Amber Benson's Play - "Albert Hall"

[helpful information perha]

Casting WestEquity Stage March 10, 2003

"ALBERT HALL"

Lone Star Ensemble (prod.) is accepting submissions for Albert Hall, Amber Benson's dark comedy. Dir. James Kerwin. Rehearsals start Mar. 24. Performances run Apr. 17-May 11 at the Complex. There is pay.

Breakdown--

Elenor: 50-60, Albert's mom; Esther and Mrs. Perlman: 50+, gossiping Jewish ladies; Young Albert: 10-13, brunette; Young Denise: 10-13; Salvador: Latino, 25-35, understudy with guaranteed performance; Male: 40+, understudy; Female: 23-30, understudy.

Send pix & resume by Mar. 15 to Lone Star Ensemble, 6000 Canterbury Dr., D109, Culver City, CA 90230. For information contact kcshiner@juno.com.

www.backstage.com/backsta...id=1834452

[serenity]

wow thanks all for the review! and for this cute pic!

amber with red hair! that´s so sweet.

[xita]

Hey ari do you know if Amber is going to be a part of it. Amber said it could be played by anyone so I am wondering. Either way Amber wrote it, and support is there. Though you probably should not read this thread if you are going and haven't seen it and don't know what it is about.

-----------------------------------

En un mundo de ilusión yo estaba desahuciado, yo estaba abandonado.

Vivía sin sentido, pero llegaste tú. -
Mana

[emma peel]

Way to go Amber!!

It's really nice to know that good things can happen to nice and deserving people.

Janice

[ariadneia]

Hi Xita, I'm not sure if Amber's a part of it, but my guess would be yes. I looked on the website for Lone Star Ensemble and their thing is helping budding playwrights fine tune their work, so it sounds like all the playwrights are on hand for their productions. As for the cast, the casting notice had calls for a young Albert and a young Denise, but not for an older version of these two characters. (I haven't seen the play, but I'm guessing there is an older Albert and Denise) The Ensemble has its own set of actors, so they might be filling in those roles, either way some roles have already been cast, so Amber being in the production is definitely a possibility. Hope that helps.

_ Ari

Edited to (hopefully) make more sense

Edited by: ariadneia at: 3/10/03 11:51:40 pm

[jamboree]

Hope not too late to add my report, I went both days, the first day was full house and had many Amber big fans, second day is 80% full and I was late about 15 minutes and still can find a good seat. I sat next to Cynthia, on that time I didn’t know she is Kitten, but I guessed she is because she has good Kitten characters. Amber was very nice to fans, but I didn’t talk much to her. pics here

Edited by: jamboree at: 3/10/03 10:44:12 pm

[kajo 2000]

jamboree: Thanks so much for the report & photos.

[Puff]

Jamboree thanks for the pictures I like the first one you have of Amber I hope you had a great time at the play.

---

Grapes. Because who can get a melon in their mouth?

[emma peel]

jamboree, thanks for the pics. Amber is so adorable and beautiful and giving to her fans. What's not to love?

Janice

[helpful information perha]

www.backstage.com/backsta...id=1834452



Equity Stage March 10, 2003



"ALBERT HALL"





Lone Star Ensemble (prod.) is accepting submissions for Albert Hall, Amber Benson's dark comedy. Dir. James Kerwin. Rehearsals start Mar. 24. Performances run Apr. 17-May 11 at the Complex. There is pay.



Breakdown--

Elenor: 50-60, Albert's mom; Esther and Mrs. Perlman: 50+, gossiping Jewish ladies; Young Albert: 10-13, brunette; Young Denise: 10-13; Salvador: Latino, 25-35, understudy with guaranteed performance; Male: 40+, understudy; Female: 23-30, understudy.



Send pix & resume by Mar. 15 to Lone Star Ensemble, 6000 Canterbury Dr., D109, Culver City, CA 90230. For information contact kcshiner@juno.com. AEA 99 SEAT THTR CONTRACT.

[Domaris]

OMG, she's so beautiful! and she looks stone too lol it's just so damn adorable

"Rock my world!" - Gia

[kajo 2000]

Bookings now being taken for "Albert Hall":



www.lonestarensemble.org/



Coming soon!



AMBER BENSON'S "ALBERT HALL"



presented by THE LONE STAR ENSEMBLE

at THE COMPLEX, Dorie Theater

6476 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA

April 17 - May 11, 2003

8:00 pm Thurs., Fri., & Sat. & 7:00 pm Sun.

Call today for ticket info: 310-410-1850



Cast & Crew details



The Lone Star Ensemble is pleased to announce its next production: the world premiere of Albert Hall, a new comedy by Amber Benson (co-star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer; writer/director of the film Chance and the BBC's upcoming Ghosts of Albion).



