mas Boleros

and our friends at bostonlatinotv.com partied with us at opening night...



The Huntington Theatre Company's production of Boleros for the Disenchanted by José Rivera. Playing through November 15, 2008 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA - 527 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116. Tickets 617 266-7900. Photos by T. Charles Erickson

Hablamos Boleros

TuBoston.com was in the house last week for a great evening at our Latino Night - where about 80 community members enjoyed a preshow reception with Peter DuBois and a performance of Boleros for the Disenchanted. This is their video:




Meanwhile - Rock n Roll is loading in at the BU Theatre. Carrie Fisher is back in LA - but I think Boston will be talking about her for weeks to come.... like at the Boston Herald for instance.

The Huntington Theatre Company's production of Boleros for the Disenchanted by José Rivera. Playing through November 15, 2008 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA - 527 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116. Tickets 617 266-7900

In Box - We Need Your Vote

This is from Dan Hunter and Hathalee Higgs at Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities (MAASH):

MAASH Town Meeting Today

Mass. College of Art

621 Huntington Avenue

Boston, MA

5:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Refreshments

Question 1 Will Eliminate All State Cultural Funding

Learn About Question 1—the ballot referendum to cut state spending

by $12.7 Billion

Learn what the Cultural Community Must Do to Block Question 1

Dear Friends,

Will Question 1—the proposal to cut state spending by 40%—be defeated? The latest polls look good. But, defeating Question 1 isn’t enough. Six years ago, 45% of the electorate voted to end the income tax to send a message that state investment in our communities is wrong. We need to defeat Question 1 overwhelmingly to keep the state investing in our communities and in arts and culture.

MAASH invites all members of the cultural community to attend a cultural town meeting at the Mass. College of Art today from 5:30 to 6:30 pm:

MAASH Town Meeting:
Tuesday, October 28:
Mass. College of Art
621 Huntington Avenue
Boston, 5:30 pm—6:30 pm

We will discuss Question 1, the state budget cuts and the current political climate for arts and culture. We will provide you with talking points, bumper stickers, and yard signs so you can help with the Vote No on 1 campaign. We will also provide refreshments.

You will also be able to give voice to your concerns and questions about the coming budget year, the elections and the future of arts and culture in Massachusetts. More information on Question 1 and the locations of upcoming town meetings follow.

We look forward to seeing you today.

Thank you for your support.
Dan Hunter
Executive Director
Hathalee Higgs

Development Director
Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences & Humanities (MAASH)

Other town meetings:

Tuesday, October 28: Mass. College of Art, Boston, 5:30 pm—6:30 pm Wednesday, October 29: Amherst Cinema, Amherst, 12 noon--1 pm
Wednesday, October 29: The Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, 5:30—6:30 pm
Thurs. October 30: Framingham Civic League, Framingham,
8:30 am--9:30 am
Thurs. October 30: Blackburn Performing Arts, Gloucester, 5:30—6:30 pm

Question 1

Question 1 on the state ballot in November is a binding referendum to eliminate the state income tax effective January 1, 2009. This is a proposal with immediate consequences for all of us.

Overnight, the state would lose $12.7 billion in revenue—40% of the state budget. This could eliminate all cultural funding, drive up local property taxes, and lead to drastic cuts to fundamental state services in education, health care, and public safety.

In 2002, a ballot referendum to eliminate the income tax nearly passed, winning 45% approval. Though that referendum failed, the high percentage of support helped to convince legislators that it was politically impossible to increase revenue to meet the needs of our communities.

It is vital that the cultural community support state investment in our communities and strongly oppose Question 1. Click here to register your opposition:

http://capwiz.com/artsusa/ma/issues/alert/?alertid=11799636&type=CU&show_alert=1

We need to mobilize to defeat Question 1. Register your opposition by sending an e-mail today.

When you register through MAASH, you become part of the key voting bloc being organized by the Coalition for Our Communities, a growing coalition of civic, human services, environmental, labor, faith and business organizations that oppose the ballot question to eliminate the income tax.

After you register, you will receive an e-mail reminder to “Vote No on Question 1” shortly before the election on November 4th.

By registering now, you help the campaign know its strength in the coming campaign to defeat Question 1.

