DHHWI – A Look Back at the Spring 2012 Session

I had a blast with the people in my workshop – Bryan, Gary, Skye, Joy, Ruffy, Gene, John, Evan, David, and Tim.  Dorie and Jeff really know their stuff when it comes to plays and playwriting.  I am always impressed by the amount of work that is produced in these workshops as well, and I can’t wait for the next one.  I already know what I want to write.  It’s another one based on my family.  These ones always seem to express honesty and a sense of natural humor, something that my mom is always hoping I present.

Anyway, here is a look back at this past session (a few people are missing).  This was taken the last day, Tuesday, July 3rd, during our ending pow-wow wrap-up.  I felt a sense of comraderie and I hope we all get to workshop again with each other soon.

Staged Reading of “Unforgettable” – My Full-length Play

I’ve finally rewritten “Japan 1946 Meets California 2010″ into a full length play now titled “Unforgettable”.  It’s part of the DHHWI New Works Festival – Spring 2012 Series (see photo).

Please come and give your feedback (and comparison to the original one act that we produced last year.)  I’d love to see you there!  Best part is it’s FREE!

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A little blurb about the play:

UNFORGETTABLE
By Rochelle Perry
“Time and memory collide when a grandmother’s struggle to remember     her past inspires her granddaughter to think about her future.”

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Let’s go to XLIXE or Daikokuya afterwards.

The Verdict is In….

Based on the feedback I received from Dorie and my fellow DHHWI classmates, I have decided to rewrite my “JMC” script.  I have a lot of great ideas.  I want to bring Rita into her own fantasies and expand her story with Marc, as well as add some spice to both of them.  (All this preschool writing is tickling my bad bones…)  Anyway, I received a lot of helpful feedback in my class last Saturday, and know how to really strengthen and define the relationship between grandmother and granddaughter, grandmother with grandfather, and granddaughter with boyfriend.  It should make for a much more complete and compelling version and my stance on dementia that doesn’t only affect old people but young alike.  Dementia is another state of being… like dreaming… like living… like dying.

I’ll update you more in the weeks ahead.

Serendipitous

Last night I went to the Disney/ABC Presentation at EWP, a seminar where Frank and Ollie (no, these are not Disney’s Two Old Men, but I love the serendipitous connection) inspired us all to apply for the Writers Fellowship Program.  Being that I love ABC shows, I need to work my ass off now to submit some spec scripts to this program.  I am fortunate to have some experience as a freelance writer as it gets my feet wet for deeper waters.  I would love to be on a staff of writers or at least submerge myself in prime time TV writing by starting out as a writer’s assistant.  And lately I feel that the universe is calling me to take that next step.  I heard of an opportunity today to apply for a writer’s assistant job, and I also met a friend of a friend who is looking for a diverse talent at his theatre company of 10 playwrights (preference being someone excluded from the umbrella of Old. White. Man.)  None of those apply to me.  I hope to use it as an advantage especially because I have had an interesting upbringing.  (I have my sob stories like anyone else, but I also tend to meet a lot of interesting people.  I seem to attract a lot of crazies, which is undesirable to a young woman, but only fuels amazing ideas for a writer.)

I also googled myself to see what people can find out about me.  I really hope those porn videos never come out!  Kidding!  Kidding!  (… or am I?)  Well here’s something I found that I never knew existed.  Where these people grabbed this information I have no idea, but it was fun to find nonetheless.  (It’s a really old database of my produced plays.)

http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsP/perry-rochelle.html

Oh, if you do google me, you may find another “Rochelle Perry” who died years ago.  Sorry to end this musing on a sad note.  But just know, I’m still here and hoping to make a name for all Rochelle Perrys out there…

Another session of DHHWI

This Saturday, March 17th, from 10am-2pm, I’m starting another class with Doris Baizley and a few other people formerly taking the DHHWI workshop back at the end of 2010.  I’m trying to figure out what I want to workshop.  For the last few months I’ve been writing freelance for “Chloe’s Closet,” a preschool show at Moonscoop, and working on my Steampunk Novel.  I’ve not had much time to think about playwriting.  This will be a good way to motivate me, though.  Several ideas I have swimming around in my head include an autobiography of my youth, my musical – Royelle Tragedy – and of course, rewriting Japan/CA into a full length (at least 90 minute) play.  We’ll see what the others think this Saturday.

Making the “Write” Connections at Write Act Repertory

It’s what I expect each and every time I attend a production at the Write Act: Connections, produced by Diane Chernansky and Susan Eiden, is a part of the Women Inventing Theatre series, above the bar, totally original material (like HBO). Each sketch involves incredibly diverse, creative actors. It leads one to wonder how a relatively small theatre gets such caliber of talent. Their standards are so high, as evidenced by the quality of work.

“Between the Lines” features Professor Schubert (Tom Killam), esteemed in his field yet lost in his own “small world.” When a young, idealistic student (Natalie Camunas) learns that he draws his inspiration from Disneyland amusement rides, she has a rude awakening to the bitter taste of the real world after all.

