https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-vhqxa-c946ba
As we close the show Circle Mirror Transformation at Livermore Arts, I reflect on the play and my experiences with it with it.
Music by Carly Ozard: https://carlyozard.com
Green Room on Air Web Site: http://raysgreenroom.com
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-pt66i-c891e1
Circle Mirror Transformation
by Annie Baker
Directed by Misty Megia
Livermore Arts
Tickets: https://lvpac.org/
Synopsis:
When four lost New Englanders enroll in Marty’s six-week-long community center drama class and begin to experiment with harmless games, hearts are quietly torn apart and tiny wars of epic proportions are waged and won. Circle Mirror Transformation is a charming and beautifully-crafted diorama, a petri dish in which we see, with hilarious detail and clarity, the antic sadness of a motley quintet.
Taught by Marty, their free-spirited and supportive leader, the group — Schultz, a recently divorced, emotionally vulnerable carpenter, Teresa, an earnest and vibrant former actress, James, Marty’s quiet and genial husband, and Lauren, a reserved and self-conscious high schooler — move through a series of acting exercises, ranging from the heartbreaking to the ridiculous. Over the course of the seemingly trivial games, their emotional wounds are revealed, nursed, and healing slowly begins. Winner of the 2010 Obie Award for Best New American Play, Annie Baker’s quiet masterpiece explores the human condition and the subtle yet powerfully transforming effect we have on others through our words and indirect actions.
Directed by Misty Megia, Circle Mirror Transformation will run for eight performances at the Bothwell Arts Center from November 15-24, 2019. The East End of the Bothwell Arts Center provides the perfect setting for the play which is set in a similar community center in Vermont. Megia directed last year’s acclaimed production of RED by John Logan at the Bankhead Theater, the first play self-produced by Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center. Read an interview with Misty Megia here.
“Annie Baker’s play is an absolute feast… the kind of unheralded gem that sends people into the
streets babbling and bright-eyed with the desire to spread the word…”—New York Times
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Carly Ozard provides the music for this episode
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-shhbm-a40ac6
Neva Hutchinson has acted in New York, Maine and the Bay Area in over 60 theater productions. She’s worked with Francis Ford Coppola, Lee Sankowich, Kevin Malony and Libby Appel. In film, she’s worked with Jon Voight and Will Smith. She’s trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and with Richard Seyd and Wynn Handman. She recently appeared at the Phoenix Theater in San Francisco in “By The Waters of Babylon” by Robert Schenkkan. Presently, she’s appearing in the lead role in “Raptured: the Disappearance and Discovery of Aimee Semple McPherson”. Also, she can currently be seen as a dry cleaner in a Buster Posey Toyota commercial.
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-5g2uz-a128a7
Jamie Coventry (Clown, Juggler, Co-Producer, Co-Director): Jamie was raised in central CA by a family of eccentrics. He studied theatre arts in Santa Fe, music in San Luis Obispo and education and circus arts in SF. Jamie has worked with Flynn Creek Circus, Circus of Sound, New Pickle Circus, The Pickle Circus School Tour, Teatro Zinzanni, Sweet Can and more. He is perhaps best known for his work with partner Natasha Kaluza. Coventry & Kaluza won Best Comedy/Clown Act in the American Circus Festival two years in a row, and Best Duo in the Picklewater Free Circus Festival. Jamie is also the co-creator of the neo- vaudevillian harmonica trio, Tin Sandwich and a dedicated member of the Bay Area Harmonica Club. www.coventryandkaluza.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Sweet-Can-152063651476746/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sweetcanproductions/
“simply beautiful to behold” – SF Weekly
“intimate, surprising, humorous…magical” – San Francisco Chronicle
Sweet Can Presents Two New Shows
for the 2018 Holiday Season
My Friend Hafiz “It’s a concert. It’s a circus. It’s an inspiration”
Dec. 20 – 23, 2018
Limited Engagement – 5 Performances Only!
Produced by Sweet Can Productions and The Levins
Directed by Mindy Cooper Grenke
TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZuK3MSORFU&feature=youtu.be
AUDIO CLIPS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOWX9bJiU7o&feature=youtu.be (5:18)
AND
The 9th Annual…
Mittens & Mistletoe – A Winter Circus Cabaret
Holiday Fun For Everyone!
Dec. 26 – 30, 2018
Limited Engagement – 9 Performances Only!
Produced by Sweet Can Productions
Directed by Natasha Kaluza and Jamie Coventry
TRAILER: https://youtu.be/Hp9UlWIwDKI
Dance Mission Theatre
3316 24th St. (at Mission St. – 24th St. BART) in SF 94110
WEB PAGE: sweetcanproductions.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Sweet-Can-152063651476746/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sweetcanproductions/
Synopsis:
My Friend Hafiz – It’s a concert. It’s a Circus. It’s an inspiration. Weaving the wisdom of beloved Persian poet Hafiz into their rich tapestry of unique harmonies, award-winning songwriters, The Levins, create an incredible backdrop for the breathtaking beauty of
Sweet Can Circus. Wonder at the aerialists, be dazzled by acrobats and laugh with the clowns. First performed by Sweet Can Productions and the Levins in San Francisco in 2014, this production is a revival of that popular show – being brought back by audience request.
Performers featured include: Beth Clarke (Producer, Slack Rope, Aerial); Gregangelo Herrera (Whirling Dervish, Musician); Natasha Kaluza (Clown, Hula Hoop); Zoë Klein (Aerial, Acrobat, Dancer); Ira Levin (Inn Keeper); Tushar Mathew (Clown, Actor); Natalie Nayun (Dancer); Nina Sawant (Cyr Wheel, Aerial); Jeremy Vik (Hand Balancer, Acrobat).
