Note: Theatre phone problems

We're having pretty serious phone issues, so to make reservations for THE GUARDIANS OF SANZOM (or THOSE STAR-CROSS'D SAPS or BARRIER ISLAND), please either message us on FB (https://www.facebook.com/Theatre810?ref=hl) or email us at theatre810@gmail.com.

Thanks for your understanding!

Acting Unlimited is proud to present the world premiere of THE GUARDIANS OF SANZOM, a play for young audiences by local playwright, Cody Daigle. 

THE GUARDIANS OF SANZOM tells the story of Skyler, a young girl mourning the loss of her mother with the help and support of her four best friends. But when Skyler encounters two citizens of an imaginary world called Imaginata, she learns that nothing is what it seems. Her mother was the guardian of a powerful object called the Sanzom, and an evil force called The Darkness has kidnapped her. Only Skyler and her friends can save her mother and the world of Imaginata.

An adventure story with magical creatures, impossible tests and an unforgettable friendship at its core, THE GUARDIANS OF SANZOM reminds us that sometimes the most powerful magic in our lives come from the people we love the most. 

THE GUARDIANS OF SANZOM was commissioned by Acting Unlimited for this production. It was built through a series of workshops with the show's core actors led by the playwright. 

The show will open at Theatre 810 on Thrusday August 8 and run through Sunday, August 11. There will be performances at 7 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and matinee performances at 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets will be $10 for adults and $5 for children under 14. 

For more information or to reserve tickets, please call 484-0172. Tickets can be purchased online at auiguardians.eventbrite.com.

Acadiana Repertory Theatre's THE OATH

The Acadiana Repertory Theatre is proud to bring the regional premiere of this thrilling Southern Gothic play to the stage at Theatre 810.

In this Southern Gothic tale set during the Great Depression, a wandering preacher is embroiled in the passions and politics of a swampy Florida outpost ruled with a macabre sense of justice by two rival sisters. A darkly comic look at balancing ambition and ideals in a time of crisis.

The San Diego Union-Tribune calls Goldfinger’s writing “something out of Faulkner.”

“An intriguing journey through the swampy American South…The Oath sends its audience upon a mind-enriching exploration in which we leave with more questions than answers—questions that will haunt even the most resistant audience member’s mind.” -Show Business Weekly

“Outstanding drama…Wonderful, thought-provoking…Goldfinger marvelously unfolds the story with great dialogue and sympathetic characters.” -New Theater Corps, Theater Talk (NYC)Directed by Shana Ledet Qualls
Starring:
Casey Harmon
Victoria Landry
Megan Lebeouf
Debbi Ardioin
Erica Jure &
Jacey Dansdill

Acting Unlimited is pleased to present 18 VICTORIA, a new play by local playwright, Cody Daigle.

In a trio of interlocking monologues, 18 VICTORIA tells the story of three siblings -- Ben, Catherine and Stephen -- who are struggling to piece together their broken family relationship in the wake of their father’s untimely death. But a larger crisis looms. 18 Victoria, an asteroid the size of a few city blocks, is on a trajectory to collide with Earth and will cause an extinction event on the scale of the one that killed the dinosaurs.

As they share their stories of facing the last days of the human race, they also grapple with memories of their father, a troubled childhood, and their shared inability to connect as adults.

In an apocalyptic present, it’s the wreckage of the past that endures.

18 VICTORIA stars three local veteran actors -- Cody Daigle, Cara Hayden and John Snyder -- and runs for three performances only on May 16-18, 2013 at Theatre 810 (810 Jefferson Street) in downtown Lafayette. Curtain is 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $10.

For reservations or more information about the production, call 484-0172.

2013 STUDENT ART EXPO!

FIRELIGHT PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTS THE UGLY DUCKLING AND THE TRIAL OF GOLDILOCKS

Festival shows: KREMLIN KOMEDY and SLAMDANGO!

A collection of hilarious theatrical shorts about and by - Russians presented by the Performing Arts Department of UL-Lafayette!

