The conference program, entitled Who Owns Shakespeare?, has been devised in cooperation with the current President of STAA, Philip Sneed, Artistic Director of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and ran until January 10. Peter Kyle, Chief Executive of Shakespeare's Globe, Dominic Dromgoole, Artistic Director, and Patrick Spottiswoode, Director, Globe Education all lead sessions during the conference. Adrian Noble, former artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company was the guest speaker.
Delegates were taken on a private visit to Middle Temple Hall, the venue of the first recorded performance of Twelfth Night where Tim Carroll, former Associate Theatre Director at Shakespeare’s Globe, explored the influence of playing spaces on performance. Tim Carroll directed Twelfth Night at Middle Temple Hall before its transfer to the Globe for the play's 400th anniversary in 2002.
Shakespeare’s Associates Artistic Director Lisa Tromovitch stated, "When marketing our Shakespeare productions we sometimes hear 'but I don't understand Shakespeare.' Part of attending these conferences is about learning more about the plays so that those of us who direct them do it better. At Shakespeare's Globe, a replica built with all of the current scholarship available, I was able to stand on the stage and experience how close the actors were to their audience. I could see the physical realities that affect the plays - Shakespeare wrote the plays to be performed in specific spaces, so there are references to the environment that might be difficult to recognize simply reading the script. Knowing the reference gives the director the power to make choices about how to communicate that line to the audience. If you don't know why the character says 'Hark!' at the beginning of the scene the actor might make a choice that confuses the audience. They can't understand Shakespeare if the actors and directors don't. I've been attending STAA conferences since 1998, and have learned something at each. "
Shakespeare’s Associates Board Director, Peggy Riley added, “It was exciting to visit the neighborhood where Shakespeare lived and worked and to hear about the reconstruction of the Globe, about how the playhouse informs actors' and directors' choices. I gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for Shakespeare the man and Shakespeare the playwright.”
Patrick Spottiswoode, who is also a member of the STAA Executive Committee, said, "Shakespeare's Globe is honoured to be hosting this conference and looks forward to discussing key issues of ownership with fellow artistic, managing and education directors including the influence of the recession on choices of repertoire, who really owns Shakespeare's text, how theatres are responding to changing demographics and reaching out to new audiences, particularly youth. Young people taking ownership of Shakespeare has always been at the heart of our work at the Globe - a theatre where actors and audiences share the same light.”
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Further images are available at www.shakespeares-globe.org/press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Katie Marcel 925-443-2273, katie@livermoreshakes.org
Livermore’s Own Bard Jim Concannon to Appear Friday Nights at the Shakespeare Festival
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Shakespeare Goes Green
LIVERMORE -- In these difficult economic times, all performing arts groups are careful to "reduce, reuse and recycle." But Livermore Shakespeare Festival will transform necessity into art this summer
in its production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream at Concannon Vineyard.
The play's famous fairy kingdom has gone green, thanks to costume designer Cathie McClellan, prop designer Swetha Dixit, and dramaturg Peggy Riley.
Fairies in Shakespeare's day were notorious thieves, Riley noted, just the sort of creatures who might reuse and recycle "found" objects filched from unwary humans.
That mischievous fairy trait dovetailed with McClellan's interest in "found object art," using objects others have abandoned or lost, as well as Dixit's genius in fashioning props at once original and familiar. Cobweb the fairy, for instance, wears a layered dress fashioned from tablecloths and doilies she probably pilfered from a village housewife. Flowers in fairyland have petals of pantyhose, textured with turmeric and other spices.
I love the idea of the fairies sneaking out into the mortal world, finding the things we throw away or leave behind, and recycling them into art in fairyland, commented director Lisa Tromovitch.
McClellan has contrived a "steampunk" fashion fairyland, harking back to the turn of the century when steam engines, hot air balloons and technology were just becoming an integral part of our lives. The fashion accessories usually include certain iconic elements: goggles, gears, buckles, and bits of our new technological world.
This otherworldly realm is usually invisible to us poor mortals, but all will be revealed during midsummer nights on the outdoor stage at Concannon Vineyard.
A Midsummer Night's Dream plays in repertory with Anton Chekhov's masterpiece of tragicomedy, The Seagull July 9 - August 9, outdoors at Concannon Vineyard at 4590 Tesla Road, Livermore. The Livermore Shakespeare Festival is produced by Shakespeare's Associates. Information at www.LivermoreShakes.org or 925-443-BARD (2273) Tickets at 800-838-3006.
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For Immediate Release
June 1, 2009
Contact: Katie Marcel, Katie@LivermoreShakes.org
925-443-BARD (2273)
THE JOY OF COMPOSING FOR SHAKESPEARE’S FOOLS AND FAIRIES
Everyone understands the sound of music, but what is the sound of magic?
That’s the riddle Rob Evans must answer as he composes songs and incidental music for the Livermore Shakespeare Festival production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the magical comedy opening at Livermore’s Concannon Vineyard on July 9.
The play, a Shakespeare’s Associates production to be staged by artistic director Lisa Tromovitch, is by turns earthy and fantastical. It is set in ancient Athens, where Duke Theseus and his captured bride-to-be Hippolita warily approach their coming nuptials. Love is in the air but the tune is often jangled, not only for the noble couple and some lovestruck young Athenians, but also for the mischievous fairies who dwell unseen in a nearby wood.
“In putting together this world, I have to decide what it actually sounds like,” Evans said in a recent interview. “We’re not trying for a particular time period. That allows me a lot of flexibility.”
Indeed, this production tumbles around human history. These Athenians might be at home at a ’20s Charleston contest, while the fairies express themselves with the sights and sounds of “steam punk.” That quirky genre envisions a time-traveling fantasy world inspired by the Victorian spirit of invention.
After weeks of rehearsals, the actors will play their instruments in character and onstage. The fairies will sing, but instrumental music will be provided by the “mechanicals,” the humble Athenian workers who stumble into the fairies’ den to rehearse, hilariously, a play to honor the noble newlyweds.
Practical limitations arise when the musicians are also actors. Each piece of music will present its own challenge. “I have to know which actors will be available, taking their musical ability into account and adapting the sound,” said Evans.
