Glee-ETC Theatre Camp at Ensemble Theatre

Here’s more about Glee-ETC from Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga:

 

ETC Presents Staged Reading of ’8′ at Chattanooga State

The following is from the press release:

from the writer of MILK
and J. Edgar 

DUSTIN LANCE BLACK’S

8

Come see history in the making as ETC presents a staged production of the court case that is revolutionizing equal rights.

For more information on the case,
click the link below:

The American Gay Rights Movement: A Timeline

July 13    7:30

Chattanooga State Humanities Building

 

“8” is an unprecedented account of the Federal District Court trial in Perry v. Schwarzenegger(now Perry v. Brown), the case filed by AFER to overturn Proposition 8, which stripped gay and lesbian Californians of the fundamental freedom to marry.  It received its much-heralded Broadway world premiere on September 19, 2011, at the sold-out Eugene O’Neill Theatre in New York City. The production brought in over $1 million to support AFER’s efforts to achieve full federal marriage equality.

Black, who penned the Academy Award-winning feature film Milk and the film J. Edgar, based“8” on the actual words of the trial transcripts, first-hand observations of the courtroom drama and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families.  “People need to witness what happened in the Proposition 8 trial, if for no other reason than to see inequality and discrimination unequivocally rejected in a court of law where truth and facts matter,” said AFER Founding Board Member Dustin Lance Black.  “The goal of ‘8’ is to show the world that marriage equality is a basic constitutional right.  The facts are on our side and truth always finds the light.  AFER and Broadway Impact are doing all we can to help speed that process along.”

The production includes actors from all over the Chattanooga Valley and is directed by Garry Lee Posey, Founding Artistic Director. ”As an artist, I rarely try to jump on a soapbox about an issue when directing a piece. My goal is to try and present the story in as bias a way as possible. Even with Laramie Project, I feel its just as important to present every character (even those I might find personally repulsive) in a sincere and honest portrait. As a gay artist, I believe it is my duty to stage “8” in an effort for me to achieve the rights I am due as a proud citizen of this country and this state.”

‘Equus’ Staged by Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga

LOCAL THEATRE BRINGS SHAFFER’S MASTERPIECE TO CHATTANOOGA

Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga Announces “EQUUS” Performance Dates

 CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (June 11, 2012) – The community is invited to join Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga (ETC) for Peter Shaffer’s controversial EQUUS June 21 – July 1; Thursdays at 7:30, Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.  Performances will take place at Barking Legs Theatre, 1307 Dodds Avenue.

“EQUUS is a psychological play; it’s not cut and dry.   There is lots of room for exploration in developing the stories of these characters. It is also artistically confrontational,” says director Garry Lee Posey.  “As a director, I enjoy the challenge of smoothing out the confrontational aspect so that the message is more accessible, not gratuitous. This play has been on my ‘list to direct’ since 1994 when I first read it.  There is a payoff in being patient enough to wait 18 years before getting the opportunity. ETC and I have needed the EQUUS experience at this particular moment in our lives.”

Actor Haden York describes his experience in exploring Alan Strang, Shaffer’s famously tortured main character. “It’s like… waking up every morning and finding the courage to dive into a 50-foot vortex full of distrust, anger, hate and feeling misunderstood,” explains York. “Each time you jump in, you have to go a foot farther.  After you go deep enough, you’re no longer experiencing one emotion at a time but a whole slew of them together to the point where they become one. All you feel is this passionate, searing uncomfortableness. It’s been such an intense experience.”

Tickets are $10 and are available at www.ensembletheatreofchattanooga.com, by calling 423-987-5141 and at the box office. Doors open 30 minutes before each performance.  No one under the age of 18 admitted; must provide valid photo I.D. at box office.

ETC’s production of “EQUUS” is directed by Garry Lee Posey.  Cast members include Darrelle Barney, Kyle Dagnan, Randal Fosse, Christy Gallo, Zach Hiatt, Dennis Lawhorn, Robbye Lewis, Doug May, Savannah Mazda, Brenda Schwab, Jimmy Sowell, Jeremy Wilkins, and Haden York. The stage manager is Casey Keelen.

About Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga (ETC)

ETC is a non-profit theatre company housed at the St. Andrews Center at 1918 Union Avenue in Historic Highland Park. This is ETC’s third season.  For more information about the season, programming and opportunities, visit www.ensembletheatreofchattanooga.com or call 423-987-5141.  ETC’s producing partners are John Thomas Cecil, Christy Gallo and Garry Lee Posey.

‘Drift’ Combines Rock Music and Videography for Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga Production

Reporting: Monessa Guilfoil

Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga Director Garry Posey came across the concept album that this musical is based on many years ago.    To his delight, the songs from Jeremy Schonfeld have been used in the making of a musical with lyrics and music by Schonfeld and the book by Craig Pospisil.    ‘Drift’ was given a good review when it premiered at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2006.     ETC will be one of the first Regional Theatres to mount a production of this, “New, edge rock musical,” says Posey.     He says that ‘Drift’ contains very little dialog, instead relying on songs, staging and theatricality to tell the story of it’s protagonist David who is going through a divorce.     The play opened this weekend on the Black Box stage of the St. Andrew’s Center.

