Convention News

23 February 2025

2025 Salute to Xena 30th Anniversary Con

• New Xena and Gabrielle Funkos! Renee Video  

Dear Friends, Family, and Patrons of the House of Bards Theatre Company,

Please join us for a Live Stream performance of our newest production, an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's, A Doll's House, at the El Segundo Performing Arts Center.
Performances Date: January 26, 2025, 3:00PM, Pacific Standard Time

Tickets are available at https://www.HouseofBards.org

CAST 

Nora Helmer                   Sarajane Bradford            
Torvald Helmer               Steven L Sears
Doctor Rank                   Courtney King
Nils Krogstad                  Roberto Williams            
Christine Linde               Branda Lock
Anne                               Anne Elise Doherty
Emmy Helmer                 Emerson Kalb        
Ivar Helmer                     Kino Arias

Henrik Ibsen, known as the father of modern drama, wrote A Doll's House, published in 1879, based on a real-life story. Ibsen's work challenged the socially accepted views on women in society, however, Ibsen noted his intention was never to advocate for the rights of women. To him, it was always a question of human rights. As his female protagonist, Nora says, "before all else, I am a human being".

Many Thanks,

Renee O'Connor-Sura,  Artistic Producer

Xena and Gabrielle Funkos

• 
  Update for Aussies: You can buy the new Funkos from JB Hi Fi and other stores. Amazon.com will deliver to Oz but for some reason they are not available on the Amazon au store.

12 January 2025

House of Bards

Tickets for A Doll's House are available

A Doll's House
by Henrik Ibsen
The El Segundo Performing Arts Center
Dates: January 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26
FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS, 7:30 PM, SUNDAYS 3:00PM

Tickets available here

Renee to attend Fanboy Expo in Knoxville

• Renee to attend Fanboy Expo between July 11-12, 2025

09 January 2025

To everyone who is the major bushfire in California, please keep safe! This is HUGE.

Xena News

Official Funko News – We Have New Xena and Gabrielle Funkos! Check out the news and how to get them!
 

New Renee Video with her Gabrielle Funko!

• As Renee says in her video clip… SHE’S A COLLECTIBLE! Go check out Renee’s clip as she show’s off her little Funko Gabrielle
   

06 December 2024

Xena: Their Courage Changed Our World 30th Anniversary Edition

• The submission form for bards/writers, artists (video and art) and Xenite stories of how Xena changed your life is now available.
  The deadline is February 28, 2024.

A Dolls House Update

• Renee has announced that tickets for A Dolls House will be available this weekend! House of Bards will be posting the link of Facebook, Renee's Official FB site and Instagram

25 November 2024

Upcoming Play: A Dolls House

From Renee's FB Page:

Renee at Fanboy Expo

If you are in Knoxville, here's a chance to see Renee at Fanboy Expo next July!

From their FB announcement: Join us July 11-12 for Fanboy Expo Knoxville at the Knoxville Convention Center. Best known for her iconic role as Gabrielle in Xena Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.

Tickets, Autographs and Photo Ops are now on sale www.fanboyexpo.com

15 October 2024

Renee's New Artwork

• Check Out Renee's Stunning New Artwork!

Site News

• Finally caught up with archiving news from 2023 & 2024!

2025 Salute to Xena (30th Anniversary Convention)

• 2025 Salute to Xena Con Update

AUSXIP on hiatus from 05 September 2024 to 12 October 2024

Hi folks.

Yes, the site has been a little quiet since the end of the AUSXIP Charity Auction on September 4, 2024. I have a great reason. I took a 60th birthday (yeay) Eat Pray Love overseas holiday that spanned three different continents for five weeks! Life changing event! I'm now back and regular updates will start again!

The big news from the charity auction is that we raised just over $12,000 - will have a definite total in the new few days.

The other big news...

HURRICANE MILTON!

To all the Xenites in the path of Milton, we are thinking of you and hoping you are safe! This is a monster hurricane (or as Aussies call it, a cyclone).

