Prague Playhouse

Acting class back in session

brian — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:52:57 +0000

Meisner acting class is back! The class runs every Monday and Wednesday at 18:30 and is open to all who are interested in working on their acting. We had our first class after the summer break last night and it went quite well.

We’re working on monologues this quarter, along with the standard Meisner exercises: What to choose, how to choose it, what to do when you walk into the room, how to rehearse the monologue.

If you’re interested in coming to the class, please call 608 577 012.

Nancy Bishop in Casting Symposium

brian — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:19:00 +0000

Nancy has posted a transcript of a casting symposium she lead in Scotland. A group of international casting directors and agents (Maureen Duff, John Hubbard, Maryam Hunwick, Priscilla John, and Derek Power) took part as the panel. They covered topics such as:

Why are Scotish actors so good and prominent on the international scene,
the casting director’s relationship with the actor,
how actors can be more proactive in getting work and getting noticed by an agent,
what if you have a UK agent and want to work internationally,
how to get in to see a casting director,
getting an O1 visa (for actors looking to work in America),
what to do about travelling for an audition in a different city
Plus questions from the audience.

There are photos from the symposium on Nancy’s site.

Calling Writers: Prague Post Playwriting Contest 2009

brian — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:19:34 +0000

Here we are again!
Another chance for all of you writers who want to see your name in lights!
The third annual Prague Post Playwriting Contest is kicking off……
So get writing!

Here’s what we’re looking for:

Original stage plays, never produced in Prague.
Approximate run time of 30 minutes.
Submitted in English. (And, yes, it can be a translation!)
You may resubmit entries from past contests.
Playwrights who are current or former residents of the Czech Republic (we will ask for references).
Entry fee is 100 Kc.

Here’s what you might win:

The top prize is 20 000 Kc (based on the written script submitted).
Audience prize for the best production resulting from the contest.
Special prize for the best play written by a non-native English speaker.
Top three finalists receive a full production at Divadlo Minor.
Finalists will be given the opportunity to work with experienced playwrights on polishing their piece.

Go to www.praguepost.com/playcontest for details. All deadlines and dates will be presented soon (the deadline for entries will be in the Fall) Questions? E-mail: playcontest@praguepost.com.

Miloco Presents: La Machine 26. and 27.6

brian — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:29:01 +0000

Miloco Theatre is revisiting and updating their production of “La Machine” which features Jeff Smith and Vanessa Gendron. La Machine was inspired by science fiction literature and film. Much like the other work of Miloco, the piece is a stylized work which connects film and video with physical theater.

LA MACHINE plays at Divadlo Komedie, Jungmanova 1, on June 26 and 27 at 19:30. Tickets are 200 Kc general and 150 Kc (students/seniors). You can reserve tickets at www.prakomdiv.cz or through TicketPro. You can get more information about the show by emailing info@miloco.cz.

PCFE Summer Films Looking For Actors

brian — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:42:23 +0000

The PCFE Summer session is looking for actors to perform in their student films. There will be an open casting on Tuesday, June 17th from 18:00 at the school on Pstrossova 19, across the street from the Globe Bookstore. If you’re interested, you can just show up or contact Nikola for details: nikola.paggio@filmstudies.cz

Prague.tv reviews “The Sacred Sow”

brian — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 06:54:06 +0000

Prague.tv has a glowing review of The Sacred Sow, our recent production at the Prague Fringe. I’ve heard from several people that they didn’t come to the show and that they’d like to see another run of it, but I don’t know if or when that will happen. The current plan for the show is to work towards taking it to Ireland sometime before the end of the year. For the review, click (more):

“Dark and lyrical, the play’s characters spin yarns about themselves, each other and the traditional, rural Ireland around them. Enter a world of ghosts, faeries and curses, a place where a song can call up the dead and family bonds are never broken.”

The Sacred Sow by local playwright and musician Eleanor Cummins is a tense, hour-long drama dealing with the story of a young man who has begun to outgrow the small Irish town of his origins and the mother who will do almost anything to keep him close. The play is augmented by traditional Irish music peformed by the author on bouzouki and Uilleann piper Matej Tomeš, a backdrop which added a great deal of ambiance and texture to the production.

Though the dialects of the non-Irish cast members were at times a bit inconsistent, this was a very slight flaw in what was overall a very, very good piece of theatre. Supporting actors Mathew Blood-Smyth, Tracy Kearney and Brendan Payne all delivered strong performances, and Eileen Pollock’s portayal of the mother was alternately sympathetic and blood-curdling. James High, whose give-and-take with Blood-Smyth in the roles of long-separated best buddies was both amusing and believeable, had his strongest moment in a very emotional and relevatory scene near the end of the play where his character is confronted by the ghosts of departed loved ones.

Working in the confined quarters of A Studio Rubin, director Brian Caspe made good use of the venue he was given to work with. Nothing about the action was static or claustrophobic despite the limitations of the space. If this high level of production value could be achieved given the time and technical constraints which are necessarily a part of performing at the Fringe Festival, one can only wonder what this ensemble might achieve given a larger, more suitable space and a full-length, intensive rehearsal process. Hopefully that will happen in the future, and when it does, be there to see it.

