TheatreAddict.com - Bakersfield Drama Blog
Rants, raves, and musings about the Bakersfield Theatre community by yours truly - a real life theatre addictWednesday, September 27, 2006
Blogs on Acting posted by the OG of theatre addicts
When it comes to theatre addicts, Roger Mathey is truly the OG. The original and the best. I am merely following in his footsteps, contributing to the improvement of Bakersfield theatre where I can. I might carry the official title, but I'm more like the secretary of the TA movement then the major muscle.
Once again, Mr. M has been posting some interesting and meaty content on acting and auditions, so I'm jumping in to bring it before as many eyes as possible. Enjoy and improve your craft.
These blogs are posted exclusively on MySpace, you may have to have an account and be friends with the user to be able to read them.
So many methods... an interview for actors
You want to get their attention, actors?
Notes from a casting director...
Call backs... look at it as a second chance
Good advice for actors: BE YOURSELF
Des McAnuff and some wise advice for theatre people...
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
What is "Fuddy Meers?"
What is Fuddy Meers? What does it mean? Is it a concept? A person's name, perhaps a long lost relative of Elmer Fudd? What do those words signify? What is the play about?
I don't want you to know. I think you will be better off if you don't.
This is a show that needs to be experienced above all else, and I don't want to tell you anything about it until you see it.
You know how American Beauty teased you with ideas and concepts that you identified with, in sort of f****d up and bizarre but beautiful ways? You know how "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas" never made any sense, and you didn't know if it was real or a concept or a drug trip or what? You know how in the Sixth Sense you went to watch a movie about ghosts but ended up seeing a film that touched on deeper issues of death, dying, love, and regret? Do you love being caught by surprise, laughing your ass off, struggling to figure out what is going on, and being hit over the head with a truth sandwhich so hard it hurts?
It's like that.
You won't know what's going on. It is hilarious. It might make you cry. It is symbolic. It is meaningless. It is awesome.
Go see Fuddy Meers.
An Angst-Filled "Picnic"
On the surface William Inge's "Picnic" seems quite sedate. A small town in the 50's, average characters, nothing really all that intriguing. Ordinary people, ordinary day. But through Inge's obvious skill as a playwright, it wrestles with some of humanity's deepest anxieties in subtle but enthralling ways. Components of Bakersfield Community Theatre's September production live up to this fiery potential, but sadly, others fall desperately short.
It's a bright September day, perhaps much like this one, in a small Kansas town. The characters are introduced in unremarkable ways. Flo Owens (Jill Kelbert) wants to force her own regrets on beauty-queen daughter, Madge. Youngest daughter Millie (Jodi Lowry) strives to emerge from her sister's shadow by immersing herself in books, art, and poetry. Madge (Kelci Lowry) finds success and acceptance everywhere because of her good looks, but ends up feeling sad and empty.
The lives of the Owens girls and their neighbors are disrupted when a drifter enters their lives. Hal (Sam Hall) shows up to find his college friend, Alan, who turns out to also be Madges boyfriend. Hal walks onto the scene, oblivious to the fact that there is so much angst and longing in the air you can almost taste it. All of the characters besides Hal seem to be overwhelmed with loneliness, longing, or regret...and each responds to Hal's presence in kind.
Neighbor Mrs. Potts (Morning Miller) makes him breakfast and mothers him. The girl's mother is skeptical and doesn't trust him. At first it seems it may just be a parent's natural reaction, a mother of young pretty girls is prone to chase off any horny young man that comes near them, but it may be something else. Mrs. Owens doesn't want to see her girls throw their lives away (the way she did) it turns out). The Owens girls, Millie and Madge, are also drawn to him for their own reasons. Millie is finally noticed, and Madge is amazed to be noticed for different reasons.
The stage is set for some passionate emotional fireworks. But alas, for me there were some duds.
First of all, the performances are slightly uneven. The Lowry girls are top notch in their believability and ease on stage. Most of the rest of the cast is fairly good, though there were some awkward moments. But Hal seems to be in a different production than everyone else. His bravado and self confidence seem forced and come off as cocky. He struts around the stage like he owns the world and when the curtain comes down never he quite becomes likable to the audience. That's kind of a requirement for the show to work, the audience must feel some of the angst that is inspired by his entanglements with the rest of the characters. No likability, no angst.
Picnic is rather dark, but is filled with some downright beautiful insight and emotion. Young love is bursting at the seams, and when it explodes in awesome yet destructive ways, the audience gets to feel it.
