Week of 11/26

We at 810 hope that you had a wonderful, safe and restful Thanksgiving holiday weekend!

This week at 810 sees us getting ready for the 2012 Entrances Student Theatre Festival, a new annual event that we are very excited about!  Our lineup this year is as follows:

Friday, December 7, 2012
7:00 PM Welcome/Opening remarks
7:30 PM The Masks, by Melissa Watson
               performed by LJ Alleman Talented Theatre & Theatre IV students

Saturday, December 8, 2012
10:00 AM Welcome/Opening Remarks
10:15 AM Technical Portfolio Presentation/Discussion for students
11:30 AM A sneak preview of Firelight Performing Arts’ Scrooge!
NOON     AUI Theatre Academy presents work by the Tween Acting Class
12:30 PM Lunch Break
1:30 PM Theatre students from Lafayette High Performing Arts Academy present their semester work
2:00 PM Mock Audition/Feedback Workshop for students
3:00 PM The Masks, by Melissa Watson
               performed by LJ Alleman Talented Theatre & Theatre IV students
4:00 PM AUI Theatre Academy presents work by the Teen Acting Class
4:30 PM A sneak preview of The Tea Sippers’ Theatre Co. production of The Effects of Gamma Rays       
               on Man in the Moon Marigolds
5:00 PM Cult of the Stage Monkeys Improv Presentation
7:30 PM The Masks, by Melissa Watson
               performed by LJ Alleman Talented Theatre & Theatre IV students

Sunday, December 9, 2012
3:00 PM The Masks, by Melissa Watson
               performed by LJ Alleman Talented Theatre & Theatre IV students


Impressive for our first year, huh?  We are psyched.

Also this weekend are auditions for A Home at the Zoo, by Edward Albee.  Auditions are at 806 and 810 and the show will be at 810 in January!  Here is the audition notice:

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Auditions for Edward Albee's AT HOME AT THE ZOO will be held at Theatre 810 on Friday, November 30 at 7pm and Saturday, December 1 at 3pm.

WE ARE CASTING ONE FEMALE LEAD TO PLAY THE ROLE OF ANN, a strong and loving woman who is unhappy with her status quo marriage and is ready to poke and prod it a little to find out what's underneath.

Actors interested should be 27-40 and should come prepared with a one minute contemporary monologue. We will also ask for a short cold read from the script (we will provide). The production will be directed by Cooper Helm and will show the last weekend of January and the first weekend of February with a preview night January 25th.

Thank you to all who share this and are interested. If you have any questions about the audition or the play, please contact me.

Scott Gremillion

sufficious@yahoo.com

337-706-2177

 

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Until next week, folks....

 

Week of 11/12

So, I have been neglectful of this blog.  I admit it.  Things at 810 got busy, and I put it to the side.  However, my feet are back on the ground, and I am here to tell you about this week's theatre happenings!

Tonight at 810 is the FIRST MONTHLY Readers Theatre!  We will be reading/listening to Lanford Wilson's The Rimers of Eldritch, and we are really excited about the enthusiasm that we have gotten from the Lafayette community about this monthly event.  We can get together as a group, hear a new play (or revisit an old one) and make new friends!  We will be posting photos of our first meeting later this week on our Facebook page and announcing next month's date, so check it all out!

On Saturday at the theatre is an improv workshop with Stage Monkey's Elaine and Jason.  Wanna beef up your improv skills?  Never done improv before?  Check it out - it's an all day affair culminating in a workshop performance that evening for your family and friends!

On Sunday, we are having a Weekend Work Call for 810 and 806.  The theatre needs a little TLC after weeks and weeks of continual use, so if you have a bit of time, we would love to see you there.  Oh - and we will feed and water you for your time :)

One last thing - we would like to thank all of the patrons that came to support the recent shows at 810.  The Tea Sippers' 70 Scenes of Halloween, Wanderlust's The Monster Tales, and AUI's Dracula were great successes, and wouldn't have been without your support.

See you next Monday, I promise... 

Week of 10/8

Well, we at 810 had a pretty restorative week off last week, although we still had classes, rehearsals, meetings and paperwork to keep us plenty busy.  We hope that you all had a wonderful week, too, and before we go on, can we get a WHO DAT?! and a big congratulations to UL Lafayette who defeated Tulane during the ULL homecoming weekend!

Now, down to business:  This weekend at Theatre 810 is the Acadiana Repertory Theatre's reading of Cody Daigle's Stratford Boy.  This piece is the first in a trilogy of plays exploring the life of William Shakespeare and his fictional sister Judith (a creation of Virginia Woolf in "A Room of One's Own"). The second play, The Elizabethans, is coming soon; and of course, we all remember the third, William & Judith, which was produced at 810 almost exactly one year ago, to much acclaim. 

In Daigle's own words, Stratford Boy presents William Shakespeare "...as a beleaguered young man trying to find his purpose in life. His shotgun marriage to Anne Hathaway has already produced a child and another is on the way. And he's been secretly teaching his sister Judith to read -- and write.  When a childhood friend, Will Kemp, comes through Stratford with a band of traveling players, a door opens in Will's life that could take him away from Stratford. It's a door Judith wants to walk through as well..."

We can't wait to get a glimpse of Cody Daigle's new work, but in addition to the reading, ART will be discussing the plans for their upcoming 2013 season.  The reading/season preview is free of charge, and is only happening twice this weekend, so make your reservations pronto.  See you there -

Week of 10/1

Wow, Lafayette!  Thank you so much for coming out to support the UL student production of Proof!  We had full houses with lovely, receptive audiences.  So lucky for us and for our next generation of theatre artisans!

