Tag Archives: Dream Catcher

Fountain Theatre earns 7 Stage Raw Theatre Award nominations

Posted on April 4, 2017 | Leave a comment

Lawrence Stallings, Pablo Castelblanco, Richard Azurdia, Peter Pasco

It was announced today that the Fountain Theatre has been nominated for seven Stage Raw Theatre Awards for two productions in the 2016 season. Our Los Angeles premiere of My Manana Comes by Elizabeth Irwin and the world premiere of Stephen Sachs’ Dream Catcher were acknowledged with the following nominations:

Leading Male Performance – Lawrence Stallings, MY MAÑANA COMES
Supporting Male Performance – Peter Pasco, MY MAÑANA COMES
Playwriting – Elizabeth Irwin, MY MANANA COMES
Two Person Performance – Elizabeth Frances & Brian Tichnell, DREAM CATCHER
Lighting Design – Jennifer Edwards, MY MAÑANA COMES
Set Design – Michael Navarro, MY MAÑANA COMES
Production Design – Dillon Nelson, MY MAÑANA COMES

Full list of nominees.

Elizabeth Frances and Brian Tichnell in Dream Catcher.

The Third Annual Stage Raw Theater Awards are May 15 at Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring Street, Downtown. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: General Admission $25, VIP reception (post-show) $100. VIP Includes: Hosted bar, passed food, trial membership to Stage Raw “Insiders Club” More Info

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Posted in actors, Arts, arts organizations, Drama, Fountain Theatre, Native American, new plays, non-profit organization, performing arts, plays, playwright, Theater, theatre

Tagged actors, Brian Tichnell, Dillon Nelson, Dream Catcher, Elizabeth Frances, Elizabeth Irwin, Fountain Theatre, Jennifer Edwards, Lawrence Stallings, Los Angeles, Michael Navarro, My Manana Comes, Peter Pasco, playwright, set design, Stage Raw, Stage Raw Los Angeles Theater Awards, Stephen Sachs

Our home is your home. We are in this together.

Posted on December 30, 2016 | Leave a comment

It’s been a challenging year, hasn’t it? A year of change, division and loss And a year of hope, unity and bright accomplishments.

The Fountain Theatre ends 2016 soaring on the wind of uplifting achievements. Our world premiere stage adaptation of Citizen: An American Lyric has been chosen to be highlighted in CTG’s Block Party at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in April. Our premieres of Dream Catcher, My Mañana Comes and Baby Doll earned rave reviews and extended runs. Forever Flamenco sizzled this summer at the outdoor Ford Theatre. Bakersfield Mist returned to delight audiences through the holidays and is still running through January. We continued serving communities year round through our educational outreach programs. We broadened our long-term stability by partnering with new foundations and supporters.

For 26 years, The Fountain Theatre has provided a public space where a wide variety of citizens gather together to experience stories that illuminate what it means to be a human being.

The public discourse across our nation and on our stage in 2016 revealed many things. One being: words matter. What we say to each other, and how we say it, matters. As in the finest plays, language has power. Has impact. In soliloquy and in dialogue. On our intimate stage, and far beyond Fountain Avenue, our dialogue — our conversation — with YOU, our Fountain Family, matters.

Which words would you use to describe the Fountain Theatre? Which words express who we are, what we do? Co-Founding Artistic Directors Deborah Lawlor and Stephen Sachs share with you some words they’d choose. Take a look!

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Posted in Arts, arts organizations, Drama, Fountain Theatre, Los Angeles, new plays, non-profit organization, Outreach Program, performing arts, plays, Theater, theatre

Tagged 2016, baby doll, Bakersfield Mist, Block Party, Citizen: An American Lyric, CTG, Deborah Lawlor, Dream Catcher, educational outreach, Forever Flamenco, Forever Flamenco at the Ford, Fountain Theatre, Kirk Douglas Theatre, Los Angeles, My Manana Comes, Stephen Sachs

Fountain Theatre honored with 21 StageSceneLA Awards

Posted on September 20, 2016 | Leave a comment

Philip Solomon, Thomas Silcott “The Painted Rocks at revolver Creek”

The Fountain Theatre has been honored with 23 awards of excellence from StageSceneLA for productions in its 2015-16 season. Fountain productions awarded were the west coast premiere of Athol Fugard’s The Painted Rocks at Revolver Creek, the world premiere of Dream Catcher by Stephen Sachs, the Los Angeles premiere of My Mañana Comes by Elizabeth Irwin, and the west coast premiere of Tennessee Williams’ Baby Doll.

