|The Rocky Horror Show|
1973-80 West End 1974 Los Angeles 1974 Sydney 1975 Film 1975 Broadway 1979 UK Tour 1984-88 UK Tour 1990-91 West End 1991-92 UK Tour 1994 UK Tour 1995-96 UK Tour 1996-2005 European Tour 1998-2000 UK Tour 2000-02 Broadway revival 2002-03 UK Tour 2006-7 UK Tour 2008-09 Australian Tour 2008-09 European Tour 2009 Mexico City 2009-10 UK Tour 2010-11 Asian & Australasian Tour
1973 Evening Standard Drama Award, Best Musical 1973 Plays and Players Award, Best New Musical
The Rocky Horror Show is a long-running British horror comedy stage musical, opening in London on 19 June 1973. It was written by English-born New Zealander Richard O'Brien, and developed by O'Brien in collaboration with Australian theater director Jim Sharman. It came eighth in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the "Nation's Number One Essential Musicals".The play was adapted as the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a cult film and the longest-running theatrical release in film history
Jim Sharman's success with the original Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar led to an invitation to direct the first London stage production, and it was during the London run of Superstar that he met Richard O'Brien, who had played Herod for just one performance. O'Brien wished to play Herod as Elvis, but quit Superstar when the producers asked him to tap-dance. While unemployed, O'Brien worked on a new rock musical with a rough-draft title of "Rock Horroar."
While working together at the Royal Court's Theatre Upstairs on a production of Sam Shepard's The Unseen Hand, O'Brien played Sharman some of the songs he had written and they began to flesh out the concept for the show. Sharman brought in fellow Australians Nell Campbell, a.k.a. 'Little Nell,' and long-time production designer Brian Thomson, who had designed his productions of Hair and Superstar. Costume designer Sue Blane and musical director Richard Hartley rounded out the original creative team.
The musical went into rehearsals with the working title "They Came from Denton High," which was changed just before previews at Sharman's suggestion to The Rocky Horror Show.
After two previews, The Rocky Horror Show premiered at the 63-seat Theatre Upstairs on 19 June 1973 and ran until 20 July 1973. It had a running time of only 70 minutes as it did not include the songs “Charles Atlas Song’ (and its reprise) and “Eddie's Teddy” and played twice-nightly at 9 and 11pm. These ‘missing’ songs were added upon the transfer to the Classic Cinema where the schedule became a more regular eight performances per weekly (i.e., two shows on Friday and Saturday). The show continued to be performed without an interval.
The Theatre Upstairs was run by the Royal Court as a project space for new work. Veteran stage producer Michael White produced the play and Pete Moss later became musical director. The production was a critical and commercial success. Record producer Jonathan King saw it on the second night and signed the cast to make the Original Soundtrack Album over a long weekend that was rushed out on his U.K. Records label. King was involved heavily in the initial promotion for the show as well as being the other backer of it financially with White. In 1974, producer James Petruccio brought it to the U.S., first in Los Angeles at the Roxy club on Sunset Strip, then at the Belasco Theater in New York where critics panned it. It closed there after 45 performances.
Back in the U.K., the production transferred to the Classic Cinema on Kings Road, London, from 14 August 1973 to 20 October 1973, a run-down 270-seat venue scheduled for demolition. Transferring again to the Kings Road Theatre, a 350-seat converted cinema, the production ran from 3 November 1973 to 31 March 1979 with many cast changes, until plans for the theatre's demolition prompted another move. The Rocky Horror Show transferred to the 820-seat Comedy Theatre on Panton Street in the West End, running from 6 April 1979 until 13 September 1980, closing the play's initial run of 2,960 performances. After occasional productions in the early 1980s, the play was revived for the Theatre Royal Hanley tour in 1984, and still is performed regularly in the U.K.
- Act I
The Usherette in a derelict cinema introduces tonight's film in a song ("Science Fiction/Double Feature"), with masked Phantoms providing the backing vocals.
After attending the wedding of Ralph Hapshatt and Betty Munroe, Brad Majors confesses his love to Janet Weiss ("Dammit, Janet!") and the two become engaged. The narrator appears to explain that Brad and Janet are leaving Denton to visit Dr. Everett Scott, their former science tutor, while driving into a rainstorm. During the trip, their car has a flat tire, and they are forced to walk through the rain to seek a telephone in an old castle ("Over at the Frankenstein Place").
The narrator explains that Brad and Janet are feeling "apprehensive and uneasy," but must accept any help that they are offered. As Brad and Janet arrive, Riff Raff, the hunchbacked handyman, greets them, and his sister Magenta, the maid, appears. Then Riff Raff and Magenta perform the show's big dance number "Time Warp", joined by Columbia, a groupie. Brad and Janet try to leave at this point, but are stopped when Dr. Frank N. Furter, a bisexual mad scientist, arrives. He introduces himself as "a sweet transvestite from Transsexual Transylvania" and invites Brad and Janet up to his laboratory ("Sweet Transvestite"). As he goes up, Brad and Janet are stripped to their underwear to dry off. Magenta and Columbia speak briefly of an unlucky delivery boy named Eddie.
Brad and Janet enter the laboratory, where Frank N. Furter gives them laboratory coats to wear. Frank announces that he has discovered the secret to life itself. He unveils his creation, a blond, well-built man named Rocky Horror, who is brought to life. As his bandages are removed, Rocky worries about his predicament ("The Sword of Damocles"). Frank N. Furter admires Rocky's physique by singing a tribute to muscle builders ("I Can Make You a Man"). A Coca-Cola freezer in the laboratory opens to reveal Frank's former lover, Eddie, a biker covered in surgical scars. Eddie — now rendered a zombie after having part of his brain removed by Frank — contemplates his new existence and recalls his former life ("Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul"). Frank panics, forces Eddie back into the machine, and hacks him to death with an axe. Frank tells Rocky — the recipient of the other half of Eddie's brain — that he prefers him to Eddie ("I Can Make You a Man (Reprise)"). Brad and Janet are then ushered to separate bedrooms for the night.
- Act II
The narrator foreshadows that Brad and Janet may be quite unsafe. Janet enjoys Brad's advances in her darkened bedroom before realizing that it is in fact Frank in disguise. He convinces Janet that pleasure is no crime, and after she asks him to promise not to tell Brad, they resume their lovemaking. The scene changes to Brad's darkened bedroom, where Brad makes love to Janet before discovering that, once again, it is Frank in disguise. Frank promises not to tell Janet, but as they resume, Riff Raff interrupts on the television monitor with the message that Rocky has escaped. Janet searches for Brad in the laboratory, and discovers Rocky hiding there. Checking the television monitor, Janet sees Brad in bed with Frank, and seduces Rocky ("Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me"). While searching the television monitor for Rocky, the rest of the group discovers that Janet has slept with him, and Brad becomes hurt and angry ("Once in a While"). Riff Raff then notifies Frank N. Furter that there is another visitor entering the castle: Doctor Everett Scott, the wheelchair-using science tutor whom Brad and Janet intended to visit.
Doctor Scott is pushed into the laboratory by Columbia, and Frank N. Furter accuses him and Brad of trying to investigate his castle. Doctor Scott assures him that he has come in search of Eddie, his nephew ("Eddie"). Frank N. Furter displays Eddie's corpse to the group and then uses a device to electronically restrain the three visitors and a rebellious Columbia to the floor ("Planet Shmanet Janet"); the inhabitants of the castle are revealed to be space aliens led by Frank, who abandoned their original mission in order to engage in kinky sex with earthlings and work on Rocky. Magenta insists that they return to their home planet now that they have been found out; Frank refuses and, instead, declares his intentions to put on a "floor show."
Under Frank's influence, Columbia, Rocky, Brad, and Janet perform song and dance routines while clad in lingerie ("Rose Tint My World"). Afterwards, Frank entices them to lose all inhibition and give in to their basest carnal instincts, resulting in everyone’s beginning to engage in orgiastic sex ("Don't Dream It – Be It") before they are interrupted by Frank, who leads them into the concluding number of the floor show ("Wild and Untamed Thing"). The show comes to an abrupt end when Riff Raff and Magenta enter, wearing spacesuits and carrying ray guns. Riff Raff declares that he is usurping Frank's authority and taking all back to their home planet. Frank makes a final plea for sympathy from Riff Raff, trying to make him understand his desire to spend the rest of his life having sex with earthlings ("I'm Going Home"). Riff Raff is unmoved and guns down Columbia, Frank, and Rocky before ordering Brad, Janet, and Doctor Scott to leave.
The trio evacuates the castle as it blasts off into outer space, confused about the implications of their sexual escapades ("Superheroes"). The Narrator says "…crawling on the planet's face, tiny insects called the human race, lost in time, and lost in space – and meaning." As the show ends, The Usherette returns to sing "Science Fiction – Double Feature (Reprise)."
Original song listEdit
- Theatre Upstairs at The Royal Court
- “Science Fiction/Double Feature”
- “Dammit, Janet!”
- “Over at the Frankenstein Place”
- “Sweet Transvestite”
- “The Time Warp”
- “The Sword of Damocles”
- “Hot Patootie”
- “Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me”
- “Once in a While”
- “Planet Schmanet Janet”
- “Rose Tint My World/Don't Dream It, Be It/Wild and Untamed Thing”
- “I'm Going Home”
- “Science Fiction/Double Feature (Reprise)”
- Classic Cinema and King's Road Theatre (Formerly the Essoldo Cinema)
- “Science Fiction/Double Feature”
- “Dammit, Janet!”
- “Over at the Frankenstein Place”
- “Sweet Transvestite”
- “The Time Warp”
- “The Sword of Damocles”
- “I Can Make You a Man”
- “Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul”
- “I Can Make You a Man (Reprise)”
- “Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me”
- “Once in a While”
- “Eddie's Teddy”
- “Planet Schmanet Janet”
- “Rose Tint My World/Don't Dream It, Be It/Wild and Untamed Thing”
- “I'm Going Home”
- “Science Fiction/Double Feature (Reprise)”
- Comedy Theatre
- Comedy Theatre transfer
For the transfer to the Comedy Theatre, the London production underwent extensive changes as it, for the first time, was being performed in a 'traditional' theatre with a proscenium stage. The three previous venues had been single-level spaces in which the action sometimes had taken place in the audience. Frank, for example, had made his entrance behind the audience and made use of a ramp through the seats to the stage. At the Comedy Theatre, the action had to be moved to the stage, for the sake of audience members on the upper levels (Dress and Upper Circles). The new production design more closely resembled the film version. This was also the first time that the London production was performed with an interval.
Original London castEdit
- Patricia Quinn as Usherette/Magenta *
- Julie Covington† as Janet Weiss (replaced by Belinda Sinclair)
- Christopher Malcolm as Brad Majors
- Jonathan Adams as Narrator
- Richard O'Brien as Riff Raff *
- Little Nell as Columbia *
- Tim Curry as Frank N. Furter *
- Rayner Bourton as Rocky
- Paddy O'Hagan as Eddie/Doctor Everett Scott
-* reprised the role in the film † Although Belinda Sinclair is featured on the Original London Cast Recording, Julie Covington was the first to play Janet in previews but left the cast before the first night after an accident.
