John Farrell has just reviews my current production of Hamlet at San Pedro Rep., and here's a link to a praise-filled, and glowing response to the work! 
http://www.dailybreeze.com/arts-and-entertainment/20131119/newest-san-pedro-theater-company-takes-on-the-challenge-of-hamlet-for-its-debut-play

It is exciting to be working with Smith and Kraus again. Not only are they the largest seller of theatre trade books anywhere, their books are beautifully bound and crafted so naturally I am delighted to be a part of the Smith and Kraus family once again.

My second S&K book is out NOW so dash to your nearest bookstore (or computer) and snap up a few copies of my latest title, ESL SHAKESPEARE: 101 EVERYDAY PHRASES. It is a lighthearted little tome and not just for ESL students but for anyone interested in idioms. Click on the pic below to take you to Amazon.

Having recently written and published a book on acting Shakespeare and with another on the way, it is now time to put my money where my mouth is with the fall production of Hamlet at San Pedro Rep.

You can audit rehearsals for free in the weeks and months leading up to opening night, gain an insight into the director's working methods and get a taste of the production to come. 

The open-door rehearsal policy is a fantastic opportunity to catch a glimpse of the inner workings of a theatrical production.  We only ask that you respect the rehearsal space and make every effort not to disturb the process. 

There is a strict NO CELL PHONE policy and anyone in breach of this policy or those causing a disturbance will be asked to leave. 

For details on specific open-door rehearsals contact the company's Managing Director, Chris Lang via email: [email protected]

The company is located at 311 West 7th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731

Okay, there is no such thing an ordinary year for an artist but 2012 has been personally remarkable: turning 40, publishing my first book, sealing the deal on the second, sailing the high seas, directing three Vaclav Havel plays for Theatrum Elysium, collaborating with the Wende Museum, reading my own adaptation of A Christmas Carol at French's in Hollywood, making new friends, launching a new website: www.project154.com, and here, on the last day of the year I celebrate 15 years on marriage to a woman in my life who has seen in all and helped me steer the course of our lives through choppy waters and calmer ones. A Happy New Year to you all. 2013, you have a lot to live up to and that's a fact.

The Vanek Trilogy, a production of three one-act plays at Theatrum Elysium is currently previewing. The performances run from 31 Oct - Nov 18, 2012 at Theatrum Elysium's home in La Crescenta.

It's a joy working with LA's foremost teaching theatre, and directing these wonderful plays has been a thrill. Havel's mastery is in his mix of comic Absurdism and astute political observations as relevant today as when they were written.

One of the most exciting aspects of this production has been in our collaboration with The Wende Museum, a collections-based research and education institute of Cold War artifacts and history.

My first visit to the Wende Museum was in April 2012 to watch a staged reading of the first English language translation of conversations between Brecht collaborator, composer Hanns Eisler and journalist, Hans Bunge.

Following the readings we enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour with Museum director, Justinian Jampol. One of the highlights of that tour was seeing an exhibit of Cold-War state surveillance equipment. 

Several months later I found myself directing The Vanek Trilogy, plays of a dissent writer who lived under the scrutinizing gaze of the communist government of 1970s Czechoslovakia. I knew at once that if we could bring some of those Wende artifacts to the Theatrum Elysium space, we could be able to connect them to the human world of our plays and add a dynamic layer of texture and meaning both to the Havel stories and the artifacts themselves. 

Thanks to everyone who made it along last Saturday to Samuel French in Hollywood. The book launch was a great success. Thanks also to Joyce at Samuel French for capturing me in full Shakespearean delivery!!!

This evening, I was honoured to be in the company of a group of people with warm hearts and we hope for the sake of the Yes on 34 campaign, deep pockets! 

We'll take it as a given that the "deep pockets" do not belong to us impecunious theatre types. None the less, I plan to do all I can to support Prop 34.  Thanks to Kim Manning-Cooper of Amnesty International UK for inviting me. We last saw each other some twenty-three years ago in the corridors of the college we shared. You must have a portrait in the attic Kim and if you drink enough and squint your eyes you'll see that I haven't aged a bit either!

Joking aside, I'm incredibly proud of Kim and all the work she is doing on behalf of Amnesty.

Tonight, the eloquence of the speakers drove home the importance of this issue, not just in terms that we are sadly familiar with: the miscarriages of justice, the position of other death penalty regimes around the world in relation to the stance of the U.S. but also in economic terms; a central theme of the campaign's thrust to abolish the penalty in a state that is currently broke beyond belief.

In other news (and since I spent so much time telling anyone who would listen) it really is time we had some mention of the Havel project on this website. 

I'm delighted that Theatrum Elysium have invited me to direct three one act plays by the great Czech writer Vaclav Havel this autumn. The Vanek Trilogy, springs from Havel's own experiences as a dissident writer living under the regime of the former Czechoslovakia. Central to these plays are the character's relationship with the material world and their moral world. As such, the make for astutely relevant pieces today and are as deeply psychological as they are political.

The plays will be performed at the company's new home in La Crescenta (and NOT, as I wrongly asserted this evening in Downtown LA). 

Theatrum Elysium is a fledgling company that started life in a 10, 000 sq. ft warehouse space in the heart of Downtown LA, before moving to their new home in La Cresenta. They are making a name for themselves with bold and imaginative productions that appeal to a counter culture of theatregoers in the Los Angeles area who are looking for a stirring and potent theatrical experience that will live as long in the memory as it will in the heart.

Watch this space for news and details of the production or click here for the Theatrum Elysium website.
 

I recently learned that September 1st will be the publication date of my forthcoming book on acting Shakespeare. A huge thanks to Nathan Spring, Head of Production at Smith and Kraus for his guidance, hard work and help. Here is a sneak peak of the book cover: