BRIEFS: A Festival of Short Plays opened this weekend to an enthusiastic crowd. Audience members have already cast their ballots for Best of the Festival. My actors have worked very hard to deliver a heart-felt performance in A Bridge to Something. Playwright Corinne Kawecki came to see the show, not once, but twice this weekend. She traveled a great distance from Chicago to see her piece and support the festival. The cast and I were honored to meet her and hear her input on our work.

If you are planning on seeing the show I suggest ordering your tickets now, as we are already starting to sell out next weekend. Hope to see you there

I just returned from Whittier Community Theatre’s 27th Annual Awards of Excellence presented at the Whittier Center Theatre.

I was nominated for best supporting actress for my performance in Almost, Maine. I am honored to have shared the category with such accomplished actresses. My cast-mate, Jennie Silva-Villa received an award for her role in the same production. I cheered and clapped like a proud mother.

In addition to the award ceremony, we also celebrated with a Kick-Off Party for WCT’s 89th Season! We previewed scenes from the upcoming season: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 12 Angry Jurors , Quilters, and Arsenic and Old Lace. I think I need to put in a word to include some Shakespeare in their 90th Season!

I am honored to announce that the Theatre Out family has asked me to direct an original short play entitled A Bridge to Something by Corinne Kawecki. I am very excited to begin this journey and make my professional directorial debut.

Theatre Out is casting BRIEFS: A Festival of Short Plays, which producers plan to make an annual event. This two-week showcase will feature 10 original plays chosen from over 150 submissions. Keeping with the mission of the theatre, all pieces revolve around the LGBTQ community. Each show will perform every night of the festival and at the end of the run the audience will choose 'Best of the Festival".

Click here for more details: Audition Notice

I have booked a trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, OR. “Wake Up with Shakespeare” with Dr. Alan Armstrong begins August 10th and runs through August 15th.  I am very excited to attend classes this year attend OSF’s productions of Throne of Blood, Henry IV, Part One, The Merchant of Venice, She Loves Me, Twelfth Night, Pride and Prejudice and Hamlet.

Read my daily OSF blog at Penny4Luck starting on August 15th!

Tonight I closed Theatre Out’s production of Edward II at the Empire Theater to a full house. I am in awe of the kind-hearted, talented people I have met during this process. Working with the founders (Joey Baital, David Carnevale and Jack Millis) and director/playwright, Darcy Hogan, has been inspiring. Her innovative use of Christopher Marlowe’s powerhouse history, created an emotional journey for me driven by character, love and desire. I am so thankful to have played Margaret, and that Darcy trusted me to originate a role which she so carefully and lovingly constructed.

Here is another way you can help AIDS Walk Orange County!

Late Night Leftovers and Theatre Out presents "Acting Out Against AIDS" a cabaret benefitting the 2010 Theatre Out AIDS Walk team.

Great Music! Great Food! Opportunity Drawings!

Featuring the talents of Danny Blaylock, Jasmine Curry, Jason Michael Hammond, Lindsay Henkeinus, Carie Millard and Frankie Marrone.

Hosted by Shaun Michael McNamara with a special guest appearance by everyone's favorite Explorer in an all new sketch.

TWO PERFORMANCES ONLY!!!
May 8th @ 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM
Buy Tickets!

100% of the proceeds benefit the 2010 Theatre Out AIDS Walk Team as we walk to support those living with HIV and AIDS in Orange County.

Can't make the event? Donate online here.

The 10th Annual CSULB Theatrefest proved to be quite an experience. I listened to about 20 comedic monologues over the course of 3 hours. Thank goodness the students brought some energy and light into the dimly lit, dreary classroom setting. There were probably as many successes as there were failures yesterday. I think the valuable learning experience provided to these high school students are immeasurable. There is nothing more relevant to an actor then to see their peers perform, and to get feedback early on in their craft. My favorite of the day was a young man who performed Cyrano De Bergerac (and no I didn't favor him just because I love the play). It was amazing to me that he would take on such a challenging piece of theatre and hit the nail on the head, especially at the tender age of sixteen. Most importantly I admire the bravery of the students I saw this weekend. It is one thing to perform safely in your classroom, and another to perform in front of strangers in unfamiliar territory. I think there is great hope in the upcoming generation of actors.

Theatre Out is gearing up for AIDS Walk Orange County 2010, which will take place on May 22nd at the OC Great Park. Last year Team Theatre Out raised over $10,000 and ranked in the top 5 walk teams. We are challenging everyone to double our efforts this year. The 2010 team goal is $20,000. Every 9 minutes the lives of 580,000 people in the US since its outbreak in 1981. Please consider walking for this worthy cause or sponsering a Theatre Out walker. Donate Now!

I have been asked to serve as a judge for my second consecutive year at the 10th Annual CSULB Theatrefest, on April 16th and 17th. Last year I served on the judging panel for the classical scene semi-finals. This year they have changed the program, so I will bebe involved in judging the comedic scenes semi-finals, which will include classical and contemparary selections. I am excited at the prospect of providing feedback to the young actors in attendance and perhaps even learning a few things from them as well.