June | 2013 | Intimate Excellent
Barbara Goodhill
The Fountain Theatre is pleased to welcome Barbara Goodhill as its Director of Development. Barbara will guide and oversee fundraising and marketing for the Fountain and advise the award-winning theatre on other organizational goals. She played an important role in the Fountain’s recent Cyrano in New York fundraising campaign (which exceeded its fundraising goal) and the very successful Forever Flamenco at the Ford event on June 15 at the Ford Amphitheatre.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Barbara Goodhill is a respected development and marketing professional with broad-based experience in the non-profit sector. Theater has been a life-long passion for Ms. Goodhill, who began her career as a teacher and an actor, and is a long-time subscriber to The Fountain Theatre. Her most recent staff position was as Director of Advancement at Inside Out Community Arts, an award-winning non-profit that empowers underserved youth through theater-arts based programs. Prior senior staff positions include at Sinai Akiba Academy and PS#1 Elementary School. Her efforts at these organizations resulted in professional awards, significant growth in revenue, compelling brand building, outstanding special events and highly successful marketing and communication campaigns. Also active as a volunteer on Boards of Directors, Ms Goodhill brings a high level of expertise and sincere dedication to every project. Barbara received her B.A. from UC Berkeley in English and History and attended UCLA’s Masters program in Theatre Arts.
“Barbara has quickly become an important asset to the Fountain Theatre,” says Fountain co-artistic director Stephen Sachs. “Her energy, determination and expertise has truly ignited and revitalized our fundraising efforts. We’re fortunate to have her with us and look forward to a thrilling new phase of development at the Fountain.”
Welcome, Barbara!
Posted in Arts, arts organizations, Drama, Fountain Theatre, performing arts, Theater, theatre
Tagged arts organizations, Barbara Goodhill, Cyrano in New York, Director of Development, Forever Flamenco at the Ford, Fountain Theatre, fundraising, fundriaising, Inside Out Community Arts, John Anson Ford Amphitheater, Los Angeles, marketing, non-profit arts organization, performing arts, plays, Stephen Sachs, theater, theatre
“Heart Song” at the Fountain Theatre
Hailed as “superb” and “magnificent” by critics and audiences alike, the Fountain Theatre’s acclaimed hit comedy/drama Heart Song has been extended to August 25th. The Hollywood Reporter cheers Heart Song as “a genuine delight”, the LA Weekly heralds it as “beautifully performed,” and Broadway World declares Heart Song “a celebration of life you won’t want to miss.”
Written by Stephen Sachs and directed by Shirley Jo Finney, Heart Song follows the funny and touching journey of Rochelle (Pamela Dunlap), a middle-aged Jewish woman in New York City struggling through a mid-life crisis and the recent loss of her mother. When Rochelle is convinced to take a flamenco class with other women led by a passionate Gypsy instructor (Denise Blasor), her life and world-view is changed forever.
The Fountain Theatre world premiere has earned rave reviews and sold-out houses since it opened in May.
“MIRACULOUS! A tender, deeply layered journey to the center of a woman’s soul.” – Stage Happenings
“EXTRAORDINARY! I wanted to jump up and shout ‘Bravo’ when the lights came up!” – Los Angeles Post
“DAZZLING! A transcendent evening of theatre!” – Explore Dance
“A MUST SEE! It will make you laugh one minute and sad the next, but in the end you will be thrilled. “ – Los Angeles Post
“ELECTRIFYING! At once contagiously funny and fiercely dramatic, touching every emotion. Top-notch direction and a resplendent cast, Heart Song is a life-affirming poem that must be experienced.” – Broadway World
“FLAWLESS! The acting is fabulous and the dancing spectacular!” – LASplash
“VERY FUNNY! Extraordinarily moving!” – On Stage Los Angeles
The play’s mesmerizing mixture of drama, comedy and flamenco music/dance has been the highlight of feature stories in the Jewish Journal and the Los Angeles Times.