Milton MAY impact the AUSXIP Server which is housed in Tampa and it may go down but servers can be rebuilt, losing people to a raging hurricane cannot.
Please take care and know that millions are wishing for the best!

MaryD
 

24 August 2024

AUSXIP Greater Good Charity Auction

The countdown to the 2024 AUSXIP Charity Auction has started! The Auction Catalog is now available (PDF),
You have 8 days to go through the extensive catalog and bookmark them. You either click on the image or the item description to get to the auction page for the item.

Auction Catalog and FAQ can now be accessed via

https://charity.ausxip.com

If you would like to donate only without bidding, we also have a donation section. Your contribution will be part of the overall Charity Auction total.

New Starship / AUSXIP Payment Portal

• 2024 AUSXIP Charity Auction New Starship Payment Portal

Xena 30th Anniversary Con

• 2025 Salute to Xena Con Update – Shiri Appleby Added

28 June 2024
 

2025 Salute to Xena 30th Anniversary Con
 

• 2025 Salute to Xena Con Update - More Guests Added

Renee in "The Plays The Thing"

Renee was in "The Plays The Thing" and there are some awesome pics of Renee in the show

Instagram:

• https://www.instagram.com/p/C8sPFwvyPzW/?img_index=1
• https://www.instagram.com/p/C8npKoPPafv/

Video / Instagram

Renee shares a video of her showing the process for making the encaustic paintings (stunning pieces of art!)

• Watch it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C7fpB_JpH7z/

18 June 2024

Xena / AUSXIP Charity Auction
 

• Xena Re-Imagined – New Poster for 2024 AUSXIP Charity Auction
  Playing with AI and Photoshop and it turned out pretty well. Xena Reimagined. This will be poster size for the next AUSXIP Charity Auction to raise money for The Starship Foundation in this year's AUSXIP Charity Auction (Starship Foundation and The House of Bards)

16 June 2024

Xena

• Adventures in AI – Top 10 Episodes of Xena
  AI is hysterical sometimes and this is one of those times. Check out this list of Top 10 Xena Episodes. I would love have seen the revised AI version of Send in the Clones. Sounds fascinating! I think the AI model is a Joxer fan!

11 June 2024

2024 AUSXIP Charity Auction

• 2024 AUSXIP Charity Auction Starts on September 1!

22 April 2024

Renee Video - Instagram
 

• This goes under "how did I miss this?!" section - Renee kickboxing (not as a Gabrielle). Awesome form!

11 March 2024

Hey folks, took a much needed break and now I'm back! Let's play catchup with the news that I missed while I was away.

Renee Interview Video

• Renee appeared on Aussie TV to promote Xena, House of Bards and some PR for Lucy's doco about Margaret Moth

Renee Art

• Renee has created a new Instagram account for her gorgeous art! Check it out.
   

Xena

• Did You Know Xena Was Originally Supposed To Die Before Getting Her Own Show? (what a colossal mistake that would have been!). Add a dark haired Lucy and a feisty blonde Renee and you get the wunderkind of Xena: Warrior Princess!  Speaking of Xena... Episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess is airring on SYFY in honour of Women's History Month!

25 February 2024

Salute to Xena - 30th Anniversary Con
 

• Salute to Xena 30th Anniversary Convention Update – Tix and Hotel Update

23 February 2024

AUSXIP Charity Auction - 2024

September 1 - 4, 2023

If you have no registered for ANY of the AUSXIP Charity Auctions in the past, please don't leave it to the last minute. Register here: https://charity.ausxip.com

15 February 2024
 

Happy Birthday Renee! Today is Renee's birthday and we wish her all the best!

04 February 2024

Updated info about 30th Anniversary Convention

The convention days are wrong; someone at Creation had an oopsie day and there was a typo on the original schedule. It's January 31 to 2 February 2025. Many thanks to Andrea Bliss for the update!
 

