Greetings! We hope you all had a wonderful end-of-summer. Keep watching this space for an update on the first Fall gathering. Until then, alum Jackie Maruschak needs a skate board:

I'm starting a West Coast branch of an entertainment
> company called The Laughingstock Company with a friend
> of mine.  It'll be called LAUGHINGSTOCK WEST once all
> is said and done.  In the meantime, we've got our
> first gig for Boeing in Long Beach and we are in need
> of a SKATEBOARD.  We're doing a "Back to the Fututre"
> event.  Anyway, in the interest of saving some $$$,
> especially at the beginning, I thought I would see if
> anybody I know has access to one that they wouldn't
> mind lending to us.  The more plain it is the better.
>
>
> And for you actors on the list, I hope I can employ
> you through Laughingstock West one day.  These
> corporate events are usually fairly painless and fun
> way of making some extra money. Stay tuned.

It's summer-time, friends, but here's a good post for the Fall from alum Elizabeth Mestnick. Otherwise, we'll see you inn the fall. Wally & the RTA West

Professional Master Class at The Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio now auditioning for Fall Program

Here's what some industry people who have worked with the class have had to say:

Damona Resnick: Head of Diversity Talent Development NBC: The Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio is one of the premium places in Los Angeles to perfect the craft of performance . I have seen her work wonders with students from beginner to professional.

Michael Suscy: Director: Grey Gardens with Dru Barrymore and Jessica Lange: EMAS has incredibly talented actors who perform with great professionalism.

Paul Weber: Head of Casting Paramount Pictures: EMAS has a very talented and versitile group of actors. Their training is top notch.

The GOAL:

To have talented and well trained actors work together to challenge and inspire their creativity and craft. This class is designed for those who are pursuing acting professionally and want to be at the top of their game during this critical time in the casting season.

The PHILOSOPHY:

We believe that the more often an actor is working, the more likely they will be to give their best performance at the most critical times (i.e. auditions). This class makes sure that professional actors have the opportunity to work with other well trained, experienced actors to keep their skill set sharp, and to work with a top L.A. teacher to continually hone and improve their craft.

The FORMAT:

It is a short 12-week program that will begin September 17th. We will tackle 3 scenes in that time following a traditional rehearsal process of table read, coaching session, director's session, and then performance. The class is open to observers to make actors comfortable with putting their work up in front of ANYONE. Observers might include other EMAS students, faculty, or industry professionals. Members of this class must audition with a monologue, and sides, which will be emailed to them 24 hours before their audition. The

When: Monday nights at 7:30pm
Where: EMAS 6583 Santa Monica Blvd
Admission: Through audition only. Auditions will be held August 7-28
Contact: Rachel Lindley - class adminstrator at 323-528-6280

For more information on The Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio visit our website at www.emasla.com

Okay friends, here are some photos from the gathering at The Cat & Fiddle last Monday night:

First off are James Connolly, Sadie Alexandru and Becca Mozo. Next up is Josh Ansley with Kristofer Updike. Then we've got Beccaa nd Josh (Ahem, fiancees!) And finally, a picture of Dianne and me. Thank goodness no one is actually reading this blog.

Wally

Don't forget the gathering tomorrow night, Monday the 21st, at 7 pm at the Cat & Fiddle. AND: Lenard Petit has an upcoming intensive in San Diego:


Michael Chekhov Acting Technique Intensive in San Diego

Taught by Lenard Petit, Artistic Director, Michael Chekhov Acting Studio, NYC

July 6, 7, & 8 at The Hotel Solamar, San Diego



Fri., July 6, 6:30pm-10pm,
Sat. July 7 & Sun. July 8, 9:30am-4pm
Cost: $250 (includes lunch and snack breaks on Saturday and Sunday). A $50 deposit will be required to hold your space. Workshop is limited to 18 participants.

This workshop will emphasize foundations of the Chekhov Technique such as atmosphere, psychological gesture, and imaginary body. In addition, there will be pre-assigned scene work given prior to the workshop.

For information on the workshop, please email chekhovworkshop@yahoo.com

Or call Ross Jones, workshop moderator, at 619-886-8288

Following are some odds 'n ends on the RTA West Coast front. Also, book the date of Monday, May 21st. That's probably going to be the next gathering of the RTA L.A. That's it for now, friends. Wally (e-mail: wallymarzano@gmail.com)

Jackie Maruschak has comedy coming up!:

2 GREAT NIGHTS OF STAND-UP COMEDY!


FRIDAY, MAY 18th SATURDAY, MAY 19th
9:30 – 10:30 8:00 – 9:00
IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE: IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:
JACKIE MARUSCHAK JACKIE MARUSCHAK
VICTOR VARNADO VICTOR VARNADO
JASON STUART JASON STUART
KYLE CEASE KYLE CEASE

THE McCADDEN PLACE THEATRE
1157 N. McCadden Place, LA, CA 90038
(one block East of Highland, one block North of Santa Monica Blvd.)
Free Parking at 1149 N. McCadden Place

$12.00 COVER
THERE WILL BE CONCESSIONS
Reservations: www.lacomedyfest.com
All shows will start promptly
For Industry Reservations Only Call: 323-463-2942





WAIT, LET ME TELL YOU THIS TOO . . .

THE LA COMEDY FESTIVAL RUNS FROM MAY 10-20.
VISIT www.LACOMEDYFEST.COM for details.
It’s where all the FUNNY is going to be! Did you log on yet? Don’t make me have to put down this cell phone.

