New Voices presented a staged reading of “Two Can Play”by Lorin Howard on April 7, 2012 at the Stage Door Repertory Theatre in Anaheim.
New Voices presents a staged reading of a work in progress by member Lorin Howard. Two lonely, manipulative strangers are engaged in a mind game designed to entrap and expose the other. Alex, a charsimatic but unprincipled biographer, enters Wallis Somerset’s reclusive world as a caregiver. Or did the acclaimed novelist somehow lure him there? The two writers spar in a toxic but beguiling game of wits and play to the “death.”
One performance only. There will be a question-and-answer session after the reading. Audience advisory: Adult language and mature subject matter.
Stage Door Repertory Theatre
1045 N. Armando St., Suite A
Anaheim, CA 92806
New Voices presented its holiday show Nov. 26-Dec. 11, 2011, at Stages in Fullerton. The lineup:
“Champion of the Western Hemisphere” by John Richardson, directed by Peter J. Kuo and featuring Ervin Bolisay, Soyia Ellison, and Brandon Kasper
“Christmas Exchange” by John Franceschini, directed by Geoffrey Gread and featuring Sandy Lindenberg, John Merry, Dawn Vasco, Ivar Vasco, and Jen Vogt-Lowell
“The Gift of Christmas” by Lynne Bolen, directed by Katy Dominguez and featuring Kevin Williams and Sylvia Williams
“Mistle-in-Tow” by David Rusiecki, directed by Geoffrey Gread and featuring Brandon Kasper and Jen Vogt-Lowell
“The Office Party” by Donna Hedman, directed by Karen Wray and featuring Tim Rhone, David Rusiecki, and Karen Wray
“Sad Tales of G.I. Joe” by John Bolen, directed by Tony Vezner and featuring Paul Breazeale, Brandon Kasper, Kim Kiedrowski, Jonathon Lamer, John Merry, Donna Pickett, and Ivar Vasco
Carolers: Melanie Gable and Jeremy Troutt
Production Team
- Producers: John Bolen and Lynne Bolen
- Light Design: Casey Holm
- Sound Design: Claire Bolen
- Sound Technician/Stage Manager: Claire Bolen
- Light Technician/ASM: Alex Fuentes
- Publicity/Press: Christopher Trela
Saturday Nov. 26, 2011 at 2 p.m.
Sundays, Nov. 27, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11 at 5:30 p.m.
STAGEStheatre
400 E. Commonwealth Ave.
Fullerton, CA 92832
(714)-525-4484
Admission: $15 general; $12 students/seniors/military
New Voices presented its summer show Sept. 10-25, 2011, at the Mysterium. The lineup:
Plays
A Matter of Feet, written by John Lane, directed by Kyle Moore
Featuring Lorin Howard, Donna Hedman and Ivar Vasco
A Night in the City of Angels, written by John Bolen, directed by Lynne Bolen
Featuring Caitlin Hedman and Kevin Williams
Assumptions, written by Lynne Bolen, directed by Terry Winkler
Featuring Soyia Ellison, Fred Peters and Andre Stojka
Fay W., written by John Richardson, directed by Geoffrey Gread
Featuring Elizabeth M. Desloge and Kevin Williams
God Only Knows, written by Linda Whitmore, directed by Geoffrey Gread
Featuring Ray Akin and John Tramutola
It’s Only A Minute A Guy, written by John Franceschini, directed by Pattric Walker
Featuring Roxanne Martinez, Kyle Moore, and Mitchell Nunn
Stuck, written and directed by Kyle Moore
Featuring Kyle Moore and Lisa Morrison
The Subtext of Texting, written by Lorin Howard, directed by Lance Macdonald
Featuring Jeffrey Kieviet, Anne Lee Mako, and Jen Vogt-Lowell
Production Team
- Producers: John Bolen and Lynne Bolen
- Sound Designer: Claire Bolen
- Light Designer: Joseph Solomon
