Berkeley Rep Blog
Sade's Emotional Creature blog: Every day is a chance to listen and learn
posted by Karen McKevitt on Mon, May 28, 2012
in Backstage buzz , Our shows
The cast of Emotional Creature is blogging about their experience preparing for the world premiere of Eve Ensler's new play here at Berkeley Rep -- we knew these gals would embrace social media! These will be co-posted by Berkeley Rep and V-Girls.
Here's the very first post by ensemble member Sade Namei:
Today, we started our music rehearsals with with Charl (pronounced, Shawl). Singing, dancing, clapping–no child play, I assure you…Ok, maybe a little. And we’ve learned that it’s hard to talk and walk at the same time!!! Anybody? Ok… just me. Thank God for humor! Lesson learned: Have a sense of humor and you can get through anything…Anybody? Just me? Ok. Everyday, we learn something wonderful from each other. Every day is a chance to listen, learn, pause, check-in and keep learning. It’s pretty incredible being here. The challenge is enormous but the stakes to not overcome them are even higher…
Hope to see you soon. off to memorization. Keep reading.
–Sade
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Introducing Black n Blue Boys
posted by Karen McKevitt on Fri, May 25, 2012
in Our shows
The amazing Dael Orlandersmith begins previews tonight for her fierce new play, Black n Blue Boys / Broken Men.
So this is the perfect opportunity to check out her introduction to the play in this video, which was taken at our staff meet-and-greet. These interviews are usually reserved for staff, creative team, and producers -- but this time we're sharing this interview with you!
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Emotional Creature meet and greet
posted by Karen McKevitt on Tue, May 22, 2012
in Our shows
This morning the Berkeley Rep staff welcomed the cast and artistic team of Eve Ensler's Emotional Creature!
Joaquina Kalukango, Olivia Oguma, Sade Namei, Molly Carden, Ashley Bryant, and Emily S. Grosland.
Managing Director Susan Medak introduced Eve Ensler along with director Jo Bonney. Artistic director Tony Taccone recalls when Eve first spoke with him about the project: "I had an exuberant conversation with her, and when you talk with her she gets you to play in her band."
Eve gave a spirited and engrossing talk about the origins of Emotional Creature. Here is a short excerpt: "As I traveled, it seemed girls had a particular life, and a tough life, espcially in poverty-stricken countries. In this country too, there's a commodification of girls, how you're supposed to look. On the flip side, girls are amazing. It's very powerful to be a girl when everyone's been told not to be one."
The meet and greet concluded with a presentation of the set design. We're stoked to have Eve, Jo, and the fierce cast of Emotional Creature here at Berkeley Rep!
(Photos by Mary Kay Hickox.)
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Berkeley Rep does Bay to Breakers!
posted by School of Theatre on Mon, May 21, 2012
in General theatre talk , School of Theatre
On Sunday morning, four Berkeley Rep employees took a break from preparations for Black n Blue Boys / Broken Men, and laced up their running shoes for Bay to Breakers.They joined over 23,000 other runners (dressed in everything from serious race attire to ball gowns, banana costumes, and birthday suits) in a race across San Francisco and came in 13,432, 13,433, 16,802, and 16,803 place. Not bad for a bunch of theatre geeks!
Pictured above (L to R): Community Programs Manager Ben Hanna, School of Theatre Registrar Katie Riemann, Education Fellow Hannah Lennett, and Marketing and Communications Fellow Kyle Sircus
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Floating set
posted by Karen McKevitt on Sat, May 19, 2012
in Our shows , Scene shop
Whenever she's working on a set for a Berkeley Rep show, Scenic Charge Artist Lisa Lazar emails awesome photos with commentary to the entire staff. Here's her step-by-step of the set for Dael Orlandersmith's Black n Blue Boys / Broken Men, which begins performances on May 25.
