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....