Madge asks her mother "What can you do with the love you feel?"
This to me hit home, and points out an underlying theme in the show. Life is gut-wrenching, as is love, and so is "Picnic."
This is ever apprent in the climactic moments. There is one (as you may guess) that involves the young lovers. There is another one that didn't read as much to me in the script, but is very touching when it is brought to life on stage. Parallel to Madge asking and answering her question about love, is another plotline and revealing moment involving schoolteacher Rosemary (Julie Jordan-Scott) and her friend-boy, Howard (Mark Tarango).
For years Rosemary and Howard are content to live seprately as middle-aged boyfriend and girlfriend. They never consumate their relationship (at least as I heard one line elude to) and never seem very serious. In one scene, suddenly something pushes Rosemary off of the edge of reason and she explodes with yearning to be had and loved. What do you do with the love you feel? What if you never get to have that love given to you? Brought to life by passional Julie Jordan-Scott, Rosemary's scene was one of the most moving in the play to me...and really seemed to compliment the main plotline and emotional arch of the show.
Here you have this sublime small town, fairly boring in fact. But under the surface you have people screaming to be loved and noticed, scrambling to try to figure out what to do with the huge feelings they feel. It's a universal portrayal of human passion and struggle. It's touching and beautiful, and though the story is dark and doesn't leave you with a positive affirmation of the perfection of love, it will move you.
BCT's production is somewhat uneven, but definitely a good attempt with great acting. I think the biggest travesty for me is not seeing it live up to it's full potential. I wanted to be moved to tears the way I was when I read the script, and I wasn't quite.
For more information on the show, go here:
http://www.bakersfieldcommunitytheatre.org/nowplaying.htm
and make sure to read NL & Matildakay's completely different reactions to Picnic, here:
http://www.nlbelardes.com/blogger/2006/09/nl-goes-to-picnic-by-nl-belardes.html
http://matildakay.com/2006/09/picnic.html
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Testify
Testify
Current mood: 
weird
Category: Art and Photography
I saw "Fuddy Meers" last night at The Empty Space, and also had a chance to view some of the "Burn The Witch" art...and stuck around to watch Blacklist too. I must say...
Wow. Fuddy Meers is amazing, first of all. I need to put together a tantalizing blog about it this weekend to tempt your tastebuds for the flurry of comedic and emotional surprises you are in for if you go to see it. It is very different, it took me until the end of the play to even figure out what I was watching. Is it really a comedy? Is it symbolic? Meaningful? Well, yes. It's all of those. Wow.
Second, the "Burn The Witch" art is incredible. I have never been so moved by art this way. The pieces are dripping with emotion, screaming with expression, and just plain complex and beautiful. And mind you, I just browsed some of the art during intermission of FM. I have not yet experienced the full force of the art show...hopefully we'll be able to stop by tonight on our way out of town. These girls are fantastic. Scratch that, these artists are fantastic. I am wowed, again.
Lastly...I don't have direct word on this but it seems like Blacklist might be taking a break at the end of the month or heading off on a world tour or something (who can tell with these guys) so make sure to catch them in September before they're gone.
That's my testimony, what about you? If you experience art this weekend, you gots to testify, brothers and sisters. Amen.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
September Shows Kick Off
I still need posters from the Gaslight and Rat...but here's all the rest. If I'm missing any others, email or IM me.
Want to go see one? Theatre Calendar.
THIS WEEK IN BAKERSFIELD THEATER:Week ending September 10, 2006
4. Blacklist at the Empty Space (late night)
10. Kelly-oke Thursday at Kosmos
13. The Theatre Addict
at THE EMPTY SPACE (prime time)
Written by David Lindsay-Abarre
Directed by Cory Rickard
Friday and Saturday at 8p
Fuddy Meers starts off just as just another normal day for Claire (Ariane Sarzotti). She wakes up and greets the morning. Her husband, Richard (Joel Walton), brings her a cup of coffee, and patiently explains that she suffers from a form of psychogenic amnesia that erases her memory every night when she goes to sleep. Claire takes the news rather cheerfully, but unlike other mornings, has a few serious questions to ask. Things really start to go awry when a furtive limping, lisping, half-deaf man in a ski mask (Don Kruska) kidnaps Claire, and her husband will stop at nothing to get her back. Other characters we meet along Claire's journey include Kenny (Jarrod Ackerley), Claire's overgrown eighth grade son who has issues of his own, Claire's mother, Gertie (Amy Hall), who speaks in "stroke talk," Millet (David Rock), an ex-convict with a foul mouthed puppet, and Heidi (Guinevere Park-Hall Dethlefson), a very intense woman in uniform. David Lindsay-Abaire's wacky yet poignant comedy directing by founding Empty Space member Cory Rickard proves that no family dysfunction is insurmountable.
