Thursday, January 31, 2008
Closing Weekend!
A View from the Bridge closes this Saturday so make sure you make your reservations now! You can call 773-427-1935 or visit www.greyzelda.com to reserve them online. Friday and Saturday's tickets have been going fast!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
A View from the Bridge - Only Two More Weeks!
We only have two weekends left for you to see Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge! Please make your reservations now. We're mighty proud of this show and our cast rocks our world. Check it!
JEFF RECOMMENDED
“See this play. Support this company.” ~William Scott, New City
Tickets:
Call 773-427-1935.
OR
Visit http://www.greyzelda.com for online purchasing.
Ticket Specials:
Bloggers Deal- 2 for 1 ... if you have a blog, you can get in, with a friend, for half price. 10 buckaroos each.
Industry Nights- Sundays - also a 2 for 1 deal with a headshot / resume or a business card.
What the People Say:
"(Aris) Tompulis gives one of the best performances you’re likely to to see on a Chicago stage this winter. His mannerisms and delivery were so natural, I actually had to check my script afterwards to make sure he wasn’t ad libbing. Equally outstanding are Dave Goss’s Marco and Tom Gordon’s Rodolpho, both of whom have mastered an Italian accent and every task called for by the text. Finally, Kelly Breheny, playing niece Katherine for a second time, shows remarkable comfort with the role ... GreyZelda has established itself as a theater company to watch ... "
~Ethan Stanislawski, Chicago Maroon
"This young company is many exciting things. They are great actors and a tight ensemble in Miller's superbly crafted script .... Aris Tompulis’ Eddie is a big lug who you want to hug and punch alternately, but he is always human. Nicolle Van Dyke and Kelly Breheny, Beatrice and Catherine respectively, hold their own. They give hard, delicate and beautiful performances. See this play. Support this company. GreyZelda will be well served by continuing to take chances as long as they genuinely support the production."
~William Scott, New City
“The strong cast of GreyZelda Theatre Group's production--including Aris Tompulis as Eddie, Kelly Breheny as the niece, and Tom Gordon as her lover--give their characters gritty intensity.”
~Albert Williams, Chicago Reader
"The acting was excellent with Aris Tompulis’ Eddie, Kelly Breheny’s Catherine and Tom Gordon’s Rodolpho particularly wonderful. The fine Brooklyn accents and truthful emotional rage and genuine angst from Miller’s characters came across effectively in The Grey Zelda Group's production. We see Eddie’s pent-up sexual desire and his homophobia explode into tragedy. His journey unfolds as high drama. This is a worthy production."
~Tom Williams, chicagocritic.com
“The trio that anchors the GreyZelda cast couldn't be better. As Eddie, Aris Tompulis is all tightly coiled torment, a man without the capacity for redemptive self-reflection, a victim of his own obsessive, machismo posturing and bull-headed possessiveness. As Beatrice, Nicolle Van Dyke is endlessly sympathetic as a bitter, world-weary woman whose realization of the death of her marriage comes as a dagger to the heart. And as Catherine, Kelly Breheny is luminous, a young woman whose combination of innocence and sensuality could make a priest kick in a stained-glass window.”
~Catey Sullivan, News-Star
“Nicolle Van Dyke as the long-suffering wife Beatrice, Kelly Breheny as the wide-eyed Catherine, and Tom Gordon as the new-in-town Rodolfo fit perfectly into their roles. With spot-on accents, great sense of timing, and affecting performances.”
~Dennis Mahoney, Centerstage
“Tom Gordon’s dynamic performance as a passionate Italian singer and Kelly Brenehy’s fragile work as the object of his affection.”
~Christopher Piatt
JEFF RECOMMENDED
“See this play. Support this company.” ~William Scott, New City
Tickets:
Call 773-427-1935.
OR
Visit http://www.greyzelda.com for online purchasing.
Ticket Specials:
Bloggers Deal- 2 for 1 ... if you have a blog, you can get in, with a friend, for half price. 10 buckaroos each.