As far a performances go, we are taking a breather this week, before heading into FIVE STRAIGHT WEEKS of performances for the Lafayette community!  AUI's Dracula will continue to rehearse in both Space 806 and Theatre 810, and The Tea Sippers' Theatre Company will also be rehearsing in Space 806 from time to time.  Their show, Seventy Scenes of Halloween by Jeffrey M. Jones opens October 18th.  The Tea Sippers are a teen run theatre company in Lafayette and they produce, direct and design all of their own productions; supporting their work is vital to building a vibrant, relevant arts community.  Mark your calendars now, arts lovers!

In other news, Theatre 810 is also working on a myriad of new events and projects that we will be announcing over the coming weeks.  One monthly event that we will start to host is the 810 Readers Theatre.  What is "readers theatre?" Once a month, anyone interested will meet at 810 and read a play together. We will divvy up the parts when we get there, and there will be scripts available for those who don't already have a copy (you may have to share with a neighbor, but that's part of the fun!) There will be plenty of time afterward to discuss and interpret the play, too.  Theatre artists, avid readers, supportive community members - come one, come all!  Our first monthly gathering will be Monday, November 12 and our first play is Lanford Wilson's The Rimers of Eldritch, so dig out your copy now if you already have one!

We will have more information soon about that and more...as well as updates regarding our next five weeks of productions!  Gotta run for now, but stay tuned to our Facebook page and keep going to shows!

Week of 9/24

First, a sincere thank you to everyone who came out to see The Stage Monkeys of Lafayette's improv shows last week.  They will be back in November, but we sure are going to miss them during October!

This past weekend saw the UL student production of Proof by David Auburn move into Theatre 810.  In a continuing relationship with the UL Department of Performing Arts, Proof is being directed by Kelsey LaCoste, a BFA senior in the department.  Mario Raymond, a junior concentrating in technical design and production, is the scenic and lighting designer.  Theatre students are also performing in the show, the exception being veteran actor, Duncan Thistlethwaite, who is portraying the role of Robert, the father.  In an student-mentor style process, faculty at the university have been guiding the students through the process of bringing a show from script to stage.  Proof will be a one-weekend production, so please reserve your seats or purchase tickets online as soon as you are able.  Let's support our next generation of theatre practitioners, Lafayette! For more information, please visit the Proof event page.

Also this week, AUI's Dracula will continue rehearsing in Space 806.  As anyone who has been downtown on Jefferson in the evenings can attest, this cast has been hard at work bringing the original 1927 stage play to life.  We can't wait to see it complete with effects and spectacle!  A source close to the production says that stage make-up technicians will be watching rehearsals this week to determine the specific needs of this show.

Oh!  One other thing - a GIANT happy birthday to Marie Diaz, our Development Director, today - Happy Birthday, Marie!!!

That's it for us, right now....but we have lots more coming up, so stay tuned to our Facebook page and keep reading!

Week of 9/17

We at 810 are simply over the moon about all of the things that are happening at our theatre!  From productions to rehearsals to classes, there really isn't any time that something isn't happening.  Also, on the administrative side, we continue to refine our process, last week completing a Venue Rental Guide that will help clearly explain our policies and offer tips to guest producing companies and artists. 

Last month, The Stage Monkeys of Lafayette were forced to cancel their show due to Hurricane Issac.  So, this month, they are performing TWICE to accommodate the demand for their shinanigans - Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th at 7:30 pm.  Did you know that studies suggest that children laugh almost 400 times more frequently than adults each day?  And, did you know that MBA programs such as Duke are now teaching improvisation as part of their curriculum to encourage adaptability and reactibility?  So come laugh like a kid and learn like a business grad at 810 this week!  Tickets are $7/general and $5/w student ID, and you can reserve over the phone or purchase online through EventBrite.

Also at 810 this week, the AUI Theatre Academy acting classes (for all ages) are in full swing Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (you still have time to register before it's too late!).  Rehearsing in 806 and 810 is AUI's Dracula and Wanderlust Theatre Co.'s The Monster Tales.  On Sunday, the UL Department of Performing Art's student production of Proof is loading in, but more on that next week!  Whew! Until then....

Week of 9/10

This week performing at 810 is The Plastic Theatre of Lafayette's Recovery Academy.  This is such a treat for us to bring to you, and really, a reminder of why we all need the arts in our lives.  The Recovery Academy is a theater project for women recovering from addiction and homelessness.  A collaboration between Plastic Theater and the Acadiana Outreach Center, this project was funded by a generous grant that also makes this production FREE to the public.


Over the past month, a handful of local theatre artists conducted workshops at 810 with the participants, focusing on topics such as acting, improvisation, sound, puppetry, and movement.  From those workshops, a script was created based on the stories of these brave women's lives as they share how they have dealt with addiction and homelessness on the streets of Acadiana.  "Off the Streets" is directed and produced by Keith Dorwick, artistic director of The Plastic Theater of Lafayette and co-directed by Elaine Kibodeaux, member of the improv troupe The Stage Monkeys of Lafayette as well as an active local actor.

This show is not to be missed.  Oscar Wilde once said, "I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being."  Let's come get a sense of these women's lives, Acadiana. 

Admission is FREE.
Wednesday, September 12 - Saturday, September 15 at 7:30 pm.  Click here for online reservations.

