|
Event
The Understudies by Jeff Bedillion
This will be the first production as The Entitled Theater Company; however my partner, Renato Robles, and I, Jeff Bedillion, have been presenting great theatrical experiences for you as Back Alley Theater Company for a few years now. Thank you to all who came to see OPEN and FORBIDDEN FRUIT in the last two years. Our new company will lift this and our future productions to a new level of visual art through the collaboration of my dramatic vision and Renato's limitless creative aesthetic.
In this play, I observe the desperate lives of Ami and Evadne, two women (best friends) cast as understudies in an open run Broadway hit show. In 2006, when I wrote the piece, I was obsessed with Jean Genet's classic THE MAIDS. I adapted his spiraling tale of jealousy and status to the theatre. My women, Ami and Evadne, find themselves trapped as understudies, unrecognized for their talents as serious actresses. Shadowed by the brilliance of the show's star Donna, the girls have been reduced to merely her dressers. Obligated by contract, they are grounded from being discovered and taking off to stardom. This frustration has manifested blinding jealousy, and ultimately hatred of Donna, transformed in their minds as the wicked obstacle that hinders their success. Struggling to survive and regimented by their duty, they devise a plan to eliminate Donna permanently and open the gate to their potential. In the confines of their East Village studio, they rehearse daily their execution of Donna; alternating performances of Evadne steeping the poisoned tea and Donna innocently sipping her doom. The action begins on the final rehearsal, the day they will act on their fantasy. Will Donna drink the tea, or will she leave them drowning in their failure? I can't wait to tell you.
This production is performed entirely by men as inspired by Genet. The transformation of these men into women and then into animals is for your delight! Although my personal belief is that Genet's intent was misogynistic, our representation defines the realities of co-dependency, jealousy and rage as genderless.
Our talented cast includes Renato Robles as Ami. Renato has performed as Mommie in FORBIDDEN FRUIT and Francisco in OPEN for Back Alley Theater Company, and will reprise his role as Francisco in OPEN for The Entitled Theater Company this spring. Renato also is the creator of the set and costume design for this production of THE UNDERSTUDIES.
Lijesh Krishnan is playing Evadne in the cast and co-producing with ETC, previously mastering the many roles of the Male Basher in last year's smash FORBIDDEN FRUIT for Back Alley.
Gary Walker joins Entitled Theater Company as Donna, the actress and object of resentment in THE UNDERSTUDIES, fresh off the plane from his New York City debut of his one-man show, GREEN EYES JUST LIKE YOU AND ME for the United Solo Theater Festival.
Bobby Lopez, starring as Brian in last year's FORBIDDEN FRUIT, performs Marco, Ami's stage manager lover.
Edgar Littleton joins the company as Mr. Douglas, the show's producer. Jeff Bedillion has a cameo as Jenny, the star of an off-off Broadway drag revue downtown. Jeff has written and directed COUNTRY CLUB CATASTROPHE, OPEN, FORBIDDEN FRUIT, and THE UNDERSTUDIES for Back Alley, and will restage OPEN in the spring for Entitled Theater Company. Sarah Mosby returns as company lighting designer and stage manager. Jessica Fraser joins the company as our Make Up Artist.
|
|
 |
LocationThe Shelton Theater (View)
533 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
United States
Categories
| Minimum Age: 18 |
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
|
Contact
|