Industry Nights- Sundays - also a 2 for 1 deal with a headshot / resume or a business card.
What the People Say:
"(Aris) Tompulis gives one of the best performances you’re likely to to see on a Chicago stage this winter. His mannerisms and delivery were so natural, I actually had to check my script afterwards to make sure he wasn’t ad libbing. Equally outstanding are Dave Goss’s Marco and Tom Gordon’s Rodolpho, both of whom have mastered an Italian accent and every task called for by the text. Finally, Kelly Breheny, playing niece Katherine for a second time, shows remarkable comfort with the role ... GreyZelda has established itself as a theater company to watch ... "
~Ethan Stanislawski, Chicago Maroon
"This young company is many exciting things. They are great actors and a tight ensemble in Miller's superbly crafted script .... Aris Tompulis’ Eddie is a big lug who you want to hug and punch alternately, but he is always human. Nicolle Van Dyke and Kelly Breheny, Beatrice and Catherine respectively, hold their own. They give hard, delicate and beautiful performances. See this play. Support this company. GreyZelda will be well served by continuing to take chances as long as they genuinely support the production."
~William Scott, New City
“The strong cast of GreyZelda Theatre Group's production--including Aris Tompulis as Eddie, Kelly Breheny as the niece, and Tom Gordon as her lover--give their characters gritty intensity.”
~Albert Williams, Chicago Reader
"The acting was excellent with Aris Tompulis’ Eddie, Kelly Breheny’s Catherine and Tom Gordon’s Rodolpho particularly wonderful. The fine Brooklyn accents and truthful emotional rage and genuine angst from Miller’s characters came across effectively in The Grey Zelda Group's production. We see Eddie’s pent-up sexual desire and his homophobia explode into tragedy. His journey unfolds as high drama. This is a worthy production."
~Tom Williams, chicagocritic.com
“The trio that anchors the GreyZelda cast couldn't be better. As Eddie, Aris Tompulis is all tightly coiled torment, a man without the capacity for redemptive self-reflection, a victim of his own obsessive, machismo posturing and bull-headed possessiveness. As Beatrice, Nicolle Van Dyke is endlessly sympathetic as a bitter, world-weary woman whose realization of the death of her marriage comes as a dagger to the heart. And as Catherine, Kelly Breheny is luminous, a young woman whose combination of innocence and sensuality could make a priest kick in a stained-glass window.”
~Catey Sullivan, News-Star
“Nicolle Van Dyke as the long-suffering wife Beatrice, Kelly Breheny as the wide-eyed Catherine, and Tom Gordon as the new-in-town Rodolfo fit perfectly into their roles. With spot-on accents, great sense of timing, and affecting performances.”
~Dennis Mahoney, Centerstage
“Tom Gordon’s dynamic performance as a passionate Italian singer and Kelly Brenehy’s fragile work as the object of his affection.”
~Christopher Piatt
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Windy City Times Review by Mary Shen Barnidge
"Arthur Miller's play lends itself to a variety of interpretations: it can be viewed as drama verité, painting a picture of community life amid the Italian population of Red Hook, on the southwestern coast of Brooklyn. Or as a fable of dreams deferred, elders sacrificing so their young may flourish. One can find Freudian overtones in its exploration of blue-collar paternal affection subverted by incestuous impulses stemming from suppressed envy. ( Don't we, today, still see parents resentful of the privileges they shower upon their children? ) And how could the plight of “submarines”—illegal immigrants—seeking economic opportunities in America not resonate with audiences in 2008?
It should come as no surprise that this GreyZelda Theatre Group production does not fit easily into preconceived categories. Where some directors would instruct their actors to delve the possibility of sexual ambiguities in Eddie Carbone's possessive attitude toward his maturing niece and her effeminate ( by 1956 standards, remember ) suitor, Chris Riter never permits his subtext to wallow in sweaty speculation. Likewise, speeches that would, under other guidance, be delivered with operatic majesty are kept well within the vernacular idiom of their milieu.
