Working Actor Podcasts

Shepherdstown, West Virginia (Vocus) July 8, 2008 -- Familiar faces abound at this year's Contemporary American Theater Festival. In addition to outstanding theatrical credits ranging from small independent productions, all the way to Broadway, many actors have also appeared in popular television shows and major motion pictures. "We have assembled a remarkably talented cast this year," stated Ed Herendeen, Founder and Producing Director of CATF. "They will do an amazing job of bringing these colorful and somewhat controversial characters to life." The Contemporary American Theater Festival will run July 9 through August 3, presenting five risk-taking plays that are guaranteed to make you "thinktheater": The Overwhelming by J.T. Rogers, Pig Farm by Greg Kotis, Stick Fly by Lydia R. Diamond, WRECKS by Neil LaBute and the world premiere of A View of the Harbor by Richard Dresser. Returning as part of the CATF acting company this year: * Lee Sellars, a Festival favorite, is appearing this year in The Overwhelming and Pig Farm. He has performed in many CATF productions including The God of Hell, Flag Day and Rounding Third. Sellars has been seen in television shows such as Law & Order, The Sopranos, The Black Donnelleys and ER, and has also appeared in films such as Third Watch. * Chris Boykin will be performing in The Overwhelming. He has been a CATF acting intern and part of CATF's Actor's Lab, appearing in productions of Amazing, On the Verge, and Happyslap. Boykin has been seen in the Shepherd University productions of Streamers, Jesus Hopped the "A" Train, Fat Pig and The Shape of Things. This fall he will attend The Theatre School at DePaul for his M.F.A. in acting. * Andrea Cirie is back this year to keep you laughing in A View of the Harbor and Pig Farm after appearing in last Season's Lonesome Hollow and The Pursuit of Happiness. Cirie wrote and performed her solo show, V.I.P., at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival and has appeared on Law & Order: SVU and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. * Anne Marie Nest gave a memorable performance as Rachel Corrie in last year's controversial My Name is Rachel Corrie. She graces the stage this year in Stick Fly and A View of the Harbor. Other CATF productions have included Mr. Marmalade and Sex, Death, and the Beach Baby. Nest's credits include over twenty plays performed at theaters across the country, as well as a role on the television series "Guiding Light." * Michael Goodwin performs this year in The Overwhelming after appearing at CATF nine times in the past. In addition to leading performances at many... To read the press release in full goto http://www.prweb.com/releases/contemporary_american/theater_festival/prweb1072764.htm

(PRWEB) June 5, 2008 -- The Comedy Act Theater Grand Re-Opening was held Thursday, 5-29-08 in Los Angeles, and the event streamed live over the newly created Comedy Act Planet Tv. The live broadcast was the joint effort of Lasting Value Broadcasting (www.lastingvalue.com) and Pax Stereo Tv (www.paxstereo.tv), and is currently available for viewing On-Demand. The live broadcast and associated Internet television channel ("Tv") represents the partnering of ongoing efforts by the two companies to expand and develop new online communities. Channels feature 24/7 broadcasts, integrated chat, On-Demand listings, and the latest in widgets. Visitors to the channel may also join and upload their own unique content including photos, audio and video files. Website and channel design and implementation was provided by Pax Stereo Tv, while the broadcast is maintained by Lasting Value Broadcasting. The Comedy Act Theater (www.comedyacttheater.com) was opened by Michael Williams in 1985, in south central Los Angeles. He recruited the late Robin Harris, creator of the famous "Bebe's Kids" series, and soon became the first and only major comedy club to cater to black performers and audiences. Vintage video clips of the legendary Harris are featured prominently in the Comedy Act Planet On-Demand programming. The Comedy Act Theater's successful club model had spread to several cities, only to succumb to unforeseen health concerns in it's innovative creator. Initially given just six months to live, astoundingly Williams has not only recovered but made the decision to return to his work as a creator of comedy careers. The Comedy Act Theater will be in operation each and every Thursday night at it's original location. Potential viewers should be aware that channel content is adult in nature. The Comedy Act Theater, now renamed the Comedy Act Planet is currently located in it's original home in Leimert Park's Regency West, 3339 W. 43rd Street, Los Angeles. For more information call (213) 706-4403. Pax Stereo Tv has a variety of Internet and mulitmedia design services for individuals and businesses of all sizes. Please contact Victor Allen at (323) 296-6165 for more information. ###

