The problems of living in community were dramatized for this rewarding play, “As it is in Heaven” from Actors Ensemble of Berkeley. On a cool night Linda and I visited the comfortable theatre that is part of a recreational center, getting there via directions by MapQuest that led us directly to the foot of the location we wanted to be: Live Oak Theatre, Berkeley, CA USA.

Known better as Actors Ensemble of Berkeley, and well said since the all woman cast of this “Spiritual Drama” was polished and practiced, that their rehearsal and study paid off shown well in the performance we attended on a Saturday night.

The able and even dramatically imaginary directing by Jeremy Cole in his last production of the 2009 season played so well that without nary a hitch the dance and singing, the dialogue and drama moved ahead and movingly in a coreographed series of conversation, angel sightings, character dialogue of a revealing kind on the backgrounds of these dedicated Shaker women. The women were afterall both entertainingly and skillfully played as their 19th Century simplicity of lifestyle and faith in God in Christ at their Kentucky village in Pleasant Hill.

Written with obvious compassion and feeling by playwright Arlene Hutton, this sometime comic and amusing portrayal is a two-act pleasure. As we expected, the evening was a good one as both Linda and I became involved in the lives of these devout and dedicated women of special character and conviction. The musical singing was soothing, melodic enough without being harmonic (appropriately so for Shakers, we learned), and all in all the event was worth the 50 minute drive from where I live in Mill Valley, CA (north of San Francisco).

The North Berkeley location is well lit, and the man behind the ticket counter amusing as he took our money or did the will-call ticket check-in with a little story or a few words to each patron in line. An hospitable experience by the young man who wore a fashionable hat while keeping the line going.

The theatre house blurb notes of the play: “Based on actual events from the Era of Manifestations in the late 1830’s, “AIIIH” interprets a time when reports came to light of young Shaker girls experiencing unusual trancelike activities, communication with angels, and descriptive journeys to heavenly places.”

Let me note that the Deacon was well played and with a fierceness that was convincing and effective. The elder of the Shaker village women showed her steadfast willingness to keep the community stable and long lasting, though required to make tough decisions about the lives of her flock. An admirable and mature performance by the actress was obvious. In fact, the entire range of performance was mature in outlook and rendering, no small feat given the various emotions and situations of a living kind the women practiced in their work of getting along, living together in religious community.

In conclusion, let the playgoer know that this ensemble play acting will entice and even bring joy with some edification to the fortunate theatre goer who takes the extra measure of checking out Actors Ensemble of Berkeley’s very good production of “As It is in Heaven.” Certainly, this is a theatre that gives value for the price of admission judging by this show, the first Linda and I have attended.
 

If you’re a young musician wanting to break into the world of the West End theatre orchestras, where do you start?

It is impossible to walk into a West End pit job (or “hold a chair”) with no previous experience. Therefore, your first task is to deputise for the existing players in a show.

It may come as a surprise that players who hold a chair would need a deputy. You might expect a chair holder to play at all performances, but there is an unwritten rule that says that players can take some shows off. It might be because they have other commitments, taken on before being offered the show. In my case, my first West End depping appeared because the keyboard player on Me and My Girl was also the assistant conductor, and needed a regular dep because he conducted at least one show a week.

If you want to deputise as a musical theatre pit musician, put yourself in the mindset of the orchestral player you want to work for. If a musical theater orchestral player needs a dep (and they do, quite frequently), there are at least seven things they look for in a musician.

1. Can you do the job? The West End is the highest arena for orchestral pit playing in musical theatre. The players are, without exception, extremely good at what they do. Are you up to the standard of everyone else? When you hit the West End, everyone expects you to be able to play the notes in time, in tune and in style – that’s a given. You need to demonstrate that you can play the instruments, play the music and fit in with the existing ensemble with the minimum of fuss.

2. Can you get on with the other musicians? Bear in mind that the musician you’re depping for will not be there when you work in the pit. If you get to play a performance, but you irritate the people around you, you won’t be asked back. Getting on with your colleagues is as vital as getting on with your sponsoring musician. Will you fit into the social structure? The job is as important in the off-duty moments as the playing moments. Demonstrate that to the musician you’re depping for, and you’re half-way there.

