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

Nerd HQ brings Comic Con to the Non-Ticketed Public in SD

Don't have a pass to next week's Comic-Con but still want to be part of the action? Zachary Levi's got your back.

The "Chuck" star is throwing a four-day event during Comic-Con in the Gaslamp District of San Diego called Nerd HQ. It promises to be a more intimate experience than the massive Con, with a maximum of 250 attendees for the panels and a suggested donation of $20 to benefit Operation Smile. There will also be  video games, technology, and a film festival of one-minute shorts.

The "Conversations" include panels with the cast of "Firefly", Scott Bakula,  Zachary Quinto, and Zac Levi himself.

Check it out here.

-- Jessica Gardner

 

Alliance Austin Presents Actors Fair in Texas

The Alliance Austin — a cooperative of Central Texas casting directors, talent agents and acting coaches — is holding an Actors Fair on Sat., April 2, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at The Red Building, 1901 E. 51st St. (part of the Austin Film Studios), in Austin, TX.

The Alliance Austin Actors Fair promises to be an excellent networking opportunity and "an all day extravaganza catering to the needs of Central Texas’ acting community." A $10 entry fee is required, but includes workshops with acting coaches, the chance to meet agents and casting directors, and opportunities to talk with headshot photographers, demo-reel producers, and representatives from the Texas Motion Picture Alliance (TXMPA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG).

Plus: General auditions are being held by local casting directors and agents at the event.

If you attend the event, make sure to stop by Back Stage's table to say hello to our local representative and pick up a free copy of Back Stage magazine.

The American Association of Community Theatre Presents AACTFest11 in NY

Based in Fort Worth, TX, the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) provides networking opportunities, advocacy services, theater resources, and events that benefit over 7,000 community theatres across the United States, plus overseas theatre companies associated with the U.S. armed forces.

Once every couple of years AACT presents the national AACTFest theater festival, which is billed as "both a celebration of theatre and a learning experience for those who take part." AACTFest11 will be hosted by the Theatre Association of New York State (TANYS) and takes place June 20-26, 2011, in Rochester, NY.

View The AACTFest11 press release below:

Sundance '11 Notes: You'll Believe it When You See It

Yesterday I wrote here that I was disappointed in general by what I've seen of this year's Sundance. Well, yesterday I hadn't yet seen "The Troll Hunter." Not to spoil anything for you, but "Troll Hunter" is a film from Norway about a guy who hunts trolls. It's nice when you get that much clarity from a title.

Sundance '11 Notes: Best Performance by a Newspaperman

Over at our coffee news blog Espresso, I posted a piece on the lessons that actors can learn from the documentary "Page One: A Year Inside the New York Times." It was tough work, but worthwhile—not for you, but for me, who needed to somehow justify spending company time watching a documentary that features absolutely zero actors. At past, pre-Back Stage-employment Sundances, the documentary programs have often been where the majority of my favorite films came from. It's not that I prefer docs in general. It's just that I think Sundance does a better job of programming those lineups than it does the dramatic categories. Now that I'm here on behalf of an actors' trade, my doc viewing has been limited to "Page One." It's probably no coincidence then that my strongest general feeling about what I've seen here this year has been disapointment. I've seen good films, and even a handful of very good films, but I've also seen some stinkers. Sometimes life is hard.

Sundance '11 Notes: Oh, Yeah, Those Idiots Were Here

The good Christian people of the Westboro Baptist Church brought their trademark signs and trademark mental disorders to Park City, Utah on Sunday. The WBC, which is labeled a hate group by both the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League, cleared time from its busy schedule of picketing the funerals of soldiers and gay teenagers to instead picket Kevin Smith's new movie "Red State." Why? Who cares. Let's just figure that WBC leader Fred Phelps is still mad about dropping $12 on "Clerks II." That makes as much sense as anything else.

Sundance '11 Notes: Man Plays Piano; Bear Approves

Look! It’s a guy playing piano on the street! In front of a bear statue! What you can’t see, because I’m such a lousy picture taker, is that there are about five different people filming and photographing this guy while he does this. And why does he do this? Because he’s at Sundance. What else would you do at North America’s most prominent film festival besides make a spectacle of yourself?

Sundance '11 Notes: America Ferrera Flies Coach

The 2011 Sundance Film Festival begins today, and once again Back Stage is here to trudge through the snow and navigate Utah's archaic liquor laws so you don't have to. We kicked off our coverage today with a preview of buzzworthy films and critique of the festival's marketing campain. This year's slogan: "Be there." It's not exactly Sterling Cooper material, but it's better than the runner-up idea, "Be there—or don't. It's not like it matters to us."

James Franco Aboard for Tisch Gala

Golden Globe-winner James Franco will join the Tisch School of the Arts annual gala, which will honor Billy Crystal, class of 1970. Directed by Arthur Masella, the star-studded event will be held on Dec. 6 in the Frederick P. Rose Hall at Lincoln Center. The fundraising gala will support the modernization of the Tisch School’s 111 2nd Ave. location, where Crystal acquired his Bachelors of Fine Arts. Franco is currently enrolled in the Tisch School for film production. “I am thrilled to give back to my Tisch community,” said Franco in a statement.

Pictured: James Franco (Photo: Getty Images)

NYMF Celebrates Seventh Season on Sunday

Bebe Neuwirth, Anthony Rapp, and Christine Pedi are among the stars performing at the 7th Season New York Musical Theatre Festival Awards Gala, which will take place at The Hudson Theatre on Sunday. “Chicago” producers Barry & Fran Weissler will be honored for their pioneering spirit and dedication to musical theatre, while Tony-award winner Chita Rivera will receive the NYMF’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The gala will also honor the recipients of the NYMF 2010 Awards for Excellence. Included in the evening will be cocktails, a silent auction, seated dinner, and live performances.

Pictured: Bebe Neuwirth (Photo: Getty Images)