Abingdon Square Play Los AngelesWritten by Kim and Don Tatera
Abingdon Square Play Los AngelesRead Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/shows/lax/abingdon/abindgon.html Recently we went to see Los Angeles premiere of this very dramatic play written in 1984 by Maria Irene Fornes. It was premiered by The Open Fist Theater Company at a funky little theater on La Brea, a mere stone's throw from Hollywood Boulevard, in heart of always happening Hollywood, California. The audience, primarily dressed in their best black, filled 99 seat theater to capacity, and from overhearing a few random conversations, was filled with screenwriters, playwrights and students studying theater in college. I wondered why there was such a large collective of students of theater here to view this production? Little did I know that this playwright, Maria Irene Fornes, is one of most distinguished female playwrights in America and has written over three dozen works for stage in last forty years. Not only is she a talented playwright, director, teacher, translator, and lyricist, but also she has received eight Obie Awards, with one in recognition of her Sustained Achievement in Theater. In addition, Maria received a Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 1990 for one of her plays, "And What of Night?". Since her immigration from Havana, Cuba to New York in 1945, at age of 15, she has been primarily writing, and debuting her plays on East Coast. They are known and respected for being intelligent, thoughtful, often funny, delicate and quite profound experiences. With "Abingdon Square" having earned an Obie Award in 1988 for Best American Play, Kim and I were in for quite a theatrical treat.
| | Zumanity at the New York New York Hotel in Las VegasWritten by Linda Lane
Zumanity – He Said, She Said at New York, New York Hotel in Las VegasRead Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/shows/zumanity/zumanity.html "Zumanity" is a sexual treasury of libidinous fantasies. It is all at once romantic, hot-blooded, naughty, funny, and voyeuristic. Billed as an adult show, latest Cirque du Soleil production at New York-New York in Las Vegas, Nevada, explores human sexuality using mood, dance, acrobatics, and scenes that play out in artistically lustful couplings. From moment one enters theater one's sensual senses are aroused. On walls, deep, rich reds bleed to burgundy with patterns reminiscent of dark watermarks. A large oval window fish-eyes towards lobby, and a beautifully dressed, provocative woman or transvestite, depending on your take, slowly rotates in a comfortable circular chair. The setting is interesting, pleasant to eye, a mental aphrodisiac that will help prepare audience for extraordinary show they are about to witness. Once inside the1,259 seat Zumanity theater atmosphere is charged with sexual electricity. There are love seats for two, cabaret stools, and traditional seating. The ambiance is a mix of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and a European masked ball. Lighting is soft so that one can adjust to scantily clad French maid serving pianist a flute of champagne while an oversexed male in silks and brocade grows more and more amorous with select cast and audience members. A very voluptuous waitress climbs over theatergoers offering them tasty hors d'ouvres. There is action before action, and if you've brought your Zumartini or a glass of champagne, you'll be all more ready to let your hair down.
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