L.A. Theatre Works blog

on RED

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:41:56 -0500

“There is only one thing I fear in life, my friend…

One day the black will swallow the red.”

—character Mark Rothko in Red by John Logan

In John Logan’s Red, it is under the watchful gaze of his young assistant and the threatening presence of a rising new generation of artists that painter Mark Rothko takes on the challenge of creating a definitive work for an extraordinary setting. This award-winning play is a compelling account of an artist, struggling to accept his growing riches, take the praise that became his ultimate undoing, and deal with his fear of failure. Red gives us vivid glimpses into the drive, excitement, frustration and fulfilment of the creative process.

Born in Latvia in 1903, Mark Rothko immigrated to the US in 1913. He attended Yale University for two years before settling in New York in 1925. He studied for a time under the artist Max Weber, who led Rothko to begin seeing art as a form of religious and emotional expressionism—the only formal training he would receive. Rothko had his first group exhibition in 1928, and his first one-person art show in 1933 at the Contemporary Arts Gallery, New York.

A series of successes followed in the next ten years, and Rothko became increasingly involved with the progressive movement; he formed a group called The Ten (or The Ten Who Are Nine), and worked for the Federal Works Progress Administration’s easel project, which aided artists in the Great Depression.

In the 1940s, Rothko began work on the pieces for which he is most famous—comprised of large, abstract color fields and horizontal rectangles on “human scale” canvases.

The Color Field paintings classified Rothko as an abstract expressionist. Abstract expressionism, based in surrealism, promoted spontaneous and subconscious creation, and resisted breaking any boundaries beyond the purely aesthetic. Rothko himself rejected the label “abstract expressionist”—and resisted any qualification of his work as “abstract.”

Between 1958 and 1969, Rothko worked on three major commissions: canvases for the Four Seasons Restaurant and Seagram Building; murals for Harvard University; and canvases for “The Rothko Chapel” in Houston.

On February 25, 1970 in Manhattan, Mark Rothko’s assistant found the artist lying dead in the floor of his kitchen, covered in blood from having sliced his arms with a razor. He had also overdosed on anti-depressants. He was 66 years old. On the same day of his suicide, the Seagram Murals arrived in London for display at the Tate Gallery

In May 2012, Rothko’s 1961 painting Orange, Red, Yellow (#693 in Anfam’s catalogue raisonné) was sold by Christie’s, New York, for $86.9 million, setting a new nominal-value record for a post-war painting at a public auction.

Actor Gregory Itzin:

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:50:00 -0500

“I always look forward to my work with

L.A. Theatre Works. I get to perform great roles

in great plays with fantastic actors in a short,

intense period. It is a gift to both actor and audience,

and since it is recorded, it lives forever.”

Our tour of Pride and Prejudice returns on it’s second leg...

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 16:59:07 -0500

Our tour of Pride and Prejudice returns on it’s second leg this week! With stops in Cerritos, California; Erie, Pennsylvania; and even Bermuda, you don’t want to miss it!

Check the full tour schedule here.

buy tix here before they sell out (and they will…trust us)

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:10:50 -0500

buy tix here before they sell out (and they will…trust us)

Did you know? One of the (totally awesome) things that L.A....

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:22:33 -0500

Did you know? One of the (totally awesome) things that L.A. Theatre Works offers is NT Live in HD Screenings…

aka the Best of British theatre broadcast live to cinemas around the world including L.A. Theatre Works at the UCLA James Bridges Theatre.

This is a totally rad program from the National Theatre Live, and L.A. Theatre Works was one of the first to start broadcasting the screenings in the US.

Next up is THE MAGISTRATE (trailer above^^). Tix are only $20 - that’s only $5 more than a movie ticket at most LA movie theatres - and it’s more than a movie - it’s *live theatre* - brought to you live & straight from London. Totally worth the cost. You gotta see it to believe it.

Purchase tickets for THE MAGISTRATE starring John Lithgow here.

Our Challenge is almost over but - we still need YOU!...

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 17:26:13 -0500

Our Challenge is almost over but -

we still need YOU! We’re just $19,000 away from meeting our matching grant goal of $100,000!

Here’s what your $100 gift can do:

1) Allow students in 1 High School classroom studying

Hamlet (required nationally in 12th grade) to download our Hamlet enhanced eBook.

One student says about this App: “Thank you! Pairing the audio and the text together really helped me understand the play much better and I actually enjoyed it. My grade in English thanks you.”

2) Give 5 free plays on audio CD to any one of the 3,000+ schools that uses them.

