This is Theatre

I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to see a lot of new plays and musicals.  However, it’s an unfortunately rare experience, given that I see so much, that something really blows me away – particularly, I’m sorry to say, in Los Angeles.  And it’s an even rarer experience to have it happen twice in one month.

Last night I saw Cornerstone Theater Company’s production of Cafe Vida, created in partnership with Homeboy Industries and Homegirl Cafe and presented by the Latino Theater Company.  Cornerstone’s unique brand of theatre incorporates individuals from the community to help tell their own stories.  Sometimes this can make for messy theatre, but often it makes for extremely exciting theatre, especially when those stories are deftly structured by an accomplished playwright, as Cafe Vida was by Lisa Loomer.

Directed by Michael John Garces, it tells the story of two Latinas from two enemy barrios in Los Angeles, who are forced to interact after being released from prison and joining Cafe Vida – a community outreach program (like Homeboy Industries and Homegirl Cafe) that provides hope, training, and support to fomerly gang-involved and recently incarcerated men and women, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of our community through restaurant services and culinary arts.

Most of the actors are from Homeboy Industries and provide raw, unpolished, but stunningly frank performances of, in some cases, their own life stories.  And these are not easy life stories to tell.  But this type of work is in essence what all theatre aspires to – the spilling forth of personal truths, truths that are almost larger-than-life in their drama and danger, truths worthy of the stage.

• • •

 A couple weeks ago I also had the pleasure of seeing Danai Gurira’s The Convert at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, a co-production with the Goodman Theatre and the McCarter Theatre.

The Convert takes places during the British occupation of Zimbabwe (1895), and tells the story of a young African woman, who comes to live with a Christian African  missionary in order to survive an undesired fate in her tribe community, pitting ancient African traditions against Western culture and Christianity.

Directed by Emily Mann, it’s a riveting three act play, that also highlights theatre at its best – no flashy sets (though beautiful!), no flashy costumes, no flashy word play and wit - but honest, engaging characters thrust into dynamic conflict with each other and the worlds around them.

What is so exciting about each of these plays, is that they each make incredible points without attempting to preach or sucker punch.  They are gritty, they are daring, and they are unapologetic.  It is not pretty, or tv-worthy.  It is not white and middle class.  It is humanity caught in the struggle of life.  This is theatre.  This is theatre.

(Photo credit: Lynette Alfaro, by John Luker; the cast of The Convert, by T. Charles Erickson)

When enjoyed properly, a  good bottle of wine is like a Broadway flop…

 

It will open and be finished
in one night.

MILWAUKEE’S STILL BUZZING

After The Tavern Keeper’s Daughter already made a splash when its public reading filled the Cabot Theatre and brought together two companies (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre and Skylight Music Theatre), this article recently came out in “M Magazine” – Milwaukee’s Lifestyle Magazine.

 

 

 

Writer Joan Kazan and I talk about my Milwaukee roots, my aspirations for the future, and how booking jobs can really mess up a well-planned schedule. 

(Click on the article below to be able to enlarge it.)

DARLING EARNS 10 EVVY NOMINATIONS

This past March, my musical DARLING had a workshop production at Emerson College, Boston.  That production has since been nominated for 10 Evvy Awards.

The EVVY Awards, modeled after professional shows such as the EMMYs and Oscars, have become the largest student-produced, multi-camera, live switch event in the nation. This award winning show has become nationally recognized with a first place award at the National Association of College Broadcasters awards and has received two national Telly Awards.
Throughout the year, student work can be submitted in a wide variety of categories, creating a very competitive environment right here on campus. These submissions are then sent out to professional judges in their respective field to ensure a fair and experienced judging process.

In addition to all acting categories, DARLING was also nominated for Outstanding Direction, Choreography, Lighting, Scenic, and Sound Designs, and Outstanding Theatrical Production.

Haley Vigil was also nominated for Oustanding Costume Design, which includes these fantastic designs:

Many congratulations to director Michael Bello, producer Jacob Porter, and the fantastic cast and crew of DARLING: Emerson!

The Evvy Awards are distributed May 12th, at 7pm EST, and the ceremony will be broadcast live on their site.

MY TWO DADS

Like father like stage-father. #PrinceofAtlantis #SCR

A LESSON FROM OFF THE MAP

As I’ve just recently purchased an iphone, I’ve begun to listen to a lot more music than I usually get to do.  One thing in particular that I’ve been able to use it for is for my pre-show warm up.  I have a “Prince of Atlantis” playlist that includes Adele, Josh Pyke, Imperial Teen, Snow Patrol, and so on.

One song that has been making a strong impact on me in general is Sara Bareille’s “Uncharted” off her album Kaleidoscope Heart. For me, this song sums up many key points about acting in that poetic way that only music and lyrics can.

No words, My tears won’t make any room for more,
And it don’t hurt like anything I’ve ever felt before,
this is no broken heart,
No familiar scars,
This territory goes uncharted…

This is every moment in a play.  It’s brand new.  The first time. You may have walked into this room before, spoken with this person, but these circumstances are brand new, and it’s important!

I’m going down,
Follow if you want, I won’t just hang around,
Like you’ll show me where to go,
I’m already out of foolproof ideas, so don’t ask me how
To get started, it’s all uncharted.

This is the idea of not-knowing.  In line with this being the first time, there’s also an element of taking an action, and not really knowing how it’s going to turn out.  Or not even really knowing how to go after what you want, but trying anyway.

I won’t go as a passenger, no
Waiting for the road to be laid
Though I may be going down,
I’m taking flame over burning out

This, for me, is the idea of taking risks.  Not just kind-of-sort-of going after your objective, or making a safe choice, but REALLY going after your objective, and REALLY making a choice.  Jumping with out a net.  Deciding it’s better to go big and feel utterly vulnerable than play it safe and easy.

Compare where you are to where you want to be, and you’ll get nowhere

And finally, the truest of truisms in this whole song – and the rhythm in which it’s sung…ugh ::kisses fingers:: – this is the idea of not aiming for results.  In life, in acting, you have to live in the process.  Only in the looking for something will you actually find it.

So thank you, Sara, for this incredible lesson on acting, and, of course, life.

You’re my hero.

DEATH VALLEY DQ Comes to NY!

Melissa van der Schyff. Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Melissa van der Schyff (Bonnie & Clyde), Victor Hernandez (Bonnie & Clyde), and Andrea Ross (Whistle Down the Wind) will star in my new 10-minute play Death Valley DQ.  The play will premiere as part of American Globe Theatre’s 18^th Annual 15-minute Play Festival at 8pm on April 29, 2012.  Brendan Naylor directs.

The offbeat drama centers on two Dairy Queen employees in Baker, CA, and their final customer on the day the DQ is closing its doors.  Described as “Waiting for Godot in a Dairy Queen,” Death Valley DQ explores the risks we must be willing to take at the crossroads of life.

Founded in 1989, American Globe Theatre is the longest running classical theatre in midtown Manhattan. Now, in its’ 23rd year, American Globe (AGT) is dedicated to staging innovative productions of classical plays and to the development of new audiences through educational outreach. American Globe Theatre is committed to reinvigorating performance in contemporary American Theatre through the use of the First Folio technique, which originated with Shakespeare’s own company of players and to passing down this legacy to a new generation of artists and students.

American Globe Theatre is located at 145 West 46^th Street, 3^rd Floor, New York, NY 10036.  The 18^th Annual 15-minute Play Festival semi-finals play April 23-29, 2012, 8pm, with the finals on May 4, 2012, at 7pm and 9pm, and May 5, 2012, at 5pm and 7:30pm.

For more information and tickets go to www.americanglobe.org