Workshopped in late 2002 by Benson and director James Kerwin as part of the Blank Theatre Company's "Living Room Series," Albert Hall tells the story of a 30-year-old who suffers a nervous breakdown and is forced to return home to live with his overprotective mother. Blurring the lines between life and art, reality and imagination, the play serves as a humorous, absurd, and uniquely irreverent look at the state of theatre and its place in modern culture.

Edited by: kajo 2000 at: 3/28/03 3:24:15 am

[maudmac]

Interesting. Natalie Zea, who was in the Blank Theatre Company's production is on the Board of Directors for the Lone Star Ensemble.



Which means nothing to anyone who's not a Passions fan. (Natalie was on the show for a while. Best. Gwen. Ever.) Sorry, I'm just practicing for the next round of one of those degrees of separation things.



It's awesome to see Amber's play going places. The whole reason the Lone Star Ensemble was founded was to be a haven for theatre folks to work and to get things out there to a new audience. It sounds like a good environment for Amber's play. I'm happy for her. I hope it goes well, along with everything else in her life right now.

---

i know there is strength
in the differences between us
and i know there is comfort
where we overlap

[Elizbet27]

travis shuldt is from passions too and hes in it also... he wasnt in the reading but i remember natalie was.

[kajo 2000]

Subject: Amber Benson's ALBERT HALL - PRESS RELEASE



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:

Kathryn Gordon

The Lone Star Ensemble

(310) 410-1850

info@lonestarensemble.org

www.lonestarensemble.org



World Premiere of Amber Benson's ALBERT HALL at The Complex.



HOLLYWOOD, CA ­ March 28, 2003 ­ The Lone Star Ensemble, the Los Angeles-based theatre company behind last summer's production of Shakespeare's lost "Cardenio," announces the world premiere run of ALBERT HALL, a new comedy by "Buffy the Vampire Slayer's" Amber Benson. The production is scheduled to premiere this spring at The Complex on Santa Monica Blvd.



Workshopped last year by Benson and director James Kerwin as part of the Blank Theatre Company's "Living Room Series," ALBERT HALL tells the story of a 30-year-old (Brian Stanton) who suffers a nervous breakdown and is forced to return home to live with his overprotective mother (Johanna McKay). Blurring the lines between life and art, reality and imagination, the play serves as a humorous, absurd and uniquely irreverent look at the state of theatre and its place in modern culture.



Each Friday performance of ALBERT HALL will feature a special question-and-answer reception with the cast and production crew after the show. Refreshments will be served.



Known to audiences worldwide as "Tara" on the popular television series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," Amber Benson's screen credits include "Bye Bye Love," "SFW," "King of the Hill" and "The Crush." She recently wrote and directed the award-winning film "Chance" and the BBC's animated production "The Ghosts of Albion."



Founded in early 2000, the Lone Star Ensemble is a donor-supported non-profit corporation dedicated to the advancement of theatre arts throughout the Los Angeles community. The Ensemble has received widespread critical acclaim for its innovative multimedia adaptations of the rare Shakespeare pieces "Venus and Adonis" (2001) and "Cardenio" (2002), earning honors for Overall Production, Ensemble Performance and Directing on "Back Stage West" critic Paul Birchall's "Best of 2002" list.



ALBERT HALL is directed by James Kerwin and stars Brian Stanton, Johanna McKay, Brian Carpenter, Kathryn Gordon, Jamie Burns, April Adams, Shelley Isaacs, Sebastian DeVicente, Natalie Zea, Chandler Smith, Angelique Mermet and Travis Schuldt. Michelle Kraay stage manages.



ALBERT HALL runs Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 7:00 pm, April 17 - May 11 at The Complex's Dorie Theater, 6476 Santa Monica Blvd. (at Wilcox) in Hollywood. Tickets are $12 for Thursday, Saturday and Sunday performances; and $20 for Friday performances (including Q&A reception and refreshments). For ticket information call 310-410-1850 or visit www.lonestarensemble.org



# # #



--------------------

Lone Star Ensemble



info@lonestarensemble.org

www.lonestarensemble.org

Edited by: kajo 2000 at: 3/29/03 5:22:49 am

[tyche]

The BBC are certainly doing their bit promoting Amber's work at the moment - they've added a news story about the forthcoming production of 'Albert Hall' to their website:

www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/buffy/2003/04/07/3665.shtml

[xita]

That's great that the bbc is plugging her other work. I guess they figure that any promotion for her is a promotion for ghosts.

-----------------------------------

Only 50 cents

[kajo 2000]

People will be able to buy mini- or full-sized copies of the Albert Hall Poster with all proceeds going toward the Lone Star Ensemble educational arts charity. Small posters will be $8.99 and large 2' by 3' posters will be $19.99.



