TST Times Vol 2 - Towne Street Theatre

TOWNE STREET TIMES VOL 2 / 09
TOWNE STREET TIMES
Winter Edition
Contents •
1 TST In 2010 • 3 TST On Tour•
4 The Best Of TST Kids • 10 Min Plays 3•
5 Women InTheater • Out Of The Box•
6 California Arts Council•
7 Company Images • 8 Internships•
9 Campers Images•
10 TST Family Memberships•
TST IN 2010
defining a vision
11 TST Board / Company / Staff•
12 2010 Calendar•
By Nancy Cheryll Davis
One of the great privileges
of being the Artistic/Producing
Director of the Towne Street
Theatre is the ability to conceive
of an idea and actually bring it to
the stage. This is how “Passing”
and “Millennium in Black” came
to fruition. And this is how
“Langston and Nicolás” will come
to The Stella Adler Theatre in
April 2010.
It all began in 2004 when I
attended a theater conference in
which the key note speaker talked
about how the field of theater must
do more to represent our
multicultural nation.
and not knowing each other, but
killing each other ... by choice.
It made me think of the universal
nature and impact of theater. If we
could come up with a project that
presented our two cultures as
It was very timely because at that similar others rather than rivals,
moment, I was thinking of ways in we could impact the conversation
which TST could engage more in
vis-a-vis live theater.
the public discourse; in particular,
the ongoing rift of Blacks and
Latinos living in the same block
Cont’d page 2
TST IN 2010
continued from page 1
The friendship of Langston
Hughes and Nicolás Guillén was
suggested to me as a possible idea
and as I researched their lives, I
was immediately drawn to, and
determined to tell their story.
Langston
and Nicolás
e
TOWNE STREET TIMES VOL 2 / 09
2
“Two men ... one voice”
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It had everything we could want –
two men who lived life to the
fullest with passion and vigor for
social justice, artists who through
their words and talent affected
generations and still do,
and through their love of poetry
and music, became best friends,
despite the barriers of language,
culture and distance.
In 2007, Towne Street Theatre and
Robey Theatre Company
partnered to commission
playwright Bernardo Solano to
write the play.
Bernardo was no stranger to
Towne Street, being one of the
first playwrights we produced in
1994, our second season, with his
“Science & The Primitives.”
“Langston and Nicolás”
April 2 - May 2, 2010
The Stella Adler Theatre
6773 Hollywood Blvd. LA.
For Tickets,
Group Sales & More Info
please visit our website at
www.townestreet.org.
The Ford Foundation and The
Department of Cultural Affairs
provided the resources for Towne
Street to make this idea a reality.
Six years later – from finding the
funding, to three years of
development of the script, two
staged readings, and weekend
workshops – I am so excited to
finally premiere “Langston and
Nicolás!”
Ben Guillory Nancy Cheryll Davis
Bernardo Solano
TST On Tour
“Langston and Nicolás” Staged Reading
Our TST production team is
stellar, as is our cast, and we
sincerely hope you will come and
see for yourself as we weave the
story through music, poetry and
dance.
Brian Evaret Chandler
Armando Ortégo
TOWNE STREET TIMES VOL 2 / 09
TST On Tour
staged reading series
3
By Miles “Tony” Robinson
TST On Tour 2009 was another innova-ve enterprise by Towne Street Theatre with the presenta-on of five staged readings in various theatrical venues throughout the city. The selec-on commi<ee, headed by Dan Mar-n, conducted a na-onwide search for scripts from playwrights and screenwriters. The tour commenced with the classic Purlie Victorious by Ossie Davis. A high point in the reading series was “Langston and Nicolás” by Bernardo Solano. TST On Tour Productions
• Purlie Victorious
• 1000 Varia-ons On A Lie Told Once
• Langston And Nicolás
• No Chance In Hell
• Spirits In The Dark
Towne Street Theatre will present the
world premiere of this seminal work in
the spring of 2010
By all accounts each performance and the series itself was a huge success; once again illumina-ng TST’s incomparable ability to present theater at its finest.
