Showing posts with label Improvisational. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Improvisational. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

The “Art Heist” cometh to Jacksonville, FL


If you liked the board game “Clue” or were intrigued by the movie “Knives Out”, then you will like the up-close experience of - “ART HEIST”. Can you spot a liar? Become a Detective on a Walking Hunt for a Criminal Mastermind in the All-New Interactive Show Based on the true story of America’s largest art theft! “ART HEIST”. Tickets and dates are still available for this ‘who-done- it’ interactive drama.

Put your NCIS, CSI and Law & Order skills to use and walk off the quarantine poundage to solve a ripped-from-the-walls, real-life master robbery of thirteen works of art, valued at half a billion dollars. Based on a true story of the world’s biggest art caper, “Art Heist” is a true crime walking show where socially distanced groups of 30 -35 will move through five Jacksonville walkable locations to gather clues. The amateur gumshoes interact with a wild group of wily career criminals, slimy con men, rumpled art recovery specialists, a possible inside man, a gentle psychopath, and the larger-than-life but definitely real self-proclaimed Greatest Art Thief of All Time.

The show premiered last September at the Vancouver Fringe Festival. The story is based on the biggest art heist in history and took place on March 18, 1990, when two thieves disguised as police officers entered Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in the middle of the night, telling guards they were investigating a disturbance. Valued at a half a billion dollars, 13 works of art, including paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer and Manet were stolen. The $500 million pieces as well as the robbers remain at large today.

Actors, through conversation, will reveal clues to the detective audience but then again, a red herring or two might present itself. Sharp sleuths will guess who the liars are and ultimately solve the enigma. No two performances will ever be the same as the actors improvise with every interaction.

"In these times, we're looking to create new opportunities, not only for audiences to enjoy theatre experiences, but also for the actors and crew members out there who have found themselves out of work. It's been a very tough time for our industry and Right Angle is reimagining and repurposing live entertainment to fit today's reality,” said Justin Sudds who along with Alison Spiriti is producing.

Art Heist was conceived as a form of theatre that can work while respecting all COVID-19 safety protocols. Produced by Right Angle Entertainment, this unique show was created by Justin Sudds and written/directed by TJ Dawe and Ming Hudson. The world premiere cast in Vancouver included: Jayson MacDonald, Sara Bynoe, Michael Unger, Arthi Chandra, Nevada Banks, Drew Carlson, Mily Mumford, Rodney Decroo and Stefano Guilanetti. Design Coordination by Erika Conway.

TJ Dawe is a writer, director and performer of new theatre. He co-created internationally The One-Man Star Wars Trilogy, One Woman Sex and the City, and PostSecret: The Show, which have toured internationally. He co-wrote the play Toothpaste and Cigars, which was adapted into the feature film What If, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan and Adam Driver. He helped Richard Dreyfuss create a multimedia career retrospective stage show titled Richard Dreyfuss: A Diminishing Resource. He teaches a course on solo performance at Langara College. You can find his monologue Medicine on YouTube. Ming Hudson is a physical theatre practitioner, freelance performer, devised theatre creator and teacher. She’s worked with a variety of theatre companies including Bard on the Beach, the Arts Club, Boca Del Lupo, Theatre Replacement, Atomic Vaudeville and The Firehall Arts Centre. She’s an instructor at the Canadian College of Performing Arts.

“COVID-19 has changed the game for everyone in the arts,” said Director TJ Dawe. “Many of the elements we took for granted are gone, or at least on hold for the foreseeable future. Fortunately, there’s nothing like a career as a freelancing artist working in new theatre to cultivate adaptability and openness to innovation. With that mentality, every project is a unique challenge already.”

Guided walking tour groups of 30 -35 will begin at various start times starting outside at the Times-Union Center. Restrooms will be available inside the Times-Union Center prior to the start of each tour. Tours are approximately 90 minutes long.

“Art Heist”
DATES: Week 1: April 13 – 18
    Week 2: April 21 – 25
    Week 3: April 28 – May 2

TIMES:
Vary in the p.m.

TICKETS: Start at $45.50 can be purchased online 24/7 HERE.