He’s scoring for guitar, violin, trumpet, saxophone and percussion. His music, he said, typically has “a wistful, melancholy, faraway sound.” The lyrics are all from the text, although Shakespeare designated only one passage as a song—a lullaby. “It’s nice to have Shakespeare as a lyricist but it’s also another limitation,” Evans noted. “I can’t ask him to make any changes.”
An accomplished musician, Evans also wrote original music for the company’s 2008 production of Twelfth Night. He developed a taste for theatre as a pit musician for more than 20 musicals. You can hear his Rob Evans Quintet, with Evans himself on saxophone, playing jazz standards every other Sunday at Rose Pistola in North Beach.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream opens on Concannon’s outdoor stage July 9 and runs through August 9, alternating with The Seagull by Anton Chekhov. Call 800-838-3006 or visit www.livermoreshakes.org for tickets; call (925) 443-BARD or go to www.livermoreshakes.org for information.
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For Immediate Release
April 17, 2009
Contact: Katie Marcel, Katie@LivermoreShakes.org
925-443-BARD (2273)
“The Seagull” flies to Livermore Shakes
Livermore - After a short but successful run at The Bankhead Theater in Livermore, the Shakespeare’s Associates production of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull” is back by popular demand as part of the Livermore Shakespeare Festival this summer. The outdoor program at Concannon Vineyard will consist of the famous tragicomedy playing in rotating repertory with Shakespeare’s most popular play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” “We received such a good response to ‘The Seagull’ that we decided to bring it back,” says director Lisa Tromovitch. “The actors are excited about restaging it to the out-of-doors. Adjusting to the new environment and getting a chance to do a show that we love again was just irresistible.”
Livermore Shakespeare Festival (LSF) is performed July 9th to August 9th in front of the Ellen Row Concannon House, the historic Victorian, in the middle of the vineyard. The idyllic setting, with vineyards on three sides, the historic home, and the manicured picnic area, attracts local community members and visitors alike to the Livermore Shakespeare Festival. Shakespeare’s Associates, producers of the Festival, is partnering with Hawthorn Suites and other local wineries and downtown businesses to offer a “Stay and Play Package” to accommodate visitors to the region with an overnight stay, tickets, gourmet picnic dinner and incentives to visit other wineries and the award winning “Great American Main Street” Downtown. “We’re ‘the little Ashland,’” Tromovitch proudly reported at a recent Real Estate Marketing Meeting.
Tickets and information are available through the website at www.LivermoreShakes.org, or 925-443-BARD (2273).
CALENDAR LISTING
Livermore Shakespeare Festival: Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in repertory with Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull at Concannon Vineyard, July 9 - August 9, 2009. Tickets $35/$30 with discounts for seniors, students and others. Discount previews and family nights. Gala opening with dinner $100, July 10th. www.LivermoreShakes.org
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For Immediate Release
Monday, March 9th
Contact: Katie Marcel Katie@LivermoreShakes.org 925.443.2273
Shakespeare's Associates Welcomes New Board Members
Livermore - Shakespeare's Associates, producer of the Livermore Shakespeare Festival, is proud to welcome Patricia Munro, Garry Rodrigue and Rachael Snedecor to its Board of Directors. They join Chair Dr. Philip Manwell; President and Producing Artistic Director Lisa A. Tromovitch; Secretary Elizabeth E. Trutner, Esq.; Treasurer Charles Hartwig; Director of Education Russ Marcel and Peggy Riley. Ms. Munro is a doctoral candidate in Sociology at UC Berkeley looking at building community in religious congregational life. Mr. Rodrigue is the winemaker and owner of Rodrigue Molyneaux Vineyard and Winery in Livermore. Ms. Snedecor is the Executive Director of Livermore Downtown Inc. and President of the California Main Street Alliance.
Shakespeare's Associates will produce Michael Frayn's Copenhagen at the Bothwell Arts Center from April 2nd to April 26th. The company is hosting the Livermore Shakespeare Treasure Hunt Fundraiser on May 2nd during the Livermore Wine Country Festival in historic downtown Livermore. Participants will solve puzzles, find secret locations, and become the stuff of legend! Proceeds benefit Shakespeare's Associates. The Livermore Shakespeare Festival will run July 9th through August 9th at Concannon Vineyard featuring A Midsummer Night's Dream and Chekhov's The Seagull in repertory. For tickets and information visit www.ShakespearesAssociates.org or call (925) 443-BARD.
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For Immediate Release
February 10th, 2009
Contact: Katie Marcel
katie@livermoreshakes.org
(925) 443-BARD (2273)
Science, Memory and Morality are focus of Award-winning Play
Livermore - Copenhagen, Michael Frayn’s fascinating play about truth and responsibility in a perilous world, produced by Shakespeare’s Associates, opens April 2nd at the Bothwell Arts Center, Eighth and G Streets.
Frayn based Copenhagen on a secret and perhaps fateful meeting that actually took place in German-occupied Copenhagen between Werner Heisenberg, a physicist working on Hitler’s nuclear fission project, and his former mentor, Niels Bohr, the renowned Danish physicist.
The play, which won a 2000 Tony award for Best Play, prompted controversy over what the men might have discussed in that meeting. Was it a struggle for the soul of science, or did Heisenberg simply hope to end the wartime rift between the two? The playwright doesn’t say, but as his characters offer their recollections, truth and memory seem blurred.
There is an underlying theme of “what if,” according to director Virginia Reed. “The audience is engaged in helping to solve the mystery of memory,” she says. “They become observers to its rewriting.”
Reed, who has directed professional productions throughout the Bay Area, says the intimate Bothwell theater has an advantage. “The characters in the play sometimes speak directly to the audience,” she explains. “In a larger space that can begin to sound like a speech. In our production, the audience will feel a part of the remembering.”
The production will have special resonance for a Livermore audience, many of whom work or have worked at Lawrence Livermore or Sandia National labs. Many have struggled with the same questions facing the play’s characters: How do we balance our commitments to science, to our country, to our families, and to our own morality?
Experienced professionals converge on Livermore to perform. Paul Silverman, well-known as a San Francisco-based actor plays Heisenberg. Richard Massery, most recently known for his Shakespeare work in New Haven, CT, is Niels Bohr. Kim Merrill of New York City will join the cast as Niels’ wife Margrethe, who often prods the men with her wit and wry insights.
