Berkeley Rep Blog
Category archive: Backstage buzz
Strange Devices goes Tokyo pop!
posted by Chad Jones on Thu, Mar 4, 2010
in At the theatre , Backstage buzz
At last night's festive opening of Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant West, audience members could be found grooving and bopping around the Roda Theatre lobby. And when there's grooving and bopping, requests for playlists inevitably follow.
So here you have it — the greatest hits of the Strange Devices lobby.
"Sugar Water" by Cibo Matto from the album Viva! La Woman
"So Exclusive" by m-flo from the album Beat Space Nine
"Sci-Fi Wasabi" by Cibo Matto from the album Stereo Type A
"Kokirikobushi" by OMODAKA from the album Cantata No. 147
"Sataandagi No Uta" by Nuu from the EP Akari
"Planet Tokyo" by Puffy Ami Yumi from the album Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi
"Twist Barbie" by Shonen Knife from the album Burning Farm
Comments: 1 | Read comments
Strange tattoos, cocktails, and you
posted by Chad Jones on Fri, Feb 26, 2010
in At the theatre , Backstage buzz
Previews begin tonight for Naomi Iizuka's Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant West, and we're hoping some audience members leave this world premiere with a new tattoo — or two. In the tradition of Japanese tattooing, or "irezumi," which you'll hear about in the play, we decided to invite audience members to get a tattoo in the lobby.
OK, so it's a temporary tattoo, but like the famed interlocking tattoos that decorated lovers of yesteryear, we're offering one image featuring a dragon and the other filled with billowing clouds of steam. Separately, the tattoos are cool. Together, they're hot. Tattoo up...and bring a friend.
A certain number of tattoos will be made available each night, so get them while you can.
What better way to celebrate your new tattoo than with the perfect Strange Devices cocktail?
You can savor Naomi's delectable world premiere in more ways than one. During scenes set in contemporary Japan, you’ll see characters enjoying vivid, jewel-toned cocktails that look so delicious we just had to bring them to life off stage.
- The Blue Drink
The sweet punch of Bacardi rum tames the delicious tang of grapefruit juice while cerulean shades of Curaçao give this refreshing cocktail the happiest kind of blues – the kind served over ice. - The Green Drink
When the crisp pairing of Absolut Citron and white cranberry juice meets the luscious sweetness of Midori melon liqueur, other cocktails turn green with envy.
In Strange Devices, you've got a wonderfully sexy, enigmatic play and you've got your ink and your drink. Who could ask for anything more?
Comments: 1 | Read comments
Left to our own Devices: a peek behind the scenes
posted by Chad Jones on Thu, Feb 25, 2010
in At the theatre , Backstage buzz
On the first day of rehearsal for a new show, it's customary for the entire company to gather and meet the cast and creative team. Then everyone settles in for a design presentation by the director and designers.
In the case of Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant West, the presentation was too good not to share. Director Les Waters takes us inside this world premiere from Naomi Iizuka, and that's a fascinating place to be — especially when seen through the eyes of Pauline Luppert, our multimedia manager.
The show begins previews Friday, February 26 and opens on Wednesday, March 3 in the Roda Theatre.
Enjoy this insider's look and make friends with something Strange.
Above photo: Bruce McKenize and Teresa Avia Lim in Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant West. Photo courtesy of kevinberne.com
.Comments: 0 | Read comments
Concerning Johnny Wu and Strange Devices
posted by Cheshire Isaacs on Tue, Feb 23, 2010
in At the theatre , Backstage buzz
We're gearing up for the world premiere of Naomi Iizuka's Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant West, and we're pretty excited. Previews begin Friday, February 26 in the Roda Theatre, and opens on Wednesday, March 3.
It's going to be, in our humble opinion, amazing. The combination of Naomi with director Les Waters, along with an incredible cast and creative team, couldn't be more thrilling. This is a sexy, mysterious show, and that's a hard-to-beat combo.
Johnny Wu, one of the actors in Strange Devices, created a video for his blog that begins with his road trip from Los Angeles to Berkeley and continues with glimpses of the rehearsal process and interviews with Les, assistant director Mina Morita, co-star Bruce McKenzie, sound designer Bray Poor, and others.
