PlayGround Company in the News Aug-12

Read on to learn about PlayGround Company Members' recent news, current happenings, and upcoming events. 

Tom Swift's short film, THE BEGINNING, winner of the PlayGround Film Festival People's Choice Award, has been selected for this year's Cinema Diverse: the Palm Springs Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. The film, directed by Brian Tolle and featuring Jason Frazier and Liam Vincent, will be rescreened in the Bay Area along with the entire first PlayGround Film Festival on September 24 at the Rialto Cinemas Elmwood with simultaneous live stream on #newplay tv.

Brian Herndon is appearing in TheatreWorks' New Works Festival production of BEING EARNEST, playing a multitude of roles including Lane, Merriman, and Dr. Chasuble.  He will also be doing THE COMPLEAT WORKS OF WLLM SHKSPR (ABRIDGED) at the Harbor Theatre in Suisun, and will be headed to Arizona Theatre Company to reprise Mr. Elton in JANE AUSTEN'S EMMA in December and January. Brian did 30 Days of Free Shakespeare in the Parklet (#1: THE TEMPEST) with SF Shakes, and will be doing Launce in TWO GENTS later in August!

Gabriel Grilli is rehearsing Stalking Christopher Walken, an original dance theatre piece he wrote and is directing for his new company, BrickaBrack, to be performed as part of the SF Fringe, September 8-15 at the Exit Theatre. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/261950

The second presentation of Garret Jon Groenveld’s THE HUMMINGBIRDS as part of the Internationalists will be on September 26 and 27 at 9:00 pm, both days at "LAB trece" in Mexico City. 

Christopher Chen’s new play THE HUNDRED FLOWERS PROJECT, which was just seen at the Bay Area Playwrights Festival, won the 2012 Rella Lossy Playwrights Award. It will premiere at Crowded Fire this Fall.

Erin Bregman’s all-kids opera company, Little Opera, is about to launch its second year. They are currently recruiting kids, and fundraising at http://www.indiegogo.com/little-opera. 

Mary Baird is performing in The Unexpected Guest at the Coastal Arts Center in Hilton Head, South Carolina from Sept 11 through Oct 21.  She just finished working with 29 teens at Sarah Lawrence for NYSSSA. 

Patrick Alparone is rehearsing The Normal Heart, which will begin performances at A.C.T. on Sept 19. 

Ignacio Zulueta has commenced work on his PlayGround Fellowship commission, KANO & ABE, A DALY CITY BIBLE STORY.  He will be writing and performing for charity at two benefit performances on Aug. 21 and Oct. 22: Write Club SF's "Agony of Undefeat" on Aug. 21 at the Make-Out Room, will benefit the TBA Lemonade Fund. PCSF's "Repro Rights" on Oct. 22, at the Brava Theatre, will benefit Planned Parenthood.  Ignacio's sketch comedy writing for the Mad Stash: Fringe Benefits will be featured at the SF Fringe Festival on just four shows on Sep. 8, 9, 12, and 15. Rosie Hallett and Ignacio Zulueta just wrapped up a totally tubular workshop of DOOMSURFING, a new apocalyptic surf-rock musical by up-and-coming musical theatre duo Knight and Brinegar. 

Louis Parnell recently directed Kenn Rabin’s REUNION, a PlayGround commission co-produced by San Francisco Playhouse and will next appear in BELL BOOK & CANDLE at the Playhouse. 

Kirk Shimano’s short play, THE SHADOWMAN, will be part of PianoFight's "Roughin' It 2" out in Point Reyes on September 15 and 22. The show will feature new works from playwrights all performed around a campfire at Tomales Bay. https://www.ticketturtle.com/index.php?ticketing=gfys

Nancy Carlin is appearing in Precious Little by Madeleine George at Shotgun Players, Aug. 18 - Sep. 9.