The absurd takes center stage in this collection of short plays by influential comedy writers Daniil Kharms and David Ives. Expect the unexpected as you explore the charming/harming Kharms and be prepared to laugh at Ives’ masterpiece Variations on the Death of Trotsky. Come explore the softer side of life behind the iron curtain, comrade. Show runs less than an hour and costs only 30 Roubles and a Kopek! (That's $10 of your American dollars).

Thursday, April 25 at 7 pm
Friday, April 26 at 7 pm
Saturday, April 27 at 7 pm
Thursday, May 2 at 7 pm
Friday, May 3 at 7 pm
Saturday, May 4 at 7 pm

Wanderlust is hosting Slamdango!, a two-night event featuring local and regional puppeteers gathered to present innovative and provocative short-form puppet and object theatre to an adult audience. This is an inaugural slam and has been accepted as an event within Festival International de Louisiane. Slamdango! is also a part of the national Puppet Slam Network, spearheaded by Heather Henson’s IBEX Puppetry.

In addition to providing a forum for puppeteers, Wanderlust hopes that it will reignite an audience interest and appreciation for puppetry geared toward adults. For mature audiences only.


This is the fifth production in Wanderlust's 2012-13 season that has included We All Do, You’ve Got Hate Mail, and The Monster Tales.

April 26 & 27 at 8:45 pm
Theatre 810, 810 Jefferson St., Downtown Lafayette

$10 General Admission
$5 Students with valid ID
FREE for patrons wearing Festival pins!

For ticket reservations, call (337) 484-0172 or purchase online at
slamdango.eventbrite.com

For additional information about the company, visit
www.wanderlusttheatre.com or facebook.com/wanderlusttheatre

Auditions for Acting Unlimited's SHE KILLS MONSTERS

A comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games, She Kills Monsters tells the story of Agnes Evans as she leaves her childhood home in Ohio following the death of her teenage sister, Tilly. When Agnes finds Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook, however, she stumbles into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure in the world that was Tilly’s refuge. In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and 90s pop culture, acclaimed young playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.

She Kills Monsters has 12 roles, with 7 women, 4 men, and one role that can be either.

AGNES EVANS, a woman in her mid-twenties who's trying to understand her sister
The late TILLY EVANS, a high school girls who mostly lives in her head
CHUCK BIGGS, a young man and a huge D&D geek.
MILES, Agnes' boyfriend, who wants her to get over it
KALIOPE/KELLY, an Elven thief D&D character, and also her handicapped high school player
LILLITH/LILLY, a Demon Queen D&D character, and her player, a high school girl who was friends with Tilly
VERA, a high school guidance counselor who is also Agnes' best friend and confidante
STEVE, an unfortunate high school student and hapless D&D character
ORCUS/RONNIE, a gay Demon Overlord and his somewhat horny teenage player
TINA & GABBIE/EVIL TINA & EVIL GABBIE, a pair of high school mean girls and also D&D Cheerleader Succubi
NARRATOR, the omniscient voice that guides the plot along.

Auditions will be Saturday April 13 from 3 to 6 pm, Sunday April 14 from 2 to 5 pm,, and Tuesday April 16 from 6 to 8 pm. The show itself run from August 14th through the 25th. If you have questions or need more information, please call 484-0172, or email Theatre810@gmail.com.

ART's A PLACE TO LAND

Acadiana Repertory Theatre presents the first show in their 2013 'Only Connect' Season. The world premiere of Chelsea Marcantel's "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. Featuring: Gabe Ortego, Erica Jure, Lindsey Fite Finley and Steven R. Landry Directed by: Kate S. Schneider March 20-24 Theatre 810 Downtown Lafayette Wed-Sat at 7:30pm Sunday Matinee at 3:00pm Tickets: $12 / Students (with valid I.D.) $10 For more information and to reserve tickets please visit: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5725148072 or call Theatre 810: (337) 484 0172

Acting Unlimited's SHOTGUN will open this Saturday!

Acting Unlimited is proud to announce its upcoming production of Louisiana Writer of the Year John Biguenet's SHOTGUN.   Set four months after the arrival of Hurricane Katrina and the collapse of levees in New Orleans, a white man and his teenaged son rent half of a shotgun duplex from an African-American woman.  Everyone is trying to cope with their losses from the hurricane (individual, familial and city-wide), including the woman's father, displaced by the devastating flooding, and an old boyfriend.  Even in the close quarters that they find themselves, there are still walls running between them--can those walls, like the city's levees, be breached?