3. Can you sightread superbly? You’ll probably be sightreading or reading music at very short notice – make sure you can do this (and count the bars rest of course). Most budding deputies in the West End begin by sitting next to the sponsoring musician in the pit once or twice. They then dep the following day, or later that week, or occasionally a month later. When you’re sitting in, take particular note of the difficult or exposed entries and the solos, those are the things you will be judged on later!

4. Does the fixer know you? West End theatre musicians are ALWAYS employed by an MU-approved orchestral fixer. It isn’t possible to work as a musician in a West End show otherwise (in fact, it’s illegal). Therefore you have to be known not only to the player but to the fixer as well. Check out the list of fixers (the Musicians’ Union can give you a list), and contact them too. If the fixer hears about you from different sources (personal approach or recommendation by another player), you’re more likely to get a foot onto the dep ladder. In my own case as a pianist, things were slightly different in that I got my name around without a fixer as a solo and rehearsal pianist – but once I got onto two fixers’ books, I was in work for six years without playing for anyone else.

5. Do you know the show, the style, the feel of the music? It’s not only competitive, the jobs are RARE! Do anything you can to know more than the other potential deputies. Take every opportunity can to see the shows you are interested in (and those you’re not), get to know the music, the style, the players. When I first worked on Les Miserables, I was asked back because I’d spent time learning the show before I arrived on the first day, and I knew it better than any other dep they’d had before.

6. What is your playing like? The sponsoring musician needs to know your playing. You’re up against other potential deps who have probably been taught by the chair holders themselves. The chair holder already has knowledge of their playing ability and their personality. Rather than taking your instrument in to a show and asking someone to hear you, booking a lesson from the resident player might be a good move. A private coaching session with the player would give him/her a chance to hear you and assess your technique and style.

7. It’s essential that you play a range of instruments. Almost all woodwind pit parts are for doubling and trebling, and if you can do flute, picc, sax AND clarinet, you’ve got a headstart. Even with the traditional musicals like Oklahoma, the wind parts are for treblers (usually clarinet/sax/flute, but occasionally for clarinet/bassoon or even flute/oboe).

And finally, expect to do some touring before working on a West End show. It’s a fairly tricky career to break into. I had been touring the UK and Europe for some time gaining experience as a pit performer before I received regular invitations to play in a West End show.

If you are determined, focus and dedication go a long way to getting where you want to be.

A large black room, a DVD player, a home theatre system and a huge screen, comfortable large bean bags and snacks and drinks on table and there you go… This is what a home theatre actually is – an ultimate viewing and listening experience. They are designed to produce an awesome experience.

It’s difficult to watch each and every movie in a theatre. It needs a lot of time and effort to go and watch movie in theatres. And most people are so engrossed in their work that they simply don’t get the time to go to theatres.

A normal TV set can never create such an amazing experience. There have been numerous changes for creating the right effects for “home cinema” and now the term Home theatre denotes an ensemble of DVD players, multi channel amplifier, and five, seven or more speakers that are connected with each other through speaker wires and controlled by a remote control. Home theatre needs a special room to operate with absolute efficiency. A closed unit with no windows and just one narrow outlet is best for the best effects. They need large space for their upkeep therefore; the space employed should have enough space for installing them,

Home Theatre Systems function to produce:

• Enhanced experience
• Qualitative video experience
• Surround sound experience

Home theatre systems combine both audio-video technology and are compatible with the latest TV sets.

A few home theatre models you could choose from are:
Videocon 5.1 Channel Home theatre system with tower speakers: consist of 5 different speakers with inbuilt amplifier. These are super bass systems with individual channel volume control for ultimate sound effects.

Sansui 5.1 channel home theatre speakers: they have output power of 3500PMPO along with full function remote control.

Pioneer, Vox, Leonard, Samsung and Mitashi are some of the most popular brands that deliver service and quality to the maximum.

Many reputed brands in home theatre system are available at www.homeshop18.com . Visit the site to choose the one best suited for your needs.