This hilarious comedy is intended for adults.
Admission to this production is FREE with donations accepted
The Empty Space is located at 706 Oak Street.
More information can be obtained by calling The Empty Space at 327-PLAY (327-7529).
at BAKERSFIELD COMMUNITY THEATRE
Written by William Inge
Directed by Barry Wolcott
Friday and Saturday at 8p
What starts as neighborhood picnic to celebrate the end of another run-of-the-mill Summer turns into a life-changing twenty-four hours for a group of women in a small, mid-western town.
Madge Owens (Kelci Lowry), the town beauty queen, catches the attention of drifter Hal Carter (Sam Hall), who comes into town to meet up with his friend from college Alan (Travis Glenn) who is coincidentally also Madge's boyfriend. Madge's mother, Flo (Jill Kelbert) has one main concern - tosee that Madge finds happiness with Alan and not relive her mistakes while younger daughter Millie, (Jodi Lowry) finds solace in books,art, poetry and her beloved neighbor, Mrs. Potts (Morning Miller) even when accosted by neighborhood delivery boy, Bomber (Hector Rubio.)
Spinster school teacher, Rosemary sydney (JulieJordan Scott) is admired by her teacher peers, Irma Kronkite (Meg Swift) and Christine Shoen walder,(Fred Barnett) but continues to focus on what she is missing in her relationship with local small businessman, Howard Bevans, (Mark Tarango).
"Picnic" was the Winner of the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Outer Circle Award, the New York Drama Critics Award, and a Donaldson Award.
The story takes place in 1950s small-town Kansas, but this is not a simple celebration of heartland values.
Bakersfield Community Theatre is located at
Music and lyrics by Jim Wann
Sunday at 12:30p for lunch, 2pm show
As the house opens, Pump Boys Jim, Eddie, Jackson and L.M. come out on stage to tune their instruments. Besides being 'Pump Boys', they are actors, singers, dancers and musicians. While they are busy tuning and chatting, the Dinettes, Prudie and Rhetta, are preparing their Diner for opening and have a little chat with the incoming curius audience. Once when everybody is seated, the show can begin.
Pump Boys and Dinettes -- A Rock 'n Roll - Country & Blues Musical Revue -- is the sort of show that feeds off the energy and pleasure of its audience, celebrating life and love in a small, southern town.
Half of the clever setting is a country diner out on Highway 57, somewhere between Frog Level and Smyrna, and the other half is a gas station, meant to be located on the other side of the highway. Its characters are four guys who pump gas, and two gals, the Cupp sisters, waitress/proprietors of the Double Cupp Diner across the highway. These are six relentlessly cheerful people out to have a good time.
4. Blacklist
at THE EMPTY SPACE (late night)
Friday at 11pm
The improv comedy troupe that refuses to suck is back for more! See Michael Amendariz, Robert Chan, Adam McCabe and sometimes special guest Jason Monroe for evenings of hilarity that keep you coming back for more!
This unique show invites you to join on in!
Admission is only $5 and helps keep The Empty Space going year round!
The Empty Space is located at 706 Oak Street.
More information can be obtained by calling The Empty Space at 327-PLAY (327-7529).
5. Major League Improv
at THE SPOTLIGHT THEATER
Saturday 6:00pm
Looking for some Major League funny on a Saturday night?
A Major League Improv match features two teams of improvisers competing for laughs and points, with a referee keeping things moving and calling fouls. An average of seven to twelve games are played during a match, drawn from a repertoire of over a hundred improv games. For example, in "Shakespeare" a team will improvise a scene inspired by an audience suggestion in Shakespearean style. In the game of "Elimination Rap", a player will create a rap on the spot, trading off each yo mama's phrases, getting thrown out if they fall off the meter, or fail to rhyme. In Forward/Reverse" a player sends another player back and forth at will, as though scanning a scene in a VCR, sending players into a frenzy. Every show is different, with different players, different games, and different audiences supplying new suggestions.
$6 Students and $8 Adults at the door.
The Spotlight Theater is located at
You can save a buck by calling (661) 634-0692 and making reservations.
