About BANG! – Joe Trentacosta Public Relations
In “Everything in New York Goes BANG!” Galinsky reveals his unconventional journey from the quiet, manicured lawns of suburban Connecticut to the edgy, avant-garde streets of Downtown New York City, and cuts deep into the flesh of America’s ongoing struggle with social injustice, particularly the systemic persecution of our most traumatized youth.
His account moves us from the vibrant energy of New York’s Lower East Side in the ’80s to the shadowy corridors of the infamous Rikers Island Jail, where he found himself exiled and silenced in 2022. Yet, even as he confronts the injustices faced by his incarcerated students, he speaks with humor and joy, infusing his performance with a playful, almost mischievous energy. Galinsky masterfully channels a chorus of voices, blending storytelling with iconic poetry that echoes the bebop cadence of Charlie Parker and wields the sharp, cutting edge of the Beat poets, slicing through the facade of a city that never sleeps but often forgets.
But beneath the musicality and the wordplay lies a deeper, more harrowing truth—a truth about a society that has turned its back on its most vulnerable, our young people, born into distress and adversity, too often written off before they’ve had a chance to rise. BANG! is a stark reminder of the failures of a system that punishes instead of redeems, that traps instead of frees.
Over the course of this 60-minute production, an ongoing conversation with his mother also unfolds, with her voice intricately woven throughout the performance. Her guidance, astonishment at her son’s stories, and unwavering love provide a counterpoint to the intensity of the subject matter. Through her, we hear echoes of a mother’s wisdom and, at times, her exasperation, grounding the story in a deeply personal and relatable context.
In this show, Galinsky doesn’t just tell HIS story—he tells the story of all those who have been pushed to the margins and deserve a chance at redemption. BANG! is a call to bear witness and a testament to resilience, challenging a society that has too often chosen to look away. “Everything in New York Goes BANG!” cries for the recognition that every life, no matter how scarred, has value. And through it all, there is a sense of jubilation, a love of life, and a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is room for laughter and hope. JT-PR
GALINSKY (Writer/Performer)
Galinsky is a multifaceted director, actor and playwright. He currently teaches at the Juilliard School in the Jazz Studies Department, at Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison and he recently lectured at Oxford University on “Literacy and Teenagers in Prison.” He debuted Off-Broadway as a playwright and actor at the Cherry Lane Theater in his acclaimed solo show, “The Bench, A Homeless Love Story,” directed by Jay O. Sanders, produced by Terry Schnuck, and presented by Barry “Shabaka” Henley. Galinsky also recently directed and produced the award-winning Off-Broadway solo show, “Tripping On Life,” by Hollywood horror icon Lin Shaye, and is in development of a new one-woman show, "He Said, She Says," written by Caragh Donley. He has directed and co-authored over 50 TEDx Talks and is recognized and extolled for his unique ability to engage incarcerated individuals through literacy, poetry, and theatre, while also successfully applying these methodologies to artists, lawyers, and C-suite executives. Notable clients include 50 Cent (actor), Edgerrin James (NFL Hall of Famer), Chelsea Clinton (TEDxTeen), and Winnie Harlow (fashion model), among others.
TERRY SCHNUCK (Executive Producer)
A five-time Tony Award recipient, Terry Schnuck is the Managing Member of Linden Park Productions LLC. He is a five-time Tony Award winning Broadway and Off-Broadway producer whose numerous Broadway and off-Broadway credits include: Shucked; Paradise Square; Beetlejuice; Plaza Suite (starring Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker); The Prom; Bandstand; Sunset Boulevard; Fun Home (Tony); Beautiful: The Carole King Musical; Matilda the Musical; Clybourne Park (Tony); The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess (Tony); Hair (Tony); Spring Awakening (Tony); Shear Madness; Falling; Silence! The Musical. Terry is also a principal of Battle Acts Live! Currently on the board and former chairman of The MUNY in St. Louis (America’s oldest and largest outdoor musical theatre), he is also formerly chair of Shakespeare Festival St. Louis.
DYLAN MOONEY (Producer)
Dylan Mooney is an American-born actor from Santa Barbara Ca. After graduating from Cal- State L.A. in 2007 with a theater arts & dance major he began his professional career and has steadily worked since. Currently Dylan is recurring on the hit BET+ series The Family Business as the corrupt and ruthless Detective ‘Dez Bryant.’ His other recent works include supporting roles in the BET Original films Holly Day, Fall Girls, Til Death Do Us Part which had a top-ten, domestic, opening weekend and the Netflix film Boy Bye. Other notable credits include Modern Family (ABC), Angie Tribeca (TBS), A Weekend With The Family (Netflix), Swag Inc. (BET), and was a series-regular in the show Impress Me (POP). In addition to his work as an actor, he recently launched a new app called Actor Trade, which is the world’s first free, live-rehearsal app for actors that has surpassed over 20k users worldwide and has been featured in major magazines including Variety, as well as the L.A. Business Journal. Dylan is super proud to be a part of the Lee Strasberg Institute family as a teacher, as well as being a small part of his student’s journey along the way as they pursue their careers.
PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Hudson Guild Theatre - LA CA - October 25, 2022 (premiere)
Roots Cafe - Cornwall England - April 5, 2023
The Jefferson Market Library - NY NY - January 13, 2024
The Lee Strasberg Institute - LA CA - February 9, 2024
The Jefferson Market Library - NY NY - May 17, 2024 (encore)