Associated Content for “Until the Flood”

Conversation with Dael Orlandersmith, Neel Keller and Student Artists

Center Theatre Group hosted a conversation with “Until the Flood” writer/performer Dael Orlandersmith, director Neel Keller and student artists representing theatres across the country. Moderated by Center Theatre Group’s Teaching Artist, Christine Breihan. Participating student artists include Alex W. (Milwaukee Repertory), Fletcher J. and Sonia-Sofia R. (Center Theatre Group), Mikayla A. (Portland Center Stage), Ariel B. (Goodman Theatre) and Marie-Antoinette B. (Denver Center for the Performing Arts). The discussion is free to the public and available at www.centertheatregroup.org/digitalstage/videos/writerperformer-dael-orlandersmith-and-director-neel-keller/

A Noise Within (ANW), California’s acclaimed classic repertory theatre company, announces its reopening for live and in-person performances kicking off its 30th Anniversary Season with Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare’s modern-day retelling of Homer’s epic An Iliad, directed by ANW Producing Artistic Director Julia Rodriguez-Elliott
(she/her/hers). An Iliad will run from Sept. 12 through Oct. 3, 2021, with press performances on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m.

“We have always deeply believed that live theatre must be a reflection of our collective experience, that it must be timely and timeless,” said Co-Producing Artistic Directors Geoff Elliott (he/him/his) and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott. “An Iliad is eerily relevant right now given what is happening in the world—a story of humankind’s addiction to rage and conflict—an ancient story playing out now in every news outlet across the globe.”

Having originally filmed their stage production of An Iliad, ANW is excited to provide theatre goers the experience live. ANW powerhouses Deborah Strang (she/her/hers) and Geoff Elliott alternate performances as The Poet in An Iliad, reliving and recounting bloodshed through hundreds and thousands of years. The lone witness of an ancient and ravaged Trojan battlefield weaves a tale of tragedy and triumph, with an enduring love for every victim of war. The Poet, an eternal being tasked with a passionate examination of deadly conflict, grapples with grief and dualities of victory and loss, power and fragility, heroism and hubris in an unforgettable modern take on Homer’s classic.

“As a one-person show, An Iliad delves into the primal nature of storytelling in a well-crafted and prescient tale of war,” said Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott. “The Poet in An Iliad is trying to shatter the protective chrysalis of the audience, getting people to understand that nothing has changed in warfare since before the Trojan War.”

As A Noise Within prepares the facility to re-open to live theater for their new season, the wellness of the patrons, staff, crew, and artists continues to be a top priority. For months, the theatre has developed and refined extensive plans to keep everyone safe. These procedures include but are not limited to: staff and crew certifying as Covid compliance officers, initiating a deep clean of our HVAC system for optimal turnover of fresh air, routinely disinfecting high-touch areas, providing PPE, and following LA Department of Health guidelines.

Before being admitted into the theatre, all audience members must provide full proof of vaccination. Masks are required regardless of vaccination status and will be available on site until such time that LA County stops requiring masks indoors. At that point, masks will continue to be strongly recommended. A Noise Within has required full vaccination for all staff, artists, and volunteers who work onsite. More information is available at anoisewithin.org/covidsafety.

“Since it is a one-person show without an intermission, An Iliad is an ideal production to reintroduce yourself to the live theatre experience,” said Julia Rodriguez-Elliott. “In the meantime, we are engaging in ongoing conversations with crew, staff, artists, and audiences to ensure that we hear all voices and make everyone feel as safe as possible.”

Single ticket prices for An Iliad start at $25 and are available at anoisewithin.org, by phone at 626-356-3121, and at the box office located at 3352 East Foothill Blvd. in Pasadena, Calif.

“As Good As Gold” by Marilyn Anderson.

Three female screenwriters, frustrated with the sexism and glass ceilings they encounter in Hollywood, decide to collaborate on a commercially surefire macho action epic screenplay with a studly hero. Now, they have a script. But, they’re women. How will they get a studio to buy it? They hire a young fellow to be their front. He will purport to be the author of their screenplay. Sure enough, their front/impostor becomes the toast of Hollywood, commanding millions of dollars in asking price for future scripts.

Where does all this leave the original three women screenwriters?

Directed by Roger K. Weiss. Presented by Theatre 40.

Thurs.-Sat. at 8:00, Sun. at 2:00. The performance on Friday, September 17 will begin at 7:00 p.m.

http://facebook.com/theatre40

Darkly funny, moving ‘The Wolfe & The Bird’
premieres at Matrix Theatre Sept. 18
WHAT:
No time to sleep. No room for error. No pleasing mom. A young girl struggles to find herself against the backdrop of 1980s small town America in the world premiere of The Wolfe & The Bird, a darkly funny and deeply moving solo play written and performed by Rachel Parker (Ovation-nominated Space at the Stella Adler Theatre).

