Upcoming: Salome, Wondrous Strange Players at Renaissance Community Market, May 13 - June

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Wondrous Strange Players proudly present

Oscar Wilde's

Salomé

a story of decadence and obsession on a biblical scale: THE DANCE WORTH HALF A KINGDOM

May 13 - 22, June 10 - 19, Fridays- Sundays, 8 p.m.

6800 WestGate Blvd at William Cannon

Tickets $12 at the door

For any questions call 832-492-8031. www.wondrousstrange.org

Wondrous Strange invites you to a night of debauchery, madness, and doom, served with coffee and dessert. Have a seat on the stage as the Wondrous Strange players enact Oscar Wilde's Salomé, a story of decadence and obsession. Witness the macabre tale of Salomé and Iokannon unfold, and behold the infamous Dance of the Seven Veils, with its monstrous consequences!

I WILL KISS THY MOUTH, IOKANNON

Director Casey Allen, a laid-back poet with charm that borders on the supernatural, calmly steers his actors through beautifully chaotic moments of the story while playing an intimidating Iokanaan. Cristl Climans returns in the title role of the beautiful and dangerous Salomé herself. Christopher Harris takes on the role of the loathsome and slimy King Herod while Sabrina Tarbutton rolls her eyes at him as his wife Herodias. A charmingly drunken Tigellinas is played by Julio Mella while Steven Brandt brings a dry humor and dapper air to King Herod’s bodyguard. Travis Doherty, playing the Young Syrian, and Ksynia Hoover, playing the Page, joined the cast for Richard III and proudly returns in Wondrous Strange’s production of Salomé.

Upcoming: Julius Caesar, Austin Drama Club, September 17 - October 3

Received directly from Japhy Fernandes and Austin Drama Club:

Welcome to the toga party!

Julius Caesar

by William Shakespeare will blow your mind. Its plays Sept 17th through Oct. 3rd on Fri, Sat,and Sunday nights at 8 pm. Opening weekend is free for any who arrives wearing a toga!

Come to our country location between Oak Hill and Dripping Springs off Fitzhugh Rd @ 12345 Pauls Valley Rd (click for map). We have a big sign up out there. It's easy to find and there is plenty of parking.

But you may ask yourself, "Why would I possibly want to go see a long Shakepeare play about some old dudes. I mean the last time I went and saw a Shakespeare play i was bored out of my freaking mind!"

It's true. Plenty of boring ass Shakespeare plays can and will be seen. They do exist out there some where. You can have a great cast, stunning scenery, in a great comfortable location and still a production can be a total flop. "How is that possible?" you might ask. If a director takes away an actor's freedom and liberty or if a director rejects the actors imagination and vision, then a play can turn into a load of bullcrap and you cant sell bullcrap even if you put a pretty ribbon on it. When you come see Julius Caesar you won't be disappointed at the end of the night or we'll give you your money back and free video from the gift shop! You should just prepare to have your mind blown!

Who needs to see Julius Caesar? Lawyers! and Legal eagles! Debate team captains and would be politicians. Lovers of the Republic and Roman historians, Those who seek to preserve the English language and those that would wish to learn it. And of course, actors who are wise enough to come study the great thespians of their age so they borrow tricks and riffs.

If your going on a first date it should be to this play. Shakespeare makes a great first date cause you don't have to talk to each other that much but at the end of the evening you will have shared an epic experience, like watching the NBA playoffs or the Daytona 500. You'll never forget it.

The Austin Drama Club is also the perfect place to learn new catch phrases like "You must needs." "You must needs clean your room. You must needs take a bath. You must needs brush your teeth." And new ways to say good-bye like "Farewell and adieu" or "Go! But do it quickly" or my personal favorite, "Get thee gone. We will hear ourselves again tomorrow."

Forget about your credit score and start thinking about your IQ score because it's bound to rise after a night of theatre.

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare is co-directed by Christopher Harris and Casey Allen.... who each take lead roles. They are joined by Julio Mella, Sabrina Taributton, Steven Brandt, Bobby Dean, Sarah England, and Java Blume.

I took these promo photos last night and I'll be doing lights and sets for the production and it is my extreme pleasure to do so. Its been a privilege to stand back and watch these top guns of the Austin Drama Club put Julius up in record time with poise and grace and love.

