#thenewensemble

[brothermarc7theatre]

2017 Wrap-Up; Looking Ahead to 2018

Another year of theatre has come and gone. I am most pleased to report that this year is now the top year for amount of shows I've seen!! The list is below, along with my top picks of the year in various categories. However, with the amount of shows I was blessed to see (and only a few not so blessed), I feel as if I'm the luckiest one in the bunch. Not just an audience member, I was able to sneak three shows of my own in before entering into the ever-busy world of Graduate School. I kicked off the year playing the extremely fun role of Max in Lend Me a Tenor; followed by a tapping, roller-skating, jolly time as Robert in The Drowsy Chaperone; followed immediately by going to the dark side as Ernst in Cabaret. Enjoy the list and picks!

Tenderly, the Rosemary Clooney Musical-2017-Altarena Playhouse

She Loves Me-2017-San Francisco Playhouse

The Will Rogers Follies-2017-Good Company Players

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown-2017-Pacifica Spindrift Players

A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine-2017-Palo Alto Players

Cabaret-2017-Hillbarn Theatre

Finding Neverland-2017-National Tour (San Francisco)

The Christians-2017-San Francisco Playhouse

A Thousand Splendid Suns-2017-American Conservatory Theatre

Billy Elliot-2017-Berkeley Playhouse

My Cat Thinks It’s a Pig...and Other Farm Stories-2017-Rogue Festival

Chop Chop Charlie’s Basement Party!:A Miserable Comedy-2017-Rogue Festival

Moonlight After Midnight-2017-Rogue Festival

Figmentally-2017-Rogue Festival

Me, My Song, and I-2017-Rogue Festival

A Fatal Step-2017-Rogue Festival

The Wallaby Way-2017-Rogue Festival

Joan of Sn’arc-2017-Rogue Festival

Thanks for Coming-2017-Rogue Festival

Daddy Issues-2017-Rogue Festival

Flower Tome Companion Episode III: Something Fishy-2017-Rogue Festival

Experts, Assholes, and True Believers-2017-Rogue Festival

Delirium-2017-Rogue Festival

I’m a Musician; Do You Want Fries with That?-2017-Rogue Festival

somebody’s children-2017-Rogue Festival

In The Heights-2017-College of the Sequoias

Smokey Joe’s Café-2017-Town Hall Theatre Company

John-2017-American Conservatory Theatre

Rumors-2017-Hillbarn Theatre

Hamilton-2017-National Tour (San Francisco)

The Christians-2017-StageWorks Fresno

The Producers-2017-Broadway By The Bay

Into The Woods-2017-National Tour (San Francisco)

Dog Sees God…-2017-:Left Coast Theatre Company

Sister Act-2017-Hillbarn Theatre

Rapture, Blister, Burn-2017-City Lights Theatre Company

An Ideal Husband-2017-Town Hall Theatre Company

[title of show]-2017-Los Altos Stage Company

Dear Evan Hansen-2017-Broadway (Music Box)

Bandstand-2017-Broadway (Bernard B. Jacobs)

The End of Longing-2017-MCC Theatre (Off-Broadway)

Come From Away-2017-Broadway (Gerald Schoenfeld)

Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812-2017-Broadway (Imperial)

Present Laughter-2017-Broadway (St. James)

Groundhog Day-2017-Broadway (August Wilson)

The Little Foxes-2017-Broadway (Samuel J. Friedman)

The Clean House-2017-Coastal Repertory Theatre

The Toxic Avenger-2017-San Jose Stage Company

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert-2017-Theatre Rhinoceros

A Night with Janis Joplin-2017-American Conservatory Theatre

Damn Yankees-2017-Good Company Players

35MM:A Musical Exhibition-2017-Selma Arts Center

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time-2017-National Tour (SF)

On The Town-2017-Sacramento Music Circus

The Glass Menagerie-2017-California Shakespeare Theatre

Becky’s New Car-2017-Pacifica Spindrift Players

The Wizard of Oz-2017-Tri-Valley Repertory

The Great American Trailer Park Musical-2017-Sierra Repertory Theatre

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat-2017-Sierra Repertory Theatre

