SOLOs Episode 7: Originals— a video montage of monologues and song by six area performers filmed by Brattleboro Community Television — premieres simultaneously on BCTV and on YouTube Friday, April 9 at 7:30 PM. The free opening is capped with an online session at 8:15 where audience members can chat with cast, directors, producers, and technical staff. Each episode of SOLOs is a co-production of the Rock River Players (RRP) and the Hooker-Dunham Theater (H-D), filmed on the H-D stage.
RRP’s Bahman Mahdavi produced Episode 7, the latest in a series conceived and launched by Mahdavi and H-D Director Jon Mack last fall as a way to keep the lively arts in the Valley alive in COVID times.
SOLOs Episode 7 features “Gertrude” written and performed by Annie Landenberger, directed by Bahman Mahdavi; “Moffit” written/directed by Michael Nethercott, performed by Joel Kaemmerlen; “Take Me” written and performed by Gary Keiser; “T”, an excerpt from “Exposed Skin” written by Matt Cogswell, performed by Charlene Kennedy, directed by Carrie Kidd; “The Daisy” written and performed by Johanna Gardner, directed by Mahdavi; “Open the package, Denise” written by Erica Walch, directed by Austin Rice.
About this episode, Mahdavi, who has trained and worked in film production as well as, more recently, in directing and acting notes: “Episode 7 is our most ambitious undertaking so far with enhanced production values and original work that’s never been performed in public before.” Notable it is that “Open the package, Denise” is actually a short movie featuring award-winning Newfane author Erica Walch’s dystopian story and narration. Filmed, directed, edited, and performed by Austin Rice, Angus Reid, and Anneli Curnock, the short features some of Brattleboro’s finest young talents. “Even during COVID-19,” Mahdavi observes, “art brings us closer together” and so it has been in Originals, which manifested several new collaborations.
Jon Mack narrates SOLOs 7. “I am delighted by the high quality of theatrical performance this series is creating. In this extended period of isolation, we have found a way to keep the artistic juices flowing for our community of artists and audiences.”
The free premiere is available at https://youtu.be/TY_VdB2XjjA and on BCTV. To request links to the free talk-back following write info@hookerdunham.com or info@webwerk.me.
Next in the SOLOs lineup: Episode 8 premieres in May featuring Anneli Curnock, John Moran, Veronica Stevens, Marisa Imôn, Fred Lawrence, Joel Kaemmerlen, Tom Ely, and Bahman Mahdavi. Annie Landenberger produces and directs.
For more information, check the RRP and H-D websites or email Hooker Dunham or the Rock River Players at the emails above.
Bottom, l to r: Joel Kaemmerlen, Johanna Gardner, Charlene Kennedy