- Sound Technician/Stage Manager: Claire Bolen
- Light Technician: Alex Fuentes
- Publicity/Press: Christopher Trela
Theater
- Mysterium Theater: 19211 Dodge Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705
- Tickets: $18 general, $15 students/seniors/military
- Phone Reservations: (714) 505-3454
- Online Tickets: http://mysteriumshop.com/NewVoices
New Voices presented its spring show April 30-May 1, May 7-8, May 14-15, 2011, at the Empire Theatre. The lineup:
For Bidden by John Bolen
Directed by Geoffrey Gread
Featuring Bethany Hamrick and Michelle Tucker
Peace on Earth by Joanne Freeman
Directed by Geoffrey Gread
Featuring David Cramer and Jen Vogt-Lowell
Played by John Richardson
Directed by Lynne Bolen
Featuring Bethany Hamrick, Phillip Lyle, and Fred Peters
The Visitation by Linda Whitmore
Directed by Geoffrey Gread
Featuring David Cramer and Rob Kerr
This Life or the Next by John Franceschini
Directed by Terry Winkler
Featuring Lorin Howard and Glenn Koppel
Uncomfortable Sex by Lorin Howard
Directed by Lance Macdonald
Featuring Jo Black-Jacob, Bob Kokol, and Kelly Connolly
Production team
- Producers: John Bolen and Lynne Bolen
- Light Design: David C. Carnevale
- Sound Design: Claire Bolen
- Stage Manager/Light & Sound Technician: Claire Bolen
- Props Mistress/Costume Design/ASM: Kate Lyle
- Publicity/Press: Christopher Trela
April 30, May 1
May 7, May 8
May 14, May 15
2 p.m. Saturdays; 6 p.m. Sundays
$15 general; $12 students, seniors and military
Reservations: (714) 220-7069
Empire Theatre
202 N. Broadway
Santa Ana’s Artists Village
Note: On April 30 and May 1, the 12th Annual Cinco de Mayo Festival
returns to downtown Santa Ana.
There will be traffic congestion, some street closures, and paid parking only.
Please allow an extra 15-20 minutes to access the area.
New Voices presented its annual holiday show Dec. 11-12, 18-19 at the Empire Theatre. The lineup:
“A New Year Me”
Written by John Bolen
Directed by Lynne Bolen
Featuring Alyssa Elder, Coreen Mueller and David Rusiecki
“ATM Santa”
Written by Joanne Freeman
Directed by Geoffrey Gread
Featuring Fred Peters and David Rusiecki
“Baggage Game”
Written and directed by Lynne Bolen
Featuring Lynne Bolen and John Bolen
“Cutting Remarks”
Written by Linda Whitmore
Directed by Terry Winkler
Featuring Brandon Kasper and Soyia Ellison
“Fruitcake”
Written by David Scaglione
Directed by Kyle Moore
Featuring Laurie Robbins and Pattric Walker
“Present Company”
Written by Paula Fell
Directed by Vanessa Wolf
Featuring Toni Beckman, Gloria Maxwell and James Sweeney
“Rizzoli Returns From the Mall”
Written by John Richardson
Directed by Tamiko Washington
Featuring John Tramutola
“Surveillance”
Written by John Lane
Directed by Geoffrey Gread
Featuring Ivar Vasco, Soyia Ellison, and Phillip Lyle
Production team
Producers: John Bolen and Lynne Bolen
Light Design: David C. Carnevale
Sound Design: Claire Bolen
Stage Manager/Light & Sound Technician: Claire Bolen
Costume Design: Kate Lyle
Publicity/Press: Christopher Trela
Empire Theatre
202 N. Broadway
Santa Ana’s Artists Village
Admission: $15 general; $12 students/seniors/military
The New Voices Playwrights Theatre presented “Eightudes,” a production of original short plays from Saturday, Aug. 21, running for three weekends until Sept. 5. Curtain was 2 p.m. Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays.