3) Create Teacher Study Guides for more plays on the National Curriculum’s K-12 required reading list.

One teacher calls these study guides: “…phenomenal. The information contained in the Study Guide is an excellent hands-on resource that helps to facilitate bringing the drama to the student.”

DONATE $100 NOW

And to those of you who have already given - Thank You!

Qualifying personal IRA distributions taken in the month of December 2012 can be counted as a “charitable rollover” if contributed to a charity as cash by

January 31, 2013.

Concussions, football, and other things

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 20:54:22 -0500

This week, we’re recording HEADSTRONG by Patrick Link, a play about the that examines the impact of concussions in football - a VERY hot topic right now. Read this cool article about the subject here.

Interview with Stephen Adley Guirgis (2006)

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:52:57 -0500

This interview was done in 2006 when L.A. Theatre Works recorded “Jesus Hopped the A Train.” It was conducted by Susan Raab.

An Interview with Stephen Adly Guirgis, playwright of JESUS HOPPED THE ‘A’ TRAIN

LATW: Who are your favorite playwrights?

GUIRGIS: My favorite playwright is Tennessee Williams. Some other favorites are John Patrick Shanley, Robert Glaudini, and Brett C. Leonard. I have alot of love and respect for the writings of C.S. Lewis and Rainer Maria Rilke. And my favorite book is Franny and Zooey.

LATW: What was the inspiration for writing about the prison system?

GUIRGIS: I didn’t actually intend to write “about” the prison system. For me, in this play, “prison” is a kind of launching point or metaphor for the prison within one’s self. The inner fears and rages and conflicts that keep us shackled are things I grapple with kinda all the time, and I was certainly grappling with them when I wrote the play. I think the characters in Jesus are their own individual jailors – particularly Angel. And they are all grappling. There is, I hope, an abundance of conflict and color in this play because the characters are fighting a war on at least three fronts at all times: they are battling themselves, each other, and their respective conceptions and relationships to the God they both desperately crave and bitterly reject… they are fighting for their right to be “right”, cuz if they’re wrong, then they’re pretty much fucked and they know it… or something like that. I dunno.

LATW: LATW produced your play OUR LADY OF 121st STREET. Do you see any connections or parallels between the two plays?

GUIRGIS: Well, both plays devote energy towards the examination of Faith and Religion. Both plays have a lot of characters who are in a good deal of pain and are struggling with Acceptance. In both plays, characters are actively engaged in either trying to figure it out or are trying very hard to NOT figure it out. Much like me.

LATW: Your plays tend to focus on multi-ethnic groups of characters. Is that intentional on your part, or does it develop organically out of your writing process?

GUIRGIS: I think I write characters to whom I’m drawn to in the languages and speech patterns to which I’m drawn… a big part of being a writer is about just listening to the different voices in your head and writing down what they need to say. I know that might sound a little mysterious, but, really, it’s not that mysterious when you think about it. What does a baseball player do? See the ball, hit the ball. A quarterback reads and reacts. A fisherman casts his line and hopefully reels something in. That’s what writers do. Sometimes we catch a fish, sometimes we get, like, a used condom, or an old boot. But the process is always the same, and if the process is successful, it’s usually because we left “thinking about it” out of the equation. The thinking part comes before and after. But the actual act of writing is about something else. It’s about getting the hell out of the way. And the reason I suggest that the writing process isn’t so mysterious as it sounds is because, I mean, “getting the hell out of the way” applies to, like, almost everything we do or try to do, like, all the time. Like, if you got up the nerve to kiss the girl, and then you kissed her, and she didn’t belt you in the mouth, then what happened really? I know for me that what probably happened is that I succeeded in getting the hell out of the way. That’s what a writer’s gotta do — which is probably why I spend so much time avoiding it… anyways, as far as multi-ethnicity goes in my writing, I am the product of a multi-ethnic marriage, I grew up in multi-ethnic neighborhoods, and my theater company is multi-ethnic. I love words and slang and I do love the language of the street. And I am glad that my plays in some small way foster diversity. But mainly, I just write down what I hear in my head. Maybe someday all I’ll hear is people from Connecticut or something, but for now, it’s a real mixed bag and I’m grateful for that. God bless my mom and dad for settling in New York City and exposing me to the colors of the rainbow and so many of the rich voices in the choir

LATW: Did you have a particular social or political agenda when you wrote JESUS?