Since 2007, Steven Stanley’s StageSceneLA.com has spotlighted the best in Southern California theater via reviews, interviews, and its annual StageSceneLA Awards.

The Fountain has been honored with the following awards this 2015-16 season:

YEAR’S BEST INTIMATE THEATERS
The Fountain Theatre

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION, DRAMA (INTIMATE THEATER)
The Painted Rocks At Revolver Creek

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION, COMEDY-DRAMA (INTIMATE THEATER)
My Mañana Comes

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION, COMEDY (INTIMATE THEATER)
Baby Doll

Daniel Bess, Lindsay LaVanchy, John Prosky in “Baby Doll”

STAR-MAKING PERFORMANCE (Play)
Lindsay LaVanchy in Baby Doll

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE—DRAMA (INTIMATE THEATER)
Gilbert Glenn Brown, The Painted Rocks At Revolver Creek
Thomas Silcott, The Painted Rocks At Revolver Creek

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE—DRAMA (INTIMATE THEATER)
Suanne Spoke, The Painted Rocks At Revolver Creek

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE—COMEDY (INTIMATE THEATER)
John Prosky, Baby Doll

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A TWO-HANDER (INTIMATE THEATER)
Elizabeth Frances and Brian Tichnell, Dream Catcher

Elizabeth Frances and Brian Tichnell in “Dream Catcher”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CHILD ACTOR
Philip Solomon, The Painted Rocks At Revolver Creek

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE—COMEDY (INTIMATE THEATER)
Daniel Bess, Baby Doll

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE—COMEDY (INTIMATE THEATER)
Karen Kondazian, Baby Doll

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE CAST PERFORMANCE—COMEDY-DRAMA (INTIMATE THEATER)
Richard Azurdia, Pablo Castelblanco, Peter Pasco, and Lawrence Stallings, My Mañana Comes

Lawrence Stallings, Pablo Castelblanco, Richard Azurdia, Peter Pasco, “My Manana Comes”

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION (MULTIPLE PRODUCTIONS)
Simon Levy—Baby Doll, The Painted Rocks At Revolver Creek

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION, COMEDY-DRAMA (INTIMATE THEATER)
Armando Molina—My Mañana Comes

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION DESIGN (INTIMATE THEATER)
Baby Doll , My Mañana Comes, The Painted Rocks At Revolver Creek

OUTSTANDING FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY
Mike Mahaffey, Baby Doll

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGNER
Luke Moyer

COMPOSER OF THE YEAR Peter Bayne, Dream Catcher

SCENIC DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Jeff McLaughlin

SOUND DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Peter Bayne

Congratulations to all the winners. Full list here.

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Posted in Acting, actors, Athol Fugard, designers, director, Drama, Fountain Theatre, Los Angeles, non-profit organization, performing arts, plays, stage, Theater, theatre

Tagged actor, arts organizations, Athol Fugard, award, baby doll, Best Production, Brian Tichnell, Daniel Bess, design, director, Dream Catcher, Elizabeth Frances, Elizabeth Irwin, Fountain Theatre, John Prosky, Lawrence Stallings, Lindsay LaVanchy, Los Angeles, My Manana Comes, new plays, Pablo Castelblanco, performing arts, Peter Pasco, Philip Solomon, plays, Richard Azurdia, Simon Levy, StageSceneLA, Stephen Sachs, Steven Stanley, Tennessee Williams, The Painted Rocks at Revolver Creek, theater, theatre, Thomas Silcott

PHOTO SLIDESHOW: Fountain Family and friends enjoy closing party of ‘Dream Catcher’

Posted on March 30, 2016 | Leave a comment

cafe group

Fun time in our upstairs cafe.

Even the most vivid dreams come to an end. The Dream Catcher company awoke Monday night from their 2-month reverie and enjoyed their final performance followed by a lively reception in our upstairs cafe. Another magical evening at the Fountain.

Dream Catcher enjoyed an extended two-month run that earned rave reviews. Actors Elizabeth Frances and Brian Tichnell gave a thrilling performance Monday night. They were joined at a fabulous party in our upstairs cafe by director Cameron Watson, playwright Stephen Sachs, stage manager Emily Lehrer, Co-Artistic Director Deborah Lawlor and producer Simon Levy, associate producer James Bennett and props designer Terri Roberts. Others attending were Jennifer Finch (“I and You”), Sabina Zuniga Varela (“El Nogalar”), Barbara Beckley (Colony Theatre), Michael Seel (Theatre@Boston Court), Dany Margolies, Sandy Baldonado, Kevork & Cecile Keshishian, and videographer Paolo Durazzo.

