Black Pearl Sings on the horizon!
Just around the corner is ATC’s next production: Black Pearl Sings. Directed by Dennis Delamar, ‘Pearl’ is a rags-to-riches tale set during the Great Depression, “Black Pearl Sings!” tells the story of Susannah Mullally, a woman working for the Library of Congress recording lost folk songs for preservation and searching for that hidden treasure that could make her famous.
Susannah comes across Alberta “Pearl” Johnson in a Texas prison, a woman with a soulful voice and a bevy of African-American spirituals at her disposal. Pearl must decide whether to give away her ancestors’ treasures for a chance at her own freedom. How much will each woman give to get what they want?
Music unites strangers in this powerful story that illuminates America’s racial divisions and the attempts of two women to bridge the divide.
For tickets and more info, be sure to visit ATC’s official site.
‘My First Time’ Cast Dishes on the Show, Sex and Titillation: Part 2, The Guys!
In this two-part interview, Between the Scenes submitted the same questions to all four members (hehe, you said ‘member’) of the cast. I’ve split this interview up into two parts: Part 1, The Girls, which can be found here and now: Part 2, The Guys.
The Guys appearing in the show are ATC’s go-to guy Ryan Stamey and relative newcomer to the ATC stage Biniam (pronounced ben-yahm) Tekola.
‘My First Time’ Cast Dishes on the Show, Sex and Titillation: Part 1, The Girls
In this two-part interview, Between the Scenes submitted the same questions to all four members (hehe, you said ‘member’) of the cast. I’ve split this interview up into two parts: Part 1, The Girls and Part 2, The Guys. Part 1 appears today today with Part 2 arriving early next week.
The Girls in question are actress Shon Wilson and actress-turned-stage-manager-turned-actress Carrie Cranford.
Actor’s Theatre Working The Corner This Wednesday
My First Time, the production currently running at ATC, is featuring it’s Pay-What-You-Can Night this Wednesday! That’d be tomorrow!
Ever wanted to corporately hear stories of others’ first time sexual experiences? Whether you’ve always wanted to or were just curious, now’s your chance!
A $10 donation is requested but, and this according to the PWYC write-up, no amount will be refused. So get your prudish neighbors, get your uptight relatives and come see the play that’s sure to loosen ‘em up and get them either laughing or walking out the door.
Actor’s Theatre in the News
This week Creative Loafing ran a piece on ‘10 Reasons to Check out Actor’s Theatre Charlotte in 2010′.
It profiles current running production My First Time as well as outlining the year to come with snippets of interview comments from Artistic Director Chip Decker.
It’s a pretty thorough piece and can be found here:
Creative Loafing: ‘10 Reasons to Check out Actor’s Theatre Charlotte in 2010′
My First Time: The Name Says It All
Anyone under the illusion that the title of Actor’s Theatre’s newest production might merely be a coy, tongue-in-cheek allusion to one’s initial sexual encounter should abandon all hopes of subtlety.
Between the Scenes had the chance to sit in on a technical rehearsal on Saturday and let me tell you, the blue-haireds are in for a real treat at the run’s Sunday matinees.
The material is ably handled by the quartet of actors Carrie Cranford, Ryan Stamey, Biniam Tekola and Shon Wilson. There’s little set to speak of and the props are few as well. It all really boils to four actors telling in-character stories of first time sexual encounters compiled from the website the play draws it’s name from.
I’m curious to see the whole production to see what sort of feel the play resolves with as, based on what pieces were presented Saturday, the show has the opportunity to display a good bit of heart while inducing an equal amount of squirming.
Crumpet Speaks: An Interview with Joe Rux
Joe Rux has become something of a fixture in the Charlotte theater community. His multiple projects range from a series of roles on the Actor’s Theatre stage to his being an artistic associate with the now-defunct Epic Arts Repertory Theater Company to being an acting professor at UNCC. And we certainly can’t forget his Kanye homage at this year’s MTA awards ceremony.
He currently can be seen in two disparate projects, both at Actor’s Theatre: he has reprised his role as Crumpet in The Santaland Diaries and can also be seen in the Starving Artist production The Birth.
All this said though, Joe’s time in the Charlotte area is coming to a close as he pursues other ventures abroad. We at Between the Scenes wanted to interview Joe regarding not just his role as Crumpet but also to serve as a bit of a coda to his career here locally.
So, without further adieu, Joe Rux.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Crumpet!
Ladies and gentlemen, the holiday season can officially begin. This weekend begins Actor’s Theater’s 2009 production of David Sedaris’s Santaland Diaries featuring the inimitable Joe Rux as ornery, acerbic and all around unfestive disgruntled mall elf Crumpet.
The show runs December 10-20 at 8:30 pm with a Sunday matinee at 2:30 on December 13.
Be there or don’t, Crumpet really couldn’t give a crap.
A Yankee Tavern Interview with Matt Cosper, aka Adam
I thought it’d be fun to interview Yankee Tavern actor Matt Cosper who plays Adam, the idealistic young bar-owner in the play. Matt and I have done several projects together and it was fun seeing him in a play like this one, with it’s conspiracy theories so I thought I’d gear my questions along those lines.
Have a great PayWhatYouCansGiving!
Yeah, yeah, I know it’s Thanksgiving week and all that but before you fatten yourself up beyond movement or recognition, don’t forget that tomorrow (Wednesday) is Pay What You Can Night for Yankee Tavern. That’s right, pay 50 bucks if you want (make check payable to Nathan Rouse) or 2 bucks if you want. It’s Pay What You Can night!
Come see this freaky-deaky show with conspiracies to spare on little more than the change found in your couch cushions.
And have a great Thanksgiving … wonder what YT’s Ray would have to say about this little holiday …
