Ray's Green Room - All Things Entertainment: Recent Episodes
Ray Renati
Kelli Colaco’s writing credits include the plays Underbelly, The Meeting, You Are My Sunshine (O’Neill National Playwrights Conference Semi-Finalist) and the web series “The Meek Shall Inherit.” She is a founding member of The Independent Shakespeare Company. She is currently a Teaching Artist at Marin Theatre Company in Mill Valley, CA. She received an M.F.A from the P.T.T.P. (The Professional Theatre Training Program) at the University of Delaware following the actor training program at P.C.P.A (The Pacific Coast Conservatory for The Performing Arts) in Santa Maria, CA. She is a member of the 72nd Street Gang, a collective of dramatists who meet and share work in New York City.
Colaco spent the better part of 2016-17 as a writer of the documentary “The Mad Hannans,” directed and co-written by Martin Shore, now circulating film festivals throughout the country. She recently finished a two-and-a-half year periodic Teaching Residency on Acting and Playwriting at M [...]
Emily Corbo is an actor, singer, and art maker based in San Francisco.
A commercial actor by day and theatrical by night, you can find her running to and from auditions and rehearsals throughout the Bay Area. When she’s not running to her next audition, she spends her time playing music, teaching figure drawing and scouring her local library for plays and books.
Favorite roles include Chrissie in “Religomania The Musical” at SF Fringe Festival and Jean in “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” at SF City College.
She holds a BA in Art History and Studio Practice from San Francisco State University. You can catch her in a workshop production of “The Birthday Lottery”, a new play by Richard Fouts, opening the last weekend of March at Z Space in San Francisco.
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www.rayrsgreenroom.com
Suze Allen is a resident playwright at Three Girls Theatre and a co-founder of the company. 3Girls Theatre Company is proud to be one of the very few theater companies in the nation that produce only plays by women playwrights. 3GT seeks more than “gender parity” in the theater: the company has a vision of a world where stories told by women are heard onstage just as often as stories told by men. In other words – 3GT wants to help change our cultural mindset!
Suze is a published author, teacher, dramaturg and director with credits on both coasts. She was the creator of Fresh New Works San Francisco, The Maine Playwrights’ Lab and Short Works Festival, Artistic Director for the SF Writers and Actors Lab, Director for Fertile Ground Writing Studio and the resident Dramaturge and playwriting instructor at The Playwrights’ [...]
-It looks like Kevin Spacey’s career might be over. Apparently, he has used his status to harass numerous people over the years. It’s rumored that he might be investigated by British police for other acts of sexual harassment. This is such a sad ending to a great career. Of course, I feel for the victims, and I also feel for Spacey. Everyone has been destroyed by his behavior including himself.
-I also talk about the right way to audition. Is there a right way? I think so.
-Finally, I explore my opinion on the changing state of television right now. In my opinion, the existence too many programs are having a diluting effect on overall quality.
I hope everyone had a spectacular Thanksgiving!
A little help please: if you enjoy this podcast, or even if you don’t, please consider, becoming a patron by subscribing for $5 a month. I will be providing exclusive content to a [...]
If you have some time this weekend go see Hamlet with the Arabian Shakespeare Festival. It’s playing at the Royce gallery in San Francisco. It’s an excellent production of Hamlet that you will not want to miss. Simply look up Arabian Shakespeare Festival on Google and you’ll be able to purchase your tickets. Also, we had a great staged reading of the play Shooting Star at the Phoenix theater in San Francisco last weekend.
I will be performing in a staged reading of the play called shooting star. The performance begins at 3:30 PM today Saturday, November 11. It will be held at the Phoenix theater on the corner of Mason and or Farrell in San Francisco. It’s right next to the nightclub Ruby Skye. It should be a lot of fun. My website is RayRenati.com.
This week I take a peak, so to speak, at Kevin Spacey and his recent debacle. Since I recorded this episode yesterday, many people are now saying that Spacey regularly abused his power on the set of House of Cards and created a “toxic” work environment on the set through a pattern of sexual harassment and assault. I don’t want to believe this. Kevin has been a great representative for all actors for many years. To think that he may have behaved in ways that hurt numerous people is difficult for me to accept.
On a lighter note, this episode also talks about the return of Curb Your Enthusiasm to HBO! After a six-year absence, the half hour program has been resurrected by Larry David and the executives at Home Box Office. I also take a look at the iconic sit-com, Seinfeld and analyze the similarities and differences with Curb. Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David have created multi-million dollar enterprises with the two comedies. So, you better listen, or NO SOUP for [...]
Please leave a review on Itunes: Here are the instructions. The Prince of Egypt, is now the highest-selling musical in the 48-year-old theatre company’s history. With 15 remaining performances, this new work from Grammy-and-Oscar-winning composer Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin) and book writer Philip LaZebnik (Pocahontas, Mulan), is a soaring celebration of the human spirit recounting one of the greatest stories ever told: the saga of Moses, his Pharaoh brother Ramses, and the indomitable people who changed both their destinies.