Tamlyn Tomita, Juanita Jennings, Pamela Dunlap in “Heart Song”
Heart Song stars Denise Blasor, Andrea Dantas, Pamela Dunlap, Juanita Jennings, Mindy Krasner, Elissa Kyriacou, Sherrie Lewandowski, and Tamlyn Tomita. Choreography by Maria Bermudez.
Heart Song Extended to Aug 25 (323) 663-1525 MORE
Posted in Acting, actors, Arts, arts organizations, Dance, dancer, director, Drama, flamenco, Fountain Theatre, performing arts, plays, playwright, singer, Theater, theatre
Tagged actors, and Tamlyn Tomita, Andrea Dantas, Denise Blasor, Elissa Kyriacou, Flamenco, flamenco class, flamenco dancing, flamenco music, Fountain Theatre, Heart Song, Jewish, Juanita Jennings, Los Angeles, Maria Bermudez, Mindy Krasner, new plays, Pamela Dunlap, performing arts, plays, playwriting, Sherrie Lewandowski, Shirley Jo Finney, Stephen Sachs, theater, theatre, world premiere
Lowes Moore III
by Lowes Moore III, Fountain Intern
Yesterday, the best thing happened to me. I booked tickets with one of my good friends to watch Heart Song. After a normal 10am-5pm work day I found my way back to the Fountain to see the show and to also help out whenever needed. I escorted people to their seats while my friend passed out programs. I was not sure what to expect from the play. The only other “flamenco” art I had ever experience was a video Deborah showed me of Timo Nunez on So You Think You Can Dance which was pretty amazing I might say.
After taking my seat in the front row, the show began. From the very first scene my jaw could not get off of the floor. I was so amazed. Except for the one third of the show I spent laughing way too hard. The other audience members probably thought I was insane.
Heart Song is an amazing show about one woman’s life changing transformation. She is basically bribed and dragged into the flamenco class where she finds self-worth, confidence, family, and strength. The show & cast were wonderful, amazing, superb…Okay you get the point. GO SEE IT!
“Heart Song” at the Fountain Theatre
It was Denise Blasor’s first show (in the role of Katarina) and might I say she looked as if she had been doing this role for years. I felt particularly special because Denise and I got to hang out for a bit on my first day at the Fountain Theatre. Basically best friends.
I am so lucky to be an intern at the Fountain Theatre. If you have not seen Heart Song yet….I suggest you change that. Don’t miss out.
Last but definitely not least:
Tomorrow is Forever Flamenco at the Ford. There has been so much anticipation around this evening and it is finally HERE. The brochure says it best “A stellar evening of world-class artists together for the first time to celebrate 20 years of Forever Flamenco in Los Angeles and pay tribute to founder Deborah Lawlor.” If you are attending you definitely in for a treat and you know how much everyone loves treats. 🙂
Heart Song Now to July 14 (323) 663-1525 MORE
Our thanks to the LA County Arts Commision for their support of the Arts Internship Program.
Posted in Acting, actors, Arts, arts organizations, Drama, flamenco, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, Theater, theatre
Tagged actors, Deborah Lawlor, Denise Blasor, Flamenco, flamenco class, flamenco dancing, Forever Flamenco, Forever Flamenco at the Ford, Fountain Theatre, Heart Song, intern, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, new plays, performing arts, plays, So You Think You Can Dance, summer intern, summer internship, theater, theatre, Timo Nunez, world premiere
Deborah Lawlor and her friend, Rupert.
By Debra Levine
One of L.A.’s most accomplished arts impresarios will float in flamenco heaven this Saturday night when her helming of her 20-year-running series “Forever Flamenco!” will be honored in an all-star performance at the Ford Theatre.
Deborah Lawlor, southern California’s key importer of the gypsy art form, will take a rare turn as spectator, and not producer, when her favorite flamenco artists — dancers and musicians — hot up the outdoor amphitheater’s nippy night air.
