Press Release
German productions and co-productions screening in various sections in Cannes
OUR OWN SHADOW © Academy of Media Arts Cologne
The 77th Festival de Cannes will take place this year from 14 to 25 May, 2024. Interest in one of the world's biggest film festivals is greater than ever with more than 2,000 films being submitted. As far as Germany is concerned, a total of 11 productions and co-productions have been selected to screen in Cannes.
Last Thursday festival president Iris Knobloch and festival director Thierry Frémaux announced the official line-up for the main categories. Germany is represented in the main competition by the actress Diane Kruger appearing in David Cronenberg's THE SHROUDS and actor Franz Rogowski in BIRD by Andrea Arnold.
The German co-productions MOTEL DESTINO by Karim Aïnouz and GRAND TOUR by Miguel Gomes (both Match Factory Productions) will also be screening In Competition.
The Quinzaine Des Cinéastes sidebar will feature two majority German-produced shorts. OUR OWN SHADOW (Academy of Media Arts Cologne) is Agustina Sánchez Gavier’s graduation film. The film uses a solar eclipse in Argentina to show the destructive relationship between man and nature. The images shown in the film are documentary footage from the province of Misiones. The short film IMMACULATA (filmfaust) by Kim Lêa Sakkal is about the domestic worker Derya and her strange pregnancy. Little by little, signs of the supernatural and the divine emerge, calling into question the true origin of her mysterious pregnancy.
German Films will also be back in Cannes this year. The German Pavilion (Village International Riviera, Pavilion 127), in cooperation with the German Federal Film Board (FFA), Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), and Focus Germany (FilmFersehFonds Bayern (FFF), Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, Hessen Film & Medien, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, MFG Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM), MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, MV Filmförderung and nordmedia - Film- und Mediengesellschaft Niedersachsen/Bremen) will once again serve as a platform for filmmakers to meet and exchange ideas.
All of the German productions and co-productions in Cannes at a glance:
IN COMPETITION
MOTEL DESTINO by Karim Aïnouz (BR/FR/DE, Match Factory Productions)
GRAND TOUR by Miguel Gomes (PT/IT/FR/DE/JP/CN, Match Factory Productions)
UN CERTAIN REGARD
SANTOSH by Sandhya Suri (UK/FR/IN/DE, Razor Film Produktion)
ARMAND by Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel (NO/NL/SE/DE, One Two Films)
SEPTEMBER SAYS by Ariane Labed (FR/DE/IE/UK, Match Factory Productions)
THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE by Mo Harawe (AT/ FR/ DE/ SO, NiKo Film)
OUT OF COMPETITION
RUMOURS by Evan Johnson, Galen (CA/DE, Maze Pictures)
QUINZAINE DES CINÉASTES
OUR OWN SHADOW by Agustina Sánchez Gavier (DE/AR, Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln)
IMMACULATA by Kim Lêa Sakkal (DE/FR, filmfaust)
TO A LAND UNKNOWN by Mahdi Fleifel (UK/FR/DE/GR/NL/QAT/SAU/PSE, Salaud Morisset)
SEMAINE DE LA CRITIQUE
GHOST TRAIL by Jonathan Millet (FR/DE/BE, NiKo Film)
Press Release
Next Generation Short Tiger 2024: German Short Films in Dresden and Cannes
16.04.2024
This year is now the fourth time that the NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER programme of short films will be celebrating its premiere at the Filmfest Dresden before being presented to an international audience a month later at the Festival de Cannes. This year's jury members - Alexandra Gramatke (managing director of the Kurzfilm Agentur Hamburg), director Sophie Linnenbaum (THE ORDINARIES) and exhibitor Dr. Christian Bräuer (CEO Yorck Kinogruppe) - selected 11 short films from 173 submissions for the 14th edition of the joint initiative by German Films and the FFA to promote young talents.
The 36th Filmfest Dresden (April 16-21, 2024) is the ideal platform for the premiere of NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER 2024 with its top-notch line-up of films and supporting programme as well as numerous international professionals. The screening will be held in the Schauburg cinema on Saturday, April 20, at 4 pm. This year will also see the 53rd Sehsüchte International Student Film Festival Potsdam (April 25-28, 2024) hosting the NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER 2024 for the first time as a special screening. As per tradition, the new programme of shorts will then be presented on Tuesday, May 21, as a market screening at the Marché du Film of the Festival de Cannes (6.00 pm at Olympia 2)
"Animated and musical, experimental and documentary, fictional and essayistic: the line-up for NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER covers the exciting range of short film in all of its impressive glory," says Sarah Duve-Schmid, Deputy CEO of the FFA and Head of Funding, about this year's selection. "Filmfest Dresden has already been a wonderful host on three occasions for our SHORT TIGER AWARD which is why we are delighted to present it here again. We wish all the selected films every success on their world tour that will be starting from here!"