03 February 2024

Xena: 30 Year Anniversary Creation Entertainment Convention!

• 2025 Xena Convention – 3 Days Celebrating Xena's 30th Anniversary!

Xena: Their Courage Changed Our World 25th Anniversary

• Xena: Their Courage Changed Our World Auctioned at 2024 Xena Con…

Xena Documentary - Xena: No Apologies

• Xena Documentary – Xena: No Apologies (Watch video promo)
  After years of hearing about a Xena documentary being in the works, we seem to have a liftoff! Trigold Entertainment's Judy Kim has taken on the task of producing the doco about made Xena so special!

16 January 2024

Renee O'Connor

a HUGE congratulations to Renee and The House of Bards for winning SIX awards at the 2023 Broadway World Regional Awards:

• Favorite Local Theatre Company
• Best Play
• Best Lighting Design
• Best Costume Design
• Best Sound Design
• Best Theatre for Young Audiences

Bravo!

More Renee and Steven Sears news..

Renee is directing the show Matilda; The Musical with Steven L Sears as Trunchbull. Don't miss out on that (if you are in the area!)
The show is on January 19-21 at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center

Where: 1935 Manhattan Beach Boulevard, Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Friday, January 19 - 7:30 pm
Saturday, January 20 - 2:00 pm
Saturday, January 20 - 7:30 pm
Sunday, January 21 - 2:00 pm

Use Code WebsaleMatilda to get more than 50% off your order!! (Official code)

Tickets can be bought from here:
https://www.encoresouthbay.org/tickets.html

Adrienne Wilkinson

Speaking of Renee... she teamed up with Adrienne to create this incredibly funny tiktok video. Adrienne has a whole series of these clips. Just hysterical. Sit back and enjoy!

@yoadriennew #ohno #shrinkage #moms #solution #fix #xenatok #momsoftiktok #xena #weapon #reneeoconnor ♬ original sound - AdrienneWilkinson.com

09 November 2023

A MESSAGE FROM Renee and House of Bards Theatre Company

Thank you for taking a moment to read this note from us, at the House of Bards Theatre Company!

We are honored to share that many of our Cast AND our Creative Team for A Midsummer Night's Dream have been nominated for the Broadway World Regional Theatre Awards. Please vote for us in all categories! Thank you!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/voteregion.cfm

* Best Play, A Midsummer Night's Dream
* Best Direction of a Play, Renee O'Connor-Sura, A Midsummer Night's Dream
* Best Ensemble, A Midsummer Night's Dream
* Best Performer in a Play: Rachel Levy, Don Schlossman, Steven L Sears, Celina Surniak, Alex Sheldon, Lindsay Mayberry, Dane Larsen
* Best Supporting Performer in a Play: Helen Roundhill, Dane Larsen, Zoo Holston, Jim Rice, Lindsay Mayberry, Allen Barstow, Steven L Sears, Claire Griswold, Rachel Levy, Amanda Charney, Anne Elise Doherty, Perry Shields
* Best Costume Design, Amy Setterlund, A Midsummer Night's Dream
* Best Lighting Design for a Play, David Zahacewski, A Midsummer Night's Dream
* Best Scenic Design Of A Play Or Musical, Craig Benson, A Midsummer Night's Dream
* Favorite Local Theatre Company

https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/voteregion.cfm

Many Thanks,

Renee O'Connor,
Artistic Producer, House of Bards Theatre Company

27 August 2023

Yes, I'm still alive! Sorry for the quiet nature of the site but it's about to get very busy and exciting! We have nearly 200 items and they are incredibly cool!

Renee has been SO gracious in donating some of her incredible art. You have to check them out

Autographed Renee O'Connor Art: "Tiger" Metal Print 11 x 14

Autographed Renee O'Connor Art: "Blue Ocean" Metal Print 12 x 18

The countdown to the 2023 AUSXIP Charity Auction has started! The Auction Catalog is now available (PDF),
The Auction FAQ is now available.