Welcome Back!

Welcome to our 2012-2013 season!  There are so many things in store for you at 810 this year and we can't wait to tell you about them.  Each Monday, this blog will be updated with news and happenings of the week, so check back frequently.

Over the past couple of weeks, we have reorganized a few administrative things at the theatre; things that after almost a year of productions we found needed to be streamlined or improved to serve the community better.  We have an intern now at the theatre, Joseph Diaz, who opens the theatre box office every week day (M/W/F 3-5pm, T/TH 2-4) and is helping to interface with the producing companies.  Of course, Walter Brown continues to run the show as the Facilities Director, addressing countless needs of the venue.  Marie Delahoussaye Diaz had so much on her plate last year handling box office, promotion and administration needs, that she now has help with many of those tasks and can focus her energy more on long term development for 810 and Acting Unlimited, Inc.  Elsa Dimitriadis is the new Operations Manager, handling most of the promotion, overseeing box office needs and scheduling.

This week at 810, the Plastic Theatre of Lafayette's Recovery Academy is continuing to rehearse and prepare themselves for their show next week (see sidebar.)  On Friday, the AUI Theatre Academy acting classes begin.  Fridays will be the Tween acting classes from 4:30 to 5:30, Tuesdays will be the Teen acting class from 4:30 to 5:30 and Wednesdays the Adult class, also from 4:30 to 5:30.  Walter Brown will be teaching the Tween class, and Jarin Schexnider will be teaching the Teen and Adult classes.  There is still time to register - if you are interested, the online registration form can be found here!  Also on Friday, The Tea Sippers' Theatre Co. will be holding auditions at Space 806 from 4 to 7 pm. 

AUDITIONS for AUI's Dracula will be on Saturday and Sunday at 810.  For more information about those auditions, you can visit the AUI Facebook event page! 

OK - That should catch you all up for this week!  See what a crazy, exciting year it's going to be this season at 810?  Until next Monday...

The Tea Sippers, Lafayette's completely teen-organized theatre company bring Samuel Beckett's Endgame to Theatre 810 this July.

During a post-apocalyptic time, four absurd characters struggle to find the answer to a question bigger than life; when does one stop playing? Playing what? Playing the game of life.

The Tea Sippers' Theatre Company is a theatre troupe in the Lafayette downtown area that was established in September of 2010 by Jarin Schexnider, a local artist. The company originated as The Grizzly Alpaca Theatre Troupe and then grew into their current form. Opening with Jeffery Jones's heartfelt, yet strangely driven 70 Scenes of Halloween in October of 2010, the leading performers of the production were not yet ready to see their group end, thus continuing with their dream. Taking the profit made from  70 Scenes, the troupe now directs, produces, and performs original and classic pieces throughout Lafayette. Being 100% teen-run, the company feels it necessary that the community and others beyond are allowed to experience what they bring to the stage. "We aren't like any others. We are different. We are who we are. That's why we do it", said director Andrew Vincent of the Tea Sippers. 

17 year old, Andrew Lee Vincent and 16 year old, Kaitlin Romero lead the company. Being two of the original members, they serve as the heads of the company and strive to reach a few goals. "We aim to create a safe and conductive environment for the creative thoughts for teens. I do this to express my thoughts and ideas and help others to do what they want acting wise", says Kaitlin Romero. 

Diving into one of Samuel Beckett's most famous works, the Tea Sippers will be performing at Theatre 810, located at 810 Jefferson Street on July 12, 13, and 14 at 7:30pm and on July 15 at 2:00pm. Admission is $10 for all audiences and tickets can be purchased online at http://teasippersendgame.eventbrite.com, by phone at             (337) 484-0172        or at the door of the theatre. 

ACADIANA REPERTORY THEATRE

NEW WORKS FESTIVAL

 FRIDAY, JUNE 29:

100 Planes--Lieutenant Kay McClure, a hotshot pilot, meets her match in Major Anne Clarkson. As Anne pushes Kay harder and harder, questions arise. What exactly is Anne training Kay to do? David, an aspiring reporter and Kay's lover, probes deeper and discovers Anne's true motivations. 100 Planes examines the tug of war between love and ambition for female pilots in the Air Force.
 The cast of 100 Planes includes Evan Melancon, Etienna Wright, Jody Powell, and Sarah Brown.
100 Planes  will be read at 6:30pm on June 29th.
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The Human Capacity-Set in East Berlin before and after the fall of the Wall, the play follows the journey of a Stasi officer as he seeks redemption from the woman whose life he shattered. Both torturer and victim find themselves caught in a struggle to reconcile the horrors of their past with their hopes for the future. The Human Capacity is a searing look into a society and a family in turmoil, and an exploration of the human capacity for cruelty, perseverance, and forgiveness.
 The cast of The Human Capacity includes Kayla Lemaire, Evan Melancon, Bobby Bender, Casey Harmon, Kevin Miller, and Kate Schneider.
The Human Capacity will be read on June 29th at 8:30 pm

