Lennie
was recently interviewed on New York's legendary radio station
WNYE about Crying Out Loud. Press the "play"
button to the left to listen to the entire interview (you
must wait a few seconds for the entire interview to load after
you hit "play").
Graduating painting student, Lennie Varvarides, does not confine
her art to the purely visual. Conduct, the new Platform for
Art installation at Seven Sisters, features two of Vavarides'
poems on the theme of power in relationships.
The poems are displayed in full
on two large posters. Smaller posters echo some of the key
lines.
Varvarides first exhibited on the Underground in March of
this year. She persuaded the Group Station Manager at Camden
Town Station to let her use some spare space to display her
work.
The installation was spotted
by the Underground's Arts and Events team who invited her
to exhibit as part of the successful Platform for Art programme.
Varvarides says of her work: "As a creative person my
artistic concerns are the same as my personal ones.
I believe strongly in the theory
that art and life are a reflection of each other. My work
outlines the fundamental issues of power in relationships
and explores the issues of gender."
Conduct will run at Seven Sisters
until 7 September. Returning to the Underground following
a successful run at Gloucester Road Station, Barry Cawston's
photographic exhibition, Character Lines, will be on display
in the ticket hall of Piccadilly Circus Station from July
7.
Platform
for Art continues to run regular exhibitions at Gloucester
Road Underground Station. The programme is set to expand as
new venues are identified.
For Immediate Use
November-December 2003
Indecency
Crackdown Worries Playwright/Director
Do
you think when Janet Jackson woke up that January morning
she knew the now infamous "wardrobe malfunction"
would start a chain reaction resulting in a change in how
Americans are entertained? 'The Nipple Heard 'Round The World'
exposed during the Super Bowl half-time show started a government
crackdown on indecency which our nation has never experienced.
So far, television, radio and movies have all been affected.
Will experimental theater be next? It may be, according to
British playwright Lennie Varvarides.
Varvarides
thinks the only true form of entertainment that hasn't been
affected by this new wave of censorship is experimental theater,
and that may be changing. "Traditionally, my form of
theater is too small and too personal for the government to
stop," Varvarides said. "We have been flying under
the radar."
Indeed
Varvarides' most recent play, The Almost & The Nothing,
touches on topics that would likely make any censor blush.
Incest, torture, and mental abuse are subjects explored in
this play. While these topics are shocking, Varvarides claim
they serve a purpose. "Our goal is to not be shocking
for the sake of being shocking. Quite the opposite,"
Varvarides said. "I feel it is far more dangerous to
bury our heads in the sand and pretend these things to don't
happen in real life."
The
play is currently being translated into both Polish and Greek
productions and Varvarides plans to do a limited run performance
in England later this year. "It's odd. America has always
been known as a bastion of freedom of thought, religion and
expression. I doubt very much that Janet Jackson's nipple
would have sent England in a cultural tail-spin," Varvarides
joked. "After all, we have nipples over there, too, and
are quite familiar with how they look. I don't think the site
of one would shock us so much."
ABOUT
THE PLAY: The Almost & The Nothing will be playing
at HERE Theater in Manhattan (7:30pm, May 12-16, with 3pm
matinees on Saturday & Sunday) and the Wings Theater (11pm,
May 21 & 22). The play magnifies the human condition—exposing
just how fragile we are—and aims, like all good theater,
to encourage each and every audience member to recognize themselves
within the follies of the characters and confront their own
dragons.
Do
you want info on how to buy tickets? For tickets and info:
www.here.org or 212-868-4444
CENSORSHIP:
Varvarides has set up a link on her website at www.alostcreative.org
to petition the FCC regarding indecency, as well a way to
instantly fax your senator online.