You have 5 days to go through the extensive catalog (nearly 200 items) and bookmark them. You either click on the image or the item description to get to the auction page for the item.

Auction Catalog
https://ausxip.com/auction/AUSXIPAuctionCatalog2023.pdf

Auction FAQ
https://ausxip.com/auction/auction-faq

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

BATTLE ON!
MaryD

28 June 2023

The WGA Strike - Xena Picket is on TODAY

The WGA Strike:  #Xena Picket is on TODAY (28 June)

Where: NBCU Universal, 3969 Lankershim Blvd, Studio City 91604

Time: PDT 10 am to 2pm

Cast & Writers: Renee O'Connor, Steven L. Sears, Katherine Fugate and more.

Food is being sponsored by Rob Tapert, Lucy Lawless and Katherine Fugate!

Xena costumes are encouraged! Let's show our support for our Xena Writers!

Xenite Memorial Service for Tiger Tyler!

• Xenite Memorial: A moving memorial service honoring Tiger's life was held on June 24, 2023. Her family and Xenites were present. Her wife, Marilyn Edwards, and friends, including Steven L. Sears and Renee O'Connor spoke. Watch the video now.

25 June 2023

WGA Strike - Message from Katherine Fugate

• WGA Update: Katherine Fugate Message Xena Themed Picket Plus Renee, Rob and Lucy Involved!
  Message from Katherine Fugate about the Special PICKET SCHEDULE for next Wednesday, June 28th from 10am to 2pm - It's Xena themed! Renee O'Connor will be there, Rob Tapert, Lucy Lawless and Katherine are sponsoring the lunch!

11 June 2023

WGA Strike - Xena Writers

 Renee will be attending the WGA Xena Writers Event on June 28, 2023!

• WGA Strike: Join Xena Writers and Special Guests on June 28, 2023!

04 June 2023

Renee's new art (to raise money for The House of Bards) on her Official Instagram Account

• The Tiger (I have a thing for Big Cats and Renee's art)
• The Sea (this is unbelievably STUNNING piece of art!)
• The Turtles!

20 April 2023

House of Bards New Production and Message From Renee!

Renee is producing / directing a new show at the Grand Annex in San Pedro: A Midsummer Night's Dream, by William Shakespeare

Message from Renee about the show

Dear Friends, Family, and Patrons of the House of Bards Theatre Company,

Please join me for our enchanting production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. An immersive, magical forest, and its inhabitants, are waiting to catch your imaginations and your hearts!

A Midsummer Night's Dream, by William Shakespeare
Performing at the Grand Annex, 434 6th Street, San Pedro, California

Performances Dates: April 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, and May 5, 6, 7.

FRIDAYS, SATURDAY, 7:30 PM
SUNDAYS 2:00PM

Also, tickets are available for our Live Stream, broadcast from the Grand Annex.
April 22, 2023
SATURDAY, 7:30 PM

Tickets are available at https://www.HouseofBards.org

Many Thanks,

Renee O'Connor-Sura, Artistic Producer

25 March 2023

House of Bards

• Renee gives an exclusive look into how Puck will be portrayed in the upcoming product of A Midsummer Night's Dream
• House of Bards introduces the creative team for our upcoming play, A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Xena Press Roundup

• Greek Boston Who Were the Maenads of Greek Mythology?
• Unlikely But Iconic TV Duos, Ranked Xena as #1
• Best Recurring Characters on Xena: Warrior Princess, Ranked

18 February 2023

Xena Conventions

• Creation Announces 2024 Salute to Xena Con in Burbank!

15 February 2023

Happy Birthday Renee!!

14 February 2023

Cyclone Gabrielle Batters New Zealand

Well Cyclone Gabrielle has battered New Zealand over the last few days. Unfortunately two people have lost their lives and so many have had major damage to their homes.

