Lustig

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin So I just got back from the Byrd Theatre (wait, wait, wait...don't hurt me for blogging about film on the live theatre blog just yet) where they were screening a short film called Lustig, which was filmed in Richmond.

I was told Lustig is a "Holocaust film." I don't know that that label really gives you an idea of what you're in for. The majority of the film takes place a year after the war has ended and all of the camps have been liberated. The rest of the story we see and hear in flashbacks. It is an absolutely stunning film.

I hear that it has been/will be submitted to the Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals, so you may have a chance to check it out and see it elsewhere. But just in case, you can contact them through their website.

Oh, my point...and I do have one (Ellen...anybody?)...is that Eric Evans is in the film. Eric Evans who is currently featured in Theatre IV's production of A Christmas Story (running through next Sunday, selling out, buy your tickets today by calling the box office at 344-8040 or visit the Theatre IV website)! Eric also appeared in Barksdale Theatre's production of Carson McCuller's The Member of the Wedding and in Theatre IV's production of The Wizard of Oz. (Busy guy.) AND, he was also in 365Days/365Plays by Suzan-Lori Parks produced by Barksdale Theatre, in association with K Dance.

Eric plays the boy whose father died in the last days of the war. His reaction to the news of his father's death is heartbreaking. An incredibly talented actor, this guy. If you get a chance, you should check out his work in Lustig, A Christmas Story, or any time he's on the boards. He's definitely one to look out for.

Also, the Byrd Theatre Foundation is going to be showing a locally produced film at least once a month starting in January. It's so exciting to see the arts scene in Richmond continue to grow!

365 Days/365 Plays gets Shoutouts from STYLE Weekly and Richmond Times-Dispatch

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

Thanks to our incredibly awesome publicist, Judi Crenshaw, I have done three phone interviews this past week with three different publications (Richmond.com, STYLE Weekly, and Richmond Times-Dispatch). I constantly feared saying something incredibly ridiculous and then reading the article saying to myself "Wow[or some other word that I shouldn't publish here], did I really say that?" But these fantastic writers, Karri Peifer, David Timberline, and Celia Wren, respectively, have written articles that illuminate the project in such an exciting, beautiful, intriguing (how I could go on) way! The Richmond.com link I posted last week, so here lie the links to the article that appeared in STYLE Weekly yesterday and the article that appears in the weekend section of the Times-Dispatch today.

David Timberline's piece in STYLE can be read here.

Celia Wren (who was so absolutely incredible to speak with) 's article in today's Times-Dispatch can be read here.

And just so you don't have to hunt back to last week, here is the link to Karri Peifer's feature on Richmond.com.

I also want to give a shoutout to the two other directors in our 365, Darius T. Epps and Kaye Weinstein Gary, who have two of the most unique, refreshing visions that I have encountered.

(Darius is pictured to the left. Kaye is pictured to the right.)

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

We just got our first press piece about our involvement in 365 Days/365 Plays! Richmond.com's Karri Peifer has composed a really nice feature story that you can find (as of today) on Richmond.com. Judi Crenshaw, our publicist, has really dones an incredible job with getting this project visibility! She rocks my world a bit.

No need for me to keep going. I'll let you read what Ms. Peifer has to say! On to the story:

Read Richmond.com's Feature about Barksdale Theatre's production of Week 50 of 365 Days/365 Plays by Suzan-Lori Parks.

So this Pulitzer Prize Winner Woke Up One Day and Decided to Write a Play Every Day for a Year...

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

Back in November of 2002, Suzan-Lori Parks (the Pulitzer Prize winning playwright of Topdog/Underdog, In the Blood, Venus, and F------ A) decided that she would write a play, every day, for a year. Now, remember the last time you woke and said, "[insert unrealistic goal here]." Remember when that didn't really happen? Well the really cool thing about Suzan-Lori's goal is...she actually did it!!!

Now, there is a nationwide festival--well, a movement really--to produce all 365 of these plays all over the country. Participating theatres or individuals present a week of plays (seven plays) during the week that they were written (along with "The 3 Constants"...but more about that later).

Barksdale Theatre (I'm so ecstatic about this) is presenting "Week 50" on October 22nd at 8PM on the Barksdale Willow Lawn lobby stage. A cash bar will be available. It's another component of our ongoing Women's Theatre Project.

Cost is...well...at the requirement of Suzan-Lori Parks, Pay-What-You-Will. So come be part of making American theatre history. Throw some cash in the jar and take in some of the most stimulating, fascinating, and often quite hilarious (I mean REALLY hilarious) theatre one is likely to experience.

More to come...

--Billy Christopher Maupin