This dream now ends. Another dream begins.

Enjoy these photos!

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Posted in actors, Arts, arts organizations, designers, director, Drama, Fountain Theatre, Los Angeles, new plays, non-profit organization, performing arts, Theater, theatre

Tagged arts organizations, Barbara Beckley, Brian Tichnell, Cameron Watson, Cecile Keshishian, Colony Theatre, Dany Margolies, Deborah Lawlor, Dream Catcher, Elizabeth Frances, Emily Lehrer, Fountain Theatre, James Bennett, Jennifer Finch, Kevork Keshishian, Los Angeles, Michael Seel, new play, Paolo Durazzo, performing arts, plays, playwriting, Sandy Baldonado, Simon Levy, Stephen Sachs, Terri Roberts, theater, theatre, Theatre@Boston Court, world premiere

VIDEO: 3rd graders enjoy morning mask making at Fountain Theatre

Posted on March 14, 2016 | Leave a comment

table 1 cropped Another unforgettable afternoon at the Fountain Theatre. Thirty students from Ramona Elementary School around the corner on Mariposa Street walked over to the Fountain Theatre Friday morning for a special visit that included a lesson on Native American storytelling and the making their own colorful animal masks.

Teacher Eric Arboleda’s 3rd grade class have been studying Native American culture prior to their visit. The Fountain’s current hit production of Dream Catcher offered the perfect invitation for the theatre and Ramona School to partner for the benefit of the young students. The project is made possible through Theatre as a Learning Tool, the Fountain’s educational outreach program that makes art accessible to young people.

The same class from Ramona Elementary School visited the Fountain in November during the run of The Painted Rocks at Revolver Creek. For that production, the students painted their own stones in bright colors and patterns.

Sarah Boulton guides the class on Native American creation stories.

Friday morning’s visit began with the students gathering in the theatre to see Dream Catcher’s in-the-round dirt setting. Fountain colleague Sarah Boulton guided the students through a lively lesson plan exploring the creation stories from a variety of Native American tribes.

Eric Arboleda and Stephen Sachs

The students were then ushered outside where a long table covered with art supplies waited for them in the parking lot. There they enjoyed an exuberant get-together of mask making, grabbing paper and colored markers and scissors and bright vibrant feathers. It was a joy to watch the kids create their animal masks with such laughter and festive chatter, sharing in this art adventure they would not otherwise experience.

“Reaching out to young people is an important commitment for us. It’s what we do and who we are,” explains Fountain Co-Artistic Director Stephen Sachs. “Offering art and creative expression to students who may otherwise have no access to it. For us, there is no higher calling. Plus the pure fun and joy of it is rejuvenating for all of us.”

The Fountain will expand and enlarge its ongoing partnership with Ramona Elementary School. And, through Theatre as a Learning Tool, will continue to broaden its reach to serve young students throughout Southern California.

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Posted in Art, Arts, Arts education, arts organizations, creativity, Education, Fountain Theatre, Los Angeles, Native American, Outreach Program, performing arts, plays

Tagged arts, Arts education, arts organizations, Dream Catcher, educational outreach, Eric Arboleda, Fountain Theatre, Los Angeles, masks, Native American, Ramona Elementary School, Sarah Boulton, Stephen Sachs, students, The Painted Rocks at Revolver Creek, theater, theatre, Theatre as a Learning Tool

‘Dream Catcher’ to host Climate Change Q&A Discussion this Saturday March 5th

Posted on March 2, 2016 | Leave a comment

DC_A0134 (2)

The important issues of climate change and global warming dramatized in our hit new play Dream Catcher will be igniting a fascinating Q&A Discussion immediately following the performance this Saturday night, March 5th, at 8pm. Special guest panelists are Sabina Virgo from 350.0rg, Mark Morris from Save Porter Ranch, and Ross Berman of Solar City.

In the critically acclaimed new drama, Roy is an engineer on a billion-dollar solar energy plant being built in the Mojave Desert. Construction is threatened to come to a halt when Roy is confronted by Opal, his Mojave Indian lover, who claims the plant is being built on the site of ancient tribal burial grounds. Solar power confronts spirit power as the two issues of climate change versus cultural preservation collide.

