As summer reaches its peak, Redwood Curtain welcomes the art of Libby Yee to the theatre’s lobby gallery. Yee’s paintings are florals painted in the Chinese brush painting style. Yee paints in what is known as the Southern School style of a very old tradition that uses Chinese watercolor chips and ground ink applied with animal hair brushes to Xuan (mulberry) paper. “I’m drawn to the spontaneous Southern School style of brush painting,” Yee explains. “It gives me the opportunity to study the life of a flower, with the intention of capturing the spirit of its beauty, not necessarily create an exact representation.”
Yee hails from Hawaii where she was born and raised, and still has family ties. But she has called Humboldt County home since the 70s when she came to go to school. Before retiring, Yee taught freshman English at College of the Redwoods. She has painted for more than 25 years, and says “the painting process is like writing; I often create multiple drafts of the same painting, sometimes studying just a particular stem, blossom or brush stroke.” Unlike western style watercolor paintings that feature layers of color applied in multiple painting sessions, Chinese brush paintings are typically completed in one session without layering any color. “I discover more about my subject as I work through the drafts,” Yee continues, “but the final piece is completed in one session.”
The show at Redwood Curtain theatre includes pieces that Yee has painted recently, including at least one that exhibits a more abstract approach that she is exploring. Redwood Curtain invites the public to the opening night reception for Libby Yee on August 1, 2015, and occurring in conjunction with Eureka’s August Arts Alive! festivities.
The Redwood Curtain theatre and gallery are located at 220 1st Street, Eureka. Yee’s work will be on display in the gallery through the upcoming theatrical production of Last Gas, which runs August 27-September 19. For additional information about Arts Alive! at Redwood Curtain Theatre, Libby Yee’s art show or the upcoming theatre production visit www.yd8013.com, www.libbyyee.com or call the theatre at 707-443-7688.
On Saturday, July 25, the Redwood Curtain board of directors–Jeff Adams, Jim Buschmann, Dana Deason, Cassandra Hesseltine, Peggy Metzger, Laura Montagna, Clint Rebik, Justin Takata, Kathy Thornhill and JM Wilkerson, along with founding member and box office manager Christina Jioras, got together to begin mapping out the future of the theatre.
No meeting’s complete without a group selfie! From left to right: Jeff Adams, Jim Buschmann, JM Wilerson, Clint Rebik, Kathy Thornhill, Peggy Metzger, Christina Jioras, Dana Deason, Cassandra Hesseltine, Justin Takata and Laura Montagna.
“With the theater’s twentieth anniversary coming up in 2018, we wanted to start the process of laying out the theatre’s future,” said board president Jeff Adams after the four hour session. “Beyond ensuring that we continue to present the best plays to our audience, we’re interested in expanding our programming. improving our infrastructure, and working to keep talented actors, artists and technicians in Humboldt County. All of our discussions were geared towards ensuring Redwood Curtain is growing and sustainable into our twentieth year and beyond.”
Look for many more details in the coming months as Redwood Curtain formalizes its plans.
Welcome to the fifth, and final,?installment of our Q&A featuring the cast and crew of Redwood Curtain’s production of One Man, Two Guvnors, written by Richard Bean?and directed by Rae Robison. This week we feature Christopher Moreno & John-Michael Wilkerson.
One Man, Two Guvnors by Richard Bean
July 2 to 25
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8pm. Sunday matinee on July 19?at 2pm.
Brighton, England. 1963. Fired from a skiffle band, Francis Henshall finds himself employed by small-time gangster Roscoe Crabbe, in town to collect a fee from his fiancee’s gangster father. But Roscoe is really Rachel, posing as her own dead brother, herself in love with Stanley Stubbers (her brother’s killer) who, in turn, becomes our hero’s other ‘guvnor’. Fighting a mounting sense of confusion and his own mammoth appetite, Francis goes out of his way to serve both bosses. This hilarious comedy received 5-star reviews from every London newspaper and was the hit of the 2012 Broadway season.
“If you’re not having a good time at this show, you may be on the wrong medication.” –?Hollywood Reporter.
Buy?One Man, Two Guvnors Tickets Tickets?Now!
Christopher Moreno & John-Michael Wilkerson
When were you last on the RCT stage, or is this your first time?
Christopher:?This is my first appearance at RCT. I was previously at FRT as Gomez in The Addams Family?musical. Most recently in NCRT’s production of Spring Awakening as Moritz Steifel. Currently an accounting student at HSU, and soon to star in Kiss Me Kate at HSU in the Fall.
John-Michael:?Pitman Painters
What character do you play? Tell us something about them.