Saturdays at 1pm & 7pm
Sundays at 2pm
at THE EMPTY SPACE
Directed by Barbara Gagnon
Be a part of the World Premiere of Jessie's Place, a new comedy by Barbara Gagnon. What develops when six senior citizens set out to build a second bathroom. Why is hospital equipment being stockpiled in the laundry room? Who is the strange man in the shower? Where did Jessie get all that money she has been hiding? Find out the answer to these and other baffling questions, with Jessie's Place at The Empty Space.
Auditions will be held at The Empty Space this Saturday, September 9 from 11 AM - 1 PM, and then again on Sunday, September 10 from 10 AM - 1 PM.
Performances dates and times are Fridays and Saturdays, November 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 at 8:00 PM, with Sunday matinees November 5 & 12 at 2:00 PM. This play is suitable for general audiences.
The Empty Space is located at 706 Oak Street between Stockdale Highway and California Avenue in the Pizzaville Shopping Center (Bakersfield's first shopping center!).
Call 327-PLAY for more information.
8. Sideways Stories from Wayside School
At BAKERSFIELD COMMUNITY THEATER
Written by Louis Sachar
Adapted by John Olive:
Directed by Kevin Lively
September 16 at 1pm
Sideways Stories from Wayside School is an adaptation of the series by Louis Sachar. The stories revolve around Wayside Elementry, but mostly the class on the 30th story of Wayside School (the school was supposed to 30 classrooms long, but the builders made it 30 stories tall... they said they were sorry).
Wayside School is the only place where kids get turned into apples, computers are tossed out the window and dead rats try to crash classes.
The characters are just as unique as the school itself.
The Staff:
Mrs. Gorf~ The meanest teacher in the history of teachers!
Mrs. Jewls~ The nicest teacher in the history of teachers!
Mr. Gorf~ A substitute.
Miss Zarves~ She teaches on the 19th floor... the 19th floor does not exist, therefore Miss Zarves doesn't exist. Get it? Good, then you explain it to me.
Mrs. Valooooosh~ The dance teacher. Sorry, not dance... THE TANGO!
Mr. Pickell~ School psychiatrist/ hypnotist. A sick, sick sense of humor.
Louis~ The yard duty. The kids love him, and why not. He is in charge of the recess balls.
The Students:
Bebe Gunn~ The fastest draw in the school. (Meaning she can draw really fast, she's not a cowboy).
Rondi~ She has the prettiest teeth ever!
Leslie~ She can read at a 5th grade level! But only while upside down...
Myron~ Poor guy, worst luck ever...
Dameon~ Always with a smile on his face!
Sammy~ Not really a student, just a dead rat that tries to sneak in.
The Rats:
We're seeking young actors with special talents that would like to be part of the show... playing rodents.
Aux. Actors:
We need about 4 actors to take on small duties such as background, puppetry, and other misc. tasks!
Voice Over parts!!!!!!!
A great way to be involved with the show without having to make those pesky rehearsals and performances! Come to auditions or just drop me a line.
Mr. Kidswatter~ The principal.
Leslie's Pigtails~ 2 voices to perform the challenging role of hair!
Mrs. Kidswatter~ A cow. Moo like you've never Moo'ed before!
Miss Mush~ The lunch lady... her food is so nasty it makes Denny's seem like not Denny's!
The show is directed by THE HOBBIT's Kevin Lively assisted by Katherine Scott.
READ THE BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Come to auditions with an open mind and willing to have fun!!!!!! Dress to be able to move around and play. Show up a little bit early to fill out some paper work. If auditioning for a rat, make sure you have a special talent ready to show off.
Bakersfield Community Theatre is located at
9. Da' Hip-Hop Wizz
Performed at the Rabobank Arena
Auditions at LQ's Performing Arts Center
Saturday, September 9 from 11a 1p
A local performing arts comany is staging at show at the Rabobank called "Da' Hip-Hop Wizz" (a modernized version of the Wizard of Oz). There will be two performances on February 11th, 2007. They are looking for volunteers to help build sets, and actors, singers, and dancers to audition.
Open auditions are being held on Saturday, September 9th from 11AM to 1PM at LQ's Performing Arts Center (1330 19th Street on the corner of 19th & L Street). They are looking for all kinds of dancers and actors of all ages. Dancers must come with a 1-minute dance routine and Actors with a 1-minute monologue.
If you have any questions about auditions or would like to help build sets, contact LaQuette Milner (LQ) at 343-0442.
at KOSMOS SPORTS BAR AND RESTAURANT
All these contests will be over a 6 month period.