Sabina Virgo

Sabina Virgo is an acclaimed speaker, writer and political analyst. Her presentations are dynamic, creative and thought provoking. Along with her facilitation and mediation skills, Sabina’s written work has been published in the The Nation, The Guardian, Crossroads, and Peaceworks. Her essays have been published by South End press under the title of Criminal Injustice.

Ms Virgo holds a degree from UCLA, and has a long history of work in the field of human rights, disability rights and diversity training.

For the last twenty years, Sabina has been a community activist and leader in the labor movement. While employed as a Rehabilitation Counselor for the State of California, Ms. Virgo organized the first union of state social service professionals – and became the founding president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Local 2620, which now represents over 5,000 state employees.

For the last several years, Sabina has focused her work on climate change and environmental justice. Understanding the critical and immediate threat of climate disruption, Sabina is a member of the steering committee of SoCal 350 Climate Action, and is a facilitator of their Labor Outreach group.

Mark Morris

Mark Morris is from Porter Ranch and a native Los Angelino. Along with being an active union member he also sits on the board of the Valley Interfaith Council and serves as co chair of their social justice committee. About one year ago he became vice president of the non profit Save Porter Ranch, a community organization addressing fracking in the hills of North San Fernando Valley.

He currently is working on making others aware of the dark history of man made environmental disasters that have plagued the San Fernando Valley from the Saint Francis Dam disaster of 1928 to the most recent disaster in Aliso Canyon releasing tons of methane gas into the atmosphere for almost four months.

Ross Berman is an engineer from Solar City, America’s largest solar power provider. Solar City makes clean energy available to homeowners, businesses, schools, non-profits and government organizations at a lower cost than they pay for energy generated by burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas.

The panelists will be joined by Dream Catcher actors Elizabeth Frances and Brian Tichnell and playwright Stephen Sachs immediately after the performance this Saturday, March 5th.

Join us this Saturday night for a powerful new play and thought-provoking discussion. More Info/Get Tickets

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Posted in actors, arts organizations, Climate Change, Fountain Theatre, Global warming, performing arts, plays, Theater, theatre

Tagged 350.org, Brian Tichnell, climate change, Dream Catcher, Elizabeth Frances, Fountain Theatre, global warming, Los Angeles, Mark Morris, Mojave desert, Mojave Indian, new plays, performing arts, plays, Ross Berman, Sabina Virgo, Save Porter Ranch, Solar City, solar energy, solar power, Stephen Sachs, theatre

PHOTO SLIDESHOW: ‘Dream Catcher’ enjoys “a great night” with Native Voices at the Fountain

Posted on February 24, 2016 | Leave a comment

The Fountain Theatre continued its association with Native Voices at the Autry by hosting a post-show discussion Monday night following the performance of our acclaimed new play Dream Catcher by Stephen Sachs, directed by Cameron Watson.

Inspired by a true story, the powerful and thought-provoking new play dramatizes the passionate confrontation between Roy, a young engineer, and his fiery Mojave Indian lover Opal who claims the billion dollar solar energy plant Roy is helping to design is actually being built on the site of ancient tribal burial grounds.

Native Voices at the Autry is the only Equity theatre company devoted exclusively to developing and producing new works for the stage by Native American, Alaska Native, and First Nations playwrights. Founded in 1994 by Producing Artistic Director Randy Reinholz (Choctaw) and Producing Executive Director Jean Bruce Scott, Native Voices became the resident theatre company at the Autry Museum of the American West in 1999.

After the performance of Dream Catcher Monday night, actors Elizabeth Frances and Brian Tichnell and playwright Sachs joined Reinholz and Scott for a Q&A discussion with the audience. Patrons shared their reactions to the play and examined such issues as cultural diversity, the peril of global warming, and the intersection of science and spirit.

“We had a great night,” exclaims Randy Reinholz, Producing Artistic Director of Native Voices. He hailed Dream Catcher as “Theatre about the important issues of our time.”

“Randy and I both love Fountain Theatre’s commitment to tackling difficult issues,” says Jean Bruce Scott, Producing Executive Director of Native Voices. “The production is wonderful and the cast fantastic. Superb script, acting, direction. Thank you so much for a wonderful night in the theater and for the lively and friendly talkback afterward.”