SHOTGUN is directed by veteran director and producer Walter Brown.  Brown's varied past productions include shows ranging from "Our Town" to "Bat Boy:The Musical".   "SHOTGUN attracted me because it's a story about relationships and people in extremely difficult situations.   The heart of the story is both intensely personal and grounded in the New Orleans' experience of Hurricane Katrina and absolutely universal in its application," Brown explained.

The creative team is comprised of some of the best talent available in the area.  Duncan Thistlethwaite  is set designer ("Broken Chain", "William and Judith"and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" ), Brady McKellar from Wanderlust Theatre Co. and the UL-Lafayette Performing Arts Program  is costume designer ("The Rabble", "Picnic" and "Wolves in the Walls" ).  Travis Johnson, also from the UL-Lafayette Performing Arts Program, is the lighting designer ("An Evening of Poe", "The Rabble" and "Kaleidoscope" ).   Elsa Dimitriadis, from Wanderlust Theatre Co., is serving as dramaturg.

Acting Unlimited's cast for this show is comprised of some faces which the audience will recognize immediately and some relatively new to the Lafayette stage.   Rudy Eisenzopf ("Beau Jeste", "Buried Child"), Angela Thomas, Andrew D. Hunter ("We All Do", "Promised Land"), Dr. Daniel Wiltz ("To Kill a Mockingbird", "Lilies of the Field") and Cody Dunstan ("Wolves in the Walls", "Dracula") make up the cast.
SHOTGUN will be presented at Theatre 810, Acting Unlimited's home theatre, located at 810 Jefferson Street in downtown Lafayette, opening on Saturday, March 9th at 8 pm (following ArtWalk Saturday) and running through March 17th.  Tickets are available for purchase online at shotgun.eventbrite.com.  They can also be reserved by calling (337) 484-0172.

Along with the Acting Unlimited production of SHOTGUN, there will be productions of the other two plays of John Biguenet's Katrina Cycles.  The Swine Palace of Baton Rouge (http://www.swinepalace.org/) will be presenting RISING WATERS from March 6-17, and Southern Rep in New Orleans (http://www.southernrep.com/) will produce the world premiere of the newest play in the trilogy, MOLD, from March 20-April 14.

Week of 2/18: Our Theatre is a Busy Place!

First off, thanks to everyone who came out to see the Wanderlust Theatre Co. production of You've Got Hate Mail.  Our audiences laughed and laughed, and if you missed it, you still have two more opportunities to see it!  Call us at 337-484-0172 for ticket reservations for next Friday or Saturday at 8pm.  OR you can buy your tickets online at hatemail.eventbrite.com!

During the week, our main event is Wednesday night when The Stage Monkeys of Lafayette Take on the Soaps! The Stage Monkeys of Lafayette are an improvisational theatre group, with 15 years experience performing in Lafayette - a truly unique experience for Acadiana!  They're crying-laughing in rehearsals. Don't miss this one if you, in fact, enjoy laughing. Ticket reservations are available by phone, and tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for seniors.  An added treat is that as always, they will head out for food and drink afterward, and all are welcome!

In addition to all of that, we have several private events scheduled throughout the week, as well as AUI's Shotgun rehearsing in preparation for their early March opening.  What a wonderful event that will be for the city, and we can't wait to bring you more info about it next week...We are loving our theatre world, that's for sure.

Mardi Gras Week!

We hope that you all had a wonderful Carnival season and Mardi Gras day.  It's hard to get back into the swing of things, but don't forget that Valentine's Day is tomorrow!  I know, I know...so many celebrations, so little time. 

Tomorrow at 810 is the opening of Wanderlust Theatre Co.'s newest production.  In the hilarious broadband comedy of errors, You’ve Got Hate Mail, love “bytes” when an extramarital affair goes horribly wrong, thanks to a series of juicy online communications. Told entirely through a slew of misdirected emails, text messages, and cell phone calls unfit for public consumption, Milmore & Van Zandt’s comic answer to A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters explores the way in which modern technology can short-circuit even our best “laid” plans! 

