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THE CENTRAL AVE CHALK CIRCLE

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Title, Premiere and Location

 

The Central Ave. Chalk Circle

Watts Labor Community Action Committee

November 2 through 19, 1995

 

 


 

 

Written By

Bertolt Brecht, Adapted by Eric Bentley & Lynn Manning

Music by Shishir Kurup, Lyrics by Lynn Manning

"Child's Song" Lyrics by Shishir Kurup

 

Synopsis

Brecht's classic play is brought to South Central in this tale of civil war in California, and the struggle over a billionaire mayor's child.

 

Staff

Director - Bill Rauch

Asst. Director/Prologue Director - Dennistine Lyle

Lighting Design/Production Manager - Geoff Korf

Set Design - Ed Haynes

Costume and Properties Design - Lynn Jeffries

Composer - Shishir Kurup

Choreographer - Page Leong

Sound Design - Joe Romano

Stage Manager - Andie Massel

Assistant Stage Manager - Janet Escobar

Music Director - Shishir Kurup

Assistant Music Director - Vernon Stanford

Assistant to the Production Manager - JaRome Johns

Assistant Sound Designer/Sound Operator - Andrew Escobar

Kid Wrangler/Wardrobe Assistant - Shelley Thomas

Producer - Janice Mabry

Executive Producer - Leslie Tamaribuchi

Production Assistant/Sound Crew - Carl Flanagan

Set Construction - Caesar Bijou

Light Board Operator - Stephanie Escobar

Follow Spot Operator - Joey Colson, Laura Escobar

Running Crew - Da'vet Williams, Lera Ashe, JaRome Johns

Deck Electrician - JaRome Johns

Turntable Operator - Joaquin Martin

Electrics, Scenery & Painting - Bill Korf, Nathan Haas, Kezia, Linda Jauron, Janine Silver

TCG/NEA Directing Fellow - Amy Mueller

Graphic Design - Oscar Duardo

 

Paper Artists - Nadia Reed, Kathy Lucero, Migiwa, Katherine Ferwerda, Dori Quan, Dan Knapp, Lera Ashe, Andrew Castillion, Lindsay Ducos, Stephanie Escobar, Ann Hayes, Katherine Lucero, Aaron Meeks, Erica Meeks, Marcie Ramirez, Britney Scott, Andrea Thomas, Angela Thomas, Janelle Walton, Anthony Ward, Da'vet Williams

 

Cast

 

Agenette L. GoochChairperson
Ismael KanaterMr. Johnston
Aaron CarlosMr. Johnston
Melvin LongMr. Johnston's Lawyer
Gloria CurtisWoman 1
Sandy MasselWoman 1
Glen CornwellMan 1
Bernard S. Garrett IIIMan 1
Dennistine LyleWoman 2, Cook
Theodora HardieCommittee Member 1, Nanny 2, Precious-Gerald's Wife, Landlady, Court Officer 2
Alejandro AndradeCommittee Member 2, Eduardo Montoya billionare developer and mayor, Mr. Morales, Neighbor 2, Blackmailer, Older Husband
Danny FrancoTeen
JaRome JohnsTeen
Britney ScottChild 1
Janelle WaltonChild 2
Shishir KurupAzdak - an artist
Christopher Liam MooreReporter, Agent Buttkiss, Father Mackenzie, Doctor, Lawyer 1
Anthony WardCameraman, Limping teen, Busboy
Vernon StanfordProtester 1, Hitman 1, Car Jacker
Rocio NovoaProtester 1, Alma the maid, Miss Morales, Ophelia - a waitress
Page LeongAntoinette, Passenger 1, Neighbor 1, Agent 2
Armando MolinaBuck Wild, Agent Superior, Palacio's Mother, The Q-Tip
Oscar DuradoNanny1, Store Proprietor, Palacio, Agent 3, Messenger
Sandra LayneGertha Gibson
Quentin DrewDerek, Lawyer
Lynn ManningSenator Charles
Irma AsheChristina, Passenger 4, Woman with Shawl, Older Wife
Aaron MeeksLooter, Kid 1, K-1 (Azdak's Ward)
Matthew CastrillonMonte
Erica MeeksBossy Kid
Marcella "Marcie" Ramirez

Kid 2, K-2 (Azdak's Ward)

The EnsembleChorus, Protesters, Tourists, Busriders, Police Officers, Partygoers

 

 

Comments by cast, crew, and other participants.

 

"This wasn't the first Cornerstone play I ever saw (Ghuruba was my first), but in many ways this CHALK CIRCLE was a seminal Cornerstone experience. It was a Bridge Show, and it was particularly exciting because it looked at issues with a community that included Latino and African American participants. There are plenty of places in the city where the relationships between those two groups were complicated (at best) and violent (at worst)."

 

"It was a notable production because it did so many of the things I associate with Cornerstone: it was a great adaptation of Brecht by Lynn Manning, and a very broad and exciting production by Bill Rauch. It was one of those productions where you could really feel the personality and the energy he had been able to focus. The design elements (I will never forget Lynn Jeffries' construction paper masterpieces) were thrilling: at one point a couple of cars come racing into the performance space, and the whole audience just ROSE out of their seats. "Bravura" is really the only word for the design."

 

"And then there were the performances: Page Leong and Shishir Kurup both had marvelous star turns, Chris Moore and Armando Molina were stealing every scene they were in through a series of character roles, and the community performers (esp. Sandra Layne and Quentin Drew) were wonderful."

 

"Every once in a while you get the perfect combination: CHALK CIRCLE was the perfect combination."

 

"If I had to list the specifically 'Cornerstone' characteristics, I'd say...

 

1. Energetic and site/community-specific adaptation.

2. Staging style that is at once pageantry and very direct, personal drama.

3. Bold and bright design with found or inexpensive objects.

4. Affecting performances by community participants.

 

Subsequent Performances or Productions

Special Notes

 

The Central Ave. Chalk Circle won the Ovation Award for Best Production.

 

Articles, Reviews, and other Links

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