"There’s lots to discover in the new selection: creative perspectives on very personal topics, often of universal relevance and always with an individual artistic style," says Simone Baumann, Managing Director of German Films about this year's NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER films. "At German Films, we see it as a special responsibility to support these outstanding talents and are pleased to offer them a springboard into the international film industry with this programme."
The films of NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER 2024:
BLACK YOUTH by Isaac Martínez (Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences, fiction, Short Tiger)
DON’T LET GO by Antonia Lindner (University of Television and Film HFF Munich, fiction)
ENJOY YOUR MEAL by Sofie Kienzle & Christian Manzke (animation, Short Tiger)
GOOD FOR ME by Hannah Wolny (Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, fiction)
I MAY ALWAYS ASK HER ANYTHING by Silke Schönfeld (documentary)
IT’S JUST A WHOLE by Bianca Scali (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, animation)
SENSITIVE CONTENT by Narges Kalhor (experimental film)
SUPERBUHEI by Josef Brandl (fiction, Short Tiger)
THE BARD’S CURSE by Scarlett Unverricht (Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, animation, Short Tiger)
THE HIDDEN DIMENSION by Ben Galster (documentary, Short Tiger)
WEEDING by Amelie Vierbuchen, Franca Pape & Lea Sprenger (Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln, documentary)
Detailed information about all the films and filmmakers can be found here.
The selected films can be screened by registered users on the industry platforms Festivalscope Pro and T-Port from the beginning of May. In addition, industry professionals can request a personal screening link from German Films (nextgeneration@german-films.
Following the premieres in Dresden, Potsdam and Cannes, the programme can be seen at international festivals such as the one in Warsaw as well as at the Festivals of German Films organised by German Films abroad, including Buenos Aires, Paris, Rome, and Madrid.
The joint initiative of NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER by German Films and FFA has existed since 2011. The criteria for the FFA-SHORT TIGER AWARD are: maximum length of seven minutes, entertaining and innovative, and particularly suitable for screening in cinemas. A jury of experts decides on the winning films and awards prize money of € 5,000 to each film. NEXT GENERATION was initiated by German Films in 1997 to introduce young talents from German film schools to international audiences. Submissions for the programme may not be any longer than 15 minutes. Entries may be submitted by German film schools, technical and art colleges with film training courses, but AG Kurzfilm can also accept applications from the independent film scene.
German Films and the FFA would like to thank AG Kurzfilm and Filmfest Dresden for supporting NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER 2024.
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Skylight Theatre Company Announces 41st Season
Celebrating Four New Plays at the Heart of 21st Century Americana
Los Angeles, CA (April 3, 2024) – Skylight Theatre Company, recognized for their unwavering commitment to developing and producing new plays and works that are new to Los Angeles, is exploring slices of Americana in the 21st century during their 2024/25 Season. Universal themes across the four productions will cover topics ranging from friendship to the evolution of our communities. The company offers 4 new plays by award winning playwrights.
“We have carefully crafted a lineup that is entertaining, robust, and impactful. We are looking forward to presenting works focused on the conversations that Angelenos are having across the city and hope that they offer fresh insights into our community’s daily lives. Each play sparks a dialogue that inspires much needed fellowship,” says Gary Grossman, Producing Artistic Director.
“By peering deeper into Skylight’s future, we see a path for the company to remain an institution for new play development that delivers excellent theater productions for years to come. It is a path anchored in community,” offers Executive Director Armando Huipe.
Kicking off the 2024 season is The Sandwich Ministry, a new play by Miranda Rose Hall, directed by Katie Lindsay. This production will provide 1,800 to 2,400 sandwiches over the course of its run, so Skylight is connecting with non-profits, like HousingWorks, to provide food for those in need within our local communities. Previews are May 25, 26, and 31, opening June 1 and running through July 7, 2024. Tickets go on sale April 19 at 12 noon.
Description: A small town. A once in a century storm. Three women gather to make sandwiches for neighbors who’ve been displaced from their homes by floods. As they contend with the damage of the storm, they learn what brings them together threatens to tear them apart. Is their friendship strong enough to make it through the night? Funding for this production is provided by Yale’s Binger Center for New Theatre.
Smile, Goddamnit, Smile: An American Allegory by Zola Dee, directed by Tyrone Davis makes its WORLD PREMIERE in Los Angeles at the Skylight Theatre. Previews are October 5, 6, and 11, opening October 12 and running through November 17, 2024.
Description:Inspired by W.E.B. DuBois’ thoughts on “double consciousness,” playwright Zola Dee’s incisive and provocative new play illustrates a portal into the Black female psyche that sheds new light on race and feminism in post-2020 America.
In an absurdly entertaining world of surrealism and minstrelsy, the play follows the turbulent relationship between the personification of a Black woman’s two inner voices, African and American. Having had a nightmare about receiving upsetting news from their Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben, African finds American writing a love letter to her unrequited love, America. When the two receive news about their aunt and uncle’s impending death, it becomes clear that the journey to see them at their deathbeds won’t happen without an epic fight.
Show 3 - TBA
Hide & Hide by Roger Q. Mason makes its WORLD PREMIERE in May 2025 at the Skylight.