      "The perfect bedroom farce...riotously enacted by a five-person ensemble!" - New York Post

We should note, though, that this production contains adult language and situations, and is intended for mature audiences!  The ensemble cast is comprised of Steven Cooper, Cara Hayden, Elaine Kibodeaux, M. Brady McKellar & Elizabeth Satterly. Elsa Dimitriadis directs.  It will run February 14 – 16 at 8 pm, February 17 at 3 pm, and February 22 & 23 at 8 pm.

And in honor of those past valentines who didn't work out so well...A SPECIAL PROMOTION!  If you
write the "Dear John/Jane Letter You Wish You'd Written", you get $1 off the ticket price. Keep it funny and anonymous (they will be posting them) and turn it over at the door for your discount! Discount only applies to tickets purchased in person at the box office.

$10 General Admission. For ticket reservations, call (337) 484-0172 or purchase online at hatemail.eventbrite.com.

See you guys next week for more full, busy days at 810!

Week of 2/4: Transition

First and foremost this week, we'd like to thank everyone who came out to support the Helm/Gremillion production of Albee's At Home at the Zoo.  We had such a warm, enthusiastic turnout, and the cast, crew and Theatre 810 would like to thank our patrons for their support!

This week marks a period of transition for us on a number of fronts.  As the Albee crew loads out, Acting Unlimited, Inc. will continue rehearsals for their upcoming production of Biguenet's Shotgun.  Wanderlust Theatre Co. will begin moving in for their production of You've Got Hate Mail that opens on Valentine's Day.  Make sure you are starting to make your reservations - especially if you need a date activity for that special day!  And of course, AUI teen and tween acting classes continue each week in the afternoons...

Another transition that is upcoming and ongoing for the Theatre is our loss of 806 next door to the performance space.  We had hoped that it would be more than a temporary rehearsal/build/storage facility, but it doesn't seem like that was in the cards.  We welcome our new neighbors to our end of Jefferson Street as we diligently look for a new, convenient space to take care of our needs.  Although it's an unscheduled transition, we always look forward to the new and greater things in store for Theatre 810.

Again, thank you for supporting the Theatre and the productions that we host.  You, our patrons, volunteers and well-wishers are who keep us going.  'Til next week...

Week of 1/28

This is, of course, not my usual time to blog, but I didn't want anyone to miss hearing about the events this week at the theatre...

Monday night we had our monthly Readers Theatre and it was such a success!  Playwright Stephen Blackburn allowed us to read his play, Rock of Abandon, this month.  Described as "a noir murder mystery set in Ancient Athens, with Euripedes as the detective," Rock of Abandon was produced by Blackburn's company, Fierce Backbone, at the Lillian Theatre in L.A. last October for a one-month run.  Mr. Blackburn requested that videotape our reading and feedback and send it to him, as he was unable to come in for the reading.  It was such a fun, smart, and engrossing play, and making it an incubatory type experience really enhanced our monthly event.  Our next Readers Theatre will take place on Sunday, February 24 at 7 pm, and we will turning our attention to Lee Blessing's Fortinbras.  Try to make it - everyone: readers and listeners, have a great time!

Friday, we return to the second weekend of Albee's At Home at the Zoo.  Audience members are collectively calling it "Excellent!" and we have more than a few patrons returning to see it again!  Make your reservations or buy tickets online soon, though - this weekend is your last chance to see this intriguing pairing of related one-acts. 

Until next week....

Heading into At Home at the Zoo...

One of my favorite things about working in a theatre like Theatre 810 is seeing the sets go up and down, up and down.  In a matter of days, there is a entirely different world than the one that was there just a week ago.  Right now, we have a set in the space that, in fact, creates two worlds - for Albee's At Home at the Zoo - the pairing of acts Homelife and The Zoo Story.

