RENEE O'CONNOR ARCHIVEDNEWS

 

May 2017 Archives

29 May 2017

Wonder Woman Isn't The Only Butt Kicker in Fantasy - Xena Listed!

ImageNow, after years of speculation and false promises, the world’s most recognizable female superhero is finally headlining a major motion picture. “Wonder Woman,” featuring Gal Gadot in the title role, muscles its way into multiplexes Friday.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, let’s take a look at 10 other prominent female action heroes of film and television.

Xena Warrior Princess

Tall, confident and clad in a leather miniskirt, boots and bronze breastplate, the sword-swinging Xena made her debut in 1995 in episode 9 of season 1 of “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.” Played by Lucy Lawless with a gleam in her eye, Xena was given her own show later that year, the comedic “Xena: Warrior Princess,” and it became a cult classic, ultimately outstripping “Hercules” in terms of fan following and fun factor.

Gabrielle (Renee O’Connor), no slouch herself, accompanies Xena on her adventures through a fantasy version of ancient Greece, battling evil warlords and unjust gods.

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28 May 2017

5 Cult TV Shows That Deserve A Reboot Including Xena!

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5 Cult TV Shows That Deserve A Reboot

Ben Robins with 5 cult TV shows that deserve a reboot…

Xena: Warrior Princess

Because there’s only so many buddy cop-comedies the market can manage, why not give new life to a totally different beloved female icon of the 90s instead? No, not Buffy (one exceptional case of a cult TV reboot being a terrible idea). Originally a spin-off of the Sam Raimi-produced, live-action Hercules series, Xena: Warrior Princess developed a totally insane cult following of its own, running for 6 Emmy-award-winning seasons and even earning its star, Lucy Lawless, one of the most memorable Simpsons cameos to date.

Especially with Wonder Woman set to open the door for a totally new breed of female warrior, a Xena movie could be a clever move for a studio looking to find their own way into the new-look swords-and-sandals trend. The lacklustre performance of the last several Hercules movies probably won’t do it any good, but considering just how much the original show totally outshone its male counterpart, there’s nothing stopping the Hollywood movie equivalent doing the exact same.

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23 May 2017

Blasting News Interviews Steven Sears: How 'Xena: Warrior Princess' Paved The Way for Modern Female TV Characters

ImageHow 'Xena: Warrior Princess' paved the way for modern female TV characters in an article published by Blasting News. They interviewed Steven.

We caught up with 'Xena' creator Steven L. Sears at an Infolist party in Beverly Hills.

Xena: Warrior Princess" stormed TV screens across the world from 1995 to 2001, breaking new grounds for female TV characters. Lucy Lawless embodied this fearless warrior and enchanted a swarm of fans, who continued to be loyal long after the sixth and final season aired. How did this character come about in the nineties, before there was such a thing as a fight for gender equality in Hollywood and a conversation about diversity? We caught up with show writer and producer Steven L. Sears at an Infolist party in Beverly Hills, celebrating the Cannes Film Festival that is in full swing in France.

"It’s hard to say I was inspired, I just thought that’s the way it should be written," says Sears, reflecting on the enduring legacy of his "Xena." "I didn’t realize until much later that writing real female characters reflecting the strong women I knew in my life was unique in the business," he adds.

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12 May 2017

Photos: Renee at Dinner With Friends Theatre Show in Los Angeles

Here's some photos of Renee at Dinner With Friends theatre show in Los Angeles. Dinner with Friends new run dates are May 10 through May 28: Wednesdays May 10, May 17 and May 24 at 8pm, Friday and Saturday May 27 and 28 at 8pm, and Sundays May 21 and 28 at 2pm. The May 21 show features a special Talkback session where the actors and creative team will be available for a post-show discussion with the audience. Regular priced tickets are $27/$25 for seniors for the remainder of the run. Tickets can be purchased online at www.littlefishtheatre.org, or reserved by phone at 310-512-6030, or by text at 424-226-6030. Popular subscription packages of Anytime Tickets are available now and can be used at any of Little Fish Theatre's regular season productions, at any time.