- Richard O'Brien understudied the role of Frank – eschewing the iconic costume in favour of black rubber lingerie and with his hair in a ponytail.
- Early cast changes at the Classic Cinema: When Patricia Quinn and Christopher Malcolm left the cast, they were replaced by Angela Bruce and James Warwick.
- King’s Road Theatre: When Tim Curry left, the role of Frank N. Furter was played by Philip Sayer and later by Ziggy Byfield.
- Until the release of the Roxy Cast album, the only recording of “Eddie's Teddy” available was on the B-side of the single “Merry Christmas Baby” by Kimi and Ritz (Mr and Mrs Richard O'Brien).
- Christopher Malcolm would later play Officer Vance Parker in Rocky Horror's unofficial sequel, Shock Treatment.
Australia was the first country to mount a production of The Rocky Horror Show after Great Britain and the United States. Since then, the show has been performed more frequently in Australia than anywhere else in the world. With numerous successive revivals and long-running national tours, the show seemed to run almost continuously in Australia from 1974 to 1998.
The original Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show premiered in Sydney on 15 April 1974 at the New Arts Cinema, Glebe. The production included staff and cast members who had worked on both Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar, including Reg Livermore as Frank N. Furter, director Jim Sharman, designer Brian Thomson and producer-promoter Harry M. Miller. Kate Fitzpatrick starred as Usherette/Magenta, David Cameron as Eddie, and Graham Matters as Rocky. John Paramor and Jane Harders starred as Brad and Janet.
After eighteen months in Sydney, the show moved to Melbourne, where it opened at the Regent Palace Theatre (in the suburb of Fitzroy) in October 1975. Sal Sharah, who played Riff Raff, and Graham Matters were the only members of the original Sydney cast to reprise their roles in Melbourne. The Melbourne production, directed by Jim Sharman featured Max Phipps as Frank N. Furter, Gregory Apps as Brad, Paula Maxwell as Janet, Tommy Dysart as the Narrator and Robyn Moase as Magenta. It ran for another eighteen months, finally closing in May 1977. During that time, there were a number of cast replacements, including Stephen Clarke as Brad, Diana Greentree as Janet and Joan Brockenshire (Mrs Tommy Dysart) as Magenta.
The show then transferred to Adelaide in South Australia, where it opened on 12 August 1977, directed by Roland Roccecelli. Dysart, Brockenshire and Greentree reprised their roles from the Melbourne production, with Tony Preece as Brad, Keith Reid as Riff-Raff and Shane Bourne as Rocky. Frank N. Furter was to be played by Darrell Hilton, who was replaced three days before opening night by Max Phipps and then, several weeks later, by Jon Finlayson. The Adelaide production was not as successful as the two previous ones, and closed after only two months.
Australia's first regional production was mounted less than a year later by the Riverina Trucking Company, a theatre company based in Wagga Wagga in New South Wales. Opened on 5 August 1978, this production ran for a limited season of three weeks. Terry O’Connell, who also played the role Frank N. Furter, directed it. In July 1981, the same company mounted a second production of the show, with O'Connell in the lead role and few other members of the earlier cast.
Towards the end of 1981, following the publicity surrounding the film Shock Treatment, a new Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show was planned, with the involvement of the show's original designer, Brian Thomson. Produced by Wilton Morely and directed by the Japanese-Canadian choreographer/director David Toguri, the revival opened in Sydney on 6 October 1981. Frank N. Furter was played by Englishman Daniel Abineri who previously had played the role in the first British tour in 1979 and for a year in the West End in 1980. The rest of the cast was filled by local film and television actors including Antoinette Byron as Janet, Luz Yeomans as Magenta, Jay Hackett as Rocky, Steve J. Spears as Eddie/Doctor Scott and Stuart Wagstaff as the Narrator. The production (which spawned a 'miniature' cast LP of four songs) transferred to Melbourne in January 1982 with most of the same cast. New additions included punk-cabaret artist Ignatius Jones as Eddie/Doctor Scott, and former London cast member Perry Bedden reprising his role as Riff Raff. For three weeks in February, Stuart Wagstaff was replaced by "special guest narrator", Ian "Molly" Meldrum. During the Adelaide leg of the tour, the Narrator was played by Noel Ferrier.
Wilton Morley revived the show in 1984 to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the original Australian production, and cast the show's original Frank N. Furter, Reg Livermore (then forty-five years old) in the same role. The former Frank Daniel Abineri, with Stuart Wagstaff again as the narrator, directed this production. The remaining cast included Wayne Pygram, who had played Rocky in the Riverina Trucking Company production back in 1978, and American actress Natalie Moscoe as Magenta.
In 1985, the revival opened in Adelaide, where the original show had flopped back in 1977. The cast included Graham Matters (who had played Rocky in the original 1974 Australian production), Maria Mercedes, Glen Shorrock and popular television stars Victoria Nicholls and Ken James.
Morley's production was re-launched yet again in 1986, with Daniel Abineri both as director and in the lead role of Frank N. Furter. This time the tour commenced in New Zealand, where its cast included local actors Andrew Binns as Brad, Ann Wilson as Janet, Andrea Cunningham as Magenta/The Usherette Trixie, Rachel King as Columbia and a young Russell Crowe as Eddie/Doctor Scott. For a brief stint, former New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon appeared as the Narrator. The production then toured Australia for several years, during which time the narrator variously was played by Gordon Chater, Stuart Wagstaff and others. The production ended with a second New Zealand tour, which was directed by Terry O'Connell (late of the Riverina Trucking Company productions) with Simon Westaway (who had played previously Brad in the Australian tour) as Frank N. Furter. The rest of the cast mainly comprised New Zealand talent, including actor/director John Banas and comedian Billy T. James alternating as the Narrator.
In 1992, a new production was launched by producer Paul Dainty (in conjunction with a local radio station) under the title The New Rocky Horror Show. Directed and designed by Nigel Triffit, this production premiered in Melbourne on 2 July 1992. The cast consisted of local television actors and comedians, headed by Craig McLachlan as Frank N. Furter, with Gina Riley as Janet, Peter Rowsthorn as Riff-Raff, Wilbur Wilde as Eddie/Dr Scott, and Red Symons as the Narrator. The original Brad, comedian Stephen Kearney (formerly of stand-up duo Los Trios Ringbarkus), was later replaced by Glenn Butcher. A cast album was recorded, which included, as a bonus track, a special version of "The Time Warp" performed by the entire cast. This album was produced and arranged by former Sherbet band member Garth Porter, who had been involved with Craig McLachlan's recent solo recording career.
With a million-dollar stage set and a cast full of celebrities, this, like previous productions, continued on tour for several years. Craig McLachlan was replaced in the role of Frank N. Furter by soap actor Marcus Graham. During 1996 and 1997, the production toured Adelaide and Hong Kong, with a cast that included former Boom Crash Opera lead singer Dale Ryder as Frank N. Furter and comedian George Kapiniaris as Riff-Raff.
In 1998, Paul Dainty launched another production of The New Rocky Horror Show to mark to twenty-fifth anniversary of the original London production. This opened at the Star City Casino in Sydney on 29 July 1998. Several members of the 1992 cast reprised their roles, including Glenn Butcher as Brad, Peter Rowsthorn as Riff Raff, Wilbur Wilde as Eddie/Doctor Scott, and Red Symons as the Narrator. Frank N. Furter was played by comedian Tim Ferguson, with Tottie Goldsmith as Janet and ex-Gladiator Ron Reeve as Rocky. During the run, MOR crooner Kamahl appeared as a guest narrator, and New Zealand-born actor Jay Laga'aia as a guest Eddie/Doctor Scott.
In November 2004, a special charity performance of The Rocky Horror Show was performed at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, with a cast made up almost entirely of members of the popular television soap Neighbours. In a world first, the role of Frank N. Furter was performed by a woman – in this case, Maria Mercedes, who was then playing Lucia Cammeniti in Neighbours. A musical theatre veteran, Mercedes previously has appeared in the Adelaide production of The Rocky Horror Show back in 1985.
'A brand spanking new production' of "Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show" premiered at Sydney's Star City Casino in the brand-new Star Theatre on 12 February 2008. Ironically, the show opened a week after the long-running audience participation screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show was closed down by Sydney's George Street Cinemas due to poor audience numbers. The cast of the stage production includes iOTA as Frank N. Furter, Paul Capsis as Riff Raff, Tamsin Carroll as Magenta/The Usherette, Sharon Millerchip as Columbia, Michael Cormick as Eddie/Doctor Scott, Simon Farrow as Rocky, Andrew Bevis as Brad, Kellie Rhode as Janet and John Waters as the Narrator.
The production moved on to Melbourne's Comedy Theatre, where it opened on 18 September 2008. The role of the Narrator was played by Derryn Hinch, although Gretel Killeen subsequently appeared as a 'guest narrator' for ten days in November. On 20 November, a special performance was held that included popular radio personalities Jo Stanley and Matt Tilley (of The Matt and Jo Show), Hamish Blake and Andy Lee (a.k.a. comedy duo Hamish & Andy), Adam Richard and Troy Ellis. A national tour of this production, taking in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, was promoted, but did not eventuate.
In 2010, it was announced that The Rocky Horror Show would be touring New Zealand, with Richard O'Brien as the Narrator. The show will be in the capital, Wellington, for seven shows in December.
The Rocky Horror Show continues to be a revival favourite, with new productions and tours appearing regularly worldwide. Fans dress up as the characters, shout "call-backs" at the stage, and use props at appropriate moments, such as water pistols and newspapers during a scene in the rain. Many theatres no longer allow this.
The Rocky Horror Show has toured the UK regularly since the 1990-91 West End revival at the Piccadilly Theatre in productions produced by Richard O’Brien's and Howard Panter's Rocky Horror Company. Notable celebrities have been cast including Tim McInnerny, Anthony Head, Robin Cousins, Jason Donovan and Jonathan Wilkes as Frank N. Furter.
The Rocky Horror Show (now under the title Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show) completed its 2006-2007 tour on 14 July 2007 in Woking, England after touring for almost eighteen months. Famous narrators of the tour included Michael Aspel, Nigel Planer, Clive Mantle, Russ Abbot, Steve Pemberton, John McArdle, Roger Lloyd-Pack, Ian Lavender, Shaun Williamson, Andy Gray, Jack Ellis, Brian Capron, Russell Grant and Christopher Biggins, who previously had been a 'Transylvanian' in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
The 2006-2007 tour was directed by Christopher Luscombe and featured David Bedella as Frank N. Furter, Suzanne Shaw as Janet, Matthew Cole as Brad, Iain Davey as Riff Raff, Shona White as The Usherette/Magenta, Kay Murphy as Columbia, Julian Essex-Spurrier as Rocky and Nathan Amzi as Eddie/Doctor Scott with Sarah Boulton, Stuart Ellis, Lynden O'Neill and Claire Parrish as the Phantoms. After a Christmas season at the Comedy Theatre, London, the tour continued with several cast changes including Richard Meek as Brad, Sarah Boulton and later Hayley Tamaddon as Janet, Matt Harrop as Riff Raff, Claire Parrish as The Usherette/Magenta, Sarah French-Ellis and later Sarah Boulton as Columbia and Sergio Priftis as Rocky with Lauren Appleby, Erin Carter and Kevin Littlejohn as the Phantoms and Katie Funk and Andy Rees as the swings. Bedella, Amzi and Ellis retained their original roles.