The playlist:
A Song for Me by John Bolen, directed by Paul Millet
Future Imperfect by Linda Whitmore, directed by Michael Buss
High Roller by John Franceschini, directed by John Franceschini
Small Change by Lynne Bolen, directed by Geoff Greed
Small Claims by John Lane, directed by Kyle Moore
Special Ops by Paula Fell, directed by Patricia Miller
Superfluous by John Richardson, directed by Patricia Miller
The Waiting Room by Pattric Walker, directed by Tamiko Washington
Production team
- Producers: John and Lynne Bolen
- Light Design: David C. Carnevale
- Sound Design: Claire Bolen
- Stage Manager/Light & Sound Technician: Claire Bolen
- Publicity/Press: Christopher Trela
The cast
- Kash Adler
- Josh Aguilar
- Sean Burgos
- Ana Maria Campoy
- John T. Cogan
- David Cramer
- Gwendolyn Edwards
- John Franceshini
- Peggy Free
- Will Gotay
- Leslie Joyce
- Rob Kerr
- David Rusiecki
- Kyle Spiller
Empire Theatre
202 N. Broadway
in Santa Ana’s Artists Village district
*********************************************
Admission: $15 general; $12 students/seniors/military.
- Parking: The best option is the parking structure at 3rd and Birch (usually free on weekends and evenings). Birch is one block west of Broadway. There is also a public garage at 3rd and Broadway (about $2.00) and metered street parking.
- Tickets: Theatre Out is handling all box office; credit cards accepted.
- Phone: (714) 220-7069
- Websites: www.empiretheatreoc.com
New Voices wrapped its summer festival of full-length play readings on Saturday, July 17, at the Empire Theatre in Santa Ana.
July 17 — “GOOD BREEDING” by John Lane
A gay man becomes fascinated with a classy woman and introduces her to his ex-partner. She wants the ex to be her sperm donor.
Cast: Matthew Auringer
Toni Beckman
Soyia Ellison
Lorin Howard
David Rusiecki
Directed by Geoffrey Gread.
July 3, 2010: Full-length reading:
July 3 — “THE HIDDEN DARK” by John Bolen
The heiress to one of the last great ranches of Texas confronts three men of influence in her life.
The cast:
Abbie Sturm – Mandy Petrocelly
Red Cooper – John C. Crow
Graham Sturm – Warren Draper
Jack McKinney – Jonathon Lamer
Stormy Knight – Arilyn Carpenter
Sheriff Hap Wilson – Ian Downs
Lynne Bolen – Stage Directions
June, 2010: Full-length reading:
June 26 — “MURDER WITH ABSOLUTION” by John Franceschini
A ruthless English matriarch avenges her daughter’s death while fending off a hostile takeover attempt of the family business with murderous results.
The cast for “Murder With Absolution” featured:
Stephanie Schulz …..………………………Lydia/Mary
Lewis Leighton………….……. Victor Hemmings/Lord
Reginald Southward
Dianne Manaster……………………..… Lady Eleanor
Paul Braezeale ………………….……………..Charles
Gary Spangler……………………… Monsignor Molini
Roxie Martinez ………..…….Lady Millicent Brewster
Bob Fetes…………………… Lord Archibald Brewster
Rob Kerr……………………………..…Cristoff Petrous
Della Lisi ………………..…….Stage Directions/Alfred
December, 2009: Full productions of holiday plays
Theatre OUT at the Empire Theatre
202 North Broadway
Santa Ana
Parking: Limited metered street parking. The public parking garage at 3rd and Birch is usually open and free on weekends. Birch is one block west of Broadway.
The workshop presented its 13th annual holiday show of short plays, from Dec. 5-20, developed in the Orange County-based playwriting group. They were:
“A Christmas Frail” by John Bolen
“A Christmas Kris” by Lynne Bolen
“Bangola” by Michael Buss
“We Three Extras” by Paula Fell
“Night Visitor” by Joanne Freeman
“Not a Good Time” by John Lane
“Miracle on Seventeenth Street” by John Richardson
“Your Call is Very Important to Us” by Linda Whitmore
Summer, 2009: Staged readings of full-length plays
In the summer of 2009, New Voices Playwrights presented a series of staged readings of full-length plays.