ZFK: Future Shorts for June

brian — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:39:58 +0000

PREMIER SCREENING THURSDAY JUNE 5th @ KINO SVETOZOR 20:30 http://www.kinosvetozor.cz/cz/program/filmy/1818/Future-Shorts-June/

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP1Dg5tiNtw

Future Shorts returns in June with an extremely high calibre programme of short films and music videos including the 2007 CANNES WINNER ‘VER LLOVER’ (Watching it Rain) from Mexico as well as the EUROPEAN PREMIERE of Alma Har’el’s music video ‘PA BAILAR CON JULIETA’ for the Bajofondo Tango Club. Also check out German thriller (and international festival sensation) ‘Between Walls’ alongside the first in the cult ‘Little Minx Exquisite Corpse’ series, plus many more cinematic treats including an R.E.M. music video from ‘Son of Rambow’ director Garth Jennings. This is fresh cinema – futureshorts.com

PROGRAMME OF FILMS (click more)

Between Walls
Dir: Ana-Felicia Scutelnicu / Germany / 2007
On a building site in Berlin, a situation gets out of control when one of a group of illegal workers needs more money and a dangerous game begins…

Rope a Dope - Little Minx Exquisite Corpse
Dir: Laurent Briet / USA / 2008
Someone is gonna get their ass kicked.
This film is part of series – view them all at www.littleminx.tv

My First Crush
Dir: Julia Pott / UK / 2008
A 3 minute animated film constructed from interviews with friends based on their first encounters with love.

Ver Llover
Dir: Elisa Miller / Mexico / 2006
This the story of Sofía and Jonás, two teenagers living in a small Mexican town. Sofía wants to leave and Jonás has to decide whether to stay or leave with her.

Mushaboom (by Feist)
Dir: Patrick Daughters / USA / 2005
If you live in the city but dream of being somewhere quiet, let Feist lift you away…

Far From Home (by Tiga)
Dir: Nagi Noda / USA / 2006
Stay close to home with Tiga.

Do it Again (By The Chemical Brothers)
Dir: Michael Haussman / USA / 2007
The Chemical Brothers fall from the sky into a Moroccan desert.

La Parabolica
Dir: Xavi Sala / Spain / 2007
During the broadcast of the Pope’s visit, Vicente’s television breaks down. Desperate, he decides to build his own satellite dish.

This is slovenia
Dir: Michael Frank / Slovenia / 2007
Josko Joras is an obstinate man caught between two fires. He lives on the disputed border between Slovenia and Croatia.

Pa Bailar Con Julieta (by Bajofondo Tango Club) *EUROPEAN PREMIERE*
Dir: Alma Har’el / USA / 2007
Beauty therapy Bajofondo style.
www.almaharel.com

Postcards from Italy (by Beirut)
Dir: Alma Har’el / USA / 2007
Super 8, home movie nostalgia from director Alma Har’el to the music of Beirut
www.almaharel.com

Imitation of Life (by REM)
Dir: Garth Jennings / UK / 2001
A flexible Michael Stipe at a crazy LA pool party in a mind-bending video.

www.futureshorts.com/czechrepublic

—
www.zizkovfilmklub.cz

Gordon Truefitt’s Guide To The Fringe

brian — Wed, 28 May 2008 00:02:20 +0000

Gordon just emailed me his take on some of the shows he’s seen. It looks like a great crop of shows this year!

Gordon writes:

SILKWORM/Rubin: Excellently produced and performed two hander. The content is interesting and entertaining. The piece is a collection of recollections but, as these seem to be arranged in some sort of progression, and because it is played by the same two characters, it comes over more as a disjointed postmodern narrative, which for me was confusing rather than focusing. None-the-less well worth the visit.

H+A SCREENPLAY/rubin Naiviety is the virtue which saves this updated examination of `Heloise and Abelard` from becoming a vampish `Vicar and Tart` melodrama. The truths and significances of the original love story are often written-off nowadays as the product of the constrictions of medieval monastic life. This show manages to show that perhaps all that has changed in life and love is the setting. And it does so entertainingly, with good phyicallity, lighting,projection and set. I`m glad I saw it.

THE SACRED SOW/Rubin: Very `Irish`, very claustrophobic, very `narrative`; “Ah none o`yer postmodern rubbish here!”. Very talented cast who are still exploring. Well worth seeing - and keeping yer eye on!

KARAGIOZIS EXPOSED/na Pradle: This is one of the best pieces of theatre I`ve seen in years. “A Cypriot Puppet Show?! Don`t make me laugh!” Oh it does that all right; and heaps more. This takes theatre to places I`ve only dreamed of - and only pretty vaguely at that too. A MUST!

40 FEATHERED WINKS/na Pradle: The choreographic slickness of this piece of excellent physical theatre (set and lighting to match!) is so good that it almost (but doesn`t !) mask the equally excellent funny, or thought provoking, content. I`m just grateful it was one of the `granted` on my Wish-List.

Mickey Dunne at JJ Murphy’s

brian — Tue, 27 May 2008 06:26:24 +0000

For those of you that weren’t able to come to JJ Murphy’s last night (I know, I sent the invite out late!), here’s a sample of what you missed. The Traditional Session was really amazing and several times listening to the music I got the distinct impression that I had to jump on the next plane to Dublin. Absolutely wonderful! You can still get a taste of this by coming to the Sacred Sow, which is playing as part of the Prague Fringe every day from NOW until June 1 at A Studio Rubin at 19:30. Tickets are available at the door and it only costs 150 Kc!

Listen to one of the tunes played by Mickey Dunne

“Sacred Sow” Now up at the Fringe!

brian — Mon, 26 May 2008 15:39:47 +0000

Come one and all to the Sacred Sow which is playing EVERY DAY until June 1st at A Studio Rubin (Malostranske namesti 9) at 19:30!!

The show will probably start selling out towards the end of the run, so come and see it early. It’s a very dark look at family, outsiders and the idea of Home, all set in rural Ireland. Eileen Pollock stars as the overbearing mother, Mrs. Malloy, who will do anything to keep her family together and safe. For more information you can read the special Sacred Sow page.