Berkeley Rep Blog
Category archive: Our shows
Gotta dance!
posted by Karen McKevitt on Wed, Sep 21, 2011
in Our shows
By Aleta George
In Singin’ in the Rain, an energetic, bespectacled young man hits the streets of New York, proclaiming, “Gotta dance!”
Every dancer recalls their first “Gotta dance!” moment. Rita Moreno’s came at the tender age of 6 after her first time on stage in a Greenwich Village nightclub. In Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup, she tells the audience that in that moment she thought, “Forget school, I want to do this for the rest of my life!”
For Ray Garcia and Salvatore Vassallo, the talented dancers who have Moreno’s back in Life Without Makeup, their moments came as teenagers.
Rita Moreno performs with Salvatore Vassallo (left) and Ray Garcia. Photo by kevinberne.com.
Garcia grew up in Bay City, Texas, a small town of 13,000 people that had no theatre and no performing arts classes at the high school. Garcia fell in love with the piano (his neighbor had one), worked hard, and nabbed a music scholarship for college. That was before the Young Americans came to town in his senior year. “Oh my God, I want to do that!” he said after seeing them perform. He auditioned that day and nailed it.
He went home and told his parents, “Gotta dance!” They didn’t have the money for his tuition, but raised it with the help of the community. When Garcia flew to Los Angeles, it was his first time away from home and his first time on an airplane.
“America” was among the first songs that Garcia learned with the Young Americans, and West Side Story became his favorite musical of all time. “It’s so crazy that I’m dancing it with Rita Moreno now,” he says. “I have to pinch myself every time.”
Salvatore Vassallo’s moment hit when he was a young teen. Like Moreno, Vassallo came to America as a child immigrant, but his family came from Italy. For many years, culture shock and an unfamiliar language silenced Vassallo until he discovered he could communicate through dance. His “Gotta Dance!” moment came after watching the captain of the dance team perform at Dana Junior High School in San Pedro, CA. “She looked like she was in her element and having such a great time,” he says. “From the moment I auditioned for the dance department at 14, I have never stopped moving.”
By the time Vassallo and Garcia launched their careers, they didn’t have to lighten their skin or hide their ethnicity like Moreno did in her early career. “She paved the way for Latinos in show business,” says Garcia. “I’m very grateful for that.” Garcia is passing the torch, too. He frequently returns to his old high school in Bay City to talk to the kids. “It’s hard to get out of a small town like that, and even harder to believe you can go somewhere and pursue your dreams.”
The three American success stories now onstage of the Roda Theatre have proven that it’s not only possible to pursue you dreams but to attain them.
Aleta George, house manager at Berkeley Rep and a journalist, had her “Gotta dance” moment in high school. In her 20s she was a DAW (dancer, actress, waitress) in Los Angeles and played Rosalia in West Side Story at the Long Beach Civic Light Opera. She applied pancake makeup to darken her skin.
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The critics applaud Rita Moreno
posted by Karen McKevitt on Wed, Sep 14, 2011
in Our shows
The reviews are in, and critics applaud Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup, an unflinchingly honest and spectacularly entertaining new show about her amazing life and career. Here's what they say:
"Moreno -- past and present -- is a pleasure… Written by Berkeley Rep Artistic Director Tony Taccone, in his local playwriting debut, developed with Moreno and directed by David Galligan, Rita is an idiosyncratic cross between star showcase and intimate memoir." Read more from the SF Chronicle
"A highly pleasurable showbiz memoir steeped in the nostalgia of the Golden Age of Hollywood... Rita Moreno sparkles!" Read more from the Mercury News/Bay Area News Group
"Raw, honest, fun, inspiring. What a life in show biz is all about. Hats off to Rita. Do not miss this show!" Jan Wahl of KCBS-AM and KRON-TV
Good seats are still available for this fabulous show, so reserve yours now. Prices vary based on availability. For the best seats at the consistently lowest prices -- plus perks like free performance rescheduling -- sign up for a season ticket package of three or more plays.
Reserve your seats online!
(or call the box office at 510 647-2949 from noon to 7pm, Tuesday through Sunday)
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Rita Moreno's big night/OUT
posted by Cari Turley on Mon, Sep 12, 2011
in At the theatre , Events , Our shows
Last Friday's night/OUT party for the LGBT community was a huge success! I mean, I know we say that a lot (what can we say; it's a successful series!) but this was one of the best night/OUTs we've had in a while. We had a huge crowd, a great DJ, incredible food and drink...but what really put the icing on the cake was a special, surprise visit from none other than Rita Moreno herself.
Rita (and dancers Ray Garcia and Salvatore Vassallo) stopped by the party and were gracious enough to mingle and take photos with our guests for a good long time. Or maybe they were just enjoying the party--can't say I'd blame them!
Take a peek and some of our photos below. (I may have gotten a little Instagram-happy.) If you were there and took a photo with Rita, share it in the comments!
Did you miss out this time? Don't worry, we have two more night/OUT events this season. It's not too early to buy tickets, so make sure you don't miss out again!
Thanks to our night/OUT season sponsors, San Francisco Bay Guardian and The Bay Area Reporter, as well as La Bonne Cuisine, Ale Industries, Tres Agaves, and DJ Gstar of the Hella Gay Oakland Dance Party for making this night a success. See you next time!
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More hot, hot, hot off the presses!
posted by Karen McKevitt on Wed, Sep 7, 2011
in Our shows
Today Berkeley Rep’s staff is putting the final touches on opening-night festivities for Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup – including installing a glamorous life-size cut-out of Rita herself in the lobby, ready to pose with you for a photo. Check out our Facebook page for info on the pretty snazzy photo contest.