The 2006 tour cast, accompanied by Roger Lloyd-Pack as the Narrator and author Richard O'Brien, performed "The Time Warp" live in Trafalgar Square on 22 July 2006 as part of The Big Dance event and was broadcast on BBC1's Dancing in the Street. In 2008 David Bedella released his first album The Dean St. Sessions, produced by Nathan Amzi, which included a duet with Richard O’Brien singing I'm Going Home as a bonus video.
The 2009-2010 UK tourEdit
In March 2009, it was announced that the show would return with a new UK tour starting in the autumn. With Christopher Luscombe returning as the director, the tour was a revival of the 2006-2007 production with some adjustments to the direction, lighting, choreography, costumes and musical arrangements. One of the main changes was to "The Time Warp", which had featured new choreography in the 2006-2007 production, a complex dance featuring sharp and angular movements with an interpretation of clock hands on the word 'again'. In the current tour the choreography has reverted to the more familiar traditional dance moves for the chorus due to audience members feeling alienated by the new choreography in 2006. The tour opened on 17 September 2009 at the New Wimbledon Theatre and closed on 4 December 2010 at the newly opened Aylesbury Waterside Theatre. Steve Pemberton performed as the Narrator for both the opening week and closing night of the tour.
The first leg of the tour ran from September 2009 to July 2010 with a short break over the Christmas period. David Bedella reprised his role as Frank N. Furter with Nathan Amzi and Stuart Ellis also reprising their roles as Eddie/Doctor Scott and Phantom, respectively. The tour also starred Mark Evans as Brad, Haley Flaherty as Janet, Brian McCann as Riff Raff, Kara Lane as The Usherette/Magenta, Ceris Hine as Columbia and Dominic Tribuzio as Rocky. Charlotte Scott, Daniela Valvano and Marc Leslie starred alongside Ellis as the Phantoms with Henry Davis as the swing and dance captain. Evans left the tour in November 2009 but returned for the first four weeks of 2010, Phantom and understudy Marc Leslie played the role in the interim before Richard Meek reprised his role as Brad in February. Katie Funk, swing in the 2007 tour, also reprised her role whilst Davis performed as a Phantom during Leslie’s stint as Brad. The first leg of the tour ended on 10 July 2010 at the Bristol Hippodrome and saw the departure of several members of the cast whilst swing Henry Davis had left the tour two weeks earlier with Stuart King taking his place.
The second leg of the tour began on 1 September 2010 at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking with several changes to the cast. Stuart Ellis took the role of Riff Raff, a part he had played on several occasions as understudy since 2006, whilst Tom Partridge took Ellis’ place as a Phantom. Julian Essex-Spurrier reprised his role as Rocky and Adrian Der Gregorian starred as Eddie/Dr Scott. The tour continued the trend of celebrity guest Narrators including Steve Pemberton, Christopher Biggins, Ainsley Harriott, Gethin Jones, Brian Capron, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Mark Curry, Nigel Planer, Maxwell Caulfield, Simon Shepherd, Michael Starke, Dave Spikey, Reece Shearsmith, Russell Grant, Gerard Kelly and Andy Gray.
In October 2010 Ceris Hine released her first album Rose Tinted Girl which includes a bonus track titled "It Was Great When It All Began (Rocky Horror Medley)", a medley of Columbia's solos from "The Time Warp", "Eddie's Teddy" and "Rose Tint My World". At first available exclusively on the UK tour, the album was released officially in December 2010.
During the UK tour's summer break director Christopher Luscombe and the show's creative team recreated the UK production in Seoul, South Korea with a new cast of American, Australian and New Zealander actors and local celebrities as the Narrator. The production played from August until October 2010 before a five week New Zealand tour in November and December with Richard O’Brien making a rare appearance as the Narrator. Following the end of the UK tour, actors Richard Meek and Haley Flaherty flew out to New Zealand to join the production as Brad and Janet in its final week. When the production returns in January 2011 in Singapore Kara Lane and Daniela Valvano, Magenta and Phantom in the UK tour, will join the cast.
Despite accusations by some local press reviewers the UK tours produced by the Rocky Horror Company do not use plants in the audience to encourage audience participation.
U.S. productionsEditLos Angeles production After two previews, The Rocky Horror Show premiered in the USA at The Roxy Theatre, Los Angeles, opening at the five-hundred-seat theatre on 21 March 1974. Director Jim Sharman and many other backstage members came over from London, although Tim Curry was the only member of the cast to reprise his role. Meat Loaf joined the cast here as Eddie/Doctor Scott, Kim Milford as Rocky, Boni Enten as Columbia, and Jamie Donnelly starred as Magenta/Usherette Trixie (The Usherette was first called "Trixie" at the Roxy). Bill Miller and Abigale Haness rounded out the cast as Brad and Janet. Graham Jarvis played The Narrator. A recording of this cast is available. Tim Curry and Meat Loaf left the cast in September 1974 to begin recording the soundtrack sessions for the film, replaced respectively by Paul Jabara and Alan Martin. The Rocky Horror Show closed at the Roxy Theatre on 5 January 1975 in preparation for the transfer to Broadway. 1980 North American production
The Rocky Horror Show toured North America.
The cast featured Frank Gregory as Frank N. Furter, Marcia Mitzman as Janet, Frank Piergo as Brad, Pendleton Brown as Riff Raff, Lorelle Brina as Magenta/Trixie, C. J. Critt as Columbia, Kim Milford as Rocky, Steve Lincoln as The Narrator,
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rh_broadway_reviv.jpg ]The Rocky Horror Show originally played on Broadway in 1975 with the Roxy cast from Los Angeles, except for Graham Jarvis who initially was replaced by Chicago native William Newman for the first preview but then rehired, and Bruce Scott, who was injured in another play and replaced by author Richard O'Brien himself. Tim Curry and Meat Loaf rejoined the cast. After three previews, it opened on 10 March 1975 at the nine-hundred-sixty-seven-seat Belasco Theatre. The critics panned the show, and it closed on 6 April 1975 after forty-five performances.
The Rocky Horror Show had a longer revival on Broadway from October 2000 to January 2002 at the Circle in the Square Theatre and featured Tom Hewitt (later Terrance Mann) as Frank N. Furter, Alice Ripley as Janet, Raúl Esparza (later Sebastian Bach) as Riff Raff, Joan Jett as Columbia/Usherette (later Ana Gasteyer), Lea DeLaria (later Jason Wooten) as Eddie/Doctor Scott, and Daphne Rubin-Vega as Magenta. From October 2001 to January 2002, several guest celebrities played the Narrator role normally performed by Dick Cavett (Kate Clinton took over for a week while Cavett was on vacation), including Gilbert Gottfried, Sally Jesse Raphael, Robin Leach, magicians Penn & Teller, New York Post columnist Cindy Adams, MTV personality Dave Holmes, and talk show host Jerry Springer. It is suggested that the revival, like other shows running at the time, closed early because of financial losses during the time after 9/11. The Revival was nominated for the following Tony Awards: Best Actor: Tom Hewitt; Best Costume Designer: David C. Woolard; Best Director: Christopher Ashley; and Best Musical Revival.
Live theater differs from the showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in which some items that could be harmful to the actors are not allowed. Items such as rice that could cause a "slip and fall" have been banned from many theaters. Because of this, and the desire to create additional forms of revenue, live theaters sell what are called "audience participation bags". According to author Steven Suskin in the Broadway Yearbook 2000-2001: The Circle in the Square Theatre, from November 15, 2000 to January 6, 2002 put on a performance of "Rocky Horror Show" at which they sold audience participation bags. To quote Suskin "They (the production) managed to survive the season, though, thanks to low operating costs; heavy discounting; and those $10 “participation bags” sold in the lobby, stuffed with confetti and newspaper and toilet paper and other goodies to throw at the actors on cue."
During performances, the audience has been encouraged to join in with the performance. Items most commonly taken are:
- Toast – Thrown during the dinner scene.
- Bounty Bars – Thrown on the line with “Paradise” in it
- Newspaper – When Janet covers her head with one in the rain.
- Rubber Gloves – To be snapped in time with Frank N. Furter during the creation scene.
- Kit Kats – Thrown on the line “You get a break”
- Rice – Thrown during the wedding scene at the start
- Party Poppers, Hat, Blower – Used during the dinner/happy birthday scene and the creation scene.
- Water pistols – Used to help simulate the storm in which Brad and Janet are caught.
- Flashlights – Used to light up the room during the "there's a light" verse of "Over at the Frankenstein Place."
- Toilet Paper – Thrown upon Doctor Scott's entrance when Brad exclaims "Great Scott!"
- Confetti – Thrown onstage at the end of the “Charles Atlas Song” Reprise.
- Playing Cards – Thrown during the line “cards for sorrow, cards for pain.”
- Hot Dogs - Thrown during the line "You're a hot-dog and you better not try to hurt her .....Frankfurter."
The Rocky Horror Show computer game was produced for early eight-bit computers including the Commodore 64, Commodore 128, ZX Spectrum, Enterprise 128 and Amstrad CPC by the CRL Group PLC in 1985. The game involved playing as either Brad or Janet and collecting pieces of the Medusa machine scattered around the castle, in order to free the player's partner from stone and escape the castle before it blasts off. Meanwhile, the other characters in the game could either hinder the player's progress by stealing and hiding his/her clothes and other objects, or kill the player outright.
The Rocky Interactive Horror Show Game was released in March/April 1999 for the PC by On-Line PLC. Similarly to the earlier CRL game, the player plays as Brad or Janet and must rescue his/her partner from the castle. Unlike the older computer game, its gameplay was more puzzle-oriented, and benefited from the added detail, graphics, and live video sequences that the PC could provide.
Main article: The Rocky Horror Picture ShowThe stageplay was adapted in 1975 as a film called The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Like original, the film is a parody of science fiction and B-movie horror films. Director Jim Sharman collaborated on the screenplay with Richard O'Brien, who wrote both the book and lyrics for the stage. The film introduces Tim Curry and features Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick along with cast members from the original Kings Road production presented at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in 1973. In its day it was a highly provocative, though comedic, portrayal of gay, transgender culture, a symbol of LGBT themes, as well as for underground sexual quirks.
Still in limited release 35 years after its premiere, it has the longest-running theatrical release in film history. It gained notoriety as a midnight movie in 1977 when audiences began participating with the film in theatres. Rocky Horror is the first film from a major Hollywood studio to be in the midnight movie market. The motion picture has a large international following and is one of the most well known and financially successful midnight movies of all time. In 2005, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".


