2012 guys, whoa!

I have a moment, in which I will update you all, albeit briefly:

1 - Reading awesome student plays for Young Playwrights Theater's New Writers Now Festival = INSPIRING!
2 - Maryland Ensemble Theatre retreat to choose the next season = EXCITING! (+ video games)
3 - Building puppets for an awesome Fun Company show: The Young Olympians = CHALLENGING *AND* AWESOME!

So all in all, the year's off to a pretty cool start! :)

-Vaness

5 Stars for Pinocchio!

Photo by Joe Williams, 2011

Mike Spain of Maryland Theatre Guide gives The Commedia Pinocchio 5 stars:

"If the purpose of The Fun Company at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre is to create fun on stage then they got it right in their production of The Commedia Pinocchio. The talented cast turns this production – geared for younger audiences – into pure entertainment for the entire family. From the moment the show begins – the audiences sees that the entire ensemble is having a great time and it makes the experience even more enjoyable."

The Commedia Pinocchio only has 3 performances left! We run this Saturday and Sunday at 2pm and closes next Saturday at 2pm, so order your tickets through the box office: 301-694-4744 or through the MET website!

The Commedia Pinnochio opens next Saturday!

Taking my nose off the grindstone for a moment here to let you all know my next show, "The Commedia Pinocchio" opens next Saturday, November 26th at 2pm at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre.  You can order your tickets online or call the MET box office at 301-694-4744.

Rehearsing for this has been hilarious- since we're doing it in a commedia dell'arte style, we as a cast have really taken our characters to silly heights, which is what we hope to do while at the same time communicating the moral of this classic tale.  Also... there is a puppet (!) and it's not the character you may think it is... ;)

The show runs Saturdays & Sundays, Nov. 26th through Dec. 17th at 2pm.  All performances take place at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick Street, Frederick, MD.  Parking is available on the street (metered on Saturdays, but free on Sundays), and in the Court Street Garage across from the theatre.

Also, you may have noticed a new banner across the top of the blog!  Yep, I got new headshots from the awesome Johnny Shryock.  You can see the rest of my shots by clicking on "Headshots" on the navigation bar up top.

Ciao-ciao!

-Vaness

A B C... Pinocchio!

Torture's over and I made it through alive (ba-dum-bum-ching!) - from scarfing down fresh homemade french toast to working with a talented cast to discussing the implications of the show with audience members, it was a great experience. :)

Coming up next for me at the MET is a bit of a change of pace from my latest work there. I'll be playing Arlequino in The Commedia Pinnochio as part of the MET's Fun Company season.  Imagine Pinnochio as performed by a ragtag group commedia dell'arte players, with masks and puppets!  We start rehearsals soon and I'm thrilled to get into some movement work... be sure to check back here for when tickets go on sale online!

Still credit: Max Cook, Jason Horowitz

In the meantime, "A B C," a short film by Rob Parrish that I did makeup for this past April was an official selection at this year's DC Shorts Festival.  You can check out the film on Rob's Next to Heaven site by clicking here.

The film features Bryan Norrington and Joey Ibanez, who I performed with in "Clockwork Orange" and "Why Torture is Wrong and the People Who Love Them."

Be sure to check back here for more updates to come!

-Vaness