Theater
What's green and flies over Mt. Tam?
Or more accurately, what's green and will fly over Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre in next summer's Mountain Play?
Answer--Peter Pan!
That's the word from Michael Vogel, Special Events Producer for the hugely popular outdoor theater production that takes place annually on Mt. Tam.
Vogel was especially excited because they'll be using the same company, Flying by Foy, which orchestrated the high-tension wire flying gizmo that allowed Mary Martin, Sandy Duncan (pictured at left) and Cathy Rigby to fly across the stage as the character Peter Pan. Vogel told
Flying by Foy
Sandy Duncan is Peter Pan
Although this season's play--Man of La Mancha--was critically well received, it lost money. Vogel feels Peter Pan is more "family-oriented", and he believes it may be a more successful production.
Casting for Peter Pan hasn't yet begun, but you can mark your calendars for 2010-- the performances will run May 23, 30, June 6, 13, 14 and 20th. A benefit dress rehearsal performance for the Marin Symphony is planned for May 22.
| August 14 2009 at 03:34 PM
Anton the owl drops by for some Russian drama
Photo by Nick Sholley
Anton spent several hours watching the rehearsal
Just in time for tonight's opening performance of the Anton Chekhov play Three Sisters by the Porchlight Theatre Company, comes "Anton" the owl.
The cast and crew were in the middle of a several hour-long rehearsal, when the female barn owl flew by the outdoor Redwood Amphitheater stage in Ross, and perched herself on a nearby tree where she remained for several hours.
"The owl was a real special addition to our rehearsal. She stayed about ten feet from stage left, perched on the end of a forked branch on a nearby tree, " said cast member Nick Sholley, "She was perfectly balanced, straddling the branch located about nine feet off the ground."
The cast and crew named her Anton in honor of the Russian playwright. Three Sisters is a drama depicting the decline and decay of the upper class in Russia during the turn of the 20th century, and the search for meaning in the modern age.
* Performances are Thursday through Sunday at 7 p.m. from June 18 to July 11.
* The Redwood Amphitheater is located at Marin Art and Garden Center in Ross.
* For tickets or more information, call 415.251.1027 or visit the Porchlight Theatre Company website here.
| June 18 2009 at 12:30 PM
The Bard in the Big House - San Quentin inmates perform Shakespeare
When you think of San Quentin, Shakespeare is not exactly the first thing that comes to mind. So when we first got the press release, inviting us to see a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream...in San Quentin, we had to re-read the email.
But this was real- a performance by inmates who act the along side members of the Marin Shakespeare Company. It's part of a program entitled, Shakespeare at San Quentin. We weren't quite sure what to expect, but what we found amidst the locks and the gates, was some very fine acting.
Under high security, a few of us got a glimpse of life inside the Big House and we got to enjoy a performance worthy of the Bard himself. Here's a video with clips of the performance and post performance interviews. For the full story and many more photos, go here.
Shakespeare In San Quentin from MoreMarin on Vimeo.
For more of the after production interviews see Part 1 and Part 2.
| June 16 2009 at 03:30 PM