The show previews April 2nd, and is performed April 3rd - 26th, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 2:00 pm. There will be a pre-show talk 30 minutes before each performance, led by local scientists and historians.
Tickets are on sale at www.shakespearesassociates.org, or (800) 838-3006. Prices are $20 for the preview; for all other performances they are $30 general; $25 seniors, full-time teachers and those with military ID; $20 for students under 22.
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Shakespeare's Associates 2009 Calendar
April 2nd - April 26th Copenhagen by Michael Frayn Bothwell Arts Center
July 9th - August 9th Livermore Shakespeare Festival featuring A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare and The Seagull by Anton Chekhov Concannon Vineyards
COPENHAGEN FACT SHEET
Production: Copenhagen by Michael Frayn
Subject: Science, Memory and Morality
Producer: Shakespeare's Associates
Directed by: Virginia Reed
Featuring: Richard Massery, Kim Merrill*, Paul Silverman*
Preview: Thursday, April 2nd at 8:00PM
Performances: April 3rd – 26th Friday and Saturday nights at 8PM, Sundays at 2PM (No performance on Easter Sunday)
Location: Bothwell Arts Center, 2466 Eighth Street (at G Street), Livermore, CA
Parking: Street parking available around the Bothwell Arts Center
Ticket Prices: $30 General Admission, $25 Seniors 65 and over, Full Time Teachers, Military Id or Groups of 10 or more, $20 Students under 22 years, $20 Thursday April 2nd Preview
Running Time: Show running time is approximately 2 ½ hours including one 15 minute intermission
Tickets: 1-800-838-3006 or www.ShakespearesAssociates.org
Information: (925) 443-BARD (2273)
Contact: Katie Marcel, Administrative Associate, Katie@LivermoreShakes.org
*Member, Actor's Equity Association
Russ Marcel, Program Contact education@livermoreshakes.org
Livermore Shakespeare Summer Acting Camp for Tri-Valley TeensLivermore - “The course of true love never did run smooth,” Shakespeare reminds us in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. But how we delight in the madcap race of bedazzled young lovers and the hilarious antics of the clowns rehearsing their own play. Russ Marcel, Shakespeare’s Associates’ Education Director, will guide teens through their own adventures in an acting class designed to enchant their midsummer days at the Bothwell Arts Center, July 6 – 17, 2009.
Marcel, a Livermore resident, is a professional actor and director currently teaching acting and Shakespeare at Bellarmine College Preparatory High School in San Jose. His Shakespeare Festival course is enough to make any Tri-Valley teen o’er leap the dull days of summer and run away with Shakespeare’s magical folk.
Russ’ enthusiasm is catching: “I love teaching this class, because the students have a blast. Once they realize that Shakespeare can be fun, they really take to it, and that makes me so proud. I love that I can bring this to my community, my neighborhood...I live just a few blocks away! The Summer Acting Camp is perfect for high school students interested in performing, whether they’re beginners or have had plenty of experience on stage. We get on our feet and have fun with Shakespeare's words through improvisation, theatre games and stage combat.”
The Acting Camp will focus on A Midsummer Night's Dream, one of Shakespeare's funniest and most rewarding comedies, which will be performed at the Livermore Shakespeare Festival this summer. The students get to know the play in class then see how it's performed by professional actors. The class culminates in the students’ pre-show performance on the LSF stage at Concannon Vineyard, July 17th.
The Livermore Shakespeare Festival Summer Acting Camp for teens, from entering high school through recent graduates, meets July 6 – 17, Mondays through Fridays from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at the Bothwell Arts Center, (8th and G Streets) Livermore, CA 94550. Tuition is $275.00. Financial Aid is possible, application required. Registration information: www.LivermoreShakes.org “Education” http://www.livermoreshakes.org/programs/Education.php Please send questions by e-mail to: education@livermoreshakes.org
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Calendar Listing
Livermore Shakespeare Festival Summer Acting Camp for teens, from entering high school through recent graduates, is a 10-day course meeting July 6 – 17, Mondays through Fridays from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at Bothwell Arts Center, 8th and G Streets, Livermore, CA 94550. Registration and tuition information is available online: www.LivermoreShakes.org, or e-mail questions to: education@livermoreshakes.org.
Fact Sheet
LIVERMORE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL SUMMER ACTING CAMP FOR TEENS
FROM: Shakespeare’s Associates, producers of Livermore Shakespeare Festival
PHONE: 925-443-BARD (2273)
WEBSITE: www.LivermoreShakes.org
CONTACTS:
Russ Marcel (program contact) education@livermoreshakes.org
Katie Marcel (marketing contact) Katie@LivermoreShakes.org 925.443.2273
DATES: 10 day course, July 6-10 and 13-17 (Mondays - Fridays) 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
COST: $275 FINANCIAL AID: Yes - application necessary.
CLASS LOCATION: Bothwell Arts Center, 8th and G Streets, Livermore, CA 94550
CLASSES ARE FOR GRADES: High School
DESCRIPTION OF CLASSES:
An exciting, engaging, and creative approach to the Shakespearean text will broaden students’ perspective on Shakespeare, utilizing improvisation, theatre games, and stage combat techniques. During the two-week course, students will rehearse scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Students receive one free ticket to the summer 2009 Shakespeare’s Associates production and perform a 10-minute skit pre-performance at the outdoor Livermore Shakespeare Festival. No previous experience required.
http://www.livermoreshakes.org/programs/Education.php
Russell Marcel (Education Director) has worked as an actor and director in New York City, London, San Francisco and San Jose. He has a BA in Theatre from Santa Clara University and is a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts’ classical acting program. He currently directs plays and teaches British Literature and Shakespeare at Bellarmine College Preparatory High School in San Jose. Russ happily lives in Livermore with his wife (Katie), daughter (Zoe), and chocolate lab (Dakota).For Immediate Release
Contact: Lisa Tromovitch
lisa@LivermoreShakes.org
925-443-BARD (2273)
The Seagull comes to Livermore
Livermore - The great Russian comedy The Seagull opens Shakespeare’s Associates 2008-2009 season at Livermore’s Bankhead Theater November 21st - 23rd.