Here’s more about this production from the ETC website:

June 1 – 17

• Fridays
• 7:30

• Sundays
• 2:30, 6:30

“Jeremy Shonfeld, the writer, is insistent about the story being told through the music, there is very little dialogue in the 90 minute show,” says director Garry Lee Posey.  “A component from a previous production utilized videography, something that I believe could really enhance the story telling, so we are using that convention as well. To help us direct the use of this convention in the most effective way possible, we are focusing on music videos for inspiration.”

Drift marks the 25th production that Garry Posey has directed with ETC. “To me, Drift is a musical that finds its protagonist trying to survive in two different worlds- fantasy and reality. In the musical, recently divorced David lives (and sings about what is) in his mind. His ex, Laura conversely finds herself trying to pull David back into reality. Ironically, the plot of DRIFT and my tenure thus far with ETC are almost mirror images of the other.”

Drift is directed by Garry Posey.  Cast members include Maggie Bradshaw, Damon Buxton, Dana Colagiovanni, Kyle Dagnan, Ryan Laskowski, Ellen Poole, Justin Wahlne and Jeremy Wilkins.  The stage manager is Casey Keelen.

Listen to the Story:

Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’ adapted for Ensemble Theatre Production

Reporting: Monessa Guilfoil

Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga producers chose ‘A Doll’s House’ as this year’s classic stage play because it addresses marriage conventions.    Producer and actor Christy Gallo says that Henrick Ibsen’s play written in the late 1800′s has some, “Great commentary on marriage.”    As such, ‘A Doll’s House’ fits into the ETC theme for this season of exploring social norms.

Kelly Lapzynski directs this ETC production.    The cast will be working from an adaptation of this Ibsen tragedy written by Lapzynski who worked with four different translations of ‘A Doll’s House’ seeking agreement between them.

The following comes from ETC’s press release:

“First and foremost, Ibsen wrote a tragedy.   The story is based on the true life events of one of Ibsen’s friends, author Laura Smith Petersen,” explains director Kelly Lapczynski.   “When Laura’s husband contracted tuberculosis, doctors advised that he go south to recuperate and Laura participated in a forgery to acquire the money.  When he discovered the forgery, he divorced Laura and threw her out of the house.  Within a few years, Laura was sent to a mental hospital and Ibsen began to write A Doll’s House. “

“I love the way it addresses marriage conventions,” says actor John Thomas Cecil. “Ibsen’s classic delves into issues that are so mainstream today, yet were so controversial in his time. It has been fun to explore the contrast between the life we live today and Ibsen’s world.

A Doll’s House is directed by Kelly Lapczynski.  Cast members include Brandi Alexander, John Thomas Cecil, Evie Durant, Christy Gallo, Jamie Goodnight, Karen Keith and Doug May.  The stage manager is Eric “Red” Wyatt.

For more information about the production, check out www.adollshouse.org

Christy Gallo and John Thomas Cecil, ETC’s ‘A Doll’s House’

Listen to the Story:

‘Living Newpaper’ Premieres at Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga

Reporting: Monessa Guilfoil

The idea for ‘Living Newspaper’ as an art form came about  through the Federal Theatre Project of the 1930s as a way to take social issues, research them and dramatize them through songs, scenes and monologues using fictional characters.    The idea was to show a personal side of an issue in order to raise awareness about it.

ETC will present a new ‘Living Newspaper’ for today’s audience.    This play opens on March 23rd and runs for three weeks, three nights per week at the St. Andrews Center.     The cast and writers chose topics to cover and wrote the script for the show.    Theatre Professor from Chattanooga State’s Professional Actors’ Training Program Jeff Parker directs this ‘Living Newspaper’.

Listen to the story with Jeff Parker:

“Have A Seat” Gives Voice to Chattanooga Homelessness

ETC "Have a Seat"

Have a Seat is an original theatre piece created by the actors and co-directors, Christy Gallo and John Thomas Cecil.    Gallo gives a description of the 5 characters in Have a Seat which are based on the, “Top five reasons why people identify that they are homeless.”

