Posts Tagged ‘Crime and Punishment’

AVT Company and Patrons,

One year ago, on June 20th, 2009, a small group of friends calling themselves “Antelope Valley Thespians” opened a short, public-domain production called VOICES. Back then, the garage was not black, we had no official status, and we operated with minimal organization. But after two “sold out” free showings for our friends, we got all the encouragement we needed to continue and expand.

You can indulge in a bit of nostalgia in the archived blog post for VOICES or at the VOICES photo album on Facebook.

Today, it is one year later. And crafted out of love, sweat, tears, duct tape, and a rather alarming volume of coffee, a small guerilla theatre company fights the good fight in our local community of Quartz Hill – so much further beyond where we were yet with a dazzling array of possibilities before us.

AVT has many “birthdays”… is it when the first fragments of the idea started to take form on an online discussion board in January 2009? Or this day in June when we first put something together? Or August when we legally formed as a company? Or perhaps later when we achieved nonprofit status, or early this year when we opened our first full-length production?

Any of these days may serve for reflecting on how far we have come on this crazy idea. But today, for me, is the one from which I take the most personal meaning. On this day one year ago, we proved to ourselves that it was possible – that we could take the simplest elements and the smallest of budgets, and combine them with talent and passion to create something meaningful for the community.

Like any creative venture, AVT has been and always will be continually in the process of becoming. We have undergone 3 major revisions to our Operational Plan, and you will soon see another released for your consideration. The learning curve has been steep as we have built this company from the ground up – we have had to learn many lessons the hard way, and also develop an understanding of our strengths and weaknesses as members of a team. I believe this latest revision should last us a good while, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

I also want to be sure to acknowledge the role our Patrons have played in helping us build this company.

After seeing VOICES, Jeri Meyers and Dawn Dopler became our very first Patrons on the spot, donating our first income of any sort. After we incorporated and sent a letter asking the Quartz Hill Chamber of Commerce for their support, Thom Lapworth stepped in and personally paid for our first year’s membership in the Chamber, the benefits of which we continue to enjoy. Jason and Rose Gonella participated in our first playwrights expo and donated in-kind hardware in the form of a fog machine and fluid, which our tech team is itching to get an excuse to use.

As funds ran dangerously low in the face of numerous unexpected expenses for CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, Senaka and Lalani Ratnayake stepped in with a generous donation that kept us afloat. Michael and Deberah Hogan, impressed with our first full-length production, became Patrons of AVT to support our fledgling theatre company. Farmer’s Insurance agent Dave Owens not only has provided AVT’s liability insurance at a killer rate, but he donated his entire commission on the contract and personally bought-out a show of our first two full-length productions!

Gwen and Andy Joseph as well as Bob and Lois Douglass stepped in with donations when AVT needed equipment upgrades to support BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT as well as our first Musicians Night. Al Bowers joined the Patrons club following a great time at the Musicians Night, which actually ended with him being called up to the stage for an impromptu rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” with featured musician and mutual friend Jimmy Lee Young!

Starting with BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT, we have been privileged to benefit from the support of local fine-artist AJ Currado, who now donates her time and talents to AVT for poster and program artwork. Our latest individual patrons, Mark and Liz Longanbach, drove in all the way from Arizona to see BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT. Convinced of our value to community theatre and impressed by our ingenuity, they signed checks of support the very next day.

Finally, I would be seriously remiss if I did not acknowledge the early and unwavering support of Eric and June at Sagebrush Cafe in Quartz Hill. Since the days when AVT was nothing but a concept, this eclectic coffee and art house has believed in us. More than that, they give us a great deal one of the most critical and precious resources for a theatre company: delicious coffee. AND they provide a hub for our advertising and, more recently, our physical ticketing.

And of course, each and every member of this company deserves more thanks than I can bestow for their unwavering commitment and tireless efforts on behalf of AVT. Sarah, Anna, Karen, Jeremy, Kevin, Jessica, Juliana, Courtney, Kara, Lucas, and our additional actors Steve, Joe, and Derric have comprised the AVT family.

