1.77 October 16th, 2009 – ActorsE Chat with Breanne Silvi and Joe Sabatino

Title: Medea
 Theatre:
Freud Playhouse (in UCLA’s Macgowan Hall),
245 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles (Westwood)
(310) 825-2101 www.uclalive.org.
  Seats: Up to 586  
Run Dates: Through October 18th  

 Review:
Mortifyingly Moved by Annette Bening’s Medea

It never ceases to amaze me, how a play written 25 centuries ago, can still possess an equally powerful effect in our 21st century Twitter texting, Facebook frenzy culture. It just goes to show, the themes of Love, Passion, Hatred, Jealousy and Anger will always touch a nerve, just as it did in the days of the Greek Gods.
Having attempted the desperate and destructive role of Medea myself at Drama School, my anticipation to attend ‘UCLA Live’s’ current Production of the Euripides’ Classic, starring none other than acclaimed actress Annette Bening, was of utter excitement.

The sounds of Persian percussion instruments against the backdrop of a brooding stage filled with colors of rich Red and Blacks, and an opening line of, “My lovely life is lost, I want to die”, sets the tone, that we are about to embark on a mysterious, dark tale ahead.
The radical new staging by international theatre and opera director, Lenka Udovivki, recreates a production that is both timeless and contemporary. We follow the story of the destructive collapse of the Greek Hero Jason and his mystical wife, Medea.
The story begins after Jason has abandoned Medea and his two sons to marry the daughter of King Kreon.

Annette Bening, who starred in Oscar winning films, such as, ‘American Beauty’, ‘Being Julia’ and an endless list of theatre credits, including, ‘The Cherry Orchard’, ‘Macbeth’ and ‘Hedda Gabler’, doesn’t fail to live up to her outstanding reputation in her powerful performance as a neglected woman of pure strength. I felt her pain, and her undying desire for revenge against a man who has caused her so much grief. Their battle is as intimate as any marital quarrel people experience today, yet remains as epic as the clash of entire civilizations.

Be absorbed by a performance of pure passion. An unforgettable play. A timeless story. Book tickets fast before the end of the run!

- – -
“Medea” — Annette Bening stars in Euripides’ classic about the destructive collapse of the passionate affair between the Greek hero Jason and the exotic Medea. Director Lenka Udovicki, who has staged theater and opera around the world, incorporates classical elements, such as a Greek chorus and live music, into this stylized modern production created by UCLA Live. Freud Playhouse (in UCLA’s Macgowan Hall), 245 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles (Westwood). Tuesdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sun. at 7 p.m through October 18th. $80-$110. (310) 825-2101, www.uclalive.org

Thespian Thoughts is a live theatre review show on Actors Entertainment, a site on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.

Tags: Annette Bening, Freud Playhouse, Judith Jones, Lenka Udovicki, Medea, Network, Pepper Jay, Podcast, Production, theatre review, Thespian Thoughts, UCLA
Posted in Thespian Thoughts | Comments Off

1.74 October 14, 2009 – ActorsE Live Chat with Breanne Silvi, Judith Jones and Brett Howell

Your Host: Breanne Silvi

Guest: Brett Howell

Date: Wednesday 14 October 2009 11:11 am

Brett Howell, Judith Jones, and Breanne Silvi photo by John Michael Ferrari

ActorsE is a live chat show on Actors Entertainment, a site on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.

Tags: Actors, ActorsE, Breanne, Brett, chat, Entertainment, Howell, Interview, Jones, Judith, live, Network, Pepper Jay, Podcast, productio, Silvi
Posted in ActorsE, Archives | No Comments »

1.73 October 13th, 2009 – ActorsE Chat with John Michael Ferrari, Desiree Anderson, and Yi Tian

Your Host: Desiree Anderson

Guest: Yi Tian, John Michael Ferrari

Date: Tuesday 13 October 2009 11:13 am

Desiree Anderson by John Michael Ferrari

ActorsE is a live chat show on Actors Entertainment, a site on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.

