Little Fierce Theatre

Theatre, Art, and Stuff for Real People

[littlefiercetheatre]

Marina Abramovic on performing "Rhythm 0" (1974)

Directed and Edited by Milica Zec In the final work in the Rhythm series, Abramovic tests the limits of performing with the public, by inviting audience for ...

[littlefiercetheatre]

Influences and Inspirations #1

My voice teacher asked me the other day who inspired me as far as vocal artists. So I’d like to share. Who are some of yours?

Ryan Gosling

Okay, don’t laugh. Yes, Ryan Gosling is on this list. And no, not because of La La Land. Mr. Gosling actually has a band called Dead Man’s Bones that released an album under the same name in 2009 with his buddy Zach Shields. Ryan has an amazingly rich and deep voice which can be heard on songs “Dead Man’s Bones,” “Buried in Water,” and my personal favorite, “My Body’s a Zombie for You.” Listen to Dead Man’s Bones here:

Dead Man’s Bones 

Jimi Hendrix

Also just an inspiration in general with music that has always made me feel great, Jimi’s vocals are often not the focal point of his work, however I find his voice absolutely gorgeous and quite unique, especially for the time. With songs such as “All Along the Watchtower” and “The Wind Cries Mary,” this legend left a legacy that will never be forgotten. Listen here:

Jimi Hendrix

Colin Meloy

Colin Meloy of The Decemberists has been one of my favorite vocalists from a very young age. As soon as I heard “The Mariner’s Revenge Song” for the first time, I was in love. Colin has a distinctive voice heard both with his band and on solo tracks. There is truly no voice like his. Listen here:

The Decemberists

Ella Fitzgerald

If you don’t know who she is, educate yourself. One of the golden voices of our time, Ella Fitzgerald is known for the vocalizations on classic Jazz standards such as “It Don’t Mean a Thing, If it Ain’t Got that Swing,” “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess, as well as several Christmas standards. She has notably collaborated with Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima, and several other jazz musicians and vocalists of the time. Listen to her here:

Ella Fitzgerald

Louis Prima

Another golden jazz age voice, Louis Prima is most famous for his song, “Pennies from Heaven,” and “Buona Sera.” Several of his songs feature Italian influence and terms, most notably songs such as “Angelina.” Have a listen by clicking on the title. Louis often worked with Etta James and also voiced “I Wan’na Be Like You” for the Disney animated movie The Jungle Book. 

Louis Prima

Robert Plant

A voice that narrated the 60s and 70s, Robert Plant is a voice that will never be forgotten. Led Zeppelin, arguably one of the most famous bands of all time, is one that cannot be matched. Plant’s voice in unparalleled in cohesion with the music the Zeppelin created. Outstanding vocals on “Whole Lotta Love” and “Immigrant Song” prove such. Listen here:

Led Zeppelin

Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors, is a soul gone too soon, but he’s left a legacy with songs such as “Light my Fire,” “Five to One,” and “People Are Strange.” Morrison and The Doors voiced the 1970′s and allowed listeners to break free from the man as they spun their records. Listen here:

The Doors

Prince

Prince was another artist I was introduced to early on by my father. I was enticed by his gravely, sensual voice in his lower register in songs like “When Doves Cry” and loved his upper range in songs such as “7.” Listen to Prince here:

Prince

Sutton Foster

A true modern Broadway Baby, Sutton Foster is the triple threat of our generation. With breakout roles such as Millie Dilmount in Throughly Modern Millie and Jo in Little Women, Sutton Foster has been killing the Broadway game since the beginning of the 21st Century. Sutton has starred in Anything Goes, Violet, and the TV shows Bunheads and Younger. Listen to her belting Broadway voice here:

Sutton Foster

Audra McDonald

An alumnus of my alma mater as well as The Juilliard School, Audra McDonald holds the record for most Tony Awards won and continues to be a symbol for equality and human rights in the world. One of the best voices of the century, McDonald is another that arguably has the “voice of an angel” with the heart to go along with it. Audra will be touring later this year and I have the grand honor of being able to see her in my hometown with my friends and family along with the community that has watched her grow since she was a child performing at Good Company Players. Listen to Audra here:

Audra McDonald

Freddie Mercury

Perhaps my favorite and most influential of this list, Freddie Mercury and Queen have been dear to me since a young age. My father introduced Queen to me when I was 7 years old and I immediately fell in love. “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Bicycle Race,” “Fat Bottomed Girls” and “Body Language” spoke to me even at 7 years old, but it was Freddie’s voice and the musicians behind him that really made me feel inspired. We lost Freddie too soon to AIDS, but the passing of the legend made the world more aware of the illness and of the LGBT community in the earliest forms of mainstream activism. Carry on his voice here:

Queen

And a special shout out to my voice teachers Rebecca Schorsch and Judith Dickison. You rock!

