ART = ♥

My apologies for the delayed update!  The year really took off, and I'll tell you why:

This weekend saw the read-throughs of the next two shows I'm involved in at Maryland Ensemble Theatre: (1) The Young Olympians and the Most Amazingly Awesome Adventure Ever and (2) Antigone, the former a completely original children's show written by MET company member Sarah Shulman and the latter a brand-new adaptation of the classic Greek tragedy written by MET company member Reiner Prochaska.

What most excites me about these two shows is the fact that I'm getting to work creatively with some of my favorite people!  For Young Olympians, I'll be pitching in on the construction of several classic monsters of Greek mythology, including a puppet version of Cerberus, the three-headed dog of Hades.  I'll be understudying for Cerberus, but I am thrilled to be getting to coach the puppeteers in the show.  For Antigone, I will be playing the title role in this adaptation, which shows the story of Antigone permeating time and place, with each stasimon of the play occurring in different periods of war and strife through 400 years of world history.  I'm excited for the challenge, excited for the story we're going to tell, and eager to be a part of what I imagine will be a momentous artistic experience.

I hope you'll come be a part of it.  :)

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