BROADWAY CABARET
Venice Theatre-Main Stage
140 West Tampa Avenue * on Venice Island
Sunday- May 24, 2009 7p.m.
Musical Direction by Rick Bogner and Jason Brenner
Featuring
Larry Alexander
Larry played Marius in the original Broadway production of Les Miserables. He has performed with Liza Minelli and in numerous regional and international roles.

Kim Kollar

Eve Caballero

He will be joined by local talent: Eve Caballero, Kim Kollar, and a very special group of actors, to benefit an educational opportunity for our local performer, Lauren Kelly, to attend IPOP, (International Presentation of Performers), in Las Vegas this summer.

Lauren Kelly

Tickets: Call Sally at 941-228-3562 $15-Adults $10-Students
All tickets for reserved seating – Order Now!

Tags: hype, theatre

The first review:

High times at Venice Theatre's Stage II with Reefer Madness by Kay Kipling.

Normally, I post reviews without commenting, but honestly I really can't be silent on this one. I don't see how Kipling could have watched our production through to the end and then forgot about David Walker's performance as Ralph. I understand wanting to perhaps avoid "spoilers," since a lot of Ralph's exploits are of the shocking variety and probably best enjoyed without warning. But, seriously, to not even mention his name? Really? I have to call a massive foul on that one. My best guess is that she left at intermission, since Ralph has very little stage time until the madness of the title gets into full swing in Act II.

But whether she slipped out at intermission or simply slipped on the sidewalk on her way out, I can't let this one go without claiming a big foul, not on the play, but on the critic.

Tags: commentary, theatre

The year is 1936, and America faces its most insidious threat yet. The new drug menace: Marihuana! Don't be deceived, this may be the greatest danger to the youth of our nation. Watch as Venice Theatre re-enacts the ALL TRUE STORY of the horrors of the demon weed.

Innocent teens Jimmy Harper and Mary Lane are about to face the perversions of the reefer den: slick and sinister Jack, his bruised lady Mae, siren Sally, and maniacal Ralph. One puff on the wicked ganja leads inevitably to tawdry flesh! Pagan gods! Violence! Buckets of blood! Jesus and showgirls! How can the young sweethearts hope to survive?


Why are you laughing? This is DEADLY SERIOUS BUSINESS! Don't make us start singing to prove our point!



Where: Venice Theatre
When: Jan 8 - Feb 1, 2009
Tuesdays – Saturdays 8pm
Sundays 2pm

Click here for info and tickets

Tags: hype, theatre

Well, I feel silly. I was trying to look up one of the books referenced in the script, and ye olde Google pointed out what I'd missed when I originally hit the Reefer Madness website: They have a propaganda page with excerpts from some of their source material. Click the link above if you're interested in just how crazed folks got trying to take on "The Demon Weed."

Tags: recommendations, theatre

Probably only of interest to one or two folks (if that), but that's really nothing new. The result of me looking up references for things I didn't recognize in the Reefer Madness script (mostly via Wikipedia), or things I wanted to know more about in context:

Barney Google

Barney Google at Toonopedia

Reet Petite

Major Bowes Amateur Hour

Harry Anslinger

William Randolph Hearst

Tags: theatre

The song "Company" builds to:



We're heading into the final three performances (two today, one tomorrow). So, if you want a chance to see the non-fuzzy digital camera version, you want to get a move on.

Tags: hype, theatre

Missed this review:

'Company' is classic Sondheim by Kim Cool

(Factual corrections: The girls' number is actually "You Could Drive a Person Crazy," and Bonnie's last name is Schiavone)

Tags: theatre

So, after the set and the costumes and the mics and the lighting are all done, here's what "Marry Me a Little" looks like:

Tags: hype, theatre

Last night we opened, and we have two reviews:

The Players Theatre opens the door to Company. by Kay Kipling

Here comes 'Company' by Jay Handelman

Tags: hype, theatre

Long tech Sunday for Company is tomorrow. I got some video to try to see myself and fix stupid things I might be doing. If I figured out YouTube right, this should be Marry Me a Little. Piano's a little loud because David was right next to the pit, but I thought it might be a fun little preview:

Tags: hype, theatre