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EXTENDED! thru August 29th (no performances 7/29-8/1) Los Angeles Premiere OPUS
A DOZEN RAVE REVIEWS! CRITIC'S CHOICE! - Los Angeles Times - full review - "THE FOUNTAIN THEATRE SCORES WITH ITS BRISK AND ENTERTAINING STAGING of Michael Hollinger's inside look at the passions and betrayals within a string quartet... BUOYANT PERFORMANCES... A romance set to music... Simon Levy's direction moves con brio, invisible yet exact, the rhythm of the line readings creating its own musicality. Each actor offers a specific tone: Cooper Thornton's Alan is a droll Lothario, while clear-eyed but reticent cellist Carl (Gregory G. Giles) holds secrets of his own. Lebano's vain Elliot makes the hard decisions but can't hear the exquisite musical shadings that obsess Blinkoff's tremulous, childish Dorian... ACCOMPLISHED CAST... It's the smaller moments that compel, creating an intimacy that make 'Opus' A STYLISH MIDSUMMER DATE NIGHT." - Charlotte Stoudt CRITIC'S PICK! - Back Stage - full review "Director Simon Levy's LOVINGLY CRAFTED production perfectly captures the tension and the aesthetic beauty that make this INTELLIGENT PLAY take flight... Startling plot reversals keep the play fascinating up to the final melodic fadeout... THE FIVE MEMBER ENSEMBLE IS ROCK-SOLID. The splendid Doughman radiates dignity and strength as Grace works to watch out for herself when the fur starts to fly. Lebano expertly conveys the egotism and self-assurance that are his trump card and his Achilles heel. As the temperamental artiste, Blinkoff offers a characterization rich in nuance and wit. In subtler roles, Giles and Thornton provide welcome balance in their well-modulated portrayals. Levy's classy production delivers a symphony of harmonious pleasures." - Les Spindle RAVE! - ReviewPlays.com/Santa Monica Daily Press/San Diego Jewish World - full review - "MAGNIFICENT! - Exquisite play! - Impeccable timing... Gorgeous music... an altogether absorbing study of very real and very human individuals as they cope with their lives and prepare for the most important performance of their careers. A performance to which we, along with the president, can only shout “Bravo!” - Cynthia Citron RAVE! - Park LaBrea News/Beverly Press - full review - "THERE'S LITTLE TO SAY ABOUT PERFECTION. EXCEPT THAT THE FOUNTAIN THEATRE DOES IT AGAIN!... The play is not just about a string quartet; it's about relationships, commitment, connection, survival, ambition, the individuality and the plurality in harmony, life, love and every worthwhile endeavor... EVERY PERFORMANCE IN THIS UTTERLY DELIGHTFUL PLAY IS A GEM, DISTINCT AND PURE... And there is the hallmark of meticulous directing, which always abounds in Levy's work!... 'Opus' demonstrates how working together creates beautiful music." - Madeleine Shaner GO! - L.A. Weekly - full review - "CANNY SCRIPT... Because classical music can be such a sublime art form, one tends to regard those musicians as inhabiting a more celestial sphere than the rest of us. Playwright and classically trained violist Michael Hollinger confutes that notion with this PERCIPIENT DRAMA, which examines the political and emotional fracas within a string quartet. In a SOLID ENSEMBLE, Doughman is noteworthy for her character's impeccable truth; likewise Cooper Thornton is highly effective as Alan, the down-to-earth second violinist who reacts with growing consternation and dismay to snowballing events." - Deborah Klugman RAVE! - Hollywood Reporter - full review "THE ACTING, LIKE MOST STRING QUARTETS, EXCEEDS THE SUM OF ITS PARTS. There is real teamwork, whether as characters in the play or just actors on a stage doing battle and interacting with one another... Cooper Thornton as the second violin increasingly dominates the play with his resigned sense of humor, bringing a Jason Robards Jr. sense of pathos to his work along with a split-second sense of timing. Gregory G. Giles gets bad news and delivers it as only a cellist with his feet firmly on the ground could do. Between them, Christian Lebano as the controlling first violinist and Daniel Blinkoff as his ephemeral lover and rival capture the stilted, awkward rituals classical music relationships must go through in their final stages, like black holes of mortality. The set is cleverly designed to provide the labyrinth through which all touring ensembles must continually travel... Rips open the heart of classical music." - Laurence Vittes RAVE! - Buzzine - full review "SOMETHING WONDERFUL HAPPENS WITH A PLAY THAT WORKS... It's a theater experience that doesn't always happen. It happens in Opus... all excel in this small, well-crafted play." - Clare Elfman RAVE! - StageHappenings.com - full review - "A HELLUVA THEATRE EXPERIENCE! This is one high-toned evening that should be viewed by lovers of theatre and of classical chamber music... Director Simon Levy has worked his signature magic with the entire production and the five actors are to be congratulated on such intense individual and ensemble work." - Dale Reynolds RAVE! - CultureVulture.net - full review - "A GEM!... Sometimes it seems like the best way to review something terrific is to just lean back and say, "You must go, see for yourself. It's wonderful." "Opus" at the Fountain Theatre is just such a gem. It is 90 minutes of tightly written and meticulously acted theater, entertaining and thought provoking... Watching "Opus," it is hard to believe that