Green Room On Air

Michael Grant Interview and The Zombie Apocalypse

Today we discuss Ray's addiction to chocolate-covered berries, our current pandemic, and most importantly, we have a special interview with the UK based musician, Michael Grant.

Michael Grant's Web Site: https://www.michaelgrantmusician.com/

Michael A. Grant is a freelance musician, proficient on clarinets, bassoon, saxophones and flute. He is currently based in Manchester but available for work throughout the universe.

Michael is an experienced performer in a variety of genres, including orchestral music, big band swing, and traditional jazz. He is also in high demand as a reed player for musical theatre productions, on account of his strong sight-reading ability and expertise across multiple instruments.

Furthermore, he is a very capable arranger and orchestrator, as well as a keen composer.

Michael Grant's new Musical: https://www.michaelgrantmusician.com/inrta/

It’s Not Really the Apocalypse’ tells the story of four friends, who wake one day after the mother of all hangovers to discover they are the only humans left on the planet. Over the course of 14 songs they must adapt to their new lifestyle, whilst also overcoming a much greater challenge: learning to live with each other.

This dark subject matter is juxtaposed with a catchy, ragtime-influenced score that is sure to have you tapping your feet and singing along. Armageddon never sounded so good.

If Only Your Legs Were on Your Head: https://youtu.be/jM5zlL17TSw

The Jelly Roll Jazz Band: http://www.thejellyrolljazzband.co.uk/

------------------------------------------

Green Room On Air Web Site: http://greenroomonair.com or http://raysgreenroom.com

Opening and Closing Music by Carly Ozard: http://carlyozard.com

March 14, 2020
Share | Download(Loading)

Interview - Sara Moore

Today's guest is Sara Moore

Sara Moore is an award-winning American clown.

Her new show is called "The Supers"

Moore has created, directed, and performed material for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Krofft Puppets, Royal Caribbean International, Tropicana Hotels and Resorts, The New Pickle Circus, Six Flags Show Productions, and Merv Griffin’s Resorts Casino and Hotels, among others. She also wrote, directed, and co-produced the independent feature film “Homo Heights” starring Quentin Crisp, which is widely considered a cult classic today. Her recent solo show, Show Ho, has earned critical and popular acclaim through several sold-out runs.

____

Tickets for "The Supers": http://www.zspace.org/supers

THE SUPERS - A Science-Fiction Magical Realism Human Cartoon Opera - written by & starring Sara Moore will be performed Feb. 19 - 29, 2020- Limited Engagement – 10 Performances Only!

_____

Music by Carly Ozard: carlyozard.com

Green Room on Air Web Site: raysgreenroom.com

Please take a little time and rate my podcast on Itunes - http://bit.ly/GreenRoomOnAir

February 18, 2020
Share | Download(Loading)

Ray’s Shorts - Circle Mirror Trransformation Final Thoughts

As we close the show Circle Mirror Transformation at Livermore Arts, I reflect on the play and my experiences with it with it.

Music by Carly Ozard: https://carlyozard.com

Green Room on Air Web Site: http://raysgreenroom.com

November 28, 2019
Share | Download(Loading)

Circle Mirror Transformation - Misty Megia and Emma Nelson

Circle Mirror Transformation
by Annie Baker

Directed by Misty Megia

Livermore Arts

Tickets: https://lvpac.org/

Synopsis:

When four lost New Englanders enroll in Marty’s six-week-long community center drama class and begin to experiment with harmless games, hearts are quietly torn apart and tiny wars of epic proportions are waged and won. Circle Mirror Transformation is a charming and beautifully-crafted diorama, a petri dish in which we see, with hilarious detail and clarity, the antic sadness of a motley quintet.

Taught by Marty, their free-spirited and supportive leader, the group — Schultz, a recently divorced, emotionally vulnerable carpenter, Teresa, an earnest and vibrant former actress, James, Marty’s quiet and genial husband, and Lauren, a reserved and self-conscious high schooler — move through a series of acting exercises, ranging from the heartbreaking to the ridiculous. Over the course of the seemingly trivial games, their emotional wounds are revealed, nursed, and healing slowly begins. Winner of the 2010 Obie Award for Best New American Play, Annie Baker’s quiet masterpiece explores the human condition and the subtle yet powerfully transforming effect we have on others through our words and indirect actions.

Directed by Misty Megia, Circle Mirror Transformation will run for eight performances at the Bothwell Arts Center from November 15-24, 2019. The East End of the Bothwell Arts Center provides the perfect setting for the play which is set in a similar community center in Vermont. Megia directed last year’s acclaimed production of RED by John Logan at the Bankhead Theater, the first play self-produced by Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center. Read an interview with Misty Megia here.

“Annie Baker’s play is an absolute feast… the kind of unheralded gem that sends people into the
streets babbling and bright-eyed with the desire to spread the word…”—New York Times

__________________

Green Room on Air Web Site

Carly Ozard provides the music for this episode

November 22, 2019
Share | Download(Loading)

Ray’s Shorts - An Actor on the Road - Nov 17, 2019

The Two Show Day.

