Read All About It! New … And Improved!
Southern Repertory Theatre is Born-Again!

Everything’s up to date at Southern Rep in the Crescent City! THE flagship nonprofit theatre in our area has taken a much favored turn for the better along with their pledge to rededicate its reason for existence. naturaliment, its raison d’être being to showcase Louisiana talent first and foremost, as much as possible.
OHH…WHAT A REBIRTH!
It remained alive, give it credit, since 1986. Its location certainly had plenty to do with that. Situated on the foot (make that ‘ankle’) of Canal Street in New Orleans; overlooking the Mighty Mississippi, where Kodak moments abound, inside the ultra modern/sheik/toney/towering …ok, ok, touristy, CANAL PLACE skyscraper which guards the grand entranceway to the enchanting, mysterious French Quarter, much akin to The Colossus of Rhodes-the tribute to Helios, the Sun god. Ok, ok, that’s a bit of a stretch (and a helluva lengthy sentence) but you should see this place; it “loom’s”.  Sun? Who said Sun? We get plenty of that, that’s for sure!
And along came RYAN RILETTE, the guy behind it all! After an intensive search, Southern Rep’s board of directors selected Mr. Rilette as its new Artistic Director. A native New Orleanian, Ryan is the former artistic and executive director of RUDE MECHANICALS, one of New York’s hottest new theater companies. During his tenure it was awarded the Harold Clurman Award for ensemble theater and was recognized by New York magazine in its “Best of New York” issue. His exciting first season reflects SRT, and Mr. Rilette’s commitment to Southern plays and playwrights, while also steering in a new direction towards producing only new plays. Pssst, Ryan, I wrote this new, original play: OHH…THAT LIGHT! I’ll sell it for a song!  I understand  SRT has growing pains; with designs on building a 350 seat theatre. And, they intend to keep this one inside Canal Place! Now that’s confidence in New Orleans’ healthy Theatre Scene, I’d say! It is my understanding we exceed the national average of live theater per capita in attendance in the US. A bit of braggadocio, maybe, ‘eh?

Among its many exciting features, Southern Rep has Education Programs – Schoolfest. With funding support from corporations, individual, and the public sector to introduce young people to the magic of live dramatic performance. And, Southern Playwrights can submit their scripts! Yowza!  In addition, Internships are being offered! What wonderful opportunities to work and learn the business.  Real job opportunities come up, also. And, they have Readings on its Program, and a New Playwrights Festival each year! Fair prices for performances, too; especially Seniors and Theatre Performers. Who could ask for anything more! For complete info on these features and visions, go to their web site: www.southernrep.com

The 2002-2003 season ended June 1^st with BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL.  A natural for Nawlins, huh? Blood suckers cut their eye teeth in this ol’ town, wouldn’t you say Ms. Anne Rice? Aside: in yet another of the myriad examples of “the show must go on”, reported in the Times-Picayune by David Cuthbert in his ENTERTAINMENT column; BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL actress Lara Grice walked into a wall during a black-out, fracturing her nose which bled big-time. I empathize with her as I did said same during the night last week, attempting to make my way around-abouts my darkened home. I met with an unyielding wooden doorframe. Profuse is a good word to describe the flow. Lara went on with the show.  I held my nose up for an hour!

For Southern Repertory’s new 2003/2004 season, the offing’s are:

HOUSE OF PLUNDER by Jim Fitzmorris

Possibilities for the holidays are Christopher Durang’s MRS. BOB CRATCHITT’S WILD HOLIDAY BINGE, or, Jeff Goode’s THE EIGHT: reindeer monologues.

YELLOWMAN by Dael Orlandersmith will open in January 2004.

THE GOAT The Tony Award winner by Edward Albee or, if not awarded the rights for the play, Tony Kushner’s HOMEBODY/KABUL. Many declare Mr. Kushner is Louisiana’s greatest playwright.

Southern Rep’s New Plays Festival will be in June with J. Daniel Stanley’s CLONING JUDSON IN FULL PRODUCTION. It earned that right by being the best of the seven play readings this season.  A new feature for the Festival is planned: a young playwright’s competition with a monetary award!

OHH…TO BE YOUNG AGAIN!

AND THE WINNERS ARE! THE 2003 BIG EASY ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS - THEATRE CATEGORIES – WINNERS ARE ANNOUNCED!

 For complete information about this 16^th Annual Award Show: go to www.bestofneworleans.com

BIG EASY AWARDS is a Project of the Foundation for Entertainment Development and Education. 3923 Bienville Street New Orleans, LA 70119  504-486-5900 ext.136  fax 483-3153 Gloria Powers, Executive Director email bigeasy@gambitweekly.com

CHICAGO won Best Musical and five additional awards including Best

Director for Sonny Borey and Derek Franklin, Best Actress and Best

Choreography for Karen Hebert, Best Actor in A Musical for John

Grimsley and Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for Dane Rhodes.

EARL LONG IN PURGATORY won as Best Original Work Created for Theatre for writer Jason Berry and Director Perry Martin.