Ticket revenue brings in only about 65% of what it takes to operate AVT; it is people like you who are the champions of the arts in our community, and donate your time and money to help this company do what it does. In appreciation for your support, we are tentatively planning to hold our first AVT Patron’s Reception in early December. Company members and Patrons will be invited to mingle and recap the 2010 Season with this celebration.

It is a rough road ahead of us… money remains tight, most people who have not seen our work remain skeptical, we continue to insist on producing very challenging plays that inevitably turn into trials by fire, and often its not certain how we will make it to the next event or production. But time and time again, even in our most difficult moments, we have shown that our passion, when rallied, is unstoppable – even in the face of daunting odds.

We would not be where we are today without all of you. It is with utmost sincerity and deep pride in what we have accomplished in the last year that I offer you my thanks for stepping forward to become a real part of what we have created together.

Here’s to our next year of unique, original, and experimental theatre in the high desert!

N.

–
Nalin A. Ratnayake
Chief Executive Officer
Producing Director
Antelope Valley Thespians

It is in AVT’s charter to publish a final report, open to all, at the end of each production.  The report includes a summary of the production run, personnel involved, detailed financials, and a compilation of lessons learned.

You can download the Crime and Punishment Production Final Report in pdf form for your reading pleasure.  The production’s close-out blog post also contains basic show information and a link to photos on our Facebook Page.

And if THAT weren’t enough for you, then we have an additional offering: thanks to Cam, we have a podcast recording of some closing thoughts and future speculations by the AVT Strategic Team.  Listen below as the Producer/Director, Stage Manager, Technical Director, and Operations Director interview each other after the “Crime and Punishment” post-production meeting.

 

 Podcast #6: The Strategic Team discusses "Crime and Punishment" and what lies ahead. [15:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (213)

AVT is on an ongoing mission to post spontaneous interviews with cast, crew, fans, and innocent bystanders.  This episode continues our series of (what we hope are) interesting podcasts, focused on personal experiences with the project.

Want to hear more? View all posts with embedded podcasts, or search for “Antelope Valley Thespians” on the iTunes podcast directory to subscribe for automatic updates.  Enjoy!

AVT is trying something new and podcasting the monthly newsletter we send out to our Facebook Page fans and our Patrons email list.  Producer and Artistic Director Nalin A. Ratnayake gets you the low down on what’s going on this month with AVT.

In this podcast:

1. Concluding remarks from the Producer regarding “Crime and Punishment”.
2. Discussion of the ongoing solicitation for local, original scripts.
3. What’s coming up for AVT: Quartz Hill Almond Blossom Festival in March and “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” in June.
4. A thank you to our Patrons.

 

 Podcast #5: AVT February Update [10:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (219)

AVT is on an ongoing mission to post spontaneous interviews with cast, crew, fans, and innocent bystanders.  This episode continues our series of (what we hope are) interesting podcasts, focused on personal experiences with the project.

Want to hear more? View all posts with embedded podcasts, or search for “Antelope Valley Thespians” on the iTunes podcast directory to subscribe for automatic updates.  Enjoy!

AVT’s debut full-length production closed today after a very successful six-show run.  We have been moved by, and are grateful for, the exuberant reaction from our fans and the support we have received from friends, family, and our local community.  Quartz Hill, we are excited to be your very own, homegrown theatre company!

AVT is pleased to announce that all ticket proceeds from the first, sold-out show will be donated to the American Red Cross for ongoing humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti.

You can check out photos, reviews, and comments from fans, cast, and crew on our Facebook Page.

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Crime and Punishment, By Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Adapted to the stage by Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus.

Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.

Starring: Anna Delrosario, M. Steven Felty, Kevin J. Hogan, and Kara McCollum

Antelope Valley Thespians presents this new, award-winning stage adaptation of Dostoyevsky’s literary masterpiece Crime and Punishment.  In 1860’s St. Petersburg, Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov relives the thoughts, ideas and feelings that drove him to his horrible crime.  This 90-minute “conversation on the nature of evil” becomes a dark journey into the mind of a killer and his search for redemption. This is an intense psychological and spiritual journey which seeks to unveil hidden dimensions of the human condition, and the power of faith to heal even the gravest and most disturbing wounds of the soul.