 


 

 

11 May 2017

Broadway World: TV Star Renee O'Connor Appears in DINNER WITH FRIENDS at Little Fish Theatre

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Little Fish Theatre is honored to welcome back Xena: Warrior Princess star Reneé O'Connor to its stage in Dinner with Friends, opening May 10. Directed by Mark Piatelli and written by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies, Dinner with Friends examines the complexities of a marriage and the friendships that are affected by its breakup. This special limited engagement production runs May 10 through May 28.

Reneé made a name for herself when she resided in Auckland, New Zealand, playing the role of Gabrielle, Xena's trusted sidekick on the tremendously popular fantasy series Xena: Warrior Princess from 1996-2001. The scene stealing role created a huge worldwide fan base, one still active in countless websites dedicated to the actress and this signature series. Prior to her breakout role, Reneé starred in the serial Teen Angel, a regular feature on the Disney Channel's The Mickey Mouse Club. Other credits include the Disney film, The Adventures of Huck Finn with Elijah Wood, and television movies such as Follow the River with Ellen Burstyn, Danielle Steele's Changes with Cheryl Ladd, and James Garner's second Rockford Files reunion movie. Her televisions series appearances include Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Criminal Minds, and NYPD Blue.

A long time supporter of both Little Fish Theatre and its parent company, Shakespeare by the Sea, Reneé's favorite stage role continues to be Lady Macbeth in SBTS's 2002 production of Macbeth with fellow Dinner cast member Patrick Vest. Reneé also served as a co-producer of the San Pedro International Film Festival for four years, which used the LFT stage for its first industry panel.

After Xena, Reneé moved on to launch her own film Production Company, collaborating as either producer, director, or actress for award-winning short films, web series, and feature films, bridging social awareness with the entertainment industry. In addition to her talents on stage, and on the big and small screen, Reneé was the Producer for the San Pedro International Film Festival Youth Film Intensive program, a not-for-profit mentorship program to educate and showcase middle school and high school talent. She has been an annual nominee for the Women Making A Difference award by the Los Angeles Business Journal since 2010. Reneé is currently producing, with her husband Jed Sura, a feature film called Watch the Sky, which was written and directed by San Pedro raised Alex Murillo.

Dinner with Friends new run dates are May 10 through May 28: Wednesdays May 10, May 17 and May 24 at 8pm, Friday and Saturday May 27 and 28 at 8pm, and Sundays May 21 and 28 at 2pm. The May 21 show features a special Talkback session where the actors and creative team will be available for a post-show discussion with the audience. The opening night performance offers a special "First Look" price of only $23 per ticket. Regular priced tickets are $27/$25 for seniors for the remainder of the run. Tickets can be purchased online at www.littlefishtheatre.org, or reserved by phone at 310-512-6030, or by text at 424-226-6030. Popular subscription packages of Anytime Tickets are available now and can be used at any of Little Fish Theatre's regular season productions, at any time.

Founded in 2002 as an artists' ensemble, Little Fish Theatre presents classic and contemporary plays in an intimate setting on Centre Street in downtown San Pedro.

*This production is presented under the auspices of the Actors' Equity Los Angeles Membership Company Rule.


 

 

10 May 2017

Video: Renee Talks About Beyond The Farthest Star

Video: Renee Talks About Beyond The Farthest Star. Renee plays Maureen Wells.

 


 

 

10 May 2017

Beyond The Farthest Star Wins Uplifty Award for Best Trailer

 

 


 

 

5 May 2017

Renee in Dinner with Friends - Buy Tickets NOW!

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NOTE: NEW PERFORMANCE DATES MAY 10-28 ONLY! An insightful play about the destruction of Beth and Tom's marriage and the shockwaves it causes in their friends' lives. "A surprisingly touching rumination about the changes that come with age: the changes redefining relationships, the changes within relationships...and the balances and affections that shift unexpectedly, just because, despite our reluctance to want to accept it, life goes on." AISLE SAY NY

Buy tickets from here

https://www.facebook.com/TheLittleFishTheatre

https://twitter.com/lilfishtheatre


Dinner with Friends - NEW DATES
Wednesday, May 10th, 2017 8:00 PM
Wednesday, May 17th, 2017 8:00 PM
Sunday, May 21st, 2017 2:00 PM TALKBACK
Wednesday,May 24, 2017 8:00 PM
Friday, May 26th, 2017 8:00 PM
Saturday, May 27th, 2017 8:00 PM
Sunday, May 28th, 2017 2:00 PM