See more TST On Tour ➤
TST ON TOUR PRODUCTION TEAM
Producer: Nancy Cheryll Davis/TST Ar-s-c-­‐Producing Director
Commi7ee: Miles “ Tony” Robinson • Dan Mar-n • LeShay Tomlinson • Diane Sellers
TST On Tour 09
Dates
Feb 16
Apr 13
Jun 16
Aug 3
Oct 28
Venues
Stella Adler
Stage 52
Egyptian Arena
Complex Theatre
Logo &
Graphics
Vanja Scholls
Additional
Graphics
3AMSOUND
Contents •
1 TST In 2010 • 3 TST On Tour•
4 The Best Of TST Kids • 10 Min Plays 3•
5 Women InTheater • Out Of The Box•
6 California Arts Council•
7 Company Images • 8 Internships•
9 Campers Images•
10 TST Family Memberships•
11 TST Board / Company / Staff•
12 2010 Calendar•
TOWNE STREET TIMES VOL 2 / 09
The Best of TST Kids
11th annual TST Kids
Musical Theatre Camp
By Nancy Reneé
From 1999 to 2008 we had ten years of memorable performances at TST's Musical Theatre Camp; from "Once On This Island" and "Beauty & The Beast," to "Bubbling Brown Sugar" and "The Wiz." 2009, our eleventh year, seemed like the perfect -me to revisit songs and performances from previous produc-ons. In addi-on, we could add a couple of great musical numbers we've always wanted to do. Featuring figeen of our wonderfully talented Towne Street Kids, we presented a musical revue "The Best of TST Kids." This concert produc-on gave the students a chance to perform a variety of scenes and songs, and provided a shining moment for every child. 4
Towne Street Theatre Presents
•
tst kids
•
TST Kids Musical Theatre Camp
Summer 2009
More TST Kids
The performances on August Ager two addi-onal rehearsals to fine tune dances of a very different camp and songs, the children experience. Instead of our usual performed four stellar shows at three-­‐to-­‐four-­‐week daily rehearsal Stage 52. schedule, we rehearsed only five Saturdays at The Colburn School, a state-­‐of-­‐the-­‐art performing arts Cont’d page 6
complex in Downtown, LA. 15th and 16th were a culmina-on 10 Min Play Festival
“3rd time’s the charm
again...”
By Veronica Thompson
View our brilliant
Cast & Writers
“Whenever I do a show with Towne Street, I always feel like the only thing I want to do ager is be on Broadway.
I love that everyone got to perform their own song. There aren’t a lot of theater groups for kids that do that...”
This year’s 10 Minute Play Fes-val 3 began with the submission of over 100 plays from playwrights all over the United States. All expressed the desire to par-cipate in our 3rd annual funfest. Star-ng in April 2009, various genres of work — drama, comedy and suspense — were reviewed and cri-qued by TST members. It was a tedious and painstaking job, but TST members are not strangers to working hard for the benefit of producing an amazing TST product. Stories that met the standards of a Towne Street Theatre produc-on were reviewed from the last 20 plays and the final 8 were selected.
Cont’d page 5
TOWNE STREET TIMES VOL 2 / 09
5
10 Min Play Festival
continued from page 4
By September, playwrights (all from out-­‐of-­‐state) were contacted, and audi-ons for actors of all ethnici-es were announced. Ager the 3-­‐week rehearsal period, the fes-val ran for 4 weeks from October 9th to November 1st, at the
Anc Theatre & Film Center. Several playwrights from across the country – Boston, Texas, New York and Philadelphia – flew to LA to see the produc-on. The audience once again loved the selec-ons and the diverse topics of the plays. Look for the 4th Annual
TST Na>onal 1 0 Minute Play
Fes>val in October 2010!
Women In Theatre 2009
award recipients TST
Towne Street Theatre received the Women In Theatre Red Carpet Award on October 17th, 2009.
Women In Theatre’s annual celebra-on recognizes and honors theatrical arts professionals for outstanding service in the LA Community.
Fellow Honorees:
• Actress/Singer Lainie Kazan
• Playwright Velina Hasu Houston
• Marilyn Fox -­‐ Pacific Resident Theater Ar-s-c Director
• The Colony Theatre
• Theatre 40
The luncheon event was held at the Castaway Restaurant located above Burbank. A great WIT presenta-on, highlighted by a sumptous meal and spectacular panoramic city view, provided a memorable agernoon for everyone in a<endance. Out of the box...