Tags: Actors, ActorsE, Anderson, chat, Desiree, Entertainment, Ferrari, Interview, John, live, Network, Pepper Jay, Podcast, Production, Tian, Yi
Posted in ActorsE, Archives | No Comments »

Thespian Thoughts – Theatre Review: Big River – Big Winner

Your Host: Judith Jones

Date: Monday 12 October 2009 1:10 pm

Thespian Thoughts

Reliable Small Theatre Suggestions

http://actorsentertainment.com/wp-content/videos/1_AE_TT_Big_River.flv

Title: Big River 
Theatre:
Crossley Theatre
 1760 N. Gower St.
Hollywood, CA 90028 

For information: www.ActorsCo-op.org 
 Seats: 99 Seat Theatre in the Round  
Run Dates: Through November 15th (but may be extended)  

     BIG RIVER…. BIG Winner
If you never got to read the ‘Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ as a child….or as an adult …., then you are in luck this fall, as the Actor’s Co-op has graced the Crossley Theatre in Hollywood with the vivacious voice behind Mark Twain’s Great American Novel.

The Tony Award winning Musical, BIG RIVER: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been brought to life by an alarmingly talented cast, which proves that musicals in Hollywood are as much alive & kicking as on any stage in New York City.

Directed by the creative Richard Israel, who recently worked on the Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Big-The Musical’, the story chronicles the journey of the beloved literary figure, Huckleberry Finn, played by the criminally captivating, Sean Hankinson, who narrates his musical journey with such energy and inviting vulnerability, that you can’t seem to take your eyes off his, even as the play draws on towards the end.

Huck Finn, escapes from his wretched Aunts and drunken Pap, cleverly faking his own death, and engages in a journey down the Mississippi River with the escaped slave, Jim, played by James Fowler, an actor with a rich depth to his soul. His drive to find his wife and children is portrayed with great fervour, however, he seemed much too clever to convince me that he was an uneducated scavenge. Their growing friendship is touching, and their beautiful harmonizing voices in ‘River in the Rain’, combined with the atmospheric starlight’s, almost made you forget you were at a small theatre in Hollywood.

Along the way, their encounters with the witty ‘Duke’ and ‘King’, who are really escaped prisoners, provide a wonderful comedic addition to the journey. The relationship between the two actors is electrifying to watch and both have a fine flair for comedic timing. I particularly enjoyed, Bruce Green’s passionate dramatic performance which he so wittily renames, ‘Hamlet’s immortal soliloquy’, and if Stephen Reynolds’ belly dancing as a disguised creature they call ‘nonsuch’, not quite a man or a woman with a 3rd breast and eye in the middle of his nose, doesn’t get you smiling, I don’t know what will! Throughout the play we see Huck deal with the moral conflict with the received values of the society in which he lives. He ends up making a moral choice based on his own evaluation of Jim’s friendship and human worth, a decision in direct opposition to what he is taught. By the end of the play both Huck and Jim find the freedom they are longing for, and Huck declares, quite rightly so, he is quite done to be writing his story. And I can hardly blame him after all the poor boy has gone through.

The whole cast work in great ensemble, and even the smaller sub characters drive the play with energy and passion. The angelic voices of the ‘slaves’ were moving, and the choreography was slick and kept you , absorbed. A noteworthy mention goes to Bryce Blue, who played the creative little Tom Sawyer. His tom foolery and playfulness made him contagiously entertaining. I became the biggest fan, however, of David Atkinson. He played the drunken Pap and a variation of other characters with such conviction, realism and richness, I found it quite a shame I couldn’t get to experience a little more of him throughout .

If you want to experience laughter and perhaps a tear or two, don’t miss out seeing this fresh, young, highly talented cast relive this traditional, endearing tale.

Runs through November 15th (but may be extended)

Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre,
1760 N. Gower S, Hollywood
Tickets $25-$34
For reservations call 323 462 8460
Their drifting journey portrays an enduring image of escape and freedom.

Creative Team: 
Executive Producer: Gina D’Acciaro
 Director: Richard Israel
Musical Director: Linda Kerns
Choreographer: Julie Hall 
Set Designer: Stephen Gifford 
Costume Designer: Vicki Conrad Dlugolecki
 Lighting Designer: Lisa D. Katz
 Sound Designer: Rebecca Kessin
  Cast: The talented ensemble of BIG RIVER includes Desean Anderson, David Atkinson, Bryce Blue, Curt Bonnem, Brian Byers, James Fowler, Bruce Green, Pamela Hamill, Anna Hulsey, Joshua Kuehl, Miles Jeffries, Sean Hankinson, Kellen Law, Rory Patterson, Liz Randall, Stephen Reynolds, Tracy Ray Reynolds, Cari Satre, Kyle Shepard and Landen Starkman. 