Indeed, if this rendition of the familiar classroom classic has any prototype, it would be an early television play: the live-action scenes are almost wholly restricted to the Carbone family parlor, with only a suggestion of hall stairway and front stoop, all other exterior scenes being shown in video clips, courtesy of filmmaker Ed French. ( David Lykins' attorney Alfieri never addresses us except before the camera. ) Far from diminishing the story's impact, however, this multimedia approach further intensifies our acquaintance and, thus, our understanding of the social environment that turns fundamentally good men to violence and vengeance.
Opening on a frigid night only three days into the new year, the GreyZelda ensemble couldn't help but fall a bit short of its ambitious goals, emotions kindling too slowly before igniting. But Stage Left's intimate quarters permit the cinematic ambience of the prerecorded sequences to be carried over to the on-site performances—in particular, techniques associated with close-up shots that allow us to see thoughts cross characters' minds unspoken. Ironically, it is just this cozy brand of realism ( as contrasted with the glib repartee of extensively-drilled players confidant of their next words ) that invokes empathy without our being aware of its influence, so that when the inevitable strikes—and we, literally, see it coming—we experience the catharsis due all unnecessary destruction in an imperfect world."Doesn't Mary write beautifully? I always enjoy her reviews because she's able to spin journalism intelligently and poetically, while still remaining descriptive and accurate.
(*edited 1/17/2007 at 3:49pm* - I've been a long time fan of Mary Shen Barnidge's writing because I think it's good - regardless of whether or not she reviews our shows or not - my comment above was put because I feel the post is well-written and uses really good words and descriptions and quotes that are beautiful to read, to me, from the literary sense. She's got a huge talent and Chicago should be very proud to have such an eloquent writer coming to see their shows. Go read her other reviews - you'll see what I mean.)
RZ
Question about Previews
Why do theatre companies have them?
Rob Kozlowski posted a blog saying that he went to see a preview of Little Dog Laughed. He wrote a little bit about the show as did one of his commenters. Eric Rosen posted a comment in response where he gets on people's cases about criticizing a preview, comparing it to inviting dinner guests over when you're deciding on the menu.
No offense to someone I don't know, but ... that's kind of a dumb analogy. It's more like inviting people over an hour early while you're setting the table. Why would you? I certainly wouldn't, unless they were an out of town guest that was staying over and had nowhere else to go. Or maybe he was saying that he's the type to plan his menu out last minute ... I'm a couple weeks in advance girl, if I'm having a dinner party, but that's just me. Anyway ...
I don't really understand previews and inviting others to see a final dress/tech, especially if you're not ready and there's the chance of someone yelling "Hold!" during the show. If you're at the "Hold!" point, I don't think you're ready to have an audience.
Am I wrong? And, if you're going to invite people to come see the show before it's ready to open and those people have an opinion on the show, then ... why would you have a problem with that? You chose to let them in!!! Our friend, Bob, wanted to come see A View from the Bridge during one of our final dress rehearsals, but we just weren't ready to let the public in. We were figuring out the video stuff, making sure our light board and sound/video ops were good to go, making sure the actors were comfortable in the space, giving last minute notes, etc. Sometimes, we're completely set to go the night before we open, sometimes we just need the closed space. This time, we needed the privacy, even though Bob's a director, peer, friend, etc. We just weren't ready to pull back the curtain.
So ... why do people have previews exactly? How do they normally work? Do people pay to see glitches or are they normally free?
Rebecca
Rob Kozlowski posted a blog saying that he went to see a preview of Little Dog Laughed. He wrote a little bit about the show as did one of his commenters. Eric Rosen posted a comment in response where he gets on people's cases about criticizing a preview, comparing it to inviting dinner guests over when you're deciding on the menu.