Description: Along the Golden Coast of California, two souls collide while chasing freedom. Set in the last days of disco, Billy, a queer rent-boy, is on the run from the Texas police; Constanza, a Filipina immigrant, has a visa that’s about to expire. Together, they enter a sham marriage to achieve their own American Dream. Hide & Hide is a Homeric Odyssey that disrupts and rebuilds The American Fantasy.
Skylight Theatre Company currently has a runaway hit in London’s West End at the Charing Cross Theatre. Developed and produced in Los Angeles by the Skylight in 2019, Bronco Billy – The Musical was the company’s first musical production. Skylight is recognized as a “powerhouse of new play development” by Dramatist Magazine and as “a leader in play development” by the L.A. Times. In just the last five years, three plays originating at Skylight have been performed Off Broadway and on Broadway, The Wrong Man, and Church & State (which had 65+ productions in 33 states), and Lavender Men (which received a staged reading at Circle in the Square). In 2015, Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea (a co-production with Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble) received the prestigious Steinberg/ATC New Play Citation. In 2019, Center Theatre Group remounted their multiple award-winning production of Rotterdam at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of Block Party. The production won the 2017 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Production, and awards for Writing and Lead Actress. It also received top honors at the 2018 Stage Raw Awards, winning Production of the Year and Leading Actress awards. More at www.skylighttheatre.org
Skylight Theatre Company is located at 1816 1/2 N. Vermont Ave, LA, 90027. For more information and ticketing: http://SkylightTix.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chance Theater and Orange County Asperger’s Support Group
are Teaming Up again for the Free Summer Theater Camp…
Spectrum Speak Up
Teens on the Autism Spectrum harness their unique talents and
present an empowered original piece of theater and find their voice
ANAHEIM, CA: The Orange County Asperger’s Support Group (OCASG) and Chance Theater will be working together again this summer to present the Spectrum Speak Up outreach program. The workshops are held twice a week, from June 11 through July 27, 2024 culminating in two public performances – Saturday, July 27 at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm at the Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center on the Cripe Stage. The program is offered free-of-charge and registration is open thru June 4, 2024.
Since 2018, Spectrum Speak Up has focused on empowering teens (ages 13-19) on the Autism Spectrum to find their unique voice and talent, culminating in an original show that they write and perform over the summer. Thanks to the generous support of foundations, corporations, and individuals, the program is offered entirely free-of-charge to all participants. This program is part of Chance Theater’s award-winning Speak Up program, which includes separate programs for Teens and Veterans.
The Orange County Asperger’s Support Group (OCASG) and Chance Theater are working together to present a new version of our award-winning Speak Up program, crafted specifically for teens who have been diagnosed with high functioning Autism, Asperger’s or PDD-NOS. During the course of the six-week program, students will create new connections, learn the fundamentals of storytelling, have fun, express themselves, and create an original play!
“OCASG is thrilled to be working with the Chance,” said Judi Uttal, president of OCASG. “Teens who have been diagnosed with ASD struggle with bullying and establishing their identity during their high school years because of their social and communication deficiencies. We think that the Spectrum ‘Speak Up’ Program will give these individuals an opportunity to develop confidence, enhance their communication skills, and develop friendships by leveraging theater techniques.”
Chance Theater Education Director Karen O’Hanlon, who also runs the summer program, cannot hold back her emotion when she says "Every year I am amazed at the level of talent and bravery. These students are not just acting and putting on a great show, they are digging deep and working collaboratively to create an original play that offers us valuable insight into their world. This in turn is educating us all and helping to build a more empathetic community"
The Spectrum Speak Up program would not be possible without the transcendent support of The Marc Chessen Scholarship Fund, The Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation, The Orange County Community Foundation, The Robert J. and Doreen D. Marshall Fund, Katheryn Baker, Brad Feldman, Robin Preiss Glasser & Robert Berman, The Orange County Asperger’s Support Group, Linda & Tod White, Anaheim Hills Rotary Club, The Bunteman Family, Kiwanis Club of Greater Anaheim, and Rachel & Todd Martinez.
MEET THE INSTRUCTORS
Karen O’Hanlon, a Philadelphia area native, is Chance Theater’s Education Director and a proud resident artist. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from East Stroudsburg University and has worked as a teaching artist, actress, and director throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware. At the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey, she spent several years teaching and directing for the First Stage program, as well as their in-school residency program. Karen was the regional director for Creative Theatre, where she worked to bring after-school and summer camps to children throughout the east coast. In addition, she has worked with several outreach programs designed to help at-risk youths and teens find their voice through creative expression. In California, Karen taught Theatre at Fairmont Private School, where she produced student-driven new work. Karen is also a coach and judge for the Orange County middle school debate program.
To schedule press interviews, arrange for press comps, request press photos, or for any additional information regarding this production, please contact Shinshin Tsai at (888) 455-4212 or stsai@chancetheater.com.
