OW-related theater links and info

[Wellesnet]

John Houseman telling the story of the Cradle Will Rock production, as part of an introduction to a televised revival in 1986:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LDb0fn4Uek

[tonyw]

Despite its problems (most notably in the Welles and Houseman representations)m I always run Tim Robbins's film version in class each time I teach Welles.

I wonder if the crepe suzette scene in Anthony Mann's RAW DEAL (1948) was inspired by one Welles-Houseman confrontation?

[tonyw]

I;m looking forward to the production taht will be satged in Woodstrock, IL. next year.

[Wellesnet]

One-time only performance. Sounds like a lot of fun if you afford a ticket:
http://www.scpr.org/blogs/offramp/2015/ ... erform-in/

[Wich2]

IF they don't camp it!

I've seen/heard several solid recreations of the piece; but one live-on-stage here in NYC was infuriating:

The whole thing was played with a tone of "nudge, nudge, wink, wink - wasn't radio a quaint little thing, and isn't this all silly?"

Not THIS show, from THIS team, folks.

-Craig

[Le Chiffre]

I've only seen one stage presentation of it, last year at the Woodstock Welles fest, and fortunately that was played pretty straight, and with a lot of enthusiasm. It seems to me that the main appeal of these kinds of recreations is that they give you the feeling of being in a studio audience. I don't know how a camped up approach would work with that.

Doesn't seem to be much online feedback about the Star Trek performance.

[Wellesnet]

Matt Chiorini, theatre program director, has written a new play, "Orson Welles/Shylock" had its premiere production at the Columbia Festival of the Arts in Maryland today on April 19, 2015. It will also be featured as part of the Harvard/Ca Foscari "Shylock Project" Summer School this summer in Venice, Italy.

From the CFA website:

ORSON WELLES/SHYLOCK
A Docu-Fantasy Radio Play
By Matt Chiorini

American icon Orson Welles accomplished more by the age of 30 than most do in a lifetime. Amidst his prodigious achievements, one character consistently eluded him: the character of Shylock from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice. This original play tells the story of Welles’ many unsuccessful attempts to play the role he coveted – a fast and funny tragicomedy that gives a fresh new look at an extraordinary artist.

[Wellesnet]

Matt's play getting increased attention:
http://www.wellesnet.com/orson-wellessh ... attention/

Matthew Chiorini's play was staged at the Columbia Festival of the Arts in Maryland in April with subsequent performances at Le Moyne College and the “Shylock Project” Summer School and Conference in Italy, where it was hailed by organizers as one of the highlights of the program.

Since then, Chiorini has been fielding invitations for performances in the U.S. and abroad, including an invitation to return to Venice as part of the celebrations surrounding the first-ever production of The Merchant of Venice to be staged in the Venetian Jewish ghetto next summer.

Billed as a "docu-fantasy radio play," Orson Welles/Shylock recalls Welles' unsuccessful attempts to play the role and the surprising and haunting ways that his life overlapped with the character.

[Wellesnet]

‘Orson The Magnificent’ mixes magic, biography. Article and interview with actor-playwright Lars Klores:
http://www.wellesnet.com/orson-the-magn ... biography/

[NoFake]

Will be seeing it in DC in about 2 weeks.

[Wellesnet]

Here's a great review of the new production:
https://dctheatrescene.com/2017/07/15/o ... ge-review/

Magic, when done well, can entrance even the most cynical audience member. Speaking for myself, I went into this show somewhat hesitant – and emerged after an hour feeling like a kid on Christmas morning. Orson Welles, ever the master showman, has found the perfect modern-day conduit in multi-talented Lars Klores.

[NoFake]

Agreed! And as it happens, Klores selected me for one of his tricks, giving me a sealed envelope holding, he told me, a pack of cards that had been thoroughly shuffled. “Pick a color—black or red,” he said, “and just think it; don’t say it.” I did. “Pick a suit." I did. "Face card or number card.” I did. “Pick a position: high or low.” I did. “Pick a specific card.” I did.

He held the sealed envelope, staring at it and waving it as a magician (and—for those of us in the know—in particular, Welles) would to prolong the tension and mystery.

“When I open the envelope,” he announced, “the card you chose will be turned in a different direction from all the others.”

He did. And it was.

[Wellesnet]

New production in upstate New York:
http://www.broadwayworld.com/central-ne ... K-20170724

[Wellesnet]

One time performance today in Alexandria, VA:
http://thezebra.org/2018/06/15/who-is-o ... e-theatre/

[Wellesnet]

Maverick, a new play set during filmmaker Orson Welles' final months, will run February 6 through March 2 at the Connelly Theater in New York's East Village.:
http://www.wellesnet.com/maverick-play-orson-welles/

The play is based on the real-life happenings of Frank Beacham, a young video maker, who was given the creative opportunity to work with Welles in the months before his death in 1985.

Website of Paul Beacham, and his article, "Orson Welles and His Brief, Passionate Love Affair with Betacam":
https://www.beachamjournal.com/journal/ ... tacam.html