Showing posts with label Kevin Six. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kevin Six. Show all posts

February 4, 2012

"The Blood Countess" photos by Josh Freeman.

Josh Freeman took some production stills for The Blood Countess and whey were awesome!  See Josh's stuff at: http://www.obeymybrain.com/.  Take a look at the photos and, to see the play, visit http://dangerhouse13.com/.

Tony Beville is the Minister of Culture
Elisa Gonzales is Dot and Tony Beville is The Minister
Darcy (Justine Hince) spanks Ilona (Brigette Erpelding) as The Minister (Tony Bevile) looks on
The First Blooding
Three Witches
Things going bump in the night
Scooby Do Promo photo
Welcome to the Historic Rave at Castle Bathory
Carla Navarro is The Blood Countes
Welcome Back
So nice to see you again

November 17, 2011

How to have a play reading

I have been in a lot of play readings and seen more.  I have been involved in readings for 30 years as actor, audience member, writer and producer.  So I think I know what I'm talking about when I tell you how to have a play reading

Actors: Hire professional actors and pay them if you can
Actors know how to read plays and, especially, how to read them aloud.  They can take direction with little or no explanation.  Actors also ask very good questions about scripts and they will make choices like actors.  Non actors and playwrights (unless they are also professional actors) not so much.  Plays were meant to be acted so have actors involved as early as possible.

Directors: Don't direct.
What?  Really?  Yes!  This is not the place or the time to make a statement.  A reading is for audiences, playwrights and theatre decision makers to hear the play.  That's it.

Playwrights: Don't act or direct.
If you are an actor or a director and a playwright you already know this.  You want to sit in the audience and hear the play with everyone else.  You also want to watch the audience and their reactions.  If you're not an actor or a director, you need to know that actors and directors don't like playwrights to tell them what to do as much as playwrights don't like actors, directors and audience members to tell them what or how to write.  Also actors hate being given a line reading; that is when you show them how to say a given line.  It's like an actor spelling the word "the" for you.


Audience members: Don't rewrite the play.
If the opportunity to discuss the play arises, please remember that the playwright is the writing specialist in the room -- even if you happen to be a playwright.  Remember that the writer is interested in your experience as an audience member.  If you have a bunch of great ideas about how the play should go, please write a play and have a reading.  Before you do, please read the above.


Thanks!
Kevin Six

October 6, 2011

Two Swings

I was honored to be the guest of Embrace Adrenaline Trapeze Club in Scandia, MN.  While there, I got to try out my new wearable GoPro camera.  Various people wore the head-band-cam and we came up with some great shots.  In the two shots captured in the video below, I learned a lot about head placement because, while flying with two experienced and graceful flyers frrom Embrace Adrenaline, the head-band-cam was first worn by the flyer on my left and then by me.  That explains the two views but I have a theory that explains it.  WAtch this video and read on for my take on what you saw...

OK.  So the tall and graceful Katrina wore the camera for the first swing and, as you can see, she got a pretty good shot of our legs and feet.  Swinging with another flyer is a good way to learn more about timing and placement by matching the swing.  Usually people come away from this exercise with a better understanding of where to put their hips, legs and feet, and when to do it.  Katrina certainly did!
Poor Sherri Mann was the second flyer and, while I can attest to her skill and strength, you never get to see her legs and feet.  The reason?  First let's look at the similarities:
Both swings were double swings with me on the right and and experienced flyer on the left (Katrina on the first one and Sherri on the second).  The other fact is that Katrina wore the camera on the first swing and I wore it on the second.
The reason you can't see Sherri's feet on the second swing has nothing to do with where she put them but, rather, where I put my head (and the camera attached to it) durring the swing.  By looking up while bringing my legs forward, I was able to bring my hips up higher and achieve a better force out.  You just can't see it from that angle because my head is leading my hips, legs and feet.
So, a bad video exercise but a great way to understand how head placement determines where our feet end up in a swing...

Surfing Don'ts

Just a quick video reminder to all your surf instructors out there on what NOT to do when teaching a kid to surf.  We did this little video on the GoPro at La Jolla Shores beach.  Watch and learn!