GUIRGIS: No. I needed to vent, and I needed to rage, and I needed to have an argument with myself that was impossible to win either way. So I guess that’s what I did. I wrote the play at a time when I needed God, but only on my own terms. I still struggle with that. I want to be in charge at all times despite the fact that things that don’t work out very well when I’m my own Ultimate Authority… the part of me that’s still a child wants to avoid taking responsibility for anything, and is extremely enraged and resentful at any suggestion that I ought to. The part of me that’s starting to grow up a little is slightly more willing to do things a little differently and to acknowledge that it ain’t me who’s running the show. Angel’s dilemma in the play, like mine in life, is perhaps not so much about not wanting to choose what’s “right” as it is not wanting the responsibility and burden of having to make any choice at all. Angel wants permission to have whatever he does be “okay”. If forced to choose, he wants someone else to do it for him. Ultimately, in the play, Angel does, I believe, choose. He makes a choice. As for me, in my own life, I guess I’m still waiting.

LATW: The two lead characters form an intense “odd couple” who affect each other deeply. How did you create such a fascinating pair of characters?

GUIRGIS: I don’t know. I heard Lucius and felt him. And I heard Angel too. I was fortunate enough to figure out that they both pretty desperately needed each other, and badly needed something from the other. And I just let them go to war. They both have a lot to lose, and that makes for fierce warriors, and hopefully, a pretty good battle. Mary Jane and Valdez have a lot to lose as well. I think that’s what makes them pretty hard-core as well. These are folks who take their work very personally. They’re not clock-punchers. They’re true blue. Mary Jane spends the play trying to justify to us what is, in the end, simply un-justifiable. And right up through the end, she just won’t accept that. As for Valdez, his flaw is his inability to see gray. I do not for a minute think of him as “evil”. He is simply — and sadly — a man who can only see things as black or white. He is not a sadist. He just operates from a moral compass that you don’t ever wanna be on the wrong side of.

LATW: Having seen your work produced before by L.A. Theatre Works, why do you think JESUS is going to work well for the radio?

GUIRGIS: Well, it’s not boring. At least I hope it’s not… there’s a certain amount a verbal pyrotechnics going on, a lot of conflict, a lot of needs needing to be met, and the scenes, I think, all have a pretty palpable sense of urgency. Some people classify Jesus as a “debate play” which, I think, probably makes it conducive to radio listening, I don’t know. It’s a play for the ears — rough language, rapid fire, a lot of humor, and hopefully an intellectual argument carried forth by characters you can care about that takes the listener to a conclusion that, again hopefully, leads to further discussion and perhaps a small measure of inner contemplation.

LATW: Did you do any research when writing JESUS?

GUIRGIS: I checked some stuff out to make sure that what I had written wasn’t too far away from the truth in terms of prison life and the legal system… and I did a little reading on sociopathic mindsets and behaviors… part of the impetus for the play came from seeing David Berkowitz — the “Son of Sam” Serial Killer from NYC in ‘77 — on Larry King. He was talking about how God had forgiven him and that he was Born Again. As I watched him, I thought; “on the one hand, he’s clearly insane, but on the other hand — what if it were true? And what better test case of God’s willingness and ability to forgive than a crazy depraved killer like

Berkowitz”… I also saw an interview with the guy who killed John Lennon which was fascinating because of his own inability to experience and express remorse and accept responsibility even though he clearly wanted the viewers to think and believe that he was sorry…as for prison life itself, I had done a little work in prisons so I had a very tiny little glimmer and glimpse into the sad horror that that life holds. But mostly, I just wrote and hoped for the best…

LATW: How do you find such wonderful humor in supposedly bleak situations?

GUIRGIS: When I go to theater, my hope is that I will laugh, cry, and think… you can get away with a lot if you can offer the audience some laughter. Humor humanizes. It’s vital and human and necessary…

LATW: What’s next for you?

GUIRGIS: My mom just died. I miss her very, very much. Eventually, I will resume writing and acting. I have a play that’s due for next season in New York that my company LAByrinth is doing with Manhattan Theater Club. It’s called The Little Flower of East Orange, and I’m still writing it. Also, I owe a screenplay about the boxer Emile Griffith that the producers and the director have been very, very graciously and patiently waiting on for a while now. So I guess I got stuff to do. But right now, I’m taking care of family. And hopefully, myself too.

BRIAN KITE, director of Pride and Prejudice, tells you why YOU...

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 12:57:01 -0500

BRIAN KITE, director of Pride and Prejudice, tells you why YOU should come to Pride and Prejudice, running tomorrow - Sunday at the UCLA James Bridges Theatre. We are almost sold out so buy tix while you still can!!