[littlefiercetheatre]

#ShakespeareSunday

Sex with Shakespeare. A vocabulary lesson. 

troll-madams: whores 

fadings: orgasms 

poking-stick: penis 

scold: an overpowering or dominant wife (often punished for such) 

placket: an opening in a petticoat or a euphemism for a vagina 

callet: harlot 

dildo: dildo

[littlefiercetheatre]

#ShakespeareSunday

"When she will take the reign, I let her run, 

But she'll not stumble." 

-Antigonus, The Winter's Tale, (2.3)

[littlefiercetheatre]

#ShakespeareSunday

“The silence often of pure innocence

Persuades when speaking fails”

-Paulina, The Winters Tale (2.2. 42-43)

[littlefiercetheatre]

Fresno Friday #1

California is an arts hub. Your brain might go to Los Angeles or the Bay Area automatically, though the central valley have so much to offer in the arts world. Every Friday I will post a “Fresno Friday” highlighting some of the current arts events going on in my hometown and surrounding areas.

Spring Awakening - Selma Arts Center - Jan 26-Feb 10 #SACSpring

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

Directed by Dominic Grijalva and Choreographed by Michael Flores. Previous shows between this team include In the Heights, Heathers the Musical, and 35MM at Selma Arts Center. Musicians include Kyle Lowe who also co-produced the marketing and advertising for this show.

The winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, told by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater through what Entertainment Weekly called, "the most gorgeous Broadway score this decade," Spring Awakening explores the journey from adolescence to adulthood with a poignancy and passion that is illuminating and unforgettable. The landmark musical is an electrifying fusion of morality, sexuality and rock and roll that is exhilarating audiences across the nation like no other musical in years. SPRING AWAKENING is Rated R for language and adult content

FEATURING Kindle Cowger, Kai Di Mino, Jared Serpa, Meg Clark, Jana Price, Maria Monreal, Nia Luchau, Ben Deghand, Aaron Pierce, Alex Rozier, Alex Figueroa, Camille Gaston, Emily Guyette, Juan Luis Guzmán, Justine Johnson, Kami Hinds, Jeremy Hitch, Anthony TeNyenhuis TICKETS $19 Adults $17 Students/Seniors Rated R - Must be 18 or older to buy a ticket Guests under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Annie - Good Company Players at Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theatre  - Jan 18-March 18

Pictured: Joy Smith as Annie

Directed by Emily Pessano

See all your GCP Favorites in this classic musical about the Hard Knock Life and what it means to be a family. Running until March 18.

Sense and Sensibility - 2nd Space Theatre - Jan 4-Feb 25

This whimsical, fast-paced adaptation of Jane Austen's wonderful story is sure to ignite your imagination and touch your heart. Call 559-266-0660 to reserve. Good Company Players' SENSE & SENSIBILITY at 2nd Space Theatre. Get your tickets now at https://gcplayers.com/gcp-shows/sense-and-sensibility/ or by calling 559.266.0660

Schools

The Lion King Jr. - Bullard TALENT Middle School - Jan 27-Feb 2

Directed by Jane Wagner, performed by Ensemble of Bullard TALENT students grades 6-8.  Bullard TALENT’s The Lion King JR opens to the public on January 27 with 2 Character Teas, followed by No-Host Dessert Shows on January 30-31, and Dinner Shows on February 1-2. Call the school at 248-7030 to reserve your tickets today!

The Lion King on Your Central Valley - video

The Lion King on Great Day - video

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Roosevelt School of the Arts - Directed by Richard Woods

The Whale - Fresno City College - March 2-10

Congrats to Casts of Lydia and A Streetcar Named Desire for Spring at Fresno State University Theatre!

Lydia Cast 

Streetcar Cast - Directed by Kathleen McKinley

Upcoming 

Rogue Festival 2018

Nothing is Beautiful, Everything is Fine - Fresno Dance Collective - NOCO -March 2-4 @ Dianna’s Studio of Dance on Fulton St.

