Archive for April, 2008
Hey Everyone,
I just wanted to share with all of you the amazing experience that I had working on Kent’s film yesterday. It was my first film ever, and indeed, my first acting experience since beginning Meisner training. As difficult as it has been to get those emotional juices flowing in the context of Meisner exercises in class, I’ll have to say that… in the context of a real story… I was wowed by the power of basic repetition as a way to tap into the subtext of the story that we were working on and to bring up emotions… sometimes in totally unexpected ways… as well as to form a connection with the other characters. Kudos to Kent for finding ways to get us on track and to get us focussed and draw those emotions out. I wish you all could have seen him working with the precocious child actor who “never gets irritated.” It was really precious, and I wish that moment had been caught on film.
But, back to the topic! In the film, my character was dying of leukemia, and I was really able (at least during some of the takes) to feel that I truly was about to check out of this life, and to feel all the fear and sense of helplessness and being lost that accompanied it. That got me to thinking (as most things do), that having acted this part, take after take, and experiencing it with as much reality as I did, it’s almost as if I had really faced death in those moments… and now I feel like I know (to a certain extent) what that’s like. As these thoughts were rolling around in my head, I wondered if, after performing enough scenes of a similar nature, one would be more prepared to face their own death in real life (according to Buddhist philosophy, our most important task in life is to prepare ourselves for our own death).
I know a few of you are interested in philosophy, so I thought I’d share my thought process with you in the wake of this experience and, hopefully, get some feedback from you as to whether you’ve had similar experiences. Of course, this doesn’t just apply to death scenes. It could apply to just about any situation that you might find yourself acting…. dealing with relationship issues, showing compassion, facing an armed robber, raising a child (not that all roles are necessarily good role models for life, but assimilating the human side of these situations into our repertoire of life experience in the relatively safe environment of stage or screen…. does this help us to deal more effectively with real life situations?
I’m interested in hearing your thoughts and opinions on this and in hearing about any experiences that you may have had (and that you’d care to share, of course) where performing a particular role has left you feeling that you were better equipped to deal with real life.
Saluuuuuuuu,
Barbara
April 25th, 2008
THE BEAR EDUCATIONAL THEATRE is looking for actor-teachers to play in professional educational theatre shows now and in the new school year.
The Bear Educational Theatre is a stable full-time professional theatre company that plays shows mostly for school audiences in the Czech Republic, Austria and France. There are one or two Bear Theatre teams playing somewhere on most working days.
Because of illness and visa troubles we are looking for a couple of people who could play something almost immediately. This is also a good chance to test if you are suited to the work before taking a bigger plunge in the new school year.
For more information on the theatre and the shows visit www.bearproject.cz
Then if you are interested in joining the team, travelling, playing and getting paid (average 1200Kc per working day) please contact David Fisher (tel: 777 134272) to learn more.
April 25th, 2008
Witold Wilczynski is looking for extras for one of the scenes of making of music video for artist Karina Hvainicka. They will be needing extras(fans) for concert scene date: 01.05.08 at Palac Akropolis , street Kubelíkova 1548/27 ,
130 00 Praha 3 from 11:30-17:00. You can get in touch with him via 776-467-591
April 18th, 2008
The Prague Playhouse presents brand new production of Christopher Durang’s manic comedy “Laughing Wild” starting next Thursday, April 24 (two shows, at 19:00 and 20:30)! “Laughing Wild” takes a look at how today’s consumer culture and the pace at which we live defines us and drives us crazy. It is a real roller-coaster ride of pathos and hysteria, the drive to live in a better world and on-stage therapy. There will be 4 performances ONLY, so reserve your tickets now!”Laughing Wild” will play:
April 24 at 19:00 and 20:30
May 2 and 3 at 20:00
Divadlo Na Zabradli’s
Eliadova Knihovna
Anenske namesti 5, Prague 1
150 Kc / 100 Kc (students and seniors)
Tickets are available from the theater box office:
222 868 867 or pokladna@nazabradli.cz
or from the Globe Bookstore
Pstrossova 6, Prague 1
For more information you can email me (brian@pragueplayhouse.com) or call 608 577 012
Looking forward to seeing you at the show!
April 15th, 2008
Nancy Bishop is starting a blog which will be letting people know about casting activities in Europe, as well as her casting activities, courses. Nancy is definitely plugged in at a more international and professional film level and will have very good insights and information about what’s going on in our wider community.
April 10th, 2008
Jeff Smith just sent me this:
Micah and a bunch of us on working on this Obama in 30 seconds video.
RSVP please: Micah Jayne micah.micah@gmail.com or 777 352 630
The commercial is for Moveon’s Obama in 30 seconds contest -
if it wins could help the cause and make it onto US TV..
Some more extras would be great if know any actors that woudl want to come out and help out.
- We are currently scheduled for THIS Wednesday (April 9) at 10 am, rain or shine. We’re looking into getting some sunshine, but the guy wants too much money.