Six shows:

Saturday, January 16th, 2pm and 7pm
Sunday, January 17th, 2pm
Friday, January 22nd, 7pm
Saturday, January 23rd, 7pm
Sunday, January 24th, 2pm

Producer and Artistic Director: Nalin A. Ratnayake
Operations Director: Courtney Marrietta
Production Stage Manager: Karen Gruca
Technical Director: Jeremy Gruca
Lighting Designers: Sarah Bialobroda, Jessica Katzman
Sound Designers: Courtney Marietta, Jeremy Gruca, Nalin A. Ratnayake
Scenic Designer / Jack of all Trades: Lucas Nemeth
Costume Design: Anna Delrosario
Production Assistant: Sarah Arnac

Rodion Raskolnikov (Kevin J. Hogan) descends into a spiral of guilt and horror after his terrible act in AVT's "Crime and Punishment"

REQUEST TICKETS

It’s the moment you have all been waiting for!  AVT’s debut full-length production of Dostoyevsky’s classic, “Crime and Punishment”, opens this week and continues through January 24 with six shows.  Come and support Quartz Hill’s first and only homegrown community theatre group in our newly outfitted garage blackbox theatre!

You can check out photos of our blackbox theatre on our Facebook Page.

NO WALK UP tickets will be issued – you must reserve your seats in advance.  The play will be staged in the garage of a private residence.  Address and parking information will be sent out to all reservation holders.

Reserve seats now!

Crime and Punishment, By Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Adapted to the stage by Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus.

Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.

Six shows:
Saturday, January 16th, 2pm [SOLD OUT]
Saturday, January 16th,7pm [CLOSED]
Sunday, January 17th, 2pm [CLOSED]
Friday, January 22nd, 7pm [CLOSED]
Saturday, January 23rd, 7pm [SOLD OUT]
Sunday, January 24th, 2pm [CLOSED]

Tickets: $8 general / $5 K-12 student

“Box seats” are available for all shows.  These seats are front-and-center, literally involve boxes, and include a bottle of your choice from a selection of red, white, and dessert wines (or cider if you prefer).  The box seats are $30 for the pair.

Note: This play contains dark themes, stage violence, and instances of profanity.  It is not recommended for young children.

Kara McCollum is a mother of three and a graduate of Eastern Washington University’s theatre program, from which she holds a B.A.E.  She has a variety of production and performance experience in Washington and California.  Kara is an accomplished actress, and also brings to the table her professional talents in wig design and stage/screen makeup.

Kara sat down with us recently after a rehearsal to discuss her perspective on AVT’s production style and her upcoming roles in “Crime and Punishment”.

 

 Podcast #4: An Interview With Kara McCollum [8:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (155)

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AVT is on an ongoing mission to post spontaneous interviews with cast, crew, fans, and innocent bystanders.  This episode continues our series of (what we hope are) interesting podcasts, focused on personal experiences with the project.

Want to hear more?  View all posts with embedded podcasts, or search for “Antelope Valley Thespians” on the iTunes podcast directory to subscribe for automatic updates.  Enjoy!

Ticketing for “Crime and Punishment” is now open! Check out what’s On Stage for show information and ticketing.

AVT's Technical Director, Jeremy Gruca, at Sagebrush Cafe for this interview.

Jeremy Gruca sat down at Sagebrush Cafe one afternoon to talk about the many challenges and unique aspects of staging plays for a garage theater.  As AVT’s Technical Director, Jeremy is responsible for integrating the overall technical effort and interfacing with the Artistic Director on how best to support the actors and the overall artistic vision for the production.  Jeremy also has complete purchasing authority for technical materials and infrastructure upgrades once the Producer has approved an overall budget for a particular production.

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 Podcast #3: A Conversation with the Technical Director [24:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (70)

AVT is on an ongoing mission to post spontaneous interviews with cast, crew, fans, and innocent bystanders.  This is the third in our series of (what I hope are) interesting podcasts, focused on personal experiences with the project.

Want to hear more?  View all posts with embedded podcasts, or search for “Antelope Valley Thespians” on the iTunes podcast directory to subscribe for automatic updates.  Enjoy!