Anton Chekhov’s classic play, by turns funny and poignant, deals with life on a country estate in pre-Revolutionary Russia. There, in contrast to the serene setting by a lake, each character seems desperate to obtain something that beckons just out of reach. “It’s about art, and what it means to be an artist, about our dreams, and truth … and being in love,” stated Artistic Director Lisa Tromovitch. “The characters are either yearning for an unadorned truth, or fighting to keep up the façade that trumpets a happiness they don’t actually possess.”
The company’s board of directors is pleased to be staging a full-length professional production at the Bankhead for the first time. “The superior sightlines and acoustics at this state-of-the-art facility will certainly enhance the play-going experience for our audience,” commented board chair Dr. Philip Manwell. Audiences for both the indoor show and the outdoor Livermore Shakespeare Festival increased by 60% this year. Producing in the community’s new facility was a logical next step for the fast growing theater company.
Tromovitch has assembled a cast of professional Bay Area actors for The Seagull. Leading actors known to Bay Area audiences include Michele Leavy playing Irina Arkadina, a popular actress; William Wolak is Sorin, her ailing older brother, and Michael Wayne Rice is Arkadina’s lover, the successful writer Trigorin. Michael Abts plays her son Treplev, an aspiring playwright in love with the young actress Nina, played by Hannah Knapp who played Olivia in this summer’s Twelfth Night.
Elissa Beth Stebbins, whose rendition of Viola drew rave reviews this summer, plays the ironic, lovelorn Masha. Also featured are Alan Kaiser as Masha’s hapless husband Medvedenko, Nikolai Lokteff as Dr. Dorn; Eleanor Mason Reinholdt as Polina, long-suffering wife of the boorish estate manager Shamrayev.
Performance times are 8 pm Friday, November 21; 2 and 8 pm Saturday, November 22; and 7 pm Sunday, November 23. Pre-curtain talks with Dr. Philip Manwell are scheduled for 7:15 pm Friday, and 1:15 and 7:15 pm Saturday.
Tickets are $30 - $45 for all four performances. Group rates and discounts for full-time teachers, seniors and military personnel are available. Tickets are $20 for students. Call or visit the Bankhead Theater Box Office between noon and 6 pm, located at 2400 First Street, Livermore, (925) 373-6800. For more information go to www.LivermoreShakes.org.
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Calendar Listing:
Shakespeare’s Associates presents The Seagull a comedy in four acts by Anton Chekhov, Nov. 21-23, at The Bankhead Theater in Livermore. Tickets available at 925-373-6800, or through www.LivermoreShakes.org, are $30 - $45, with discounts for students, seniors, military and full-time educators. Show times are Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm, and Sunday at 7pm.
Fact Sheet …
For Immediate Release
May 9, 2008
Contact: Lisa@ShakespearesAssociates.org
925-443-BARD (2273)
Photos available on website or by request
Livermore Shakespeare Festival Moves
to New Home at Concannon Vineyard
Livermore - Livermore Shakespeare Festival has found a new home in the Livermore Valley wine country. The historic Concannon Vineyard has invited the company to make use of a handsome Victorian home on its Tesla Road property east of the City of Livermore.
The stately home, unmistakably Victorian with wide porches and a graceful cupola, was originally located at Fourth and K streets in downtown Livermore. It was built in 1895 for Dr. Cameron Gordon and originally boasted 32 chandeliers and a 48-foot chimney. It was first moved to Tesla Road in 1966 to begin a new life as a bed and breakfast, but instead stood empty for decades. Then it recently was relocated from nearby property to free up land for a new $20 million winemaking facility.
Surprisingly, this impressive turn-of-the-century relic offers aspects akin to Shakespeare’s Elizabethan stage. Its two graceful porches, one above the other, echo the multilevel playing areas of London’s 16th century Globe and Rose theatres.
“The Victorian house will be the equivalent of Shakespeare’s tiring house,” explained Lisa Tromovitch, the Festival’s artistic director. “It won’t just be a backdrop to the show, but also serve as part of the stage itself.”
Two productions are scheduled to run in repertory for the 2008 Festival season:
“Twelfth Night,” directed by Tromovitch, and “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
(abridged) (revised),” directed by TheatreWorks veteran Leslie Martinson.In order to meld the scenic element of the late Victorian architecture with the requirements of the plays, costume designer Jonathan Singer’s creations will have a late Victorian-early Edwardian flair, and composer Rob Evans is providing music evocative of both periods.
Concannon continues to make improvements to increase visitors’ comfort. They include paving the once dusty driveways, providing an accessible parking lot and creating pathways to an enlarged picnic area and seating area. The interior of the Victorian home will be restored, providing guest facilities for Concannon’s business visitors.
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Significantly, the Concannon venue will offer double the seating available at previous productions. “The move (from Livermore’s Retzlaff Winery) to the larger vineyard signals the company’s plans for expansion and growth,” commented Dr. Philip Manwell, president of the Board of Directors of Shakespeare’s Associates, the Festival producer. “We believe in collaborations, and collaboration with one of the oldest and most respected wineries in the Livermore Wine Valley is a great fit for our programming.”
For more information go to www.LivermoreShakes.org or call 925-443-BARD (2273). Tickets go on sale June 1 for performances at 7:30 PM Thursday through Sunday, July 10 – August 2.
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CALENDAR LISTING
Livermore Shakespeare Festival presents two shows outdoors at Concannon Vineyard, in repertory July 10 – August 2: Twelfth Night directed by Lisa Tromovitch and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (revised) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield, directed by Leslie Martinson. Information: www.LivermoreShakes.org or call 925-443-BARD (2273). Tickets at 1-800-838-3006.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2008
College and Shakespeare Festival Collaborate
Contact: Lisa Tromovitch
lisa@livermoreshakes.org
925-443-2273
College and Shakespeare Festival Collaborate
Livermore - The more you know the more you’ll enjoy Livermore Shakespeare Festival’s summer productions of “Twelfth Night” and “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (revised)," opening in July at beautiful Concannon Vineyard, Livermore.
That’s the idea behind “Previewing Summer Shakespeare,” the two-part class at Las Positas College featuring a panel of experts on Shakespeare’s life and times and the joys and challenges of producing his plays for modern audiences.