Sueños de Cuba is a video collage featuring both my footage and found footage shot on super 8 from American visitors to Cuba in the 1970s. A group of filmmakers and I traveled to Camaguey, Cuba for two weeks in 2017 to shoot an interactive documentary revolving around local artists. Upon my return to the United States, I struggled to communicate the dream-like nature of my time in Cuba. My crew and I were disconnected from the outside world due to a lack of internet and cell service. We lived with families and quickly made friends with community members. We danced in the town square, ate beautifully, laughed until crying, and saw much resilience despite desperate circumstances. I made this film as an effort to share the mood and poetry of Camaguey - the City of Artists.
Selected for :
PittsburghFilmmakers / Pittsburgh Center for the Arts Program
Hiding in Plain Sight


I'm joining the Grassroots Shakespeare Company this summer to play Theseus and Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Theseus in Two Noble Kinsmen! We are performing throughout Utah from June to July. Check out our website for dates and locations!
This is by far one of my favorite plays. Created by the RSC in collaboration with the Icelandic theater company Vesturport, this play is a true beauty that I've been following ever since its debut. I am so excited it's being produced in Utah, and even more thrilled to join the production as the clownish narrator Pierre.


The Pinch Brothers in "THE BAWDY HOUSE"
When THE PINCH BROTHERS (also sisters) are hired to save an ailing theater, they turn it into a BAWDY HOUSE, complete with ribald comedy, risqué magic, and of course, burlesque, burlesque, burlesque! But on opening night, everything goes wrong -- buttons keep popping, pants keep dropping, and the schtick keeps getting schtickier. Can this Marx Brothers-inspired crew of reprobates get through the show with their clothes intact? ...Nope. Pinchbottom's classic burlesque tribute to the funniest brothers in showbiz returns to the stage for the first time in half a decade, as part of MarxFest 2014. "Daring, funny, imaginative and titillating to all tastes." -The Sunday Telegraph (UK)
"A Marx Brothers send-up, loosely following a storyline about saving an ailing theatre by turning it into a bawdy-house. Along the way came risqué magic tricks, a peek-a-boo performance by a tattooed lady, many a cheeky flash from male and female performers alike, the odd nostalgic burlesque routine, and the hint of a lesbian sub-plot. It was daring, funny, imaginative and titillating to all tastes... about as good entertainment value as you can get in New York City
." more press »


is able to reveal the core of humanity in his work. His use of rich cinematic moments, unique vantage points and layered soundscapes immerses the viewer into the story. Michael is inspired by films with their ability to create profound, life-changing effects on their audiences. Always wanting to push his work forward, Michael looks to harness innovative techniques and bold creative choices to tell the strongest story...Read More
Michael has directed projects for brands including Facebook, Google, Porsche, Verizon, Walmart, Dove, Gillette, and many more. His films have 100s of millions of views online and over 10 Vimeo Staff Picks. Michael attributes his award-winning films to his knowledge and passion to compose music and edit which brings a deep sense of cohesion to his stories.