SATURDAY, JUNE 30:
Principal Principle--Armed only with her dreams of making the world a better place and a fresh teaching degree, Kay Josephs quits her corporate job to teach English in an urban high school.  She wakes up to harsh realities: the copy machine is broken, the system is broken, and the spirits of her fellow teachers are broken.  Or are they?  A dark comedy of academic intrigue, Principal Principle takes a peek at the politics behind the closed doors of the teachers' lounge.
 The cast includes Etienna Wright, Apiyo Obala, Kristina Marshall,Shana Ledet Qualls, and Kate Schneider.
Principal Principle will be read Saturday, June 30th, at 6:30pm. All you teachers out there should put this one on your calendar!
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A Place to Land--Graham and Rebecca are a couple on the brink of non-coupledom.  Feeling too young to have been married so long, they seek advice and indiscretion from their closest friends, Casey and Miyo.  But when Casey and Miyo discover that the closeness they truly want comes from each other, a hilarious downward spiral of secret-revealing, feelings-hurting, and self-discovery is initiated.  Why is it sometimes so much sadder to see a couple stay together than to see one break up?  And why do the most revealing and tense moments of our lives so often take place at mealtime?  As funny as it is heartfelt, A Place to Land is a new relationship examination for a new generation, whose themes are as familiar as the voices inside your head.
 The cast includes Lindsay Finley, Bobby Bender, Etienna Wright, and Steven R. Landry.
The show will be read on June 30th at 8:30pm...and if you want to be a little star struck, the playwright will be there!

SUNDAY, JULY 1
A Home Across the Ocean--Connor and his boyfriend think they’re ready to start a family; Connor’s recently widowed mother thinks she needs to re-start a family herself. When a thirteen-year-old foster child and a poet from London arrive into their lives, they’ll find out exactly how ready they are.
 Cast members for this show are Jody Powell, Steven R. Landry, Gabe Ortego, Moresa Robinson, and Duncan Thistlethwaite.
 A Home Across the Ocean will be read at 3:00pm on July 1st, the finale of our festival.

Theatre--Performance

ACADIANA REPERTORY THEATRE

NEW WORKS FESTIVAL

FRIDAY, JUNE 22:

THE DIVINE VISITOR--After faking his own demise to escape his debts,  the rake Whitestone plans to leave his home of Langfoss-on-the-Stow forever.  When he finds out that every beautiful woman in town was weeping at his funeral, though, he chooses to stay and makes a bet with his friend Wren to bed all of these ladies by appearing as his own ghost.  But the townsfolk believe him to be not a ghost but an angel, and soon all of the women are hoping to be divinely inspired by this messenger of God. When a visitor who is truly from beyond comes to town, however, Whitestone and Langfoss-on-the-Stow will never be the same again. Full of laughs and a few lessons along the way.
 The cast of The Divine Visitor includes Duncan Thistlethwaite, Steven R. Landry, Gabe Ortego, Kevin Miller, Jody Powell, Alexis Carroll, Kate Schneider, and Stace Broussard.
The Divine Visitor is the opening reading of our festival, and will be read on June 22nd at 6:30pm
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SWEET, SWEET SPIRIT--When a father's temper lands his gay teenage son in the emergency room of a small Texas town, the conservative family members square off in a battle for custody, prompting deep introspection: Who among them is best to care for this child, and what place can they find for him in their world?
 The cast includes Shana Ledet Qualls, Casey Harmon, Nicole Begue Hackman, Gabe Ortego, and Tami Castille.
 Sweet, Sweet, Spirit will be read at 8:30pm on Friday June 22nd.

SATURDAY, JUNE 23:
IN THE OPEN--A bad boy and his good-hearted girl; a religious loner; a widowed father; a single mother looking for meaning; the closeted best friend--IN THE OPEN is a classic American drama about being on the social fringe. After he's abused by a teacher, Dustin wants blood. He meets Jordan, a smart Christian kid who's been bullied by the teacher's son. They join forces and reason is soon lost in the smoke of anger. IN THE OPEN peers unapologetically at the logic and emptiness that leads to community violence.
 The cast includes Sarah Brown, Jody Powell, Andrew Vincent, Brandi Champagne, Kevin Miller, and Clyde Reed.
 In the Open  will be read at 6:30pm on Saturday June 23rd
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THE TERRIBLE GIRLS--a wicked dark comedy of friendship, obsession, and Southern sensibilities. Two women battle for the love of one man, while the third guards a terrible secret. It’s a wild mix of fearless comedy and Southern Gothic horror.
 Cast members for this show are Alexis Carol, Etienna Wright, Tami Castille, and Casey Harmon
 The Terrible Girls reading will be at 8:30pm on Saturday, June 23rd.

SUNDAY, JUNE 24
BARRIER ISLAND-- tackles a fearless community that rests their lives against the historic wall that protects the Island from natural disasters, and the young generation that challenges the emotional disasters no wall can protect, before the arrival of Hurricane Ike. Barrier Island is the first play in the trilogy The Galveston Cycle.
 The cast of Barrier Island includes Lindsay Finley, Duncan Thistlethwaite, Shana Ledet Qualls, Nicole Begue Hackmann, Steven R. Landry, Kaitlin Romero, Bobby Bender, Bruce Coen, and Jackson Schneider.
Barrier Island will be read at 3:00pm on Sunday, June 24th.

THE COMPLETE WOMEN OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE ~ IN TWO PARTS

Two one-act plays with the Bard at their Heart.