Non-profit, 501 (c ) 3 organizations are legally allowed to take a public position on ballot referendums. A ballot referendum is considered legislation (as opposed to a partisan election) and voters are considered legislators. Therefore, cultural organizations, leaders, and supporters can actively work against Question 1, as long as they don’t devote more than a substantial portion of their resources or devote more than 20% of their annual budget.

Register as an opponent of Question 1 on the MAASH web site or by sending an e-mail with name and address to me at dhunter@maash.org.

We need to defeat Question 1 by a large margin so that the state can continue its investment in our communities.

Boleros Audience Reviews

Some of our audience told us what they thought about the show. What do you think makes for a good marriage? Did you see it? How would you rate the marriage of Flora and Eusubio ?

Feel free to reply and let us know...

More Boleros content can be found by clicking on the Boleros link in the index to the right.

The Huntington Theatre Company's production of Boleros for the Disenchanted by José Rivera. Playing through November 15, 2008 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA - 527 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116. Tickets 617 266-7900

checking in

I'm in lovely Minneapolis this week for dual conferences; LORT (League of Resident Theatres) and PMF (Production Managers Forum). There has been plenty going on here given the volatile state of our current economy.

And there has been plenty going on back in Boston - with Boleros for the Disenchanted continuing a great run to very nice houses at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, and Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking wrapping up performances at the BU Theatre. Some good seats available for both.

Boleros for the Disenchanted - Photos

The promised blogsculsive photos

Jaime Tirelli (Don Fermin) and Monica Raymund (Flora) chat and play dominos in Milaflores

Monica Raymund (Flora) and Maria-Christina Oliveras (Monica) dish the dirt in Santurce

Socoro Santiago (Dona Milla) and Jaime Tirelli (Don Fermin) get ready to meet the new boyfriend back in Milaflores

Socorro Sanitago (Old Flora) - tends to her mothers plants transition to Alabama

Socorro Santiago (Old Flora) and Jaime Tirelli (Old Eusebio) comfort each other

The Huntington Theatre Company's production of Boleros for the Disenchanted by José Rivera. Playing through November 15, 2008 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA - 527 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116. Tickets 617 266-7900. Photos: T. Charles Erickson

Boleros - Before and After

My last post may have given you the impression that we're all serious and composed about our work around here. I wanted to reinforce that notion.

Costume Designer Anita Yavich "conducts" a fitting of Flora's wedding dress. First Hand Becky Hylton and Draper Penney Pinette peel back the layers while Monica Raymund (Flora) tries to avoid injury.

and here is Monica Raymund (Flora) in the dress again (sans veil and gloves) at the end of Act I. It's a slightly more serious moment. More blogsclusive Boleros photos tomorrow.

The Huntington Theatre Company's production of Boleros for the Disenchanted by José Rivera. Playing through November 15, 2008 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA - 527 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116. Tickets 617 266-7900. Photo: T. Charles Erickson

Wishful Drinking Reviews

Just in case you thought my last post about the stormtroopers was a gag...
(scroll down for the reviews)

Marketing Associate Vawnya Nichols gets busted for attempting to rush the box office

Artistic Associate Bevin O'Gara and Production Associate Adam Krueger teach these scary guys a thing or two about life in OUR world.

and finally - Artistic Director Peter DuBois and Managing Director Michael Maso give Darth Vadar some advice. If I told you more I would have to kill you.

ANYWAY - I saw the show on Saturday evening with some friends. I have to admit that I wasn't sure that listening to Carrie Fisher talk about hairmuffs, Hollywood inbreeding, drugs, addiction, and depression for two hours was really going to be all that much fun. My doubts were totally unfounded. It is great fun - a blast even. If you don't believe me - click below and see what these folks had to say:

"Laughter is indeed the best medicine" - Boston Globe

"Wishful Drinking is loaded..." - Boston Herald

"Still Crazy after all these years" - The Phoenix

"I don't know Carrie Fisher personally, but I feel like I do" - Cape Cod Times


What did you think? Please comment or add your own review. What was your favorite part of the show?

