Padua Playwrights
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Padua Playwrights Productions, or Padua, is a Los Angeles-based theater company founded in 1978 by playwright and poet Murray Mednick and John Woodruff. The company ceased operation in 1995 and re-emerged in 2001, under the direction of Guy Zimmerman.[1]
This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2023) |
In 1978, Mednick received funding as part of a faculty position at La Verne University to found the Padua Hills Playwrights' Workshop at the Padua Hills estate in the San Gabriel foothills.[2] He and five other playwrights, among them Theatre Genesis colleagues Sam Shepard and María Irene Fornés, met with nine writing students and established a pattern of exercises, rehearsals, and informal presentations. Most of those were site-specific, since the estate had plenty of outdoor spaces but no theater. Between 1984 and 1995, Padua moved around Southern California and hosted festivals at Cal Arts, Loyola Marymount University, Pacific Design Center, Cal State Northridge, Woodbury University and USC.[3] Many prominent playwrights and actors participated in the workshop, including John Steppling, John O'Keefe, Jon Robin Baitz and Kelly Stuart.[4]
Padua took a non-consumerist approach to playwriting. Founding member John Steppling cites this as one of the reasons Padua didn't garner as much press as he felt that it should have. Padua's focus on the artistic process, as opposed to the final product, made it difficult to market: “It’s easy to see how Padua never acquired a 'franchise,'” Steppling said, as “Padua had nothing to sell".[5]
One overarching practice in many Padua Hills Festival plays was their site-specificity. Mednick stressed reliance on “language in relation to space” in his teaching."[6] In 1984, a performance of Mednick's The Coyote Cycle was videotaped outdoors with Murray Mednick, Darrell Larson, Norbert Weisser, Priscilla Cohen, Christine Avila.[7] A 1985 production of The Coyote Cycle took place from sundown to sunrise outdoors at the Paramount Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains. Audience members huddled in sleeping bags were led from one part of the ranch to another by flashlight between scenes.[8]
The Padua Hills Workshop/Theater Company ceased operations in 1995, citing financial difficulties.[9]
In 1994, Padua Playwrights Press published "Best of the West," an anthology of eight works staged between 1989 and 1991. They went on to publish several other works, including "Plays from the Padua Hills Playwrights Festivals" (2003), "3 Plays by Murray Mednick" (2003), "The Coyote Cycle" by Murray Mednick (2003), "Hipsters in Distress" (2005), and "Plays for a New Millennium" (2004). Padua Hills Press is distributed nationally by Theatre Communications Group.[10] They also published "Beneath the Dusty Trees: The Gary Plays" and "Fever Dreams."
In 2001, Padua returned as Padua Playwrights Productions. Mednick appointed playwright and director, Guy Zimmerman as the artistic director. The new Padua took place indoors, but the dramatic works remained in line with the anti-institutional, pro-playwright stance of its predecessor. “[Padua means] being an outlaw and misfit within the theater community. We need Padua for artistic nourishment,[11] ” said Roxanne Rogers, a director and original Padua participant, upon the founding of the new Padua. The revived company has staged dozens of productions and won awards from LA Weekly, Garland, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, the American Theatre Critics Association.[12]