Part I Is scheduled for 7-8:30 pm Tuesday, May 20. The Festival’s producing artistic director, Lisa A. Tromovitch, will discuss these comedies, one a hit since the 16th century, the other a mischievous modern spoof. She’ll be assisted by costume designer Jonathan Singer, discussing Shakespeare’s settings and locales; and by Peggy Riley, company dramaturg, who will share insights into the playwright’s life and Elizabethan culture.
In addition, local historian Gary Drummond will take participants back to the Victorian era in Livermore, when the picturesque home that serves as a backdrop for the Festival’s outdoor productions was in the height of fashion.
Part II of “Previewing Summer Shakespeare” is scheduled for 7-8:30 pm Monday, June 30. Presenters will focus on the upcoming productions. Participants will meet directors, actors and designers, and enjoy previews of scenes from the plays.
Presenters will be available after both sessions for discussion, questions and conversation. This collaborative effort between the college and local arts organizations is hosted by Dean of Academic Services Dr. Philip Manwell and designed for accessibility: the cost is only $10 per class.
Look for these course listings in the Spring and Summer Community Education Bulletins. To register, go to www.laspositascollege.edu/communityed, call (925) 424-1467, or mail in the form in the bulletin. The classes will be held in the 2400 building - room 2470. Students should park in lot E. While pre-registration is helpful, students may register the night of the class. For more information about the shows go to www.LivermoreShakes.org or call 925-443-BARD (2273).
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For Immediate Release
January
17, 2008
Award-winning Proof Plays in Livermore
Contact: Lisa A. Tromovitch
lisa@livermoreshakes.org
925-443-2273
www.ShakespearesAssociates.org
Livermore – The elements of mystery, surprise and old-fashioned storytelling combine in the critically acclaimed, exhilarating and witty drama, Proof, by David Auburn. Shakespeare’s Associates is producing the 2001 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner as part of their 2008 Season. Proof will run March 28-30, April 4-6 and 11-13; Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. at the Bothwell Arts Center in Livermore.
Proof is the story of Catherine, a troubled young woman,
who has spent the previous years caring for her brilliant but unstable
father, a famous mathematician. Now, following his death, she must
cope with her own emotions; the arrival of her estranged sister, Claire;
and the attentions of Hal, her father's former student. Over the long
weekend that follows, a burgeoning romance and the discovery of a mysterious
notebook force Catherine to face her most daunting uncertainty: has
she inherited only her father’s genius or his madness as well?
For this production Shakespeare’s Associates welcomes guest director
Virginia Reed. Reed is a graduate of the Theatre program at Northwestern
University and holds a Masters in Irish Theatre from Trinity College,
Dublin Ireland. She has been a theatre and literature teacher at several
private and public schools, has received two Dean Goodman Choice awards
for Bay Area directing projects and has worked with Actors’ Theatre
of Sonoma, Aurora Theatre, Brava Theatre, Cinnabar, Magic Theater,
Mark Taper Forum, McCarter Theatre, Pear Avenue Theatre; Theatre
Works, and others. Leading the cast as Catherine is Artistic Associate
Hannah Knapp, seen recently in Livermore as the leading lady Helena
in All’s Well that Ends Well. Veteran actor William
Wolak will take on the role of Robert, a character partially modeled
on the famous mathematician Nash, known to the general audience from
the movie A Beautiful Mind. Wolak, making his Livermore debut,
just finished a season with Western Stage where he is a popular performer.
Critics have remarked that, “in a play featuring insanity there
is a warm and infectious humanizing perspective that can help keep
anyone’s demons at bay.” Shakespeare’s Associates
hopes that this humanizing perspective will speak to its audience and
that this personal four-player show will suit the intimate space at
the Bothwell center to further draw the audience into the environment
of this smart and compassionate play.
“The intelligence of this piece will certainly speak to our audience,
though it is less about mathematics and more about the fragility of life and
love. Experiencing this play in the intimate setting of the Bothwell’s
West End Theater will be a real treat for Livermore audiences,” stated
SA Marketing Associate Gina Williams.
Tickets are $25 with discounts for seniors
and others. For more information about this show visit www.ShakespearesAssociates.org.
For tickets, on sale Feb. 1st, call 1-800-838-3006.
For Immediate Release
January 16, 2008
Proof Fact Sheet
Contact: Lisa A. Tromovitch
lisa@livermoreshakes.org
925-443-2273
www.ShakespearesAssociates.org
(Shakespeare’s Associates Inc. is a non-profit corporation)
What: Proof by David Auburn
Who: Shakespeare’s Associates, producers of Livermore Shakespeare Festival
Where: Bothwell Arts Center's "West End Theatre" at 2466 Eighth Street, Livermore
When:
Thurs. March 27 – 8:00 p.m. Preview
Fri. March 28 – 8:00 p.m. Opening Night
Sat. March 29 – 8:00 p.m.
Sun. March 30 – 2:00 p.m.
Fri. April 4 – 8:00 p.m.
Sat. April 5 – 8:00 p.m.
Sun. April 6 – 2:00 p.m.
Fri. April 11 – 8:00 p.m.
Sat. April 12 – 8::00 p.m.
Sun. April 13 – 2:00 p.m.
Ticket prices:
$25 Adults
$20 Seniors (65 and older) and Full-Time Teachers
$15 Students (18 and under)
Preview: $20 Adults/Seniors, $15 Students
Reserved Seating
Tickets go on sale February 1, 2008.
Available online at www.ShakespearesAssociates.org or
by calling 1-800-838-3006.
Director: Virginia Reed
Cast: Starring Hannah Knapp (Catherine), William Wolak (Robert) and
Alexandra Creighton (Claire)
Production Team: Joanne Martin (Costume Designer), Mary Albert (Scenic
Designer), Peta Grimes (Props Master), Rob Evans (Lighting Designer),
Nikolai Lokteff (graphics designer) Lisa Tromovitch (Producing Artistic
Director)
Synopsis: The search for the truth behind a mysterious mathematical
proof is the perplexing problem in David Auburn’s Proof. When
her father, Robert, a brilliant but unstable mathematician, dies, Catherine
finds herself confronting her own uncertain future. Her estranged
sister, Claire, comes to “rescue” her, and Hal, a former
student of her father’s, hopes to find work in the notebooks
Robert left behind. As Catherine struggles with Claire’s
plans for her future and Hal’s growing affection, she must solve
another, more personal, perplexing problem: has she inherited
her father’s madness as well as his genius? Proof balances
humor and drama as it explores the mysteries of love and trust as well
as the mysteries of mathematics.