the actors in front of you are not musicians, or for that matter, that they are not a real quartet performing before you... BEAUTIFUL!" - Karen Weinstein RAVE! - Santa Monica Mirror - full review - "The Fountain Theatre is one of L.A.’s most respected venues having garnered over 200 awards for production, performance, and design in its 20-year history. Its latest production is certainly destined to be yet another notch on its belt. Working with a brilliant script by Michael Hollinger, Opus, a stirring look at the behind-the-scenes drama of a string quartet, award-winning director Simon Levy put together a fabulous ensemble and created a fascinating evening of theatre... Opus is a pitch-perfect production that is an extra special treat for classical music lovers, but you don’t have to love classical music to thoroughly enjoy the performances by this gifted ensemble. Performed without an intermission, Opus will keep you engaged until the very last note in what is truly A THEATRICAL BREATH OF FRESH AIR." - Beverly Cohn RAVE! - StageSceneLA.com - full review - "THIS IS L.A. INTIMATE THEATER AT ITS BRILLIANT BEST... Director Simon Levy adds Opus to the string of hits he’s directed at the Fountain, most recently last year’s equally gripping Photograph 51, and neither his work nor the cast he has assembled could be any better... The Fountain has a history of long-running, multi-award-winning productions, and Opus looks to be no exception." - Steven Stanley RAVE! - StageHappenings.com - full review - "DROP WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW. MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR 'OPUS'... exquisitely directed by Simon Levy... five superb actors... the audience sits mesmerized... This intimate production is LIVING THEATRE AT ITS BEST." - Shirle Gottlieb Sex, drugs and chamber music! Talent and temperaments collide in this amusing and compelling behind-the-scenes look at a high-strung string quartet. A world-famous ensemble threatens to unravel as it prepares for its highest-profile performance when its most talented member goes missing and a young woman is hired to take his place. Smart, funny, entertaining and insightful -- you'll never listen to a string quartet the same way again. Produced by Stephen Sachs Co-Produced by Deborah Lawlor Directed by Simon Levy
Starring
Daniel Blinkoff
Jia Doughman Gregory G. Giles Christian Lebano Cooper Thornton
Creative and Production Team Frederica Nascimento - Sets Ken Booth - Lights Peter Bayne - Sound A. Jeffrey Schoenberg - Costumes Goar Galstyan & Elna Kordijan - Props Roy Tanabe - Music Advisor Larry Sonderling - Music Advisor Lucy Pollak - PR Ed Krieger - Photographer Mitzi Delgado - PSM Terri Roberts - ASM Tanya Apuya - Wardrobe Scott Tuomey - TD
Assigned Seating for all Shows Tickets can be purchased at: box office: 323-663-1525 group sales: 323-663-1098 subscriptions: 323-663-1098
EXTENDED! thru August 29th (no performances 7/29-8/1) Thurs, Fri & Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm or online here:
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Another Special Flamenco Event starring Maria Bermudez and the Chicana Gypsy Project July 23rd & 24th, 2010 Ford Box Office: 323-461-3673
The Ford is an historic outdoor theatre nestled in the Hollywood Hills across the 101 freeway from the Hollywood Bowl. The amphitheatre provides an intimate space for dance, music, film and family events. We are proud and happy to present Maria Bermudez - Flamenco in this beautiful venue, and hope you'll join us on Friday, July 23rd or Saturday July 24th when Maria and Company will perform under the stars. Group rates are available. Fountain Theatre Members get a 10% discount.
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FOREVER FLAMENCO! at the Fountain 1st and 3rd Sunday of each Month LA Times Review - L.A. Ole! - August 3, 2009
Los Angeles Times
. New Artists and New Shows Every 1st and 3rd Sunday Check with us often to see who will be performing, including great artists like: Singers: Marisol Fuentes, Vicente Griego, Charo Monge, Jesus Montoya, Pilar Moreno Guitarists: Paco Arroyo, Robert Boyd, Adam del Monte, Gabriel Osuna, Kambis Pakandam, Jose Tanaka, Antonio Triana, Ben Woods Dancers: Vanessa Acosta, Roberto Amaral, Yolanda Arroyo, Clara Catalina, Ricardo Chavez, Carissa Hernandez, Arleen Hurtado, Evelyn Nacif, Arturo Nazzari, Timo Nunez, Rina Orellano, La Pamela, Sara Parra, Pablo Pizano, Paloma Rios, Sari, Mizuho Sato, Juan Talavera, Cristina Villalobos, Briseyda Zarate, Daniela Zermeno, Ryan Zermeno... and others Percussionists (some shows, not all): Adam Hernandez, Gerardo Morales Special Guests (when they are in town): Fanny Ara, Lakshmi Basile, Maria Bermudez, Melissa Cruz, La Conja, La Fibi, La Tania, Elena Osuna, Nelida Terado, Yaelisa, Carola Zertuche UPCOMING SCHEDULE: (programming subject to change) WE PRESENT FLAMENCO ON THE 1st and 3rd SUNDAYS OF EACH MONTH There are no performances in July since we're presenting Maria Bermudez at the Ford on July 23rd and 24th. See above. 8/1: Artistic Director: Antonio Triana Guitarists: Antonio Triana & Ben Woods Singer: Antonio de Jerez Dancers: Kerensa DeMars, Arleen Hurtado & Ryan Zermeno 8/15: TBA
(Keep checking our website for updates!) For Flamenco CDs, DVDs and video tapes, please visit www.danzeffguitars.com
Produced by Deborah Lawlor
CALL 323-663-1525 or online here: |
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