Best wishes,
Japhy Fernandes...artistic director...Austin Drama Club

Arts Reporting: Brian Paul Scipione interviews Austin Drama Club's Casey Allen and Jessica McNerney, INSITE Magazine, August 2010

Found on-line; now available free around town in INSITE magazine's August 2010 edition:

Two Houses Both Alike…

By Brian Paul Scipione

INSITE magazine, August 2010

“This is, the first interview I’ve done for the theater,” says Casey Allen, “It’s like in the past we’ve been totally underground and nobody’s cared about what we do.” Allen is reprising his part as Romeo in Austin Drama Club’s second production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

Yet far from a re-run the present performance has two major changes: there’s a whole new Juliet and a whole new theater space.

Austin Drama Club, originally formed as the Velvet Rut Theater in the Fall of 2006, is the passion project of Japhy and Ellen Fernandes, this group transformed a small three bedroom, one bathroom house on the East side of Austin into a bastion of environmental theater. By knocking down walls, doors, and other obstacles the Velvet Rut used a make shift space with home-made platform seating comprised of an eclectic array of chairs, stools, and benches (truly no two seats were alike) to bring a staggering thirty-plus productions to life. This group has tirelessly performed show after show, weekend after weekend with no regard to notoriety or notice. They have unabashedly embodied art for art’s sake. And now they have moved on to a more conventional (in the Austin sense of the word) theater-space and that is a warehouse on the outskirts of town. Much like the Blue Theater andthe Off Center, the Austin drama club had rented and renovated a large empty room at 12345 Pauls Valley Road, a short scenic drive down 290 past the Y.

So as the new space welcomes the troupe, the troupe welcomes a new player, Ashley McNerney, in the titular role of Juliet. McNerney was on a road trip across the South when a fateful few days in Austin landed her at the Austin Drama Club’s production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Taken by the show and the unique nature of Austin, she decided to move here to pursue her career in the arts after graduating East Carolina University in 2009.

Read full article or browse INSITE magazine's August 2010 issue. . . .

Upcoming at Austin Drama Club: R&J, M of V, Mother C

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Hello theatre fans,

We've been working hard on 3 productions at the same time. Here they are with their performance dates, Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m.

Romeo and Juliet (April 15 - May 1) is a repertory production directed by Japhy Fernandes. Cast members coming back from the '07 production include Casey Allen as Romeo, Japhy Fernandes as Friar, Christopher Harris as Paris, and Aaron Lawhon as Benvolio. New cast members include Ashley Mcnerney as Juliet, Sabrina Taributton as the nurse, Java as Lord Capulet, Teddy Fernandes as Tybalt, Steven Brandt as Mercutio, Lakeva Greene as Page to Paris, and Sarah England as Lady Capulet. Ellen Fernandes does lights and sound.

Set in the present with modern costumes and dance...some live loud electric guitar rock and plenty of colored lights and a fog machine. A few things are changed in this updated version....Paris is bound to a wheel chair from the top of the show. Tybalt wears a dress to the ball. Someone else kills Juliet at the end. I call it our Kurt and Courtney version...all apologies.

Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare (May 6 - 22). We did this gem back in '08 and gave it a 'Three is Company' sit-com type of feel. Set in modern times, and characters like Shylock and Antonio do their business on the raquetball court rather than on the Rialto. Portia and Nerrisa chew and twist gum around their fingers while choosing a husband with the choice of the right box. And then there is the famous courtroom scene. There was a man who recently flew a plane into an IRS building here in Austin -- in a final letter he made reference to this play when he told them that they would get their "pound of flesh...." You'd have to see the play to understand what he was getting at.

Returning from the original cast is director Japhy Fernandes who now takes the role of Shylock. Christopher Harris is back as Antonio, Casey Allen is back as Lorenzo. Making a triumphant return to the Austin Drama Club, Kevin Karwoski takes the role of Prince of Arogon/Duke. Sarah England (the witch from Macbeth) is our new Portia. Steven Brandt is our new Bassanio. Look for more new faces in this light hearted drama of a buisness/love deal gone bad.

Mother Courage by Bertolt Brecht (June 3 - 19). It's a new show for us and our 1st attempt at Brecht. Austin Drama Club legend Aaron Lawhon makes this his directing debut. More details about the cast and play are coming soon.

Also, we've done some work on our performance space to give audiences more leg room, softer seats, and better air flow, so visit us again. Remember, for all shows seating begins 7:30 p.m...shows start at 8 p.m. We do our best to seat any latecomers. BYOB. No concessions. Donations go in the jar marked "donations." Contact japhyfernandes@live.com for specific location, directions or any other questions.