Concurrent to this tribute, a moving and well-crafted flamenco-themed play, “Heart Song,” is enjoying one-month run at The Fountain Theatre, the wonderfully funky East Hollywood house where Lawlor launched “Forever Flamenco!”
The recognition must be gratifying for Lawlor, whose dance journey began during her Riverside childhood. The self-described “flamenco nut” was raised in a dance-friendly family (her aunt Olga Hammond was an early modern dancer). Her arts-loving mom organized frequent performance forays into L.A.
One memorable outing was to see Jose Greco at the Wilshire Ebell Theater.
“I was a little bit bored by him,” Lawlor admits. “He stood in one place and did footwork. The intimate atmosphere was lost in the big theater with shows like his.”
Years later, Lawlor, sophisticated after pursuit of a flamenco education, explains, “There’s the virtuosity and there’s the meaning. You can get bored by pure virtuosity. I learned that flamenco is the play of rhythm and contre-tiempos, the palmas [hand claps]. There is a whole world of rhythmic stuff going on. If you are just watching a dancer stomp his feet, you can be bored. The more musical background you have the more you can enjoy it.”
A multilingual world traveler who has lived and studied abroad, journeying between India, Australia, Egypt and France, Lawlor notes: “Flamenco is a kind of inward expression; to project it out is a different feel. ‘Cause the songs themselves can be very intimate, some very dark, about death, but you have to kind of go with the lighter aspects of flamenco, the joyous songs as well as the tragic ones.
“Of course, I love it a lot. The more you get into it, the more it opens up to you.”
Saturday night Lawlor will be surrounded by the international band of gypsies she has cultivated and promoted, a group of singers and dancers cherry-picked from Europe and from the flamenco communities of San Francisco and Phoenix.
One of her prime protégées, the acclaimed dancer Maria Bermudez, is producing the show in honor of Lawlor’s huge achievement.
Maria Bermudez
“Forever Flamenco! was born of Deborah’s love and total immersion into flamenco,” says Bermudez. “Young dancers, up-and-coming dancers, seasoned professionals and international dancers – all of us have all come through Forever Flamenco! at the Fountain. I took my first baby steps there.”
Bermudez, considered to be one of the foremost international flamenco artists in the world today, resides in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, the “birthplace” of flamenco. She was the model for one of the lead characters of “Heart Song,” a role she has played for the past few weeks.
“Forever Flamenco!” at the Ford dancers will include Roberto Amaral, Fanny Ara, Maria Bermudez, Alejandro Granados (Spain), Manuel Gutierrrez, Timo Nuñez, Linda Vega and Yaelisa; singers José Cortes, Ana de los Reyes (Spain) and Ismael de la Rosa (from Spain); singer/composer Pele de los Reyes (Spain) of the Grammy®-nominated group Navajita Platea; guitarists Adam del Monte, Jason McGuire, José Tanaka, Antonio Triana; and percussionist Joey Heredia.
Lawlor loves “Heart Song” a drama written by her longtime Fountain Theater co-artistic director Stephen Sachs. She says, “It’s just lovely, it’s wonderful.”
“Heart Song” at the Fountain Theatre
“Heart Song is a joy. It’s all woman cast, and the crew is all women. It has the aspect of flamenco but it also a mother-daughter drama about a Jewish woman who didn’t realize her mother had been in the [concentration] camp; she never spoke about her childhood. Anybody can relate to that.”
The sure-to-be-sizzling Ford flamenco program and the well staged and performed “Heart Song” are both recommended. We especially love the Ford’s historic Cahuenga Pass setting, a stellar venue for a pre-performance urban picnics.
Debra Levine writes for Arts Meme.