Desperate Housewives Cast And Season Episode Guide
The soap opera-likee comedy, mystery and drama series, aka Desperate Housewives, will always be remembered by viewers. The show has certainly entered motion picture history with the number of awards, positive reviews and several million views. Desperate Housewives is an American TV show produced by Cherry Production and ABC Studios.
The creator of the show, at the same time and executive producer, Marc Cherry, was in the role of a show-runner as well. Since the fourth season, other executive producers’ names were written on the board like George W. Perkins, Larry Shaw, Bob Daily, John Pardee, David Grossman, and Joey Murphy. the first episode of the Desperate Housewives show was aired on October 3, 2004, and since then every Sunday at 9 p.m. ( 9 p.m. eastern time or 8 p.m. central time) a new episode was released on ABC.
The story revolved around four female characters, residents at the Wisteria lane, friends, family, and neighbors. If you have seen the show then you must have heard that the typical opening and ending of each episode is by a narrator, who is none the less but their dead neighbor- Mary Alice Young. Wisteria Lane, the show’s setting, is a fictional street in a non-existent place called Fairview in the invented Eagle State. The narrator of the show unravels the Wisteria Lane’s secrets, mysteries, misfortunes, fortunes, and funny situations.
Physically Mary Alice Young is present only in the first episode when she allegedly commits suicide. In the latter episode and seasons, we can see Mary Alice only through flashbacks, memories, and dreams. The story that she tells covers the eight seasons of the show which include around thirteen years of the main character’s lives. The beginning of the story was set between 2004 and 2008, and the later part of the story was a few years on, from 2013 to 2017. The storyline also moves to and fro in time through flashbacks set as early as in 1980 and as futuristic as in 2020.
A Word Or Two About The Desperate Housewives Production Crew
Executive producers changed from season to season. The only producer being always there was, of course, the creator himself- Marc Cherry. Other than him co-executive producers in season 1 and season two were Tom Spezialy and Michael Edelstein.
Tom even left his previous job to be a part of the new hit series- Desperate Housewives.
Filming The Series For Desperate Housewives
The opening sequence was the creator’s idea, but Cherry had some trouble executing it. Even though he sought for help in over a dozen of specialist companies, the solution was no way near. In short, the opening sequence maybe portrays one of the oldest stories about female-male interaction and connection.
Although the electronic sound pervades there are still a few live tunes. Themes for particular events repeat as well as for certain characters in the show.
Universal Records even distributed the soundtrack album of the first season of Desperate Housewives which was produced by Hollywood Records. All the songs on the album were either inspired by the show of were used in the first season. Later on, when they were filming the following seasons some of the songs were incorporated in scenes there too.
After the break of a few years, the show continued filming in 2009. The price signed for the last season to be was 12 million American dollars. This amazing deal with ABC raised the hopes of the whole crew for yet another season, season 9. The official agreement for season 8 with the ABC studios was signed on May 17, 2011.
The final season of Desperate Housewives
A few months after making the official agreement for the eighth season the rumors were confirmed. In August 2011, it was published that the eighth season of Desperate Housewives would also be the last one. All the hopes of the crew for season 9 were completely dashed. However, leading actresses parted with the ABC production and Marc Cherry with tons of gratitude for the life-changing experience they have had while filming it.
Desperate Housewives Episode Guide
Desperate Housewives Season 1
We get to know the leading characters in the show through the main mystery around which the first season revolves.
The relationship with her husband Tom Scavo is not brilliant either which makes things for Lynette even worse. The most attractive one of the group is the ex-model- Gabrielle Solis. She is married to a rich and handsome husband, Carlos Solis, played by Ricardo Antonio Chavira.
Even though the love and respect towards her husband are great she still feels like something is missing from her life which pushes her in the arms of their gardener. The affair develops and Gabrielle is out of her mind terrified that her husband doesn’t find out about it. The perfectionist of the group is Bree Van de Kamp who struggles to save the not so perfect marriage to Rex Van de Kamp, played by Steven Culp.
Desperate Housewives Season 2
The premiere of the second season was scheduled for September 25, 2005. The key mystery in this season is the new neighbor on Wisteria Lane – Betty Applewhite, played by Alfred Woodard. The reason why the group of housewives worked up their imagination was the strange hour of moving in. the new neighbor joined the neighborhood late and night and under, according to them, suspicious circumstances.
When it comes to the personal lives of our heroines there are some turbulences there too. Bree, for example, lost her husband and after that, she struggles to find the meaning of her life. She turns to alcohol, promiscuous behavior, reckless activities and even accidentally dating her late husband’s murderer. So she and her son are growing apart at a mighty fast rate and there is absolutely nothing she can do about it.
She starts a job in advertising where she proves to be awesome.
Her husband Tom, played by Doug Savant, thinks that staying at home is amazing and doesn’t see why Lynette hates it so much, but soon enough he sees her part of the story. Gabi is sick of playing games and realizes that maybe it is time for her and Carlos to have a baby. Her mother-in-law gets on her nerves, but all in all, Gabrielle manages well.
Desperate Housewives Season 3
This season’s premiere was aired on September 24, 2006.
To make matters worse, a girl appears at their doorstep claiming to be Tom’s daughter from another woman. After an unbearable tension, Gabi and Carlos crackdown too and they get divorces. At times of desperation the former Mrs.
In the fourth season, there is another mystery around which other events developed. In this season the prime mystery is yet another new neighbor. This time it is about Katherine Mayfair, played by Dana Delany. Katherine and her family come back to Wisteria Lane after the long absence of 12 years.
The newcomers stick to each other a lot which makes the air around them even more dreadful. Lynette learns that she has cancer and does everything to win the battle. Her friends are around for support but at times she feels like she cannot take it anymore. Gabrielle’s marriage to the mayor, Victor becomes extremely unbearable. Gabrielle is desperate and realizes she misses Carlos badly.
The pair starts an affair that will lead to something else later on. Edie dates Carlos in this season and would do anything to keep him by her side, although not very successfully. Susan discovers that she is expecting a baby and there seems nothing that can shatter their happiness. In the meanwhile, Bree’s daughter comes at her mother’s door uncovering a baby bump. Bree decides to fake her own pregnancy and to claim the illegitimate child of her daughter as her own. New neighbors from Chicago move in down the street.
The new characters in the fourth season are the gay couple Lee and Bob. There is a potential tornado disaster by the end of the fourth season which shakes up the main characters as well as all the residents on Wisteria Lane.
Desperate Housewives Season 5
The premiere of the fifth season was on September 28, 2008, but in the show, there was a five-year- leap since season four. There is no main mystery in the fifth season but many minor ones.
Dave married Edie and is acting somewhat dodgy. All the time he lives on Wisteria Lane he looks for a way to get revenge on Mike.
Mike and Susan are no longer together and it is hard for Susan to cope with the responsibilities that a single mother has. Though times are hard she still finds a speck of hope in the romance with the painter that works for her. Mike starts a relationship with Katherine who is working with Bree.
Her husband is a night club owner which burns down when most of the residents of Wisteria Lane were in it. Gabrielle and Carlos are back together and now have not only one, but two daughters. However, things are not as fabulous as Carlos has temporary blindness, and a financial crisis is also hanging over their heads. By the end of the fifth season, Edie suddenly dies after a car crash. Her premature death stopped her from sharing the secret about her husband, Dave that she wanted to share with all the residents of Wisteria Lane.
Desperate Housewives Season 6
The premiere of the sixth season was on September 27, 2009. The new neighbor on the street, Angie Bolen, played by Brea de Matteo, brought in the new mystery as well. Gabrielle feels threatened by a niece, Ana Solis, played by Maiara Walsh, and has a hard time trying to tame the teenage diva that uses her beauty to make boys do everything she asks for.
Lynette is working for Carlos and she is proving herself to be a very trustworthy employee. However, things don’t go that smoothly in the office later on and Lynette is considering suing Carlos. Mike and Katherine break up and she starts a strange act.
Mike and Susan get back together again. Susan’s ex-husband, Karl hooks up with Bree in this season. Bree develops deep affections towards him but it all ends in tears when his rented plane crashes in a structure with Orson inside. services
This time Paul comes with another wife and plots revenge on the neighbors who turned a cold shoulder on him while he most needed support.
Renee Perry, the ex-wife of a famous football player, moves in Wisteria Lane. Renee and Lynette’s friendship goes back in college days when they were inseparable.
Season 8 – The Last One
The central mystery in this season is the murder of Alejandro Perez, played by Tony Plana. He was Gaby’s stepfather who also abused her as a child. He manages to track her down and at the end of the previous season, she confronts her. Carlos then steps in and accidentally kills him.
The four housewives then decide to cover for Carlos’ deed and come up with a story that they should hold on to in case it is necessary. Bree starts dating Chuck Vance, played by Jonathan Cake. Chuck is a detective who will start investigating Alexandro’s murder. This puts Bree in the center of the investigation and the one who will take the greater part of the burden herself even the accusation of murdering Gabrielle’s dead stepfather.
Ben has some financial issues and involves himself with shark loans to manage to save his project. In this season Mike somehow stands in the middle between his friend and neighbor Ben and the loan shark.
This dangerous issue ends with the murder of Mike while sitting on his doorstep. In the meanwhile, Susan has to find a solution for Julie’s pregnancy. Initially, Julie wants to give the baby up for adoption so she could move on with her studies and then her carrier but Susan somehow manages to dissuade her. As it turns out Julie is pregnant by Lynette’s son, Porter. Susan is not the only one feeling guilty about what happened to Alexandro, Carlos too cannot erase the scene from his head.
He resorts to drinking and develops addiction towards alcohol. Gaby sees that this can destroy her husband and sends him in a fancy rehab place. During Carlos’s rehab, she finds a job as a personal shop assistant and makes a lot of money. For the first time, she and Carlos switch roles when it comes to providing for the family. She uses her daughter to spy on her father and his new girlfriend.
About Last Season
Lynette is very resourceful in this season and uses Tom’s boss to keep Tom busy with an extra load of work and consequently to spend less time with his co-worker and lover. At this point, Lynette realizes that she cannot have anything to do with Tom’s boss because she still has strong feelings for Tom. The elderly Mrs. McCluskey is having some health issues. She feels depressed and thinks that it would be best if she took her own life. Luckily Bree succeeds in convincing her that life is worth living.
In the last episode of the show, there was something from everything, a birth, a wedding, and a death. There was even a flashback for the future of the four Desperate Housewives. The season’s finale lasted for two straight hours. Everything almost happens at once.
After this chaotic set of events, the wedding finally happens and Lynette realizes what she has been doing wrong all the time. She and Tom get back together and they decide to go to New York. Bree falls in love with the lawyer who is standing her case but is not willing to let herself so easily in this relationship. The lawyer knows every speck of dirt under the mat regarding Bree and still considers her as an amazing woman. Karen, unfortunately, loses her battle with cancer and dies. Eventually, everyone moves away from Wisteria Lane to live their fantasy lives.
In the second season of the Desperate Housewives, the number of starring actors escalated as quite a few guest star actors in season one became regular characters in the Desperate Housewives series.
Desperate Housewives Season First-year Sucess
During this time the popularity of the Desperate Housewives show grew to that point that everyone knew what the term Desperate Housewives referred to. The review was amazing and the reception by the critics and viewers was unbelievably huge. Solely the pilot episode has 21.3 million views which figure spoke for itself and the show as voted as the best new drama of the year, the best pilot episode for ABC studios and the highest-rated and viewed series in the last decade.
Thanks to the series Desperate Housewives ABC managed to win the struggle with the possible downfall. Along with LOST and the ABC popular series GREY’S Anatomy, Desperate Housewives is one of the best and most successful productions of ABC.
The popularity maintained and the views were as huge as in year one, only this time 22.2 million. In the list of the most-watched TV shows of all times, our Desperate Housewives managed to get the fourth place. Season by season the number of viewers grew by millions. In the second year of broadcasting, the most-watched episode was the season’s finale and the number of viewers was already 28.4 million.
The final episode of the second season is the second most-watched in the series. However, with the switching and changing of executive producers and co-executive producers, critics have noticed decreasing of spirit and wit and mystery characteristic for the show. However, he did not predict that one of the crucial actresses, Marcia Cross had to take a maternity leave due to her complicated pregnancy.
She wasn’t able to film much which was a reason enough for concern but still, the views of the show didn’t drop as low as the creator had feared. For season 3 the number of views was 17.5 million. After the leave of Macia, there was more room for the character of Edie which adds to the fact that the number of viewers aged between 18 and 24 escalated in this season. This number brought the show to the tenth most-watched show. It was quite a blow to drop from the fourth to the tenth place on that list but this gave the zeal much needed for both. The creator and the team of writers to strive for an amazing comeback with season four.
The most viewed episode in season four was the ninth episode with as many as 20.6 million viewers. This brought the show loser to the top of the list with the fifth position. That year Desperate Housewives even managed to outshine the still-filming drama, Gray’s Anatomy, and CSI, in terms of script.
On the list of most-watched TV shows with season six, Desperate Housewives had the 11th place.
The seventh season proved to be a failure in terms that the show for the first time was not in the top 20 most-watched TV shows. In terms of views, season 7 hit the show’s lowest point. For the first time, the views were less than 10 million.
After the second half of the show, the ratings dropped even lower with only 7 million views. The final episode managed to recover the ratings of the show with 11.12 million views. Desperate Housewives had its low and high moments.
The show received numerous Prime Teem Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.


Breakfast on Pluto
Director: Neil Jordan (Mona Lisa , The Crying Game)
When Neil Jordan releases a new film it is something of a treat. As director of dark and challenging films such as Mona Lisa and the awesome The Crying Game you may be expecting more of the same from this new work. Sure, it is set in the years of ‘the troubles’ in Northern Ireland and, yes, once again a leading – the leading – character is a transvestite but any similarity ends right there. This is a far lighter film – amusing and entertaining – set in the period of the prolonged (some might say endless) peace process.
The first thing that I did after seeing this film was to get out my DVD of The Crying Game and watch it again. Breakfast on Pluto and The Crying Game make for interesting counterpoints. B.O.P. is more ‘Billy Elliot’ than ‘Princesa’ and it may be seen by some as making light of the armed struggle in Ireland, to say nothing of other struggles.
Cillian Murphy plays ‘Kitten’, born Patrick Braden on Breakfast on Pluto. It is clear from an early stage in his life that Patrick is going to be different – very different from the other inhabitants of the small town in Northern Ireland where he grows up. His developing identity as a woman is illustrated by a series of glimpses of his childhood. Played lightly for laughs, and erring towards Vaudevillian stereotypes at times, the camp comedy rolls out smoothly. When Kitten sets out to find his real mother, who left him as a baby, he enters into a series of adventures where he meets wannabe rock stars on the road, discovers love and loses it, has an improbable confrontation with the IRA, becomes a torch singer in a night club … and then some! The film does not lack pace or humour. Kitten is irrepressibly outrageous and genuinely loveable; a tribute to Cillian Murphy’s acting skills.
Watch out for Brian Ferry in a cameo role!
Note: If you haven’t seen Jordan’s The Crying Game ditch any idea of seeing B.O.P. until you do and get out the DVD of a former moment of Neil Jordan movie greatness. There are similarities between these movies – as before mentioned – but the geo-political insights and personal histories offered up by The Crying Game present a soul-disturbing insight into our troubled human history with which the B.O.P. ‘boy-now-girl' diary cannot compare.
Shikishi Goes 'Glam' ...
See what The Art Life is up to this week ...


