Monae Attends VENICE at KDT

Janelle Monáe attended the Saturday, October 30 matinee performance of Matt Sax and Eric Rosen's world premiere production of "Venice," now playing at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.  Monáe, a singer/songwriter was performing herself that night at The Palladium in Los Angeles.
 
Performances of "Venice," which is "Truly exciting...a new synthesis of rhythm and rock opera no fan of either art form should pass up," according to Bob Verini at Variety, continues at the KDT in Culver City through November 14, 2010.  "Venice" includes hip-hop, R&B and more.

"Venice," a rich story of war, love, betrayal and the quest for peace, boasts a powerful score that fuses elements of hip-hop, R&B and opera. Set in a not-too-distant future, two brothers clash over how to save their city in the aftermath of a 20-year war. One brother seeks a new era of peace and restoration while the other tries to seize power by keeping the city mired in violence and by derailing his brother's upcoming marriage to a woman whose father had been the city's president in happier days.

"Venice" was commissioned by CTG and presented in public workshops as a part of DouglasPlus in April 2009. This production opened at Kansas City Repertory Theatre in April 2010. In his review, Richard Zoglin of TIME magazine said, "...the next major American musical could well be in the making...

 "Venice," said Zoglin, is "[an] ambitious and expansive work, combining elements of Shakespeare, Greek tragedy, Brechtian allegory and dystopian political fable, all enhanced by rap narration and a melodic, rock-influenced score that is one of the most winning I have heard onstage in years."

Matt Sax and Eric Rosen were the creators of the one-man hip-hop musical "Clay," the fresh, intense coming of age story written and performed by Sax and directed by Rosen, and presented at the Douglas Theatre in September-October 2007.

Eric Rosen, who is the artistic director of Kansas City Repertory Theatre, is a playwright, director and producer. His original plays and musicals include "Winesburg, Ohio," for which he wrote the book and lyrics and he directed (Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Award for best new work, and five Barrymore Awards including best musical), "Dream Boy" (Jefferson Award for best direction and production), "Wedding Play," "Dancer from the Dance," "Whitman" and "Undone."

Matt Sax won a Joseph Jefferson Award for best solo performance for "Clay" in its presentation by Lookingglass Theatre and About Face Theatre. "Clay" was also presented at the Lincoln Center Theater where it received Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations, and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Sax also writes for and performs in the two-man, long-form sketch show "Sax and Dixon."

Tickets for "Venice" are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, in person at the Center Theatre Group box office at the Ahmanson Theatre or two hours prior to performances at the Kirk Douglas Theatre box office.  

The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232.