Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Discover. Learn. Create. Connect. Share. Events at MatrixArts

June 10th, from 7 to 9 pm, Maryellen Burns will present Funding Your Dream -the first in a series of workshops for individuals and organizations on how to find money, materials and other support for creative work. Whatever field you’re in – writing, music, theater, dance, television, radio, film or new media – you’ll learn techniques for planning a successful project, identifying potential funders and investors, developing wining proposals, budgets, and marketing plans plus how to shamelessly promote yourself and your ideas. Ms. Burns has raised more than 15 million dollars for museums, libraries, universities, school districts, theaters, literary & art festivals, documentaries, and individuals. $15/10 MA members.

June 11, 18, 25 11:00 to 3:00 pm Unfinished Business Joy Gee, Maryellen Burns -- bring whatever creative work you haven’t finished --a painting, drawing, altered book, assemblage, memoir, article, book, poem or play and we’ll work with you to get it done. $15/$10 MatrixArts members.

June 17, 24, 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
Emerging Artists and Writers
Designed to give one-on-one guidance to writers and artists just starting out or facing creative block. For teens and adults $15/$10 MatrixArts members

Programs held at MatrixArts@R25, 1719 25th Street, @R25, Crossroads for Arts and Culture between Q and R Street.


Locke Lost
The Lesson of the Italians -- a new play in primary colors -- by Robert Locke
June 8 through 13, 2010 T-F Sunday 2 pm Friday Saturday 8 pm California Stage
2509 25th Street Entrance on 25th Street $10, students $5 916-451-5822 Theater Party with MatrixArts Sunday June 13th at 2 pm


There is only one actor, Bob Locke, who plays both Bob the Playwright, and Bob the Character. Don’t go expecting more. Bob is also the Director and the Costume Designer. Program designed, by guess who, Bob Locke.

First hearing Ruth Draper’s The Italian Lesson on a pirated cassette recording, Bob was immediately overwhelmed by her artistry. But, it wasn’t until this year that he found a way to incorporate Ruth Draper’s piece into a piece of is own.

First performed before a small group of MatrixArts writers, Bob thought this would be his one and only performance. But response was so overwhelmingly supportive, he decided to re-write the piece, and through the generous auspices of the California Stage, is able to offer it this June.
Ruth Draper was the undisputed queen of the one-woman theater in the 20th century. Throughout her nearly forty years as a professional performer, from her official debut in 1920 until the night she died in 1956, Draper filled theaters all over the world with her unique ability to transform herself into a vast array of characters. From New York society matrons and New England crones to British schoolgirls and Continental divas, the portraits she created were as authentic as they were mesmerizing.

The show lasts about an hour and 15 minutes. The audience is invited to remain, after an intermission of ten minutes, to share with Bob a few letters written to Ruth Draper by Lauro de Bossis, an Italian poet and aviator, also selections written by Ruth Draper about Lauro.
“ It is a fabulous romance, folks”, Bob tells us, “and the heart wrenches for these two”.
During this second segment audience members are invited to discuss the writing process of Locke Lost -- Lessons of the Italians.

Bob Locke is a local playwright, actor and author -- AKA Clayton Bess.He has written and produced the acclaimed plays Dolly, Murder and Edna Redrum, Premiere, On Daddy’s Birthday, Howling Twain, and Love, Bob. As Clayton Bess, he has written books for young adults and children, including; Tracks, Story for a Black Night, Suddenly the Cat, and the Truth About the Moon.
Later this year Bob will also participate in our Emerging Writers and Artists Program and KidsLit, talking about how to break into the world of children’s literature and playwrighting.