Max is a Wakefield High School senior, and has been a part of the Signature in the Schools family for three years. Join him as he takes us through a Veni, Vidi, Vici tech rehearsal.
For more information on the program be sure to check out our web page. Tickets for this year's production are available now through the Signature Theatre Box Office at 703 820 9771.
The cast and crew of Signature in the Schools’ 20thAnniversary production,Veni, Vidi, Vicipresent one of several video projects done at the start of this year’s program as part of their “Boot Camp” experience. Students were asked to create genre-based short films inspired by the translation ofVeni, Vidi, Vici:“I came, I saw, I conquered.” These videos are created completely by the student actors and technicians.
This year’s production focuses on the very large and daunting topic of imperialism throughout the world. Join the cast and crew ofVeni, Vidi, Vicion March 9thand 16that 8:00PM for two public performances of this world premiere play, written by Joe Calarco (GYPSY) and directed byDavid Zobell, Signature Theatre’s Education Director.
For free tickets to the production, call us at 703 820 9771 or visit the Box Office.
On December 17, the cast (and some of the crew) of the 2013 Signature in the Schools play, Revolution, met with playwright Joe Calarco to do a first read of the script. This week, we'll be continuing rehearsals with script work and staging.
Check out these pictures from our first read!
All photos courtesy of Adrian, our production archivist.
L to R: Jose, Cameron, Jason, Khaliun, Sean perform in Un-American
Folks, we are in business! We have been performing night and day since last Friday. With five performances under our belt, including an electric public performance on Monday that was standing room only, there are just two left to go. Tomorrow morning we welcome in Wakefield High School students from the English and Theatre departments for our fifth and final matinee. We invite you all to come to our closing evening performance on Friday at 7:30 PM. Admission is free and seating is general admission. Reservations are strongly recommended. To reserve your seat, call the box office at 703 820 9771. Don't miss your chance to see this world premiere play! Production photographs come courtesy of Dennis Deloria.
Last week we brought you the final product of one group's Dramatic Retelling of the Rosenberg Trial. As promised, here is the final product of our other group! They were asked to cover the story of the Hollywood Ten. They chose to portray an inside look at "One Tenth" of them by creating a trailer for a fictional movie that follows the life and involvement of screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo.
To fill you in on the history surrounding the Hollywood Ten, we have included a brief synopsis below. Just as before, this group was given only two and a half hours to cast, write, rehearse, and film their projects. ( Additional time was spent on editing.) So, due to certain limitations with resources and time, you may see some elements such as contemporary clothing, gender/color-blind casting, and resourceful uses of Shirlington Village throughout the film.
The Hollywood Ten
The first systematic blacklist was instituted on November 25, 1947 and contained a list of ten Hollywood screenwriters and actors known as “The Hollywood Ten.” When asked, “Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?” they simply refused to testify. The following April, The Hollywood Ten was convicted of contempt of Congress and sentenced to jail. All the members of the Hollywood Ten were screenwriters, except for director Edward Dymtryk. Although, in addition to their efforts as screenwriters, most doubled as actors, authors, directors, and even journalists.
Herbert J. BibermanServed six months in prison for his convictions and was blacklisted by the official Hollywood studio.
Lester Cole Co-founder of the Writers Guild of America. Joined the American Communist Party in 1936. Served ten months in prison. After the blacklisting, three of his scripts were produced under the names of his wife and friends.
Edward Dmytryk After spending several months in prison following his conviction, Dmytryk testified again, confessing his former involvement with the Communist Party and giving away the names of those he was involved with.
Ring Lardner Jr.While blacklisted, he moved to England and wrote for several television series under a pseudonym. Once the blacklist was repealed, he returned to writing in America and wrote M.A.S.H.
John Howard LawsonCo-founded the Screen Writers Guild and served as head of the film division of the Communist Party.
Albert Maltz Won the 1951 Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Drama, submitted under the name Michael Blankfort, a fellow screen writer.
Adrian ScottAfter being blacklisted, he wrote for the series, The Adventures of Robin Hood, under a pseudonym.
Dalton TrumboWhile blacklisted, he won two Academy Awards for his screenplays. One was written under his pseudonym, Robert Rich, and the other originally presented to a front-writer.
Alvah BessieBlacklisted andImprisoned for ten months.
On December 3, 1947, Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, held a meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. At the conclusion of the meeting, Johnston released the “Waldorf Statement” which contained a list of over three hundred working members of the Hollywood film industry suspected of being communists or communist sympathizers. This marked the start of the blacklisting movement. Anyone on the list was questioned by HUAC which typically ruined their professional careers, friendships, and relationships.
