Friday, November 5, 2010

In The Director's Chair: Steel Magnolias

Professor Jill Lincoln* is responsible for bringing our next production to life, the comedy-drama Steel Magnolias, opening December 2. As you will see from the story below, this event is a unique experience for all involved.

To begin, one of the women who played "Shelby" in the original production is now directing at APU. Also, Prof. Lincoln had the opportunity to meet the story's author, Robert Harling, who told her all about his sister, whose life and death was the inspiration for Shelby's character.

This production has a particular poignance for Prof. Lincoln, as her sister has the exact same type of diabetes that Shelby had in the play. This influenced her direction as it is based on memories of the near death experiences her sister has had.

APU's production of Steel Magnolias is sure to bring about, in the words of Truvy, "laughter through tears ... my favorite emotion." You may purchase tickets to this show here or learn more about our 2010-2011 season productions here.

*Jill Lincoln, M.A., is an assistant professor in the Department of Theater, Film, and Television, where she instructs acting classes, on-camera classes, and directs productions such as the Hollywood Showcase and an original sitcom.

During the last twenty years, Lincoln has worked in regional theater, Broadway, film, and television, as well as instructed at several universities and schools. In addition, Lincoln co-founded and acted as artistic director of the Brennan/Gould Acting Studio in Los Angeles. Her mission is to train aspiring young artists in the techniques and skills needed to become transformational actors and better the future of American theater, film, and television.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

5 Facts About Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare

The full title of the play is “Twelfth Night, or What You Will”.


Like many of Shakespeare’s works, the plot lines were borrowed from an earlier story; in this case, it was based on the Italian “Gli Ingannatori (or The Cheats)” and the short story “Of Apollonius and Silla” by Barnabe Rich, based on the Matteo Bandello original story.


The first listed Broadway production of the play opened on June 11, 1804.


The longest Broadway production, in 1941, ran for 129 performances.


Famous actors that have appeared in Twelfth Night, either on stage or in film, include John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier, Vivian Leigh, Helen Hayes, Alec Guinness, Paul Rudd, Parminder Nagra, Helen Hunt, Yul Brynner, Ben Kingsley and Helena Bonham Carter.

Credits: wikipedia.org and ibdb.com

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

"A Raisin in the Sun" Fun Facts

Are you ready for another week of “A Raisin In The Sun”? So that you enter the theater a little bit wiser, here are some facts about this Broadway standout:

* “A Raisin In The Sun” was the first play written by an African-American woman to be produced on Broadway, as well as the first Broadway play with an African-American director.

* The story of racial tension and the pursuit of the American dream in a Chicago neighborhood is loosely based on the experiences of the author’s family.

* The original Broadway cast featured such luminaries as Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee and Louis Gossett, Jr. A 2004 revival featuring Sean “Diddy” Combs, Phylicia Rashad and Audra McDonald garnered several acting Tony awards.

* The title of the play was taken from the poem “A Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes. Listen to a recitation of the poem here: http://www.learner.org/catalog/extras/vvspot/video/hughes.html

Sources: wikipedia.org

This is an incredible experience you won’t want to miss.
Buy tickets TODAY for this week’s show: http://www.apu.edu/theater/tickets/
Learn more about the APU theater season here: http://www.apu.edu/theater/

See you at the show!!!