7-12 May 2004
Glory of Living at Les Voutes in Paris

The Bilingual Acting Workshop production stars Sophie Rooney, Gerard James Smurthwaite, Lawrence MacGowan, Josephine Mackaras, Gerry Howell, Steven Tobin, Anna Verbouk, Michael Stromme and Juliana Lima.

Directed by Amy Werba and co-directed by Sei Shiomi, this was the first time Gilman's work had been shown in Paris.

Sophie Rooney and Gerard James Smurthwaite

Set in the Deep South, Gilman introduces us to 15-year-old Lisa, the daughter of a prostitute, and Clint, an ex-car thief she runs away with, and later marries, in hopes of escaping the miserable life she shares with her mother. A tale of abuse, the play follows this impoverished couple as they kidnap and murder countless run-away girls -- all throw-away children like Lisa. Yet no one ever seems to notice they have disappeared.

Rebecca Gilman, a 2002 and 2004 Pulitzer Prize Nominee, is one of the most exciting playwrights being produced in the States and Europe. She is the recipient of The Joseph Jefferson Citation for "Best Play in Chicago" and the American Theatre Critics Association's Osborn Award for the "Best New American Play." Additionally, Gilman is the winner of an After Dark Award, the George Devine Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Scott McPherson Award, an Illinois Arts Council playwriting fellowship - and is the first American to win the Evening Standard Award for "Most promising playwright." Time Magazine also named her "Best Playwright of the Year," for her work, Boy Gets Girl..

The performance space at Les Voutes

Sponsored in part by:

19-21 May and 26-28 May 2006 (BAW Performance Lab)
At Théatre de l'Epouvantail in Paris

The Bilingual Acting Workshop Cast Anneliese Anzer, Chloe Dunn, Ynda Rouya, Frederic Guyard, Clarence Tokley, Matthew Carlson, Casey Wade Ingle, Avery Ringle, Amber Maloney, Derek Raskin, Brian Higgins.

Directed by Sei Shiomi

17-18 June 2006 (BAW Masterclass)
Au Salon des Arts in Paris

The Bilingual Acting Workshop Cast Anneliese Anzer, Christine Beauvallet, Chantal Marti, Derek Raskin, Dolly West, Gina Abatemarco, J.D. Ostrow, Katharine Price, Luke Thompson, Maiken Lorentz, Ray Schaub, and Ynda Rouya.

Directed by Christopher Mack, ably assisted by Sei Shiomi & Sanja Jankovic

The Johnstown Flood - An interactive Museum
May 31, 1889: A dam broke and Johnstown, PA was flooded. In 10 minutes, Johnstown was literally swept away. Over 2,200 people were killed. The tales were taken directly from original archival material from survivors of the Johnstown flood. The characters were all real people. The actors chose people whose stories touched a chord in them, personally. We honor them and the ordeal they faced on May 31, 1889.

A few notes about Johnstown
Why a docudrama about a flood? Good question!
Here is part of an answer: Disasters change the world, and then the world continues. The last few years seem to have been filled with disasters, but perhaps it is part of the nature of things that disasters exist and perpetually change our lives, whether man-made or natural. Everyone knows that disasters are horrific. Disasters in themselves are not interesting, only tragic, maybe pathetic. What is interesting and compelling are people, and their stories, in the face of these disasters. Human beings are amazing. They face horrific loss, they witness dreadful events I can barely imagine, and yet they still struggle to communicate, to understand, to touch, to mourn, and to love. Our response to people in disasters is intimate. It could happen to any of us. We are all involved.

The Johnstown Flood is part of a work in progress, working with the Master Class ensemble on the docudrama form. This project provides several challenges for an actor - working on simplicity and honesty, and trying to remain simple and honest throughout repeated, intimate performances.

28-29 October, 4-5 & 11-12 Nomvember 2006 (co-Production)
Au Salon des Arts in Paris

The Cast Laura d'Artista, Shelly De Vito, Sanja Jankovic, Nick Millett, Ray Schaub.
Directed by Chris Mack, assisted by Sanja Jankovic

70 Scenes of Halloween is a comic, sometimes absurd look at Halloween and at relationships dying of familiarity. Jeff and Joan are a hip couple living together in a state of mild antagonism and mutual boredom. They ritually talk, eat, watch T.V., flirt and constantly misunderstand each other - but mysterious, spooky forces are abroad and within.

On Halloween the world turns upside down, as trick-or-treaters metamorphisize into real beasts and witches, and insinuate themselves into the tight emotional world Joan and Jeff have constructed, their shallow existence explodes into a primal reality of blood, bones, sex and raw, real emotion.

The play is funny and dark; an intense theatrical experience. It's that odd mixture of real and imaginary, spooky and comic that drives this play. The perfect way to celebrate a real American Halloween.