11. Burn The Witch Art Show
at THE EMPTY SPACE
Various Artists
Presented by Jen Raven
Opening September 9th and 16th Gala from 2p - 7p
Let It Be Known to the People of this Towne that the Most Infamous and Foul Witches Jen Raven and Jenn Williams are to be Burned in the Towne Square, with All of Their Coven, on September the Ninth, in This Year of Our Lord Two-Thousand Six. Amen.
If We can't find any Wood to Burn Them, We'll just have to put on an Art Gallery Opening, instead.
Either way; it should be a Good Time.
Bring Marshmallows.
The Accused!
Jen Raven
Jenn Williams
*Nyoka*
Amber Saunders-Quiroz
Alexis Nelson
Allison Padgett
Ashley Martinez
Katie Campbell
Susan Roussel
Meladi Moret
Heather Magness
Rose Lester
Guinevere Park-Hall Dethlefson
Julie Jordan-Scott
Theresa Tate
Ashleymarie Sey DeBondt
Denise Wilson
The exhibit runs September 9 - 23 at The Empty Space gallery.
Our gallery is open 30 minutes prior to any of the shows at the Empty Space and by appointment.
Short films can be drama, horror, documentary, comedy, mockumentary, claymation, or animation.
You can purchase a copy of Lords: Part One at www.noveltown.net
Entry fee is $15 per submission. You can enter as many times as you like.
Entries must be submitted on DVD and be at least 3-10 minutes in length.
All entries will be posted on Noveltown.net and possibly shown at an upcoming Bakersfield Independent Film Festival (BIFF) no matter where the film was made (i.e. Canada, New York, Florida, Los Angeles, etc.).
Entries and fees are due by October 1st with winners announced on Halloween, 2006. Contact melody@noveltown.net with any more questions on this very creepy short film contest.
Mail entries and entry fee to:
Cinema of the Lords Contest
c/o Noveltown
P.O. Box 10115
Bakersfield, CA 93389
how you can enjoy the arts fully...
arts and you have been thoroughly entertained!
Roger Mathey
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bakersfield-Theater/
http://www.theatreaddict.com
to art? Check out NL Belardes site at:
http://www.nlbelardes.com/blogger/musicrev.html
--Friedrich Nietzsche--
Monday, September 04, 2006
IM me - new screen name - and what's coming this week
I created a new AIM screen name so you can bug me without even having to go to the trouble of emailing or calling. Find out what's going on, harass me until I come see your show, or just shoot the breeze. The AIM screen name is
thetheatreaddict
I am also on Yahoo IM as mysoulishome.
For those of you who have my personal AIM screen name, I'm still using that as well.
Anypoop, I'm going to try to get a blog up this week with posters of all the shows playing this month. Look for that this week. I also have an hour or so of audio from the BCT Awards ceremony from a few weeks ago. I pray I'll have time to process it and make it into a podcast soon. This weekend I don't have any DJ gigs (finally) so I'll be seeing at least two shows. Hurray. More theatrey goodness on the way.
Keep the faith...
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Hip-Hop Wizz - Volunteers, actors, & dancers needed
Finally, a chance to see local actors in a large scale musical at the Rabobank theatre! This has me excited. So here's the story...
A local performing arts comany is staging at show at the Rabobank called "Da' Hip-Hop Wizz" (a modernized version of the Wizard of Oz). There will be two performances on February 11th, 2007. They are looking for volunteers to help build sets, and actors and dancers to audition.
Open auditions are being held on Saturday, September 9th from 11AM to 1PM at LQ's Performing Arts Center (1330 19th Street on the corner of 19th & L Street). They are looking for all kinds of dancers and actors of all ages. Dancers must come with a 1-minute dance routine and Actors with a 1-minute monologue.
Sounds like fun, no?
If you have any questions about auditions or would like to help build sets, contact LaQuette Milner (LQ) at 343-0442. They are a non-profit ogranization, and this is truly a community theatre production. Hope to see you in the show!
Hello from the Ridgeview Drama Dept.
Hello Aaron. My name is Jennifer Resolme and I am the new Drama teacher at Ridgeview. Cathy Henry gave me the info about your website and effort and so I thought I would drop you a line to tell you about myself and our upcoming production. I have been a member of your myspace website for several months, but Im not usually one to put my two cents in on the issues.
I taught English at Ridgeview last year, but when the administration offered the Drama position to me this year I could not turn it down. While attending CSUB, I taught Musical Theatre at
Thank you for your endeavor to unite
Sincerely,
Jennifer Resolme
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