ABOUT CHANCE THEATER
Proud to be one of the leading ensemble-driven theatre companies in Southern California, CHANCE THEATER has received the National Theatre Company grant from American Theatre Wing for “nurturing a community of artists in ways that strengthen and demonstrate the quality, diversity, and dynamism of American theatre.” The Chance won 22 OCTG Theatre Awards, including two for Outstanding Production of a Musical (“Next to Normal” and “Fun Home”) and one for Outstanding Production of a Play (“Cry It Out”). Previously, Chance Theater won eight Ovation Awards, including four for Best Production of a Musical (Intimate Theatre), and four LADCC Awards, including the Polly Warfield Award for Outstanding Season. The Anaheim City Council named Chance Theater “the Official Resident Theater Company of Anaheim” in 2014, and Arts Orange County has twice named the Chance as “Outstanding Arts Organization.” Known for using bold and personal storytelling to promote dialogue and connection within the Southern California theatrical landscape, the Chance is committed to contributing to a more compassionate, connected, and creative community. As a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group, The Theatrical Producers League of Los Angeles, and OC Theatre Guild, Chance Theater continues to bring national attention to the Southern California and Orange County theater scenes.
ABOUT THE ORANGE COUNTY ASPERGER’S SUPPORT GROUP (OCASG)
OCASG was founded in 2003 by parents seeking to provide support for local families and adults dealing with Asperger’s. The organization has grown to over 1000 member families throughout Orange County, and now also includes families affected by High-Functioning Autism (HFA) and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD-NOS). Monthly support group meetings for individuals and family members are held in Newport Beach and Placentia, often with guest speakers. Monthly social activities encourage social integration. An online discussion board allows members to ask questions and share information. The Orange County Asperger's Support Group is a nonprofit, tax exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Visit OCASG online at www.ocaspergers.org
Calendar Listing
WHAT: SPECTRUM SPEAK UP
This six-week summer theater camp focuses on empowering teens on the Autism Spectrum by helping them to find their unique voice and talent. Through traditional ensemble-building techniques, improvisation, and playwriting exercises, participants will be guided in the creation of an original play. Everyone will learn the basics of script analysis, objectives, actions, and character analysis, and apply this to their playwriting and acting with the goal of cultivating the ability to honestly listen and respond on stage while making dynamic choices. Through exercises, teens will also grow their concentration and awareness, emotional freedom and connection, and self-confidence. This program will provide a safe place for students to be part of an ensemble giving a voice to their generation, creatively exploring storytelling, and leaving with a strong acting foundation taught by professional Chance Artists. No matter where their curiosity and talent lies, the theater has an outlet for everyone.
Registration Deadline: June 4, 2024
Registration: www.ChanceTheater.com/Spectrum
Workshops: June 11 – July 27 (Tuesday & Thursday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm )
Tech Week: July 22 – 26 (Monday- Friday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm)
Performances: Saturday, July 27 at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm
WHERE: Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Cripe Stage
5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA 92807
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National Latinx Theatre Initiative adds Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation, Doris Duke Foundation, New York Community Trust
to growing list of supporters
LOS ANGELES (March 27, 2024) — Today, World Theater Day, L.A.’s Latino Theater Company announced that three additional funders have joined to support the company’s National Latinx Theatre Initiative, bringing the total of national and local funders to eleven. The program, launched in December 2022 with a $5 million grant from the Mellon Foundation, aims to boost the national profile of Latinx theater companies across the U.S. and Puerto Rico; disperse funds needed to pursue greater financial stability; and nurture artistic voices in a post-pandemic landscape. The three new funders include the Doris Duke Foundation ($500,000 over two years), the New York Community Trust ($450,000 over 3 years), and The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation ($50,000).
These funders join the Mellon Foundation, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Joyce Foundation, California Community Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Miranda Family Fund and an anonymous donor in an unprecedented effort by the nation’s philanthropic community to deploy significant resources to the Latinx theater sector.
“We are proud of the National Latinx Theater Initiative’s power to bring together foundations, large and small, across the country to join this effort, and can only hope that this work foments a larger culture of collaboration and cooperation in philanthropy,” said Emil Kang, program director for arts and culture at the Mellon Foundation. “We are thrilled to be joined by the Doris Duke Foundation, New York Community Trust, California Community Foundation and the Biller Family Foundation, all exemplars across a range of funding priorities and geographic areas. Each of these foundations is committed to building a more equitable future, and it’s inspiring to see them come together in support of the NLTI.”
“The National Latinx Theater Initiative’s mission to highlight and strengthen Latinx theater across the nation is vital,” states Ashley Ferro-Murray, program director for the arts at the Doris Duke Foundation. “Our support aligns with the remarkable efforts of fellow funders, whose collective contributions are pivotal in advancing this sector. Together, we are building a more diverse, equitable and inclusive performing arts landscape, acknowledging the richness of Latinx cultural narratives and their essential role in the broader tapestry of American theater.”
The New York Community Trust is honored to provide a three-year, $450,000 grant to the National Latinx Theater Initiative to support the ten Latinx theaters from New York City chosen to take part in this effort, furthering the Trust’s goal of encouraging equitable and thriving communities for all.