NOCO is returning to their roots as a dance company after many years focusing on aerial silks and more abstract acrobatic work.

Fresno Dance Collective presents the premier of their new original, hour-long evening performance, ‘Nothing is Beautiful; Everything is Fine’. This performance will be held at Dianna’s Studio of Dance, March 2nd through the 4th, 2018. Nothing is Beautiful; Everything is Fine is created and directed by Alexandra Tiscareno (Resident Choreographer) and will be danced by 6 Fresno Dance Collective members: Kelsie Barry, Aubrey Ludlow, Shelby Plaugher, Jessie Santos, Sahar Shahnematollahi, and Elseana Skowronski. Nothing is Beautiful; Everything is Fine is an all dance show that was born from the idea that women perceive life and are perceived throughout life, through a variety of different lenses. The show addresses 3 themes: Human Connection | Conformity | Vulnerability, and how these themes pertain to our lives as women. In these angsty political and social times, to express our experiences in a form that is not necessarily verbal, we explore the fine line of what it is like to be a woman in this day and age. The lens through which we see our lives may change from hour to hour, day to day, and sometimes our perceptions and patterns of thought extend throughout long seasons and lifetimes. It is our hope that audiences can experience this dance piece as a refreshing thought experiment and open up dialogue that will bring us together as human beings.

“Ass: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bong” - Outdustrial Theatre Company - Severance Theatre - March 3-10

Written and Directed by true renaissance man Joshua Ryan Taylor. Ass is Joshua’s third Rogue show after two very successful one-man shows including Awkward Conversations with Animals I’ve F*cked written by Rob Hayes and Thanks for Coming written, directed, and performed by Joshua Taylor. 

The Outdustrial Theatre Company presents ASS or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bong Featuring MARIA MONREAL DAKOTA SIMPSON HANNAH WEYANT Choreography by KATIE HALE Written and Directed by JOSHUA RYAN TAYLOR A group of twenty-somethings have been given a theatre, an hour, and no rules. They’ve created a play called ASS or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bong. We follow the parallel stories of Tiramisu L’astname and Jet Fuel, a pair of poor Millennial roommates from the Tower District, as they navigate the most eventful day of their lives. For Tiramisu, the day begins with a series of job interviews and ends with her traveling through space to defeat a group of terrorist aliens who are attempting to destroy Earth. For Jet, what starts as a piano lesson with a nine-year-old named Timmy quickly becomes a life-or-death struggle to defeat a supernatural demon in the sewers of Fresno. Featuring space travel, talking cockroaches, sword fights, magic duels, nearly thirty characters played by only three actors, mind-boggling wordplay, and hundreds of pop culture references, this is a show that can only be found at the Rogue Festival. This is Joshua Ryan Taylor’s third year producing a show for the Rogue. In 2016, he brought AWKWARD CONVERSATIONS WITH ANIMALS I’VE F*CKED, which Donald Munro of the Fresno Bee called “a gutsy, no holds-barred… fine piece of theatre.” He also listed it as one of his Top 20 Cultural Events of 2016. In 2017, Taylor wrote and starred in THANKS FOR COMING, which Kings River Life called “crazy, hilariously funny, but also a sweet story,” and Marc Gonzalez of The Road to 1,000 called “a cleverly-written, well-acted play.”

[littlefiercetheatre]

Chicago Hump Day! #1

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Every Wednesday, I will attempt to update on the current theatre scene here in Chicago where I currently reside. All information in this post is compiled from www.chicago-theatre.com and www.chicagoshakes.com

Enjoy!

Musicals

Yank! A WWII Love Story - The Broadway, Until Feb 18, 2018

Head to the Pride Arts Center for this rare gem of a musical that presents a different wartime narrative as we follow the story of farm-reared Midwesterner Stu after he is drafted into the Army in 1943. Alongside the other new recruits, he has the regular fears of service and its ramifications but also finds himself losing his heart to a fellow Private, the affable American-as-apple-pie Mitch.Written by David and Joseph Zellnik and first appearing on Broadway in 2010Yank tells this heart-breaking yet hopeful tale with a mix of theatrical brilliance and Rodgers and Hammerstein inspired soundtrack. Yank! and the important and overlooked piece of queer history that it represents is one worth shouting about.