About Shakespeare’s Associates: Shakespeare’s Associates
Inc. is a non-profit corporation dedicated to producing professional
theatrical and literary events that celebrate writers of depth and
passion. We are committed to providing the general public engaging
and transformative experiences in theatre, literature and other art
forms.
Contact: Shakespeare’s Associates Inc. at 925-443-BARD (2273), info@livermoreshakes.org, www.ShakespearesAssociates.org
For Immediate Release
October 25, 2007
Shakespeare's
Associates Welcomes New Chairman of the Board
lisa@shakespearesassociates.org
925-454-1335
(Livermore) - Shakespeare's Associates, producers of Livermore Shakespeare Festival, are proud to announce Dr. Philip Manwell as the new Chairman of the Board. Not only is Manwell a skilled musician, he also is a valued member of the community serving on several local boards. Manwell earned a Bachelor of Music, Masters of Science and Doctoral Studies from the Julliard School, as well as a Doctor of Education from the University of San Francisco. He garnered diplomas from the Paris Conservatory, performed as a soloist and chamber player, and conducted throughout the U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia, and the Far East. Since 1986, Manwell serves as a music and humanities faculty member at Las Positas College and as an administrator since 1962.
Though not new to the board, having served last year, Manwell is welcomed as Chairman by current board members: Lisa A. Tromovitch, Peggy Riley, Russ Marcel, Elizabeth E. Trutner, and Katie Marcel. All members are thrilled for Manwell to be taking over after a successful season. As treasurer Katie Marcel notes, "We have just ended our first fiscal year and we ended it firmly in the black!" Shakespeare's Associates looks forward to Manwell's leadership as they launch into the next season, beginning with a production of Proof opening March at the Bothwell Arts Center. "Philip's vision for the company includes our collaborating with others, as was evident in his involvement in our recent collaborative project at the new Bankhead Theater," stated Tromovitch. "I trust that the college as well as the Opera, Shakespeare's Associates and the other groups that he is involved with will all be stronger for his leadership."
- end -
Calendar Listing:
Proof previews on Thursday March 27th, opens March 28th
and runs through April 13th at the Bothwell Arts Center, playing
Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00p.m. and Sundays at 2:00p.m. Tickets
are $25 with discounts for seniors, teachers and others. For more
information about this show please visit ShakespearesAssociates.org.
Available for Comment:
Dr. Philip Manwell: pmanwell@laspositascollege.edu, 925-424-1382
Producing Artistic Director Lisa A. Tromovitch: lisa@livermoreshakes.org
925-454-1335
Mission:
Shakespeare’s Associates Inc. is a non profit corporation dedicated
to producing professional theatrical and literary events that celebrate
writers of depth and passion. We are committed to providing the general
public engaging and transformative experiences in theatre, literature
and other art forms.
For Immediate Release
October 5, 2007
The Arts Re-Envision Downtown Livermore
AVAILABLE FOR CONTACT
Jean King, Livermore-Amador Symphony
(whjaking@comcast.net 925-443-0318)
Linda Ryan, Tri-Valley Artists Guild
(artist@trivalleyartists.com 925-243-0424)
Jim Schmidt, Livermore Valley Opera
(jims2ndlife@yahoo.com 925-443-5450)
Rachael Snedecor, Livermore Downtown Inc.
(rachael@livermoredowntown.com 925 373-1795)
Lisa Tromovitch, Shakespeare’s Associates
Livermore Shakespeare Festival
(lisa@LivermoreShakes.org 925-454-1335)
Livermore – “All the arts in one day in downtown Livermore!” was the cry of the volunteers handing out flyers for the upcoming celebration of the arts, Saturday, October 13th. “With the final Tuesday Tunes behind us, we’re looking forward to the celebration of the new Bankhead Theater,” explained Livermore Downtown executive director Rachael Snedecor. Based on the size of the crowd Tuesday evening, arts and downtown is a popular pairing in Livermore. During the day on Saturday the 13th, ArtWalk turns downtown into a gallery district, with local businesses hosting a variety of art and artists on a walking tour. Then in the evening, three of the community’s performing arts groups are collaborating on a one-night-only production featuring the Livermore-Amador Symphony, Livermore Valley Opera, and Shakespeare’s Associates to celebrate the opening of the new Bankhead Theater. The evening closes with culinary arts and of course, local wines, in a reception featuring the visual arts again with the 2007 Art Banner Auction sponsored by Livermore Downtown.
The show, entitled “All the World’s a Stage: The Bard, Baritones and Bassoons,” is a sampler of sorts, with music, arias, scenes and monologues from past and upcoming productions. “If you missed this summer’s hit A Comedy of Errors, you can catch two of the funniest scenes on the 13th,” added Tromovitch. A special feature is a newly commissioned work by Thomas Darter. LVPAC commissioned the work, One Step (at a time) Rag, to be performed by LAS with Mr. Darter on piano. Jim Ott, a well-known local arts supporter, will emcee.
“People will come downtown, browse the local art, maybe pick up some early holiday gifts, then grab dinner before the show at the Bankhead,” stated Shakespeare’s Associates artistic director Lisa Tromovitch. “The motto is ‘Arts Live Here’ and collaborating with not only the opera and the Livermore Shakespeare group, but also with the visual artists really gives the symphony members a chance to demonstrate their commitment to the whole artistic community. We love music, but also other art forms,” added Livermore-Amador Symphony president Jean King. One could get confused as to who represented which group as each of the leaders of all six organizations involved seemed to be promoting the other. Linda Ryan, who works for Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center, the group responsible for the new theater, and is a leader of the Tri-Valley Artists, the producers of ArtWalk, talked enthusiastically about the synergy created with so many artists working closely together on one day. Livermore Valley Opera Managing Director Jim Schmidt pointed out that though opera and theater are already collaborative art forms, with performers working with designers and directors to produce the show, coming together as a broader artist community has given everyone new vision. “There have already been stimulating discussions as we share ‘best practices’ in the hopes of helping each other grow.” A new cultural identity appears to be blossoming in Livermore.