The play's director James Kerwin explained that one of the reasons he and Amber are doing the play again, after workshopping it at the Blank Theatre Company last year, is to help Lone Star raise money to develop a venue in which young, otherwise-unknown writers can have their work performed.

---------

"I want to be Byron... because I want to date young boys." Amber Benson

[xita]

That's a cool poster. Makes me kind of excited and proud for Amber to see her name on a poster like that. Though I am still debating going to see the play. I might, just to support Amber, but the play isn't something necessarily that I want to see again.

-----------------------------------

Only 50 cents

[feena191]

I've been trying to rack my brains to think what movie that poster reminds me of, I think it may be this one...



Indiana Jones



It's mainly the title font



Feena

-x-

---------------------------------------

How's he gonna read that magazine rolled up like that?

~ Famous last words of an insect

[kajo 2000]

Official Albert Hall posters, t-shirts etc are available to buy here.





feena191: The lettering used in the Albert Hall poster does seem to have been "inspired" by the Indiana Jones poster. Well spotted.

---------

"I want to be Byron... because I want to date young boys." Amber Benson

[helpful information perha]

so who is going to this?



we need reports

[James Kerwin]

Hey everybody... Thanks so much for being interested in our upcoming production of ALBERT HALL! I debated for a while whether or not to post here... but we've been receiving a lot of email through the Lone Star Ensemble site asking about ALBERT HALL and I figure it'll be a lot easier if I answer a couple of the most common questions right here, since it seems like a majority of the inquiries are coming from folks who heard about the show on these boards.



One thing many people have been asking is whether or not they should come see the play if they saw ALBERT HALL as a reading last year at the Blank Theatre. My answer is YES, by all means! You'll see a vastly different show. We've spent several months and a rather frighteningly large sum of money to take this play to the next level. The difference between a staged reading and a full-fledged production -- with professional sets, lighting, sound design, and a lengthy rehearsal process -- is a very marked one. I'm incredibly proud of what we've done with this show, and with Amber's words. While the staged reading served as the initial inspiration, this play has evolved into something far above and beyond what you've seen before. Plus, if you come on a Friday, you'll get the chance to meet everybody and ask any questions about the play you want (not to mention the free food and drinks). Tickets do cost more on Fridays but I think they'll be well worth it.



And as for the poster's logo... It sure does look like Indiana Jones, doesn't it? Hmm. Truth is, Amber and I both like Indiana Jones, and there's a portion of the play (if you're familiar with it you might know what I mean) that reminds me of the "leap of faith" in Last Crusade. So I thought it'd be clever to do the logo with that certain "comic book" look. Yes, I am easily amused.



So come to the show! Hope to see you there.



James Kerwin

Director, ALBERT HALL

[helpful information perha]

Thanks for the additional details James!

and all the best with the show!!

[xita]

James thank you, you've helped me make up my mind. I"ll definitely be going at some point. I'll try to make a Friday! Thanks for the information!

-----------------------------------

Only 50 cents

[jamboree]

I am going to be there this Friday, I am not good at report but hope can take some pictures if Amber shows up.

If equal affection cannot be, let the more loving one be me. - Sally

[Trance Rat Spooky]

going there opening night. I'm not the best at reports. Most people here do them so much better. but, I'll say what i can.



~Spooky

[dekalog]

thanks to all of you who go and report back - being far away from the action we have to rely on vicarious sneaks and peeks to get our thrills. Whatever you come back with and give us the goods on will be mightily appreciated.

[helpful information perha]

IT'S OPENING NIGHT!!



Congrads Amber!

[Trance Rat Spooky]

OKay. Back from the play. Now 'member that I'm not good at reviews, so here goes nothing.



=====Kinda Spoilerish=====



If anyone went to the reading and then saw this play you would notice that it follows pretty much on the same line as the reading. Crazy boy Albert, crazier mum, weird-o doctor. All the same. Act I was pretty much like the reading, except for one line that was added in that made reference to Mr. Sad Clown Face. So it ties in Act I with Act III. Act II was pretty much the same except for different actors (d'uh). However in this one, pretty Latin Boy was goofier and Jewish Nurse was like a more toned-down Fran ("The Nanny"). Really good Act. I enjoyed it. Finally, Act III. This was where the big change was. Although still improv, it was very much toned down compared to the reading. Amber didn't play as big a role as before and the uhm...accident wasn't as cool as the reading. Additionally there was an actual ending to the play. Yes, folks...Albert Hall had an ending.



The LoneStar Ensemble did a great job with it tho'. The cast was awesome (woo! go Latin Boy!) and I must say the change in music (compared to reading) was fantastic. Latin Boy dances. it's great.



So over all I have to say that although I did very much enjoy this play, I liked the reading much better because of the direction it took at the end. Still, Albert Hall is awesomely great. I recommend it.



~Spooky