LOCATION: Times Union Center Performing Arts
      Locally Outside the Moran Theater
      300 West Water St.
      Jacksonville, FL 32202


Wednesday, June 10, 2020

'Whose Live Anyway?' heads to JAX next year

The Florida Theatre proudly welcomes the critically-acclaimed improv show “Whose Live Anyway?” on Friday, February 26, 2021.  The current cast members of the Emmy-nominated TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway? are proud to present their new improv tour: Whose Live Anyway?

“Whose Live Anyway?” is 90 minutes of hilarious improvised comedy and song all based on audience suggestions.  Cast members Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis and Joel Murray will leave you gasping with the very witty scenes they invent before your eyes.  Audience participation is key to the show so bring your suggestions and you might be asked to join the cast onstage!  Whose Live Anyway? showcases some of the improv games made famous on the long-running TV show as well as some exciting new ones, featuring musical direction by Bob Derkach.

All ages are welcome, but please note that some “PG-13” language will be used during the performance.

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union.  For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Florida Theatre’s official website.

“Whose Live Anyway”
DATE: Fri., Feb. 26, 2021
TIME: 8 p.m.
TICKETS: $35 – $55


LOCATION: The Florida Theatre
      128 East Forsyth Street.
      Jacksonville, FL 32202
      (904) 355-2787


Friday, July 8, 2016

‘Wayne Brady’ coming to NE Florida at Thrasher-Horne Center

His birthday may have been on June 2nd, but he’ll be in Jacksonville, Florida in August, for one night only!  “Wayne Brady’s August show kicks off another great season for us at Thrasher-Horne Center,” said Executive Director Denton Yockey.  “Our goal is to put Thrasher-Horne Center on the map in Northeast Florida as a place to enjoy top-notch performances.”

For Wayne Brady, music and comedy seem to be at the center of his wildly successful and diverse career.  Wayne has been entertaining audiences with his singing, acting and unmatched improvisational skills for well over a decade.  This diversity has led to a career that goes beyond the term “triple threat.”  Brady has just completed singing and dancing in high heels while receiving rave reviews on Broadway in the role of Lola in the Tony award winning musical Kinky Boots.


Wayne began his career in Orlando working at theme parks as well as performing in several local
theatre shows.  This is where his love for improvisation was sparked as he was a member of the Orlando improv comedy theater, SAK Comedy Lab.  In 1998, his career took off with Whose Line is it Anyway? for which he won a 2003 Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety, Musical or Comedy Series.  Wayne went on to host his own syndicated talk show The Wayne Brady Show for two seasons.  He was honored with two Emmys for Outstanding Talk Show Host and the show also won for Outstanding Talk Show.

In 2005, Brady returned to his first love, musical theater, and starred in the Broadway production of Chicago, playing the role of lawyer Billy Flynn.  He made a big splash in Las Vegas with his hit stage show Makin’ It Up.  The show was met with critical acclaim and has been heralded as “pure genius” and “hysterically funny.”  Brady has taken the show around the world playing in such countries as South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and India.  Wayne again returned to the live theater in 2010 when he joined the all-star cast in the Neil Patrick Harris directed Rent at the historic Hollywood Bowl.

Conquering stage and television was not enough for this unique talent.  He was nominated for a
Grammy in 2008 for his Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for his single “A Change Is Gonna Come,” off debut album A Long Time Coming.  In addition, Wayne released a children’s album entitled Radio Wayne which took the top spot on iTunes and Amazon kids charts.  On the big screen, Brady has been featured in several films including:  Crossover, Roll Bounce, for Fox Searchlight as well as the animated film Foodfight.

Being an award winning host, it is no wonder why he has been tapped to host several high-profile shows including the NAACP Awards, BET Honors as well as guest hosting The Late Late Show last year.   His role on the iconic Let’s Make A Deal has been garnered with several Emmy nominations including Wayne for hosting.


“Wayne Brady”
DATE: Sat. Aug. 27, 2016   TIMES: 7:30 p.m.

LOCATION: The Thasher-Horne Ctr.
      
St. Johns River State College
      
283 College Drive
      Orange Park, FL 32065

TICKETS: start at $49 – $94 and may be purchased in person, online at THcenter, or by calling (904) 276-6815 between 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday – Friday.  Discounts are available for groups of 12+ (15% discount), or 40+ (20% discount).  The Thrasher-Horne Center is a not-for profit performing arts venue and conference center owned and operated by St. Johns River State College.  The Thrasher-Horne Center is located on the Orange Park campus.