The Full Monty-2017-StageWorks Fresno

Sister Act-2017-Good Company Players

Debbie Does Dallas-2017-OMG! Productions

Shrek the Musical-2017-Foothill Music Theatre

Sherlock Holmes/Adventures of the Suicide Club-2017-SiliconValleyShakespeare

Lizzie-2017-City Lights Theatre Company

Hedda Gabler-2017-The New Ensemble

Hamlet-2017-Silicon Valley Shakespeare

Next to Normal-2017-Broadway by the Bay

Man of la Mancha-2017-Sierra Repertory Theatre

Romeo and Juliet-2017-Half Moon Bay Shakespeare

Something Rotten-2017-National Tour (San Francisco)

Mothers and Sons-2017-StageWorks Fresno

The Drowsy Chaperone-2017-Good Company Players

Million Dollar Quartet-2017-Palo Alto Players

The Crucible-2017-Los Altos Stage Company

Reefer Madness-2017-Ray of Light Theatre

The Song of the Nightingale-2017-Town Hall Theatre Company

Stupid Fucking Bird-2017-City Lights Theatre Company

A Particle of Dread-2017-Fresno State University

The Glass Menagerie-2017-Sierra Repertory Theatre

An American in Paris-2017-National Tour (San Francisco)

Sister Act-2017-Berkeley Playhouse

The Prince of Egypt-2017-Theatreworks

Little Shop of Horrors-2017-StageWorks Fresno

Gravedigger! The Musical-2017-PianoFight SF

The Liar-2017-Center Repertory Theatre

Peter Pan-2017-Palo Alto Players

Singin’ in the Rain-2017-Broadway By The Bay

42nd Street-2017-Bay Area Musicals

Bright Star-2017-National Tour (San Francisco)

Aladdin-2017-National Tour (San Francisco)

Annie-Hillbarn Theatre

A Civil War Christmas-2017-Town Hall Theatre

Coney Island Christmas-2017-Coastal Repertory Theatre

The 1940’s Radio Hour-2017-Los Altos Stage Company

A Christmas Story: the Musical-2017-SF Playhouse

 Number of shows I saw in 2017: 96

Favorite National Tour production of 2017: Hamilton in San Francisco

Favorite Broadway production of 2017: Come From Away at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater

Favorite Professional/Regional production of 2017: The Liar at Center REP

Favorite Central Valley Theatre production of 2017: Hedda Gabler at The New Ensemble

Favorite Bay Area Theatre production of 2017: TIE- The Toxic Avenger

at San Jose Stage Company and Next to Normal at Broadway by the Bay

Favorite Youth or College production of 2017: A Particle of Dread at Fresno State University   

2018 promises to be yet another fun, fun year of enjoyable theatre for me. If there is anything I can take away from 2017 in theatre is that art speaks, and it speaks loudly. No matter what issues tug at your heart and soul, there is a play, a song, a poem, a film, a television episode, a novel, a painting, a ballet, a movement, a score, or something else that speaks to that. Art is both a voice and a medium with which to use to its full potential. I encourage you to find what art form (even if it is isn't theatre) works for you to express your voice in 2018. Cheers!

[brothermarc7theatre]

Hedda Gabler show #661

Jon Robin Baitz’s adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s play, Hedda Gabler, centered around the titular role’s newly acquired way of living, is illuminating in that it covers today’s familial issues and gender roles while still giving the audience a juicy plot. At the helm of The New Ensemble’s currently running production is Heather Parish, whose direction allows for the cast of seven to deliver fully-realized characters that are enigmatically interesting at first, but take and succumb to what circumstances are given, culminating in a devastatingly sensational production.

