"A Christmas Story" Opens Tomorrow

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

Tomorrow night at Barksdale Theatre's "sister theatre," Theatre IV, A Christmas Story opens. Not the movie, of course, but a stage adaptation of the movie. And it took a heckuva lot of people to get it to the stage. The author billing credit is required by the publisher to read:

A Christmas Story
Adapted by Philip Grecian. Based on the motion picture A Christmas Story,
© 1983 Turner Entertainment Co., Distributed by Warner Bros.,
Written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark;
Also based on the book In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd.

Now that's a mouthful. But all those writing credits make me think of all the people who are involved in getting the show onstage after the script is written. There's a talented team of people on this one.

A Christmas Story is directed by Chase Kniffen, with scenic design by Mercedes Schaum, lighting design by Matthew Landwehr, costume design by Sarah Grady, stage management by Ariel C. Osborne, and a whole slew of electricians, sound technicians, scene painters, costumers, and more.

And it's A Christmas Story onstage! I can hardly wait to see it! Especially because of the great cast: Tony Foley, Julie Fulcher, Gordon Bass, Eric Pastore, Jacqueline Jones/AnnaMarie Rossi, R. Cooper Timberline, Eric Evans, Michael Thibodeau, Lillie Izo, Lyla Rossi, and Chandler Hurd.

It's the holiday classic, live and on-stage! To order tickets, call the box office at 344-8040 or visit the Theatre IV website at http://www.theatreivrichmond.org/. I hope to see you at the show!

(Photos by Jay Paul. From top to bottom: Eric Pastore; Julie Fulcher and Gordon Bass; Michael Thibodeau, Eric Pastore, R. Cooper Timberline, and Eric Evans; Tony Foley)

--Billy Christopher Maupin

Another Fantastic Cabaret at the Empire Theatre

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

I am often accused of not sharing information early enough, so even though there are a lot of exciting things going on next Friday for First Friday at the Empire, I wanted to start getting the word out about the cabaret that will be playing in the lobby FOR FREE (which seemed to be the big question last time: "How much is the cover?"). FREE ENTERTAINMENT; How cool is that?
We featured an incredibly well-received cabaret for First Friday in September; so well-received, in fact, that we are featuring another next week, with several returning faces/voices and several new ones as well.

This time around Corey Davis (most recently of Stuart Little at Theatre IV and Austin's Bridge at the Firehouse Theatre Project, also to be seen in the upcoming Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter at Theatre IV),

Billy Christopher Maupin (seen in Mr. Marmalade and Austin's Bridge at the Firehouse Theatre Project and earlier this year in Smoke on the Mountain at Barksdale Theatre at Hanover Tavern),

Audrey Snyder (Stuart Little with Theatre IV, Frankenstein Lives! at the Carpenter Science Theatre, Where's Charley? at Barksdale Theatre),

and Chloe Williams (Barksdale Theatre's smash hit production of Mame) will return to the stage.

And the vibrant new voices of Taylor Baltimore (currently rehearsing as Petra in Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's A Little Night Music with Live Arts in Charlottesville),

Catherine Dudley (who just closed as Snowbell in Stuart Little),

Jacquie O'Connor (recently seen in The Full Monty and Scapino! at Barksdale, as well as I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at Swift Creek Mill Playhouse),

and Jonathan Spivey (Barksdale's Cyrano de Bergerac, numerous performances at the University of Richmond, and a stunning Lady #3 in Paul Deiss' adaptation of The Magic Flute with Theatre IV) will join them.

The upcoming cabaret will feature songs from Cabaret, Chicago, Dreamgirls, Side Show, South Pacific, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and more!

So come check out all the exciting things happening, grab a drink at the cash bar and check out a fine cabaret. Life is, after all, a cabaret, ol' chum. So...(yeah...you're singing it...)

Friday, November 2, starting at 7:30PM at the historic Empire Theatre in Downtown Richmond!

(Pictured at right, from September's cabaret are Robin Harris-Jones, Billy Christopher Maupin, Russell Rowland, Janine Sears, Andrea Ross, Audrey Snyder, Corey Davis, Chloe Williams, and Keydron Dunn.)

(NOTE: Headshots appear in order of mention and not necessarily adjacent to name.)

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

David Bridgewater meets James Lipton...OK,so not really; he just answers his questions...well, Bernard Pivot's questions...(oops...another long title)

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

Extra! Extra! Just look at the headlines! (A Sondheim lyric from Gypsy...get it? The Mamma Rose's to the right? Anyone? No one? OK.)

We have our latest installment from the cast of our production of The Member of the Wedding. (Opening tonight! I'm so excited!)

David Bridgewater, most recently seen in Neil Simon's The Odd Couple at Barksdale Theatre at Hanover Tavern, has joined in the fun and filled out the Bernard Pivot/James Lipton questionairre.