Ongoing: Salomé by Oscar Wilde, Austin Drama Club, November 5 - 21

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Hello Theatre Fans,
The Austin Drama Club welcomes you to come enjoy the underground biblical hit from so long ago......

Salomé
by Oscar Wilde
November 5 - 21, Thursdays - Saturdays, 8 p.m.
Austin Drama Club

Do you remember the story about the John the Baptist, the guy who gave Jesus the idea to dunk heads under water as a sign of spiritual re-birth? Do you remember how John the Baptist met his maker and why? It had to do with one hot, lit babe called Salomé who because of her pervert of a dad, King Herod, does a little dance and gets what she wants tonight as the moon turns a bloody red.

Back in the day Oscar Wilde was the bomb playwright. His plays stand the test of time and most are of the light, farcical nature. Salomé was his private play for close friends and those he could trust with secrets. Oscar later did some time in a brutal English prison for confessing his gentle disposition and his weakness for young men. Up until then had been seen in the best of society and had adapted quite well. Wit and play writing were the focus of his life and he had no interest in political martyrdom.

Salomé was first performed by the Austin Drama Club in August of 08. The vision for the show belongs to poet Casey Allen who returns as director with most of the original cast. Casey turns King Herod's bash into a costume party where Herod (Christopher Harris) comes as Elvis. Casey plays John, the doomed prophet. Erin Jo E. is his angry wife. Kat Eason returns as their daughter Salomé with a dance of the 7 veils not to be missed.

Read more at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .

Ongoing: After The Fall, Austin Drama Club,

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Upcoming at the Austin Drama Club

After The Fall

by Arthur Miller
Sept 17 through Oct 3, Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m.
japhyfernandes@live.com for details and location

Arthur Miller? Why does that ring a bell? He wrote Death of a Salesman, The Crucible, and All My Sons which still get done on a regular basis around the country. But what do you know about the playwright himself? Tangled in the McCarthy red scare of the 50s, he tangled himself in several relationships with very different types of woman. You may remember one of the gals as Norma Jean.

Some names may have changed to protect the guilty but After The Fall is still as austobiographical as it gets.

Come peek inside the life of the man who gave us these great plays. A long drama with three intermissions ....

Read More at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .

Richard III, Austin Drama Club, July 30 - August 22

He was standing at the gate when I walked up. East 7th and Concho. This looked like the place.

"Is this where the play is?"

He looked me over.

"Yeah. Go ahead. The house is open."

Yes, it was open. And it was a house. Dark inside, with rough fabric curtains hanging between the entry and the kitchen, and then between the kitchen and the living area. Cooler this time, with an air conditioner laboring away in the depths of the room. Singly or in couples, the audience gathered. Friendly enough. Waiting, though. Quietly murmuring.

The lights dimmed, a curtain moved aside. Barely visible in the low light, a man in a scruffy suit stood there, then lurched forward toward us, into the playing space.

"Now is the winter of our discontent. . . ."

Read more at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .

Upcoming: Richard III, Austin Drama Club, July 30 - August 22

UPDATE: Review by ALT, August 16




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Austin Drama Club presents

Richard III

by William Shakespeare
July 30 through Aug 22
Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Austin Drama Club is in the house at the corner of 7th St. East and Concho.

Richard III is directed by Julio Mella, a core member since our first production of Henry V in the winter of '06. Here Julio directs for the first time and takes the title role. His vision for the play takes its inspiration from the Mafia spirit of Mario Puzzo's Godfather books and from the black and white gangster movies from the 1930s - 1950s. ADC expects that this production will inspire more people to come see this classic that gives us some great lines including, "My kingdom for a horse!"

Julio is joined by several Austin Drama Club vets --

Jennifer Fielding (the Witch in The Wizard of Oz)

Jessie Satura joined our company as uncle Exter in our last production of Henry V. He is from that fine Wimberly acting tradition.

Casey Allen, who will direct and star in our upcoming encore production of Oscar Wilde's Salomé. Casey has played Romeo and several supporting roles along the way since '06.

Christopher Harris is our lead in Titus Andronicus and Salomé. He played Antonio in The Merchant of Venice and Horatio in our 4 productions of Hamlet.

Erin Jo Enochs was the the star of our production of Oedipus. She played Shylock's wife in The Merchant of Venice and Desdemona in Othello.

Richard Bateman is a magician and story teller who joins the cast for his first show with Austin Drama Club. Look for him to perform his show here later this fall.

Japhy Fernandes does the lights and sets with help from his wife Ellen Fernandes.

Reservations available via e-mail to japhyfernandes@live.com .