“Venus in Fur” Review on mlive.com

Have you seen the review for Venus in Fur ? 3.5 out of 4 stars! We at Actors’ Theatre are incredibly proud of this show. Here’s an excerpt from the article on www.mlive.com:

Review: Actors’ Theatre ‘Venus in Fur’ a sexy, scintillating look at gender dynamics

By Tricia Woolfenden | grentertainment@mlive.com 

Some battles are fought with heavy artillery and firepower. The power play at the core of “Venus in Fur” is waged with a far less predictable, some might say more potent, weapon: Human sexuality.

Actors’ Theatre launched the opening performance Thursday, Dec. 12, in the wake of a two-day winter storm system that left downtown side streets buried in nearly as much snow as there is subtext to playwright David Ives’ work. Presented with a single sparse set and one intermission-free act, the play relies entirely upon the interchange between its two performers: Vanda Jordan (Ellie Frances) and Thomas Novachek (Kyle Los). […]

First go over to www.mlive.com and read the rest of the article, then jump over to www.atgr.org and reserve your seats! There are performances tonight and tomorrow, and next week Thurs. – Sat., December 19-21. All shows are at 8:00PM.

Don’t forget – there is a talkback after tonight’s performance! Be sure and join us!

Kyle Los plays Thomas and Ellie Frances plays Vanda during the dress rehearsal of the Actors’ Theatre production of ‘Venus in Fur’ Wednesday night. (Katy Batdorff | MLive.com)

“Venus in Fur” Talkback Tonight!

Tonight after the performance we’ll be hosting a special Venus In Fur talk back. We will have special guest panelists who will discuss  gender roles, feminism, power and control, and much more!

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Our guest panelists include: 

Susan M. Williams: GRCC Faculty – Assistant Professor of History: ABD, Department of History; Major Field: East European History; Minor Fields: History of Gender & Sexuality, Russian and East European Studies; Fulbright Scholar, Romania, 2006-2007.; M.A., European History

David Cope: Grand Rapids Poet Laureate 2011-2014. AB, U of Michigan (studied under Robert Hayden); MA + 30, Western Michigan University. Taught Shakespeare, Drama, Creative Writing at GRCC for decades. Award winning author, edit, and publisher for over 40 years.

Elena Gormley: Venus in Fur Dramaturg – BA of Fine Arts in Performing Arts.

*The talk back should begin at approx. 9:30 pm. You do not need to attend Friday’s nights performance to attend the talk back. Coming another night? Feel free to stop by Friday evening after the show to take part in the discussion! We’d love to have you join us!

 

Want  to know more about Venus in Fur? Take a listen to Shelly Irwin of WGVU as she interviews the cast and director.

There are still a few seats available for tonight’s performance, go to www.atgr.org and reserve yours now! Venus in Fur runs Dec. 13 – 14 and 19-21, 2013. All shows are at 8pm.

“Venus in Fur” Opens Tonight – Talkback on Friday

It’s opening night! There are still a few seats available, go to www.atgr.org and reserve yours now! Venus in Fur runs Dec. 12 – 14 and 19-21, 2013. All shows are at 8pm.

Join us this Friday evening, December 13, after the performance of Venus In Fur for a talk back with special guest panelists who will discuss the original work of “Venus In Furs” by Leopold Von Sacher Masoch – on which the play is based. Other topics for discussion will include: gender roles, feminism, power and control, and much more!

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Our guest panelists include: 

Susan M. Williams: GRCC Faculty – Assistant Professor of History: ABD, Department of History; Major Field: East European History; Minor Fields: History of Gender & Sexuality, Russian and East European Studies; Fulbright Scholar, Romania, 2006-2007.; M.A., European History

David Cope: Grand Rapids Poet Laureate 2011-2014. AB, U of Michigan (studied under Robert Hayden); MA + 30, Western Michigan University. Taught Shakespeare, Drama, Creative Writing at GRCC for decades. Award winning author, edit, and publisher for over 40 years.

Elena Gormley: Venus in Fur Dramaturg – BA of Fine Arts in Performing Arts.

*The talk back should begin at approx. 9:30 pm. You DO NOT need to attend that night’s performance to attend the talk back.

 

Want more? Read the GR Press/MLive Preview Article on Venus in Fur

 

And check out the On The Town/MLive Preview Article on Venus In Fur

“Venus in Fur” in On The Town

There is great article about Venus in Fur by On The Town’s Katerie Prior up on mlive.com. Here is an excerpt:

Actors’ Theatre’s Holiday Offering Takes A Look at Relationships

[…] Set in present day, Thomas Novachek is a young playwright who has adapted von Sacher-Masoch’s novel into a play. Unfortunately, it’s the end of the audition and no actress has captured Thomas’ interest until Vanda Jordan shows up. Goofy, nosy, persistent, but utterly charming, Vanda wheedles Thomas to go through some of the scenes with her. But as the audition progresses, who is really in charge of the audition begins to blur. Who exactly is Vanda? How did she get a copy of Thomas’s script? And is Thomas directing Vanda or is it the other way around?

Critically acclaimed when it opened Off-Broadway in 2010, Venus in Fur is a dark comedy that shifts between humor and seriousness. Fortunately, that isn’t too hard for Director Michelle Urbane to handle—she’s directed Mr. Marmalade and Steel Magnolias in the past. “This is really about relationships,” she said. “The power struggle that occurs between actor and director, or man and woman. How far are these characters are willing to go?”

Venus in Fur may seem like an odd choice for theater around the holiday season, but Urbane thinks that this is perfect for adults looking for a theater experience that doesn’t include sugar plum fairies. “This is something fun that doesn’t have to be family-oriented,” she said. “I want audiences to walk away and say, ‘Wow, that was fun. Do you think everything happened?’ But I can’t say more than that.” […]

Want more? Click on over to On the Town on mlive and read the rest of the article, then go to www.atgr.org and reserve your tickets. There are just 6 performances of Venus in Fur which opens tomorrow night!

Rehearsals with Elinor Frances as Vanda and Kye Los as Thomas in “Venus in Fur.” Photo credit: Dave Kagan

There is a great article on www.mlive.com about Venus in Fur! Here’s an excerpt:

Kink or comedy? ‘Venus in Fur’ brings both to stage at Actors’ Theatre

By Todd Chance | tchance@mlive.com 

Ellie Frances and Kyle Los star in the Actors’ Theatre production of “Venus in Fur.” Photo credit: Dave Kagan

[Kyle] Los plays Thomas Novachek, an arrogant playwright who cannot find the perfect woman to represent a character in his upcoming play based on “Venus im Pelz,” a novella by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch from whose name the term sadomasochism was based. Then a brass, foul-mouthed actress named Vanda, played by Ellie Frances, shows up to audition and possesses an uncanny ability to inhabit the character.

What happens next is a play within a play as we watch the only two actors in this 90-minute one-act show start to inhabit the characters from the play as they read lines.

While reading those lines, others begin to blur. […]

Be sure and read the rest of the article on www.mlive.com. Are you planning on seeing the show? Leave a comment at mlive and let us know!

More information on Venus in Fur can be found at www.atgr.org, be sure and reserve your tickets today – opening night is December 12th!