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) June 3, 2008 -- The International RoboGames returns to San Francisco for its fifth year of hosting robot builders, engineers, scientists, and ordinary garage builders from around the world as they go for the laser-etched gold, silver, and bronze medals! Come to RoboGames for three solid days of mechanical sportsmanship, gearhead mayhem, and all the things your mom told you to never, ever do with science. Hundreds of participants, vendors, cool workshops, nifty exhibits and people just like you who have bent, engineered, tweaked, fiddled and built their way to the Olympics Of Robots! "We're really excited about our fifth year," said David Calkins, co-founder of the event. "The best part of the event is seeing all the different robot builders sharing notes. High-school drop-outs talking to PhD's, little kids holding their own against 40-year old engineers - it's an incredible meeting of the minds." This year's event hosts 59 different competitions, including 8 different events just for walking humanoids. The venue is divided into two areas - the south hall devoted to the humanoids, soccer bots, and autonomous AI robots, while the north hall is devoted to large scale combat robots fighting to the death behind bulletproof glass, thrilling the crowd with crashing, smashing, flame-throwing, and miscellaneous wanton destruction. People who have only seen robot events on TV are universally awed when they see it first hand. But humanoids and combots aren't the only events! Come for the combots, stay for the soccer bots, sumo bots, hockey bots, fire fighting competitions, autonomous explorer bots (like the Mars Rovers!), art bots, bar tending robots, "Iron Man" style exoskeleton weight lifting suits, and mechanical marvels that defy description. Explore the amazing world of science, math and engineering, or just cheer on the combat mayhem with a good seat and a cold beer. As much of a sport as it is a show, RoboGames is the world's largest open robot competition. "We really put no limits on the builders. There are organizations just for High Schools or University students, but RoboGames lets absolutely anyone compete. But that doesn't mean the robots aren't awesome. We get the finest androids from Japan, Korea, the US and elsewhere. There's this amazing contingent from Brazil every year that compete all day and party all night. I don't know how they do it." The audience sits transfixed as 340 combat robots will flip their opponents 15 feet into the air, breath fire, and spin blades so lethal they can cut through one-inch thick steel like butter. "Kids build robots, adults build them, and even retirees compete. Like the human olympics, this event allows anyone to compete, not discriminating by race, nationality, age, education, gender, or even carbon-base..." Friday is the "Judd-Feldstein-Bruce Free Kids Day" (no admission charge for organized school groups), for kids from all over the bay area to come and see the future! Robot Combat and Robot Soccer will begin in full force at noon. At 6pm, they close the venue to the general public, for the press, VIP and builder party, sponsored by Servo Magazine (the premier magazine of robots) and Lagunitas Brewing Company. RoboGames is thrilled to again fill up the spot on the water at the Festival Pavilion in historic Fort Mason. Join the crowds and the fun at RoboGames 2008! Facts at a glance: * Date: Friday-Sunday, June 13-15, 2007 * Time: Noon - 10 PM. * Where: Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, San Francisco California * Cost: $20/adult, $15/kids... To read the press release in full goto http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/6/prweb989434.htm