“The Chair Speaks”
By deborah charles
Chair TST Advisory Board
...is the way I would describe the planning and ac-ons of the now two year old Advisory Board.
We started out with figeen extraordinary people from all walks of life and we are now down to a focused and dedicated core group of eight. Our mission Fund-raiser Graphics by 3AMSOUND
Contents •
1 TST In 2010 • 3 TST On Tour•
4 The Best Of TST Kids • 10 Min Plays 3•
5 Women InTheater • Out Of The Box•
6 California Arts Council•
7 Company Images • 8 Internships•
9 Campers Images•
10 TST Family Memberships•
11 TST Board / Company / Staff•
12 2010 Calendar•
is to support the goals of TST through fundraising, audience development and branding of the TST name.
Speaking of fundraising, the Advisory Board just completed a very successful event on November 8, 2009, “Harlem to Havana Daze” at Vintage Hollywood in Los Angeles. cont’d page 8
TOWNE STREET TIMES VOL 2 / 09
6
The Best of TST Kids
“The Wiz”
The Best of TST Kids
continued from page 4
Conceived and directed by Nancy Renee and Nancy Cheryll Davis, with choreography by Brian Evaret Chandler and musical direc-on by DeBorah Sharpe-­‐Taylor, the hour-­‐long revue featured Romann Anderson, Alissa Andrade, Kierah Boone, Brad Bracy, Angelica Chew, Mahalia Chew, Chris-ne Crosby, Lydia Michelle DeCoud, Tony II Lorrich, Tony III Lorrich, Juliet Parker, Isabel Smith, Sierra Wesson, Joshua Williams, and Kamile Wya<. The produc-on staff also included Nathaniel Bellamy, Forrest Gardner, Tony Robinson, and Michael Pa<erson, in addi-on to our six TST camp assistants, and the 2009 camp parents.
With everyone's assistance, "The Best of TST Kids" was indeed one of our very best musical produc-ons, and the children certainly deserved the standing ova-ons they received ager each performance. California Arts Council Announces
Arts License Plate Fees are now
Charitable Deductions
Launches Goal of 1 Million new Arts
License Plates on California Cars
Just in -me for the holidays and end-­‐of-­‐year charitable planning, TCAC launches a goal of affixing one million new arts plates to California cars.
"One million cars with California Arts Plates would mean close to $40 million for the arts," maintains Malissa Feruzzi Shriver, Chair of the California Arts Council. "That would put California near the top in arts funding rather than dead last."
The Arts Plate, designed by California ar-st Wayne Thiebaud, first hit the roadways in 1994. Since then sales and renewals of the plate have provided over $20 million for the arts in California. For more informa-on about the California Arts License Plate, contact the California Arts Council's communica-on director:
Mary Beth Barber
(916) 322-­‐6588
(916) 835-­‐5580 [email protected].
7
Nathaniel Bellamy Photography
Contents •
1 TST In 2010 • 3 TST On Tour•
4 The Best Of TST Kids • 10 Min Plays 3•
5 Women InTheater • Out Of The Box•
6 California Arts Council•
7 Company Images • 8 Internships•
9 Campers Images•
10 TST Family Memberships•
11 TST Board / Company / Staff•
12 2010 Calendar•
TOWNE STREET TIMES VOL 2 / 09
8
To apply, please email a note of We have an exci-ng year ahead interest and resume to 2010 opportunities
and we are Out of the box [email protected].
and ready for the challenge!
The Towne Street Theatre in Los Include “ TST Internships” in the Angeles is offering internships for Subject Line. its upcoming world premiere of Or, call 213/624-­‐4796. “Langston and Nicolás, two men ... one voice. “
Out of the box...
continued from page 5
This story of the friendship This event was the first of its kind between Langston Hughes and to jumpstart the publicity for the Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén is a 2010 produc-on of “Langston and co-­‐commission of The Towne Nicolás.” Our guests took a step Street Theatre and The Robey back into the 1920’s, dressing in Theatre Company; wri<en by Bernardo Solano and directed by flapper dresses and fedoras and –
with the crea-ve genius of TST TST Ar-s-c Director, Nancy Company Members who provided Cheryll Davis.
deborah charles
the i
ntrigue –
o
ur me t
ravel w
as Chair
TST Advisory Board
exci-ng, f
un a
nd s
uccessful. A
th
Rehearsals begin February 15 , good -me was had by all. We 2010. Performances are 8pm plan to make this an annual Fridays & Saturdays; 3pm on event.