More Info: Forever Flamenco at the Ford Heart Song
Posted in Arts, arts organizations, Dance, dancer, flamenco, Fountain Theatre, Music, performing arts, singer, Theater, theatre
Tagged Adam del Monte, Alejandro Granados, Antonio Triana, Deborah Lawlor, Fanny Ara, Forever Flamenco, Forever Flamenco at the Ford, Heart Song, Ismael de la Rosa, Jason McGuire, Joey Heredia, Jose Cortes, Jose Greco, Jose Tanaka, Linda Vega, Manuel Gutierrez, Maria Bermudez, Pele de los Reyes, Roberto Amaral, Stephen Sachs, Timo Nunez, Yaelisa
Guitarist Antonio Triana and dancer Maria Bermudez.
Flamenco artists Maria Bermudez , Antonio Triana and Pele de los Reyes made an early-morning live TV appearance on Univision KMEX 34 today to promote our upcoming Forever Flamenco at the Ford Gala Concert at the Ford Amphitheatre this Saturday, June 15th at 8:30pm.
Univision 34, Los Angeles was the first UHF station in southern California, and the first to broadcast in Spanish in Los Angeles. Univision 34, Los Angeles serves the Hispanic community and offers programs that inform Spanish-speaking viewers about local and global events that educate and entertain.
Hailed as “LA’s most significant venue for flamenco” by LA Weekly, the Fountain Theatre returns to the Ford stage after a two year absence, bringing the finest local, national and international flamenco artists to celebrate this passionate expression of Spanish culture. Forever Flamenco’s dancers, musicians and singers have been delighting audiences for years with the intensity, precision and exhilaration for which flamenco is known. This year’s show pays tribute to the founder of the Fountain’s flamenco program, Deborah Lawlor, a Los Angeles icon and ardent supporter of the art form for more than two decades.
The Forever Flamenco All-Star line-up includes: Vanessa Abalos * Roberto Amaral * Fanny Ara * Maria Bermudez * José Cortes * Alejandro Granados * Manuel Gutierrez * Joey Heredia * Jason McGuire * Adam del Monte * Timo Nuñez * Rocio Ponce * Ana de los Reyes * Pele de los Reyes * Ismael de la Rosa * Lourdes Rodriguez * Mizuho Sato * Jose Tanaka * Antonio Triana * Linda Vega * Ben Woods * Yaelisa.
Enjoy These Photos from Today’s Live TV Appearance
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Forever Flamenco at the Ford Saturday June 15 (323) 461-3673 MORE
Posted in Arts, arts organizations, Dance, dancer, flamenco, Music, performing arts, singer, Theater, theatre
Tagged Adam del Monte, Ana de los Reyes, Antonio Triana, Ben Woods, Fanny Ara, Flamenco, flamenco guitar, flamenco music, Ford Theatres, Forever Flamenco, Forever Flamenco at the Ford, Fountain Theatre, Ismael de la Rosa, Jason McGuire, Joey Heredia, John Anson Ford Amphitheater, José Cortes Alejandro Granados, Jose Tanaka, Linda Vega, Los Angeles, Lourdes Rodriguez, Manuel Gutierrez, Maria Bermudez, Mizuho Sato, Pele de los Reyes, Roberto Amaral, Rocio Ponce, Timo Nunez, Univision, Univision 34, Vanessa Abalos, Yaelisa
“Heart Song” at the Fountain Theatre
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Tamlyn Tomita and Juanita Jennings.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Tamlyn Tomita, Juanita Jennings, Pamela Dunlap in “Heart Song”
Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Maya Angelou
Maria Bermudez and Pamela Dunlap.
photos by Ed Krieger
Heart Song Now to July 14 (323) 663-1525 MORE
Posted in Acting, actors, Arts, arts organizations, Dance, dancer, Drama, flamenco, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, singer, Theater, theatre
Tagged actors, Flamenco, flamenco dancing, Fountain Theatre, Heart Song, Juanita Jennings, Los Angeles, Maria Bermudez, Maya Angelou, new plays, Pamela Dunlap, performing arts, Phenomenal Woman, plays, poem, poetry, Tamlyn Tomita, theater, theatre, world premiere
Lowes Moore
Hi, I’m Lowes Moore III. I am currently the Development Intern at the Fountain Theatre. I am a rising junior at Occidental College in Los Angeles. I major in Economics, with an emphasis in business, and my minor is in Music, with an emphasis in vocal performance.