Wishful Drinking - written and performed by Carrie Fisher. Presented by the Huntington Theatre Company at the Boston University Theatre - 264 Huntington Ave - Boston, MA 02115 617 266-7900

Storm Troopers Raid BU Theatre

This is just a cut and paste from an all staff email today - no further explanation necessary:

Hello all,

The battle for supremacy of the galaxy comes to a head tonight at the first preview of WISHFUL DRINKING at the BU Theatre, when members of the 501st New England Garrison descend on Huntington Avenue.

About a dozen troupers will be strutting their stuff outside the theatre from approximately 7:00-7:45pm and then be attending the show.

Click for more info on these guys. Stop by tonight and get your picture taken with Boba Fett!

May the force be with you,

Adam Roberts Skywalker


Wishful Drinking - written and performed by Carrie Fisher. Presented by the Huntington Theatre Company at the Boston University Theatre - 264 Huntington Ave - Boston, MA 02115 617 266-7900

NECN - Carrie Fisher

Wishful Drinking - written and performed by Carrie Fisher. Presented by the Huntington Theatre Company at the Boston University Theatre - 264 Huntington Ave - Boston, MA 02115 617 266-7900

Boleros for the Disenchanted - Video

The Huntington Theatre Company's production of Boleros for the Disenchanted by José Rivera. Playing through November 15, 2008 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA - 527 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116. Tickets 617 266-7900. Photos: T. Charles Erickson

In Box - and other bits

It's a busy week...

Today is first tech for Boleros for the Disenchanted by Jose Rivera. So I'm sitting at my tech table in the Wimberly keeping an eye on the proceedings while following up on some email ignored earlier in the week, proofing a few documents, and catching up on my online reading.

A couple of my department heads have dashed over to the BU Theatre where How Shakespeare Won the West just closed. Lights, Sound and Props will clear everything off the deck tonight so scenery can come in and strike the rest of the set tomorrow. I've still got to post some embarrasing and self depricating photos from opening night... just you wait.

We'll start getting ready for Wishful Drinking on Wednesday. The production arrives on Thursday, with a short tech on Friday afternoon. Both Boleros and Wishful will have their Boston premieres on Friday evening.

The Boston Globe sent Megan Tench to Hartford CT last month to talk with Carrie Fisher in Wishful Drinking. Little did Megan know that Carrie would give the interview from bed... read it all here. The Herald also has an interview.

There's been a little news re: Nicky Martin. The Globe ran an update, and local blogs the The Hub Review and The Mirror up to Nature sent their best wishes. One reader - read the last comment on the the Mirror post - also took the opportunity to chide me for not posting often enough. He's right - but hey - the blog had it's 2 year anniversary this week - and we have an average of 2.7 posts per week over that period. I don't feel too guilty. He also expressed his disappointment in the Boston press for their lack of coverage.

ANYWAY...

I've heard that they had to move Nicky to a larger room to accommodate the abundance of floral arrangements, and I've had several first hand confirmations that Nick is in good spirits and is receiving many visitors.

In other news - Campbell Scott is remounting The Atheist in NYC. Playbill has a nice interview here.

Photo Credits

Boleros: (l-r) Jaime Tirelli, Socorro Santiago, Monica Raymund, and Elliot Villar portray two generations of the same married couple in the Huntington Theatre Company's production of Boleros for the Disenchanted playing October 10 through November 15 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA. Photo: Eric Antoniou
How Shakespeare Won the West: The company rests on their journey to California in the Huntington Theatre Company's production of How Shakespeare Won the West, playing September 5 through October 5 at the Huntington's mainstage, the B.U. Theatre. Photo: T. Charles Erickson.
Wishful Drinking: Image of Carrie Fisher in the the Berkeley Rep production of Wishful Drinking. Photo: Kevin Berne.

The 39 Steps continues

A few staffers caught a glimpse of The 39 Steps on today's Good Morning America showon ABC TV. I watch NBC's Today show - so I missed it live - but thank goodness for the www where you too can take a backstage peek at the Broadway production currently running at the Cort.

Those are the sets, props and costumes that we built here on Huntington Ave over a year ago.

Well - maybe some things are new - it has been a year.


The role of Hannay is now played by Sam Robards (above).
Photo by Joan Marcus

Boleros for the Disenchanted - Cast Video

Read about the cast and company of Boleros for the Disenchanted here