Ever wondered how filmmakers come about chilling horror movie concepts? Well, most horror movies have been inspired by age-long unexplainable events and folklores. Most of the well-known horror classics like The Exorcist, the haunting in Connecticut and many more are said to have been inspired by true events, although there are no proven facts to back them up.
For many decades, movie producers and book publishers have perfected the art of making their works more horrifying just by adding the words, “inspired by true events”. Some of these movies are made up of stories that people have come to believe over time. Other horror content creators draw inspiration from age-long tales but one common feature they all have is that they are terrifying in their way. You might just want to know the stories behind some of the classic horror movies, so let’s dive into a few;
A 1970’s classic that was inspired by an exorcism that took place on a young boy in Maryland. It was reported in the papers that the boy screamed and cursed violently in a language he never knew before which was Latin. This story inspired the production of the 1971 novel and 1973 movie, both titled “The Exorcist”. A publication made in 1999 through an investigation revealed that the boy most likely had psychological issues and the Latin he spoke was the mimicry of the priest’s words. Even with these findings, some didn’t care about what happened that day.
The Amityville horror.
The story behind this movie stems from a homicide that occurred in Amityville, New York. Not long after this event, the family that purchased the house, the Lutz, reported experiencing paranormal activities like sighting red-eyed creatures and their family members levitating during their sleep. Their claims inspired the 1979 classic titled “The Amityville Horror”. These claims were later debunked by an eyewitness who said everything was made up.
The haunting in Connecticut.
Most times, the phrase “based on a true story” is enough to convince people about the non-fictional origin of movies. This can be said about the 2009 classic, “the haunting in Connecticut”. This story was inspired by a documentary made by famous ghost hunters, the Warrens. They reported the experiences of the Snedeker family who claimed that they were raped by demons in their rented apartment in Connecticut.
The serpent and the rainbow.
Have you ever imagined a horror classic with an Indiana Jones concept? This is what you will find in the 1988 classic titled “the serpent and the rainbow”. The story was adapted from a 1985 publication of a Harvard scientist who claimed to have discovered the secret of Haitian societies to bring back people from the dead as zombies. Even though his claims were debunked by a scientist, his story became a source of the horror classic.
This comes in as one of the oldest horror classics and tells the story of the popularly acclaimed vampire, Count Dracula. The story was adapted from the stories about a 15th-century ruler of Wallachia Romania named, Vlad Dracula. The name Dracula means “devil” in the Wallachian language. Even though few changes were made in the movie, the core still centered on Dracula and his exploits as a monster.
Other notable mentions are; the conjuring, Annabelle comes home and the nun. These movies are the 21st-century releases based on the claims of famous ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren. Believing in these stories depends on how well the movie producers can convince their audience using the phrase “based on a true story”.


The first official trailer is out for the last installment of the Fifty Shades of Grey series and my mouth is watering.
The movie is set to be released in theaters on Valentine’s Day 2018. Each previous movie was released on Valentine’s Day as well so it’s not too surprising this one will be too.
I’m already penciling it in my calendar.
We left the characters as a blissfully engaged couple at the end of Fifty Shades Darker. After a break up, some crazy exes, and a helicopter crash, their happy ending was much needed. Yet there was one guy creeping in the background just before the credits rolled and we see him again in this trailer. Christian is not the type to put up with any crap so we will see how the drama pans out.
My money is on the newlyweds.
But enough about the actual plot line; let’s talk about Mr. Grey’s smoking hot bod! And the countless steamy moments! GASP!
Oh man do I love this franchise.


If Valentine’s Day is looking like a stay-at-home event for you, no worries because there are still ways to make the night enjoyable! Whether it will be a night in by yourself (self-love is important too!), with your pals or that special someone, you can make that night a night to remember with some unforgettable movies to watch. Whether you’re looking for the hottest movie out right now or want to revisit an old classic, we’ve compiled a great list of flicks to sit back and watch on the 14th of February. Grab your popcorn, grab your pals or your significant other and enjoy.
- Malcolm & Marie. The film featuring Zendaya and John David Washington has
generated a lot of buzz on social media since its release on February 5th. It tells the tale of a couple going through bumps in the road of their relationship. The dialogue and the cinematography are so far the most discussed parts of the movie. Stream the movie on Netflix!
- The Little Things. This HBO Max film is a far cry from a romance. Instead, it’s a crime
thriller that is sure to have the audience on the edge of their seats. Released in late
January, this film takes viewers on a chase as Denzel Washington and Rami Malek’s
characters chase after a serial killer in Los Angeles.
- Love Actually. This romantic-comedy is a certified classic. Although it’s typically
considered a Christmas movie, it is nonetheless about romance and fitting for Valentine’s Day. If you haven’t seen this film yet, you’ll be enchanted by the various storylines of the unique characters. However, if you’ll be revisiting the Richard Curtis-directed film, your heart will once again be warmed by the timeless movie.
- Moonlight. If you’re looking for a beautiful story that is sure to make those tears fall, this movie is the one. It won an Academy Award for Best Picture and it is no surprise as to why. Not only is the film groundbreaking for the LGBTQ+ and Black community, it was also beautifully told and its actors did the film justice. “Moonlight” can be found on Netflix today, you don’t want to miss out on it.
- Just Wright. This film can be the best of both worlds for you and your partner. There’s
enough basketball and romance to go around for the both of you! Queen Latifah and
Common give their all in this romantic comedy and they’ll leave you begging for more. Follow the journey of a physical therapist falling in love with a professional basketball player and you won’t regret it.
There’s no reason not to enjoy Valentine’s Day this year, regardless of who you are or are not spending it with. Let these movies make your night!


I realise if you weren't one of those watching the popular itv drama Broadchurch then this blog post won't really mean a lot to you. As a family we watched it and we found it even more exciting that we had actually been to the locations it was filmed at set in (actually filmed in a seaside town called West Bay in Dorset) and also that a hit drama was filmed in our part of the world.
Beneath is some pictures of West Bay.
There is a really nice looking Bistro around the corner from the Broadchurch Police station overlooking the sea.
The cast of Broadchurch. If you missed it, I'd totally recommend you to see it if you are into crime/drama series.
Thanks for reading, A. x


Director: David Cronenberg
With: Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux, Kristen Stewart
It’s been over 20 years since David Cronenberg starred in the sandbox of body horror and sci-fi. With ‘Crimes of the Future’, the legendary filmmaker behind bloody classics such as ‘Scanners’ (1981), ‘Videodrome’ (1983) and ‘The Fly’ (1986) firmly embraces his roots, bringing a story to life. that he had in mind for years and never had the opportunity to talk about — of a world in which surgery becomes an art form. The filmmaker has found one of his most successful partners, Viggo Mortensen, who plays the main role. Mortensen was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for the couple’s last collaboration, “Eastern Promises” in 2007.
Director: Ali Abbassi
With: Mehdi Bajestani, Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Arash Ashtiani
Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi, whose last film, “Border” in 2018, won the Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes, now finds himself in competition for the festival’s biggest prize with a “noir” thriller, at the sequel to a family man named Saeed who embarks on a dark quest to “cleanse” the city of Mashhad of immorality – a business that quickly turns deadly. As things progress, Saeed grows increasingly frustrated with the public’s lack of interest in his murderous mission, which drives him to act even further.
“Tori and Lokita”
Directors: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
With: Mark Zinga, Nadège Ouedraogo, Alban Ukaj, Charlotte De Bruyne
At this point, Belgian brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne are Cannes royalty, having won six awards at the festival for six different films. This impeccable track record makes their latest, ‘Tori and Lokita’, one of the favorites in this year’s competition, with the ever-socially conscious filmmakers this time turning their attention to two friends who traveled from Africa to Belgium to be confronted to its cruel realities. as they struggle to survive. The film continues its shift towards more racially-focused themes, with their latest award-winning film, 2019’s “Young Ahmed”, following a Belgian-Arab boy who experiences radicalization.
“Decision to leave”
Director: Park Chan-wook
With: Tang Wei, Go Kyung-Pyo, Park Hae-il
Korean cinema has finally imposed itself on the general public. While Bong Joon-ho may be the one to break through the Oscars barrier, it was Park Chan-wook who first caught the world’s attention, with his controversial 2003 film ‘Oldboy’ becoming the star of the show. one of the most viewed cult classics of the century so far. With ‘Decision to Leave’, the filmmaker returns to Cannes for the first time since 2016’s ‘The Handmaiden’, this time following a detective who falls in love with a mysterious widow after she becomes the prime suspect of his latest murder investigation.
Director: Tariq Saleh
With: Tawfeek Barhom, Fares Fares, Mohammad Bakri
Swedish-Egyptian filmmaker Tarik Saleh makes his Cannes debut with ‘Boy from Heaven,’ a sequel to his Sundance Film Festival winner ‘The Nile Hilton Incident’. While his previous political thriller sparked some controversy in Egypt (he had to transfer production out of the country after the backlash), “Boy From Heaven” proves he hasn’t lost his taste for confrontation. It is a political thriller following a power struggle following the suspicious death of a high-ranking religious leader.
Director: Maha Haj
With: Amer Hlehel, Ashraf Farah, Anat Hadid
An aspiring writer and a petty crook team up for a sinister plan in “Mediterranean Fever,” Palestinian filmmaker Maha Haj’s return to Cannes after her debut, “Personal Affairs,” which premiered in 2016. The film, which takes place in Haifa, sees “Personal Affairs” supporting actor Amer Hlehl, who honed his craft with the UK’s Royal Shakespeare Company – promoted to his first starring role on the big screen. It captures Haj’s signature dark humor with an existential twist. Although this is her second feature film, Haj burst into filmmaking in the art department of Elia Sulaiman’s acclaimed films “The Time That Remains” and “It Must Be Heaven” before moving on herself. behind the camera.
“The Blue Kaftan”
Director: Maryam Touzani
With: Saleh Bakri, Lubna Azabal, Ayoub Messioui
In one of Morocco’s oldest medinas, husband and wife Halim (Saleh Bakri) and Mina (Lubna Azabal) run a traditional caftan shop and desperately need help. The two hire a talented young man named Youssef – and soon discover that his presence has a profound effect on their lives. With “The Blue Caftan”, Moroccan filmmaker Maryam Touzani, collaborator and wife of “Casablanca Beats” filmmaker Nabil Ayouch, returns to Cannes after her highly acclaimed film “Adam” – itself about a modest bakery in Casablanca which hosts a guest unexpected — lit up the Un Certain Regard section of the festival in 2019.
“Three thousand years of nostalgia”
Director: George Miller
With: Idris Elba, Tilda Swinton
There are few film careers more interesting than that of George Miller, the Australian filmmaker behind the ‘Mad Max’ trilogy, ‘Babe’ and the two ‘Happy Feet’ films. Miller never received the respect he deserved until the release of “Mad Max: Fury Road” in 2015, a masterful and delirious display of skill that earned him 10 Oscar nominations that year. While we won’t see a sequel to this film until 2024’s “Furiosa,” Cannes will see the premiere of its latest epic, this time following a college girl (Tilda Swinton) who meets a Djinn (Idris Elba) in Istanbul. who offers him three wishes in exchange for freedom.
“Hour of Armageddon”
Director: James Gray
With: Anne Hathaway, Anthony Hopkins, Jeremy Strong
While it seems the world has yet to take notice of director James Gray, the American has long been a favorite at Cannes. His previous films “We Own the Night” (2007), “The Immigrant” (2013) and Brad Pitt’s sci-fi epic “Ad Astra” (2016) all debuted on La Croisette. His latest is his most personal to date, based on his upbringing in Queens, New York and featuring some of the best actors in the world, including Anthony Hopkins, still at the peak of his powers, Jeremy Strong (“Succession”) , and Anne Hathaway.
“Triangle of Sadness”
Director: Ruben Ostlund
With: Woody Harrelson, Harris Dickinson, Oliver Ford Davies
If you’re a fan of scathing satire, chances are you’re also a fan – or should be – of Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund, whose previous two films, ‘Force Majeure’ and ‘The Square’, were two of the most hilarious, not to mention deeply uncomfortable movies, of the past decade. With “Triangle of Sadness”, the filmmaker swapped the ski slopes of Sweden and the museums of Denmark for the sunny islands of Greece, filming his last more than 72 days on a desert island during the pandemic. It tells the story of a duo of models who find themselves at a turning point in their respective careers.


