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New Perspective Festival Progress Rehearsal

This was the day that the festival Director got to see most of the plays and make sure all were cast, everyone had scripts and that they didn't bump into the furniture.  I saw the play I directed and so did Lizzie Silverman, it's author.

Here we are, director and playwright of Fine Can Be Fine.  Lizzie (the playwright) said she was happy with the piece but I (director) know we do have just a little more to do before it's perfect.

Here's Lizzie with the cast of Fine Can Be Fine, from l-r: Allison MacDonald, Calandra Crane and Tony Beville.  The play is about, well, love and life.  Some see it.  Tickets at: www.perspectivefest.com.

Here's the whole company on stage after the rehearsal.  Smiling because we totally rock. Did I mention that you should see the New Perspective Festival?

Before that, I saw on of the plays I wrote -- and didn't get any photos of it.  The play, called Love, Unrequited in Three Galleries: Morning (American Masters) has a title at lease as long as the performance.  Director and actors did admirably!

After Fine Can Be Fine, I saw my Love, Unrequited, in Three Galleries: (Evening European Gallery) and it was wonderful.  AND I got a few photos too.

I wish I'd have gotten the names of these great actors, directed ably by Christopher Renda.   You should really see this festival and not because I'm the hell all over it.  There are a number of great plays by great playwrights and featuring the talent of great directors and actors.

I took a few more photos too:

Here's Reed Willard and the incomparable Wendw Savage in Twisting the Cat.  Wendy is in another play in another festival but more on that later.  For now, get yourself all excited about the New Perspective Festival!

Kisses!

Blondes

I am fortunate in that I get to direct two plays in two festivals this year.  The first, Fine Can Be Fine has been mentioned in this space -- and should live two below this one in the blogosphere.  The second is called  Blondes.

And It's altogether different.  It was written by Frank Higgins who you may remember also wrote The Collection, which I directed two years ago for Compass Theatre's Resilience of the Human Spirit Festival.  And the guy's good at writing good drama in close quarters with a war on.

Blondes is about a lot of things and I won't tell you anything because I want you so see it.  (Here's the website: Resilience of the Spirit Festival.)  So, instead I'll talk about the great actors I have in the roles.

As Joy Harmon, is Wendy Savage, an actress I've known for a few years and worked alongside but not with until now.  Wendy is great and can play anyone from 18 to 35.  She'll be closer to her 20s in this portrayal of a young Private who becomes a patriot.

Another actor I've known for a while and worked alongside but never with is Sacha Allen who is Seargent Sullivan.  Sully gets Joy to do good, important work for his platoon.  Sacha and I played Obama and McCain in a very funny Rap Battle video series.  The trailer was pretty damned good but I think my rap was better, yo!  OK, you can see Sacha as Obama (no not Sacha Obama) too.

These videos have NOTHING to to with Blondes.

Rounding out the cast is Calandra Crane as Captain Mullally, a woman with an adgenda. 

I really think you'll like this play and hope you come see great new theatre.

YE OLDE (abridged) NEWSLETTER

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)

by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield

This is 37 plays within a play.  It either makes a mockery of Shakespeare (who we think can take a joke) or gives you a great (if brief) look at all the works of possibly the most important writer in the English (and Klingon) language.  This newsletter will either give you a reason to go or a reason to be up in arms. 

Either way, we encourage you to show up, with your $15, and see us train-wreck it or nail it.  Either way, we promise a great evening of theatre!  C’mon, it’s only fifteen bucks.  You blow that on lattes in a week.  (We said "either" about ten times in this paragraph)
Love,

Lotus Theatre Collective

 

Tom Hall Still Doesn’t Know What He Was Thinking

Reached at work recently, actor Tom Hall, who is easily thrice as talented as the rest of the cast, had this to say, “… yeah hold on a second.”  So we waited.  Waited to get his take on why he chose to perform in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged).  It went something like this, without pauses.  (That dude talks fast but he has such great diction…):

“yeah well I did this play with Kevin he has this little tattered script and I just said OK I mean its not like anyone was going to see it right? So I do it and all and I’m all you know and then his friend Sophie Anderson (she drinks) comes up to me and begs me to do this Shakespeare play and hey I’m an actor I can do Shakespeare right?  So I go and it’s Kevin and some other guy (editor’s note: that other guy is Tyler Richards Hewes who has three names so you know he's good!) and Sophie and they’re like drooling and I signed a paper so I have to do it and I Gotta go!  Oh, and, uh, don’t call me at work anymore.”

So there you have it.

The Play(s) (are) the thing(s)...

Almost got a real Shakespeare quote in there

OK.  The play is… Well… It’s hard to… Oh, just read the Wikipedia Page on it and I can get a burrito.  Thanks, dude.

Quotes About Shakespeare (abridged)

"Pithier than Python. Irresistible." - New York Times

"A madcap condensation that features non-stop laughs. Done at a whirlwind pace and with great delight, they are sure to win over even the most skeptical. And there is no doubt that William Shakespeare himself... would approve." - Daily Variety

"If you like Shakespeare, you'll like this show. If you hate Shakespeare, you'll love this show!" - The Today Show

"Stupendous, anchorless joy!" - The London Times

"Wildly funny. Masterful!" - Los Angeles Times

"The funniest show you are likely to see in your entire lifetime." - Montreal Gazette

“William who?” - Bob

Well that’s it.

So I guess you’re going to buy tickets now, right? OK. Click on, dude!
Lotus Theatre Collective

Shakespeare (abridged) Tickets

Funny Press Release

Photos

FCBF

That's what we're calling the play.  No one said we could or should but it just happened that way.  I saw the initials for the play and Boom!  Fine Can Be Fine is a new play by my friend Lizzy Silverman and it will be in the New Perspective Festival in June.  (More info. at www.perspectivefest.com)

The show was interesting to cast and we're still in the process.  I think we have a great cast now and we just need to make sure the Universe falls together in such a way that we get to keep this cast together.  If not, I have hedged my bets and have a third actor in the wings.

Here's who:
Allison MacDonald (left) is a great actress whom I saw at Scripps Ranch Theatre and who auditioned for the festival.  Calandra Crane (right) is another great actress whom I saw, this time at last year's festival.  I wanted to give the process its due and cast only those who auditioned and these two were among the best.

Tony Bevill and I worked on The Coffee Shop together and he was able to step in when an actor had to back out for personal reasons.  Acting is so personal that I can't argue with that.  It is great to be working with Tony again and he's got the part down after only one rehearsal.  Now we need to make sure he doesn't get the part he agreed to audition for minuted before I called him.

Allison is Rose, Calandra is Shelly and Tony is John in FCBF, which has become a statement about relationships, a settling in for the long haul and a litttle about romance.  It's also a lot about want and a little sad. 

I consider it a waltz.  Waltzes are in three four.  Three actors and the audience is the fourth.  The play is a little mooody but artistically so.  Like a waltz.

I very much think you will like FCBF