Join the Bennett Sisters JUST returned from National Tour, this...

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:27:15 -0500

Join the Bennett Sisters JUST returned from National Tour, this week in Pride and Prejudice at the UCLA James Bridges Theatre

For tix: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/912523

Use code BONNETFRIEND for half off tix!!

And we’re back! Last night we completed the last...

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 19:25:00 -0500

And we’re back! Last night we completed the last performance of our Fall Tour in Ames, Iowa. Tonight we land in Los Angeles, and Monday we start rehearsals for L.A. Theatre Works’ PRIDE AND PREJUDICE live at the UCLA James Bridges Theatre! Please come see our show if you’re in LA! We look forward in starting the tour back up again in January!!!

To buy tix for the show in LA go here

Did you <3 Pride and Prejudice?

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:43:00 -0500

Do you want to be seen and heard by Pride and Prejudice fans across the country??? If you saw Pride and Prejudice on tour, we want your feedback! Just record a ONE MINUTE VIDEO for L.A. Theatre Works on your phone or camera. Tell who you ar

e and where you’re from, how much you liked P&P, and what you liked about it and we’ll post it on our Facebook AND feature you in our outreach for P&P! Just message the video to L.A. Theatre Works on Facebook, post it on YOUR Facebook wall and tag L.A. Theatre Works, OR send it via email to aerikson@latw.org.

We want to hear what you have to say so that we can tell people all over the U.S. how great Pride and Prejudice is!!

thank you Wisconsin!

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 13:08:50 -0500

The cast of P&P want to say thanks to the people of La Crosse Wisconsin…a great city, great people, we had a blast doing the show for you last night. Thanks for the standing ovation, that means a lot to us!!!!!

We’ve been traveling a lot in the past week and we are...

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 13:06:45 -0500

P&P cast thanks to the audience that filled this venue...George Mason University: Center for the Arts, Fairfax, VA.....we had a great show and you made it special!

They say ‘Virginia is for Lovers’, some of the cast of P&P wanted to express that! Thanks Virginia…we have some great memories of this wonderful state!

Our second sold-out show on the tour at Hoover Public Library Theatre in Hoover Alabama. The most intimate venue of the tour so far, but a great venue and great audiences!

We’ve been traveling a lot in the past week and we are having a wonderful time! Here are photos of our stops in Hoover, Alabama and Fairfax, Virginia. Last night we performed in Lacrosse, Wisconsin at the Main Theater. Right now we are in route to Ames, Iowa where tonight we’ll perform at the University of Iowa! Then it’s back to L.A. for a week of rehearsals and performances at L.A. Theatre Works’ “home” venue, the UCLA James Bridges Theatre!! Love to all of you who are following us on the tour and who have shown us your support!

xo, the cast of P&P

Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemmingway, Faulkner and countless...

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 11:52:34 -0400

Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemmingway, Faulkner and countless others have used the famous Carousel bar at the hotel Monteleone for inspiration. The cast of Pride and Prejudice had to visit it to soak in the literary ghosts of the past on the day off we had in New Orleans!

where in the US is Pride and Prejudice? we are excited to be...

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:18:27 -0400

where in the US is Pride and Prejudice? we are excited to be playing this beautiful venue tonight, the Rudder Theatre in College Station, Texas! —the cast of P&P

The cast Of P&P took a tour of Avery Island the other day at...

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:06:00 -0400

The cast Of P&P took a tour of Avery Island the other day at the Tabasco bottling plant. Thanks to everyone in Louisiana who showed us such amazing hospitality! xoxo, the cast of P&P

We're in the news! HAPPY 200th BIRTHDAY PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 14:12:26 -0400

We're in the news! HAPPY 200th BIRTHDAY PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

The cast of Pride and Prejudice is currently in Louisiana and...

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:46:00 -0400

The cast of Pride and Prejudice is currently in Louisiana and sampled local Cajun food and music this weekend! We performed yesterday and this morning at the Heymann Performing Arts Center in Lafayette, Louisiana.

On Friday night, we performed in Fayetteville, Arkansas to a SOLD OUT house! Thank you, people of Fayetteville, you were one of the highlights of our tour so far!

Where in the U.S. is Pride and Prejudice? The Cast of P&P...

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 18:04:39 -0400

Where in the U.S. is Pride and Prejudice?

The Cast of P&P are very excited about tonight’s show at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas…..it’s a sold out show and a real buzz around town about it…..We can’t wait to see you all!

—The Cast of P&P xoxo