No offense to someone I don't know, but ... that's kind of a dumb analogy. It's more like inviting people over an hour early while you're setting the table. Why would you? I certainly wouldn't, unless they were an out of town guest that was staying over and had nowhere else to go. Or maybe he was saying that he's the type to plan his menu out last minute ... I'm a couple weeks in advance girl, if I'm having a dinner party, but that's just me. Anyway ...
I don't really understand previews and inviting others to see a final dress/tech, especially if you're not ready and there's the chance of someone yelling "Hold!" during the show. If you're at the "Hold!" point, I don't think you're ready to have an audience.
Am I wrong? And, if you're going to invite people to come see the show before it's ready to open and those people have an opinion on the show, then ... why would you have a problem with that? You chose to let them in!!! Our friend, Bob, wanted to come see A View from the Bridge during one of our final dress rehearsals, but we just weren't ready to let the public in. We were figuring out the video stuff, making sure our light board and sound/video ops were good to go, making sure the actors were comfortable in the space, giving last minute notes, etc. Sometimes, we're completely set to go the night before we open, sometimes we just need the closed space. This time, we needed the privacy, even though Bob's a director, peer, friend, etc. We just weren't ready to pull back the curtain.
So ... why do people have previews exactly? How do they normally work? Do people pay to see glitches or are they normally free?
Rebecca
Thursday, January 10, 2008
What the People Are Saying ....
From Morgan Manasa, Babes with Blades Member and local
"Folks,
You must get over to Stage Left to see GreyZelda's production of A View from the Bridge.
This is one of my all time favorite plays and ... I had never seen it performed. It was lovely. Real, raw, charming and heartbreaking. Do yourselves a favor and see it before it's over! RUN. Don't walk."
From Tom Williams, chicagocritic.com:
"The acting was excellent with Aris Tompulis’ Eddie, Kelly Breheny’s Catherine and Tom Gordon’s Rodolpho particularly wonderful. The fine
From Lisa Wilson, GreyZelda company member and Chicago actor:
"The show is f@#*ing phenomenal.... I couldn't believe the tears I had in my eyes. I haven't cried in a theatrical piece as an audience member since I saw a studio workshop of
From William Scott,
"This young company is many exciting things. They are great actors and a tight ensemble in Miller's superbly crafted script .... Aris Tompulis’ Eddie is a big lug who you want to hug and punch alternately, but he is always human. Nicolle Van Dyke and Kelly Breheny, Beatrice and Catherine respectively, hold their own. They give hard, delicate and beautiful performances. See this play. Support this company. GreyZelda will be well served by continuing to take chances as long as they genuinely support the production."
From Dave Lykins, Alfieri in A View from the Bridge,
"The real treat is watching the live cast live this thing. It's probably the best cast I've ever worked with. Having a great cast means nothing without direction and Chris Riter has done a f#@*ing awesome job here. I'm really proud & lucky to be associated with these guys ... It's normal for an actor to pump up the show he's in but I am not really a self promoting type of guy. This is a great presentation of great play and it is only running until the 2nd of February. You'll be doing yourself a favor if caught this before it goes away."
I'll post more feedback as it come our way ... thank you to everyone who's seen the show so far!!!!
Industry Night for View
Hello, you crazy cats, you.
I just wanted to let you know that Industry Night for A View from the Bridge will be Sundays.
2 for 1. Which means 10 bucks. With a headshot/resume or business card.
It'll be great to see you!
RZ
A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller
Stage Left Theatre - 3408 N. Sheffield
Thursdays - Sundays through Feb. 2, 2008
8 pm
www.greyzelda.com
I just wanted to let you know that Industry Night for A View from the Bridge will be Sundays.
2 for 1. Which means 10 bucks. With a headshot/resume or business card.
It'll be great to see you!
RZ
A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller
Stage Left Theatre - 3408 N. Sheffield
Thursdays - Sundays through Feb. 2, 2008
8 pm
www.greyzelda.com
Monday, January 07, 2008
A View from the Bridge Opening and Tech
We finished our first week of A View from the Bridge and it went really well. Our audiences are responding positively and we are Jeff Recommended. (I secretly invited the Jeff Committee without telling Chris or the actors ... my thoughts on that were, "If we get recommended, cool. It'll be a nice surprise to share with everyone. If not, no one's the wiser, so nobody will feel bad about it and performances will continue as usual."
