February 2020 Archives

Message from Renee about upcoming auditions for Beauty and the Beast that she will be directing!

Check the website for audition materials, especially a song change for ages 4-11.

See you soon!!

Renee
www.ENCOREsouthbay.org

Renee O'Connor, Alexandra Tydings and Katherine Fugate have combined (how's that for some stellar women) for an event called Spill The Xena Tea. There will be tea and prizes.

Inspired by @cmclymer @AngryBlackLady and #SpillTheTeaForWarren We bring you #SpillTheXenaTea! Tea and prizes from Renee O'Connor @alextydings and me. We believe @ewarren has the intelligence, drive, empathy to lead. Our goal is $25k for Liz! @AUSXIPMaryDhttps://t.co/6FiyapDKzy

— Katherine Fugate (@katherinefugate) February 27, 2020

There is no doubt that Xena is a force to be reckoned with. The Chakram-throwing warrior has faced off with formidable foes and even the gods themselves. What better way to celebrate her badassery than a trade paperback of Xena: Warrior Princess: Road Warrior, her recent series from Dynamite.

Written by Vita Ayala (Black Panther, Shuri, Wonder Woman, The Wilds), the run features art by Olympia Sweetman, Vasco Georgiev, Jordi Perez, and Erica D’Urso. Cover art for the 128-page book comes from artist David Mack. Read the synopsis from the publisher below:

Xena: Warrior Princess: Road Warrior

She has outwitted gods, defeated massive armies and found redemption through conquering insurmountable tasks.

In a time of ancient gods, warlords and kings…a land in turmoil called out for a hero! She was XENA, a mighty princess forged in the heat of battle! In this all-new series, writer VITA AYALA (Black Panther, Shuri, Wonder Woman, The Wilds) and artist OLYMPIA SWEETMAN throw Xena and her companion Gabrielle headfirst into a mysterious adventure. Can Xena discover the secrets of a village full of super-strong children, before jealous and petty GODS get involved?

Xena: Warrior Princess: Road Warrior is set to hit stores on Wednesday February 19. Head to your favorite local comic shop to secure your copy, and check out Dynamite’s website to order online. The Beat received the entire first chapter of the book. Read it here for free!

The New Zealand Herald took a look at some of the best spinoffs and of course, Xena: Warrior Princess is listed because it was a spectacular spinoff from it's parent Hercules.

SIDESHOW GODS: FIVE MORE TOP TV SPIN-OFFS
New Zealand Herald
20 February 2020

SETTING ASIDE the endless NCIS, Law & Order and Chicago iterations, here are some other great spin-offs with slightly more organic origins.

XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS (1995-2001)

Cast in this New Zealand-shot series at the last minute, Lucy Lawless went on to become a queer icon thanks to her steely, textured and hilarious portrayal of a bad girl trying to do good. The show ended up surpassing its parent series, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, both in quality and cultural significance.

Source: Printed Edition, NZ HERALD 20 February 2020

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Come and Audition for Beauty and the Beast! @encoresouthbay #directinglife

A post shared by Renee O'Connor (@realreneeoconnor) on Feb 10, 2020 at 12:58pm PST

Rehearsal and Performance Information

Age Requirements: All ages 5 through adult

Orientation/Auditions: Sun, March 1 @ 12:00pm Orientation (all required to attend)
@ TBD (Location will be in/around South Torrance)

Callbacks: March 2 & 3rd by invitation only.

Callback Location: Location will be in/around South Torrance

Rehearsal Times: Thursdays, 4:00-9:30pm beginning March 5th, Tuesdays as needed.

Rehearsal Locations: Location will be in/around South Torrance

Tech Week: June 21-25th

Performance Dates: June 26-28

Performance and Tech Week Location: Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach
Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Additional Important Dates: Parent Meetings: 1st: Sunday March 1st @ 12pm, 2nd: June 21 or 22 @ 4pm,
3rd (TBD)

CO-OP FEES due 4/2
TICKET FEES due 5/21

Important Note: Every cast member may declare up to 3 con??ict dates on their audition form,
and may add up to ONE additional con??ict due to family obligations. Any additional con??icts may result in
the cast member being removed from their lead/featured part, taken out of a scene or put on understudy
status.

Tuition and Fee Information

We will place all fees on your family account the week after registration. Fees are due on speci??c dates but
may be paid at any time prior to the due date. Late Fees of $15 per week will be added to any fees not paid
on time.

*Tuition: $550
2nd Sibling $450
3rd Sibling $350
4th Sibling $250

Parent Participants: $325 (For parents of concurrently enrolled ENCORE students)
Co-op Fee: $100 - Due 4/2 (May be o??set by selling an ad to an outside business)
Tickets: 20 tickets per family ( approx $400) (due 5/21)

ENROLL
https://app.iclasspro.com/parentportal/encoresouthbay/camps?camptype=2

In a time when reboots abound from film to television, there are a few noticeable titles missing. The reboot of Charmed upgraded the story of witch sisters to fit a modern, intersectional audience. Roswell, New Mexico took inspiration from the original teen show but is back with the dream team that brought fans The Vampire Diaries.

Not all reboots evoke nostalgia. Rather, they make the franchise their own, like Netflix's The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, turning the bright and sunny Sabrina the Teenage Witch into a gritty horror show. While the trend lasts, here are 10 shows that should get a reboot.

#5 XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS

The spinoff of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys had its own successful run of six seasons. Thankfully, visual and special effects improved with advanced technology, which would make a reboot of the adventure dramedy even better.

It's hard to step into the shoes of the legendary Lucy Lawless, but another fine actress out there could take on the mantle. Also, the show wouldn't have to beat around the bush for so long regarding the nature of Xena and Gabrielle's relationship. It's time for the queer representation the fans deserve.

Read More

Well this is a first (not that Xena was listed as one TV's Best Spinoffs in Rolling Stone). We all know Xena was the best spinoff but I was alerted to this article by Renee herself! I'm not sure of the date of the article but that will be forthcoming.

Thanks Renee!

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Check it out, Pac-Ren friends and Xenites. #rollingstonemagazine Best TV Spin off XENA ????????

A post shared by Renee O'Connor (@realreneeoconnor) on Feb 2, 2020 at 1:14pm PST