A brand-new photo from dress rehearsal! Rita Moreno with Salvatore Vassallo and Ray Garcia. Photo by Kevin Berne
So, we thought we should dress up our blog with the fabulous press Rita’s been receiving so far. The archival photos alone make these pages worth checking out…
Rita’s spitfire personality really sparkles in the Bay Area Reporter’s insightful and honest feature written by Richard Dodds. Sound bite (in reference to not playing stereotypical ethnic roles): “At least I wasn’t saying, ‘Why you no love me no more?’”
The Examiner just joined us a production sponsor and, in addition to this article, their “street hawkers” will be handing out free papers on Monday, September 12 while decked out in Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup show art. Who knows, maybe we’ll also have a special offer in those papers? (Not promising anything yet. Stay tuned.)
KQED’s Spencer Michels offers up this terrific article featuring great quotes by both Rita and Tony Taccone. Plus, this page also features video and rare archival photos.
Rounding out the pre-opening night press is this fun interview on Theatermania, a feature plus a Q&A on AARP Viva (also available in Spanish), and this feature in Diablo magazine.
And, did you know that we’re offering a free download of a Rita Moreno song to all ticketholders? (All ticketholders who join our email list, that is.) So, check out more info about the show, see a performance calendar, and reserve your seats now!
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Complete your Rita Moreno collection
posted by Karen McKevitt on Fri, Sep 2, 2011
in Our shows
Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup starts previews tonight and officially opens next Wednesday. And just in time, we have fabulous new items in our gift shop so you can complete your Rita Moreno collection:
The self-titled CD from Rita Moreno -- $19
DVD of The Ritz, starring Jack Weston and Rita Moreno -- $20
Book: Something’s Coming, Something Good: West Side Story and the American Imagination
By Misha Berson -- $17
And, of course, the West Side Story DVD -- $20
So, stop by the gift shop in the Roda lobby before or after the show. See you there!
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Hot, hot, hot off the presses...
posted by Terence Keane on Mon, Aug 29, 2011
in Our shows
We're thrilled that Rita Moreno -- who begins previews for her new show here on Friday -- is featured on the front page of lots of local newspapers today.
As Karen D'Souza reports, "Dishing on the treasure trove of Hollywood trivia that is her life -- she once dated Elvis to make Brando jealous and it worked -- is the spice of Life Without Makeup, which Moreno and [Artistic Director Tony] Taccone are crafting together... Ever the temptress, she waits a beat before adding: 'If you want to hear the rest of the story, you've got to come see the show, honey.'"
You can read the whole (hot) article and watch a fantastic slide show of Rita's career by clicking below:
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"Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup" tickets on sale
posted by Karen McKevitt on Thu, Aug 25, 2011
in Our shows
Rita Moreno is in the house! Rehearsals are heating up, and we’re all humming tunes from West Side Story – some of us are even demonstrating the choreography. Yep, the world premiere of Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup begins previews on September 2!
Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup is an unflinchingly honest and spectacularly entertaining new show about her amazing life and career. Backed by an onstage band and two charismatic dancers, the incomparable Rita Moreno delivers a sensational performance that's part autobiography, part old Broadway, and all fabulous.
Watch a video of Rita introducing Life Without Makeup, learn more about the show,
then reserve your seats online!
And, check out this new interview with her on Latina.com!
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A Tres Agaves debut at Berkeley Rep
posted by Karen McKevitt on Tue, Aug 9, 2011
in News , Our shows
We have a brand-new specialty drink for the encore presentation of Let Me Down Easy -- and it's making a bit of a debut! Don’t miss the Tres Agaves Margarita, starring Tres Agaves Tequila and -- making its world premiere debut right here at Berkeley Rep --- Tres Agaves’ USDA certified Organic Margarita Mix. For a mere $8, you too can savor this tasty beverage.
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Anna Deavere Smith in the Huffington Post
posted by Karen McKevitt on Fri, Aug 5, 2011
in News , Our shows
In case you haven't already heard, Anna Deavere Smith returns to Berkeley Rep next Wednesday for a limited encore presentation of Let Me Down Easy. And just yesterday, she published a fascinating essay in the Huffington Post about her 2005 trip to Africa to research her show, particularly around the HIV/AIDS crisis.
While she was in Africa, Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. She later conducted interviews with people in New Orleans, including Dr. Kiersta Kurtz-Burke, whose monologue is one of the most affecting in the show. While Anna says that much of the interviews she conducted in Africa did not make it into the version of the show we see now, her Huffington Post essay offers, among her own personal observations, excerpts of interviews with two AIDS activists. She says their words "still play like music in my ears."
Read Anna's essay in the Huffington Post
Buy tickets to Let Me Down Easy
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East Bay Express readers can't be wrong
posted by Karen McKevitt on Fri, Jul 22, 2011
in News , Our shows
Anna Deavere Smith's Let Me Down Easy was voted Best Theatrical Production by East Bay Express readers in the Best of the East Bay issue. Aww, thanks everyone! You have terrific taste in theatre, if we do say so ourselves.
Did you miss Let Me Down Easy? Don't worry, you can still find out what East Bay Express readers already know -- that this show rocks! It's coming back to Berkeley Rep starting August 10 for a really short encore presentation. It must close September 4. What's more, this time the show is on our intimate Thrust Stage, so you can get an even closer view of Anna's artistic genius.
See Let Me Down Easy for the first time, or again. (So many people came more than once to the original run.) Buy your tickets here!
Photo of Anna Deavere Smith by Joan Marcus.