Blog Stage - Acting in Film, TV, Theatre - Backstage

FRIGID 2010: 'Bonne Nuit' Offers Apocalyptic 'Poo Poo'

After scoring 'Audience Choice' and 'Sold Out' awards in 2008, Theatre Reverb is hitting the FRIGID New York Festival for a second time.

The Brooklyn-based company modestly describes their new show, "Bonne Nuit Poo Poo," as "comedy, science fiction, dance, apocalyptic jukebox, cabaret, motorcycles, video art and pageantry tied up into one uniquely entertaining spectacle." Think "Mad Max" in a fringe festival.

Formed in 2006 by Kristin Arnesen and Radoslaw Konopka (joined shortly after by Christopher Thomas Gilkey), Theatre Reverb owes much of its unique theatrical style to the diversity of its multidisciplinary core members. Arnesan and Gilkey are native New Yorkers; Konopka was born in Poland but moved to the U.S. in 1994. They describe their work as "influenced by silent cinema, popular culture, circus arts, and classical Indian theatre" (Arnesen and Konopka both studied in Kerala, India).

So far, the trio have created four original full-length theater pieces and a number of short works. In addition, the group is in residency at Brooklyn's Galapagos Art Space, where they are the regular hosts of "The Floating Kabarette."

Like their previous work, "Bonne Nuit Poo Poo" combines physical theatre, multimedia, and Indian dance. We spoke earlier this week with Kristin Arnesen about the new show.

Burton Does 'Bernie'

Like many of you, I'd always dreamed that Tim Burton would stop wasting his time trying to breathe life into dusty old children stories like "Batman," "Alice in Wonderland," "Willy Wonka," "Sleepy Hollow," and "Planet of the Apes," and take on a real challenge.

Just imagine, if you will, this unique artist putting his trademark touch on a masterwork of subtlety and refined taste: "Sense and Sensibility," "Wuthering Heights," "Weekend at Bernie's"? 

Lost in Harajuku

Now we know how's she's been spending her time since the "Spider-man" franchise turned their back on her and Tobey.

A music video started making the rounds online with Kirsten Dunst singing a fairly faithful cover of The Vapors' eighties hit "Turning Japanese" while prancing around the Harajuku district of Tokyo in full anime girldom, wearing a teeny skirt, ruby slippers, sailor top and silvery blue wig, and dangling a magic wand.

Entertainment Industry Opportunities - 2/26/10

Every week Back Stage posts hundreds of casting notices and entertainment-industry opportunities in the BackStage.com Casting/Jobs Database. Check out the following selection of new notices -- film festivals calling for entries, staff/tech/crew jobs, casting workshops, and more:

1. Tribeca Film Festival: TRIBECA FILM FEST VOLUNTEERS: The Tribeca Film Festival is seeking volunteer staff for the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival. Since its founding, the festival has attracted an international audience of more than 2.3 million attendees. Loren Hammond... More

2. The Complete Theatre Company: COMPLETE THEATRE COMPANY is seeking new members. Producer states: "Membership benefits include a two-hour weekly workshop created to provide a haven where actors and writers can feel free to explore their talent... More

2010-11 Broadway Forecast

We're getting ready for the toboggan ride to the end of season. It'll be one opening after another until the Tony nominations come out on May 4. Definite opening dates and EPAs are starting to pour in for next season. As usual, it's mostly revivals, British shows, and musicals with the odd new American play cropping up. Here's what we have so far:

La Bete: This verse comedy/drama set in 17th century France was a huge flop in the 1990s, but it might fly now because it will open in London first. Anything with the Brit stamp of approval usually has a better chance over here. Tony winners Mark Rylance and David Hyde Pierce will join Joanna Lumley (remember her from Absolutely Fabulous?) for both the London and New York runs. EPAs: Feb. 26, March 1 and 2.  

'The Caffeine Addict' at Manhattan Rep's "Winterfest 2010"

It's officially that time of year when winter is getting really old. Those snowflakes, which seemed so magical back in December, now just look like tomorrow's curb slush.

But if there's one good thing associated with the season, it's the Manhattan Repertory Theatre's annual "Winterfest," which opened in mid-January and continues through March 26. The festival, which is one of four similar seasonal events run by the theater each year, offers three-show runs -- with the possibility of an extension -- to a variety of new plays.

Each seasonal festival is open for submissions of original play productions between 45 minutes to two hours in length. (Producers and/or playwrights should be prepared to submit a $25 processing fee, with the complete script, a synopsis of the play, character breakdown, approximate running time, set and lighting requirements, etc.) If accepted, applicants are allotted three performances at the Manhattan theater space for no additional charge. Props, rehearsal space, costumes, and casting are up to you -- but that all seems easy compared to the difficulty of finding somewhere to perform.

Last year, I had the pleasure of attending a show at Manhattan Rep's Fall Play Festival, and this year I got the chance to direct a play myself for Winterfest: The Caffeine Addict completed it's initial three-date run Feb. 10-12, but after three successful nights, the show has been extended for one additional bonus performance Saturday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.

In It for the Love: The Path to V-O Success

Joan Baker's mantra at "Make Millions with Your Voice", a seminar for aspiring voice-over actors that she hosted Tuesday night, was simply "Because I love it."

The seminar, offered through The Learning Annex and benefiting The Alzheimer's Association, afforded a roomful of aspiring voice-over actors access to a panel of industry experts and talent who assured them that above all else, the key to success was loving voice-over.

Tony Nominations to Be Announced May 4

Nominations for the 2010 Tony Awards will be announced May 4. The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing announced today the calendar for Tony-related events leading up to the June 13 awards ceremony at Radio City Music Hall in New York. April 29 was announced as the official cut-off date for Tony eligibility, meaning any shows opening after that date will be ineligible for this year's awards. The annual press reception for nominees will be held May 5. The nominees luncheon will take place May 20.

Read the story at Playbill.

Pictured: Marcia Gay Harden at the 2009 Tony Awards (Photo: Getty Images)

'Puppetry of the Penis' in Person!

On this week's very special episode of "Behind the Scenes," watch me sit down with Rich Binning and Christopher J. Cannon, the stars of the hit show "Puppetry of the Penis." Learn which cities are "big penis towns" and watch me try not to giggle like a 10-year-old.

I actually saw the show many years ago and was surprised by just how enjoyable this simplistic premise was. They've really managed to create an entertaining show worth seeing. And it's not just all puppetry--the evening opens with a female comedian, whose act is often even raunchier than the tricks themselves. Binning revealed they've had a couple walk-outs at shows recently and it always catches them off guard--I mean, what do people think they're coming to see? It's there in the title! He noted the irony of a person who will "sit through the comedian saying much more graphic and sexual things, but get offended as us for taking off our clothes?"

You can find more information on the L.A. show, now at the Coast Playhouse, and tickets at their site.

--Jenelle Riley

'ER' Vets Land Pilot Roles

Actor David Lyons is one of three "ER" alums to have booked a pilot role this season, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Lyons will play the lead in "Cape," a drama about a masked hero from NBC. Hi former "ER" castmate Shane West will play a special agent on CW's spy drama "Nikita," starring Maggie Q. Laura Innes, who spent 14 years on "ER" as Kerry Weaver, play an inmate ringleader on NBC's "Event."

Read the story at the Hollywood Reporter.

Pictured: David Lyons (Photo:Getty Images)