SECOND BEST BED - by Tim Kelly
One of the most fascinating mysteries dealing with William Shakespeare is the fact that he left his wife, Ann Hathaway, nothing but his "second best bed." This odd bequest has puzzled biographers for centuries. The play opens as several gossipy neighbors visit Anne's cottage. They already know of the bequest and are anxious to see Anne's reaction when she hears the news, which is about to be delivered by Shakespeare's two daughters, Judith and Susanna. The women are cheated out of their amusement by Anne's fierce faith in her husband, even though his wealth has been left to others. However, the bard was never one to leave things as they seem and by curtain time Anne has discovered just how greatly Will loved and needed her. It's a surprise ending that catches not only Anne unaware but the audience as well.
WHEN SHAKESPEARE'S LADIES MEET - by Charles George
Imagine the fun when six of Shakespeare's heroines get together to discuss the universal topic—love.  Juliet has just fallen in love with Romeo and the other ladies of the Bard's imagination convene to enlighten her on the best method of conducting a romance.

Directed by Kate Schneider

The Cast Includes:
Second Best Bed:
Dorothy #1 - Patricia Sidman
Dorothy # 2 - Laura Blum
Virginia - Hope Garrett Cook
Marchette - Erica Jure
Nell - Shannon Kenast
Prudence - Catherine Arceneaux
Anne Hathaway - Nancy Dere
Susanna Shakespeare - Megan Connor
Judith Shakespeare - Anne Dronet

When Shakespeare's Ladies Meet:
Katherine #1 - Elaine Kibodeaux
Katherine #2 - Kay Manuel
Desdemona - Alicia Roberts
Juliet - Monique Arabie
Portia - Jan Erin Corzo
Ophelia - Erin Claire Couvillion
Cleopatra - Mitu Dasgupta
June 8th, 9th, 15th & 16th at 8:00pm
June 10th & 17th at 3:00pm

Theatre 810 ~810 Jefferson~ Downtown Lafayette ~
Tickets are available online here or by phone reservation at (337) 484-0172.

Gris Gris Productions and Richard Howes Productions proudly present Sam Shepard’s award-winning play “True West” from May 31- June 3 at Theater 810 (810 Jefferson St. in downtown Lafayette).  

“True West” is a character study that examines the relationship between Austin, a screenwriter, and his older brother Lee, set in the kitchen of their mother's home 40 miles east of Los Angeles. Austin is house-sitting while their mother is in Alaska, and there he is confronted by his brother who proceeds to bully his way into staying at the house and using Austin’s car. In addition, the screenplay which Austin is pitching to his connection in Hollywood somehow gets taken over by the pushy con-man tactics of Lee, and the brothers find themselves forced to cooperate in the creation of a story that will make or break both their lives. In the process, the conflict between the brothers creates a heated situation in which their roles as successful family man and nomadic drifter are somehow reversed, and each man finds himself admitting that he had somehow always wished he were in the other’s shoes.  

"I wanted to write a play about double nature, one that wouldn’t be symbolic or metaphorical or any of that stuff,” Shepard explains on his website. “I just wanted to give a taste of what it feels like to be two-sided. It’s a real thing, double nature. I think we’re split in a much more devastating way than psychology can ever reveal. It’s not so cute. Not some little thing we can get over. It’s something we’ve got to live with."
“ ‘True West’ has ... arguably become Shepard’s signature piece, the leanest, most pointed of his full-length works,” writes David Krasner in “A Companion to Twentieth Century American Drama.”

The play stars Brock Hoffpauir, Blake Hoffpauir, Dominick Cross and Winnie Daphin-Bacqué and is directed by Bruce Coen.  “I’ve been wanting to do this play for a long time because I feel that Sam Shepard is one of our great American playwrights and it’s time to bring him back to Lafayette,” said Coen.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. on Thursday (May 31),  Friday (June1) and Saturday (June 2) and, 3 pm pm Sunday (June 3).

This show is based on adult themes and adult language is used at times. Therefore this is not a show for children.

For more information, email Theatre 810 at theatre810@gmail.com or call (337) 484-0172.

The director of A WOMAN'S JOURNEY, Kim Johnson-Nagle, and one of the members of her cast, Cris Matochi, were featured on Good Morning America on Thursday, May 17th.  The video is here.

The next show into Theatre 810 will be Kimberly Johnson-Nagle's A WOMAN'S JOURNEY.


A Woman's Journey consists of two one-act plays that depict women in different phases of their lives through their voices and stories.

The Female Being  features  women of different backgrounds talking about being women.  Does a conversation make a difference?

The production also contains Colorless, a story of reverse discrimination. An adult daughter has to justify her relationship with a man of a different race to her mother. Will her mother see that love has no color? This one act was the winner of ‘Best Play’ and ‘Best Production” at the 2007 Hub City Theatre Festival.

Both plays were written by Kimberly Johnson-Nagle and are directed by Bria Hobgood.  The cast includes Dehvin Chaisson, Kristie Rose Trahan, Linda Bernard, Sheryl Ned, Cris Matochi and Bria Hobgood.

The show opens Friday, May 18th at 7:30 pm and runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday though May 27th.  Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees are at 3:00 pm.

Tickets may be purchased online here or by phoning 484-0172.

Take the journey.

Cody Daigle's review of the AUI/UL-Lafayette/Festival International production of KALEIDOSCOPE:

Kaleidoscope begins with an accident: a spaceship hauling lumber across the cosmos explodes, sending a handful of its passengers hurtling through space. They’re a small brace of survivors – it’s suggested there were others who died in the crash, but only these six escape – and they are connected only by radios that are soon to run out of power. All that’s left of their pre-crash lives are the voices of their fellow shipmates, and each is hurtling outward into his own oblivion.

