It is that time of year again when we look back at the year of theatre that just ended--and 2017 was another amazing year in the Valley. There were way too many shows to mention them all, but here are several of the highlights!
Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen has always been one of my favorite plays despite the fact that I had never actually seen a production of it. I read it in a Modern World Literature class, and I fell in love with the characters and the way that Ibsen presented something he saw as a problem in his society: the standards of society that kept people (especially women) from doing what they actually wanted to do and enjoying their life. While this doesn’t seem very shocking, Ibsen wrote this play in the late 1800s Norway, and it was very forward thinking for the time. I was excited to find out that The New Ensemble was putting on a production of it, and I loved finally getting to watch it.
This Valley is filled with a tremendous amount of artistically talented people and we enjoy sharing their stories here in KRL--whether they are artists, musicians, actors, writers, or directors. This week we are featuring local actress and costumer Brook Aiello.
Well another year of theatre in the Valley has come to an end and as always, there were some really great shows.
Valley premiere's included Bonnie & Clyde in Visalia, which was also one of my favorite shows of the year.
Gidion's Knot opened in Fresno this past weekend, presented by The New Ensemble, and it definitely fits with their goal to provide shows that make you think. I knew going in that I was going to enjoy my night at the theatre because I always enjoy a TNE show.
Because the Valley has so much talent in it's local theatre community, we like to profile local actors and directors and let people get to know the people they see on stage, and others behind the scenes that make these shows happen. After a break for the holidays we are back with a new profile, but this time we thought we'd do things a little differently--this time we have an interview with local actor/director Heather Parish who is also the founder of The New Ensemble theatre company in Fresno.
2013 has been another interesting year of theatre in the Valley. While there weren't as many new and edgy shows, there were a lot of really good ones.
Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, presented by The New Ensemble, opened this past weekend at the Broken Leg Stage in the Tower. I never know what I'm going to get when I see a TNE show as they tend to do more out of the box kind of shows that I've never seen before. What I always know is that it will be interesting, thought provoking, and well done.
If you're looking for an edgy, thought provoking and yet entertaining night at the theatre, be sure and go see Baptized To The Bone presented by The New Ensemble Theater Group in Fresno. If you're easily offended--don't go--but then you'll end up missing an excellent show.
Beginning on April 13 The New Ensemble Theatre Group will present William Shakespeare’s Hamlet at the Broken Leg Stage in Fresno. This production of Hamlet will be a bit different than most are familiar with, as a woman, actress Brooke Aiello, will be playing the title role. Hamlet is Shakespeare’s tragic tale of murder and revenge within the ultimate dysfunctional family.