Sundays. Performance Run is nd _
nd
April 2 May 2 . Rehearsals and As the saying goes, “ There is a produc-on take place at the Stella Adler Theater in Hollywood. -me and a season for all things.” We are saddened, yet we feel 6773 Hollywood Blvd, LA 90028.
very fortunate to have had two beau-ful and unique women on Internships Available:
our team, Johan Beckles and Monica Dyer. Both original board • Video Projector Technician: members have contributed Working knowledge of Video Harlem to Havana Daze
greatly to our success, and will Projec-on — including the TST Advisory Board Fund-Raiser
now move on to other projects, inpunng of images and resizing digital images for projec-on with however will remain friends and supporters of TST. The door has an understanding of distance opened for two new members, image ra-os.
Contents •
Sandra Coleman and Cheryl 1 TST In 2010 • 3 TST On Tour•
Finley. These women have already • Stage Manager
4 The Best Of TST Kids • 10 Min Plays 3•
rolled up their sleeves and started • Assistant Stage Manager
5 Women InTheater • Out Of The Box•
working on grant research and • Costume Designer 6 California Arts Council•
audience development. • Costume Designer Assistant
7 Company Images • 8 Internships•
• MarkeGng/Public RelaGons Former b
oard m
ember C
arol H
all Assistant
9 Campers Images•
Holliday w
ill f
acilitate a
m
aster 10 TST Family Memberships•
planning session with both the Credit and small s-pend in 11 TST Board / Company / Staff•
Execu-ve Board and the Advisory exchange for services.
12 2010 Calendar•
Board on January 23, 2010, at St. Elmo’s Village.
TST Internships
9
Nathaniel Bellamy Photography
Contents •
1 TST In 2010 • 3 TST On Tour•
4 The Best Of TST Kids • 10 Min Plays 3•
TBOTK LOGO: VANJA SCHOLLS
5 Women InTheater • Out Of The Box•
6 California Arts Council•
7 Company Images • 8 Internships•
9 Campers Images•
10 TST Family Memberships•
11 TST Board / Company / Staff•
12 2010 Calendar•
Towne Street Theatre Presents
“The Best
of TST Kids”
tst k•ids
•
TST Kids Musical Theatre Camp
Summer 2009
TOWNE STREET TIMES VOL 2 / 09
Membership has its
privileges...
10
Discount TST Tickets for you AND a friend, Priority Sea8ng, Recep8ons with TST Casts, Talkbacks and More…
Join the Towne Street Theatre Family today! Your membership provides you with the chance to contribute to the city’s cultural life, define its choices, and help our children con:nue to experience the crea:ve arts. It also helps provide opera:ng funds vital to the existence of TST. We welcome you to the Family!
To become a member email us with your selec:on at [email protected]. Conveniently pay on our site at www.townestreet.org or if you prefer to mail a check, please send to 4101 Budlong Avenue #4, Los Angeles, CA 90037. For any ques:ons regarding membership please call (213) 624-­‐4796.
Nuclear Family -­‐ $200 (Purchase by Dec. 31, 2009 and save $40)
Includes
• Langston & Nicolás • Cool Negroes
• Kids Camp Produc:on plus one Child’s Ticket
• 10 Minute Play Fes:val #4
• Free Admission for 2 to TST on Tour
• TST T-­‐shirt • Recogni:on in all Programs and on our Website • Priority Sea:ng, all Recep:ons, Talkbacks • Book a Performance as a Fundraiser for any organiza:on, at our Special Discount Rate
Bring a friend for half price to ALL events! (must be purchased in advance)
Immediate Family -­‐ $100 (Purchase by Dec. 31, 2009 and save $25)
Includes any TWO of the following
• Langston and Nicolás • Cool Negroes
• Kids Camp Produc:on plus one Child’s Ticket
• 10 Minute Play Fes:val #4
• One Free TST on Tour Admission
• Recogni:on in all Programs and Website
Bring a friend for half price to TWO events (must be purchased in advance)
Extended Family -­‐ $40 (Purchase by Dec. 31, 2009 and save $10)
Bring a friend to ONE event for half price
Recogni:on in all Programs Give a TST Season Pass or Tickets as a giG any 8me of year! Just tell us who to send it to and we’ll do the rest! GiG Packages include a complimentary giG.