So here goes:

1. What is your favorite word?
Home. Make no mistake; there are all kinds of homes. You can be at home on stage, with a good book, on a basketball court, in the mountains or in the arms of a lover. It’s the feeling of complete contentment. That feeling of, “Thank God I’m here.”

(It really brings up an image of Diana Ross singing "Home" in The Wiz, doesn't it? No? OK...well...anyway...on with David's answers.)

2. What is your least favorite word?
Goodbye.

3. What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?
There is nothing more powerful than passion. It doesn’t matter if you are acting, teaching children, exercising, writing a book, building a table or bagging groceries. If you are passionate and focused, that is quite the turn on.

4. What turns you off?
Condescending people. How many degrees you hold or how much money you have makes no difference. Treat everyone with respect. No matter if you are speaking with a senator or a janitor, be respectful of the person. Ignorance does not mean a lack of education. I’ve known a great many ignorant people with degrees on their walls.

5. What sound or noise do you love?
There is a sigh that’s made. You can hear dogs make it often. It’s a sigh that says, “I am so content, safe and happy right now.” When my daughters are tired at the end of a long day, they lay in my arms, they breathe in deep and sigh out slow. There is simply no better sound.

6. What sound or noise do you hate?
(Sorry, you kids!) I hate plastic, synthesized, brainless music or would-be poets screaming a rhyme to a programmed beat and calling it “music”. I like instruments. I like singing. I don’t want robots making my music.

7. What is your favorite curse word? (Have at it. I obviously won't post it for real, but in some approved somewhat censored fashion)
Ah, so many cuss words, so little time.
I have two. Neither one is all that exciting or colorful, but…
G**D*****. It has a great pop. And it’s versatile:
“G**D***** that hurts!!” or
“Did you see that girl wearing the thing, with the thing and those things? G**D*****!!!”

I’m also fond of JACKA$$. “You stupid JACKA$$!” Ya can’t beat that one either.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Again, so many… A counselor or therapist would be closest to my heart. A writer. A bottleneck blues musician. A wildlife photographer.

9. What profession would you not like to do?
Anything corporate. I hate wearing a tie and I hate the obsession of money.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Two things:
“Where the hell have you been!?”
“I know, Dave. It’s okay. You did your best. Come on in.”

--David Bridgewater

Katherine Louis, playing Berenice in the upcoming production of The Member of The Wedding Breezes Through to Answer Lipton's Questionnaire

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

Katherine Louis, whom I love and adore, had a brief moment last week, when she came through my office for all of about ten minutes with many other pressing things on her plate, so I promptly asserted that this questionnaire is vitally important, so she sat down with me to answer the questionnaire that Proust inspired, than Pivot picked up on, and James Lipton (Inside the Actor's Studio) ripped off...OK...not ripped off...he always gives credit to Pivot...and he changed a couple of things. So it really is all very above board. If anyone is ripping off, it's really me. But we won't talk about that.

So...Katherine's repsonses...oh wait...I want all to know that Katherine, who I saw most recently in Living Word Stage Company's (now African American Repertory Theatre) African American Trailblazer's storytelling series at various venues around Richmond (very cool stuff...very educational and also very dynamic and captivating). ANYway...back to Katherine's answers...
(drum roll please...)

(are you doing it?)

(no, really, do a drum roll
on your desk right now...)

So here goes:

1. What is your favorite word?
happy

2. What is your least favorite word?
no
3. What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?
I’m just going to say the first thing that pops into my head: When people really listen to me.

4. What turns you off?
Stupid turns me off like crazy. Stupid anything. Stupid people. Stupid comments. Stupid clothes. (Oh, that sounds so shallow.) We all know I’m so beyond being shallow like that. Are you listening to me!?

5. What sound or noise do you love?
My granddaughter’s laughter.

6. What sound or noise do you hate?
Brakes screeching. That’s the first thing that came into my head.

7. What is your favorite curse word? (have it at it. I obviously won't post it for real, but in some approved somewhat censored fashion)
It’s funny you should ask me this because I actually know the answer. My favorite curse-word is **** (think of sugar honey iced tea). It kind of hits everything doesn’t it. It’s a word your grandma can say.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Culinary Instructor. I don’t want to be in the kitchen all day, but I can teach others how to be in the kitchen all day.

9. What profession would you not like to do?
Garbage man.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Well done.

Stay tuned for more "interviews" with the cast, crew, and artistic team of Barksdale Theatre's production of Carson McCuller's The Member of the Wedding.

-- Billy Christopher Maupin

Wichmann Steps Up to the Plate and Answers Lipton's Questionnaire (Is that a long title? I'll work on it.)

