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Film Noir Meets The Stage in Helen Lawrence

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1948 Vancouver. Recession. Grim. Noir. Human experience.

As part of the 2015 Next Wave Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music will present the US premiere of the unconventional “high tech cold dark night,” Helen Lawrence.

Conceived and directed by Stan Douglas (David Zwirner Gallery) and written by Chris Haddock (CBC’s Davinci Inquest and HBO’s Boardwalk Empire), Helen Lawrence disrupts the traditional theatrical experience by simultaneously projecting a film on a scrim while actors act behind it.

You read that correctly. Helen Lawrence is a play and film at the same time.

Haddock invites us to “join the expedition into unexplored territory: into the past for source and future for the technology.” Through use of camera-controlled software, the actors and their actions seen on stage are simultaneously projected in a complete and fully staged film. The show seeks to highlight the essence of an era— a time where people coped with the reality of economic hardship, war, and depression— in a full bodied, all encompassing, experience that sometimes only a film can deliver. But it’s roots are grounded in theatre. Although we see the story on a scrim reminiscent of the grandiose point of view of a movie screen, we remember that behind every story there is a person. A character. An actor. And their experience. We see both. We see a larger than life depiction of a time with which many of us are not familiar, and we see the real human, which further allows us to identify with their story.

Douglas, a prominent Black Canadian artist, is known for his photography and projection-based work. He was one of the first artists to be part of the New York based gallery, David Zwirner. Helen Lawrence made its debut at  the Vancouver Arts Club Theatre Company in the spring of 2014. It has also been presented at the Munich Kammerspiele, the Edinburgh International Festival, and Canadian Stage in Toronto.

Haddock described this project as “new and untried artistic” and how, because of this, it was irresistible to him.

I look forward to the new and untried when it comes to theatre. When you’re passionate about an art form that’s under criticism as fading out of relevance, it’s amazing to see glimpses into its future, its livelihood, its unconventionality, and its place in the world of entertainment.

What A Time To Be Alive.

For more information click HERE!

Helen Lawrence: BAM 2015 Next Wave Festival trailer

Celebrated visual artist Stan Douglas and screenwriter Chris Haddock take film noir to high-tech heights, inserting actors via blue screen into a two-toned cinema landscape of seedy hotels and skid-row streets.

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Celebrity Takeover

Tituss Burgess Has New Music, A New Movie, & No Time For Mess + The Preacher’s Wife Musical Update

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Tituss Burgess' Saint Tituss EP cover
Tituss Burgess' Saint Tituss EP cover

On Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Tituss Burgess gave us an update on his musical adaptation of the 1996 movie, The Preacher’s Wife – starring Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston. On the late-night talk show, a viewer called in to ask if there had been any updates regarding the show and Burgess shared that:

“ We are very close to signing with a hot-shot producer in New York, which means that the show is closer to appearing in London or here. But there’s also a recent development which could delay it for the better. You’ll find out about it later”

So not only do we know that the musical is still on its way to bless us, but there is an announcement about the show on the way! If you ask me, this is incredibly exciting. Tituss Burgess’ career has gone from stage to screen, and his abilities as an actor and singer are undeniable. Knowing that we are closer to seeing his skills as a musical theatre composer is mad exciting. Watch a clip from the interview above.

While we wait for The Preacher’s Wife Musical, listen to Burgess’ newly released EP Saint Tituss. Burgess sings his face off as he skillfully talks about issues that are personal and political — all while wrapping things up with a joyous celebration of resilience as positivity. He also has two songs that feature Daniel J. Watts including the single 45

St. Tituss is available on Spotify, apple music, and other streaming platforms.

He also has a new movie on the way. “Dolemite Is My Name” starring Eddie Murphy along with Burgess, Mike Epps, Chris Rock, & more will premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. A national release date has not been set as of yet but is sure to be on its way.

 

While discussing the new movie during the same interview, Cohen asked Burgess about his relationship with Murphy. The way Cohen presented the question insinuates there might have been a problem between the two because of a ‘problematic past with the gays’ on Murphy’s part. The response given by Burgess is swift and loaded with “you tried it, but you won’t get me”:

“He wasn’t problematic for Tituss. We had a wonderful time. We talked about Dreamgirls and he should have won the Oscasr, I believe. He was great. Any troubles he may have had with gay people I guess are gone because he loved me.”

It is the following facial expression and the interaction that comes afterward that makes live television great. You can see Burgess say something to someone off-camera which leads Cohen to ask what he’s saying. Burgess replies with a soon-to-be iconic response to everything: “Keep going, girl. Do your show.”

and this is why we live.

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Coming Soon

The Public Theater Will Present Hercules Musical & Hercules Is Black!

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The Muses via Hercules film

We knew it was coming, we just didn’t know when. Back in 2017, we reported that a musical adaptation of the Disney movie Hercules would be headed to Broadway. Now we can confirm that is somewhat true.

Hercules will be the latest Disney musical to be made for the stage and will play Off-Broadway at the Public Theater’s Delacorte Theater in Central Park. As the final show of the Shakespeare in the Park season theater season performances will run August 31 through September 8 with a reading set to take place in April.

The role of Hercules will be played by a Black actor, according to the casting notice

The musical will include the Oscar-nominated “Go the Distance, along with other songs from the 1997 animated film by Alan Menken & David Zippel. Presented through an arrangement with Disney Theatrical Productions, the show will be directed by Lear deBessonet.  The creative team also includes a book by Kristoffer Diaz, & choreography by Chase Brock.

Before Hercules, Kenny Leon will direct the Much Ado About Nothing May 21 through June 23 to begin the Shakespeare in the Park season.

Casting for all both productions will be announced at a later date

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Twitter: @BroadwayBlack

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