2008-2009:  Visions & Voices: 2008 New Play Reading Series  |  Dream of a Common Language  |  The Hermit Bird  

2007-2008:  Death of Ayn Rand / A Bed of My Own  |  Mankind’s Last Hope  |  Candide 

 2006-2007:  Love on the Edge: New Play Reading Series  |  Orphans 

 INAUGURAL SEASON:  Threepenny Opera 

 

     
 
 

 

 

 

 
 

Photos by David Hoekenga and Mike Thompson

Marketing Design by Edna Cabcabin Moran

 

THE DEATH OF AYN RAND

Ayn Rand struggles to write her final masterpiece, but is interrupted by a non-stop parade of high-spirited hallucinations. A quick-witted comedy from the author of “The Hermit Bird”.

 

A BED OF MY OWN

When Reager arrives for an intimate dinner with his ex-wife, Rosie, he is greeted by her new boyfriend Stan glaring at him from the bed and an ashtray full of cigarette butts on top of the mashed potatoes. What’s Rosie cooking up?  Emotional blackmail, sex, guilt, and secrets build to an unspeakable request in this explosive dark comedy by Bay Area playwright Robert Hamm.
   
 

Virago presents two world premieres:

A BED OF MY OWN and

THE DEATH OF AYN RAND

 

PRODUCTION DATES

June 5 - July 7, 2007

 

All performances at

RHYTHMIX CULTURAL WORKS

2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda

 

THE DEATH OF AYN RAND

Written by JOHN BYRD

Directed by ROBERT LUNDY-PAINE

 

CAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ayn Rand: SONDRA PUTNAM
Leonard Peikoff: STEPHEN PAWLEY*
Nurse: MICHAELA GREELEY
Creosote: ANGELA DANT

Pinchbug: JEREMY VIK

 

A BED OF MY OWN

Written by ROBERT HAMM

Directed by LAURA LUNDY-PAINE

 

CAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Stan: PAUL SANTIAGO*
Rosie: MICHAELA GREELEY

Reager: STEPHEN PAWLEY*

 

CREW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Producer: Angela Dant
Directors: Laura Lundy-Paine, Robert Lundy-Paine
Stage Manager: Hilma Kargoll
Assistant Stage Manager: Barbara Brodnitz
Set Design/Technical Director: Robert Lundy-Paine
Lighting Designer: Tom Earlywine
Lighting Assistant: Nik Robalino
Sound Board Operator: Natasha Chacon
Set Construction: Hilma Kargoll, Virago Founders
Costume Designer: Lorene Eggett
Make-Up: Sasha Roth
Choreographer: Lisa Bush-Finn
Fight Choreographer: Michael Storm

Prop Coordinators: Barbara Brodnitz, Angela Dant, Hilma Kargoll

 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Member, Actors' Equity*

 

     
 
 
 

Production photos by Tracey Rhys
Marketing image by Edna Cabcabin Moran

 

Theme composed and performed by Brent Jeffers

 

The year is 2055. Humanity has been conquered by “The Horde," a species of insectoid aliens. The result is Earth Industries, a planet-wide consortium dedicated to providing the galaxy with the three things earthlings do best: whittling; making stretchy things, and creating inspirational cards and posters.  Come follow the adventures of the enslaved humans working under the supervision of the evil Horde manager, Jiggy.  Every performance filmed before a live theatre audience.

 

EPISODE 1

Guess Who’s Being Eaten for Dinner?

The gang gets a surprise visitor.  Meanwhile, tensions flair as Wally makes his big move. 

 

EPISODE 2

Taste the Joy

Slave morale is in the dumps. Can Jiggy cheer the humans up before her annual review?

 

EPISODE 3
Party Time

The Horde’s latest experiment on Wally has everyone talking. Plus: Xanthor’s impending fete!
   
 

MANKIND'S LAST HOPE

Three episodes of an original situation comedy
by DAN BRODNITZ and JEFF GREEN

Directed by ROBERT LUNDY-PAINE

 

PRODUCTION DATES

October 26 – November 4, 2007

 

All performances at

RHYTHMIX CULTURAL WORKS

2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda

 

CAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wally: ALEX GOLDENBERG
Spencer: JAMES COLGAN
Hank: KENNETH SEARS
Burt: TONY JONICK
Tarlak: HANNAH GUSTAFFSON
Manpan: HANNAH KARGOLL
Alex: CHLOE BRONZAN
Thume: JEREMY VIK
Jiggy: ANGELA DANT
Bongar: LINDA-RUTH CARDOZO

Wortle: MOLLY M. HOLCOMB

 

CREW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Producer: Tracey Rhys
Director: Robert Lundy-Paine
Stage Manager: Hilma Kargoll   
Video Director: Amy Demmon
Set Design: Robert Lundy-Paine, Tony Jonick
Set Construction: Tony Jonick, Shannon O’Hare, John Warmerdam
Lighting Designer: John Bernard
Sound Designer & Operator: Ryan Lee Short
Costumes: Lorene Eggett, Alana Dill
Alien Make-Up Design: Lexie Lazar
Make-Up: Mandy Butler
Alien Head Design: Alana Dill, Lexie Lazar, Rena Morabe
Alien Head Construction: Alana Dill
Choreographer: Lisa Bush-Finn
Prop Coordinator: Hilma Kargoll
Composer: Brent Jeffers
Video Consultant: Phil Hudson
Videographers: Amy Demmon, Charles Dill
Youth Video Coordinator: Josiah Hooper
Camera Crew: Bill Cassel, Pierre Retrayt, Charles Dill, Alana Dill, Dylan Moore, Ben Jacobson
Brodnitz Wrangler: Bill Cassel
Publicity: Angela Dant
House Manager: Eileen Meredith