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin

So...once upon a time...wait...Into the Woods just closed (that was the first line of the show)...umm...Seems to me this old arbor has shrunk...ok...so maybe the first line of Carson McCullers' beautiful play, The Member of the Wedding, also isn't the best way to start this post, even though this post bears a strong connection to Barksdale's upcoming production of said play in our very exciting Signature Season at Willow Lawn.

So, scratch all that, I'm just gonna jump right in: Marcel Proust used to do this questionnaire thing that inspired Bernard Pivot, who among other things was a French talk show host, he himself being French as well, not just the talk show...anyway...at the end of his show, Bouillon de Culture(1990-2001), he would ask all of his guests a set of questions. James Lipton, host of Inside the Actor's Studio, was inspired by this and decided to adapt it (just slightly) to end all of his shows. (Inside the Actor's Studio airs on Sundays at 8 pm, I believe, and is often incredibly interesting. You can also find a lot of the episodes with some really great stars-Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Teri Hatcher, the cast of Will & Grace-on YouTube...oh how I love YouTube.)

But what I thought would be way cool would be to put those same questions to some our Richmond artists and have a sort of series of these posts. In the coming weeks, leading up to and during the run of The Member of the Wedding, you will get to read what these actors, designers, technicians, etc. had to say in response the questionnaire. Today...I'm getting goosebumps, I'm so excited...we have director Scott Wichmann's responses to the Bernard-Pivot-Slightly-Adapted-for-Inside-the-Actor's-Studio- Questionnaire (I keep spelling questionnaire wrong...oh, how I also love spell check- which it is now telling me is two words).

LET THE FUN BEGIN!
(Oh, wait, before the fun begins, I suppose we should note that all comments and opinions expressed in these responses are the sole opinion of the interviewee and do not represent the opinions of Barksdale Theatre or its affiliates, blah blah blah:)

And now the fun!:

1. What is your favorite word?
MUKLUKS!! The eskimo footwear made popular by the Sketch Comedy troupe 'Radio Free Vestibule' in their classic four-minute sketch 'Bulbous Bouffant' back in 1994. You can listen to the audio of 'Bulbous Bouffant' at http://www.ferin.com/words.mp3/ it is HILARIOUS. Having fun with words and their goofy sounds always makes me happy.

2. What is your least favorite word?
NO. I think I've always been averse to that one. Especially when it is in answer to my query, "Honey, are there any more cookies left?"

3. What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?
I really get a charge out of being plugged into the creative process with other committed artists who are not afraid to take risks and fall on their faces. I think as I get older, and hopefully more emotionally mature, I'm learning that it is best to just put yourself out there (whether onstage or off) and let yourself respond honestly and fearlessly. That's where the good stuff always is, and that is how you learn to evolve as a human being.

4. What turns you off?
The perpetuation of willfull ignorance, the current info-tainment based political and cultural scene, Brussels sprouts, and the New York Yankees.

5. What sound or noise do you love?
My dog Elliot's hound-dog bay, the crack of a wooden bat, the lightsaber noise, the Godzilla roar, and the meditation bell. Oh, and the words "The Red Sox Win!"

6. What sound or noise do you hate?
Styrofoam. I absolutely cannot stand it. It's like my kryptonite. I hear it, and I'm like, "If.. just...can..reach...utility belt..."

7. What is your favorite curse word?
It isn't a curse word, per se, but my father used to say "You can just go pound sand" whenever he was really upset at someone for something. The futile image of someone 'Pounding sand' was just hilarious to me as a kid. Every now and then I'll use that one, keeping in mind that I hope one day I can turn out to be the kind of gentleman my father is.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I would seriously love to go into politics one day. I'm very concerned about the state of the country right now, and I feel that to a large extent, the people in Washington don't really address the pressing concerns of everyday Americans. I continually find that people of all party affiliations deeply share that view. It is really sad that one has to be a quadrillionaire to run for President in this day and age. I could probably talk politics all day long with anyone, anywhere. I love it.

9. What profession would you not like to do?
Anything that harms animals or makes me have to juggle fire. Or chainsaws.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
MUKLUKS!!! Then I'd know we're cool with each other.

So come check out Scott's direction of Carson McCuller's The Member of the Wedding, September 21 through October 28 at Barksdale Theatre at Willow Lawn. I'm really excited about seeing this production for several reasons, not the least of which is that I think it's a marvelous, beautifully written play. Another being that once upon a time, I worked on Theatre IV's production of Ben Franklin and His Kite (Shout out to BFK'04!) that Scott wrote and directed, creating a really fantastic production. Oh, I should mention that to get tickets to The Member of the Wedding, you can call the box office at 282-2620 (or you can order them online, but my recommendation is that you call and speak with one of the fabulous box office staff)!

-- Billy Christopher Maupin
w/Scott Wichmann's illuminating responses