Antelope Valley Thespians

Initial auditions for AVT’s production of THREE DAYS OF RAIN, by Richard Greenberg, will be Saturday, August 20th, from 9am to 12pm in the AVT garage blackbox studio. Additional audition times may be announced at the directors’ discretion. Please contact the stage manager, Claudia Herrera (claudia@avthespians.org), if you intend to audition and/or for further information.

Six roles will be played by three actors (2M, 1F, one role each per Act). All characters are in the general age range of late twenties to early thirties. Sides will be provided at audition time and no preparation is required, though auditioners are welcome to purchase script copies on their on in advance if desired.  Prepared monologues, theatrical resumes, or headshots are unnecessary; AVT values individual creativity, ability to interpret and apply artistic direction, personal reliability, and teamwork.

The time commitment is expected to be 4-6 hours per week in rehearsal, all tech rehearsals (evenings week of Oct. 31), and all shows (as listed below). This does not include additional line learning and character work expected of all actors on their own time.

Rehearsals will be in AVT’s garage blackbox studio. All performances will be in our blackbox spaces at the Antelope Valley Winery.

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NOVEMBER 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20
THREE DAYS OF RAIN
by Richard Greenberg

Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, New York.

A year after he disappeared on the day of his father’s funeral, Walker Janeway returns to New York. He takes up temporary residence in the unused space where, thirty-five years earlier, his architect father lived and designed the great house that would make him and his partner famous. Here he finds a clue to his troubled past: “April 3-5: Three days of rain.” So begins the curious journal of Ned Janeway, the father that Walker thought he knew. Long-overdue confrontations with his sister and best friend slowly force new meaning as they reinterpret their relationships to each other and their respective pasts. In Act II, we travel back in time to the mid-1960’s, where we are offered an alternative, unexpectedly romantic perspective of the family story. A many-layered drama peppered with witty moments that make us smile, Three Days of Rain ultimately questions the foundation of all those little stories that we tell ourselves—the ones we often need in order to make sense out of life.

Produced and directed  by Nalin A. Ratnayake
Nicelle Davis, Asst. Director / Dramaturg
Claudia Y. Herrera, Stage Manager
Kara McCollum, Artistic Director
Kevin J. Hogan, Technical Director

AVT member Nikki Martin has been confirmed by the present AVT Directors as he company’s new Operations Director. Nikki succeeds Kate Scoggin, whom we all wish well as she pursues new career opportunities in the Washington, D.C. area. Nikki will be AVT’s new company manager; her scope includes maintaining and filing our financial and legal matters, overseeing and planning the company budget, seeking new sources of support and savings, and keeping all company records.

We welcome Nikki to her new position, and thank her for her dedication to AVT!

Dean Berg, Mathew Gruca, and Sarah Allen rehearsing THE AMERICAN CENTURY in AVT's garage blackbox studio.

This podcast contains interviews with Artistic Director Kara McCollum, Technical Director Kevin J. Hogan, Production Stage Manager Juliana Katzman, and actors Mathew Gruca, Sarah Allen, and Dean Berg. Interviews were taken just prior to the final show of the run of THE AMERICAN CENTURY, AVT’s opening production in the 2011 Season.

Podcast #16: Thoughts from the Final Show of THE AMERICAN CENTURY [ 21:49 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (399)

The official cast list for HUNGER FOR PARADISE is now set:

Kevin J. Hogan, TUBA: 24, male from Iowa. Having no luck after college, he moved west under the suggestion of William. As kids, William was the irresponsible “bad child” and Tuba was the behaved “good kid.” After Tuba moved west and met his new friends, the roles reversed. He writes poetry and reads poetry novels. The only apparent artistic outlet that Tuba has are his webcasts. He makes these video monologues, in part, as a way to bring together his life with the life of the work he consumes.

Melissa Martin, ALLISON: 22, female college graduate. Moved from the midwest and quickly found work. She is self-reliant but still looking for herself. Her father died when she was young, leaving Allison and her mother alone in the house. There was no second marriage or siblings. She is suprised to find herself in a relationship with Tuba and doesn’t think it will last although she is intrigued by him.

Stevelon Mims, JOSE: 30, male, hispanic. Lower-middle class, college drop-out who was persuing a major in criminal justice. Often very political and has large dreams but very little ambition. Just recently had an incident with his cousin, stabbed him and fled the scene. He later hears from another cousin that he recovered. Loyalty is the center of his morals. To Jose, there is only the present moment and this is fun for him.

William Nicolai, WILLIAM: Tuba’s older brother. Found himself as a college professor after spending many years in school, undecisive of what he wanted to do. An underachiever who used to get in a lot of trouble as a young man. He has relationship problems from never being able to accept responsibility for anything.

Juan Juarez, ROBERT: 35, male from Oklahoma. Deaf in one ear. Has a son in Oklahoma that he hasn’t seen in about 7 years. His step-mother tricked him into moving to california by saying his father was sick and Robert never went back. The mother of his son refuses to accept Robert as the father even though there are no alternatives. As a child he was passed around by family members and when he was 18 tried to enlist but was denied because of his ear. Robert wants to lead a simple life and settle down with someone like Allison. He isn’t the brightest bulb in the pack but not stupid.

Thank you to all who auditioned!

Jessica Hassan, Stage Director
Juliana Katzman, Production Stage Manager
Nalin Ratnayake, Producing Director
Kara McCollum, Artistic Director
Kevin J. Hogan, Technical Director

AVT announces auditions for HUNGER FOR PARADISE, by local writer Eric M. Martin. The play will have its premiere production run AUGUST 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28.