This section needs additional citations for verification. (October 2023) |
Year | Location | Title | Writer | Director | Cast | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1978 | Claremont | Coyote I: Pointing | Murray Mednick | Murray Mednick | Darrell Larson, Norbert Weisser | [13][14] |
Red Woman | Sam Shepard | Sam Shepard | ||||
In Service | María Irene Fornés | María Irene Fornés | ||||
1979 | Claremont | Coyote II: The Shadow Ripens | Murray Mednick | Murray Mednick | Priscilla Cohen, Christine Avila, Norbert Weisser, Darrell Larson | [14][15] |
Curse of the Starving Class | Sam Shepard | Sam Shepard | ||||
The Visit | María Irene Fornés | María Irene Fornés | ||||
1980 | Claremont | Iron Lace on the Widow’s Walk | Constance Russell Monaghan | Constance Russell Monaghan | Norbert Weisser, Laura Owens, Lola Glaudini | |
Barbeque | John Steppling | John Steppling | ||||
Alive | Walter Hadler | Walter Hadler | Lola Glaudini | |||
Have You Ever Listened Very Long to the Hush | Susan Forscey | Susan Forscey | ||||
Coyote III: Planet of the Spider People | Murray Mednick | Murray Mednick | Darrell Larson, Norbert Weisser, Ellen Blake | [16] | ||
The Man Who Killed the Buddha | Martin Epstein | Martin Epstein | John Finch | |||
1981 | Claremont | Service | Michael Monroe | Michael Monroe | Joe Spano, Lorinne Vozoff | |
Gentle Arts | Susan La Tempa | Susan La Tempa | ||||
The Insistence Upon the Listener | John Steppling | John Steppling | Laura Fanning, John Horn, Natasha Mitchnick | |||
Coyote IV: Other Side Camp | Murray Mednick | Murray Mednick | Darrell Larson, Norbert Weisser, Christine Avila | [17] | ||
The Visit | María Irene Fornés | María Irene Fornés | Norbert Weisser, James F. Dean, Toni Beshara, Patricia Mattick | |||
Possum Song | Martin Epstein | Martin Epstein | John Finch, Grace Woodward, Dallas Alinder, James F. Dean | |||
1982 | Claremont | Mysteries of the Bridal Night | Martin Epstein | Martin Epstein | Don Keith Opper, Laura Fanning, Kelly Stuart | |
Bercilak’s Dream | John O’Keefe | John O’Keefe | Elizabeth Ruscio, Tina Preston, Denise Dillard, Susan Kampe, Patricia Mattick | |||
Hoss Drawin | Leon Martell | Leon Martell | Elizabeth Ruscio, Leon Martell | |||
Coyote V: Listening to Old Nana | Murray Mednick | Murray Mednick | Priscilla Cohen, Ellen Blake, Darrell Larson, Norbert Weisser | [18] | ||
Sunset Beach | Susan La Tempa | Susan La Tempa | Kathleen Cramer, Roxanne Rogers, Lee Kissman, James F. Dean, Ricky Manoff | |||
You Can Swim in the Danube, but the Water is too Cold | María Irene Fornés | María Irene Fornés | Leon Martell, Dudley Knight, Patricia Mattick, Lee Kissman, Morgan Weisser, Lola Glaudini, Jessica Wood | |||
Neck | John Steppling | John Steppling | Leon Martell, Dudley Knight, Patricia Mattick, Lee Kissman, Morgan Weisser, Lola Glaudini, Jessica Wood | |||
Untitled | Toni Beshara, Susan Champagne, Cathy Comenas, Sarah Lovett, Connie Monaghan | Tove Johnson | Leon Martell, Dudley Knight, Patricia Mattick, Lee Kissman, Morgan Weisser, Lola Glaudini, Jessica Wood | |||
Politesse—A Piece for Tape and Landscape | Michael Monroe | Patricia Mattick | ||||