I developed a passion for the arts at a very young age. I started singing in my church at 3 years old and acting at a children’s theater company in New York City at 9 years old. I recently developed a passion for economics/business and have decided to further pursue arts business as a possible career. I am originally from Mount Vernon, New York but have found my way to Los Angeles for college. The beautiful California weather and the endless opportunities for growth in the arts have lured me here.
On campus at Occidental College I am: the tenor section leader of Oxy’s glee club, a member of Oxy’s all-male acapella group, taking voice lessons, a tour guide, a resident advisor, a treasurer of Oxy’s largest club on campus called Dance Production, an executive board member of Oxy’s hip-hop class, a part of the black students alliance and Christian club, to name a few. On occasion I help Oxy’s women’s basketball team during practice.
I am very excited to be interning at the Fountain Theatre. I look forward to working with the Fountain Family to nurture a diverse realm of arts in the Los Angeles Community. I am most excited about getting to create relationships with my new co-workers/family and I am proud to call the Fountain Theatre my home for summer 2013.
The Fountain Theatre thanks the Los Angeles County Arts Commission for the support of its Summer Internship program.
Posted in Arts, arts organizations, Drama, performing arts, plays, Theater, theatre
Tagged arts organizations, Fountain Theatre, intern, internship, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Lowes Moore, Occidental College, performing arts, plays, summer intern, theater, theatre
I grew up with flamenco in the background of my childhood. My older brother Alfonso was bit by the flamenco bug after seeing his first flamenco show passing through town; that was it for him. He went on to study with the masters in Spain and became a promising flamenco dancer. Alfonso danced with an exquisite sensitivity. I believe dance was an escape for him. He was a gay man—not an easy situation in our household. He suffered on many levels. The freedom that flamenco – that art– brings to your life; it’s a place of sanctuary.
Alfonso’s life was cut short. He succumbed to cancer at the age of 27 and died two years later. I was 16 years old. My interest was also in the arts but as an actor and singer. After his passing I suddenly wanted to study Flamenco. It was as though Alfonso wanted… needed to continue dancing and I became his vessel. All who knew him would say the love of his life was his dancing.
I became obsessed with the art form and after only six months of preparation, I packed my bags and was off to Spain to learn to dance. Or so I thought. I discovered I needed to go much further and deeper, metaphorically and literally, to the place, the source of flamenco. This took me to the deep south of Spain, to gypsy territory, a place I have called home for the last 20 years.
This journey, which I am still on, has been full of heart aching challenges and absolutely gratifying moments of triumph. From being treated as an outsider to falling in love with a gypsy and then marrying him. But drip of sweat by drip of sweat, I began winning respect through my dedication and total immersion into the culture.
The amount of emotion involved in flamenco is unparalleled. I feel the freedom of expression through the cry of the singers and the music and through the beauty of the dance. It’s euphoric! The best part is the audience’s connection with flamenco on levels unexpected to them. The response is always love, love, love! It’s all worth it.
Flamenco continues to be the source of my inspiration in life. There is a universal cry that we all can relate to — maybe we all have a gypsy spirit in us.
I aspire to inspire, until I expire.
— Maria “ChaCha” Bermudez
Forever Flamenco at the Ford Saturday, June 15 (323) 461-3673 MORE
Posted in Arts, arts organizations, Dance, dancer, flamenco, Fountain Theatre, Music, performing arts, singer, Theater, theatre
Tagged Dance, flamenco dancing, flamenco music, Ford Theatres, Forever Flamenco, Forever Flamenco at the Ford, Fountain Theatre, Los Angeles, Maria Bermudez, performing arts, Spain, theater, theatre