November | 2014 | Intimate Excellent

Joanna Strapp is Kelly in ‘Reborning’ at the Fountain Theatre

Casting is now complete for the Fountain’s upcoming Los Angeles Premiere of Reborning by Zayd Dohrn, directed by Simon Levy. The San Francisco Chronicle hailed the play for its “sharp, breezy dialogue … A comic setup that spins into deeply affecting territory.”  

Reborning is a darkly funny and unique love story that takes an unsettling look at family, motherhood and the power of creation. A young artist who crafts custom-made lifelike latex dolls for parents who have lost their child begins to suspect that a demanding client may be the mother who abandoned her at birth. As she tries to unravel the mystery, she discovers the path to her own “reborning.”

Kristin Carey

Kristin Carey plays the role of Emily. Kristin grew up in Santa Rosa, California with the dream of being an actor. After being kicked out of Nursery School for singing and dancing on the tables, her parents realized performing was in her blood.

She attended the prestigious School of Theatre at The University of Southern California where she received her B.F.A. In Theatre/ Film.

Kristin has worked in all mediums. She has appeared in over 100 National Commercials, numerous TV Shows such as The West Wing, Criminal Minds, The Newsroom, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Rake, the new upcoming CSI: Cyber to name a few, and has a recurring role on Scandal.

Her Big Screen debut was in the Farrelly Bros. comedy Hall Pass, where she played the sexy cougar Aunt Meg. Kristin was last on stage in The Cost of the Erection at the Blank Theatre. She just wrapped Starcrossed with Eric Roberts and Mischa Barton, What Now with Ice-T, and Pups United.

Ryan Doucette

Ryan Doucette plays the role of Daizy. Ryan is a Canadian actor, mime, and comedian originally from, Nova Scotia Canada.  He began his career performing with the theatre troupe “Les Araignees De Boui-Boui”, and presenting mime sketches in a café at the Universite Sainte-Anne.  These sketches later evolved into his first one-man-show Ryan Doucette: Premiere Ronde which brought audiences to their feet throughout Canada, the United States, and France, and recently became a Television Special airing on the CBC Network.  Ryan continued appearing in various theatre productions in Halifax, NS, including Vimy, Whale Riding Weather, and Cloudburst, resulting in  being nominated for a Merit Award twice.  He was later recast in the feature film version of Cloudburst co-starring alongside Academy Award winning actresses Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker, with the film receiving numerous festival awards.  Ryan continued his film work landing supporting roles opposite Billy Campbell in The Disappeared, and Copperhead starring Peter Fonda. This is his first theatre production in Los Angeles.

Joanna Strapp

Joanna Strapp plays the role of Kelly. Joanna was recently seen in The Curse of Oedipus (Antaeus), Fallen Angels (North Coast Rep), The Liar (Antaeus), Steel Magnolias (Laguna Playhouse), Macbeth (Anteus), Beautified (Skylight Theatre), I’ll Be Back Before Midnight (Colony), Peace In Our Time (Antaeus, 2012 Ovation and LA Weekly awards for Best Production, Intimate Theater), and The Seagull.

Other recent theatre credits include The Laguna Playhouse (The Pursuit of Happiness), The Indian Wells Theater (Trying), The Production Company (Mrs. Warren’s Profession, How I Learned to Drive, Breaking The Code) The Zephyr (Slasher), The Still Speaking Theatre (The Runner Stumbles), The Getty Villa (The Vesuvius Prophecies) as well as work at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

On television, she has appeared on House, The United States of Tara, Medium, and Studio 60 on The Sunset Strip, among others. She is a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama.

Reborning will be the first production launching our 25th Anniversary Season next year. Discount previews  begin January 21, it opens January 24, 2015.  MORE INFO

Posted in Acting, actors, Arts, arts organizations, director, Drama, Fountain Theatre, new plays, non-profit organization, performing arts, plays, playwright, Theater, theatre

Tagged actors, Antaeus Company, arts organizations, dolls, Fountain Theatre, Getty Villa, Joanna Strapp, Kristin Carey, Laguna Playhouse, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Premiere, new plays, performing arts, plays, playwriting, Reborning, Ryan Doucette, Simon Levy, theater, theatre, Williamstown Theatre festival, Zayd Dohrn

A friendly group of Fountain Theatre supporters enjoyed a lovely evening of food, drinks and lively conversation Wednesday night at the beautiful Westwood home of Dorothy and Stanley Wolpert. The exclusive Fountain Insider Event also included the actress Jenny O’Hara and director Stephen Sachs of our current hit production of Broomstick and members of the Fountain staff. The evening was coordinated by Fountain Director of Development, Barbara Goodhill.