March 12, 2010

The Hot L Baltimore

I am in this play, opening May 8th, 2010.  And, every time I read it I get depressed.  This is because it is a depressing play about sad people in difficult times.  A depressing but terrifically well rendered play.  Simple at first glance but with so many layers that it's amazing.
Lanford Wilson wrote the play in 1927 and it was an off-broadway phenomenon.  In fact, Wilson is credited as one of the founders of the off-broadway movement.  This means that Tony awards were not to be but he won a Drama Desk and an Obie.
The play was so successful that it was picked up by Norman Lear (the man who brought us Archie Bunker and Maude and the Jeffersons to name a few) for a short-lived TV series of the same name.  This was the first (and one of very few still) that featured prostitutes and homosexuals in lead roles.
The sassy actress Conchata Ferrell (that's how the Internet spells her name) was in both the play and the TV series but it would be 30 more years before she was recognized for her unique talents by Emmy voters.  This time for her turn as Charlie Sheen's maid in Two and a Half Men.
Now for all the degrees of separation from the original Hot L Baltimore and the one opening at Swedenborg Hall on May 8th:
My own fiance, Jennie Olson, plays The Girl opposite me.
Director DJ Sullivan was in an acclaimed version of the play at San Diego's Old Globe theatre in the 70s.
Playwright Lanford Wilson lived briefly in San Diego and attended, also briefly, San Diego State.
Wilson was also the roommate in New York of Jennie Olson's dear friend Anthony who remembers wild times...
DJ Sullivan and Conchata Ferrell auditioned for more than 50 of the same commercials, films and TV series and know each other by reputation.  "We were the two big ladies of a certain age in LA at the time," says DJ of her time auditioning against Ferrell in the 70s and 80s.
Another member of the original cast was Judd Hirsch.  I play this part in San Diego.  There is no degree of separation other than that I have watched every Taxi episode at least three times and can do a spot-on impersonation of Judd Hirsch.  DJ Sullivan frowns on this and asks me to find my own way in this play.
My questions for Messers Wilson and Hirsch and Ms. Ferrell are these:
Was it depressing for you? What did you do to combat the sadness, especially for eight shows a week? Would you do the play again if you could?  Wanna see the play in San Diego? 
Here's the information:
THE HOT L BALTIMORE by Lanford Wilson
Directed by DJ Sullivan, produced by the Sullivan Players
Performs at 7:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (May 8-30) at Swedenborg Hall.
Tickets ($15 general and $12 for students, seniors, military and Actors Alliance) available one hour prior to curtain.  Map and directions.

December 7, 2009

News About The Rules of Engagement

Here's what Pat Launer says about my upcoming reading:



READING ROOM


Fightin’ Women:The Rules of Engagement,”
a new play by local writer/actor Kevin Six, will have a preliminary
reading with voluntary “safe sword play” for observer-participants. The
piece, about women in conflict, was written for Babes With Blades, a
Chicago theater group dedicated to providing opportunities for female
stage combat. The author is interested in audience input. 12/11 at 6
p.m. in Swedenborg Hall, 1531 Tyler Ave.

November 23, 2009

Staged Reading With Fights 6:00 p.m. 12/11/09

My Play, The Art of Love, will be produced in 2010 but before that, I want to hear it read. This will happen, informally, on December 11, 2009 at Swedenborg Hall. Here is all the information:

The Play
There are seven women and two men playing 14 parts. The play takes place alternately in the "real" and a "fantasy" world. The theme is how women fight. There are at least five opportunities for stage combat for women.

The Rules of Engagement Website

The Place
Swedenborg Hall is the artistic center of the Swedenborgian Church of San Diego. Don't worry, it's not "churchy" they embrace all beliefs. Their website.

The Event
The very informal event will be from 6 to 8:00 p.m. and include:
Information from the playwright and director;
Some fun, safe, stage combat for whomever wants to participate;
The reading (everyone who wants to will be allowed to read with role-sharing);
A post-reading discussion.

The Things We Want To Know
1. What is the look, feel and culture of the "fantasy" scenes?
2. What types of stage combat would be fun to see?
3. What is the feasibility of producing the play?
4. Without re-writing the play, what did you like/dislike and what would you change?

November 2, 2009

The Art of Love: Plays About Art and Love

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 24, 2009
Contact: Kevin Six
(619) 818-1131
six.kevin@yahoo.com
www.PlaysAboutLove.com

SAN DIEGO - Swedenborg Hall presents The Art of Love: Plays About Art and Love, an evening of short plays by San Diego writers set in art galleries. Included in the evening are: Craig Abernethy's That's What I Love About Art; Sketchers by Jacqueline Goldfinger; two plays by Kristina Meek, Guided Tour and Closed for Installation; Jennie Olson's The Art; and three plays by Kevin Six, collectively called The Art of Love. The Art of Love: Plays About Love is directed by Kevin Six, playwright in residence at Swedenborg Hall.

About The Art of Love...
Swedenborg Hall is transformed into an art gallery, with the action happening on the main floor where the audience usually sits. Audience members are seated on stage and around the perimeter of the space so they can feel like flies on the wall, witnessing the profound, dramatic and sometimes funny way people react to art and each other.

Dates/Times:
Friday, February 5 - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 6 - 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 7 - 7:30 p.m.
Monday, February 8 - 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 10 - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 12 - 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 14 - 7:30 p.m. Valentine's Day!
Monday, February 15 - 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 17 - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 19 - 8:00 p.m.
Monday, February 22 - 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 24 - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 26 - 8:00 p.m.

Location:
Swedenborg Hall, 1531 Tyler Ave., San Diego, CA, 92103

Prices:
All tickets are $15.00/general admission. Tickets may be purchased at Swedenborg Hall one hour prior to show time, or online at www.PlaysAboutLove.com.

About Swedenborg Hall:
Swedenborg Hall is the creative center of The Swedenborgian Church of San Diego. There is a long history of Theatre at the church hall. Alpha Omega Players performed there for over 25 years and local legend DJ Sullivan has been acting, teaching and directing there since 1969.

