertained on the train ride to NYC.

Before going to see “Rock ‘n’ Roll”, we read the play as well as learned about the historical context of the events through reading assignments and class discussions.

This historical play spanned a 22-year period, from 1968 to 1990, chronicling the effects the “Prague Spring” in Czechoslovakia and the fall of the Communist Party had on the play’s main characters. Deep down, this play was a love story that spanned the miles and the years, keeping everyone connected by the power of music.

We got out of “Rock ‘n’ Roll” at about five o’clock, at which time we were free to go eat dinner wherever we chose. While some ate in Times Square, many of us hopped on the subway and headed downtown to the lower east side where the next show was being performed at 8 p.m.

The entrance to The Living Theatre.

My friends and I ate a diner, and then went to Dunkin’ Donuts for dessert before we headed to The Living Theatre. Started in the 50s by Julian Beck and Judith Malina, The Living Theatre was a controversial political establishment in the 60s. With the goal of starting an anarchist revolution, they brought theatre to the streets, encouraging everyone to get involved.

The Living Theatre, still run by Malina, who is now 81-years-old, just returned to NYC within the past year after having relocated to Europe many years ago. We saw “Maudie and Jane”, a two woman play. In it, a middle-aged woman named Jane, caught up in her career, unintentionally attaches herself to the life of a lonely, old lady named Maudie. By befriending Maudie, Jane finds meaning in her own life as she watches Maudie die.

Afterward, we were allowed to stay for a talkback with the performers and director of the play. Once that was over, we all headed for the subway back to Grand Central Station and hopped on the 11:22 p.m. train back to Fairfield.

It was an extremely fascinating and exciting experience, but after all our wandering that day I couldn’t wait to flop down in my bed and get some sleep… aka, the perfect ending to a lovely trip!

love, anna.