Neighborhood Intel

Score a free pair of tickets to Buzzer, a play about NYC real estate

By Virginia K. Smith  | April 15, 2015 - 8:59AM
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We write about real estate in movies and TV all the time, but it should come as a surprise to, oh, no one that the trials and tribulations of New York apartment life are also frequent fodder for our city's theater world. Enter Buzzer, a very true-to-life show about race, relationships, roommates, real estate, and the pitfalls of gentrification now playing at the Public Theater.

The play follows a young couple—Jackson and Suzy—who decide to move in together after Jackson buys a massive apartment (with two hallways, two bedrooms, and a washer and dryer, no less!) in Brownsville, the neighborhood where Jackson grew up and is now banking on a wave of gentrification to up the value of his new property investment. The apartment's great, though they both soon discover the high price of "sticking it out" in hopes of a neighborhood sea change and existing in an area where they're seen as interlopers. (The apartment's also got a broken buzzer, which, as we know all too well, is a rampant problem city-wide.) Add a visit from Jackson's fresh-out-of-rehab friend Don, who needs a place to crash, and although they've got the extra space, tensions run high.

Gentrification, not to mention roommate drama, can be tricky to translate onstage, and Buzzer really nails that delicate tightrope of navigating a neighborhood—or a roomie—that isn't necessarily thrilled that you're there. But don't take our word for it—we're giving away a voucher for 2 free tickets to the first person who shoots us an email! Contact us here by 5pm EST today for a shot at winning. (Some fine print: If you win the voucher, you'll need to book a spot 48 hours in advance, and you'll want to move fast—the show ends its run on April 26th.)

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