Guys in black Leather Jackets Ducking Into Phone Booths | Connie Monaghan | |||||
Correspondence | Cindy Myers | |||||
1983 | Claremont | Mud | María Irene Fornés | María Irene Fornés | Mary Jo Pearson, Gregory Pace, John O'Keefe | |
1961 El Dorado | Leon Martell, Elizabeth Ruscio | Leon Martell, Elizabeth Ruscio | Leon Martell, Elizabeth Ruscio | |||
Polar Bear | John Steppling | John Steppling | ||||
Primitives | Elizabeth Wray | Elizabeth Wray | Priscilla Cohen, Ellen Blake, John Diehl | |||
Interbellum' | Michael Monroe | Michael Monroe | ||||
Skin | Sarah Lovett | Sarah Lovett | Bob Behling, Rhona Gold | |||
Don’t Ever Call Me Anything but Mother | John O'Keefe | John O’Keefe | Tina Preston | |||
Untitled, 1957 | Susan La Tempa | Susan La Tempa | Mary Jo Pearson, Gregory Pace, Elizabeth Ruscio, Lorinne Vozoff | |||
Variations | Martin Epstein | Martin Epstein | Patricia Mattick, Roxanne Rogers, Leon Martell | |||
1984 | Cal Arts | No Time | María Irene Fornés | María Irene Fornés | Tina Preston | |
Guys at the Spunk Hole | Leon Martell | Leon Martell | Morgan Weisser, Jesse Shepard, Lola Glaudini, Mark Petrakis | |||
Mimzabim | Leon Martell | Leon Martell | Roxanne Rogers, Gregory Pace, Robert Ernst | |||
Transcendental Etudes | Michael Monroe | Michael Monroe | Elizabeth Ruscio, Rene Assa, Kurt Garfield | |||
Everything in Its Place | John Steppling | John Steppling | Lee Kissman, Lee Kerwin, Kathleen Cramer, Robert Glaudini | |||
Scenes from University Life, Part II | Susan La Tempa | Susan La Tempa | Mary Jo Pearson | |||
Air-Conditioned Beach #2 | Walter Hadler | Walter Hadler | Robert Glaudini, Marilyn Dodds-Frank, Natasha Mitchnick, Frat Fuller, Frederick Lopez | |||
Coyote VII: He Brings the Waterfall | Murray Mednick | Murray Mednick | Darrell Larson, Norbert Wiesser | [19] | ||
1985 | Paramount Ranch | The Coyote Cycle | Murray Mednick | Murray Mednick | Darrell Larson, Norbert Weisser, Christine Avila, Priscilla Cohen, Tavish Graham, Morgan Weisser | |
1986 | Loyola Marymount | How Gertrude Stormed the Philosopher's Club | Martin Epstein | Martin Epstein | ||
Zohar | Murray Mednick | Murray Mednick | ||||
Untitled | María Irene Fornés | María Irene Fornés | ||||
True Beauties | Julie Hebert | Julie Hebert | ||||
Untitled | John Steppling | John Steppling | ||||
The Magician | John O'Keefe | John O'Keefe | ||||
The Magician | John O'Keefe | John O'Keefe | ||||
Kingfish | Marlane G. Meyer | Marlane G. Meyer | ||||
1988 | Pacific Design Center | Drowning | María Irene Fornés | Roxanne Rogers | Don Keith Opper, Jon C. Slade | |
Vera | Martin Epstein | Martin Epstein | Kathleen Kramer | |||
Babbler | John O’Keefe | Jan Munroe | Tina Preston, Scott Paulin, Joe Kane | |||
A Good Touch | Susan Champagne | Pattricia Mattick | Ellen Blake, Molly Cleator | |||
The Ballad of the Sleepy Heart | David Schweizer | David Schweizer | Phillip Littell | |||
Mendoza | Rex Weiner | Rex Weiner | ||||
Like a Shadow Singing | Lynn Montgomery | Lynn Montgomery | Ingrid Oliu | |||
1989 | Pacific Design Center | Shimmer | John O'Keefe | John O'Keefe | ||
Amado Amor (Beloved Love) | Alan Bolt | Amy Glazer-Connolly | Darrell Larson, Page Leong, Craig Ryan Ng, Ingrid Oliu, Susan Rome, Norm Skaggs, John Lacques | |||
Cities Out of Print | Susan Mosakowski | Susan Mosakowski | John Diehl, Shawna Casey | |||
The Ordeal of Nancy Fergusson | Martin Epstein | Martin Epstein | Kathleen Cramer, Don Keith Opper, John Achorn, Jack Slater | |||
Increments of Three | John Pappas | John Pappas | Robert Hummer, John Pappas, Deirdre Hade | |||
Kindling | Leon Martell | Leon Martell | Molly Cleator, Rick Dean, Jim Hynie, Leonard Donato | |||
Almost Asleep | Julie Hebert | Julie Hebert | Mary Forcade, Patricia Mattick, Tina Preston | |||
The Theory of Miracles | John Steppling | John Steppling | Mick Colins, Kathleen Cramer, Taylor Donlan, Nick Flynn, Gill Gayle, Rachel Powell, Jack Slater, Murray Mednick | |||
1990 | Art and Design Center at Cal State Northridge | Ball and Chain | Kelly Stuart | Kelly Stuart | James Oseland, Roberta Wallach, James Storm, Diane Defoe, Demosthenes Stathiginnopoulos | |
Our Witness | Martin Epstien | Martin Epstien | Ann Marie Baldwin, Dave Higgins, Dendrie Taylor | |||
Storyland | John Steppling | John Steppling | Rick Dean, Mick Collins, Laura Fanning, Kathleen Cramer, Alexis Steppling, Demosthenes Stathigiannopoulos, Nick Flynn, Robert Glaudini, Thomas George Carter | |||
Bondage | Susan Champagne | Susan Champagne | Molly Cleator, Roxanne Rogers, John Pappas, Dan Sullivan, Jeff Levy, Douglas Heller | |||
Book of Numbers | Roxanne Rogers | Roxanne Rogers | Pamela Gordon, Joe Bellan, Robin Frates, Robert Hummer | |||
Shatter'n Wade | Murray Mednick | Murray Mednick | David Officer, William Dennis Hunt, Scott Paulin, Susannah Blinkoff, Matthew Goulish, Mark Fite, Allison Studdiford, Nick Love, Laura Owens, Elizabeth Iannaci, Bob Craft, Peter Schaff, Joseph Goodrich | |||
Salsa Opera | Alan Bolt | Miguel Delgado (director/choreographer) | ||||
Brick Time Stories: Tales of Death And Recipes Of Mayhem | Leon Martell | Darrell Larson | Leon Martell | |||
1991 | Art and Design Center at Cal State Northridge | Fetters | Robert Hummer | Robert Hummer | Robert Fieldsteel, Gill Gayle, Greg Suddeth | |
Song of Songs | Susan Champagne | Susan Champagne | Steve Starosta, Deborach Offner, Paul Grecol | |||
The Tight Fit | Susan Mosakowski | Susan Mosakowski | Tina Preston, Lee Kissman, Bert Hinchman, Molly Cleator | |||
The Knee Desires the Dirt | Julie Hebert | Julie Hebert | Jan-Marie Baldwin, Pamela Gordon, Kenn Norman | |||
The Interpreter of Horror | Kelly Stuart | James Oseland | Pamela Gordon, Megan Butler, James Oseland | |||
Heads | Murray Mednick | Steve Albrezzi | William Dennis Hunt, Norbert Weisser, Nancy Mette, Karole Foreman, Eugenia Buerklin (as Gina LaMond) | |||
The Promotion | John O'Keefe | John O'Keefe | Scott Paulin | |||
1994 | Art and Design Center at Cal State Northridge | Failure to Thrive | Neena Beber | Neena Beber | Michael Shamus Wiles, Jessica Hecht, Kara Westerman | |
Disgrace | John O'Keefe | John O'Keefe | Denise Porier, Dahlia Wilde, Susan Van Allen | |||
Terra Incognita | María Irene Fornés | María Irene Fornés | [Kimberly Flynn, Jennifer Griffin, Leo Garcia, Leon Martell, Joel Goodman | |||
Understanding the Dead | John Steppling | John Steppling | Mick Collins, John O’Keefe, Shelly Desai, Priscilla Harris, Kathleen Cramer, C.J. Saunders | |||
Locofoco | Susan Mosakowski | Susan Mosakowski | Shawna Casey, Tina Preston, Molly Cleator, Pamela Gordon | |||
Switchback | Murray Mednick | Murray Mednick | Sharron Shayne-Simeone, Robin Karfo, Mark Fite | |||