Virago Artistic Director: Laura Lundy-Paine

 

     
 
 
 

Production photos by Mike Thompson and Luis Solarzano
Marketing image by Edna Cabcabin Moran

 

COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

Voltaire/Pangloss: Dale Murphy

 

WESTPHALIA
Candide: John Brown
Cunegonde: Eileen Meredith
Maximilian: Ron Tanon
Paquette: Michelle Pava Mills
Baron: Abraham Aviles-Scott
Baroness: Sandra Rubay

 

BAVARIA
Corporal: Alec Mathieson
Captain: Anthony Abaté
Drill Sergeant: Alex Goldenberg
King of Bavaria: Sebastian J. Romeo

 

HOLLAND
The Minister: Elizabeth Finkler
The Minister’s Wife: Michelle Pava Mills
James, the Anabaptist: Lisa Pan
The Invalids: Anthony Abaté, Alec Mathieson, Sandra Rubay, Cassandra  Renee Williams

 

PARIS, VIENNA...
Bavarian Captain: Anthony Abaté
French Ambassador: Abraham Aviles-Scott
Viennese Ambassador: Alex Goldenberg
Courtesans: Michelle Pava Mills, Sandra Rubay, Cassandra Renee Williams

 

... AND PORTUGAL
Don Issacar: Ron Tanon
Grand Inquisitor: Sebastian J. Romeo
Sailor: Alec Mathieson
Inquisitors: Anthony Abaté, Abraham Aviles-Scott
Agent: Michelle Pava Mills
The Old Woman: Lisa Pan

 

SPAIN
Cacambo: Alex Goldenberg

  

MONTEVIDEO (URUGUAY)
The Governor: Abraham Aviles-Scott

 

PARAGUAY
Jesuit Soldier Priest: Sebastian J. Romeo
Native Slave Women: Elizabeth Finkler, Michelle Pava Mills, Cassandra Renee Williams
Young Monk: Alec Mathieson

 

ELDORADO
King of Eldorado: Abraham Aviles-Scott
Queen of Eldorado: Elizabeth Finkler
Citizens: Anthony Abaté, Kristen Jones, Ron Tanon, Sandra Rubay, Cassandra Renee Williams
Red Sheep: -Susannah Brodnitz, Jessica Lundy-Paine, Alec Mathieson

 

SURINAM
Slave: Sandra Rubay
Vanderdendur: Sebastian J. Romeo
Cronies: Elizabeth Finkler, Cassandra Renee Williams, Abraham Aviles-Scott, Alec Mathieson, Ron Tanon, Sandra Rubay, Kristen Jones
Candidates for Most Miserable: Cassandra Renee Williams, Lisa Pan, Michelle Pava Mills
Martin: Anthony Abaté

 

AT SEA
Captain: Abraham Aviles-Scott

 

VENICE
Women of Venice: Elizabeth Finkler, Sandra Rubay, Cassandra Renee Williams, Kristen Jones
Charles Edward Stewart: Sebastian J. Romeo
Theodore of Corsica: Elizabeth Finkler

Hermann Augustus: Abraham Aviles-Scott

 
   
 

Virago Theatre Company presents

The Royal National Theatre version of

 

CANDIDE

 

Music by LEONARD BERNSTEIN

Book adapted from Voltaire by HUGH WHEELER

in a new version by JOHN CAIRD

with lyrics by RICHARD WILBUR

Additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John LaTouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker, and Leonard Bernstein

Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI)

 

Directed by LAURA LUNDY-PAINE

 

PRODUCTION DATES

February 22 - March 9, 2008

 

All performances at

RHYTHMIX CULTURAL WORKS

2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda

 

Candide is a simple youth with very little to his name except the love of a beautiful young woman. Kicked out of his adopted home for expressing this love, he embarks on a series of exotic and often horrific adventures, struggling against obstacles around the world with only true optimism to keep him alive. At turns bizarre, funny, and relentless, John Caird’s script reaches a new level of satire and insight. One of the most spectacular musical scores ever composed, Candide is considered by many to be Bernstein's greatest work.

 

CREW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Director:  Laura Lundy-Paine
Music Director:  David Manley
Choreographer:  Lisa Bush-Finn
Stage Manager:  Hilma Kargoll
Costume Design:  Lorene Eggett
Costume Consultant:  Angela Dant
Costume Assistants:  Rose Powell, Eric Stallman
Fabric Rental and Consultation:  Alexandra Childs, ARTSS
Lighting Designer:  Alecks Rundell
Set Design & Construction:  Ian Kargoll, Hilma Kargoll
Props:  Hilma Kargoll
Fight Choreography:  Athony Abate
Dance Captain:  Cassandra Renee Williams
Keyboard:  David Manley
Percussion:  David Scharff
Violin:  Brynn Monteith
Trombone:  Johannes Mager
Flute:  Liz Brott
Bass:  Seth Honig
Videography:  Amy Demmon
Box Office Manager:  Angela Dant
Production Consultant:  Robert Lundy-Paine

Virago Board President:  Tracey Rhys