Links:
www.PlaysAboutLove.com
www.SwedenborgHall.org
www.CraigAbernethy.com
JacquelineGoldfinger.com
www.JennieOlson.net
www.KevinSix.com

October 26, 2009

The Art of Love: Plays About Art and Love

The Art of Love: Plays About Art and Love

February 5-26, 2010. Swedenborg Hall, San Diego. Love it!

Plays about Art and Love by San Diego Playwrights:

Craig Abernethy (That's What I Love About Art)

Jacqueline Goldfinger (Sketchers)

Kristina Meek (Guided Tour & (Guided Tour and Closed for Installation))

Jennie Olson (The Art)

Kevin Six (The Art of Love)

Swedenborg Hall is transformed into an art gallery and you are a fly on the wall, witnessing the profound, dramatic and sometimes funny way people react to art and each other. See it with someone you love.

The Art of Love February 5-26, 2010. Swedenborg Hall, San Diego

February 10, 2009

NBC Morning Show features "Love Negotiated"

For those of you not awake and watching tellie at 5:45am, then you missed our feature on NBC Early Morning News with Jason Austell. But no worries! Your loving A.D./Producer woke up at the ungodly hour of 4:00am and picked up your nervous-grumpy-not-a-morning-person-playwright Kevin Six and delivered him to the NBC Studios where our professional and chronically-early-everywhere-actress Savvy Scopelleti was waiting, and within moments we were joined by equally professional arriving-with-coffee-in-hand-actor Tom Hall. Phew. Ok Kevin, you can relax now!!!!

Just in case my camera wouldn't be allowed on set, we took this picture as we waited in the lobby for our escort to bring us into the studio:

(note how great everyone looks for 5:00 in the morning!)

We went down the hall of editing rooms and sound rooms and rounded the corner of newsroom cubicles and right into the live taping studio. I must have missed the red "on the air" light, because they were broadcasting live as we shuffled in and our host gathered chairs for us. Here's the co-anchor leading in to the weather update:



Speaking of lead-ins, or "teasers", that's just what they had our two actors do before the commercial break. Here's the tape from my angle, which was fun to watch as the camera man was having fun with their shot:



Well finally, the moment arrived, and they were ready to air the live interview! Just one thing though. Kevin had to get to his spot:



There, much better!



Ok, now everyone is in place and, it's GO TIME! (remember, it's all LIVE on air!)

First, Jason Austell interviews the playwright Kevin Six, who explains that the show is about lawyers, non-lawyers, and people just trying to figure out what love is. He says basically it's about relationships, and we hope that's funny!





So 30 seconds of that then a preview scene from the show by our talented actors. Fortunately for us, it just so happens that both Savvy and Tom have backgrounds in broadcasting, so they knew exactly how to stand, what to do, what to say, and how to get it all out in exactly 60 seconds. They were awesome. I mean, just look at them, they're naturals!





Notice behind them, outside, how dark it is? Yep, the sun had not even risen yet, and before you could even say "breakfast", it was a wrap!

So where's the tape of the actors doing the scene, you ask? Well, if you weren't up at 5:00am to watch it on tv for yourself, then you'll just have to come see the show!

February 9, 2009

Love Negotiated on TV

Love Negotiated will be the subject of a story on NBC 7/39's Morning News on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009. Now, here's the fun part. Actors Thomas Hall and Savvy Scopelleti are doing a scene from the show (one of the few that can be done on TV) and they're interviewing playwright Kevin Six.

We're on at5:35 a.m. So! Warm up the recording devices or look for a link here late Tuesday. We'll see you on TV!

January 8, 2009

First Rehearsals

Love Negotiated had a table read and a rehearsal and it's already Broadway-bound as far as I'm concerned. The actors were wonderful, we saw drawings of the set, the actors moved around on the stage and the words were pretty good as well. Check out these pictures.




Above (from the top): Playwright Kevin Six; Marc Biagi as Richard; Stage Manager Lizzie Silverman and Melanie Sutherlin.




Above (from the top): Melanie Sutherlin is Maria and two shots of most of the Love Negotiated cast.

January 5, 2009

Rehearsals begin!

So we begin tonight! I'm really looking forward to working with everyone on this. This is my first time working with DJ and I'm really excited. So I'm keeping this short and sweet and hopefully will have more to share with the www soon. :)

December 31, 2008

So Long 2008 Hello 2009

Hello Blogosphere!

I'm sure everyone will be proselytizing about the previous year and predicting outcomes for the next. I'm not immune to it (or using long words) either so let's get busy figuring out what happened last year and what's to come next year.

Last Year: Nothing of import.
Next Year: Love Negotiated opens.

We need to find a way to get people to visit the website (www.lovenegotiated.com) and purchase tickets. I believe subtle threats to be the best course of action. For example:
  1. If you don't purchase tickets to Love Negotiated, the world as we know it may very well cease to exist.
  2. If you don't have Love Negotiated tickets in your pocket when the man comes around...
  3. It doesn't matter if you see the Love Negotiated but it does matter that you have tickets. It doesn't matter to the beast under your bed, that is.
I hope to have 100 of these pretty little threats by opening (Feb. 14, 2009). Won't you please help? I promise to print them all.

Kevin