Indiana, PA (PRWEB) April 23, 2008 -- Jessica Sabol has served as dramaturg for IUP productions including The Beauty Queen of Leenane, a contemporary Irish dark comedy, and Kindertransport, a play about children being saved from the Holocaust. She is the dramaturg for IUP's current production of King Henry IV Part I. "As a dramaturg, I am typically in charge of much of the research and writing behind a theatrical production. This role, however, is different for every production, and I design my own process with each show I work on. In The Beauty Queen of Leenane, historical research beyond the basics was not necessary so I approached it emotively for both the company and the audience's emotional response and understanding." "I solely worked with history during Kindertransport, and for the department's current production of King Henry IV Part I, I am working to bring the understanding between the true history of England to the theatrical history created by Shakespeare." In her role as dramaturg, she also helps company with any questions, builds a web site for reference and tries to inspire the artists involved to use the resources provided to further their own knowledge and research for the production. Sabol also uses a lobby display and program notes to further understanding, interest, and experience at the theater. "I enjoy my dramaturgical work because it incorporates what I most enjoy about producing theatre--history and criticism behind a production or script," she said. "When I was in high school, I was an actor and learned to love theatre by performing. Now, as an academic, I have grown to appreciate theatre more and more through dissecting scripts, choices, etc. and helping others to have a similar academic experience." Sabol continues to evolve her dramaturgy skills by taking on the dramaturg role. "With Jessica's double major in English and theater and her exceptional writing skills, she has grown considerably in her dramaturgy skills despite only discovering last year that she had an interest in this area," said Barb Blackledge, chair of IUP's theater and dance department. "She did a masterful job in serving as dramaturg for our fall production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane. She was able to use this opportunity to exhibit her excellent work on this production at the festival as well as the competition exhibits there." The Beauty Queen of Leenane was one of only seven in IUP's competition region, which includes all of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C., invited to perform at the Region II KCACTF at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in January. "Honestly, the biggest enhancement of both my interest and skills was attending the regional KCACTF," said Sabol, who was selected for the national competition for her outstanding achievement at regional festivals. "At the festival I was able to see others work, get feedback on my work, and attend sessions about dramaturgy. I found flaws in my work and got new ideas and approaches from these opportunities in Pittsburgh, and I have since worked to better my product as I work with King Henry IV Part I this spring." Only eight students in the nation are chosen to compete in each of eight categories including set, costume, light, sound and makeup design, stage management, directing and dramaturgy. The regional and... To read the press release in full goto http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/4/prweb868614.htm

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) April 2, 2008 -- Over a dozen well known recording artists have entered into agreements to add their own personal archived recordings to the Wolfgang's Vault archive under an innovative, artist friendly distribution arrangement with the popular music site. Wolfgang's Vault has developed an online platform which provides opportunity for partner artists to be paid for the sale of their music in an unusually transparent and quick reconciliation method. Artists are proactively and independently able to release and market previously unavailable live concert recordings for download to the Wolfgang's Vault music fan community. Among the list of successful artists recently partnered with Wolfgang's Vault: The Ramones, Kristin Hersh of legendary indie rock band The Throwing Muses, Wayne Kramer of MC5 fame, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Tubes, The Persuasions, Orleans, and Pousette Dart. These concerts are scheduled for release on Wolfgang's Vault over the coming months. George Howard, former President of Rykodisc is currently involved with artist relations for the site, and initiated many of the agreements. He says: "Wolfgang's Vault is uniquely positioned to provide revenue streams, distribution channels, and awareness for artists and labels willing to embrace the new realities of the music business. While artists can no longer rely on labels to further their careers, a forward-thinking company like Wolfgang's Vault represents a fantastic strategic partnership opportunity." Eric Johnson, President and COO of Wolfgang's Vault comments: "We believe we have created a unique resource for the enjoyment and distribution of live music. We couldn't be more excited about the artists we have partnered with and look forward to announcing more in the near term." About Wolfgang's Vault: Wolfgang's Vault is the online destination for live music and the world's largest collection of live concert recordings and vintage music memorabilia. What began with the personal archives of famed promoter Bill Graham now includes ten different archives. Music lovers find free music streaming online here, with over a thousand concert recordings from the past and present, digital downloads and thousands of rock items including posters, photos and t-shirts available for purchase. http://www.wolfgangsvault.com ###