New Voices Playwrights now has a relationship with Theatre OUT, which took over the former Rude Guerrilla Theatre at 202 N. Broadway (just north of 2nd Street) in the Artists Village district of Santa Ana.
Saturday, June 13
“Nothing Doing” (A comedy by John Richardson) — War is hell … especially for the cast of an adult World War II comedy being performed at the Happy Time Children’s Theater.
Saturday, July 25
“Groupie” (A drama by David Rusiecki) — A single mother must confront her former partying lifestyle with her teenage son and with her best friend after her affair with a rock ‘n’ roll musician is revealed in his tell-all memoir.
Saturday, Aug. 29
“A Tangled Affair” (A drama by John Bolen) — In a struggle between love and the expression of genius, which will win?
- All staged readings began at 2 p.m., and were followed by Q&A feedback sessions.
- What is a “staged reading”? Actors are “on book”, i.e., have scripts in hand. There are limited props and stage movement, but actors have had one or two rehearsals. Actors have appeared in many productions throughout O.C. and L.A. counties.
- Suggested donation: $5
- Theatre OUT, 202 N. Broadway, Santa Ana. Get a map.
- Parking: Limited metered street parking. The public parking garage at 3rd and Birch is usually open and free on weekends. Birch is one block west of Broadway.
December, 2008: Full productions of holiday plays
‘Tis the season … for New Voices Playwrights Theatre’s annual Holiday Show. The Cabrillo Playhouse (202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente [949] 492-0465) was the venue for the production of six plays over the weekends before and after Christmas.
The dates for the performances were: 2 p.m. Dec. 20; 6 p.m. Dec. 21; 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 27; and 2 and 6 p.m. Dec. 28. Tickets were $15 for adults; $13 for seniors, students and military. Content of the productions is suitable for family audiences.
The lineup is as follows:
- “Best Chance, Chance Best” by John Bolen. An older woman whose husband suffers from Alzheimer’s fights for love and its memories when her son wants to move them to a nursing home.
- “Christmastime Machine” by Lynne Bolen. A man enters a lonely cafe on Christmas eve and strikes up a relationship with the waitress.
- “Home for Christmas” by Michael Buss. An elderly man awaits the arrival of a son for Christmas dinner, but his wife fears the son may never come.
- “Spiritual Entitlement” by Joanne Freeman. A wife gives her new husband an early Christmas gift, with unexpected consequences.
- “The Tree” by John Lane. A couple await the arrival of an upscale relative. The problem is the Christmas tree: It’s still up and it’s Feb. 22.
- “Waiting for Dodo” by John Richardson. Two Godot-like characters meet on a moor and are visited by a young lady. Many things are discussed.
- “Bittersweet Smell of Success” by Linda Whitmore. A woman working the perfume counter during the holiday rush reminisces about the path not taken.
September, 2008: Staged readings of six short plays
New Voices Playwrights Theatre presented a staged reading of six short plays on Saturday, Sept. 20. The readings began at 2 p.m. at Rude Guerrilla, 202 N. Broadway, Santa Ana. (714) 547-4688. Suggested donation was $5. [Directions]
The fare for the afternoon:
Directed by Michael Buss:
- “Junk Jockey” by Michael Buss. A wife has an unusual Christmas surprise for her husband: She’s leaving. With her lover. But her lover, in turn, has a surprise for her.
- “Spiritual Entitlement” by Joanne Freeman. A woman sends her fiancé to her ex-husband’s New Age cleansing center. Bad idea.
- “Who Wants to Be a Star” by John Richardson. A man takes his girlfriend to a swank Hollywood restaurant for their anniversary. But who shows up: movie stars.
Directed by Geoffrey Gread:
- “Monday Night Football” by John Lane. A man sees a female psychologist about his “virgin” issues.
- “Bar Scene” by John Lane. A successful businessman returns to his hometown for the funeral of his estranged father. In the hotel bar he meets a woman who tells him some family secrets.
- “Breaking Up…” by John Lane. A civilized couple breaks up.