ABOUT
HERE ARTS CENTER: Since opening in 1993, HERE Arts
Center has housed New York’s most daring and unique
theater, art, music and dance in its three theaters, two art
galleries, and cafi. Previous works originally produced by
HERE include Eve Ensler’s THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, Basil
Twist’s SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE, the inaugural production
of The Dream Music Puppetry Program, Camryn Manheim’s
WAKE UP! I’M FAT, and original musical and dance works
created and directed by Kristin Marting. HERE Arts Center
supports the work of artists at all stages in their careers
through fully-produced works, commissions, and subsidized
performance and rehearsal space. In addition, HERE's staff
provides marketing, technical, and administrative consultation
and support. All work at HERE is curated--based on the strength
and uniqueness of the artist's vision. This production is
being presented through HERE’s Supported Artist Program,
which provides artists with subsidized space, as well as technical
and administrative support.
ABOUT
THE WINGS THEATRE: The Wings Theatre is a non-profit,
Off-Off Broadway theatre located in New York City's Greenwich
Village, which produces a year-round season comprised exclusively
of new plays and musicals by American playwrights and composers
under a Tier IV agreement with Actor's Equity Association.
###
For Immediate Use
November-December 2003
Former Brooklyn Papers Sales Associate Is
Taking Over Manhattan
Lennie Varvarides is original from North London and came to
work for the Brooklyn Papers in 2001, were she built up ad accounts
with the local artsy community of Fort Greene. In less than
two months she had created a new and powerful advertising presence
in the GO section of the Brooklyn Papers. She even held a mini
art exhibition of her own artwork at one of the local Brooklyn
restaurants. Lennie had the right personality and attitude for
advertising-persistence! It is not that surprising that two
years later, she is back with a new kind of presence on the
theater side of things. ###
For
Immediate Use
October 2003
The Last One Act Musical
To Be Performed At Former Lower East Side Brothel!
There have been many alternative
art productions spanning over the last decade, but never has
the Collective: Unconscious Theater staged a real “Greek
Tragedy” by a real Greek playwright!
In under 18 months of being
in the United States, Lennie Varvarides (a native Greek/Cypriot
from North London), founded a)LoStCrEaTiVe Theater/Performance
Art Company. Varvarides proclaims to, “put the Greek
Tragedy back in theater”. Varvarides relies heavily
on her Greek roots to create what could be classified as a
solid, traditional Greek tragedy. Her productions magnify
human weakness and tendencies, whereby the protagonists are
forced to recognize their own fate and to overcome the gifts
of the Gods. Now, is that a Greek tragedy or what?
Varvarides artistic goals will
be to write an additional eight plays by the time she’s
thirty and make her mark as a strong female Greek/Cypriot
playwright from London.
Her last production, UnderadDress
played to sold out crowds, and if the opening night of Crying Out Loud
is any indication to the popularity of Varvarides plays, then
the final one act musical at the Collective will be a great
success.
Varvarides treats Crying Out Loud
as a labor of love by donating a full 50% of all generated
ticket sales back to the Collective so as to support the plight
for a new space. The additional proceeds from the play will
go directly to taking the show on the road to London and Greece.
###
For Immediate Use
September 2003
Greek 'Tradomedy'
After the success of UnderAdDress, the eclectic theater
and production company, a)LoStCrEaTiVe will to feature their
equity showcase production of Crying Out Loud—a
one-act play with irregular outbursts of song.
This innovative brainchild is scheduled to run from Monday October
6th-27th 2003 at the Collective: Unconscious Theater on the
Lower East Side Manhattan before the spaces closes its doors
to the public in November.
British playwright Lennie Varvarides created Crying Out Loud,
which is a musical concoction exposing insecurities, aggression,
lust, emotional abuse and guilt. The play deals with a few home
truths the audience will be able to identify with as Varvarides
skillfully puts together these antagonisms through the main
protagonist (Maria) who is overtly oppressed by those closest
to her. Maria’s desire is to “just sing” is explained
as a metaphor for “just being.” While the audience
is captivated by Maria’s struggle to achieve personal satisfaction,
Varvarides welcomes the audience to witness the character’s
journey—discovering true self.