The play is an adaptation of two radio plays by Bradbury also calledKaleidoscope, done by the show’s director, Nathan Gabriel. The adaptation is smart – just the beginning of a slew of smart choices made by Gabriel across the production – and it cleverly honors both the piece’s radio beginnings and its new stagebound life. This isn’t an easy feat, but Gabriel has found a way to make the play’s aural landscape as evocative as its visual one.

The ensemble of actors do fine work across the board. Their relationships with each other, and ultimately their relationship with their inevitable ends, are clear and fleshed out. The stakes are high, and no one (thankfully!) reaches or showboats with their limited time on stage. Two performances are particularly effective. Vince Barras, as Hollis, has the show’s biggest role and serves as its de fact conscience. He’s genuine, warm and affecting, particularly in his final moments.

The show’s standout performance was Chris Matochi’s as Stimson, the one survivor who’s not handling his end with grace. The part is small – although he lasts longer than some of his companions, Stimson isn’t given a lot of text – but Matochi fills it with a rich energy that’s deeply affecting. His death is the most painful to watch, and his departure was the only one I felt in my gut.

What’s impressive about Kaleidscope is its restraint. Gabriel wisely chooses to hold back from unnecessary theatrics and bold, overstated gestures. His touches are small, quiet and powerful – small lights going out on each of the actor’s costumes signaling their demise was my favorite – and his artistic team followed suit. Brady McKellar’s costumes were simple yet evocative. Travis Johnston’s lighting design was spot-on. And the show’s music (Max Richter), sound design (Jack Klotz and Gabriel) and video design (Lisa Marie Patzer) were impressive and understated, honoring the show’s 1950s science fiction sensibility without resorting to camp.

The whole enterprise is impressive, and it’s encouraging to know that folks like Gabriel and McKellar, both newish faces on the UL Performing Arts faculty, are helping to steer local theatre into its future.

Kaleidscope invites us not only to consider the vastness of the universe but also the uncharted distances between people. In that distance, the play seems to say, our inability to connect honestly and completely with the people around us keeps us untethered, alone. And the play seems to say that it’s not our joys but our regrets that keep us company once all the lights are out. And once the silence is descending, with whatever courage we have left, we should send those regrets out into space, as a fevered cry in the dark. 

---Cody Daigle

Kaleidoscope continues its run at Theatre 810 through the remainder of Festival International, beginning at 7 pm every night and will also run May 3-6, again at 7 pm.

http://acadianatheatrehappenings.blogspot.com/2012/04/theatre-review-auiul-lafayettefestival.html

It's definitely time to make plans for Festival International, and create a custom schedule.  Don't forget that the AUI/UL-Lafayette/Festival International production of KALEIDOSCOPE is listed there as "THEATRE"! And after it's on your schedule, visit here to purchase your tickets online or call 484-0172 to reserve your seats.

Kaleidoscope, directed by Nathan Gabriel, written by Ray Bradbury
A co-production of Acting Unlimited, University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Festival International de Louisiane


"They fell... they fell as pebbles fall down wells. And now instead of men, there were only voices. All kinds of voices, disembodied and impassioned in varying degrees of recognition... and terror."


Celebrated sci-fi author Ray Bradbury's Kaleidoscope is the story of astronauts who are thrown from their ship. As they fall through the vastness of space, they talk to one another through their headset radios. Each one deals with the certainty of death in his own unique way and learns what secrets lie in the hearts of those they thought they knew best. This production is a radio-theatre hybrid, adapted for the stage from an old-time radio scripts.

This production marks for the first co-production for these three groups.

Theatre 810 is an intimate venue, and there are three ways to purchase tickets for this show:

1. Purchase tickets here  with your Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express card.

2. Purchase tickets in person, at the door. Box office will open an hour prior to curtain. Due to limited seating, AUI/AURA cannot guarantee that seats will be available for purchase at the door for each performance.

3. Reserve your seats by phone at 337-484-0172. Our box office staff will hold your reservation until the night of the show, and you can purchase your tickets when the box office opens. Our box office only accepts cash or check at the door. Reservations are held until 10 minutes prior to curtain, then they will be released to patrons on the waiting list. 

For any questions, call 337-484-0172. And we'll see you at the show!

This is our very first Improv show at Theatre 810, so come out and support the Stage Monkeys!

Acadiana Repertory Theatre's GOD OF CARNAGE opens its final weekend tonight--and it's a Times of Acadiana Pick of the Week!  Check out the story here, then purchase your tickets online or call 484-0172 for reservations!

Don't forget that the Acadiana Repertory Theatre's production of Yasmina Reza's GOD OF CARNAGE opens this Thursday (March 22nd) at 8 pm.  Tickets are available for purchase online here or reserve tickets by calling (337) 484-0172.

AUI'S "AGONY/ECSTASY" PRODUCTION REFLECTS BREAKING NEWS CONTROVERSY OVER ALLEGED FABRICATIONS

NPR's "This American Life," a popular radio show which recently devoted an hour to Mike Daisey performing his hit monologue THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS, retracted the show today amid accusations that sections of Daisey's account of his trip to Apple's factories in China were fabricated. The retraction has caused a firestorm in the theatrical community, provoking a planned Chicago performance of the piece in April to be cancelled. 

AUI will proceed with its planned two-weekend run of THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS, but the performances will include newly created material commenting on the ongoing controversy, written by the show's performer, Cody Daigle. 

NPR has discovered that sections of Daisey's story about his trips to China and the factories were fabricated or re-purposed from other stories. And the show's penultimate story of factory horrors has been discounted by Daisey's Chinese translator.