Thespian Thoughts is a show on Actors Entertainment, a site on the Actors Podcast Network,
a Pepper Jay Production.

Tags: Actors Co-op, Actors Entertainment, Anna Hulsey, Big River, Brian Byers, Bruce Green, Bryce Blue, Cari Satre, Crossley Theatre, Curt Bonnem, David Atkinson, Desean Anderson, Gina D’Accario, James Fowler, Joshua Kuehl, Judith Jones, Julie Hall, Kellen Law, Kyle Shepard, Landen Starkman, Linda, Lisa D. Katz, Liz Randall, Mark Twain, Miles Jeffries, musical, Pamela Hamill, Pepper Jay, Podcast Netwrok, Production, Rebecca Kessin, Richard Israel, Rory Patterson, Sean Hankinson, Stephen Gifford, Stephen Reynolds, theatre review, Thespian Thoughts, Tracy Ray Reynolds, Vicki Conrad Dlugolecki
Posted in Thespian Thoughts | No Comments »

1.71 October 12th, 2009 – ActorsE Live Chat Show with Christie Philips, Judith Jones and Breanne Silvi on Actors Entertainment

Your Host: Judith Jones

Guest: Christie Philips

Date: Monday 12 October 2009 11:08 am

ActorsE is a live chat show on Actors Entertainment, a site on the Actors Podcast Network,
a Pepper Jay Production.

Tags: Actors, Actors Podcast Network, ActorsE, Breanne, chat, Christie, Entertainment, Interview, Jones, Judith, live, Pepper Jay, Philips, Productions, Silvi
Posted in ActorsE, Archives | No Comments »

1.70 October 9th, 2009 – ActorsE Chat with Joe Sabatino and Breanne Silvi

Your Host: Joe Sabatino, Breanne Silvi

Date: Friday 9 October 2009 11:17 am

ActorsE is a live chat show on Actors Entertainment, a site on the Actors Podcast Network,
a Pepper Jay Production.

Tags: Actors, Actors Podcast Network, ActorsE, Breanne, chat, Entertainment, Interview, Joe, live, Pepper Jay, Productions, Sabatino, Silvi
Posted in ActorsE, Archives | No Comments »

1.69 October 8th, 2009 – ActorsE Chat with Danika Quinn, John Michael Ferrari, and Dharbi Jens

Your Host: Danika Quinn

Guest: Dharbi Jens, John Michael Ferrari

Date: Thursday 8 October 2009 11:09 am

*note* Our special talented guest, Dharbi Jens is spelled with 1 N

ActorsE is a live chat show on Actors Entertainment, a site on the Actors Podcast Network,
a Pepper Jay Production.

Tags: Actors, Actors Podcast Network, ActorsE, chat, Danika, Dharbi, Entertainment, Ferrari, Interview, Jens, John, live, Pepper Jay, Productions, Quinn
Posted in ActorsE, Archives | No Comments »

1.68 October 7th, 2009 – ActorsE Chat with Breanne Silvi, John Michael Ferrari, Brett Howell, & Judith Jones

Your Host: Breanne Silvi

Guest: John Michael Ferrari

Date: Wednesday 7 October 2009 11:06 am

ActorsE is a live chat show on Actors Entertainment, a site on the Actors Podcast Network,
a Pepper Jay Production.

Tags: Actors, Actors Podcast Network, ActorsE, Breanne, Brett, chat, Entertainment, Ferrari, Howell, Interview, John, Jones, Judith, live, Pepper Jay, Productions, Silvi
Posted in ActorsE, Archives | No Comments »

« Previous Page — Next Page »

Display all posts

Artistor	Bailarenas Bakery	Images By Ferrari	Beverly Hot Springs
An Art Colony of Completely Original & Absolutely Affordable Gifts & Fine Art. TM	Custom bakery items for your event.	Fashion, Headshot, Event Photography

Most Recents

Archives

Actors Podcast Network

Shows

Guest Appearance Index

Most Popular

ActorsE Chat Hosts

ADVERTISEMENT- KRONEMANN

Thespian Thoughts

Thespian Thoughts