Martha Jean – been on the streets most of her life and is now old enough to receive government housing
Leo – has aspergers, has been on the streets 7 years after suffering the loss of his wife
Arthur – new to homelessness after his father kicked him out of the house for being gay, is/was a student, struggles with drugs
Jinx – she ran away from her abusive father and has been riding the rails, and finally looking for a way to get her life back
Amy – lived beyond her means, lost her job, was evicted and her father wouldn’t help, been homeless about 4 months

Gallo and Cecil based this play on research from the Homeless Coalitions 2009 Blueprint and from statistics from the most recent Census.    One character in Have a Seat is based on an actual person as seen through the eyes of her social worker.    Here’s more from the ETC press release:

By the Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga

Directed by John Thomas Cecil and Christy Gallo

Dec 2- Dec 18 (Fridays 7:30, Saturdays 2:00, Sundays 3:00 AND/OR 6:30)

Description: We close out the season with an introspective look from the bottom up. The idea was presented about structuring a piece of theatre based on the concept of “if these chairs could talk.” We took that idea a step further by addressing the idea that a seat looks at the world from below everyone and couple that with the idea communities across country are slowly becoming inundated with homeless populations, who also see society from the bottom up. So HAVE A SEAT is going to focus of the homeless community in Chattanooga, spotlighting where they sit, where they hang out and who they are.

Listen to the Story with Co-Directors and Cast Members:

 

ETC Brings Eric Coble’s Play, “The Giver” to the Stage

Photo credit: Virginia McNees

Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga has produced, “The Giver” for their Fall 2011 Season.    The play runs through November 19th in ETC’s  black box  space within the St. Andrew’s Center.    This short play by Eric Coble is based on the Newberry Award winning Children’s story by Lois Lowry published in 1993.

This is taken from the press release:

ETC brings Lois Lowry’s beloved children’s classic to life with this adaptation by Eric Coble. “The Giver focuses on the dangers of creating a utopian society that is devoid of pain,” says director Casey Keelen. “The entire society lives their lives in an attempt to achieve sameness.  There is no individuality whatsoever. And right now, we live in a society that focuses on getting a certain look or acting a certain way but we don’t necessarily celebrate who we are as individuals.”  To achieve her vision, Keelen developed a new slant on puppetry. “My concept revolves around most of the characters being puppets themselves,” says Keelen.  “This show is so important  in today’s society because it shows what a lack of individuality can cause.”

Directed by Casey Keelen
Featuring: Christopher Cooper, Evie Durant, Kelly Lapczynski, Xander merciers and Makenzie Young.

October 4 – 19

Fridays    7:30
Saturdays   2:00

Listen to the Story with Director and Cast for this production:

Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga Announces Auditions for Upcoming Season

ETC will hold actor auditions on November 13-14th.    This is from the ETC press release:

We will be holding two days of auditions for the first half of our 2012 season. You can choose either day to audition for us. But please come prepared with a monologue of your choosing. If you are auditioning for our musicals, please prepare a song and provide your track music for us. We compensate all of our Actors.

Please contact Garry Posey to sign-up for a 10-minute audition slot.
(423) 987-5141

 

DAY ONE: November 13  |  1:00pm

DAY TWO: November 14  |  6:30pm

We love to work with local theatre artists. If you are already a theatre veteran or looking for more experience, please send us an email and let us know a little about yourself. We are looking for Lighting Designers, Costume Designers, Set Designers and Stage Managers. We compensate all of our Artists.

ETC’s, “Lunch Money” Tackles Bullying in Schools

Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga presents an original work featuring young people struggling with school bullying.    Why does it happen?    Who does it affect?    What if anything can be done about it?

From the ETC press realease:

One of the hottest topics has been the idea of bullying in our schools. A cast of 8 explores the issues that surround school bullying, its immediate and long term effects, and the people who it affects beyond the bully and the bullied. ETC employed a method of ensemble creation, where the cast was  integral in crafting and creating the storyline from research, statistics, and surveys. Join ETC as we delve into this investigative theatre piece.

Directed by Garry Lee Posey.
Featuring: Christopher Cooper, Jamie McIntosh, Ellen Poole, Jenna Reschenthaler, Morgan Robbins, Jeremy Wilkins, Eric “Red” Wyatt and
Makenzie Young.September 9 – 25

Fridays    7:30
Saturdays   2:00
Sundays   6:30

Photo credit: Virginia McNees

New Jersey just passed a new, tough anti-bullying law.     This came about after a college student killed himself after a video  taken of him having a sexual affair with another man was posted on the internet.    Diane Sawyer covered this story for ABC News linked here.    The video includes an interview with Dan Savage who is compelled to say to gay teens, “It gets better.”

I found this at the website called bullyingstatistics.org:

Bullying statistics 2010:

New bullying statistics for 2010 revealed about one in seven students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade is either a bully or has been a victim of bullying. Sometimes a teen or child who has been bullied eventually becomes the bully as a way to retaliate. In fact, revenge for bullying is one of the strongest motivations for school shootings, according to recent bullying statistics. A reported 61 percent of students said they believe students shoot others at school because they have been victims of physical violence at home or at school. This is a true indicator that bullying can occur in all forms by other students, children, teens as well as adults. According to various bullying studies, many teens and children act out violently on their peers through acts of bullying because they are abused at home.

"Lunch Money"-ETC

Reporting: Monessa Guilfoil

Listen to the story with “Lunch Money” cast and Director Garry Posey: