[Squishy] NCTC September 2004 E-News

Fri Sep 3 17:19:47 PDT 2004

The New Conservatory Theatre Center
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NCTC E-News
September 2004

HOT LINKS

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A Chance to Meet Barry Humphries, the Man Behind Dame Edna

The New Conservatory Theatre Center proudly presents "A Conversation with Barry Humphries (aka Dame Edna):  the Man Behind the Woman", a very special benefit event for NCTC's Youth Programs, hosted by the incomparable Terrence McNally, on Monday, October 4, 2004 at 7:00 PM.  This extraordinary evening will end with an open question-and-answer period with the audience, followed by a reception featuring tantalizing appetizers by Paul K.

Join us as Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally reveals the real Barry Humphries, who will discuss his process of creating and becoming the inimitable Dame Edna Everage.  Currently starring in "Dame Edna: Back with a Vengeance", Humphries is one of Australia's most acclaimed and beloved comedians, having thrilled and entertained many generations over the past 50 years.  Since his start in London when in his early twenties, Barry Humphries has created some of the world's most celebrated comic characters, most notably Aussie bloke Barry McKenzie, the grandfatherly Sandy Stone and the perpetually offensive cultural attaché, Les Patterson, as well as the wildly witty Dame Edna.

NCTC Playwright-in-Residence Terrence McNally lends his biting wit and vast knowledge of the performing arts to this exciting event as our special guest interviewer.  Mr. McNally will be back in town working on his latest play, set to premiere at NCTC in 2005 as part of our 25th Anniversary celebration.

At Mr. Humphries request, "A Conversation with Barry Humphries (aka Dame Edna):  the Man Behind the Woman" serves as a benefit for NCTC's unique educational programs, which serve upwards of 20,000 youth per year.  Our Youth Theatre Conservatory provides theatre training to empower youth to celebrate their differences and gain confidence through self-expression.  YouthAware presents thought-provoking original plays throughout California to educate young people and those who guide them on the challenging social issues that they face every day. (Look for our special feature on YouthAware Director, Sara Staley in this issue of NCTC E-News!)

Tickets for this exclusive event are $35-$75, which includes the interview, the Q & A session and the reception that follows.   Order your tickets now by calling our box office at (415) 861-8972 or buy your tickets online at www.nctcsf.org!

"A Conversation with Barry Humphries (aka Dame Edna): the Man Behind the Woman"
Monday, October 4, 2004 at 7:00 PM
Tickets:  $35, $50 & $75

Visit Dame Edna's Website!
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"Pageant" Contestants Speak Out About Beauty, Truth and the American Way

Beauty was definitely in the eye of the beholder when our ace reporter caught up with the six glamorous (and clamorous) contestants vying for the distinguished title of "Miss Glamouresse" night-after-night for the next two months in the hit musical comedy competition, "Pageant".  As these talented girls from all different parts of this great nation prepared for another grueling rehearsal of this demanding and entertaining beauty contest, they let their hair down a bit and talked about what it takes to make a winner.

Q:  What qualities should a winning "Miss Glamouresse" possess?

Miss Texas:  Well, she needs to have a large heart and a winning smile.

Miss West Coast:  --physically beautiful and in top condition.

Miss Bible Belt:  Beauty, truth and purity-the values of the Lord, of course!  Praise Him!

Miss Industrial Northeast: No comment.

Q:  What will you do when you're crowned Miss Glamouresse?

Miss Bible Belt:  Thank the Lord!

Miss Great Plains:  Spread ecological awareness throughout the United States.

Miss Deep South:  I intend to stop cancer where it begins--in the home.

Q:  What do you think of your competitors?

Miss Texas:  Well Miss Bible Belt is genuine-a genuine phony!  She just doesn't have the right spirit to be Miss Glamouresse.

Miss Deep South:  I would never claim someone doesn't belong here.  But if I had to pick one, Miss Texas is a little too confident.  She probably paid off the judges.

Miss Industrial Northeast:  No comment.

Q:  World Peace or Save the Children?

Miss Great Plains:  Save the Children--they're our future.  You have to teach them well.

Miss West Coast:  But if there was world peace, the children wouldn't need to be saved.

Miss Industrial Northeast:  No comment.

You can catch up with all six beauty queens beginning September 10th, Wednesday through Sunday, right here at NCTC in "Pageant", the side-splitting musical comedy competition where you pick the winner.  That's right, a different Miss Glamouresse is chosen by audience judges at every performance!

"Pageant"
Book & Lyrics by Bill Russell & Frank Kelly; Music by Albert Evans;
Conceived by Robert Longbottom
Directed by Dyan McBride; Musical Direction by Michael O'Dell
Starring:  Patrick Michael Dukeman, Trauma Flintstone, Alvy Holloway, Danny Howard, Patrick Sanchez, Tomas Theriot and Justin Wetherby 
Previews September 10 - 17
Opening Night:  September 18
Then running September 22 - October 17
Wednesdays - Saturdays at 8:00 PM
Sundays at 2:00 PM
Preview Tickets:  $20
Regular Tickets:  $26-$40

Get Your Tickets Now
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The Evolution of San Francisco Gay Life Examined in "Sex & Mayhem"

Local writer and theatre artist Donald Currie brings his wild tales of the city to the stage for the first time in NCTC's world premiere production of his new solo show "Sex & Mayhem", beginning Friday, September 17, and running through Sunday, October 10, 2004.  Based on the acclaimed CD-series of the same name, "Sex & Mayhem" tells Currie's own story of sexual discovery against the backdrop of unfolding gay history in San Francisco.

A third generation San Franciscan, Donald Currie was a young theatre student at S.F.S.U. with a penchant for melodrama when he experienced his first love in the early 1960s.  From that point forward, he catapulted into adulthood kicking and screaming the whole way.  Currie's keen insight is sprinkled throughout "Sex & Mayhem" as he moves from the turbulent '60s to the unbridled '70s and then into the reality check of the '80s, when he moved away from his life in theatre and began practicing Chinese medicine.  

Currie's exciting adventures include his work as a founding member of the Gestalt Fool Theatre Company, who once performed at the Fillmore with the Grateful Dead, and the rise and fall of his highly successful business venture "Western Onion Singing Telegrams", as well as his stint as one of the first phone counselors at the San Francisco Aids Foundation.  More recently, Currie has enjoyed great success with his "Sex & Mayhem" CD-series, getting named "Best Literary Performer" by the Stonewall Society after the release of the first CD in 2002.

"Sex and Mayhem" runs here at NCTC from September 17 through October 10, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM. Tickets are $15 for all preview performances (Sept. 17, 18 & 19), $20 for Sunday & Thursday shows, and $25 for Fridays and Saturdays.

Buy the Sex & Mayhem CDs
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And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank

This fall, the New Conservatory Theatre Center will once again present "And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank" as part of our YouthAware Education Theatre program.  This riveting multimedia production about the hidden children of the Holocaust uses video, slides, recorded conversations and live dramatic performance to present the story of Eva Schloss and Ed Silverberg, childhood friends of Anne Frank.  Both are survivors of the Holocaust and their individual stories are brought to life through this engaging multimedia presentation.  Eva Schloss, a living piece of world history, will be present for each performance to answer questions.    

For two years, playwright James Still conducted videotape interviews with Schloss and Silverberg about their World War II and Holocaust experiences.  Schloss and Anne Frank were the same age and lived in the same apartment building in Amsterdam.  Her family went into hiding the same day as the Frank family and, like the Frank family, was betrayed.  On her 15th birthday, Schloss and her family were arrested by the Nazis and sent to concentration camps.  Eva and her mother, Mutti, survived and were liberated from Auschwitz and after the war her mother married Anne's father, Otto Frank.  Their poignant and chilling memories provide the basis for the script to "And Then They Came for Me".  While emotional videotaped interviews from each of these extraordinary individuals cut in and out of the background, actors reenact moments from their lives on stage.

"And Then They Came for Me" is an intensely proactive play that provides crucial historical information to youth while bringing contemporary relevance to the atrocities of the holocaust.  These lessons resonate in today's world as we struggle with global issues of hatred, bigotry, and intolerance.  These issues are at the core of the New Conservatory Theatre Center's YouthAware program goal to presents theatre performances to educate youth and those who guide them on challenging issues, in order to expose them to new ideas and assist them in making choices which will positively impact their lives.  

"And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank" runs October 12-24, with daytime performances at 10:00 & 11:45 AM Monday through Friday, and two special evening performances on October 22 & 23 at 8 PM. All shows are at the New Conservatory Theatre Center.  This engaging production is appropriate for youth, adults, families, schools and community groups.   Tickets are $5-$10.

For More Information
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Behind the Scenes with: Sara Staley, YouthAware Program Director

I began working with NCTC's YouthAware Educational Theatre Program in the fall of 2001.  It was a time when the world was changing dramatically, so what better time to throw myself into a life-changing career?  The purpose of the YouthAware program is to present theatre for young audiences that not only educates them but also guides them in making choices that will positively impact their lives and the lives of those around them.  So, at a time when Americans were trying to understand how hatred and intolerance could result in the violence of 9/11, I began coordinating a season of plays, whose unifying message was one of promoting tolerance, acceptance & understanding about a variety of issues affecting young people in the United States today.  

There are currently eight plays in our YouthAware Educational Theatre Season produced throughout the school year to over 15,000 young people, both in house at NCTC, and on tour all over Northern California.  All the plays include a facilitated talk back session after the performance and educational supplements are provided for students and teachers.   I have seen that educational theatre has a remarkable way of presenting hard-hitting issues in a format that young people can relate to on an emotional level, and it allows them to dialogue on these issues in a safe and supportive environment. 

It has indeed been a life changing experience.  I've had the pleasure and honor of meeting and working with Holocaust survivor, Eva Schloss, whose inspirational story forms the basis of our Holocaust memorial production, "And Then They Came For Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank".  I've facilitated dozens of discussion sessions with young people throughout Northern California about the issues surrounding homophobia in school with "The Other Side of the Closet".  I have observed the compassion and understanding that young people possess when they meet our HIV positive educator following every performance of our HIV awareness and prevention plays for grades K-12.  

I have seen our programming embraced by the community around us.  This year our groundbreaking HIV programs have once again made us a beneficiary of Macy's Passport 2004.  In addition to receiving a portion of the proceeds raised from tickets to Passport events, we will take part in Teen Night events (September 21st at Fort Mason) running interactive games on HIV/AIDS prevention education for Bay Area youth.  To volunteer at this or other Passport events, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Scott Cox at (415) 861-4914 x101.

And most recently, I've been able to listen to young people voice their concerns first hand about feeling different in our society.  This current work in progress, "OutSpoken", is a new play being developed by NCTC directly from the voices of young people about sexual identity, race, religion, family and peer pressure in school.  

As our world continues to change rapidly, I look forward to developing more challenging and innovative theatre-in-education programs that will expose young people to new ideas and understanding about the world around them.  Feel free to contact me for more information, or to come see a YouthAware Program for yourself.  We'd love to have you! (415) 861-4914 x109 or email sara at nctcsf.org.