Another shocking development was Amber Rhodes (Amber was Renee's double on the show) had her home demolished by Gabrielle.

• There is now a fundraising page where you can donate if you want to help out. More info here

11 February 2023

The House of Bards News! Renee sent out a new message via her official FB page

April 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 and May 5, 6, 7

07 September 2022

Xena Art

• Added: Patricia Parker's art gallery
• Updated: Saul Trabal's Gallery with new artwork

04 September 2022

AUSXIP Charity Auction

Thank you Xenites for yet another awesome auction result!

• 2022 AUSXIP Charity Auction Ends!

Xena

• Happy Birthday Xena!

02 September 2022

The 16th Annual AUSXIP Charity Auction is now live!
https://charity.ausxip.com

Xena Art

• We welcome Patricia Parker to the AUSXIP Xena Art Gallery! She has created a STUNNING Xena and Gabrielle artwork!

Theatre: 1984

• Renee's  House of Bards production George Orwell's 1984 is heading to the Grand Annex Theatre in San Pedro from 17, 18, 19, 20, 26 and 27 November. Tickets now available!

10 August 2022

AUSXIP Charity Auction

• The catalog of goodies on the 16th Annual AUSXIP Charity Auction will be dropping next week. I keep trying to release it but keep getting more stuff which only pushes the catalog release back. It's a nice problem to have!
• Registrations are now open BUT they will close soon. Sign up now or miss out https://charity.ausxip.com

House of Bards News

• Renee is directing a new House of Bards production in November 2022. HOB will be bringing George Orwell's 1984 to the stage! Renee has announced the new show on her official instagram account. Read more here

24 June 2022

The following was posted by Renee on her Insta account

Save the date!! On 7/28/22 I will be the one of the guests for the next LIVE! Armchair ArtWalk Tour, for a discussion of “Actors on Actors” with host Linda Grimes and actress Rachel Levy. Zoom registration is required for the LIVE Armchair, please go to https://tinyurl.com/36snnrrd

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. This will be a live stream on their official Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/SPWArtsDistrict 

25 April 2022

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

There's only 3 more peformances of the House of Bards' The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. The final performance on May 1 will have something special included - for those that can't be there, you can live stream it! Check out the dates of the last performances. I'm going to enjoy the show via streaming. If you are in on the East Coast of Oz, then it starts at 7 AM on the 2 May.

Dates and Times:⁠

Fri, April 29, 2022 @ 7:30 PM⁠
Sat, April 30, 2022 @ 7:30 PM⁠
Sun, May 1, 2022 @ 2:00 PM

To buy tickets for the in person performance go here: https://house-of-bards-theatre-company.ticketleap.com/the-tragedy-of-romeo-and-juliet/

To buy tickets for the May 1 streaming tix go here: https://house-of-bards-theatre-company.ticketleap.com/live-stream-performance/

20 April 2022

Message from Renee on Facebook

Renee O'Connor

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is opening this Friday, April 22nd.
Get your tickets today at https://www.HouseofBards.org

LIVE STREAMING MAY 1ST, from our closing show at 2:00 PM (Pacific Standard Time)
Repost from @warnergrand_grandannex

The Romeo and Juliet cast is rehearsing hard for opening night next week!

From left to right: Balthazar, Peter, Juliet, Abram, Prince, Lady Montague, Lord Montague, Nurse, Gregory, Benvolio, Tybalt, Friar Lawrence, Servant, Paris, Mercutio, Lord Capulet, Romeo, Lady Capulet, and the Director Renee O'Connor.⁠
⁠
Dates and Times:⁠
Fri, April 22, 2022 @ 7:30 PM⁠
Sat, April 23, 2022 @ 7:30 PM⁠
Sun, April 24, 2022 @ 2:00 PM⁠
Fri, April 29, 2022 @ 7:30 PM⁠
Sat, April 30, 2022 @ 7:30 PM⁠
Sun, May 1, 2022 @ 2:00 PM

8 April 2022

Romeo and Juliet Update! Message from Renee

Renee sent a messsage on Facebook about the upcoming Romeo & Juliet production she is directing. Wish I could go to this show!