It's a fun video, and Johnny has graciously shared it with us so that we could share it with you. Enjoy. (And we couldn't help noticing Johnny's excellent, not to mention appropriate, choice of music to underscore the video. We can never get enough Green Day.)
Comments: 3 | Read comments
Jaden Wiggins "brightens up" Coming Home
posted by Chad Jones on Mon, Feb 22, 2010
in At the theatre , Backstage buzz
Could it be a star is born at Berkeley Rep?
Oakland Tribune columnist Dave Newhouse wrote a terrific piece in last Sunday's newspaper about Jaden Malik Wiggins, the 11-year-old actor in Athol Fugard's Coming Home.
In the show, which closes on Sunday, February 28, Jaden plays Mannetjie Jonkers, the son of Veronica, the main character played by Roslyn Ruff. Kohle T. Bolton, a dynamic 5-year-old, plays the younger version of Jaden's character.
Thomas Silcott, another of Jaden's adult co-stars, makes some astute observations about the young actor:
"Of the 11-year-olds I've seen on stage, a lot of them are very dutiful and will do anything you ask. But they don't go beyond that and take it on themselves. And that's what Jaden does. He willingly becomes more creative...the boy is like a sponge. He's really smart, very talented and knows how to take what you teach him and make it work."
Comments: 1 | Read comments
Fugard directs at his own South African theatre
posted by Chad Jones on Wed, Feb 17, 2010
in Backstage buzz , Our shows
Athol Fugard is in the midst of a creative burst. The legendary 77-year-old playwright, director, and actor has written several new plays, including Coming Home (continuing through February 28 on the Thrust Stage) and Have You Seen Us?, which had its world premiere at the Long Wharf Theatre.
Fugard is even directing his most recent play, The Train Driver, which has its world premiere at the Athol Fugard Theatre in Capetown's District 6, a formerly all-white district.
Last fall, Fugard discussed The Train Driver with the Hartford Courant. "This may be the most important one I've ever written as far as I'm concerned for personal reasons," Fugard said. "I know The Train Driver will resonate for all South Africans when they see it as something that deals with themselves. This is about us, as South Africans."
The BBC has been covering Fugard's return to Capetown and his work on The Train Driver.
Watch the television coverage.
In the radio piece, the actor Alan Rickman praises Fugard. "Everyone of my generation remembers the first time they saw his work in England, " Rickman says, "and it's life changing."
Fugard is far from done. He reports that he's at work on yet another new play, this one called The Blue Iris.
Comments: 0 | Read comments
Idiot marquee goes up on Broadway
posted by Chad Jones on Tue, Feb 16, 2010
in Backstage buzz , Our shows
Welcome to Broadway, American Idiot.
Managing Director Susie Medak snapped that photo of the spiffy new marquee at the St. James Theatre on West 44th Street. Out with the old — goodbye and thank you, Finian's Rainbow — and in with the new. Hello, American Idiot!
Susie was in New York to visit a rehearsal, where she ran into director Michael Mayer and orchestrator/arranger/musical supervisor Tom Kitt.
The Idiot crew has been incredibly busy. Everyone's back in rehearsal preparing for the first preview on March 24, and the cast spent much of the weekend at New York's Electric Lady Studios recording the cast album.
Tickets went on sale to the general public on Valentine's Day. Visit the show's official website for information.
Comments: 1 | Read comments
Sing song, sell tickets
posted by Chad Jones on Fri, Feb 12, 2010
in Backstage buzz , Our shows
Tickets to the Broadway production of Green Day's American Idiot go on sale at midnight, Sunday, February 14 (what a sweet way to celebrate Valentine's Day!), and to commemorate this auspicious event, we'd like to share Michael Riedel's column from the New York Post.
After describing the Tony Awards as the "Toyota of awards shows," Michael points out that the most lucrative awards show on television is turning out to be the Grammy Awards. On this year's broadcast, Green Day was joined by the Broadway cast of American Idiot to perform the Grammy-nominated song "21 Guns."