I didn't talk much about tech week because it was one of our craziest ... our set designer, Heath, almost killed himself by falling 4 feet flat on his back. It was really scary ... we heard him yell, then we heard a crash, then we heard nothing for a few seconds. He's fine, but he feels like he was in a serious car accident. We also had some trouble getting the film going, which was terrifying to our entire production, but thanks to Gene Van Dyke (Louis), Heath was able to download a universal program that allowed us to see the film perfectly with no glitches. It was one of those last minute saves that turned everything around and we're extremely thankful to the ingenuity of our cast and crew who helped us open the show up without a hitch.
We hope you can come see the show ... it runs Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Feb. 2nd. We've got the bloggers 2 for 1 deal. Sundays are also our official industry night, again with a 2 for 1 deal with a headshot or business card.
Have a great week, everyone! See you at Stage Left!
Rebecca
I didn't talk much about tech week because it was one of our craziest ... our set designer, Heath, almost killed himself by falling 4 feet flat on his back. It was really scary ... we heard him yell, then we heard a crash, then we heard nothing for a few seconds. He's fine, but he feels like he was in a serious car accident. We also had some trouble getting the film going, which was terrifying to our entire production, but thanks to Gene Van Dyke (Louis), Heath was able to download a universal program that allowed us to see the film perfectly with no glitches. It was one of those last minute saves that turned everything around and we're extremely thankful to the ingenuity of our cast and crew who helped us open the show up without a hitch.
We hope you can come see the show ... it runs Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Feb. 2nd. We've got the bloggers 2 for 1 deal. Sundays are also our official industry night, again with a 2 for 1 deal with a headshot or business card.
Have a great week, everyone! See you at Stage Left!
Rebecca
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Bloggers Deal
Happy New Year, Chicago Theatre Blogosphere and its surrounding areas all over our fair country!
To bring in '08, we'd like to offer a 2 for 1 deal to people who have blogs. When you come to the box office, tell us your web address, bring a friend and you'll both be able to see the show for $10.00 each.
The show opens tomorrow and we're almost sold out. We're also sold out for Saturday, January 19th as we have a high school from Cincinnati coming, so if you were planning on seeing it that night ... I'm very sorry. Please come back again on Sunday, January 20th. You can call 773-427-1935 or visit www.greyzelda.com to purchase your tickets online.
The show's running just under two hours. It's looking great. Everything is coming together.
Here are a few pictures I took from last night's dress rehearsal:
Aris Tompulis (Eddie) and Kelly Breheny (Catherine)
Dave Goss (Marco), Kelly Breheny (Catherine), Tom Gordon (Rodolpho) and Nicolle VanDyke (Beatrice)
Nicolle VanDyke (Beatrice)
Beatrice and Eddie
To bring in '08, we'd like to offer a 2 for 1 deal to people who have blogs. When you come to the box office, tell us your web address, bring a friend and you'll both be able to see the show for $10.00 each.
The show opens tomorrow and we're almost sold out. We're also sold out for Saturday, January 19th as we have a high school from Cincinnati coming, so if you were planning on seeing it that night ... I'm very sorry. Please come back again on Sunday, January 20th. You can call 773-427-1935 or visit www.greyzelda.com to purchase your tickets online.
The show's running just under two hours. It's looking great. Everything is coming together.
Here are a few pictures I took from last night's dress rehearsal:
Aris Tompulis (Eddie) and Kelly Breheny (Catherine)
Dave Goss (Marco), Kelly Breheny (Catherine), Tom Gordon (Rodolpho) and Nicolle VanDyke (Beatrice)
Nicolle VanDyke (Beatrice)
Beatrice and Eddie
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