CAST

Rebecca Davis (Theresa) recently appeared as Christine Daaé in the Ohlone College/Stage 1 Theatre production of “Phantom of the Opera.” Other favorite credits include Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady” at Contra Costa Civic Theatre, Laurey Williams in “Oklahoma!” at Altarena Playhouse, and Abigail Adams in “1776” for Tri-Valley Valley Theatre. Rebecca spends her free time hiking, playing video games, and eating all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue.

John Girot* (Shultz) make his debut with LVPAC in Circle Mirror Transformation. Recent credits include A Few Good Men (Hillbarn Theatre), Fifth of July (Aurora Theatre Company), Arcadia (Jewel Theatre Company). He has worked locally with Central Works, EXIT Theatre, Berkeley Theater Project, and PlayGround. John is a proud Bay Area native and member of Actors’ Equity Association. He lives in Oakland with his wife and two daughters.

Emma Nelson (Lauren) is so pumped to be part of the cast and crew of Circle Mirror Transformation. She loves to act, and has been doing it since she was about eight, thanks to her encouraging parents. So far, she has been in shows in and outside of Dublin High School, and one student film. She loves strawberries, rollerblading, and the color yellow. As a senior, she is remembering to take time for these little things in life while preparing for the next steps in pursuing a career in film.

Ray Renati* (James) has performed in major Bay Area and London theaters, as well as in several independent films and TV programs. Favorite stage roles include Henry Higgins in Pygmalion, Arthur in Superior Donuts and Neil in The Quality of Life, Burton in Burn This, Lee in True West, and Antonio in The Merchant of Venice. Ray studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London where he earned a certificate in Acting Shakespeare. Ray is a co-founder of the Pear Theatre in Mountain View and a proud member of Actors’ Equity. His theatre podcast is Green Room on Air (raysgreenroom.com).

Rhonda Taylor (Marty) recently appeared as Jacqueline in “Don’t Dress for Dinner” and Morticia in “The Addams Family Musical” both with Chanticleers Theater. Rhonda, a long time Pleasanton resident, has been active in community theater for over 20 years. Some of her favorite credits include Louise in “Always Patsy Cline,” Gloria in “Boeing, Boeing,” Evy in “The Gingerbread Lady.” Rhonda is a lead singer for The Pushbacks, a local classic-rock cover band and has her own jewelry design business called Under a Gypsy Moon.

November 17, 2019
Share | Download(Loading)

Ray’s Shorts - An Actor on the Road - Nov 16, 2019

Opening night of Circle Mirror Transformation at Livermore arts.

https://lvpac.org/event/circle-mirror-transformation/2019-11-15/

CAST

Rebecca Davis (Theresa) recently appeared as Christine Daaé in the Ohlone College/Stage 1 Theatre production of “Phantom of the Opera.” Other favorite credits include Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady” at Contra Costa Civic Theatre, Laurey Williams in “Oklahoma!” at Altarena Playhouse, and Abigail Adams in “1776” for Tri-Valley Valley Theatre. Rebecca spends her free time hiking, playing video games, and eating all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue.

John Girot* (Shultz) make his debut with LVPAC in Circle Mirror Transformation. Recent credits include A Few Good Men (Hillbarn Theatre), Fifth of July (Aurora Theatre Company), Arcadia (Jewel Theatre Company). He has worked locally with Central Works, EXIT Theatre, Berkeley Theater Project, and PlayGround. John is a proud Bay Area native and member of Actors’ Equity Association. He lives in Oakland with his wife and two daughters.

Emma Nelson (Lauren) is so pumped to be part of the cast and crew of Circle Mirror Transformation. She loves to act, and has been doing it since she was about eight, thanks to her encouraging parents. So far, she has been in shows in and outside of Dublin High School, and one student film. She loves strawberries, rollerblading, and the color yellow. As a senior, she is remembering to take time for these little things in life while preparing for the next steps in pursuing a career in film.

Ray Renati* (James) has performed in major Bay Area and London theaters, as well as in several independent films and TV programs. Favorite stage roles include Henry Higgins in Pygmalion, Arthur in Superior Donuts and Neil in The Quality of Life, Burton in Burn This, Lee in True West, and Antonio in The Merchant of Venice. Ray studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London where he earned a certificate in Acting Shakespeare. Ray is a co-founder of the Pear Theatre in Mountain View and a proud member of Actors’ Equity. His theatre podcast is Green Room on Air (raysgreenroom.com).

Rhonda Taylor (Marty) recently appeared as Jacqueline in “Don’t Dress for Dinner” and Morticia in “The Addams Family Musical” both with Chanticleers Theater. Rhonda, a long time Pleasanton resident, has been active in community theater for over 20 years. Some of her favorite credits include Louise in “Always Patsy Cline,” Gloria in “Boeing, Boeing,” Evy in “The Gingerbread Lady.” Rhonda is a lead singer for The Pushbacks, a local classic-rock cover band and has her own jewelry design business called Under a Gypsy Moon.