Apparently the 26.6 million viewers liked what they saw. Michael reports:
"By the end of the night, American Idiot had sold nearly $1 million worth of tickets. Sales have been strong through the week, sources say, and the musical is beginning to show real hit potential."
We could have told him that. Read the column in its entirety .
For tickets to American Idiot at the St. James Theatre, visit the show's official site .
Above photo: Rebecca Naomi Jones and Billie Joe Armstrong perform "21 Guns" at the Grammy Awards. Photo courtesy of greenday.com
Comments: 0 | Read comments
American Idiot cast announced, Grammy appearance set
posted by Chad Jones on Thu, Jan 28, 2010
in Backstage buzz , News , Our shows
Lots of news in the world of American Idiot on Broadway!
The cast has been announced, and in addition to the folks we saw last fall at Berkeley Rep — John Gallagher, Jr., Michael Esper, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Christina Sajous, Mary Faber, Tony Vincent, Declan Bennett, Andrew Call, Gerard Canonico, Miguel Cervantes, Joshua Henry, Brian Charles Johnson, Lorin Latarro, Omar Lopez-Cepero, Chase Peacock, Theo Stockman, Ben Thompson, Alysha Umphress, and Libby Winter — the Broadway company is welcoming Tony Award-nominee Stark Sands, Van Hughes, Joshua Kobak, Leslie McDonel, and Aspen Vincent.
"This wildly gifted company takes my breath away," director Michael Mayer said in a statement. "They bring such depth and passion to the material. It is a rare honor to be blessed with such spectacularly imaginative performers."
Green Day, along with the entire cast of American Idiot will perform the two-time Grammy-nominated song "21 Guns" at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards this Sunday, January 31. The awards are broadcast on CBS beginning at 8pm.
The website for American Idiot (as seen above) is now live, and tickets are now available exclusively to American Express cardholders through February 13. Tickets go on sale to everyone on February 14. Performances begin March 24 at the St. James Theatre, and opening is set for April 20.
You can now follow American Idiot on Twitter at AmericanIdiotNY and on Facebook.
There's also a whole new line of American Idiot merchandise available at Green Day's web store, including work shorts (seen at right) for $75.
Comments: 0 | Read comments
American Idiot heading to Broadway!
posted by Chad Jones on Tue, Jan 5, 2010
in Backstage buzz , News , Our shows
Looks like St. Jimmy is heading for the St. James.
Yes, Green Day's American Idiot, which had its world premiere last September at Berkeley Rep, is going to Broadway.
Producers Tom Hulce and Ira Pittelman, in association with Berkeley Rep, announced today that American Idiot will begin performances in March at the St. James Theatre, former home of the long-running The Producers and the soon-to-close revival of Finian's Rainbow.
As in Berkeley, Michael Mayer directs and collaborates on the book with
Billie Joe Armstrong. Steven Hoggett choreographs and Tom Kitt serves
as orchestrator, arranger, and musical supervisor. The design team
includes Christine Jones (set), Andrea Lauer (costumes), Kevin Adams
(lights), Brian Ronan (sound), and Darrel Maloney (video and
projection).
"Experiencing American Idiot on stage in Berkeley was incredible," said Green Day's guitarist and lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong. " We have really enjoyed working with Michael, Steven, Tom, and the cast. The energy and chemistry of the group is contagious. Michael Mayer was able to bring life to the characters of American Idiot, and Tom Kitt's musical arrangements are breathtaking. We're s proud that the show is coming to Broadway!"
No casting has been announced, but the previews will begin March 24 with an opening night scheduled for April 20.
In the last five years, five shows have moved from Berkeley to Broadway: Sarah Jones' Bridge & Tunnel (2006), Stew's Passing Strange (2008), Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking (2009), Sarah Ruhl's In the Next Room (or the vibrator play) (2009), and now American Idiot.
Visit AmericanIdiotOnBroadway.com to sign up for updates about the show..
Here's Green Day ringing in the New Year, performing "21 Guns" on New Year's Eve with Carson Daly.
Top photo: John Gallagher, Jr. as Johnny and Tony Vincent as St. Jimmy in the Berkeley Repertory Theatre production of Green Day's American Idiot. Photo courtesy of mellopix.com.