“We completely believe in the work of the NLTI,” says Audrey Haberman, CEO of The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation. “For us, the scope of NLTI’s mission addresses not just an arts issue but a social justice issue. It’s an honor to link arms with a growing list of very different funders to champion the Latinx theater sector, which has been undercapitalized since its very beginnings, and I would welcome a conversation with funders of any size or geographic reach about how our regionally focused foundation came to support this critically important national initiative.”
The National Latinx Theater Initiative is providing general operating support to 52 local and national Latinx anchor producing theaters in its first round of two and three-year grants and will offer robust professional development opportunities for grantees.
“The National Latinx Theater Initiative is the first time that national and local foundations have come together to address the challenges and opportunities faced by the Latinx theater sector,” said Olga Garay-English, a director of the initiative alongside Latino Theater Company artistic director Jose Luis Valenzuela. “We hope to see many more foundations of varying types and geographies join us in this long-term investment in a vivid and critical piece of the United States’ theatrical ecosystem.”
National Latinx Theater Initiative
About the New Funders:
Doris Duke Foundation:
The mission of the Doris Duke Foundation (DDF) is to build a more creative, equitable and sustainable future by investing in artists and the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research, child well-being and greater mutual understanding among diverse communities. DDF focuses its support to the performing arts on contemporary dance, jazz and theater artists, and the organizations that nurture, present and produce them. Visit www.dorisduke.org to learn more.
New York Community Trust:
The New York Community Trust is a public charity and New York City’s largest community foundation. It connects generous people and institutions with high-impact nonprofits making the city, Long Island, and Westchester better places for all. It builds stronger communities, influences public policy, fosters innovation, improves lives, and protects our environment.
The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation:
The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation believes that everyone deserves access to systems and solutions that expand economic opportunity, supportive care for life-threatening illnesses, and the transformative power of the arts. Since its inception in 2001, the Foundation has been led by its guiding values of access & equity, collaboration, and optimism. Learn more at billerfamilyfoundation.org.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2024
Outrageously funny ‘Freud on Cocaine’ returns to Whitefire
Theatre for second run: Fridays at 8 p.m., March 29-May 3
WHAT:
If you missed it the first time, here’s your chance. Freud on Cocaine, the outrageous new comedy based on the documented letters, notes, dreams and recollections of Sigmund Freud that attest to his decade-long use of cocaine in his practice and personal life, returns to the Whitefire Theatre for a second run in 2024. Jonathan Slavin (Santa Clarita Diet, Dr. Ken, Better Off Ted) stars in the title role as one of the most important thinkers of the 20th century, a respected doctor, a loving husband, a devoted father — and a drug addict. Currently nominated for seven Broadway World awards.
“STAGE RAW TOP 10… DELIGHTFULLY DERANGED.” — Stage Raw
“OUTRAGEOUS… be ready to laugh.” — Culver City News
“A TOTAL MINDBLOWER. — Curtain Up
“SUPERB… some of the funniest lines in the contemporary theatre scene.” —Glamgical
“ROLLICKING… After all, things go better with coke.” — Hollywood Progressive
“A DRUG-LACED, DISCO-INFUSED ROMP.” — Larchmont Buzz
“FUNNY, CLEVER, FASCINATING.” — NoHoArtsDistrict.com
“NOT TO BE MISSED.” — On Stage Los Angeles
“[A] HOME RUN.” — Queer Forty
“VERY FUNNY.” —Splash Magazines
“DELIGHTFUL… comedy and tragedy in equal parts.” —The World Through Night-Tinted Glasses
WHO:
• Written and Directed by Howard Skora
• Starring Jonathan Slavin
• Also Featuring Barry Brisco, Aaron LaPlante, Mitch Rosander, Sara Maraffino, Sigute Miller, Amy Smallman-Winston
• Presented by the Whitefire Theatre, Bryan Rasmussen, producing artistic director
WHEN:
March 29 through May 3:
• Fridays at 8 p.m.
WHERE:
Whitefire Theatre
13500 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
PARKING:
• Parking lot available behind Starbucks on the corner of Ventura and Allott: $10
• Unrestricted parking available on Moorpark St. and on the west side of Dixie Canyon Ave.
• Metered parking on and just south of Ventura Blvd. (off on Sundays)
• 2-hour parking available in residential neighborhoods (Sunday matinees, until 6 p.m.)
TICKET PRICE:
$40-$50
PHOTOS:
Click here to download high-resolution photos.