That's Weird, Grandma - Neo-Futurist Theater, Open Run

That's Weird, Grandma is a collection of short sketches and songs that have been adapted by students of the Barrel of Monkey's arts education programs, which are then performed by a collection of professional actors every week! Now in its 17th year That's Weird, Grandma is chock-a-block with wigs, props, new song and dance numbers and a great sense of fun to all of those involved.

Allowing the children create and tell these stories brings a sense of poignancy to proceedings and highlights the importance of the eduction of these young people, not to mention all the fun you'll be having!

That's Weird, Grandma is a perfect evening out for all the family, so open your mind and warm up your cheeks for this rip-roaring show!

Plays

Potted Potter - Broadway Playhouse, Until Feb 25, 2018

Distilling seven books into 70 minutes is no mean feat, but hold on to your wizard hats ladies and gents, because this two man production is a fast paced, thrill ride that will have you spellbound and roaring with laughter. Former BBC TV hosts Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner first found themselves parodying Potter in 2005, when they were asked to come up with a five minute recap of the first five books. What started as entertainment for fans waiting in line for the release of the sixth book snowballed into a full show, world tours and even an Off-Broadway run! 

The Humans - Cadillac Palace Theater, Until Feb 11, 2018

The Humans charts the at times fractious but always loving interplay between The Blakes, a Pennsylvania family uprooted to Manhattan for Thanksgiving. A real actor's showpiece, the play is a compact 95 minutes, with the action taking place in real time. Directed by two-time Tony winner Joe Mantello (An Act of God), this Roundabout Theatre production is a portrait of a flawed but very real family, who are only brought closer together by the arguments and bitter remarks that spill out as the play progresses. 

Blind Date - Albert Goodman Theater, Until Feb 25, 2018

The play is based upon the real-life visit by Reagan and the First Lady to West Germany in 1987, despite huge protests against an American presence. There, he made the controversial and now iconic speech, "Tear down the wall", perhaps presciently, given the Fall just two years later. Causing strife throughout Reagan's administation, several senior staffers and aides had advised him against against using the phrase, believing that the thawing tensions between the two superpowers would be compromised if it embarrassed Gorbachev. But the two leaders took plenty of time out from proceedings, with their respective wives even conducting their own negotiations over tea and tango away from the cameras. 

Moon Man Walk - Victory Gardens Biograph Theatre, Until Feb 25, 2018

After its critically acclaimed debut in Philadelphia in 2015, prominent Philly playwright James Ijames' Moon Man Walk comes to Chicago's Victory Gardens Theatre for a strictly limited run this Winter. Presented by Definition Theatre, the thought-provoking drama explores the African American family structure, weaving abstract fantasy, poetic fiction and magical realism to tell the story of one man's journey to his boyhood home and the echoes of memory he happens upon along the way.The play's protagonist Monarch must return to Philadelphia to arrange and attend his mother's funeral and learns the truth about his absentee father. Things take a surreal turn when Monarch faces his grief, falls in love and the past and present collide. 

Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Chicago Shakespeare Theatre - February 3-March 10

On Saturdays this winter, our new, third theater, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare, is home to a smartly abridged, 75-minute production that promises to cast its spell on audience members from ages 9 to 99. Jess McLeod has crafted a Midsummer that celebrates the magic conjured by the chance meetings of characters from different walks of life. Join in the merriment as four young lovers set out for the forest, where an amateur theater troupe is rehearsing. But when the Fairy Court discovers mortals in their midst, mischief ensues until dawn. Following each performance, you are invited to stay for a discussion with the entire cast and to mingle with them in the lobby. Start your weekend with an enchanting visit to a realm where love wins—every time. 

[playbill]

A First Look at Terrence Mann and Will Swenson in Off-Broadway’s Jerry Springer – The Opera

[littlefiercetheatre]

Hi there!

This is a little blog I wanted to start inspired by @brothermarc7theatre‘s blog. (Which you should definitely check out.) As I journey through my road to a BFA in Musical Theare Dance Emphasis at CCPA at Roosevelt University, I would love to share my thoughts an responses on scripts, shows, upcoming seasons, current projects, and popular news in the realm of performance art with some wild cards here and there. What do you want to see? Let me know! 

[franklloydwrightfan]

The 1889 Auditorium Theatre Building, Chicago, IL. Designed by Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler, Frank Lloyd Wright as their young draftsman. After it was completed, Adler & Sullivan had their offices in the tower, including an office for Wright. Wright’s work on his “bootleg” houses led to his split with Sullivan in 1993.