Virtual Stage and Electric Company Theatre Present NO EXIT, 4/7-5/1
by Nicole Rosky
- Feb 28, 2011
American Conservatory Theater
(A.C.T.) brings another acclaimed international hit to the Bay Area
with the U.S. premiere of The Virtual Stage and Electric Company
Theatre's production of Jean-Paul Sartre's No Exit. Adapted from the
French by Paul Bowles and conceived and directed by Kim Collier, this
production arrives fresh from sold-out performances across Canada.
When a mysterious valet ushers three people into a shabby hotel room,
they soon discover that hell isn't fire and brimstone at all-it's
other people. Sartre's existential masterpiece, skillfully reimagined
through the perspective of a series of hidden cameras, turns the stage
into a cinema, and the audience into voyeurs, as a thrillingly staged
'live film' takes place before your eyes. Described as 'epic,
voyeuristic, theater-as-film staging . . . spectacularly brilliant' by
the Calgary Herald and 'diabolically inventive . . . a riveting
theatrical event' by the Georgia Straight (Vancouver), No Exit plays
April 7-May 1, 2011, at the American Conservatory Theater (415 Geary
Street, San Francisco). Press night is Wednesday, April 13, 2011, at 8
p.m. Tickets (starting at $10) are available by calling the A.C.T. Box
Office at 415.749.2228 or at www.act-sf.org.
Collier, who recently received the prestigious Siminovitch Prize,
Canada's largest theater award, explains the impulses behind her
vision for Sartre's oft-visited play: 'In this new vision for No Exit,
the sense of entrapment and alienation is more complete and palpable.
By creating a theatrical space around the hotel room that
traditionally defined the perimeter, we are 'widening the frame' on
Sartre's play. This gives us a platform to continue our investigations
of the intersection of live theater and film, and to investigate how a
silent, physical narrative can reframe an existing, well-known piece.'
Electric Company Theatre, a leading force in Canada's flourishing
experimental theater scene, has made a name for itself since 1996 for
pieces that are rich in spectacle and adventurous in form. As in No
Exit, the audience is at the center of the company's creative process,
and the act of watching usually becomes a theme of their work. In this
production of No Exit, the Valet ushers each of the three visitors
into a bunker onstage, where they are locked in with multiple cameras
that feed their actions to three oversized screens. The audience
experiences their interactions closeup and in real time, while the
Valet's outside world creates an illuminating juxtaposition and
framework for the action captured on film.
With such shows as Brief Encounter and The Black Rider, A.C.T. has
received recognition for presenting the American premieres of many
groundbreaking theatrical works. Beginning with 2005's The Overcoat,
Artistic Director Carey Perloff has formed strong connections with
such acclaimed Canadian artists as Peter Anderson (who starred in The
Overcoat as well as A.C.T's The Tosca Project) and Morris Panych (who
wrote and directed last season's Vigil). Collier says: 'This U.S.
premiere is a product of a few years of great conversations and visits
with Carey Perloff and the tremendous staff at A.C.T. Over time we
discovered not only a shared vision for theater, but also a fantastic,
supportive, and inspiring partner.'
The original cast of this new interpretation of No Exit will be
performing at A.C.T. for the U.S. premiere: Lucia Frangione as
Estelle; Laara Sadiq as Inez; Andy Thompson, who is the founding
artistic and managing director of The Virtual Stage and designed the
video projections, as Cradeau; and Jonathon Young as the Valet. The
creative team, also from the premiere production and the Canadian
tour, include sound designer Brian Linds, costume designer Kirsten
McGhie, scenic designer Jay Gower Taylor, and lighting designer John
Webber.
A.C.T. will offer numerous InterACT events-many of which are offered
free of charge-in association with No Exit that will give patrons
opportunities to get closer to the action while making a whole night
out of their evening at the theater:
* 10UP: World-Class Theater at Happy-Hour Prices: Apr. 7-17
Live it up with 10UP! Enjoy the Bay Area's best theater for only $10 a
ticket for Balcony seats during select performances. The third-floor
Sky Bar opens one hour before curtain-show up early and mingle with
other theatergoers while you enjoy happy-hour drinks and soak up the
historic charm of one of the most beautiful theaters in the country.