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Dream Catcher runs to March 21st. More Info/Get Tickets

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Posted in actors, Arts, arts organizations, Climate Change, Fountain Theatre, Global warming, Native American, new plays, non-profit organization, performing arts, plays, playwright, Theater, theatre

Tagged actors, Brian Tichnell, Dream Catcher, Elizabeth Frances, Fountain Theatre, Jean Bruce Scott, Los Angeles, Mojave Indian, Native American, Native Voices, new plays, performing arts, plays, Randy Reinholz, Stephen Sachs, theater, theatre, world premiere

Post-Show Q&A discussion with Native Voices leaders at ‘Dream Catcher’ Mon Feb 22

Posted on February 17, 2016 | Leave a comment

Randy Reinholz and Jean Bruce Scott of Native Voices

Join the cast and creative team of Dream Catcher and Native Voices Producing Artistic Director Randy Reinholz, Producing Executive Director Jean Bruce Scott, and Ensemble Leader Jennifer Bobiwash in a post-show Q&A discussion with the audience after the performance this Monday night, February 22 at 8pm.

Elizabeth Frances

The panel will include Dream Catcher actors Elizabeth Frances, Brian Tichnell, director Cameron Watson and playwright Stephen Sachs. The discussion will focus on the tribal issues raised in the play, the challenges faced by Native actors in this era of diversity casting, and an assessment of how Native people are dramatized in theatre, film and television.

Dream Catcher actress Elizabeth Frances is a member of Native Voices.

Native Voices at the Autry is the only Equity theatre company devoted exclusively to developing and producing new works for the stage by Native American, Alaska Native, and First Nations playwrights.

In Dream Catcher, construction of a billion dollar solar energy plant in the Mojave Desert is threatened to be brought to a halt when it is discovered that the plant may be sitting on a Mojave Indian burial site. Inspired by a true event, the world premiere production has earned rave reviews and runs to March 21.

More Info/Get Tickets

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Posted in Acting, actors, arts organizations, Drama, Fountain Theatre, Native American, new plays, non-profit organization, performing arts, plays, playwright, playwriting, stage, Theater, theatre

Tagged arts organizations, Brian Tichnell, Cameron Watson, diversity, Dream Catcher, Elizabeth Frances, Fountain Theatre, Jean Bruce Scott, Jennifer Bobiwash, Los Angeles, Mojave Indian, Native Voices, new plays, performing arts, plays, Randy Reinholz, solar energy, solar power, Stephen Sachs, theater, theatre, world premiere

PHOTOS: Parties and standing ovations for ‘Dream Catcher’ opening weekend

Posted on February 1, 2016 | Leave a comment

Packed house in the round for Opening Night of ‘Dream Catcher’

Our world premiere production of Dream Catcher by Stephen Sachs opened this weekend to a flurry of parties, standing ovations and enthusiastic response. A packed sold-out audience on Saturday night was thrilled with director Cameron Watson’s in-the-round staging and riveted by the kinetic performances of Elizabeth Frances and Brian Tichnell. Dream Catcher runs to March 21.

A select group of Fountain donors and board members enjoyed an early look at Dream Catcher Friday night at the final Donor Preview. They included actor Alan Mandell, Lois Fishman, Ejike and Victoria Ndefo, Nick Ullett, Ruth Tavlin, Patty Paul, Bill Butler, Susan Stockel, Dick Motika and Jerrie Whitfield, and Oscar and Nyla Arslanian. They were joined by Director of Development Barbara Goodhill, Co-Artistic Director Deborah Lawlor, producing Director Simon Levy, and members of the Fountain team. After the performance, all celebrated upstairs in the cafe for a catered party with the actors and company.

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After seeing Dream Catcher, actor Alan Mandell beamed, “A terrific performance. Very intense. Exciting theater directed by that master director Cameron Watson. A wonderful script from Stephen Sachs. Don’t miss it.”

A packed sold-out audience filled the theatre on Saturday’s Opening Night. The provocative in-the-round setting — dubbed “Fountain 360” — created heightened excitement and electricity. At the post-show reception, playwright Stephen Sachs was surprised by a special guest in attendance: Louis Sahagun, the LA Times reporter who wrote the original article in 2012 that inspired Sachs to write the play.

LA Times writer Louis Sahagun congratulates Sachs (right) on Opening Night.

Early reviews for Dream Catcher are starting to come in. The Examiner hails it as “Extraordinary! A must see!” LA Splash raves the “Stunning performances.”

Feel it. Full circle. In the round. Experience Fountain 360 for yourself.

More Info/Get Tickets