COME SEE COMEDY!
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2nd

THE COMEDY STORE - THE BELLY ROOM
8433 SUNSET BOULEVARD, WEST HOLLYWOOD
(Enter in back – Upstairs)

8:00 – 10:00

$8.00 COVER – 2 DRINK MINIMUM

Doors open at 7:30
Street Parking Only so COME EARLY!

1) MFA'07 PLAYWRIGHT CHOSEN FOR THE O'NEILL THIS SUMMER:
This summer at The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Playwrights Conference:

Eight plays (from more than 600) were chosen from the submissions received by the Waterford, CT, company. The selected playwrights will spend the month of July developing their respective works with actors, directors and dramaturgs, before they are presented in readings.
The Woodpecker by Samuel Brett Williams (July 11 and 13)
"A tale of two worlds: the small town of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and the grim reality of Guantanamo Bay. It's Jimmy's last day before joining the military: He's addicted to glue, his mom is seeing visions in the sweet potato casserole, and his wheelchair-bound dad can kick his ass. He turns to God for answers, and finds� an Ivory-Billed Woodpecker. A dark comedy that blurs the lines between black and white, right and wrong."
READ THE WHOLE PLAYBILL ARTICLE AT http://www.playbill.com/news/article/107474.html

2) LOOKING FOR A PERFORMANCE SPACE IN NYC (HELP PLEASE):
Say, I am looking for a locale to stage one of my plays. Happen to know anyone who's got some NJ/NYC-area theatre-space for cheap for something like 2-6 performances?
Jeff Mach
jeffmach@runningwatermusic.com

3) A LAW & ORDER 'LOOK FOR':
Hey there!

Just wanted to let you know that I will have two lines on an upcoming episode of Law and Order! I play an Iraq war vet...and I whisper sweet nothings into McCoy's ear. It is meant to air on May 11th.

-Anthony Scott (AKA Scott Liloia)


4) 2 MFA'05-ers TOGETHER AGAIN:
Hey All,

Stephen Balantzian and Myself will be appearing in Don Juan In Chicago
at Theater Row in New York . It runs from the end of may through the
beginning of June. We've had our first week of rehearsals and it looks
like this should be a fine production of this play. David Ives himself
has been working with us on it. Hope everyone is well.
http://theclockworktheatre.org/currentprod.html

All The Best,

Mike Cinquino
MFA 05'

5) RAYMOND with NEW GEORGES:
I am very happy to announce the opening of this really great dark comedy. I hope you can make it. The writing is excellent and my cast mates are too.

GOD'S EAR
by Jenny Schwartz
directed by Anne Kauffman

with Gibson Frazier, Judith Greentree, Christina Kirk, Raymond McAnally,
Annie McNamara, Matthew Montelongo, Monique Vukovic

MAY 2-JUNE 2

Wednesdays thru Mondays 8pm

opens Monday 5/7 at 7pm

Location:
The East 13th Street Theatre

136 E. 13th Street, just southeast of Union Square
$25 / $18 stu/sen / Mondays pay-what-you-will (at the door only)
212.868.4444 or www.smarttix.com

10 buck previews! With code PRE10!

Or use code EAR-LY for $18 tix thru 5/16!

dramaturg Sarah Stern assistant director Maryna Harrison psm Megan Schwarz
asm Danielle Teague-Daniels production manager Sam Tresler assoc prod
manager Hilary McHone casting Paul Davis/Calleri Casting press Jim
Baldassare produced by Susan Bernfield & Sarah Cameron Sunde
always more info:

www.newgeorges.org

The Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio (EMAS) is looking for teachers for the Meisner Technique and Voice/Movement. EMAS was established in L.A. in 2001 to bring the sort of training we received at Rutgers to the West Coast. Elizabeth is a 1995 graduate of the Mason Gross MFA program. In the 5 years it has been established, EMAS has already gotten a reputation for demanding and effective training. We are the recommended training program for NBC's Talent Development Program. Please visit our website at http://www.emasla.com to get a better feel of our program.

Elizabeth is looking for people with prior teaching experience, or who would be willing to train over the summer. Please call the studio if you are interested at 323-528-6280 or email at director@emasla.com. Feel free to forward this information to anyone you know that might be interested - but for the acting - I am especially looking for graduates of the Rutgers Meisner program, Esper Studios or Maggie Flanigan studio.

Thanks

Elizabeth Mestnik
Director
EMAS
323-528-6280
www.emasla.com

Rutgers Theatre Alumni, West Coast:

The 2007 M.F.A. in L.A. showcase invited preview is Monday, April 23rd at 7:30 pm, upstairs at the Coronet (366 North La Cienega Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90048.)

To make a FREE reservation: e-mail ruactors@gmail.com or call (323) 523-0797.

Come mingle with fellow members of the R.T.A. West Coast and support this year's M.F.A. class. if you want to check 'em out:
www.actors.rutgers.edu

And keep looking for an update on our next R.T.A. West Coast gathering.

All the best, Wally

e-mail: wallymarzano@gmail.com

Friends: Right now we're having a little problem letting everyone blog, but if you would like something posted on this blog, please simply forward it to me at wallymarzano@gmail.com, and I will put it up here A.S.A.P.

Also, Sunday night's gathering (our fourth) was successful, but we would like to get the word out to more alumni for our fifth gathering on Friday, March 2nd. Stay tuned for details.

Thanks.