Directed by Broadway’s Scott Schwartz, The Prince of Egypt has to date grossed more than $650,000 in ticket sales, surpassing the previous record-holder, Jane Austen’s EMMA, another TheatreWorks world-premiere musical, which garnered more than $540,000 in ticket sales. Inspired by the DreamWorks animated film of the same name, The Prince of Egypt is presented by [...]
The Times they are a Changing! I just did another at home audition for a movie. This seems to be a trend now. It’s all the rage. You tape your own audition, edit it, and send it along to the casting director.
Ray on the Road is a brand new real time series. I will be creating episodes from the trenches: auditions, movie sets, back stage at theatres. Today I describe my audition with the innovative theatre company Word for Word.
This week we take a look at the 2013 film, Her, starring Joaquin Phoenix, and written and directed by Spike Jonze, the man with the coolest name in show business! Her marks Jonze’s solo screenwriting debut.
The film follows Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a man who develops a relationship with Samantha (Scarlett Johansson), an intelligent computer operating system personified through a female voice.
Jonze conceived the idea in the early 2000s after reading an article about a website that allowed for instant messaging with an artificial intelligence program. He wrote the first draft of the script in five months. Principal photography took place [...]
This week we delve into the world of old movie musicals brought to the stage. We take a look at the Broadway tour of An American in Paris. We also go in-depth with the classic Spanish drama, Yerma, staged by the Young Vic Theatre in London and shared with the world by National Theatre Live in London.
An American in Paris, tells the thrilling story of a young American soldier, a beautiful French girl, and an indomitable European city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of war. Featuring a score including the songs “I Got Rhythm,” “‘S Wonderful,” “But Not for Me,” “Stairway to Paradise,” “They Can’t Take That Away” and orchestral music including “Concerto in F,” “2nd Prelude,” “2nd Rhapsody” and “An American in Paris.”
In Yerma, the incredible Billie Piper (Penny Dreadful, Great Britain) returns in her Evening Standard Best Actress award-winning role.
A young woman is driven to the unthinkab [...]
A Look at the work and music of the late, great Harry Dean Stanton who was seen in such films as “Alien”,”Paris, Texas”, and “The Green Mile”. Harry Dean Stanton’s drooping, weather-beaten appearance and superb acting talent have been his ticket to appearing in over 100 films, and 50 TV episodes.
THEATRE IN PARIS was born from the observation that Paris is a world capital of theatre along with New York and London. However, most people ignore it because of the language barrier. We decided to offer selected plays from the Paris theatre season with English subtitles so that many more people can enjoy them. See the trailer of one their breathtaking shows - LES VIRTUOSES - here: http://bit.ly/2×2OlIC
This week Ray interviews Celia Maurice, a San Francisco based, award winning actor. You are listening to Wave Radio.
Today, Ray tells you about his week as an actor in San Francisco. What is it like to continually put yourself out there looking for the next acting gig? Listen and find out!
This week Ray talks about what it’s like to actually rehearse a play and then perform in from of a live audience. Ray discusses the sheer terror of the first performance and the development of a play over time.
Mr. Shepard, one of the most important and influential writers of his generation, specialised in capturing the darker sides of American family life. Sam was an award winning playwright, an academy award nominated actor, and a true artistic genius.
Ray is on holiday so this is a replay of “In the Green Room with Ray Renati - Shakespeare 101. 24th March, 2017″
A great lover of the dramatic arts, Marie-Antoinette eventually grew tired of the temporary stages knocked together for performances in the gallery of the Grand Trianon and the orangery of the Petit Trianon. Once she had decided to commission her personal architect Richard Mique to build her a real theatre, work was completed in spring 1780, and the official inauguration was on 1 June.
Today we talk about French theatre and in particular, a theatre company in France called Theatre in Paris (theatreinparis.com). They have come up with a way for English speakers to enjoy live theatre in France! We also take a look at the Tour de France - a real life drama.
Today we take a look at the origins of the word “thespian”, and we talk about some of the greatest thespians of our day.
Today we take a look at an actor’s main job: auditioning, and how to deal with rejection. Bryan Cranston explains how you can turn rejection into motivation.
We’ve got a special guest today - Rachel Bakker. Rachel is a San Francisco Bay Area based theatre artist. Rachel graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in theatre. She’s on the Board of Directors of City Lights Theatre in San Jose and is the New Works Program Manager at City Lights. This program culminates in an annual new works festival called Lights Up!
This week Ray talks a little Tony Awards, a little Kevin Spacey, a little Laurie Metcalf along with some Broadway, and Off-Off Broadway fun.