Christopher:?Alan “Orlando” Dangle also known as Silvino in Comedia Dell Arte. I’m an aspiring actor about to be wed. With an unexpected turn of events and a near death experience. He finds he’s thrown into a Hamlet rampage of revenge and love.
John-Michael:?Charlie Clench. He is a criminal.
What attracted you do doing his show?
Christopher:?I was asked by the director, Rae Robison
John-Michael:?My wife made me do it.
What do you hope audiences come away with as the leave the theatre?
Christopher:?I hope they enjoy the music and the comedy. I hope they leave entertained, happy and with a smile.
John-Michael:?Tears…of laughter.
Welcome to the fourth?installment of our Q&A featuring the cast and crew of Redwood Curtain’s production of One Man, Two Guvnors, written by Richard Bean?and directed by Rae Robison. This week we feature go behind the scenes to talk with properties designer Sydnee Stanton.
One Man, Two Guvnors by Richard Bean
July 2 to 25 (Gala opening will be Friday, July 3. No performance Saturday, July 4)
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8pm. Sunday matinee on July 19?at 2pm.
Brighton, England. 1963. Fired from a skiffle band, Francis Henshall finds himself employed by small-time gangster Roscoe Crabbe, in town to collect a fee from his fiancee’s gangster father. But Roscoe is really Rachel, posing as her own dead brother, herself in love with Stanley Stubbers (her brother’s killer) who, in turn, becomes our hero’s other ‘guvnor’. Fighting a mounting sense of confusion and his own mammoth appetite, Francis goes out of his way to serve both bosses. This hilarious comedy received 5-star reviews from every London newspaper and was the hit of the 2012 Broadway season.
“If you’re not having a good time at this show, you may be on the wrong medication.” –?Hollywood Reporter.
Buy?One Man, Two Guvnors Tickets Tickets?Now!
When were did last work on an RCT show, or is this your first time?
I’ve never worked with RCT before. I have been on stage at HSU and Plays in the Park. I have also done properties design at HSU as well as been an assistant scenic designer and assistant technical director.
Tell us about your role in the production.
I am the properties designer. You really don’t notice how isolated we are in this area until you are trying to find soup tureens and a cricket bat, but it was challenge I enjoyed.
What attracted you do doing his show?
I have worked with a good deal of the cast and crew before, and this show is just so all over the place and crazy that it was hard not to fall in love with it from the moment I started researching it.
What do you hope audiences come away with as the leave the theatre?
I really hope the audience will come away with a smile and laughs. I hope they enjoy the quick hop across the pond to Brighton, England and fall in love with the show like I did.
Welcome to the third?installment of our Q&A featuring the cast and crew of Redwood Curtain’s production of One Man, Two Guvnors, written by Richard Bean?and directed by Rae Robison. This week we feature Cody Miranda & Makenna Baker.
One Man, Two Guvnors by Richard Bean
July 2 to 25 (Gala opening will be Friday, July 3. No performance Saturday, July 4)
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8pm. Sunday matinee on July 19?at 2pm.
Brighton, England. 1963. Fired from a skiffle band, Francis Henshall finds himself employed by small-time gangster Roscoe Crabbe, in town to collect a fee from his fiancee’s gangster father. But Roscoe is really Rachel, posing as her own dead brother, herself in love with Stanley Stubbers (her brother’s killer) who, in turn, becomes our hero’s other ‘guvnor’. Fighting a mounting sense of confusion and his own mammoth appetite, Francis goes out of his way to serve both bosses. This hilarious comedy received 5-star reviews from every London newspaper and was the hit of the 2012 Broadway season.
“If you’re not having a good time at this show, you may be on the wrong medication.” –?Hollywood Reporter.
Buy?One Man, Two Guvnors Tickets Tickets?Now!
Cody Miranda & Makenna Baker
When were you last on the RCT stage, or is this your first time?
Cody:?I played Jim, Kenneth and Tom in RCT’s Clybourne Park.
Makenna:?This is my debut on the Redwood Curtain stage. I have performed in various theatres, but the only local one is at Humboldt State University.
What character do you play? Tell us something about them.
Cody:?I play Stanley Stubbers, he is boarding school student on the run.
Makenna:?My character is Pauline. She is a classical airhead, but she has some of the most sincere moments in the script. Though she may not be bright, she is very sympathetic and is not afraid to voice what she wants.
What attracted you do doing his show?
Cody:?I’ve never worked on a farce before and I wanted to try something new.
Makenna:?I first watched a preview of the Broadway version on YouTube. The show gave off a fun, easy-flowing show that seeks to comically please its audience.
What do you hope audiences come away with as the leave the theatre?
Cody:?I hope they have a good time.
Makenna:?I hope the audience can escape from any problems in life and enjoy a night of comedy and audience participation!