Volunteer OpportuniGes
The Towne Street Theatre needs volunteers at all skill levels from fundraising to set building. We can always use help at events – set up, tearing :ckets, ushering, etc. There’s an addi:onal benefit at :cketed events; volunteers don’t pay even our s:ll very affordable admission fees. If you have several hours a month to share with your community to help build TST and its programs, give us a call at (213) 624-­‐4796 or [email protected].
CreaGve Company Membership: Company Members are accepted by audi:on and interview only. Dues are $40.00 per month. Ar:sts include producers, actors, directors, writers, designers, and technicians. If interested, please send an email to [email protected] with resume and picture, and/or wri:ng/design samples. TOWNE STREET TIMES VOL 2 / 09
11
Underlined Names Link to TST Profile Pages
COMPANY MEMBERS
TST BOARD
Adolphus Ambrose Ward • Actor ExecuDve Board of Directors
Barbara White-­‐Morgan • Writer Brian Evaret Chandler • Actor Veronica Thompson • President
Nancy Reneé • Vice President
Nancy Cheryll Davis • Secretary
Susan R. McClelland • Treasurer
Harriet Dickey
Sy Richardson
Teressa Taylor
Legal Consultant
Dan MarWn • Actor / Director David Lindsey • Writer Diane Sellers • Actor Erica Hubbard • Actor Haile Ford • Actor / Writer Harriet A. Dickey • Writer Leslie LaR'aine • Actor Lira Angel • Actor Edward H. Smith, Esq.
Mack Miles • Actor Mark V. Jones • Actor / Writer/ Director Michael Craig PaYerson • Actor Nancy Cheryll Davis • Director / Actor / Producer Nancy Reneé • Actor / Director / Producer RCB • Actor Sammie Wayne, IV • Actor / Director / Stage Manager Shelli Boone • Actor Sy Richardson • Writer / Actor / Director Teressa Taylor • Actor Tom Hyer • Actor / LighWng & Sound Tech Tony Robinson • Comedian / Director / Writer Veronica Thompson • Actor / Writer / Producer
Vonna Bowen • Actor William L. Johnson • Actor Zoe CoYon • Actor Advisory Board
Deborah Charles
Natalie Cobb
Sandra Coleman
Cheryl Finley
Rosalind K. Goddard
Kathy Shirley
Ernest Stroman
Carolyn Williams
George Williams
TST STAFF
Nancy Cheryll Davis
Execu6ve Producer / Ar6s6c Director / Co-­‐Founder
Nancy Reneé
Co-­‐Producing Director / Co-­‐Founder
Nathaniel Bellamy
Producing Technical Director / Co-­‐Founder
Veronica Thompson
Company Manager / Associate Producer
Tony Robinson
Associate Technical Director / Producer
Leslie LaR'aine
Associate Producer
Forrest Gardner 3AMSOUND
Mul6media / TST Theme / Web Master
Jonathan Winn TST Logo Designer / Graphics Designer
Vanja Scholls Contribu6ng Graphics Designer
Melissa Anderson
Administra6ve Assistant
Harlem to Havana Daze
TST Advisory Board Fundraiser
Langston
and Nicolás
e
TOWNE STREET TIMES VOL 2 / 09
12
TST 2010
“Two men ... one voice”
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!!!!-.(/*0,(!12/#$*!
!!!!!.()!324.(!5,$0
!!!!!6'7,89*!:2'88;(
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•
“Cool Negroes”
February 2010
Stella Adler LA
“Langston & Nicolás”
April 2nd – May 2nd
Stella Adler LA
tst kids
•
TST Kids Musical Theatre Camp
Summer 2010
TST LINKS
Official Website
Donate Now
TST On Facebook
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Towne Street Theatre
4101 Budlong Avenue #4
LA CA 90037
NEWSLETTER DESIGN 3AMSOUND
p (213) 624-4796
e [email protected]
w www.townestreet.org