Justice | Shem Bitterman | Shem Bitterman | Jerome Butler, Preston Maybank, Brent Jennings, Peter Berg, Penny Johnson, Caitlin Stansbury | |||
Away From Me | Susan Champagne | Susan Champagne | Eugenia Buerklin (as Gina LaMond), Carl J. Johnson, Steven Keyes, Ed Dloughy, Cherly Slean, Durrell Nelson | |||
1995 | USC | Summer in Gossensass | María Irene Fornés | María Irene Fornés | Michael Shamus Wiles, Jessica Hecht, Kara Westerman | |
Demonology | Kelly Stuart | Kelly Stuart | Bob Gould, Lola Glaudini, Kathleen Glaudini, Jan Johnson | |||
Entrevista 187 | Gil Kofman | Gil Kofman | Kadina Delejalde, Frank Wood, Jeff Phillips | |||
The Chemistry of Change | Marlane Meyer | Marlane Meyer | Kathleen Cramer, Van Quattro, Dendrie Taylor, Steve Keyes, Mark Fite, Ryan Cutrona | |||
Freeze | Murray Mednick | Guy Zimmerman | Amy Raasch, Denise Poirier, David Weininger, Antoinette Valente, Michael Matthys | |||
Steak Knife Bacchae | Joe Goodrich | Michael Hacker | Joe Goodrich | |||
Season | Location | Title | Writer | Director | Cast | Awards |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2001–2002 | 2100 Square Ft Theatre, Los Angeles | 16 Routines | Murray Mednick | Murray Mednick | Grace Zabriskie, Rene Assa, Maria O'Brien, Bill Mesnick, Ryan Cutrona, Peggy Blow, Tina Preston, John Pappas | |
Joe and Betty | Murray Mednick | Murray Mednick | Annabelle Gurwitch, John Diehl, Dana Wieluns, Jack Kehler, Shawna Casey, Sharron Shayne, Drago Sumonja | Winner Critics Choice, LA Times; Los Angeles Times “Top 10 for 2001”; American Theatre Critics’Association Steinberg New Play Citation | ||
Mrs. Feuerstein | Murray Mednick | Roxanne Rogers | Maria O'Brien, Christopher Allport, Lynnda Ferguson, Louis Plante, Matt Blair, Gwendolyn Yeo | Winner Critics Choice, LA Times; LA Weekly Award for Playwriting and Best Actress. LA Weekly “Top 10 for 2001” (Steven Leigh Morris) 2001 Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Award Best Lead Actress Maria O’Brien | ||
2002–2003 | Evidence Room, Los Angeles | Dog Mouth | John Steppling | John Steppling | Steven Davies, James Storm, Hugh Dane, Nia Gwyne | Winner Critic's Choice LA Times, Top Ten Shows of 2003 Daily News and Entertainment Weekly; LA Weekly Award for Set Design. |
2100 Square Ft Theater, Los Angeles. Production moved to The Odyssey Theatre, Los Angeles and then the Traveling Jewish Theatre, San Francisco. | Times Like These | John O'Keefe | John O'Keefe | Laurie O'Brian, Norbert Weisser | Winner Critic's Choice LA Times, Ovation Awards for best Actor and Actress; LA Weekly Best Playwright and Best Playwright LA Drama Critics Circle | |
2100 Square Ft Theater, Los Angeles | Wilfredo | Wesley Walker | Wesley Walker | John Horn, Christine Burke, George Gerdes, O-Lan Jones, Jack Kehler, Barry Del Sherman | Curtainup.com “2002 Retrospective Top 10 List” | |
Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles | Wilfredo | Wesley Walker | Wesley Walker | John Horn, Christine Burke, George Gerdes, O-Lan Jones, Jack Kehler, Barry Del Sherman | Curtainup.com “2002 Retrospective Top 10 List” | |
2003–2004 | The Powerhouse Theatre, Santa Monica | G-Nome | Murray Mednick | Guy Zimmerman | Murray Mednick, Christopher Allport, Lynnda Ferguson | Winner of Garland Award for Playwriting and Direction |