Tickets range from $28 - $36 and include the show, art banner auction and food and wine reception. “The food and wine alone is a $30 value,” added Snedecor. Tickets are available at the box office at 2400 First Street, at 925-373-6800 or online at LivermorePerformingArts.org. More information can be found on all the groups’ web sites, with the list of numbers to be performed posted at www.LivermoreShakes.org and detailed information on ArtWalk at www.TriValleyArtists.com
Calendar Listing
Saturday, October 13th, 8:00 pm All the World's a Stage: The Bard, Baritones and Bassoons. A sampler of the performing arts with Shakespeare's Associates/Livermore Shakespeare Festival, Livermore Valley Opera, and Livermore-Amador Symphony celebrating the opening of the new Bankhead Theater, 2400 First Street Livermore. Tickets at $28 - $36 are available at the theater’s box office, at 925-373-6800 and online at LivermorePerformingArts.org
The evening includes The 2007 Art Banner Auction and Reception, with food and wine sponsored by Livermore Downtown.
Saturday, October 13th, 11:00 – 5:00 pm ArtWalk 2007 in Downtown Livermore. Sponsored by the Tri-Valley Artists Guild. Free walking tours feature area artists housed in local businesses. Bands at The Flagpole Stage, corner of S. Livermore and First Streets, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm. Free of charge. Info at trivalleyartists.com.
For Immediate Release
June 25, 2007
Contact: Lisa Tromovitch or Gina Williams
(925) 454-1335
gina@ShakespearesAssociates
It’s Fiesta Day with The Comedy of Errors
Livermore – A repeated series of mistaken identities within a dynamic plot of personal and marital debts owed sets the stage for William Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors. Livermore Shakespeare Festival will present Comedy outdoors at the idyllic Retzlaff Estate Winery. The show runs weekends, July 13th to Aug. 4th with a half priced preview on Thursday, July 12th and family nights on July 12, 22, and 29.
Comedy tells the hilarious story of two identical twin brothers and their identical twin servants, all of whom were separated at sea during their infancy until rediscovering each other through a series of madcap mix-ups and mayhem. As well as containing ample slapstick and physical humor, the play also abounds in Shakespeare’s trademark conceits, puns, and other forms of fanciful word and sword play.
This summer, Livermore Shakespeare Festival is working in association with the University of the Pacific Theatre Arts to produce the show. Director Lisa A. Tromovitch is working with fellow faculty members and design artists to create a fresh twist on the story. “Theater is a collaborative art form,” stated Tromovitch. “I was talking with Costume Designer Cathie McClellan about how important it is for me to have the words match the visual elements. I don’t want a character to refer to a sword and then have a gun come out.” This didn’t mean that the play had to be set in Shakespeare’s day, however, as McClellan pointed out. Because of Livermore’s unique heritage, setting the production in the Rancho California era challenged scenic designer Randall Enlow to blend the required elements and simplicity of the Elizabethan set with elements of the period and locale.
“It’s a fiesta day when the leading characters arrive on the scene,” added McClellan. “This allows us to bring color and a festive and distinctive environment to the show. The costumes of the Rancho California period are very similar to Elizabethan, in the layered skirts for the women, the use of swords for the upper class French and Italian …”
Dramaturg Peggy Riley of Livermore is
excited to collaborate with the Livermore Heritage Guild to bring a
touch of local Rancho California history to our audiences. “The
site of Robert Livermore’s home on Rancho Las Positas is only a few
miles away from Retzlaff,” she noted. The collaboration resulted in
a lobby display for audience members to peruse while picnicking at
the outdoor venue.
In addition to the director and designers involved with the
production, two recent Pacific grads are featured in the show, Kyle
Hall and Gina Williams, working alongside Bay Area professionals and
Tri-Valley interns.
The professional company is truly a part of the community as five local students return from previous Vineyard productions to work on the project: David Cohen, Aliya Deri, and Emma Jonas as acting interns, and Crystal Albrecht and Kelli Xu as backstage interns. These join with new interns and a cast of eleven experienced actors to create not just a show, but a professional company rooted in the community.
For more information about this show and the summer education classes
please visit LivermoreShakes.org For tickets call 1-800-838-3006.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2007
Contact: Russell Marcel, Education Director
education@livermoreshakes.org
www.LivermoreShakes.org
925-454-1335
Shakespeare Youth Camps in Livermore This Month
LIVERMORE - This summer, along with presenting The Comedy of Errors for the Livermore Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare’s Associates will be offering fun and educational Shakespeare courses for young people at the Bothwell Arts Center at 8th and H Streets in Livermore. Programs begin June 18th and end June 29th.
The Youth Class is a 5 day course for children from ages 8 to 13. It will run Monday, June 25 – Friday, June 29, 9:00a.m. – 12:30p.m. The cost of the session is $185 per student and will be instructed by company actor Kyle Hall a graduate of University of the Pacific’s Theatre Arts Department.
This program is designed to promote creativity, literacy, and self-expression in a non-competitive, ensemble setting. Utilizing text, theater games, improvisation, and stage fighting techniques, the students will explore scenes from The Comedy of Errors.
The other session offered this summer is for high school students. The session is a 10 day course held weekdays from June 18 - June 29, 2:00p.m. – 4:00p.m. This session’s cost is $250 per student and will be instructed by Education Director Russell Marcel whose training includes classic work in London with the famed London Academy of Dramatic Arts “LAMBDA”.
This course is designed to take the fear out of Shakespeare and promote an exciting, engaging, and creative approach to the text. With an emphasis on acting and performance, this course will broaden a student’s perspective on Shakespeare by utilizing improvisation, theatre games, and stage combat techniques. Totally on-your-feet, very funny, and never dull, this course is designed to activate one’s imagination and brighten any student’s summer. Students will rehearse scenes from The Comedy of Errors.
No previous experience is required for either session and pre-enrolled students for both sessions will receive 1 free ticket to Shakespeare’s Associates’ summer production of The Comedy of Errors at Retzlaff Estate Winery this summer, July 12 – August 4th.
