Everything in New York Goes BANG!

Everything In New York Goes BANG! Written and Performed by Robert Galinsky 

About the Show – 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.

Purchase $25 tickets at https://tickets.conyersarts.org/bang