2100 Square Ft Theater, Los Angeles | The Inside Job | Guy Zimmerman | Guy Zimmerman | Barry Del Sherman, Jessica Dean, Holly Ramos | ||
2005–2006 | Electric Lodge, Venice, CA | Tirade for Three, Gary's Walk, Girl on a Bed | Murray Mednick | Guy Zimmerman | John Diehl, Christopher Allport, Hugh Dane, Niamh McCormally, Don Preston, Don Berman, Dana Wieluns, Shawna Casey, Jack Kehler, Andy Hopper, Mickey Swenson, Tom McCleister, David Carrera, Shannon Holt, Gray Palmer, Devon Carson | 2 Ovation Award Nominations: World Premiere Play(s)
LA Weekly Award Nomination: Best Ensemble LA Weekly Award Nomination: Comedy Performance, Shawna Casey |
Elephant Stageworks, Los Angeles, CA | In the Cool Dark: An Evening of Short Plays | Shawna Casey, Jack Kehler, Sharon Yablon, Wesley Walker, Guy Zimmerman | Shawna Casey, Jack Kehler, Sharon Yablon, Wes Walker, Guy Zimmerman | Shawna Casey, John Horn, Dana Wieluns, Tamar Fortgang, Gill Gayle, Sarah Diehl, Kim Debus, Mary C. Greening, Mari Ueda, Andy Hopper, Gray Palmer, Annie Weirich, Niamh McCormally | ||
Electric Lodge, Venice, CA | Vagrant | Guy Zimmerman | Guy Zimmerman | Christopher Allport, Patrick Burleigh, Niamh McCormally | ||
Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2006, Zoo Southside, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK | Vagrant, Tirade for Three | Guy Zimmerman, Murray Mednick | Guy Zimmerman | Christopher Allport, Shawna Casey, Andy Hopper, Jack Kehler, Niamh McCormally. | ||
Lost Studio, Los Angeles | Out of the Blue | Murray Mednick | Guy Zimmerman | Tina Preston, Hugh Dane, Lee Kissman, Andy Hopper, Niamh McCormally, Gray Palmer, Mary C. Greening, Mark Adair-Rios | ||
Bedlum, Los Angeles | Farm: 5 ten minute plays and a dance in a loft downtown | Sheryl Slean, Coleman Hough, Hank Bunker, Sharon Yablon, Guy Zimmerman | Sheryl Slean, Coleman Hough, Hank Bunker, Sharon Yablon, Guy Zimmerman | Katie Bachler, Madeline Baugh, Kim Debus, Edward Felix, Lake Sharp, Devon Carson, Hugh Dane, Mark Adair-Rios, Mary C. Greening, Betsy Hume, George Gerdes, Gill Gayle, Andy Hopper, Mickey Swenson, David Weininger, Megan Yellott, Trace Turville-Konerko, Christine Romeo, Niamh McCormally | ||
2007 | Stephanie Feury Studio Theater, Los Angeles | The Empty Bed | Sharon Yablon | Sharon Yablon | Shawna Casey, Jack Kehler | |
Stephanie Feury Studio Theater, Los Angeles | A New World War | Rita Valencia | Guy Zimmerman | Andy Hopper, Jack Littman, Niamh McCormally, Gray Palmer, Devon Carson | ||
Bootleg, Los Angeles and Divadlo na Pradle, Prague Fringe Festival 2007 | The Fever | Wallace Shawn | Guy Zimmerman | Paul Mackley | ||
2008 | Art Share | A Thousand Words | ||||
2009 | Art Share | Neo-Sacred Revival | ||||
Clown Show for Bruno | Murray Mednick | Guy Zimmerman | Daniel Stein, Dana Wieluns, Kali Quinn, Bill Celentano | |||
Destruction of the Fourth World | Murray Mednick | Brian Frette and Kristi Schultz of Zoo District | ||||
2010 | LADAD Space | Hotel Bardo(t) | Heidi Darchuk | Guy Zimmerman | ||
2017 | Bootleg Theater | Mr Job | Juli Crockett | Juli Crockett | Shaughn Buchholz, Gray Palmer, Jenny Greer, Brian Tichnell, Kenneth Breese | |
2018 | Resident Bar, MorYork | Jack Benny | Juli Crockett, Gray Palmer, Guy Zimmerman | Juli Crockett | Shaughn Buchholz, Jenny Greer, Gray Palmer, Juli Crockett, Brian Tichnell | |
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