"Part of what makes AGONY/ECSTASY such an incredible show is its passionate defense of revealing the truth," said Daigle. "With our performances starting at the moment this story is breaking, we thought it was only appropriate to include this bit of truth-telling in with Daisey's amazing piece."

AGONY/ECSTASY was released to the public in February by Daisey, and theatre companies are encouraged to create freely and adapt the show any way they deem appropriate. 

"I don't think this discounts the very powerful core of Daisey's work," Daigle said. "But it does create an interesting counterpoint."

"We were proud to offer this piece to local audiences because of its relevance and its power," Marie Diaz, president of AUI, said. "So being able to tell this new story makes our production even more exciting. This is breaking news on the stage of Theatre 810. We couldn't be more eager to share this with Acadiana."

THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS will run at Theatre 810 for four performances only, March 17 & 24 at 2 p.m. and March 18 & 25 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10. For reservations, call 484-0172.

AUI is proud to present a very special four-performance-only run of Mike Daisey’s THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS, the monster hit play about the impact of Jobs and Apple – as well as Apple’s overseas factories – on the lives we live today. The play is currently enjoying a successful Off-Broadway run at the Public Theatre.

Here’s how the Public Theatre describes AGONY/ECSTASY: “Mike Daisey turns his razor-sharp wit to America's most mysterious technology icon in this hilarious and harrowing tale of pride, beauty, lust, and industrial design. He illuminates how the former CEO of Apple and his obsessions shape our lives, while sharing stories of his own travels to China to investigate the factories where millions toil to make iPhones and iPods. Daisey's dangerous journey shines a light on our love affair with our devices and the human cost of creating them.”

Produced by special permission of Daisey, who’s released the play to theatre companies across the country, AGONY/ECSTASY is part of an experiment in theatrical commons (akin to Louis C. K.’s recent online comedy film release) that makes a current theatre smash available to all. This production of AGONY/ECSTASY is just one small piece of a large national theatrical project, pushing the form into the new century.

THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS is a must-see for anyone interested in the future of theatre and in the future of our technological world.

THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS will play Theatre 810 for four performances only, and will play a special schedule. The show will play Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. on March 17 and 24. The show will play Sunday evening performances at 7 p.m. on March 18 and March 25. Tickets are $10. For more information or to make reservations, call 484-0172.

Reservations are highly recommended due to limited seating.

The Acadiana Repertory Theatre is proud to present God of Carnage, Yasmina Reza's 2009 Tony Award winner for Best Play. God of Carnage centers around two pairs of parents holding a cordial meeting to discuss a fight between their sons at a nearby park. They set out to resolve the childhood quarrel with civility and maturity, but resort to childish antics themselves as the evening soon turns to chaos. Starring Gabe Ortego and Elizabeth Satterly as Alan and Annette Raleigh, and Bobby Bender and Lindsay Fite Finley as Michael and Veronica Novak, God of Carnage is sure to provide you with a raucous good time as you watch good intentions turn to bad behavior in this clever comedy. 

"The dynamics between these two couples are exciting," says director, Shana Ledet Qualls. "The script provides all four actors the opportunity to explore individual characters while interacting as a couple and with another couple. God of Carnage will be an evening of self-discovery, sympathy, empathy and highly charged entertainment."  

"Acadiana Repertory Theatre is proud to present our second mainstage show at Theatre 810," says Managing Artistic Director, Steven Landry. "We are so pleased to be afforded the opportunity to present this smart, intimately funny show to the Acadiana community. AUI's space provides just the right setting for this type of theater."  

Join Acadiana Repertory Theatre for God of Carnage, March 22, 23, 24, 29, 31 at7:30 pm and March 25 at 3:00 pm at AUI's Theatre 810, 810 Jefferson St., Lafayette, LA 70501. To purchase tickets, call , or visit ART's website atwww.acadianarep.org. 

Wanderlust Theatre Co. presents Shylock, an award-winning one-man play about a Jewish actor who finds himself condemned by his own community for his portrayal of Shakespeare's notorious Jew.  Mark Folse, of NOLA Defender, says "McKellar's powerful performance...succeeds compellingly...brilliant acting."  Following the 2011 New Orleans Fringe Festival in November, this production was performed for the Shakespeare Behind Barsprogram in Louisville, Kentucky and has been selected to be performed this July in the 2012 Capital Fringe in Washington, D.C.

For two performances only, Shylock is being remounted atTheatre 810 - Saturday, March 10 at 8 pm and Sunday, March 11 at 3 pm!  Tickets are $10.  Call  (337) 484-0172  for ticket reservations.

The Plastic Theater's double bill production of Becket's "Krapp's Last Tape" and Albee's "The Zoo Story" open on Thursday, March 1 at 7:30 pm.  Because the schedule is slightly different from normal, please note the following dates:
March 1 at 7:30
March 2 at 7:30
March 3 at 7:30
March 4 at 3
March 8 at 7:30
March 9 at 7:30
March 15 at 7:30
March 16 at 7:30
March 17 at 7:30
March 18 at 3

"Krapp's Last Tape" and "The Zoo Story" will NOT be presented on March 10 and 11.  Instead, on those dates, Wanderlust Theatre Co. will present "Shylock".

Acting Unlimited, Inc. (AUI) presents “PG-50,” an evening of three original locally-written one-act shows humorously depicting life, love and imagination over the age of 50.  Performances are Friday, February 24, 2012 to Sunday, February 26, 2012 at Theatre 810, 810 Jefferson St. in Lafayette, LA. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinee is at 2:00 p.m.