The social gathering was one of our ongoing Insider Events offered during the run of each of our productions. It provides the Fountain with the opportunity to give select Fountain Family members an exclusive ‘Inside Peek” at our current production and to express our gratitude and appreciation to those contributing at a determined level to the Fountain Fund.

In attendance at the Insider Event were hosts Dorothy and Stanley Wolpert, Fountain Co-Artistic Directors Deborah Lawlor and Stephen Sachs, Producing Director Simon Levy, Director of Development Barbara Goodhill; associate producer James Bennett, actress Jenny O’Hara; and Fountain Family members Jane Anderson, Adrienne Brandriss, Brenda Marsh, Ashley and Debbie Posner, Evelyn Duboff,  Marianne Weil. 

Fountain Co-Artistic Director (and Broomstick director) Stephen Sachs opened the evening by expressing thanks to the supporters gathered and shared exciting news about what’s currently happening at the Fountain and events coming soon. Actress Jenny O’Hara then shared her insights and answered questions on the creative process of Broomstick. And our invited patrons added their own personal comments. Overall, a warm and heartfelt discussion was enjoyed by all. 

Our sincere thanks to Dorothy and Stanley Wolpert for hosting the event in their lovely home. We look forward to the next Insider Event for our next production of Reborning, in our upcoming season. Join us!

Snapshots from the ‘Broomstick’ Insider Event

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Posted in actors, Arts, arts organizations, director, Fountain Theatre, non-profit organization, performing arts, plays, Theater, theatre

Tagged actors, Adrienne Brandriss, arts organizations, Ashley Posner, Barbara Goodhill, Broomstick, Debbie Posner, Deborah Lawlor, Dorothy Wolpert, Evelyn Duboff, Fountain Theatre, James Bennett, Jane Anderson, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Premiere, Marianne Weil, performing arts, plays, Reborning, Simon Levy, Stanley Wolpert, Stephen Sachs, theater, theatre

Comedy/Drama About Art Re-Titled ‘Ingen Konst’ 

The Stephen Sachs hit play Bakersfield Mist, which enjoyed a 7-month sold-out run in its world premiere at the Fountain in 2011, is now earning marvelous reviews in Sweden as ‘Ingen Konst’ (“No Art”) starring Peter Flack and Marie Kuhler Flack. Sachs has been invited to Sweden to attend a performance of his play in the city of Orebro, outside Stockholm. He will be there November 5 – 10.

“I’m thrilled to be going to Sweden,” exclaimed Sachs. “Of course, the play is being performed there in Swedish so I’m eager and curious to see how audiences in another country are responding to these characters and the material.”

Marie Kuhler Flack and Peter Flack (Sweden)

After first opening at the Fountain Theatre starring Jenny O’Hara and Nick Ullett, Bakersfield Mist was produced in a select number of theaters around the US as part of an exclusive Rolling World Premiere with the National New Play Network (NNPN). The UK production recently ran for 3 months this summer in London on the West End starring Kathleen Turner and Ian McDiarmid. The play is now being translated into other languages and being produced around the world. It will soon be published in the United States by Dramatists Play Service  and be produced in regional theaters nationwide.   

Stephen Sachs with Peter Flack and Marie Kühler Flack at the Duchess Theatre, London.

The Orebro production in Sweden is a hit and getting wonderful reviews: “The acting is dynamic and the lines bounce with a vitality that is next to perfect. An entertaining comedy with a serious undertone. A wonderfully human comedy …”

Sachs met the two Swedish actors, who are also husband and wife, when they came to see the London production of the play on the West End. 