Christian is the founding Artistic Director of AmiosNYC and the Producing Artistic Director of ShotzSF. He has been seen in Value Over Replacement (TBA Award for Featured Actor), Romeo & Juliet, Miss Julie, Death of a Salesman, Aloysius in New York, The Affair, Escape from Roosevelt Island, Bartleby the Scrivener, Cloud 9, Macbeth, King John, 5th of July, This is Our Youth, The Altruists, Murder, Woyzeck, Snake in Fridge, Richard III, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Trip to Bountiful and dozens more. Directing credits include: The Guys (The Pear), Boeing Boeing (RVP), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Tides), A Message (Arabian Shakespeare Festival), Heroes and Other Strangers (Best of Fringe NYC), Strictly Convenience (Fourfold Productions), Icarus’ Mother (Actors Theatre of San Francisco) and a bunch of Shotz plays. Ensemble creations include Brundibar (The Actors Center), Aloyisius in New York (Amios), Woyzeck, Three Weekends in June, and Water Freezes Hexagonally or the Five Star Ho [...]
Christian is the founding Artistic Director of AmiosNYC and the Producing Artistic Director of ShotzSF. He has been seen in Value Over Replacement (TBA Award for Featured Actor), Romeo & Juliet, Miss Julie, Death of a Salesman, Aloysius in New York, The Affair, Escape from Roosevelt Island, Bartleby the Scrivener, Cloud 9, Macbeth, King John, 5th of July, This is Our Youth, The Altruists, Murder, Woyzeck, Snake in Fridge, Richard III, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Trip to Bountiful and dozens more. Directing credits include: The Guys (The Pear), Boeing Boeing (RVP), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Tides), A Message (Arabian Shakespeare Festival), Heroes and Other Strangers (Best of Fringe NYC), Strictly Convenience (Fourfold Productions), Icarus’ Mother (Actors Theatre of San Francisco) and a bunch of Shotz plays. Ensemble creations include Brundibar (The Actors Center), Aloyisius in New York (Amios), Woyzeck, Three Weekends in June, and Water Freezes Hexagonally or the Five Star Ho [...]
As a performer, eventually, some of your friends become famous. The ins and outs of dealing with famous friends. Hint: we’re all human beings and nothing more.
While masks have been used since the dawn of theatre in ancient Greece, using them for educational purposes is relatively new. In 1913 French theatre director Jacques Copeau introduced masks into theatre rehearsals as a way for actors to remove themselves. Some notable actors that attended the mask training classes at Julliard are Kevin Spacey, Robin Williams, Laura Linney, Kevin Kline, and Patti Lupone . They all count the masks as one of the most important classes of their education.
From bastard orphan to Washington’s right-hand man, rebel to war hero, loving husband caught in the country’s first sex scandal to Treasury head who made an untrusting world believe in the American economy, HAMILTON is an exploration of a political master.
Actors are a very superstitious bunch. Want to know why you should never tell an actor, “Good Luck”? Curious about why you should never, ever, under any circumstances say the word “Macbeth” backstage. Hear about the awful consequences of whistling in the dressing room. These strange but true superstitions are explored and debunked.
Powerhouse Entertainer and actress Carly Ozard has had solo shows at The Rrazz Room, Feinstein’s at the Nikko, Feinstein’s/54 Below, Stage 72 at the Triad and The Metropolitan Room. She works in musical theatre, cabaret, and as a FEMcee for various events. An exceptional vocalist with comic and dark sides showcasing a repertoire that includes Musical Theatre, Contemporary Pop, Classic Rock and Electric Dance Music. A newly budding songwriter and cover artist, she just released her debut recording Universal Child on iTunes and CDBaby. Having acted as head judge of The Gay Pride Parade in San Francisco as well as a judge for The Voice of Vallarta and the San Francisco Cabaret Competition, Carly has been part of every community she has performed in. Carly has shared stages with Charles Strouse, Klea Blackhurst, Rita Moreno, Leslie Jordan, Maureen McGovern, Miranda Sings! and more. She is a two-time Burner at Burning Man, a proud member of AEA and The New York City Friar’s Club, [...]
I studied Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. It was a gigantic learning experience and something that enriched my understanding of the craft of acting. Want to work 10 hours a day, 6 days a week for a couple of months and do nothing but act? Then apply to go to a RADA summer session.
I directed Arthur Miller’s great play “A View from the Bridge”. I set it in a boxing ring. Think out of the box.
Want a quick and easy way to read Shakespeare so that you can understand it? Go no further, here’s your answer. Don’t be afraid of the Bard!
We take a look at film acting technique using the actor, Al Pacino’s, example in the film, “The Godfather”.
I met Arthur Miller about fifteen years ago. He was a strong kind man ready for conversation. It’s something I will never forget. In this episode, I talk about meeting Mr. Miller and my experience in directing his play, “A View from the Bridge”.
Method Acting - Some Love it. Some loathe it. Either way, it’s the backbone of acting technique in the United States.
Most people could never dream of learning a role like Hamlet, or Lear, or Willie Loman. But learning lines for a play or movie isn’t as hard as you think.