WHO:
• Written and Performed by Rachel Parker
• Directed by Alina Phelan
• Featuring the voices of James Heaney, Dagney Kerr, Ivory Tiffin, Madeleine Townsend, Phil Ward, Silvie Zamora
• Lighting Design by Matt Richter
• Sound Design by Stephen Epstein
• Stage Manager: Kelly Egan

WHEN:
Sept. 18 through Oct. 10
• Saturday at 2 p.m.: Oct. 9 ONLY
• Saturdays at 8 p.m.: Sept. 18; Sept. 25; Oct. 2 (no evening performance on Oct. 9)
• Sundays at 2 p.m.: Sept. 19; Sept. 26; Oct. 3; Oct. 10

WHERE:
The Matrix Theatre
7657 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(west of Stanley Ave., between Fairfax and La Brea)

HOW:
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5219775

TICKET PRICE:
$18

OTHER:
• Proof of vaccination required – no exceptions
• Admittance is limited to ages 12+
• Masks required throughout the performance as mandated by the County of L.A.

THE SITAYANA (OR “HOW TO MAKE AN EXIT”)

by Lavina Jadhwani
Directed by Reena Dutt

Live streaming September 25th – October 17th, 2021

Video-On-Demand September 20th – October 17th, 2021

April 27, 2021, Los Angeles, CA – East West Players (EWP), the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, in partnership with San Francisco’s EnActe Arts and New York City’s Hypokrit Productions, is proud to present the virtual world premiere of The Sitayana (Or “How to Make an Exit”), by Lavina Jadhwani (Time Out Chicago’s “Best Next Generation Stage Director”), and directed by Reena Dutt  (Dir. Antigone, Presented by the Girls of St. Catherine’s – Sacred Fools).

The Sitayana is a​n artful transposition of the Hindu epic The Ramayana ​told from Sita’s point of view. Part epic tale, part coming of age story, The S​itayana is the ultimate breakup play. Audiences attending the livestreamed viewings September 25 – October 17, 2021 will be given the choice of one of three unique incarnations of Sita from whom they will hear her story (Amar Chitra Sita, Sita’s Mehndi Party, and Sita’s Slumber Party) which questions traditional gender roles, subverts idealized views of femininity, and ultimately centers Sita as a hero within her own epic journey. Each of the versions will be available for video-on-demand viewing beginning September 20th, 2021 through Sunday, October 17.

“The story of Ram and Sita is one as old as time. What Lavina has brilliantly done here is reframed the story through the lens of modern relationships.  Along the way upending stereotypes of femininity and providing a refresh to dated views of chastity, commitment, and duty,” says EWP Producing Artistic Director Snehal Desai. “It is also such a groundbreaking moment that producing this play virtually has allowed us to collaborate with our friends at EnActe Arts and Hypokrit Theatre, two of the most innovative and adventurous theater companies in the country.”

“South Asia represents one of the oldest continuous civilizations in the world, the hallmark of which has been a tradition of oral storytelling from the advent of language, dating from before the written word was invented. Some stories, like this one, have been continuously propagated through several millennia of human evolution because they address basic human relationships and adapt to the time and place wherein they are re-told,” says EnActe Arts Artistic Director Vinita Belani. “EnActe Arts is excited to be partnered with East West Players and Hypokrit Productions to bring not one, not two but three fresh new takes on this ages-old tale, to tell a truly universal story to global audiences from a contemporary, feminine lens. Our ‘pitaara’ (basket) of millenia-old stories is large, and this is just the beginning!”

“There’s probably no better person to provide an irreverent and yet wholly truthful in themes adaptation to one of south Asia’s most iconic epics than Lavina Jadhwani. We are proud to support a voice as singular as Lavina’s as well as her inimitable collaborators – Reena Dutt and Amrita Ramanan,” says Hypokrit Productions Artistic Director Arpita Mukherjee. “This is the future of American theatre, where a multitude of South Asian voices can come together rather than being the token participant in their storytelling.”

East West Players (EWP), the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, was founded in 1965, at a time when Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (APIs) faced limited or no opportunities to see their experiences reflected outside of stereotypical and demeaning caricatures in the American landscape. EWP not only ensures that API stories are told, but works to increase access, inclusion, and representation in entertainment and media.

EnActe Arts is a non-profit organization co-located in Silicon Valley, California, and Houston, Texas. The term “South Asian” is used broadly by EnActe Arts to represent the people of the greater Indian subcontinent living in the region and abroad, including the historical cultural influences of the region. EnActe Arts is a talent incubator and a platform for engaging diverse populations in conversations on social issues to create greater awareness and tolerance from a South Asian perspective. EnActe’s programs and productions are rooted in developing talent and creating opportunities for actors, playwrights and creative and technical production staff at any skill level and of all ages and ethnicities.