Anyone like The Twilight Zone? It has been my all-time favorite television series since I was old enough to understand the plot of each episode. The more I watch and re-watch each season, the more I fall in love with the brilliance of human imagination.
My blog is named after my favorite episode, “Time Enough at Last.” In this particular situation, the main character lives in a world where he is made very small on a daily basis by his wife and his boss. His one true passion in life is to read… to get lost in tragedy, comedy, romance, and adventure… much like myself. When the tables turn and he is left in his own solitude, he finds true happiness and solace upon discovering a library with books, books, books! And in it, he says, “The thing of it is, the very best part, is I have time now. All the time I want, and all the time I need. Time enough at last.”
I won’t spoil the ending. My heart goes out to him.
It was the first episode to ever make me cry.


I know that it's hard question to answer, which is why I put it in the form of a question, rather then a poll. There have been so many great ones over the past 20 years. My early favorite was Sgt. Phil Cerreta (Paul Sorvino) and of course Mike Logan (Christopher Noth) made a big (and re-occurring) splash.
Lately I'm very impressed by Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto, late of Six Feet Under) and (from Law and Order CI) Robert Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) and very impressed by his partner Alexandra Eames (Kathryn Erbe). Then from Law and Order SVU we have Olivia Benson played by Mariska Hargitay, who won a very deserved Emmy award. I also thought that they never gave enough of a chance to the character to develop of Joe Fontana (Dennis Farina). Then there is Zach Nichols, played by Jeff Goldblum. He has a huge future in the franchise if he doesn't decide to go back to movies.
Now it seems that there will be a new entry to the series called Law and Order Los Angeles that has just gone into casting. Let's hope that Dick Wolf puts as much care into casting it as he has (most of the time anyway) casting all of the other shows.
Still, for me anyway, it doesn't matter. For me the iconic detective of all of the franchise (as opposed to the iconic DA (Sam Waterston as Jack McCoy) is and always will be in my heart Jerry Orbach, playing the quintessential rumpled and world weary detective Lennie Brisco. To me there was always something about the way he carried himself and something about the look of his eyes, that spelled out a detective who had been through everything and had seen it all. He (with Jack McCoy as a close second) is the very face of the Law and Order franchise.
So, what do you think? Who is your favorite Law and Order (all of the franchise) detective and why?


Are you ready to inspire the next generation of performers?
Do you have experience of working with young people and relevant practical industry knowledge?
Then we want to hear from you!
PQA, a leading provider of weekend performing arts training, is currently recruiting a Comedy and Drama teacher for their Academy in Reading on a Saturday 9:45am – 17:00pm.
You will need have a wide-ranging knowledge of practical drama and be able to teach a range of subjects which might range from Improv to Stand Up, Shakespeare to contemporary text and Immersive to Devised Theatre.
PQA follows safer recruiting. An enhanced DBS on the update service will be required and can be arranged.


At the start of 2013 we contributed to the creation of a film that would help raise awareness of the staggering rate at which the oceans are being emptied of it’s fish.
Saving The Oceans
The film was commissioned by The Black Fish; an organization that was established solely to fight for the preservation of ocean ecologies.
Creative CollaborationTo produce this film, a team of over 30 animators and other artists was gathered, and after months of loving labor, the film premiered online on the first of July. And with over 30.000 views on the very first day, it turned out to be a huge success.
3D Character DesignWe were asked to design, model and rig the main character and a number of other animals. We started out with some designs and gradually turned them into fully rigged, textured and animateable characters.


Monday Movies on Main
$12 Individual, $9 Film Festival members, $10 Students
For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177.
The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to partner with Old Town Center for the Arts (OTCA) to bring movies to Cottonwood!
The Meddler features an award-winning ensemble cast, including Susan Sarandon, J.K. Simmons, Rose Byrne, Cecily Strong and Michael McKean.
With a new iPhone, an apartment near the Grove, and a comfortable bank account left to her by her beloved late husband, Marnie Minervini (Susan Sarandon) has happily relocated from New Jersey to Los Angeles to be near her daughter Lori (Rose Byrne), a successful (but still single) screenwriter, and smother her with motherly love. But when the dozens of texts, unexpected visits, and conversations dominated by unsolicited advice force Lori to draw strict personal boundaries, Marnie finds ways to channel her eternal optimism and forceful generosity to change the lives of others - as well as her own - and find a new purpose in life.
A valentine to mothers everywhere.
Susan Sarandon approaches a career best.
Genuinely hilarious, honestly moving.
Because of limited seating, SIFF and OTCA recommend purchasing advanced tickets. Please call 928-282-1177 day of show to check ticket availability for door sales.
Movie concessions will be available, including beer, wine, soft drinks, water, popcorn and a selection of movie candy.
all content & design copyright © 2009-2022 Old Town Center for the Arts all rights reserved


Orchestrator for films including The Dark Crystal, Shrek, Mrs Henderson Presents, United 93 and Kung Fu Panda.
|1985||United Kingdom||Love Is||conductor|
|1984||United Kingdom||Love Games||conductor|
|1983||United Kingdom||I'm Never Giving Up||conductor|
|1981||United Kingdom||Making Your Mind Up [Winning song]||conductor|
|1980||United Kingdom||Love Enough For Two||conductor|
With her victory in Liverpool, Loreen became the second person to win the Eurovision Song Contest twice as a lead artist. But Loreen wasn't the only person to achieve a second win this year.Read more


Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur in Mr.
Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
I love vintage movies.
By “vintage” I mean primarily the films made between 1930 and approximately the mid-1950s. For me, that was the golden age of Hollywood. I am not implying that there are not good films after that era; I just think there are fewer good ones.
As far as actors, it’s hard to say that the past had better stars than Meryl Streep, Robert DeNiro, and Jack Nicholson but I wouldn’t place them above Irene Dunn, James Stewart, and Humphrey Bogart.
Good political movies have been common in every Hollywood era. Popular entries include “The Informer” (1935), “State of the Union” (1948), “The Last Hurrah” (1958), “Advise and Consent” (1962), “The Candidate” (1972), “Red Dawn” (1984), “Wag the Dog” (1997), and “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” (2000).
Probably the best political film made in many years is “The King’s Speech” from 2010. Maybe it’s because most British actors make most current American actors look like hams that I feel that way about this film. It was first class all the way.
As far as my favorites, it’s hard to choose. However, if I had to pick three, I would take them from three different eras: From the 1930s I would choose “Mr. Smith goes To Washington” (1939) starring Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur.
This film is 1930s idealism all the way and comfortable to watch as Stewart and Arthur work well together with an all star cast of character actors. Directed by Frank Capra it’s fine Americana with a dose of “Capracorn” which always meant that “good” would win out in the end.
From the 1960s, I like “Dr. Strangelove” (1964) starring Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, and Sterling Hayden. It combines the Cold War with a dark sense of humor especially when Slim Pickens rides the bomb out of a B-52 aircraft.
From 1999 comes “Election” with Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon. It’s a funny combination of high school and politics as Broderick is a high school teacher in Omaha trying to stop the election of over achiever Witherspoon as class president.
If you enjoy good political films like I do, check these entries. They are worth your time.


Travel and Leisure Calls Skopelos a "Best Hidden Island"
Travel and Leisure, a travel magazine based in New York, with 4.8 million readers, has recently cited Skopelos, The Sporades, as one of the world's best "hidden islands:" islands that are relatively unvisited, but which impress with their beauty and seclusion.
T and M says that Skopelos, for all its recent fame as the location for the ABBA song vehicle film "Mama Mia!" starring Meryl Streep, has not been much affected by the film and retains all of its attractive features that make it a paradise-like getaway.
It mentions the "hidden coves, blue-roofed tavernas, and hundreds of Byzantine-era churches" of Skopelos as top attractions, as well as its pristine beaches.