* Audience Prologue, featuring director Kim Collier:
Tue., Apr. 12, at 5:30 p.m.
Get inside the artistic process with a free half-hour preshow
discussion with Kim Collier. FREE and open to the public (no tickets
required).
* Bring What You Can/Pay What You Wish: Thu.,
Apr. 14, at 8 p.m.
Pay any amount for your tickets when you bring nonperishable food
donations for the San Francisco Food Bank (sffoodbank.org). Patrons
are limited to two tickets per donated item, two tickets per person.
Tickets go on sale at 6 p.m. the day of the performance. Sponsored by
Bank of the West.
* Theater on the Couch: Fri., Apr. 15, at 8 p.m.
Join members of the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis for an
exciting postperformance discussion that explores the psychological
aspects of the show and addresses audience questions.
* Audience Exchanges: Tue., Apr. 19, at 7 p.m. /
Sun. Apr. 24, at 2 p.m. /
Wed., Apr.
27, at 2 p.m.
After the show, stick around for a lively Q&A
session with the actors and artists who create the work onstage.
* OUT with A.C.T.: Wed., Apr.
20, at 8 p.m.
Ten-year anniversary! Meet the cast and enjoy free cocktails and
treats at these popular LGBT parties. Visit www.act-sf.org/out for
more information about OUT night.
A.C.T.'s presentation of No Exit is made possible by executive
producers Mrs. Albert Moorman and Mary and Steven Swig; producers
Jeffrey W. and Jeri Lynn Johnson; and associate producers Nancy and
Joachim Bechtle, Ronald Casassa, Myrkle and Madeline Deaton, Joan
Eckart, Roberta and David Elliott, Vicki and David Fleishhacker,
Dorothy A. Hyde, Charlie and Ann Johnson, Mr. Joel Krauska and Ms.
Patricia Fox, Tim Mott, and Gary E. Roof and Douglas L. Light. A.C.T.
would also like to acknowledge its 2010-11 season company sponsors:
Priscilla and Keith Geeslin; Ambassador James C. Hormel and Mr.
Michael P. Nguyen; Nancy Livingston and Fred Levin, The Shenson
Foundation; Burt and Deedee McMurtry; Patti and Rusty Rueff; Kathleen
Scutchfield; Mary and Steven Swig; Jeff and Laurie Ubben; and Susan A.
Van Wagner.
The Ready Set Celebrates First Platinum Single With Headline Tour, 2/23-4/9
by BWW
News Desk
- Feb 23, 2011
The digital version of 'Love Like Woe,' the first single from Decaydance/SIRE Records artist THE READY SET has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. To support the success of 'Love Like Woe,' The Ready Set has announced his first ever headline tour. The nationwide run, presented by Glamour Kills, kicks off February 23rd in Indianapolis, IN and runs through April 9th in Ft. Wayne, IN.
The Ready Set Celebrates First Platinum Single With Headline Tour, 2/23-4/9
by James Miller
- Feb 3, 2011
The digital version of 'Love Like Woe,' the first single from Decaydance/SIRE Records artist THE READY SET has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. To support the success of 'Love Like Woe,' The Ready Set has announced his first ever headline tour. The nationwide run, presented by Glamour Kills, kicks off February 23rd in Indianapolis, IN and runs through April 9th in Ft. Wayne, IN.
Olympia Entertainment Posts Strong Results For 2010
by Gabrielle Sierra
- Jan 27, 2011
Olympia Entertainment, Detroit's premier marketer of sports and entertainment events, along with affiliated Ilitch-owned companies, hosted over 350 sporting and entertainment events and posted strong results in 2010.
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by Gabrielle Sierra
- Jan 18, 2011
Sandra Piller's (www.sandrapiller.com) third album, 'Days Like These' (Shady Hill Records), is released today, and Sandra met with press, industry and fans in a special performance at The Mint in Hollywood.
Photo Flash: Repertory Philippines Presents LITTLE WOMEN
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- Dec 11, 2010
Rounding out 2010's bumper crop of live theatre productions, we can now add the short-lived Broadway musical 'Little Women' to Repertory Philippines's roster of outstandingly produced shows.
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