(Brooke Aielloe (Hedda); Photo credit: Gabriel Rios)

Brooke Aiello plays Hedda, the ever-plotting, perpetually bored wife of professional academic, George. After a six-month honeymoon, which involved George working, Hedda is ready to jump into home life, until she realizes just how dull her life is going to be. What makes Miss Aiello’s delivery so exceptional is how many layers to Hedda’s choices she consistently inflects and makes known in her performance. Miss Aiello has the right balance of “seemingly” innocent demeanor when it comes to her relationships with George’s aunt Julia, and at first opposite Judge Brack, but lets the claws come out when interacting with old school friend, Thea, and former beau, Eilert. Miss Aiello’s Hedda has carefully crafted nuances opposite each one of these characters, accented by her grand crosses in the living room and personality in her decisions to slouch or sit with perfect posture, depending on who is in the room

(Chris Carsten (George); Photo credit: Gabriel Rios)

Chris Carsten delivers a loveable George, complete with mannerisms that punch his timidity among others but emphasize his drive to be a top-selling writer; a visually appealing performance complimenting his genial stage presence. Casey Ballard is a most excellent Thea, wearing her reactions on her sleeve, turning her string of emotions on a dime. It is through Thea and Eilert’s love triangle (Thea is married to another man) that the audience really gets to see how manipulative and cunning Hedda can be. Hedda and Eilert have a deep history together, one that Miss Aiello and Ted Nunes (playing Eilert) convey with uncanny believability. Not just in timing and chemistry, Mr. Nunes, from his first entrance, exudes the “wanna-be” scholar, on his way up, but not without a slew of skeletons in the closet and baggage weighing him down. Miss Aiello’s astute attention she pays Mr. Nunes when they share a scene exposes how vulnerable the two are with one another, ultimately leading each other down a path of no return.

(Elizabeth Fiester (Julia); Photo credit: Gabriel Rios)

Elizabeth Fiester is an amiable Aunt Julia, one who is representative of most matriarchal family members, allowing the audience to instantly connect to her. Miss Fiester plays the polite, well-mannered aunt with a demeanor that is both empowering and endearing. Miss Fiester, along with the entire cast, dons several gorgeous period costumes and doesn’t just wear the clothes but walks, sits, and lives in them as naturally as one would in the 1890s. Finally, Brad Myers plays the epitome of “mansplaining” characters, Judge Brack. With a veteran presence and cadence to his lines that allow for intimate hushes (still audible to the audience, of course) or the occasional outburst, Mr. Myers’ performance is a delicious slow burn from being an unsuspecting friend to George and Hedda to one of the most despicable men who have trounced around in all of Norway (where the play is set). Keeping in mind that this play was written by Ibsen, known for his iconic female leading roles and painting men in not always the most positive of lights, in a time period where women were not to be heard or share opinions unless asked, Mr. Myers and Miss Aiello show this social norm with ease. Mr. Myers, with his well-placed smirks, twinkles, and glances truly exudes Mr. Ibsen’s intention of portraying the type of men Judge Brack represents.

(Brad Myers (Judge Brack) and Brooke Aiello (Hedda); Photo credit: Gabriel Rios)

A job well done by all, catapulted by one of the most intelligently directing jobs I have seen in quite some time; Hedda Gabler, like many of Ibsen’s plays, is not an easy one to stage. The costumes have to be right, the scenic design has to be perfect, the cast has to be impeccably smart and intuitive as to each motivation and inflection of the lines, and the direction has to allow Ibsen’s script to do the work for them. I am happy to report that all these are done and done damn well. However, Miss Parish and cast have taken it a step further by filling in every moment and beat with reactions, attentive stares, effective business, and quick-paced scene changes that culminates in Ibsen’s work being every bit as compelling and relevant to 2017 audiences as it was in the late 1800s.

(Ted Nunes (Eilert) and Brooke Aiello (Hedda); Photo credit: Gabriel Rios)

Ibsen is rarely done, and is even more rarely done well; I implore you to hop on to The New Ensemble website/Facebook page and buy your ticket now. Do not miss the magnificence of this piece being done with a magnificent cast. Run, don’t walk to The New Ensemble’s phenomenal production of Hedda Gabler, playing for one more weekend at Fresno Pacific University’s Ashley Auditorium.