To get the registration form email [ mailto:education@livermoreshakes.org ]education@livermoreshakes.org. Also there is currently a costume design class being offered and internships for assisting with the production. For more information on Shakespeare’s Associates and the upcoming performance of The Comedy of Errors visit LivermoreShakes.org.
For Immediate Release
June 4, 2007
Contact: Lisa Tromovitch or Gina Williams
(925) 454-1335
Email to gina@ShakespearesAssociates.org
Fact Sheet
Livermore Shakespeare Festival in association with University of the Pacific Theatre Arts presents:
The Comedy of Errors
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Lisa A. Tromovitch
Location:
Retzlaff Estate Winery, 1356 South Livermore Avenue in Livermore
Overnight Stay Packages at Hawthorne Suites available: tickets, picnic, overnight stay w/ pool
Dates:
Thurs. July 12 – 7:30 p.m. Preview & Family Night
Fri. July 13 – 7:30 p.m. Opening Night
Sat. July 14 – 7:30
Fri. July 20 – 7:30 p.m.
Sat. July 21 – 7:30 p.m.
Sun. July 22 – 6:30 p.m. Family Night
Fri. July 27 – 7:30 p.m.
Sat. July 28 – 7:30 p.m.
Sun. July 29 – 6:30 p.m. Family Night
Fri. Aug. 3 – 7:30 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 4 – 7:30 p.m.
Ticket Prices:
Preview Night (7/12) All tickets $20
Opening Night (7/13) includes buffet dinner
$50 General admission
$45 Seniors 65 and older, military ID, full-time teacher, and groups of 10 or more
$40 Students 18 and younger
Regular Performances
$30 General admission
$25 Seniors 65 and older, military ID, full-time teacher, and groups of 10 or more
$20 Students 18 and younger
Family Nights (Sundays 7/22 & 7/29)
One free child’s ticket for each paid adult or senior ticket
For tickets visit LivermoreShakes.org or call 1-800-838-3006
For Immediate Release
April 26, 2007
Contact: Lisa A. Tromovitch
lisa@livermoreshakes.org
925-454-1335
www.LivermoreShakes.org
Calendar Listing Information for Livermore Shakespeare Festival’s outdoor Shakespeare in the Vineyards production of The Comedy of Errors.
(Please note title change since 2006 press release.)
Shakespeare in the Vineyards and under the stars, Livermore Shakespeare Festival opens the gates an hour before show time for picnicking at Retzlaff Estate Winery. The Comedy of Errors is a robust comedy with two pairs of mix-matched twins, entwining desire with hi-jinks, and past loss with present laughter. The setting is Rancho California, especially appropriate for the outdoor Livermore venue in an area that was once the Rancho for Mission San Jose. The vineyard sets the mood for four weekends of fun, July 12th – August 4th. For information: www.LivermoreShakes.org Tickets go on sale May 15th: 800-838-3006.
Preview/Family Night – Thursday, July 12th, 2007 at 7:30 PM; $20.
Opening Night – Friday, July 13th, 2007 at 7:30PM; $50/$45
Regular Performances: Saturday July 14th, F/Sat July 20 and 21 at 7:30PM, F./Sat July 27 and 28, and F/Sat August 3/4 all at 7:30PM; $30/$25
Special Sunday performances/Family Nights or Groups on Sundays July 22nd and 29th at 6:30 PM; $30/$25
Calendar Listings
Thursday, July 12th, 7:30 PM Livermore Shakespeare Festival PREVIEW & Family Night: The Comedy of Errors, Retzlaff Estate Winery 1356 S. Livermore Avenue, Livermore; All tickets $20; 800-838-3006; www.LivermoreShakes.org
Friday, July 13th, 7:30 PM Livermore Shakespeare Festival OPENING Night The Comedy of Errors, Retzlaff Estate Winery 1356 S. Livermore Avenue, Livermore; $50/$45 includes buffet dinner; 800-838-3006; www.LivermoreShakes.org
Saturday, July 14th, 7:30 PM Livermore Shakespeare Festival: The Comedy of Errors, Retzlaff Estate Winery 1356 S. Livermore Avenue, Livermore; $30/$25; 800-838-3006; www.LivermoreShakes.org
Friday, July 20st, 7:30 PM Livermore Shakespeare Festival: The Comedy of Errors, Retzlaff Estate Winery 1356 S. Livermore Avenue, Livermore; $30/$25; 800-838-3006; www.LivermoreShakes.org
Saturday, July 21nd, 7:30 PM Livermore Shakespeare Festival: The Comedy of Errors, Retzlaff Estate Winery 1356 S. Livermore Avenue, Livermore; $30/$25; 800-838-3006; www.LivermoreShakes.org
Sunday, July 22rd, 6:30 PM Livermore Shakespeare Festival: FAMILY NIGHT at The Comedy of Errors; Retzlaff Estate Winery 1356 S. Livermore Avenue, Livermore; $30/$25; 800-838-3006; Free kid ticket for each paid adult ticket;
www.LivermoreShakes.org
Friday, July 27th, 7:30 PM Livermore Shakespeare Festival: The Comedy of Errors, Retzlaff Estate Winery 1356 S. Livermore Avenue, Livermore; $30/$25; 800-838-3006; www.LivermoreShakes.org
Saturday, July 28th, 7:30 PM Livermore Shakespeare Festival: The Comedy of Errors, Retzlaff Estate Winery 1356 S. Livermore Avenue, Livermore; $30/$25; 800-838-3006; www.LivermoreShakes.org
Sunday, July 29th, 6:30 PM Livermore Shakespeare Festival: FAMILY NIGHT at The Comedy of Errors; Retzlaff Estate Winery 1356 S. Livermore Avenue, Livermore; $30/$25; 800-838-3006; Free kid ticket for each paid adult ticket; www.LivermoreShakes.org
Friday, August 3rd, 7:30 PM Livermore Shakespeare Festival: The Comedy of Errors, Retzlaff Estate Winery 1356 S. Livermore Avenue, Livermore; $30/$25; 800-838-3006; www.LivermoreShakes.org
Saturday, August 4th, 7:30 PM Livermore Shakespeare Festival: The Comedy of Errors, Retzlaff Estate Winery 1356 S. Livermore Avenue, Livermore; $30/$25; 800-838-3006; www.LivermoreShakes.org