“It’s the dream of every playwright to have a play that is enjoyed in countries around the world,” says Sachs. “I’m delighted to see that now happening with Bakersfield Mist.”

“And it all started here at the Fountain Theatre.”  

‘Bakersfield Mist’ at the Fountain Theatre (2011)

Rehearsal/Trailer of ‘Ingen Konst’ in Sweden (2014) 

Posted in Acting, actors, Arts, arts organizations, Drama, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, Theater, theatre

Tagged actors, arts organizations, Bakersfield Mist, comedy, Dramatists Play Service, Fountain Theatre, Ian McDiarmid, Ingen Konst, Jenny O’Hara, Kathleen Turner, London, Los Angeles, National New Play Network, Nick Ullett, NNPN, Orebro, performing arts, plays, playwriting, Stephen Sachs, Sweden, Swedish, theater, theatre, West End, world premiere

Fountain Co-Artistic Director Stephen Sachs waves from the stage at the Ovation Awards.

It was a memorable evening for the Fountain Theatre Sunday night, November 2nd,  at the 2014 Ovation Awards hosted by LA Stage Alliance and held at the historic San Gabriel Mission Playhouse in San Gabriel. The Fountain was honored with the prestigious Best Season Award (“The Normal Heart”, “My Name is Asher Lev”, and “The Brothers Size”) for overall excellence and received the 2014 BEST Award from the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation recognizing exceptional theatre organizations that contribute to the cultural vibrancy of Los Angeles.

Often hailed as LA’s version of the Tony Awards, the peer-judged Ovation Awards recognize excellence in theatrical performance, production and design in the Greater Los Angeles area. The LA Times has referred to the Ovation Awards as the “highest-profile contest for local theatre.”

Stephen Sachs

The Best Season Award is the preeminent Ovation honor. It recognizes a theatre company’s overall excellence throughout an entire season. Over the years, The Fountain has received more nominations for the Best Season category than any other theatre in Los Angeles. This year marks the 5th time that The Fountain Theatre has been nominated for Best Season since the category was created 6 years ago. The Fountain has now won the award twice.  

“Being honored with the Best Season Award is particularly meaningful to us because it doesn’t go to one person,” said Fountain Co-Artistic Director Stephen Sachs. “It celebrates the achievement of an entire season of artists. Therefore, the award goes to — and is shared by — all of the many actors, designers and production team members in our Fountain Family who made our 2013-14 Ovation Season such a success. ”  

Acclaimed productions in the Fountain 2014 Ovation Season included the exclusive revival of The Normal Heart, the Los Angeles Premiere of My Name is Asher Lev, and the Los Angeles Premiere of The Brothers Size.   

Shirley Jo Finney, Gilbert Glenn Brown, Theo Perkins, Stephen Sachs, Matthew Hancock.

2014 BEST Award winners, with Biller Foundation Executive Director Sarah Lyding

The Fountain was also honored Sunday night with the BEST Award presented and funded by The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation.  The BEST (Building Excellence in Small Theatre) Award recognizes exceptional theatre organizations that contribute to the cultural vitality of Los Angeles with long-term viability. The Fountain was honored for its ability to think creatively, the quality of its ideas and aspirations, and the organization’s ability to differentiate itself from other Los Angeles theatre companies.

Our sincere thanks to LA Stage Alliance and The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation for their ongoing dedicated support of intimate theatre in Los Angeles.

Enjoy These Photos from the 2014 Ovation Awards

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Posted in Acting, actors, Arts, arts organizations, designers, director, Drama, Fountain Theatre, non-profit organization, Ovation Awards, performing arts, plays, playwright, Theater, theatre

Tagged actors, Anna Khaja, arts organizations, BEST Award, Best Season, Deborah Lawlor, Fountain Theatre, Gilbert Glenn Brown, Jenny O’Hara, LA Stage Alliance, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Premiere, Matthew Hancock, Maya Lynne Robinson, My Name Is Asher Lev, new plays, Ovation Awards, Pablo Santiago, performing arts, plays, San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, Sarah Lyding, Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation, Shirley Jo Finney, Simon Levy, Stephen Sachs, The Brothers Size, The Normal Heart, theater, theatre, Theodore Perkins