Auditions Update

Anthony Bean is looking for six African-American male actors 20-50 for the local premiere of August Wilson's TWO TRAINS RUNNING, which will bow at Bean's, 1333 S. Carrollton Avenue Theatre in June. Auditions by appointment only. Call 504-862-7529

Director C. Patrick Gendusa will hold auditions for Neil Simon's PLAZA SUITE Monday and Tuesday 26-27 March, 7-9 p.m. at Carlone's Dinner Theatre, 100 N.  Labarre Road in Metairie. Needed are a versatile actor and actres who can play  30s-50s and an actor and actress who can play 20s-30s.  Actors should come  prepare with a short monologue headshot and resumé. Call 504-838-9906 for more information.

The Shakespeare Festival at Tulane is accepting applications for internships in  performance and technical theater, which will culminate in a production of MUCH  ADO ABOUT NOTHING.  Auditions are Saturday 24 March, 1-3 p.m. for actors 17 and older, who should bring a headshot, resumé, and come prepared with two  contrasting monologues from any Shakespeare play. Also: Shakespeare and Company is holding a Weekend-Intensive Workshop (20 hous of voice and text work for experienced actors) 6-8 April. There are fees involved for both the apprentice  program and workshop. For more information on either call 504-865-5105 Ext.8.

Lori McWhorter is auditioning actors for her graduate thesis film Tuesday and  Wednesday 27-28 March, 6-10 p.m. at the University of New Orleans Performing Arts Center, Room 120. Needed are men and women 20s-30s and extras to play a  fictitious film crew. For more information, call 504-945-0922.

News

Louisianians honored with Oscar nominations.Steven Soderbergh makes history with two double plays.Soderbergh, who grew up in Baton Rouge, made Oscar history becoming the first person everto be graced with two nominations for Best Director, for two movies that are also up for Best Picture, in the same year.The honors came for ERIN BROCKOVICH and TRAFFIC. Most reports indicate that Soderbergh himself will not promote either film; however, the rival studios, Universal Pictures released ERIN BROCKOVICH, USA Films released TRAFFIC; well, they certainly, will not likely be so objective.

On the downside (looks daft written … how could there be such a side to his accomplishments?) taking home the Oscar is not a fait accompli for Mr. Soderbergh. Quite the opposite.  He must realize that split support could send him home without a gold man on March 25^th.

Edouard Henriques, a New Orleans native, who started his makeup career at Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, received an Academy Award nomination for Best Makeup (which he shares with designer Michele Burke) for his work on the sci-fi THE CELL.

The honor is especially meaningful to him, Henriques said, because it comes from his peers – makeup artists and hairdressers who understand the effort that goes into his work.

Theatre

The initial program of COLD READ, Su Gonczy's brainchild, opened February 21st at Le Chat Noir 715 St. Charles Avenue; and, her baby got off to a great start!

As noted in our February Que Pasa? column, COLD READ, will be held on alternating Wednesdays at the club. It's all about original writings for the stage. It's a venue for the first-time (a few were petrified) writer or veteran, to step up (some were pushed) on the stage and read a scene/passage of their work in front of an audience! A great meeting place for directors on the prowl for something new, convivial theatre networking, and, lets not forget, audiences looking for a new theatrical experience. Admission is free; and, it coincides with that great American past time - Happy Hour - so drinks are reasonably priced. Submit your work by calling Su Gonczy at (504) 581-5812. If you don't want to read, they'll find someone to do it.

MIKKO PRESENTS … THE GODFATHER

Le Chat Noir’s “Movies Without Screens” series continues with a staged reading of the Francis Ford Coppola classic. Mikko Macchione himself plays “all the guys who get beat up.” Tickets are $15. Opens March 2 at 8p.m.

NUNSENSE at The Arcade Theatre, 2249 Carey St. Olde Town Slidell.  Dan Goggin’s “Little Sisters of Hoboken” returns.  March 2, 3 at 8 p.m. and 4^th at 3 p.m. $12 Telephone” (504) 847-9561

Next up for Tulane University’s Department of Theatre & Dance:

THE HOSTAGE by Brendan Behan
Directed by Jim Donadio
March 28-April 8, 2001
March 28-31, April 4-7 at 8:00 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays
March 31, April 1, April 7 & 8 at 2:00 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays
Tickets are $5.00 for students and seniors, $7.00 for faculty and $8.00  general admission.
Reservations are recommended. Call 865-5106

Loyola University New Orleans 2001 Season Loyola University Theatre.
TARTUFFE by Moliere, translation by Ranjit Bolt
Director: Perry Martin

Marquette Theatre
Dates: March 16, 17, 22, 23 & 24 at 8:00 p.m. and March 25 at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10 General Admission, $7 Students, Children and Senior Citizens

Spring Senior Project One-Act Festival

Director: Seniors
Theatre: Lower Depths Theatre
Dates: April 6,7, 20, 21, 25 & 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: Free Admission! 
Call 865-3824 for Information

SPIRIT(S) OF MARDI GRAS?!

Producer Roy Smith Jr. has noticed something unusual at recent performances of …AND THE BALL AND ALL at True Brew Café Theatre. “I don’t know if it’s just Carnival spirit or if we’re turning into the BALL AND ALL PICTURE SHOW. But lately, people have begun participating in the show. We had people who whipped out masks for the ball sequence the other night and recently, in the scene where Verna produces the swear jar for Frances to pay something whenever she uses bad language, a man got up, put a dollar in it and said, ‘Go for it, Frances!