Here is what critics have to say about the work:

"An essential and heartening experience…If Homelife is an openhanded slap, The Zoo Story is a gut punch with a closed fist. Edward Albee is a voice unparalleled in American theater." —NY Times

 "Tense, truthful, and hypnotic" —New York Daily News

"Albee has dared to write a prequel to the play that made his reputation . . . . Improbable as it sounds, the new stuff doesn't just hold up next to the famous bench encounter—it's better. . . In a sure sign of a writer in full command of his powers, the dialogue gets more matter-of-fact as the subjects grow more perverse—like watching a Balthus canvas come to life." —New York

Really, I can not wait.  I have seen several productions of The Zoo Story, but have not had the opportunity to see it as Albee prefers it produced (with Homelife), and the Gremillion/Helm duo is the team to do it right.  Here is all of the info that you need to come support smart, innovative theatre in Lafayette.  It's a team sport, ya'll.


**This play contains mature language and content. Only those 17 and older will be admitted. Thank you.**



Theater 810
January 25 & 26 @ 7:30 pm
January 27 @ 2pm
February 1 & 2 @ 7:30pm
February 3 @ 2pm

Tickets are $12 ($10 for students and seniors) and will be available at the Theater 810 box office and online at http://athomeatthezoo.eventbrite.com/
 
Cast/Crew
Ann..........................Katryn Schmidt
Peter........................Scott Gremillion
Jerry.........................Cooper Helm
Stage Manager.........Erin Segura
Costumes................Angela Thomas
Publicity...................Hope Garrett Cook
Artwork...................Erin Broussard


Directed by Cooper Helm
Produced by Scott Gremillion
 
At Home at the Zoo, a play by Edward Albee, began in 1958 as an award winning one act called The Zoo Story. Peter, an unsuspecting bookworm, is accosted by Jerry in Central Park. Jerry, a "permanent transient," lives on the fringe of society and reality. He seems intent on breaking Peter out of his shell and pushing him to his limits. Jerry regales Peter with tales wondrous and incomprehensible, both explaining and concealing his true purpose.

Nearly fifty years later, Edward Albee returned to this world with the prequel one act, Homelife. We find Peter, before he leaves for the park, reading at home. His wife, Ann, interrupts him with three dreaded words, "We should talk." Peter is unresponsive and Ann is distracted, soon forgetting what she wanted to talk about. Or has she?

The two acts, performed together, comprise At Home at the Zoo, an exceptional play about the complexity of human relationships both old and new. It strikes at the underlying currents of the subconscious through characters extraordinarily absurd, hilarious, loving, respectful and irreverent.

Week of 1/14/13

Welcome to the Theatre 810 blog in the new year!  We hope that you had as happy, peaceful and restorative a holiday season as we did.

Acting Unlimited, Inc. resumed their Theatre Academy classes last week (tween and teen acting).  It was a nice break after their end of the semester performance at the First Annual Entrances Student Theatre Festival that was held at Theatre 810 during early December.  We can't wait to see what the students will present for us at the conclusion of their spring semester!

First up this week at the theatre, we've got The Stage Monkeys of Lafayette's monthly performance on Wednesday the16th at 7:30 pm.  Tickets can be purchased at the door, but reservations can also be made ahead of time by calling the theatre at 484-0172.  This fab troupe just applied to perform at the Chicago Improv Festival, so let's show them our support while they wait to hear back!

Meanwhile, the Helm/Gremillion production of Albee's At Home at the Zoo is in their final rehearsals, as they open next week (January 25th).  Please make your reservations now for this exciting production not seen before in Lafayette.  Fifty years after Albee brought us the famous one act, The Zoo Story, he returned to it, adding a prequel one act, Homelife.  At Home at the Zoo is the marriage of these two great works.  Please note that this play contains mature content and language and no one under the age of 17 will be admitted.


Also, please mark your calendars now for our upcoming January Readers Theatre (January 28, 7 pm).  We will be reading a relatively new work, Rock of Abandon, by playwright Stephen Blackburn. He has requested that we videotape the reading and we will have a guided feedback/response afterward. What an exciting opportunity for our group to participate in this incubatory experience.

That's all for now, folks, but we will be back next week to tell you a little more about the upcoming Albee production, and give you a heads up about our other winter productions....