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With his feature directing debut The Eyes of My Mother, Nicholas Pence delivers the kind of breathtaking, nerve wracking and thought provoking kind of arthouse horror experience that leaves nothing on the table. Filmed in crisp black and white that emphasizes the stunning imagery and anchored by a flawless performance from Kika Magalhaes, Mother tackles the very human need to make a connection with the world around us while providing a deeply disturbing character portrait of mental illness.
Mother revolves around Francisca (played by Magalhaes as an adult, and Olivia Bond as a young girl) the child of Portugese immigrants. It follows three stages of her life: Francisca as a young girl, as a young woman and as a young mother. As a child, Francisca learns about the human anatomy from her mother, who was a surgeon in her previous life overseas before moving to the States and tending to the family farm. While the girl inherits blooming surgical skills from her mother, Francisca struggles to gain affection from her cold and distant father. While the girl struggles with this detachment, her life is marked by violent tragedy that takes the girl’s mother from her. As she loses the one person who displayed any warmth towards her, Francisca goes to extreme lengths in order to make a physical and emotion connection with another person.
To go into detail on how the girl goes about that business is to reveal one of the great many shocking moments Pence delivers to the audience. Pence, who edited the film along with Connor Sullivan, also displays a sharp mind for just the right cuts to make in order to steal the audience’s breath. Time and time again Pence builds anticipation to a crescendo, only to cut away at the last possible moment to the aftermath of the violence. Pence doesn’t allow the audience to bear witness to the depths Francisca sinks to in her warped attempt to find someone to connect with. It tends to have a jolting effect, leaving the viewer to imagine the horrors that transpired while Francisca completes her lonely task of cleaning up her mess.
The stark black and white surroundings to Francisca’s world do wonders when it comes to mirroring the sense of isolation the young woman feels. The barren world around the oasis that is the girl’s family farm feels lifted out of the pages of Updike. It’s a world that practically condemns Francesca to an inescapable life of loneliness. It’s a setting as barren as the social graces the girl never had a chance to learn once her mother was taken from her.
Given the monstrous revelations of Francisca’s actions, the audience should see her as a straight villain. However, Magalhaes brings a sense of childlike wonder to the role, and imbues the woman with a desperate sense of humanity that allows the viewer to understand, if not forgive, the woman’s actions. Pence demonstrates in a visceral, visual way the girl’s inability to let things go, whether it be the mother stolen from her, her cold and distant father, or even the monster that comes into her orbit and sends her world crashing around her. For Francisca, there is only one sin: the act of leaving. Magalhaes balances that by playing the woman with whose understanding of the world never progressed past adolescence. She possesses a child’s sense of morality. What matters the most is having her own needs, that of being protected and cared for, met by any means available.
The Eyes of My Mother offers the kind of challenging viewing so often missing from modern genre films. Pence delivers a heartbreaking story so beautifully shot and crafted that you find yourself empathizing with its central villain despite her flawed nature. Mother is a sparkling meditation on the very human desire to feel less alone in the world, and one hopes it finds a large and appreciative audience when Magnolia releases the film this November.


The Marvel epic had a huge morning, scoring seven nominations, but it was its nod for best picture that made history.
In 2008, “The Dark Knight” was one of the biggest films of the year, but did not score a nomination for best picture to the chagrin of fans everywhere. The next year, the Academy opened up the best picture category to 10 films instead of five.
Now a decade later, “Black Panther” becomes the first superhero film to land that coveted nomination after dominating culture with the fictional and inspiring world of Wakanda.
“I really think the Academy seeks to honor [the]creation of Wakanda,” Connelly said. “Just an idea that really changed so many people’s minds this year and affected the culture so greatly.”
Connelly also said the awards show will be more entertaining, as the best picture category is filled with movies that actually performed well at the box offices this year. This hasn’t always been the case in the past.


Ratings: Shades of Blue Hits J.Los
As You, Me and the Apocalypse dropped 29 and 25 percent from its premiere — drawing 3.5 million total viewers and a 0.9 demo rating (per finals) — NBC’s The Blacklist READ MORE
Ratings: Shades of Blue Slips 28% From Premiere, Still Wins Time Slot
Ratings: J.Lo's Shades of Blue Cops Good Numbers for NBC
Shades of Blue Premiere: Is J.Lo's New Drama Arresting — or a Cop-Out?
“I always wanted to be a good cop — but there’s no straight line to that,” a banged-up, shaken Det. Harlee Santos confesses into her laptop in the opening scene of Shades of Blue. READ MORE & GRADE IT
Shades of Blue Photos: Jennifer Lopez, Drea de Matteo and Ray Liotta Take Sides in NBC's Crooked Cop Drama
Jennifer Lopez's Shades of Blue Trailer Is Here — and It Doesn't Look Half Bad
Admit it: When NBC released the poster for Jennifer Lopez‘s upcoming crime drama Shades of Blue, we all asked ourselves, “Isn’t it a little soon for a Mysteries of Laura reboot?” READ MORE & WATCH VIDEO
Shades of Blue, NBC's Jennifer Lopez Cop Drama, to Launch in January
Beginning in early 2016, it’s Detective Jennifer Lopez to you.
JLo's NBC Cop Drama Shades of Blue Adds Ray Liotta, Drea de Matteo
Some big names will be walking the beat with Jennifer Lopez next fall on NBC.
Jennifer Lopez-Fronted Drama Series Shades of Blue Snags 13-Episode Series Order at NBC
Jennifer Lopez is going undercover for NBC.
In a major coup for the Peacock network, the actress-singer-American Idol judge will star (yes, star) in and exec-produce an hour-long drama series titled Shades of Blue. READ MORE


Category : Activities
Roma Performing Arts is proud to present, under the supervision of Trent Sellars, a weekly class for young theatre enthusiasts. In this initial term of classes we will be working on a play to be presented at the Dalby Drama Festival on July 14th and 15th, so we ask that all youth involved ensure they (a) have those dates available, and (b) can organise transport with their parents/guardians. Please register with Performing Arts as spaces are limited.
Dates: Starting on Wednesdays from May 9th (with a presentation at the Dalby Drama Festival on the weekend of July 14th and 15th)
Time: 3.30pm until 5.00pm weekly
Venue: Studio 5, Roma Community Arts Centre, 38-44 Hawthorne St, Roma, QLD 4455
Age/s: 14-18 years, however exceptions can be made based on experience and maturity.
Facebook Page: Roma Performing Arts
Website: Roma Performing Arts


Zakiya Young, Pittsburgh, always loved to perform. Growing up, she took dance classes, was a cheerleader, performed in school musicals and sang in the church choir. She came by her abilities naturally: her mom acted and her dad sang and she grew up in an artistic household.
Even with a performance background, Zakiya didn’t initially plan to pursue acting. She went to the University of Pittsburgh to study medicine.
But after two semesters, she realized she wasn’t passionate about her chosen field. She didn’t experience the same spark she felt when she was in front of a crowd, performing with the school’s dance team. “I thought, maybe I should be an actress,” Zakiya says. “Maybe I should just try it.”
She switched her major to communications and began searching for opportunities to hone her acting skills. After performing in the University of Pittsburgh’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” she attended an open call audition for the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, which was casting the touring production of “Casper the Musical,” starring famed Broadway actress Chita Rivera.
Zakiya landed the role of Bettina’s mom in the production, and through the connections she made in the show, she was able to relocate to New York City to pursue theater. But a future in the industry wasn’t always a given. Zakiya took a two-year break from the business to make sure it was something she still wanted to pursue. Sure enough, she still felt the call of the stage, leading her to an open audition for Broadway’s “The Little Mermaid”—a show that would set the trajectory of her career.
She was cast as part of the ensemble in the original cast of the musical for the show’s entire two-year run. “It changed everything,” she says. With “The Little Mermaid” added to her resume, Zakiya began to audition for leading roles.
A defining moment came in 2010, when she was cast as Lois Lane in the Dallas Theater Center’s “It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Superman!” Zakiya was the first black actress to play the role of Lois Lane in any Superman-related project. “It was really exciting to have a Lois Lane that was black—it was a big deal,” she says.
While in Dallas, Zakiya began a tradition of visiting the local Tri Delta chapter of whatever city she was performing in. She toured both the Theta Kappa chapter house at Southern Methodist University and Tri Delta’s Executive Office, then headquartered in Arlington.
Casting offices began calling her in for plays, and she ended up booking her first Broadway play, “Stick Fly,” produced by Alicia Keys and starring Tracie Thoms, Dule Hill and Mekhi Phifer. Zakiya found herself in the world of Hollywood actors who have a theater background, something she described as being in “theater boot camp.
The more she worked with and learned from actors who had done TV and film, the more Zakiya wanted to explore that world. Feeling like she had accomplished all she could in New York City, she decided to relocate to Los Angeles, where she continued to act in stage productions while pursuing TV roles.
Then, she landed a role she had been wanting to play: Tendikayi in the play “Familiar,” written by Danai Gurira, who starred in “Black Panther” and “The Walking Dead.”
“Familiar”—which ran January through March 2019 at The Globe Theater in San Diego—shares the American immigrant experience through the lens of a couple from Zimbabwe and their daughter, Tendikayi, who is engaged to be married and insists on a traditional African wedding ceremony.
Zakiya had originally auditioned for “Familiar” in New York City, but didn’t get the part. “It wasn’t until I played the role that I realized I wasn’t ready to play it then,” says Zakiya. “It happened at the right time.”
For Zakiya, the appeal of “Familiar” is the positive portrayal of strong, intelligent women. “I loved that the women are all strong women,” she says. “You don’t usually get to see strong women where they’re not a caricature or mocked.” The cast of the play is also predominately women, something Zakiya says you don’t see very often in theater.
The play and the role, which Zakiya says is still in her bones, proved to be an inspiration. “It inspired me to start writing—to write the roles I want to play and to give that to other actresses so we’re not stuck doing the same types of plays we’ve always done.”