In
the Cards of the Mystics, her destiny is foreshadowed by the
prophecy of insurmountable obstacles, a war between love and
money. Queen of half the world by default, Juana the First of
Spain suffers the treachery of three men she loves most; her
father, her husband, her son. Imprisoning her in a room without
light, foreign captors attempt to drive her insane. But she
quickly learns their game. Liberated by an uprising of the
common people who love her, she launches the first democracy to
shed its glow of freedom upon the Western Hemisphere. Based on a
true story.
with the tale of Juana, the real Queen of
the World
The company uses 40 original puppets to bring
the final work of
prolific TV, film and stage writer Paul Casey to
life
Caroline Gelabert
Coming off the tremendous
success of its production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Write
Act Repertory and Producing
Artistic Director John Lant proudly announce the
opening of Juana as the third show of its 2007-2008 Main Stage
Season. This historical tale from the late Paul Casey will be directed by Andrew
Moore and performed with the help of 40 puppets and 14 of Write Act’s most
talented performers at the newly refurbished Write Act Repertory Theatre
on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from November 29 – December 15.
An epic play, a
pageant that reveals the hidden truth behind history’s most maligned and
misunderstood monarch, Juana tells the real story of the Queen of the
World. Suffering the treachery of three men she loves most - her father,
husband, and son – Juana has to fight their attempt to drive her insane.
Liberated by an uprising of the common people who love her, she launches the
first democracy to shed its glow of freedom upon the Western Hemisphere.
This final play
from the late Paul Casey is a massive tale, spanning 30 years and all of
continental Europe, with a simply story of strength at its heart. The use of
over 40 puppets in Andrew Moore’s production helps the audience experience
Juana’s world, a nightmarish mad house filled with monsters meant to do her in.
“I’m very
fortunate to have met with Paul, a true Renaissance man, not long before he
passed. I showed him the sketches I had done for the show, such as Fernando as
enormous, imposing puppet, and he just lit up,” said Moore. “Paul was so
passionate. As he recounted her story – the betrayals, the conspiracy to keep
her off the throne – this passion just enveloped me. I was determined to help
him tell her tale.”
Moore is an accomplished
puppeteer who has not only performed on stage and screen, but also directed
everything from children’s theater to adults-only comedy. He has in part meant
this production to be a tribute to Casey, who not only served as past director
of the Los Angeles Playwright’s Group, but also worked as an engineer in
alternative energy and championed for animal rights.
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Cast
Shawn Cahill ... Phillip
Alexandra Cheyney ... Fortune Teller
Mike Disch ... Bishop of Burgos
Darci Dixon ... Beatriz
Jacques Freydont ... Maximillian
Phillip Kelly ... Denia
Ana Therese Lopez ... Female Protean #2
Colleen Reilly ... Adrian
Jessica Urdank ... Female Protean #1
Victor Vallejo ... Cisneros
Duncan Garrow ... Kinesias
Caroline Gelabert ... Juana
Josh Green ... Male Protean
Jonathan Harrison ... Fernando |
Crew
Director ... Andrew Moore
Production Stage Manager ... Erin Scott
Lighting Design ... Connie-Lyne Vaillani
Costume Design ... Jessica Urdank
Lead Puppet Finish Painter ... Paul Eppleston
Window Design ... Pamela Moore
Graphics and Program Design ... Jenn Scuderi
Publicity and Marketing ... Jim Martyka
Production Photography ... Lou Briggs
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