Keith Shubert is working on his puppets, toys, and other wonderful notions in North Carolina. He is an MC, producer, puppeteer, clown, and witch!
When I was in Asheville last year we attempted to meet for a person-to-person interview but I got sick. We postponed it and last week I got a chance to do the interview via Zoom.
For more information about Keith’s work you can visit his website his Facebook page.
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I flew to Asheville to visit a few good friends and to interview Kevin Venardos. He is the founder of Venardos Circus and the ringmaster on every show. He talks about all the things that go into making a one-ring circus possible. Great show!
The truck that carries the tent and bleachers, props, lighting and sound equipment is parked next to the text. It was a very overcast day when I arrived. The show had great lighting and sound. The international talent lineup was amazing!
Broadway Brian Pollock – Flea Circus
Kirk Marsh – Funnyman
Manuel and Ilenay -Adagio and Dance Pole -Havana Cuba`
Leonard, Antoanetta and Aissa Stoica – Teeter Board/Crossbow
Kevin Venardos as the ‘ringmaster’ during the show I attended and photographed.
The show is still in Asheville and runs through Oct 20th. Then they travel to Evans, Georgia (Oct 23rd – Nov.3rd) and then to Florida.
For additional information about the next location and tickets for all shows go HERE!
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“..witnessing it is an enlarging and uplifting experience. This is due not only to the excellence of Crutchfield’s script, which brims with wisdom and humor and deliciously colorful examples of Southern and Midwestern speech, but also to Samuels’ production and the performances of a top-notch cast, all of which add up to as close to perfection as theater ever gets.” NYTheatre.com
Asheville, North Carolina has quite a few wonderful things going on. One of them is a theater company directed by Steven Samuels. The Magnetic Theatre. A ‘seasoned’ director and theater person, Steven Samuels has brought a new play written by John Crutchfield to this years Fringe Festival. “Landscape with Missing Person”. Being presented at Venue #4 – Teatro Latea located at 107 Suffolk Street (between Rivington & Delancey)
The shows description reads as follows: A teenage railroad punk helps a strange middle-aged man search for his mysteriously vanished wife. From a small southern town, across the Midwest, to San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, the mismatched pair’s cross-country journey introduces them to a motley crew of characters, most more desperate and deranged than the last. By turns comic, menacing, lyrical, and bizarre-and sometimes all at once – Landscapes with Missing Person proves moving, mesmerizing, and as surprising as it is psychologically acute, a gripping and poignant hitchhiker’s guide to postmodern 21st Century America.
Produced and Directed by Steven Samuels
Written by John Crutchfield
Starring John Crutchfield, Lisa M Smith and Jennifer Gatti.
Here are some photographs from this delightful production.
Lisa M Smith and John Crutchfield conversing at the bus stop in Landscape with Missing Person
John Crutchfield, Jennifer Gatti and Lisa M Smith discuss the ‘size’ of the pickle.
Jennfer Gatti, Lisa M Smith and John Crutchfield in a tense/comical moment in the play.
Lisa M Smith, Jennifer Gatti and John Crutchfield discussing traveling together.
Jennifer Gatti, John Crutchfield and Lisa M Smith take their curtain call.
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Production Stage Manager: Rodney Smith
Set Designer: Shaun Kato-Samuel
Sound Designer: Mary Zogzas
Lighting Designer: Alex Moore
Assistant Stage Manager: Cyd Smith
Board Operator: Madison Smith
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For ticket information go here.