“Baby Blues” is almost like Albee’s Zoo Story, set on a park bench, where a talkative proud mama boasts about her young toddler; all the while the emotional pregnant woman beside her carries a stillborn. The irony and tragedy is heart wrenching.

“Can You Hear Me Now“ is a vignette on love in the era of texting. It ponders the modern day dilemma of face to face vs. technological. Love in 3D seems to overpower the one dimensional blasé of online interaction.

“The Broken Ones” features a clown/Marilyn impersonator (Ramona Young), awaiting “Mr. Right,” the man of her dreams. Yet the man who literally rolls along in a wheelchair is looking for some semblance of love as well; the two form a bond and realize that their uniting is better than fantasy indeed.

“Benny and Pearl Loving in a Gold Fish Bowl“ begins with my favorite tune, “In My Life,” and portrays a reunion of two old souls who never connected romantically. They dance, kiss, and rekindle sparks — all through the eyes of a fishbowl. Life’s truly a fishbowl: We’re all swimming around trying to hook the right catch.

“Taken for a Ride” features a cat, in anthropomorphic form (Anthony Rutowicz). He is so like a human when “dumped” from a relationship with Susan (Chris Lee): tossed out, abandoned, left to fend for himself.

“In My Dress,” my favorite one-act, I was reminded of Cinderella, trying on the infamous glass slipper. It seems when each character (Amy Alleson, Anna Douglas, and Jessica Gardner) don this magical piece of clothing, the basic little black dress, something uncanny occurs.

The one-acts are bound together by a similar theme: disconnected souls wandering in and out of love, whose lives are turned and twisted by the fickle hand of fate — a perfect Valentine’s entertainment treat.

Connections runs through Feb. 21 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. The Write Act Repertory Theatre is located at 6128 Yucca St. in Hollywood. For more information, visit http://www.writeactrep.org or call (323) 469-3113.

 

Taken from review on Tolucan Times: http://tolucantimes.info/section/theatre_review/making-the-write-connections-at-write-act-repertory/

WIT Lab 3 – Connections

Write Act Repertory Theatre’s Producing Artistic Director John Lant and Associate Artistic Director Ken Cosby are proud to present, Connections, the third installment of Women Inventing Theatre, featuring talented local female playwrights. Produced by Diane Chernansky and Susan Eiden with Write Act Repertory, Lighting Design by Sergio Escobar.

These new works will be offered for a limited run at Write Act Repertory Theatre, opening Wednesday, February 1^st through Tuesday February 21^st, 2012. The performances run Mondays & Tuesdays at 8:00pm, with one Wednesday performance at 8:00pm.

 

Between the Lines written By Mari Falcone Cantos

Directed by Richard Pierce

 

Synopsis – When a bright young college student has the opportunity to interview the reclusive writer she has always idolized, she learns more than she ever wanted to know.

 

Can You Hear Me Now? written By Lynne Moses

Directed by Michael Eiden

 

Synopsis – In this modern age of texting and tweeting, is it possible to have a real face-to-face conversation, and possibly even begin a meaningful relationship?

 

Baby Blues written By Rhea MacCallum

Directed by Rocco Vitacco

 

Synopsis – Two young women sit on the same bench watching children at play in the park.  But motherhood has a very different meaning to each.

 

The Broken Ones written By Elayne Heilveil

Directed by Melanie Cruz

 

Synopsis – Two lost souls meet at a carnival in hopes of connecting with each other and the world that has abandoned them.

 

Benny and Pearl Loving in a Gold Fish Bowl written By Linda L. Rand

Directed by Louise Kroot-Haukka

 

Synopsis – Two old friends find romance while teaching their watery namesakes about the art of love.

 

Taken for a Ride written By Jan O’Connor

Directed by Diane Chernansky

 

Synopsis – After a failed love affair, a troubled young woman moves back to Chicago, but first must explain to her cat why she is leaving him behind.

 

In My Dress written By Rochelle Perry

Directed by Barika A. Croom

 

Synopsis – One dress impacts the lives of three different women.

 

DATES AND TIMES:

*Press Opening – Wednesday, February 1^st, 2012 with Opening Night Reception

Performs Mondays & Tuesdays, @ 8:00PM and Wednesday February 1st  @ 8:00pm.

Performances through Tuesday, February 21st.

 

Box Office opens 25 minutes prior to curtain.

All performances will feature a “Meet and Greet the Artists” reception following the show.

 

LOCATION:

Write Act Repertory Theatre – 6128 Yucca St., Hollywood, CA. 90028

(North of Vine St – two blocks east of Historic Landmark Capitol Records Building)

 

Free parking in the lot on the south side of St. Stephen’s Church at 6125 Carlos Ave.

 

TICKET PRICES:

General Admission:  $15 at the door / Discounted Rate: $12 (Seniors, Students, Groups 4+)

Online Credit Card and Discount Tix – www.brownpapertickets.com

 

INFORMATION & RESERVATIONS:

Call:   (323) 469-3113 / Reservations Suggested / General Admission Seating / ADA Compliant

Visit: www.writeactrep.org