Auditions will be TUESDAY, MAY 24TH from 6pm to 8pm at AVT’s garage blackbox studio. Please arrive as close to 6pm as possible. A prepared monologue is not necessary, though you may prepare one if you’d like. All roles for all AVT productions are cast by open audition.

For any further questions, please contact the director, Jessie Hassan, by emailing jessie@avthespians.org.

HUNGER FOR PARADISE
by Eric M. Martin

Producer Nalin A. Ratnayake
Director Jessie Hassan

Winner of the 2010 AVT New American West Play Competition
Produced by arrangement with Eric M. Martin, Quartz Hill, CA.

AVT is pleased to bring to the stage the premiere of this new, character-driven drama by local playwright Eric M. Martin. The history of the American West is replete with nostalgia and stories of the migration westward to a promised land of opportunity in California, Oregon, and the bounty of the western frontier. Many of these settlers built new lives and made transformative changes to themselves, our society, and to the land itself. But what about those for whom the promise failed to deliver? Set in the modern day, this play explores the hunger for something new that often drives us to break for greener pastures… only to discover that, sometimes, the emptiness inside from which we run cannot be filled so easily. Rather, it pursues us despite all superficial remedies — and instead of looking forward in the way we hoped, life sometimes leaves us to wonder might have been.

Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 4pm.

Jose: 30, male, hispanic. Lower-middle class, college drop-out who was persuing a major in criminal justice. Often very political and has large dreams but very little ambition. Just recently had an incident with his cousin, stabbed him and fled the scene. He later hears from another cousin that he recovered. Loyalty is the center of his morals. To Jose, there is only the present moment and this is fun for him.

Allison: 22, female college graduate. Moved from the midwest and quickly found work. She is self-reliant but still looking for herself. Her father died when she was young, leaving Allison and her mother alone in the house. There was no second marriage or siblings. She is suprised to find herself in a relationship with Tuba and doesn’t think it will last although she is intrigued by him.

William: Tuba’s older brother. Found himself as a college professor after spending many years in school, undecisive of what he wanted to do. An underachiever who used to get in a lot of trouble as a young man. He has relationship problems from never being able to accept responsibility for anything.

Robert: 35, male from Oklahoma. Deaf in one ear. Has a son in Oklahoma that he hasn’t seen in about 7 years. His step-mother tricked him into moving to california by saying his father was sick and Robert never went back. The mother of his son refuses to accept Robert as the father even though there are no alternatives. As a child he was passed around by family members and when he was 18 tried to enlist but was denied because of his ear. Robert wants to lead a simple life and settle down with someone like Allison. He isn’t the brightest bulb in the pack but not stupid.

Tuba: 24, male from Iowa. Having no luck after college, he moved west under the suggestion of William. As kids, William was the irresponsible “bad child” and Tuba was the behaved “good kid.” After Tuba moved west and met his new friends, the roles reversed. He writes poetry and reads poetry novels. The only apparent artistic outlet that Tuba has are his webcasts. He makes these video monologues, in part, as a way to bring together his life with the life of the work he consumes.

Noboyuki: Late Twenties, Male who moved from Japan to US as a student. He studied long enough to recieve a bachelor’s but doesn’t produce any degree. He is kicked out of the appartment near the college that he no longer attends and is taken in by Jose. Noboyuki is arrested and deported under the hand of his ex-landlord. Noboyuki is belligerent, humorous, and just a bit dim.

Patron Preview Night for our upcoming production of THE AMERICAN CENTURY is tonight!

This is where we invite our donors in to view a full run-through rehearsal, giving them a chance to preview the production and be a part of the creative process by providing feedback and ideas. There is no charge, and wine and coffee will be provided.

This event is for 2011 Patrons of AVT and company members only. Want to find out more? Check out the Four Best Ways to Support AVT for how you can become a part of our work.

SCROLL DOWN FOR ELECTRONIC TICKETING.

Check out photos from tech rehearsal on our Facebook Page, and listen to a interview with cast members on our podcast stream!

Antelope Valley Thespians presents:

THE AMERICAN CENTURY
By Murphy Guyer

A witty satire of post-war America and our evolving values.

Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, New York.

World War II has ended and Tom, just discharged from the Army, returns to his young wife, Margaret, full of hope, enthusiasm, and dreams of a bounteous future. But suddenly they are joined by a brash stranger who, to their amazement, proceeds to make himself very much at home. He is, he explains, from the future, having arrived from the modern day via the latest drugs in a special psychotherapy session. The stranger fills the young couple in so completely about their past and present lives—and the future which awaits them—that Tom and Margaret soon find themselves moving from incredulity to panic. In the most casual, blithely humorous manner, the stranger tells of woes to come and a world gone mad! Will our young couple still have the courage to build their lives together?

Six performances: May 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22 (Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays 4pm).

Starring SARAH ALLEN, MATHEW GRUCA, and DEAN BERG.

This play contains occasional instances of profanity. We do not recommend it for young children.

All performances to be staged at the Antelope Valley Winery, Avenue M and 20th St. W. Wine tasting and purchasing will be available prior to each performance.

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**It’s not too late to become a subscriber! Pay once for tickets to the whole season and you can save up to 20%.

Black box configuration for THE AMERICAN CENTURY in the AV Winery's tasting foyer.

Production Team for THE AMERICAN CENTURY:
Nalin A. Ratnayake, Producing Director
Kara McCollum, Artistic Director
Kevin J. Hogan, Technical Director
Phillip E. McKaughan, Production Stage Manager
Kelly Lynn Regan, Fight Choreographer

Program, poster, and web artwork for this production by local artist A.J. Currado.