HOW:
FreudOnConcaine.com
(818) 687-8559
For Immediate Release
Hawaiian Island Creations Lifestyle
Presents the 3rd Installment of its’
Aloha Everywhere Concert Series
The Dennis Kamakahi Music Festival
Featuring
Mike Kaawa - Kawika Kahiapo - Patrick Landeza & Sons - Jon Yamasato
Hosted by Brook Mahealani Lee
Downey Theatre – April 7, 2024; 3pm
WHAT:
The Aloha Everywhere Concert Series continues at the Downey Theatre with The Dennis Kamakahi Music Festival, for an afternoon of Hawaiian music to honor the late great slack key master and Hawai`i’s most prolific songwriter, Rev. Dennis Kamakahi, a three-time Grammy Award-winner and member of the 2009 Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame. Rev. Dennis Kamakahi was considered one of the most prolific Hawaiian songwriters of all time, with a mission to bring excellent music, cultivate community, and a nurturer of the culture by spreading aloha everywhere.
Rev. Kamakahi’s proteges and contemporaries will join the stage for an afternoon celebrating his lifelong musical works. Special guests include Mike Kaawa, Kawika Kahiapo, Patrick Landeza & Sons and Jon Yamasato. Brook Mahealani Lee, former 1997 Miss Universe, will be the MC and hula dancer for the evening.
“I am honored to be a part of the festival,” exclaims producer and musician Patrick Landeza, who is not only the Executive Director of Hawaiian Island Creation (HIC) Lifestyle which presents the entire Aloha Everywhere Concert Series in Downey, California, but a protege of Rev. Kamakahi and an accomplished musician in his own right. Landeza was born and raised on the mainland and is a two-time Na Hoku Hanohano award winner which is the equivalent of a Grammy Award and is the only mainland-based recipient of this prestigious award. He will feature his band “Patrick Landeza & Sons” with Justin Firmeza on steel guitar and PJ Landeza on bass.
Joining Landeza will be Mike Kaawa, one of the key figures in modern Hawaiian music, and famous for his 12-string guitar stylings. Kaawa has been part of many landmark recordings over the years and is a composer, arranger, singer, band leader, as well as a master instrumentalist. Like Rev. Kamakahi, Kaawa was recruited by Eddie Kamae to be a member as the final version of the legendary “Sons of Hawai`i.” Together, they had a successful band in the 90’s called Na Oiwi which included a young David Kamakahi, Shawn Ishimoto and Jon Yamasato.
Jon Yamasato has been part of the Hawaii music industry for over half of his life. He began his career as the lead singer for the award-winning trio Pure Heart and has performed throughout Hawaii, the West Coast, Texas and Japan, with acts such as Herb Ohta Jr., Na Oiwi and guitarist/singer Justin Young. Yamasato has accumulated five Na Hoku Hanohano awards and has recorded with many Na Hoku winning bands. While in his 20’s, he became an apprentice to Rev. Kamakahi, explaining “Dennis was a big influence on my music and taught me so much.”
Kawika Kahiapo has been on the professional music scene for over 40 years, having been on over 120 recording projects, including six of his own. He is a multi–Na Hoku Hanohano Award recipient, Slack Key Master, and known for his “voice of velvet.” He was also a featured artist on the Grammy-winning CD, “Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key.” “Dennis and I traveled and toured together on numerous occasions, super excited to share his music with everyone,” shared Kahiapo. Kahiapo’s passion for music started as a young boy, when his earliest mentors included his own father, and “Pops” Gabby Pahinui. His passion for music is very much intertwined in his life, as a day rarely goes by without him picking up his guitar. Kahiapo stays committed to perpetuating Hawaiian music, the culture, and the art of ki ho’alu.
WHEN: Sunday, April 7, 2024; 3 p.m.
WHERE: Downey Theatre, 8435 Firestone Blvd., Downey, CA 90241
PARKING: FREE in the on-site parking lot
TICKETS: $55-$65
HOW & MORE INFORMATION:
- https://www.downeytheatre.org/
- https://www.facebook.com/DowneyCivicTheatre; https://www.facebook.com/HICLifestyle; https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/1932263/downey-theater/
- https://www.facebook.com/HICLifestyle
- www.patricklandezamusic.com
- Video Nani Ka’ala from Patrick Landeza & Sons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNhgsJwAX30&list=OLAK5uy_nbA1knZ54m4CVCGQnEH1sxSgURbmwSnF8
- Video Waimanalo from Kawika Kahiapo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwyHLhcagn8
- Video Crazy Without You from Jon Yamasato: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXUBa51PN0I
- Video Catchin’ A Wave Medley from Mike Kaawa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYLnDlAb8VY
- Video Pua Hone from Dennis Kamakahi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6lTuvkbzxY
Brooke Mahealani Lee. Photo credit Kimo Lauer.
Jon Yamasato. Courtesy of Jon Yamasato.
Patrick Landeza & Sons. Courtesy of Patrick Landeza.
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fountain Theatre announces national job search
to replace outgoing artistic director Stephen Sachs
LOS ANGELES (March 11, 2024) — The Fountain Theatre board of directors has announced criteria in its national search to replace outgoing artistic director Stephen Sachs, who will retire at the end of 2024.
Sachs has been one of the most influential figures in the intimate theater scene in Los Angeles, not only as founding artistic director of the Fountain Theatre, but also as a playwright and director. The search seeks to find the individual best suited to honor and build upon Sachs’ legacy to lead the Fountain into the future and the next phase of its mission.