Hypokrit Productions’ mission is to fundamentally disrupt the American entertainment industry, with the purpose to make the arts more equitable and relevant to a wider audience. Hypokrit exclusively develops work by global-majority artists, with a specific focus on artists of South Asian descent. Hypokrit focuses on producing work that appeals to a multicultural and transnational audience. They develop TV and film projects, giving artists a greater opportunity for exposure, and our audience a greater opportunity for representation and connection.

Lavina Jadhwani is a Chicago-based director, adaptor, and advocate. She creates work that is well-crafted, rigorously researched, compassionately curated, and radically inclusive. As a second generation immigrant, Lavina constantly investigates the question, “What does it mean to be an American?” and through her work, she strives to expand the definition of that word to include more minority voices.

Lavina’s directing credits include work at Actors Theatre of Louisville, American Conservatory Theater, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Guthrie Theater, Mixed Blood Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Phoenix Theatre (Indianapolis), Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, Teatro Vista, Writers Theatre, and Rasaka Theatre Company (where she served as Artistic Director for 6 years). Lavina maintains relationships with Silk Road Rising (Artistic Associate), Steppenwolf Theatre Company (Artistic Engagement Associate), and the National New Play Network (Affiliated Artists Council). Time Out Chicago named her their “Best Next Generation Stage Director” in 2013.

Lavina loves language-driven plays, both new and old, from Eastern and Western canons. Her adaptations include The Sitayana (a solo performance piece based on the Hindu epic, The Ramayana), Vanya (adapted from Chekhov), and Shakuntala: An East Meets West Love Story (an a cappella musical, adapted from Kalidasa).In her free time, Lavina volunteers with the Masonic Association of Service and Therapy Dogs.

Lavina is a proud graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University (MFA, Directing), Carnegie Mellon University (BFA, Scenic Design; Masters, Arts Management) and the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. www.lavinajadhwani.com

Reena Dutt is a member of the Lincoln Center Directors’ Lab (New York City), Directors Lab West (Los Angeles), and a Semi Finalist for Drama League’s New York Directing Fellowship.

In December 2019 she closed the world premiere of Defenders by Cailin Harrison at The Broadwater, and in March 2020, she opened the West Coast Premiere of Antigone, Presented by the Girls of St. Catherine’s by Madhuri Shekar on the Sacred Fools stage. Right before Critics Pick was publicly announced after opening weekend, the play was flung into Covid-virus abyss (incredibly Shakespearean of the world at large).

Prior to that she Assistant Directed for Jo Bonney at The Geffen Playhouse on Jose Rivera’s world premiere of The Untranslatable Secrets of Nikki Corona, and Drama League’s Jennifer Chang on East West Players’ and The Fountain Theatre’s Los Angeles premiere of Hannah and the Dread Gazebo.

She has directed at A Noise Within in conjunction with East West Players (staged reading of Snow in Midsummer by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig), the Road Theatre (staged reading of Kissing Che by Augusto Federico Amador), and Sacred Fools (staged reading of Monkey Love by Madhuri Shekar).

Dutt also directs for film and television and has an extensive producing history. She is a graduate of the Media Arts program at the University of Arizona, Tucson, and the acting program at William Esper Studio, New York. Most importantly, Dutt is a city girl with a country soul who creates with a conscience, on and off screen and stage.

The cast of The Sitayana includes:

Nikita Chaudhry 
Sheetal Gandhi* 
Minita Gandhi*

The creative team includes:
Reena Dutt – Director
Amrita Ramanan – Dramaturg
Lisa Tom – Director of Photography
Kristen Flores – Production Designer
Nancy Chou – Video Editor/Graphic Effects and Titles Artist
Ashphord Jacoway – Costume Designer
Sharath Patel – Sound Designer
Aki Ruiz – Illustrator
Neha Assar Pancha – Mehndi Artist
Brandon Cheng* – Stage Manager

More information on memberships and ticketing at www.eastwestplayers.org, or by contacting the EWP Box Office at
boxoffice@eastwestplayers.org

#EastWestPlayers #EWPSeason55 #EWPBetweenWorlds

Sunday, October 3 at 7:30 PM PST
SETTING THE TABLE by Velina Hasu Houston
Directed by Stewart J. Zully
A young Japanese woman marries a Black man and moves with him to Kansas where she becomes stepmother to her two teenage children. Inspired by true events, the play takes an earnest look at race, immigration, and family. 

The series also includes plays by Bernardo Cubría, Carlos Lacámara, Steve Apostolina and Cory Hinkle.

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