YouthAware Home Page
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At A Glance, with Lance Lookout

My, oh my, how time flies!  It's almost fall and NCTC is in full swing.  Just a couple of weeks ago Lance was at not one, but two fabulous opening night parties at the theatre.  While a sold-out audience of music lovers spent "An Evening with Spencer Day" (and who wouldn't want to spend the whole night?), crowds from "Breakfast with Scot" drank mimosas from Barbie-doll cups and nibbled on cream puffs and other sundries as they mingled with the cast and playwright, Michael Downing.  And how adorable was that scene-stealing star of the show, Sam Garber, as he worked the room with chocolate pudding cup in hand.  Lance thinks this boy is going places, just don't forget to drink your milk.  Moving on to the packed Martuni's, cast and crew (excluding the afore mentioned under-aged actor) continued the party late into the night, sipping their cocktails and celebrating their success.  "Breakfast with Scot" must close September 12th, so get those tickets now!  

Just back from Maui for a little sun and fun, our dear friends Ken and Alan threw a simply fabulous fête at the adorable restaurant Stelline to celebrate the sold-out run of their friend, Spencer Day's show.  The glitterati (including The Center's Executive Director, Thom Lynch) were treated to a family style carb-alicious meal of polenta, pasta, potatoes, and more.  South Beach be damned, Lance's diet went out the window!  Spencer was so busy with his adoring fans he almost missed the dessert course.  I managed to chat with him over a plate of tiramisu, and it seems NCTC hasn't seen the last of this talented young man.  

And did anyone else catch my colleague in the Chron reporting on Billy Philadelphia's upcoming Florida Coconut Grove shows two weeks after this column first reported it?  The early bird catches the worm Ms. G!  Did you guess the answer to last month's trivia question about our dear Billy Philly?  Which royal performer was accompanied by NCTC's own Billy Philadelphia on her most recent swing through town?  That would be one Dame Edna Everage, possums!  Well, that marvelous man from down under, Barry Humphries, will soon grace our presence to gab about how he created his most famous character.  This baby's gonna sell out quick.  Buy those tickets now boys and girls.

Oh my, does Lance love those kids at La Tasca!  Tapas are so trendy right now.  Small plates.  Small plates.  Small plates.  Who knew that size doesn't really matter after all?  The Latin flavor flows here with live music and flamenco dancers.  Guess what boys and girls?  NCTC subscribers receive 30% off the bill when you show your membership card.  Look for Lance at the table in the back.

I just had a lovely time with Kevin Thomas at the oh-so-classy Savoy Hotel.  Kevin, the Savoy's Sales Manager, is NCTC's number one fan.  And boy, do we love him.  On top of all those room deals and steals he supplies us with, it looks like the Savoy will be hosting an upcoming shindig for us in their elegant reception room.  And for those who are interested, there will be rooms available for the weekend.  Lance won't tell who used them.  Stay tuned to this column for more info in next month's column.

Those who walked by our upstairs marquee and noticed that the Decker Theatre was now playing "Seating Installation" may have wondered if we had taken a turn into experimental "achingly hip" theatre.  Not quite, but it seems the seating project does involve a bit of drama after all.  We're all keeping our hardhats on a little longer than expected down here.  While Ed Decker, Founding Executive/Artistic Director and jack-of-all-trades, would put on a tool belt, grab a screwdriver, and install them himself if he could, it just ain't going to happen in time for opening night.  Ah, the theatre!  However, we're nothing if not ingenious here at NCTC.  You'll have to stop by to see what we come up with in the meantime.

Hey Gary, did you ever meet up with your missed connection?  For those that don't regularly read the infamous m4m bulletin board on Craig's List (you know you do), it seems there was a little spark between two NCTC seat neighbors in the back row at the August 7th performance of Breakfast with Scot.  Lance needs to stop sitting in aisle seats.

Until next month, my little gossip hounds.  Lance is off like a prom dress.

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Dame Edna Drops Her Dress!

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September Calendar

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Buy Tickets Online

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Last Chance to See "Breakfast with Scott"

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Coming Soon:  The Kinsey Sicks

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For more information on any of the articles in this month's E-News, you can contact NCTC at (415) 861-8972 or visit our website:  www.nctcsf.org

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