“The artistic director is the primary face of the organization, embodying and communicating the artistic vision and mission of the Fountain, and ensuring that the Fountain continues to be seen as one of the premier theaters in Los Angeles while advancing our national reputation,” states board chair Dorothy Wolpert.
Responsibilities of the new artistic director will include artistic leadership, including selecting and implementing full seasons of plays for the company; leading the development of new plays and the nurturing of new theater artists; and championing and sustaining arts education, dance and other programs, as well as administrative leadership: collaborating with the board to create and advance the organizational structure of the Fountain; supervising staff; and actively participating in all fundraising and development activities. Skills and qualifications include a B.A. or higher, preferably in the arts, and a minimum of five years experience as an artistic leader at a non-profit theater.
To find a detailed job description; a complete list of required skills, qualifications and personal leadership attributes; and information about salary and benefits, go to fountaintheatre.com/
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and writing sample on or before April 15 using this link. No phone calls please.
Questions can be sent via email to ADSearch@fountaintheatre.com.
NEWS RELEASE
L.A. Theatre Works docudrama ‘Exodus: The Shanghai Jews’
wins Audio Publishers Association Audie Award®
LOS ANGELES (March 7, 2024) — The L.A. Theatre Works recording of Exodus: The Shanghai Jews was named winner of the 2024 Audie Award® for original work at the annual awards ceremony on Monday, March 4. A program of the Audio Publishers Association, the Audie Awards® recognizes distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment.
An original, L.A. Theatre Works-commissioned docudrama by Kate McAll, Exodus recounts the true stories of eight refugees who escaped Nazi persecution to settle in Shanghai, China — the last place they could ever have imagined living.
“Exodus offers a personal glimpse into a little-known piece of history,” says L.A. Theatre Works producing director Susan Loewenberg. “We’re thrilled that it’s been recognized with a premier award in the audiobook industry.”
Recorded before a live audience over the course of four performances at UCLA’s James Bridges Theater, Exodus features the voices of veteran actors Edita Brychta, Shannon Cochran, Arye Gross, Anna Mathias, Alan Shearman, André Sogliuzzo and Joanne Whalley.
Previously, Exodus was lauded by AudioFile magazine, which named it a “Best Audiobook 2023.”
L.A. Theatre Works stands apart in its approach to making great theater widely accessible and affordable, bringing plays into homes and classrooms of millions of theater lovers, teachers and students each year. The company’s syndicated audio theater series broadcasts weekly on public radio stations across the U.S. (locally, in Southern California, on KPFK 90.7 FM); can be downloaded as a podcast via iTunes, NPR One, or wherever you get your podcasts; and can be streamed on demand at latw.org. The L.A. Theatre Works catalog of over 600 recorded plays is the largest archive of its kind in the world, featuring classics by William Shakespeare, George Bernard Shaw, Henrik Ibsen and Lillian Hellman, as well as new works by Lynn Nottage, Charlayne Woodard and Jeanne Sakata, to name a few. Audiofile magazine calls L.A. Theatre Works productions “the gold standard for fine audio theater recordings.”
Exodus: The Shanghai Jews is available for digital download for $4.99 at latw.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Roger Q. Mason’s The Pride of Lions to premiere with
Theatre Rhinoceros
World Premiere
Directed by Ely Sonny Orquiza
Previews March 28 & 29
Opening March 30
March 28 – April 21 at Theatre Rhinoceros
GLAAD Media Award winning Theatre Rhinoceros (John Fisher, Executive Artistic Director)
will present the World Premiere of The Pride of Lions by acclaimed Black Filipinx playwright
and Kilroys List honoree Roger Q. Mason (Lavender Men with Skylight Theatre), directed by
Ely Sonny Orquiza (Driven with Theatre Rhinoceros), March 28-April 21 at Theatre
Rhinoceros (4229 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94114). The Pride of Lions is made possible with
generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts and The Phyllis C. Wattis
Foundation.
In 1928, five female impersonators were imprisoned for indecency after performing in Mae
West’s The Pleasure Man. This is what happened on their first night in jail.
“Writing The Pride of Lions joined me with my gender-expansive self in a time when I was still
developing language to love who I was fully,” said playwright Roger Q. Mason. “This play is a
tribute to the people and places that helped me on that journey. Premiering the piece in San
Francisco holds eminent significance for me because the Bay Area has always been at the
forefront of LGBTQA+ rights, fighting vehemently for the honor and humanity of queer people
everywhere.”