The shows are “Wet Dreams: Tales from the Third Coast,” written and performed by Sally O. Donlon, “Harry: A One-Woman Show,” written and performed by Mitu Dasgupta and “Sex, Lies, and Social Security,” written by Patricia Drury Sidman and performed by her with her husband, Robert Sidman. The three local women playwrights/performers combine storytelling, acting, and even a slide show in these lively and entertaining tales.

“Life is just plain funny, and over age 50 it gets even funnier,” says Patricia Sidman, one of the writers. With tongue in cheek, she notes “We do suggest that children under 50 may want to bring a parent or other 50+ adult to explain the jokes, just in case.”

Parts of “Wet Dreams” were performed by Sally O. Donlon in December, 2011 at the Hub City Theater and Storytelling Festival at Cite des Arts. Mitu Dasgupta has performed “Harry” on numerous occasions for friends and family and by popular demand now brings it to the stage. “Sex, Lies and Social Security” was presented by

AUI and performed by Patricia and Bob Sidman at the 2009 Minnesota Fringe Festival in St. Paul, MN where it received rave reviews.

Theatre 810 is operated by AUI and is Lafayette's newest theatre venue. It offers an intimate space for new or small theatre companies and local playwrights to offer shows at modest expense to enthusiastic audiences and where the community has the opportunity to experience a wide variety of theater performances.

Tickets are $10 and are available at http://pg-50.eventbrite.com or 337-484-0172.

Acting Unlimited, Inc presents PG-50 (Parental Guidance Advised) Children under 50 may want to be accompanied by a parent or other person over 50 to explain why the funny parts are funny. Three delightful one-act storytelling pieces written and performed by three dynamic and talented Lafayette women (plus one husband!) Wet Dreams: Tales from the Third Coast.  Written and performed by Sally O. Donlon. Harry: A One-Woman Show.  Written and performed by Mitu Dasgupta. Sex, Lies and Social Security. Written by Patricia Drury Sidman and performed by Patricia and Bob Sidman. Wet Dreams was, in part, first performed by Sally O. Donlon in December, 2011 as part of the Hub City Storytelling Festival at Cite des Arts. Sally's talent for storytelling matches her considerable talents as a community leader. Her lively personality shines through in these tales recalling and re-imagining experiences. "No one escapes childhood.... The outcome, though, depends on your point of view!" Harry has been performed by Mitu Dasgupta over the years for friends and family. By popular demand, she now brings this entertaining tale to the stage. Mitu is active in the arts in Lafayette and has acted in several Acadiana theatre productions. In Harry, a woman deals with a past lover and a current unwanted pursuer only to face her present lover who wasn't there in the first place. "Come with an open mind and a bit of imagination to sort it all out." Sex, Lies and Social Security was originally produced by AUI in 2009 for the Minnesota Fringe Festival, one of the largest such festivals in the U.S., where it received rave reviews. It was performed then, as now, by writer Patricia Drury (now Sidman) and Bob Sidman. Patricia is a storyteller new to Lafayette and Bob has acted in numerous productions in the area. Sex, Lies and Social Security is both personal and satirical and depicts some of the hazards - and rewards - of internet dating over age 50. "It ain't over 'til it's over and it ain't over yet." THEATRE 810 810 Jefferson St., Lafayette, LA (Next door to Carpe Diem Gelato and Espresso.) Ample nearby free parking. Friday, February 24 at 7:30 pm Saturday, February 25 at 7:30 pm Sunday February 26 at 2 pm TICKETS: There are currently three ways you can purchase tickets for PG-50. 1. http://pg-50.eventbrite.com/ to purchase tickets online with your Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express card. 2. Purchase tickets in person, at the door. Box office will open an hour prior to curtain. Due to limited seating, AUI/AURA cannot guarantee that seats will be available for purchase at the door for each performance. 3. Reserve your seats by phone at 337-484-0172. Our box office staff will hold your reservation until the night of the show, and you can purchase your tickets when the box office opens. Our box office only accepts cash or check at the door. Reservations are held until 10 minutes prior to curtain, then they are released to patrons on the waiting list. For any questions, call 337-484-0172. And we'll see you at the show!

A Valentine's Day present to you

Festival is coming!

The Festival International line-up is going up, and the Acting Unlimited/UL-Lafayette/Festival International production of KALEIDOSCOPE is listed as a special event!  Take a look here:

http://festivalinternational.com/site290.php

KALEIDOSCOPE Auditions

Acting Audition for Kaleidoscope by Ray Bradbury

Show will rehearse through April and be part of this year's Festival International

Male or Female

Cold reads from the script--no dramatic monologue is required, but would be welcome

Location: Theatre 810. 810 Jefferson St, Lafayette, LA (next door to Carpe Diem)

Time: 3:30pm (e-mail gabriel.nathan@gmail.com if you want to attend late)

Date: Sunday, January 29, 2012

Director: Nathan Gabriel (nathangabrieltheatre.com. Visit website to view photos of show being performed in Philadelphia)

Show description: Celebrated sci-fi author Ray Bradbury's Kaleidoscope is the story of astronauts who are thrown from their ship. As they fall through the vastness of space, they talk to one another through their headset radios. Each one deals with the certainty of death in his own unique way and learns what secrets lie in the hearts of those they thought they knew best. This production is a radio-theatre hybrid, adapted for the stage from an old-time radio scripts.