All Kinds of Theatre’s FULLY COMMITTED won for Best Comedy and Best Actor for Sean Patterson.

NO NIGGERS NO JEWS NO DOGS won in the Best Drama Category for the Anthony Bean Community Theatre.

BEST DIRECTOR (COMEDY OR DRAMA) John Grimsley  Gross Indecency

BEST DIRECTOR (MUSICAL) Sonny Borey & Derek Franklin Chicago

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY Karen Hebert Chicago & Anything Goes

BEST SET DESIGN Chad Talkington No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN Martin Sachs Dirty Blonde

BEST COSTUME DESIGN Linda Fried Anything Goes

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD It’s a tie! Katherine Raymond and Anastacia Scott No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs

BEST ACTRESS IN PLAY (COMEDY OR DRAMA) Justine Bate in Wit

BEST ACTOR IN PLAY (COMEDY OR DRAMA) Sean Patterson Fully Committed

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL Karen Hebert Chicago

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL John Grimsley Chicago 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY (COMEDY OR DRAMA) Lara Grice The Ritz

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY (COMEDY OR DRAMA) Bob Edes, Jr.

Dirty Blonde

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL Lara Grice Victor/Victoria

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL Dane Rhodes Chicago

BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR Flo Presti Crazy for You

BEST ORIGINAL WORK IN THEATRE Earl Long in Purgatory Written By Jason Berry Directed by Perry Martin Produced by the Evangeline Theatre Company

BEST UNIVERSITY THEATRE PRODUCTION Glengarry Glen Ross University of New Orleans

BIG EASY SPECIAL AWARDS WINNERS & HONOREES - THEATRE

VERNEL BAGNERIS - Honoree
The 2003 New Orleans Ambassador of Entertainment is know best for his creation of the long running musical One Mo Time, and for his one man show Jelly Roll. Both of which will be reprised at this year’s New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.  His movie credits include the magical dancer in Pennies from Heaven, two films made in New Orleans, French Quarter and Down By Law, and many more.  His Broadway and Off-Broadway work has been acclaimed, including an OBIE award. As writer, director and performer in One Mo Time, he started in New Orleans and moved to New York and around the world. Jelly Roll had a long off-Broadway run and was presented in New Orleans at Le Petit Theatre. He’s had a Royal Command Performance before the Queen of England and appeared and Jazz Festivals around the world. Truly an Ambassador of both music and theatre for New Orleans. Mr. Bagneris is in town working with director Taylor Hackford choreographing the dance scenes for Unchain My Heart, the documentary on Ray Charles.

BOB BRUCE - Honoree
Bob Bruce was born in New Orleans and attended the University of Virginia before coming home to the University of New Orleans. Bob has been employed by the City of New Orleans Recreation Department since 1973 at NORD's Ty Tracy theatre as scenery and costume designer.  He is known and loved across the city as he has worked on more than 100 productions at NORD, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre's Children's Corner, Rivertown Repertory Theatre, Loyola University, the Pitt Theatre, Newman High School and Grace Episcopal Church. He is the co-author and lyricist for 11 original musicals produced in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, California and New York. He's won three Big Easy Awards: Best Original Play 1987 for the Caracas maracas Murders, Best Original Play in 1989 for Silver Scream, and Best Costume Design in 1989 for Cinderella Battistella. He was the Grand Prize Winner at the International theatre Festival in South Korea for The Trial of the big Bad Wolf in 1993, and earned the Storer Boone Awards Lifetime Achievement honor in 2000.

HAROLD EVANS
The 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award in Theatre went to Harold Evans. Mr. Evans is a highly respected actor and director who began his career with the Dashiki Theatre Project in the 1970's; and, worked with nearly every theatre group in New Orleans: Theatre Marigny, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, the CAC, Ethiopian Theater, and university theatres (SUNO, Dillard, Tulane, Xavier). He has also directed and produced local television, and has appeared in many films and television shows shot in New Orleans including Double Jeopardy, No Mercy, The Heat of the Night, and the Margaret Bourke White Story. He participated in the first Black Theatre Festival organized by the Alliance for Community Theatre in New Orleans in 1983; and in most of those festivals for the past twenty years.  He formed the Curtain Call Theatre company in the 1980's, earning acclaim for bringing theatrical presentations to unusual venues all over south Louisiana. Harold has also participated in Living History productions beginning with Lyla Hay Owen's historic vignettes presented in Jackson Square in the 1980's, and continues to work with Leni Sloan's Louisiana Living History Project each December in the French Quarter. In 1990 he was awarded the Big Easy Award for Best Actor in a Drama for Driving Miss Daisy, and the Alliance for Community Theaters Best Actor Award for The Meeting. He has worked in live theatre from Biloxi to Philadelphia, to the National Black Theater Festival in Winston Salem, North Carolina.  He is an associate director and actor in the Vo-Du Macbeth project that has had staged readings in a dozen cities around the country including Burlington, VT, Pittsburgh, PA, San Antonio and Houston, Texas, New York City, College Park, MD, Durham, NC and New Orleans.
Pax.

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© 2003 Steve&Lucille Esquerré

 

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