The cast features Kim Larsen (The Initiation at The San Francisco Mint), Nic Moore (Red with
Bread and Butter Theatre), Michael DeMartini (Caroline, or Change with Ray of Light Theatre),
Brendan Looney (Hairspray with Bay Area Musicals), Patrick Chico (US Tour of My Mouth is
a Volcano), and Sean Prescott (Fences with 6th Street Playhouse). The creative team includes
Lighting Design by Andrew Schmedake (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very
Bad Day with South Coast Rep; Native Son at Center Theatre Group), Sound Design by Lana
Palmer (Man of God with Shotgun Players; Josephine’s Feast with Magic Theatre), Set Design
by Hector Zavala (Dream House with Cinnabar Theater), Props Design by Crystal Liu, and
Costume Design by Wendell Carmichael (A Raisin in the Sun at South Coast Rep; The Bluest
Eye with A Noise Within) with Dramaturg Gaven Trinidad (Theatre Communications Group
2021 Rising Leader of Color), Fight Choreographer Noah Luce (A Guide for the Homesick with
Theatre Rhinoceros), Movement Choreographer Chris Steele (Cutting Ball Theater), and
Intimacy Director Maya Herbsman (Clue on Stage at San Francisco Playhouse; Sanctuary City
with Berkeley Rep). The Production Stage Manager will be Rachel Mogan (Resident Stage
Manager at Crowded Fire Theatre).
Performances are scheduled for Thursday, March 28 at 8pm, Friday, March 29 at 8pm,
Saturday, March 30 at 8pm, Sunday, March 31 at 3pm, Thursday, April 4 at 8pm, Friday, April 5
at 8pm, Saturday, April 6 at 8pm, Sunday, April 7 at 3pm, Thursday, April 11 at 8pm, Friday,
April 12 at 8pm, Saturday, April 13 at 8pm, Sunday, April 14 at 3pm, Thursday, April 18 at 8pm,
Friday, April 19 at 8pm, Saturday, April 20 at 8pm, and Sunday, April 21 at 3pm. Tickets ($25-
$35) are available for advance purchase at https://www.therhino.org/the-pride-of-lions.
Roger Q. Mason (Playwright) (they/them) is a writer and performer who uses the lens of
history to disrupt the biases that divide rather than unite us. Their playwriting has been seen on
Broadway (Circle in the Square Reading Series); Off and Off-Off-Broadway; and regionally.
Mason's World Premiere of Lavender Men was lauded by the Los Angeles Times as "evoking
the mingled visions of Suzan-Lori Parks, Jeremy O. Harris and Michael R. Jackson." As a
filmmaker, Mason has been recognized by the British Film Institute, Lonely Wolf International
Film Festival, SCAD Film Festival, AT&T Film Award and Atlanta International Film Festival.
Their films have screened in the US, UK, Poland, Brazil, and Asia. Mason holds degrees from
Princeton University, Middlebury College, and Northwestern University. They are a member of
the Dramatists Guild of America and Ma-Yi’s Writing Lab, as well as an alum of Page 73’s
Interstate 73 Writers Group and Primary Stages Writing Cohort. Mason has co-hosted the
podcast Sister Roger’s Gayborhood and hosted This Way Out Radio's Queerly Yours: Portraits
in Courage. They are a lead mentor of The Marsha P. Johnson Institute’s Starship Fellowship,
the New Visions Fellowship and the Shay Foundation Fellowship. Instagram: @rogerq.mason.
Ely Sonny Orquiza (Director) is a co-Founder and co-Artistic Director of The Chikahan
Company. He serves as the Director of Education and Community at Magic Theatre, is a faculty
member at the American Conservatory Theatre, and works as a teaching artist for Word for
Word and StageBridge in the Bay Area. Orquiza was a fellow and mentor at the New York
Foundation for the Arts in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Additionally, he is a Theatre Bay Area
Cash Grant recipient for three-consecutive years with The Chikahan Company and a CALI
Catalyst Award recipient in 2021. He has been in various work at the American Conservatory
Theatre, Magic Theatre, Crowded Fire, Playwrights Foundation, The Kennedy Center
(Washington, D.C.), Leviathan Lab (New York, New York), East West Players (Los Angeles),
Studio 52nd (Amsterdam, Netherlands), and others. To keep in touch and learn more about his
works: https://www.elysonnyorquiza.org/.
Founded in 1977, Theatre Rhinoceros (John Fisher, Executive Artistic Director) is America’s
premier and longest-running queer theatre. From its inception, “The Rhino'' has been dedicated
to telling the stories of the queer community and creating a welcoming home for artists who are
queer or allied to the queer world. Our track record is one of bold, innovative, exciting
productions emphasizing the historical underpinning of the LGBTQ+ experience while
examining its present and bridging it to its future by giving voice to exciting emerging artists and
fresh narratives and formats. Our diverse audiences have always been enthralled, challenged,
and enlightened by our work, just as we have been inspired and energized by their enthusiasm.
Over the years Theatre Rhinoceros has received many awards of recognition including: Theatre
Rhinoceros Day in the City Proclamation from Mayor Gavin Newsom, State Assembly
Certificate of Recognition from Senator Mark Leno, recognitions from Congressperson Nancy
Pelosi and Assembly Persons Tom Ammiano and Carole Migden, numerous Cable Car, BATCC
and TBA Awards and Nominations, and the GLAAD Media Award for Best LGBT Theatre.
https://www.therhino.org/.
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