- We really need as many extras as possible, so please, come out and bring a friend or two! We want it to look like a busy street scene in Anywhere America! Here’s more information about the shoot:
1. For the shoot, wear anything blue, green or white, but try to avoid lots of bright red and tight patterns. Also, please avoid anything with a big logo on it or anything with non-english writing
2. We will provide some lunch “on set” for everybody
3. The first location is here
You can take bus 116, 161 or 254 from Dejvicka to the stop “Nad Habrovkou”
We are trying to work out a van to get people up there from Dejvicka, but no luck yet
RSVP please: Micah Jayne micah.micah@gmail.com or 777 352 630
The commercial is for Moveon’s Obama in 30 seconds contest -
if it wins coudl help the cauise and make it onto US TV..
April 8th, 2008
Our friend Gordon Truefitt brought us news of another English language production going up in April:
“Baiting Leviticus”, a new clerical comedy by John Owen McKillop
When the newspaper-headline problems of “The Church”, land smack-dab in the lap of a lowly, hardworking parish priest the results are….
Messy? - Yes. Personal? - Yes. Very `real`? - Oh yes! … and HILARIOUS!!!
Mon 21st April to Thur 24th April at 19:30
Prices: 150 - 450CZK
Ticket reservation enquiries: 272 659 189 or playgroup2008@gmail.com
Male Nosticovo Divadlo
Nosticova 2a, Prague 1 - Mala Strana
phone: 774 334 810
The Rev. Harold is so depressed by the public bickering, posturing and fallings-out between the bishops and other leaders of the Anglican Church; he decides to ignore them all and bury himself in work at his own core values of: clothing and feeding the poor, supporting the weak and oppressed, and preaching the Gospel. All very worthy; but blinding too to what`s going on in his own churchyard. When eventually his eyes are opened, he finds; all the many and manifold sins that he accuses his superiors of, being recreated by his own nearest and dearest. Not suprisingly he goes thermo-nuclear; fortunately for us in the `Interval`. What is suprising is the nature of the fallout; which is unexpected and eye wateringly human in a number of ways.
CAST: Rev. Harold - Gordon Truefitt, Beth,his wife - Andrea Miltner, Chris,his best friend - R. Scott Williams, Gary,a maidenly member of the Church Board - John Owen McKillop.
WARNING; THIS PLAY CONTAINS FOUR SYLLABLE WORDS AND NUDITY (..an entire naked foot! )
TICKET info:
Advance Booking (Credit/debit card sales and Bank transfer) available from www.webticket.cz
Ticket reservation enquiries phone: 272 659 189, or email: playgroup2008@gmail.com
Preview/Standby Performances: - 150 CZK
First/Last Night Performances: - 450CZK including after-show `sampanske` reception
START TIME: 7.30pm
www.malenosticovo.com
April 4th, 2008
We’re proud to announce that the Prague Playhouse Musical Ensemble is stepping out into the world with our first gig! We’ll be playing at Mon Ami (Kodanska 47, Prague 10) on Sunday April 13th at 19:00. The performance is FREE (but you’ll be expected to buy food and drink…don’t worry, it’s not expensive) and packed with songs from all your musical favorites: Les Miz, Sweet Charity, Rocky Horror Picture Show, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To the Forum, Gypsy and much more!
Come on out and enjoy an evening of good food, good drink and good music!
April 4th, 2008
NOTE: These performances have been canceled due to an illness!
The Bear Theatre presents
THE ROCKING HORSE WINNER by D.H. Lawrence and
THE BEAR by A.P.Chekhov
Reduta Theatre, Narodní Trida 20, April 14th and 15th at 7.00 p.m.
Tickets 180Kc (230Kc on the door). Reductions 150Kc - available from the venue.
Two classic short plays in one evening, one from England one from Russia.
The Bear by Anton Chekhov - This one-act play is the story of a fight between a young widow and a rough gentleman farmer, who is owed some money by her dead husband. Unlike Chekhov’s famous long plays, this is a fairly straight broad comedy with a surprise ending. However, it doesn’t lack any of the humanity and feeling for character that makes Chekhov one of the world’s leading playwrights.
The Rocking Horse Winner by D.H. Lawrence is adapted from the famous short story. A young boy discovers that he has a gift for predicting the winners of horse races. He secretly uses this gift to support the debts of his overspending aristocratic parents, but ends by paying a great price. As with The Bear, although the story is set a hundred years ago, the reality of the characters and the eternal theme of money and debt and the pressures they bring make the story resound strongly with a modern audience.
The Bear Theatre is the Czech Republic’s full-time professional English Langauge Theatre. The theatre plays mostly for school audiences in Central Europe and France, but the evening shows for adults are no less well-received. ‘The Bear’ is the flagship production of the theatre (which gave rise to the name) and ‘The Rocking Horse Winner’ has also been in the Theatre’s repertoire for over eight years, so a great evening is guaranteed.
April 3rd, 2008
If you didn’t get a chance to see Laska is Love, Love je Laska last week, you’ve got a few more chances! The show will play for the next two Tuesdays at the same venue, Eliasova Knihovna, Divadlo na zabradli, Annenské náměstí 12, Praha 1.
Tickets (100 Kc/ 50 Kc) are available from the theatre box office
tel. 222 868 868
email: pokladna@nazabradli.cz
skype: divadlonazabradli
For more information please contact:
Alexander Komlosi
776 072 092
info@professionalhumanbeing.net
April 3rd, 2008