Hmmmm, sounds like … Showwww me SPIRITS!!!

…AND THE BALL AND ALL, currently on Carnival hiatus this week returns to the True Brew March 9th.  Telephone: (504) 524-8440

TO MASK OR NOT TO MASK

Anyone can mask for Mardi Gras.  Less than half do; but, boy do they get their 15 minutes (make that seconds) on local TV news! Performers get to mask all year ‘round.  And some local actors will be masquerading as all kinds of famous personages post-Carnival. George Sanchez will play the lively ghost of John Barrymore in Paul Rudnick’s comedy I HATE HAMLET at Rivertown Repertory Theatre beginning March 9. (504) 468-7221

Ray Vrazel Jr. will be artist Edgar Degas during his New Orleans visit in Rosary O’Neils DEGAS opening March 16 at Southern Repertory Theatre.

Kara Hadigan has been cast as child bride “Baby Doll” Meighan in Tennessee Williams TIGER TAIL for Le Petit Theatre and the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival.  Telephone (504) 522-2081

And Jaimie Lynn Sigler (a.k.a. Meadow Soprano) will be Cinderella when the Disney-Rodgers and Hammerstein musical appears at the Saenger Theatre March 27th.

A LUV’LY BUNCH OF LINK-A-DINK-A-DOs 
www.nammys.com  
The Native American Music Awards Web Site (they’re annual, just like the Grammys). And, they’ve finally made it to the Grammys! (aired February 21 on CBS. Presenter Robbie Robertson The category was Native American Music Album of the Year.  Winners: Tom Bee and Douglas Spotted Eagle Producers. Album titled GATHERING OF NATIONS POW WOW

Speaking of the Grammys. The spotlight shined on our people also. Three Grammys were awarded to Crescent City-related projects: A compilation of Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings won in the best historical album category.  Saxophonist Branford Marsalis (what a gifted family!) won best jazz instrumental album of the year for his Contemporary Jazz.  And, Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack’s collaboration with blues legend B.B. King won in the best pop collaboration category for Is You Is, Or Is You Ain’t (My Baby).

www.redvinyl.com

Litefoot, an Indian Rapster. This guy’s good. Year-in, Year-out, he wins a Nammy. Move aside Eminem. He’s not Shady … he’s Real.

www.thislife.org

Do go there! You won’t regret it. It’s This American Life. The program is on National Public Radio every Sunday.  I had the good fortune of tuning in that night and was enraptured by the reading of, and by, Tobias Wolff’s short story Bullet in the Brain, from his, book, The Night in Question. It aired originally in 1998 and was replayed on Sunday, February 18th on the TAL.  I was driving home that night.  I kept circling the block until it ended!  And it ends with a Jimmy Durante song in the background, namely A WAY OF LIFE. Listening to it read on the radio will make it a double treat for all you radiophiles out there. The program that evening was titled LAST WORDS: Stories of people's last words before death. Their one last shot at figuring things out, summing things up. One last moment of asserting the fact of our existence, at the moment of our annihilation.  Start from the beginning, naturalmente, it’s all worthwhile!

BULLET IN THE BRAIN is ACT 6 of LAST WORDS.  It is in This American Life’s archives at
www.thislife.org/ra/114.ram  

After a few seconds of buffering all you have to do is listen (you can download RealPlayer for free, should that be necessary). I impatiently advanced the Play button to 43 minutes. Now that wasn’t difficult!  Notice I saved it for last in our column! Please check your local NPR station for program times/days/dates for this wonderful program.

Auditions

Producer Mary Redman Duran has formed ShowWagon Productions  which she describes as "a traveling company bringing quality theatre experiences directly to audiences." Auditions for performers 18 and older with flexible daytime schedules will be by appointment Saturday, March 17, at Rayne Methodist Church, 4100 St. Charles Ave. Directors and tech staff are also being sought and all are Paid positions, Duran said. For an audition appointment, call her at 504-837-9114 or 504-259-9114.  Directors and technical staff should send resumés to Duran at 2016 Metairie Court, Metairie, La. 70001. The first production, planned for April, will be a children's musical that will tour area schools. 

Directors Sonny Borey and Derek Franklin and choreographer Karen Hebert will hold auditions for the musical THE MYSTER OF EDWIN DROOD, Monday and Tuesday, March 19, 20. Time 7 p.m. at Le Petit Theatre, 616 St. Peter St.  they are looking for men and women 17 and older and character men and women of all ages.  Actors should bring a head shot, resumé and prepared vocal piece. An accompanist will be provided. They should also be dressed for a movement audition. DROOD, the Rupert Holmes music hall version of Dickens' unfinished last novel will play June 1-17 at Le Petit.  For more information, call the theater, 504-522-2081.

Nord Theatre director Ty Tracy is still seeing actors by appointment for his production of the musical PURLIE which will be staged at the Gallier Hall (New Orleans first City Hall and the city's official toasting spot for the Kings and Queens of REX and ZULU annualy, each Mardis Gras day).  PURLIE will begin in May 2001.  Needed are mature African-American actor-singer-dancers, a mature white actor to play comic villain Cap'n Cotchipee and an actor who is between 17 and his early 20s to play his sympathetic son Charlie.  to make an appointment, call Tracy at 504-565-7860.  

© 2001 Steve&Lucille Esquerré ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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