Hi Friends!
If you live in Los Angles, please come see our show! I am directing an energetic and classically romantic production of The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, with a stellar Cast and Creative Team. There are six shows and a live stream.

Don't miss us!! SIX VIBRANT SHOWS, offering limited seating, with live musical accompaniment, only at The Grand Annex, in the Arts District of San Pedro, California. Live Stream broadcast from the closing show, on May 1st, 2:00 Pacific Standard Time All Tickets available now: April 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and May 1st. https://www.HouseofBards.org

27 February 2022

Upcoming House of Bards Show - Romeo and Juliet!

The  House of Bards has a new show in April. Interesting list of actors including Steven L. Sears!
ROMEO & JULIET Only Six performances with limited seating.
Opening April 22, 2022. Renee's daughter, Iris, plays the role of Juliet!

2022 Production of William Shakespeare's ROMEO & JULIET
APRIL 22 - MAY 1, 2022 FIRDAYS, SATURDAY, 7:30 PM SUNDAYS 2:00PM

Tickets will go on sale March 1, 2022. www.houseofbards.org

26 February 2022

Adrienne Wilkinson Raffle

• Win a 2022 Salute To Xena Convention Ticket and 2022 Xenite Retreat Ticket!

15 February 2022

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RENEE!!!

Today is Renee's birthday and we want to wish her all the very best!

01 February 2022

Renee Directing Romeo & Juliet

• Renee has announced she is going to be directing Romeo & Juliet and and that cast announcements will be announced soon!

Renee's Art

• New Renee Art on Renee's Official Instagram Account

11 January 2022

The Xena Image Galleries have been updated on AUSXIP!

Episode Stills

• Gabrielle (standlone) Images
• Xena and Gabrielle (standlone) Images
• Behind The Scenes
• Behind The Scenes - Who's Gurkhan

10 January 2022

MaryD Art

My art galleries have been restored

• Xena Episode Art Seasons 01-06
• Gabrielle
• Xena and Gabrielle
• Fan Fiction Covers
• Subtext Virtual Season
• Renee O'Connor Art

Xena Images

The Xena Image Galleries have been restored

• The Xena Episode Stills Galleries for Seasons 1 - 6
• The Xenaverse Art Galleries - Featuring Xenaverse Artists
• Aiglon's Art Gallery

01 January 2022

HERE'S TO A SAFE NEW YEAR!

Wishing everyone a safe 2022. Keep yourselves and your family safe. Wishing everyone the best for 2022.

MaryD

19 December 2021

Renee's Art!

• Renee Hosts HOB Fundraiser with Her Art

• Renee and Lucy Compete on 2021 Tiny Kitchen Tastemade 

28 October 2021

Renee on My Life is Murder

• Images: Renee in My Life is Murder Season 2 Episode 10

27 October 2021

MaryD's Blog

• When The Jacaranda Trees Bloom

Xena

• Lucy Wants To Return For Xena Reboot To Pass On Mantle & Retire
• DC: 10 TV Heroes Exactly Like Wonder Woman - Including Xena

18 October 2021

Renee O'Connor

My Life is Murder

• Renee Posts Photos from My Life is Murder...
• My Life is Murder Season 2 Episode 10 (with Renee O'Connor)
• Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor Talk Reuniting for MY LIFE IS MURDER - nerdist.com

Beauty and the Beast

• Photos: Behind The Scenes of Beauty and the Beast with Renee

16 October 2021

Renee / My Life is Murder

• 'Xena' stars Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor reunite after 20 years

10 October 2021

Renee & Lucy

• Renee and Lucy Spotted in Austin
• Lucy and Renee Compete on Tiny Kitchen Cook-Off!

more news, click here for archived news