Music will be performed live by: The Levins – Ira Levin & Julia Bordenaro Levin (Composer, guitar, piano, vocals); Joe Chang (Cello), Aharon Wheels Bolsta (Percussion). Callie Floor (Costumes); Joan Raymond (Costumes); Ian Wallace (Projections).
My Friend Hafiz is produced by Sweet Can Productions and The Levins and directed by Mindy Cooper Grenke.
Bios for MY FRIEND HAFIZ follow at the end of this release.
My Friend Hafiz plays for a limited engagement – 5 performances only Dec. 20 – 23, 2018 (Thurs. thru Sun.) at Dance Mission Theater 3316 24th St. (Mission St. BART.) in SF, 94110.
For tickets ($22 – $75) / info: myfriendhafiz.brownpapertickets.com or call (800) 838-3006
Reserved Seating Option – all shows: “VIP Reserved Seating”- $45 – $75 (sliding scale)
Performance Schedule – MY FRIEND HAFIZ
Dec. 20 – 23, 2018 – Limited Engagement – 5 Performances Only
Thurs. Dec. 20, 2018 7:00 pm – Preview – Kids, Srs $22, Adults $27 (gen. admission)
Fri. Dec. 21 8:00 pm – Kids, Srs $25, Adults $30 (gen. admission)
Sat. Dec. 22 3:00 and 8:00 pm – Kids, Srs $25, Adults $30 (gen. admission)
Sun. Dec. 23 2:00 pm – Kids, Srs $25, Adults $30 (gen. admission)
Doors open 20 minutes before the show. There will be pre-show with live music.
Running time: 75 minutes (approx)
And…
Mittens & Mistletoe – A Winter Circus Cabaret.
Synopsis:
Sweet Can is proud to announce the 9th annual Mittens & Mistletoe: A Winter Circus Cabaret. A Bay Area favorite holiday tradition, ‘Mittens’ is back with more comedy, spectacular circus feats and interactive madcappery! This year’s cast includes veterans from Circus Bella, The New Pickle Circus, Cirque de Boheme, Ars Minerva, Flynn Creek Circus, and Teatro Zinzanni. World-class circus artists defy gravity, display stunning feats of strength and flexibility that enchant and mystify, along with award-winning clowns that amuse and delight all ages.
Performers featured include: Jamie Coventry (Co-Director, Clown); Ira Levin (Storyteller); Oriana Doria-Quesada (Rola Bola); Katherine Hutchinson (Aerial Tissu); Christine Lee (Contortion, Lyra); Nina Sawant (Cyr Wheel, Lyra); Amelia Van Brunt (MC, Clown).
Music will be performed live by: The Levins – Ira Levin and Julia Bordenaro Levin (Composer, Guitar, Piano, Vocals). Mittens & Mistletoe: A Winter Circus Cabaret is produced by Sweet Can Productions, and Directed by Natasha Kaluza and Jamie Coventry.
The 9th edition of Mittens & Mistletoe: A Winter Circus Cabaret plays for a limited engagement – 9 performances only Dec. 26 – 30, 2018 (Wed. thru Sun.) at Dance Mission Theater 3316 24th St. (Mission St. BART) in SF, 94110. For tickets ($18 – $65) and info:
https://mittens.brownpapertickets.com or call (800) 838-3006
Reserved Seating Option: All shows “VIP Reserved Seating”- $45 – $65 (sliding scale)
Performance Schedule – MITTENS & MISTLETOE: A WINTER CIRCUS CABARET –
Dec. 26 – 30, 2018 – Limited Engagement – 9 Performances Only.
Wed. Dec. 26, 2018 8:00 pm – Preview – Kids, Srs $18, Adults $23 (gen. admission)
Thurs. Dec. 27 4:00 pm – Opening Show – Kids, Srs $20, Adults $25 (gen. admission)
Thurs. Dec. 27 8:00 pm – Kids, Srs $20, Adults $25 (gen. admission)
Fri. Dec. 28 4:00 pm – Kids, Srs $20, Adults $25 (gen. admission)
Fri. Dec. 28 8:00 pm (adults only show) – Srs $20, Adults $25 (gen. admission)
Sat. Dec. 29 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm – Kids, Srs $20, Adults $25 (gen. admission)
Sun. Dec. 30 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm – Kids, Srs $20, Adults $25 (gen. admission)
Mittens & Mistletoe is a family friendly performance and children are encouraged to attend. Many of the shows start at 1:00 or 4:00 pm.
The show will start ON TIME. Latecomers may not be able to sit with their parties, and will be seated by ushers at an appropriate moment during the show. Please allow ample time to find parking, most spaces in the area are metered. The parking garage on 21 St. and Valencia is a good option if you cannot find street parking. We advise taking BART. 24th St./Mission BART station is across the street from the theater
Doors open 20 minutes before the show. There will be a 15 minute pre-show with live music.
Running time: 65 minutes (approx)
Since 2006 Sweet Can Productions, the Independent circus company based in SF, has been bringing laughter, wonder, awe and delight with their unique combination of circus arts, theater, music, and clowning. Hip-hop hula hoop, jaw-dropping aerialists, and foot juggling slack ropers are just a few of the amazing acts presented over the years. When sour can’t, Sweet Can!!!
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-rb3e6-9ded4e
This week I spoke with the multi-talented writer and actor Neva Hutchinson about her new play (which I directed), “Raptured: The Disappearance and Discovery of Aimee Semple McPherson”, playing through November 3rd, 2018.
Raptured: The Disappearance and Discovery of Aimee Semple McPherson
Location: The Phoenix Theatre
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3603593
Tickets: Brown Paper Tickets
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Podcast Web Site: raysgreenroom.com
Email: feedback@rayrenati.com