Varvarides’ productions focus on a recurring trend that
revolves around the perception of alter egos, the subconscious
state of mind, and self-discovery. Varvarides’ writings
comprise of emotions arched into 3D objects—which forces
the protagonists to critically view themselves—taking on
a psychological form and using art as a vehicle to, socially
analyze our 2003 culture, to enlighten a modern audience, exposing
our human strengths and weaknesses.
Varvarides comments: “Crying Out Loud is an original
play that seeks to better understand human tendencies; to analyze
what motivates our decisions, and to clearly understand who,
if anyone, is really to blame for the decisions we make and
the things we do not achieved. The main question that is repeated
like a motif throughout the play is this: is it better to have
the courage to begin or the confidence to finish?” ###
For
Immediate Use
September 2003
Performance Art Workshops at $7? Here’s
a learning opportunity too good to miss!
Its full steam ahead for a)LoStCrEaTiVe—the avant-garde
theater/performance art production company—spreading the
word on their latest fresh, contemporary workshop programs designed
for all ‘lost creatives’ out there. Previous a)LoStCrEaTiVe
workshops fuelled and propelled the company’s sustaining
power in off-off Broadway productions, contributing to the incalculable
success of UnderAdDress, a)LoStCrEaTiVe’s debut
production, performed at the Collective: Unconscious Theater.
a)LoStCrEaTiVe was created by British playwright/director Lennie
Varvarides in the summer of 2001. Lennie commented, “Our
concept is based on finding the individual’s lost creative
energy, and exploring, employing and empowering the artist to
exercises their creative demands. a)LoStCrEaTiVe challenges
the conception of traditional performance theater and focuses
on eliminating theatrical ideologies. We welcome an eclectic
clique to collaborate and share artistic experiences. Our aim
is to produce good art”.
a)LoStCrEaTiVe hosts a variety of alternative workshops, otherwise
known as L.O.S.T. (Lots Of Special Talent) Workshops, held Mondays
at the Collective: Unconscious for an intimate crowd of hungry
creatives eager to explore and tap into their creative subconscious.
Lennie Varvarides adds, “a)LoStCrEaTiVe is the ONLY theater
company to offer actors, artists, poets, singers, musicians,
filmmakers and dancers the opportunity to develop their craft,
audition for future productions and get paid in the process.
We are dedicated in providing our lost creatives a platform
to fulfill their desires”. ###
For Immediate Use
September 2003
Hello, and welcome to the world of a)LoStCrEaTiVe
a)LoStCrEaTiVe was originally meant to only be an acting workshop
for actors to come together and practice their skills. As weeks
passed, however, Varvarides collected notes and developed them
into what is now her very first play—the unforgettable
UnderAdDress—which her company members successfully
performed at the Collective: Unconscious Theater in Manhattan’s
Lower East Side.
a)LoStCrEaTiVe is a performing arts/theater production company,
providing all ‘lost creatives’ with a supportive environment
in which they can explore their creative demands. It is a forum
for actors, artists, poets, singers, musicians, filmmakers and
dancers to work together and create new work for future productions.
a)LoStCrEaTiVe’s ethos:
· Identifies an individual’s lost creative energy
and exploring creative demands
· Challenges new audience conception of performance
· Eliminates elitism
· Opens doors and welcomes both the public as well as the
artistic community to collaborate and share artistic experiences.
Since it’s inception, a)LoStCrEaTiVe has grown tremendously
by leaps and bounds. The second play—Crying Out Loud—will
be performed in October at The Collective: Unconscious Theater.
Show dates/times are: Monday, October 6th 2003 at 8pm (staged
reading, $5), Thursday, 10/16/03 at 8pm, Monday, 10/20/03 at
8pm, Thursday, 10/23/03 at 7pm and Monday, 10/27/03 at 8pm.
###
For press inquiries, company
information, complimentary tickets and press kits for members
of the media and press, talent agents or managers, or for general
inquiries, contact our press department. Thanks!
