Celebrating Jean Claude van Itallie

The Theatre of Jean Claude van Itallie Join the Segal Center andThe Soul of the American Actorfor a day-long symposium with readings, panels and screenings focusing on the work of New York playwright and director Jean-Claude van Itallie. Scheduled afternoon screenings include Jean-Claude van Itallie in War, Sex and Dreams and Joseph Chaikin in Struck Dumb... . Invited participants include: Brian Murray, Laila Robins, Judith Malina, Lois Walden, Steve Gorn, Ruth Maleczech, Wayne Maugans, Angelica Torn, Ronald Rand, Rosemary Quinn, Kim Mancuso, Peter Goldfarb, and the cast of The Tibetan Book of the Dead. The Program: THE THEATER OF JEAN CLAUDE VAN ITALLIE October 28th, 2008 CUNY Martin E. Segal Theatre – Graduate Center Program conceived and staged by Ronald Rand Welcome Frank Hentschker Greetings Introduction to “War” and “The Hunter and The Bird” Ronald Rand “WAR” Older Man…………………………………..Preston Dyar Younger Man………………….……….Wayne Maugans Woman………………………………….…Angelica Torn “THE HUNTER AND THE BIRD” The Bird……………………….Lil Malinich The Hunter……………………. Ron Faber Introduction of “America Hurrah” Excerpts from “The Interview & Motel” Bill Coco “AMERICA HURRAH” “INTERVIEW” First Interviewer and Girl at the Party……………….Cynthia Harris First Applicant……………………..…………..….………Ronald Rand Second Applicant……………..…………………………. Joanna Rotte Second Interviewer and Gym Instructor…….. Kermit Dunkleberg Third Applicant…………………………………..……….…..Ron Faber Third Interviewer and Telephone Operator…………Rae C. Wright Fourth Applicant………………….……………………….Judith Malina Fourth Interviewer and Politician……..……………...Peter Goldfarb “MOTEL” Motel Keeper…………………………..………..Rosemary Quinn Introduction to “The Serpent” Professor William Coco “THE SERPENT” First Woman of the Chorus…………..Rosemary Quinn Second Woman………………………..……Barbara Vann Third Woman…………….………………….. Tina Shepard Fourth Woman………………………….…...Judith Malina A Panel Discussion “AMERICA HURRAH” & “THE SERPENT” Moderator: Randy Gener Particpants Jean-Claude van Itallie, Judith Malina, Cynthia Harris, Rosemary Quinn, Marcia Jean Kurtz, Ron Faber, Tina Shepard, Barbara Vann, Evangeline Morphos, Bill Coco, Alex Gildzen Introduction of “Bag Lady” Ronald Rand “BAG LADY” Ruth Maleczech Introduction of “Struck Dumb” Bill Coco “STRUCK DUMB” (Video) with Joseph Chaikin written by Joseph Chaikin and Jean-Claude van Itallie Introduction to “The Tibetan Book of the Dead” Lisa Shubert “THE TIBETAN BOOK OF THE DEAD” Court Dorsey, Kermit Dunkelberg, Susan Thompson Director: Kim Mancuso Introduction of “Mila” Lois Walden “Revenge” Lois Walden Accompanied by David Lewis A Panel Discussion The Art of Collaboration “Tibetan Book of the Dead” & “Mila” Moderator: Lois Walden Participants Jean-Claude van Itallie, Lois Walden, Steven Gorn, Kim Mancuso, Kermit Dunkelberg, Court Dorsey, Susan Thompson, Didi Goldenhar, David Willinger ************************* Dinner break 5:30 - 6:30 ************************* Welcome Frank Hentschker Greetings Ronald Rand Judith Malina Introduction to excerpts from translations of Anton Chekhov’s plays by Jean-Claude van Itallie Evangeline Morphos “THE SEAGULL” Boris Alexyevich Trigorin………………….…….Jake Robards Nina Michailovna Zarechnaya……..………………Angelica Torn Irina Nikolayyevna Arkadina ………………..……...Laila Robins Konstantine Gavrilovich Treplyev…..………….Grant Kertchick “UNCLE VANYA” Yelena Andreyevna………………………………Angelica Torn Mikhail Lvovich Astrov………… …………….Brian Murray “THE THREE SISTERS” Alexander Ignatyevich Verhsinin………………………Brian Murray Nicolai Lvovich Tuzenbach…………………..…………Ronald Rand Masha…………………………………………………….….Laila Robins “THE CHERRY ORCHARD” Lyubov Andreyevna Ranevskaya………………….Laila Robins Pyotr Sergeyvich Trifimov……………………….Grant Kertchick Yermolay Alexyevich Lopakhin………………..……Brian Murray Anya…………………………………………………….Lauren Bond Introduction “War, Sex, and Dreams” & Dialogue Alex Glidzen “WAR, SEX, AND DREAMS” (Video) with Jean-Claude van Itallie Introduction “Light” Lorraine Grosslight “LIGHT” Voltaire………………………………Jean-Claude van Itallie Emilie………………………….………Rosemary Quinn A DIALOGUE Bill Coco and Jean-Claude van Itallie Join us for a Reception & Book Signing in the Lobby Music by Steve Gorn

