DOG DAY AFTERNOON REHEARSALS

This past spring the Barefoot Theatre Company began rehearsals for their fully-staged production of Dog Day Afternoon. The cast featured 11 company members in a cast of 16.

The production followed a successful workshop in March of 2007 at American Theatre of Actors which also featured company member Christopher Whalen as Detective Moretti. The role was played by Gil Ron in the most recent production alongside Jeremy Brena, John Gazzale, John Harlacher, Kendra Leigh Landon, Ruben Luque, Victoria Malvagno, Amanda Plant, Lorriane Rodriquez, Francisco Solorzano and Anika Solveig. Also seen in the production were: Charles Casano, Betty Hudson, Lydia Gladstone (last seen in Barefoot's award winning De Donde? directed by Francisco Solorzano), Joli Tribuzio (assistant directed both the workshop and production of Dog Day Afternoon), and Steven R. Weinblatt.

Company member, Joanna Leigh Jacobsen returned as Stage Manager; Eric Nightengale designed lights with Tasha Guevara bringing back her incredible sound designs and Victoria Malvagno brought her brilliant costume designs. Josh Iacovelli, last seen in Barefoot's Israel Horovitz's New Shorts was on board as Technical Director. Both company members, Pamela Seiderman and Michael LoPorto contributed their feedback during rehearsal process as did Advisory Board member, Israel Horovitz.

Dog Day Afternoon which was adapted and directed by Francisco Solorzano and assistant directed by Joli Tribuzio was Barefoot Theatre Company's second appearance at Theatre Row Theatres. Rehearsal photos above were taken while at the 78th Street Theatre Lab where numerous readings and workshops of the script took place.

Keep an eye out for production photos, brand new website, as well as photos from the benefit performance with guests from original film, sponsored by Barefoot Wines & Bubbly.

Barefoot at the Living Room

Kendra Leigh Landon and Francisco Solorzano revisited the roles they originated in last year's Israel Horovitz's New Shorts for a ONE NIGHT EVENT at The Living Room directed by the playwright and Barefoot Advisory Board Member Israel Horovitz.

The series that pairs a staged reading withLIVE musical accompaniment!
ISRAEL HOROVITZ'S3 HOTELS: A SUITE Directed by Israel Horovitz& Russell M. Kaplan with musical guests Chris Otto & Emily DuFour

Presented by New Sounds Theatre for their Sandbox series.

Short plays in the evening were, Beirut Rocks, The Hotel Play, and 2nd Violin, culled from 6 Hotels, a new collection of short plays from writer/director Israel Horovitz. Musical guest-artists were Chris Otto and Emily DuFour. Also featured the acting talents of Stephanie Janssen, Sean Meehan, and Patrizia Hernandez.

Original Cast Members return to BEIRUT...

May 11, 2008,
Stanford Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts featured Barefoot Theatre Company members, Kendra Leigh Landon, Francisco Solorzano and Christopher Whalen returning to the roles they originated in Israel Horovitz's Beirut Rocks for the Boston Theatre Marathon. The production was directed by Israel Horovitz and featured Patrizia Hernandez (pictured above) in one of the lead roles. Christopher Whalen came in all the way from the west coast where he currently lives. The Boston Theatre Marathon presented by the Boston Playwright's Theatre, marked Barefoot's 3rd year in the marathon.

The workshop production was originally directed by Associate Director, Michael LoPorto. The workshop was part of Barefoot's Israel Horovitz's New Shorts in Jan 07, marking Barefoot's debut at Theatre Row Theatres. The short play was next seen as part of Ensemble Studio Theatre's Marathon in the summer of 2007 featuring Producing Artistic Director, Francisco Solorzano, alongside Marin Ireland and directed by Jo Bonney. Soon after, in early 2008 Kendra Leigh Landon and Francisco Solorzano reprised their roles once again, touring around Connecticut with PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD. Both company members would continue with their portrayals in Horovitz's short drama at THE LIVING ROOM (photos of event to soon follow.) Beirut Rocks is set for publication early next year and already published in French under, L'avant-scene theatre.

Pictured, right photo with full cast, LtoR: Christopher Whalen, Francisco Solorzano, Patrizia Hernandez and Kendra Leigh Landon backstage at the Boston Center for the Arts.

2007-2008 COMPANY MEMBERS MEET

One of our meetings this past summer took place at the beautiful home of one of our newest members, Lorriane Rodriguez. Other first timers at the meeting as new barefoot members were, Anna Chlumsky, Charles Everett, and John Harlacher.

We discussed the next step towards our development of new plays as we have done in the past with playwrights such as Israel Horovitz, Stephen Gracia, and Francisco Solorzano. This year we received well over 300 submissions for our upcoming season of new works and are currently working with several new exciting playwrights.

COMING SOON: our first company photo which took place in D.U.M.B.O. Brooklyn in early 2008.

A LOOK BACK AT 2007-2008 starting with:

CINCO de MAYO

2007-2008 brought us a lot of exciting events including some new members. Although most of the year was spent on the continued development and workshop of Dog Day Afternoon which culminated with a fully staged production at Theatre Row Theatres this past summer (keep an eye out for exciting photos!) we enjoyed some memorable moments.

One of the events this year included the Cinco de Mayo party hosted by our very own Director of Development, Anika Solveig. Friends gathered for a night of music, drinks and fun in order to help raise funds for Barefoot's corporate filing fees. Every little bit helps!

Featured in the photos are Barefoot family member Mark von Sternberg (who just wrote and directed the feature film, Love Simple with Barefoot's Producing Artistic Director, Francisco Solorzano, company member, John Harlacher and Advisory Board Member, Israel Horovitz) and our very own company member since 2002, Kendra Leigh Landon. Hope to see YOU at our next event!

A NOTE FROM PROD. ARTISIC DIRECTOR, Francisco Solorzano

Dear Friends, Family and Members:

First, thank you all so much for your continued support and interest. If this is your first year with us, WELCOME! It's been a great 2007-2008 season culminating with our production of Dog Day Afternoon at Theatre Row Theatres. It was an amazing run, with sold-out performances and rave reviews: all around, our most successful venture to date.

We hope that you stay in touch as we enter our 9th year and look forward with great anticipation to our 10th anniversary season. We promise to bring you the visceral, innovative, and thrilling New York City theatre that we have set out to produce since our inception.

Keep an eye out for news and photos of our ensemble members, most recent season, and what's in the works. Please join our family, if you haven't already, at: www.myspace.com/barefoottheatre and www.facebook.com/pages/Barefoot-Theatre-Company/10724206570. At these sites you can also read about us and find many incredible photos of our work.

We are looking forward to seeing you at our next event. Thanks again for visiting and staying in touch.

Sincerely,
Francisco Solorzano

Producing Artistic Director

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