Written by Alfred de Musset, Directed by Jay Scheib, presented by the Harvard Radcliffe Dramatic Club in collaboration with the American Repertory Theatre and the Office for the Arts at Harvard.
One of the great Romantic histories of its genre, Lorenzaccio (1834) by Alfred de Musset is a steamy portrait of 1530s Medici Florence at the height of the Renaissance. Musset's drama tells the story of the assassination of the tyrannical Duke, Alessandro de Medici, by his cousin, the eponymous Lorenzo, and the Republican revolution which fails to ignite in the wake of this horrific event.
Alfred de Musset (1810-1857) was one of the brightest literary lights of French Romanticism. He was an active member of Victor Hugo’s infamous Parisian literary circle Cénacle, and was involved in a terrible and stormy love affair with the infamous French authoress George Sand. Their tumultuous affair and catastrophic breakup, in step with the political upheavals of his time, conspired to provide a shockingly contemporary telling of failed revolutions, loss of human decency, and the varied contortions of our sometimes-hilarious attempts at survival. Presented in a translation/adaptation from the French by Paul Schmidt, the play lives and breathes the decadent grandeur of a city teetering on the verge of anarchy.
Visiting Director Jay Scheib frames this monumental struggle for power and self-determination within a particularly American landscape. The Chinese Restaurant with the American flag on the menu, the single-family home, and the ubiquitous convenience store, all focus the petty quarrels and political upheavals of 16th century Florence within a concretely American dilemma.
The Visiting Director Project is a program that provides Harvard undergraduates the chance to work with a professional director on a full-scale theatrical production, as cast members, designers, and support staff. Jay Scheib is a freelance award-winning director, designer and writer who has mounted productions in both America and Europe, including New York, Berlin and Budapest. Room/House designed by Andrew Boch with Julian Rose;
Sound and Video designed by Leah Gelpe, a sound designer, projection designer and filmmaker who has collaborated with Jay Scheib on 15 productions since 1996. Jeremy Blocker, Jess Matthews and Anne Patrone produce LORENZACCIO
Performances of LORENZACCIO are November 14 (Creative Black Tie Opening), 15, 21, 22 at 8 pm; November 16, 20 at 7:30 pm; November 15 at 2:30 pm at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA
Ticket Reservations: Harvard Box Office 617 496-2222 and the Loeb Box Office 617 547-8300. Tickets: $12, $8 students/seniors, $7 groups of 10 or more
Emerson College celebrated the opening of its new Norman I. and Mary E. Tufte Performance and Production Center (10 Boylston Place) on October 31st, with a gala ribbon-cutting dedication ceremony attended by U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), Congressman Michael E. Capuano (D-Boston) and Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino.
The 11-story center is the first entirely new building in Emerson’s 123-year history and a focal point of the school’s new campus overlooking Boston Common. It houses two television studios, two theaters, dressing rooms, labs, workshops, classrooms and faculty offices. It is named in memory of the parents of Emerson Trustee Marillyn Zacharis in recognition of a lead gift toward the project.
Emerson President Jacqueline Liebergott praised Zacharis’ three-and-a-half-decade involvement in the life of the College. “Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for all that you have done,” she said.
Previously announced named facilities in the Tufte Center include the Di Bona Family Television Studio, in recognition of a gift from Vin Di Bona (executive producer of America’s Funniest Home Videos), and the Kermit and Elinore Greene Theater, in recognition of a gift from those individuals.
At today’s ceremony, Liebergott announced that Theater 1 in the Center will be named the Semel Theater, in recognition of a new major gift from Terry and Jane Semel. Mr. Semel is chairman and chief executive officer of Yahoo! Inc.
“The Tufte Center represents a milestone for Emerson on several levels. It is a milestone in the history of the college because it is our first entirely new facility, and it is a milestone in the completion of our new Campus on Boston Common.
“But on the most profound level, the Tufte Center is a milestone in the evolution of Emerson College as an educational institution. It employs the very latest digital technology to support academic programs -- not only in the performing arts, but also in the visual and media arts, which comprise the largest component of our curriculum.”
Supporters of The Coolidge Corner Theatre quietly snuck away to Martha's Vineyard over the Halloween weekend for a special Fall Film Retreat. Hosted by Executive Director Joe Zina and Development/Events Director Elizabeth Taylor-Mead, the gathering was set at the beautiful Winnetu Inn and Resort, just outside of Edgartown, courtesy of Inn-owners and theatre supporters Mark and Gwenn Snider. Among the many Coolidge Board members and supporters that attended were Lyda Kuth from the LEF Foundation, Jon and Barbara Cole Lee, Warren Schwartz and Sheila Fiekowsky, Susan Kaplan, and Michael Maynard. Nine "sneak previews" filled the two screens and included introductions from three filmmakers. On hand to introduce their newest works were Ross McElwee (BRIGHT LEAVES), Jocelyn Ajami (QUEEN OF THE GYPSIES), and John O'Brien (NOSEY PARKER). The films were programmed by Coolidge booker/programmer Connie White, who also was in attendance to introduce screenings. Packages to the event were open to the public but sold quickly to theatre patrons by early September.
Finger Frame Pictures Announces Foxborough’s Lucky Break
Finger Frame Pictures announced the wrap of HEADS OR TAILS, a whimsical coming of age story that follows eight-year-old Jesse Crowley and his friends as they embark on a dangerous journey to test a lucky quarter and tempt fate. Shooting for HEADS OR TAILS took place over a rigorous 16 days and wrapped on October 26th.
Dan Prussmann, a native of Quincy, MA, is the film’s producer, writer and director. Dan’s eclectic life has included service in the Gulf War as a United States Marine, professional animation and web design in Seattle, Washington, and the creation of his own production company, Finger Frame Pictures, in Boston.
Dan’s focus is on directing, his gaze firmly set on Hollywood. HEADS OR TAILS is a part of Panavision’s Emerging Filmmakers Program. One of the many benefits of this honor is the free use of Panavision’s version of the Sony F900 High Definition camera package, the same camera George Lucas used to make the last STAR WARS film. George Loucas (not Lucas) served as Director of Photography.
The short (30-minutes) stars 8-year-old Tim Dennehey as “Jesse,” with Alex Berrigan and Blake Simpson as “Dougie” and “Pete,” Jesse’s best friends. Mark Scalia and Robin Brodsky join the cast as Jesse’s parents. The film also features William Ayers as the “Bad Luck Man,” Cherry Lindholm as “Ms. Underhill,” Michael Palmer as “Marty Winkle,” and Nick the Dog as “Lucky.”
The film’s crew consisted of a dedicated group of students/volunteers from Emerson College and the Boston and New York area film communities. F. Gilbert Hills State Park, The Taylor School, Jeff and Alice Booker, Ann Lally and Book Ends in Winchester provided locations. The film received generous contributions from Spalding Financial Group, Guaranteed Overnight Delivery (G.O.D.), Tage Inn, Jansport, Hasbro Corporation, Hannah Anderson and S.A.S.I Scoop.