PLEASE VOTE!

What's the difference between George Bush and Sarah Palin? Watch this video now!

the blog that won't write itself

It's been a bit of a ride since I closed in August: OsageCounty. Not happy to say good-bye to the best company of actors on the planet! I'm crossing my fingers I'll be back with the play again soon. I think it could very well happen. Seen in the audience the week I was there: Al Pacino, Michael Kahn, Kati Tong, my former college roommate Jeff Polsky. Goodbye August! See you on the campus, as they say.

On Monday, August 25, I attended a screening of a new film produced by my friend Dennis Ostermaier. The film is called House of Satisfaction, written and produced by Jesse Hartman. Hartman is convincing as a down and out junkie with a real genius for the smart rock lyric. But the story of "making right" with his family by stealing junk from a Cleveland mafia didn't hold up nearly as well. The films' best moments shine when they remind us all of the east village that once was. The Village of Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction, of indie films just taking off, of brave performances like those of Santo Fazio. It's a very worthwhile movie, and I hope it finds its place on the circuit soon.

Also on Monday night, I ran cross town from Tribeca to catch an evening of new solo work by performance artist David Cale at Joe's Pub. I have loved David for over a decade, ever since I saw him perform in The Redthroats at Second Stage, as well as in Smooch Music. David is developing a new show of mesmerizing monologues based mostly around the themes of, well, love. David weaves a story about a hansome cab driver who becomes a male prostitute for wealthy ladies on the upper east side. He circles in the world of art and finance, giving his "customers" an opportunity to be excited by a young man that is virile and romantic, charming and self-effacing, eloquent without condescension. And there is plenty of sex. I'll not betray any of the comedic effects, but what I will say is that here is a performer at the top of his game. He's open, lovely, raw ---he takes us through the journey on an emotional level. And that level is often funny. Very, very funny. Thank you David for a wonderful night in the theater. We can't wait to catch you again soon!

The next day....Tuesday....I began my MFA Program in Directing at Brooklyn College. That calls for a separate, or many separate blogs. So I leave you only with this simple thought from the great political director Erwin Piscator:

From a Radio Broadcast aired by West Berlin Radio on December 16, 1987:

"The concept of political theatre clings to me like a shirt. Not even today can I comprehend that there could be art without politics. I simply cannot comprehend it...Not because I do not want to comprehend it or because I have a theory about it, but quite simply because I do not see...theat we are allowed to remove politics from art...And politics in art is as permanent and natural as saying 'a-b-c'. There is nothing else. But there never has been anything else."

Tanks for comin'.
Wayne