Finding America

Year Zero
McGinn/Cazale Theater
Mason Lee in Year Zero.

Michael Golamco neatly incorporates that thesis into Year Zero to show that all stories of immigrant identity struggle are part of the same story. But it takes time for the brother and sister at the center of this tenderly observed play, produced by Second Stage Uptown at the McGinn/Cazale Theater, to realize that they are not alone.

Vuthy is a 16-year-old Cambodian-American in Long Beach, Calif., whose mother fled the Khmer Rouge in the 1980s and has recently died. Played with goofy vulnerability by Mason Lee (son of the film director Ang Lee), Vuthy is a high school outcast: I am too Cambodian for the black and Latin kids, and I am not Cambodian enough for the Cambodian kids.

His older sister, Ra (Maureen Sebastian), is a student at Berkeley whose clear-cut path now seems less certain. Her well-meaning boyfriend, Glenn (Peter Kim), a Chinese-American doctor, may be too far up the Asian hierarchy to understand her. She is increasingly drawn to Han (Louis Ozawa Changchien), the muscled bad boy who grew up next door and knows more about their mothers past than Ra or Vuthy.

These characters are cut from familiar molds, but Mr. Golamco and his appealing cast bring fresh nuances, tempering the earnestness with unassuming charm. Will Frears brisk production balances minor-key comedy and affecting drama.

Like other recent plays — “Yellow Face, American Hwangapâ Year Zero explores Asian identity issues with humor and sensitivity. Mr. Golamco views all four characters with equal compassion, coaxing his orphans to move forward by looking back.

Year Zero continues through June 13 at the McGinn/Cazale Theater, 2162 Broadway, at 76th Street, fourth floor; (212) 246-4422, 2st.com.

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Sixteen-year-old Vuthy (Mason Lee) is having a rough time of it in Michael Golamco’s “Year Zero,” presented as part of Second Stage Theatre’s Uptown Series. It’s not that he’s a Dungeons & Dragons playing geek at the Long Beach, Calif., school where he doesn’t fit in. His main problems are coping with his mother’s death and having to move in with a family friend because his sister Ra (Maureen Sebastian) won’t take him to live with her and her yuppie boyfriend, Glenn (a winningly goofy Peter Kim), in Berkeley. From this scenario, which resembles a particularly thoughtful ABC Afterschool Special, Golamco spins a delicate portrait of lost souls attempting to discover their roots and navigate awkward relationships with one another.

Director Will Frears has staged the episodic play with a gentle hand and elicited finely crafted performances from his ensemble. Particularly satisfying is Lee as the young hero. He captures Vuthy’s geeky qualities with infinite charm, and during eruptions of anger or sullen bouts of poutiness he impressively manages to reveal the complex combination of confusion and vulnerability that underlies the character’s unpleasant behavior.

Equally impressive is Sebastian’s nuanced turn as Ra, who’s dealing not only with her brother’s moodiness but also her growing awareness that she didn’t really know her mother, a woman who fled the Khmer Rouge while pregnant with her daughter. Sebastian also delivers cunningly whenever Ra has to deal with Han, an ex-flame just out of prison to whom she’s still uncomfortably attracted. Louis Ozawa Changchien imbues Han with both an edge of menace and charismatic good nature.

Although Golamco has overwritten the first half of “Year Zero,” the second half proves to be incisive, both dramatically and thematically, leading to a haunting and hopeful climax

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Few things stir the Chicago soul like the opening of a new theater with the world premiere of a very smart, sweet, honest and uncommonly moving new play. You willl love the comfortable, 116-seat Studio Theater, newly carved inside the historic Biograph Theater. And you wont be able to watch “Year Zero a play about Cambodian-Americans that manages to be both arrestingly fresh and comfortingly accessible, without concluding that its 34-year-old author, the Los Angeles-based Michael Golamco, is a significant new dramatic voice.

This is also a significant leap forward for the Victory Gardens Theater, which is diversifying its stable of playwrights by developing scripts and writers through this grant-supported Ignition initiative kicking off the 2009-10 season. In the case of the Gardens, where most of the attached writers have reached a certain age, that diversification necessarily includes writers under 40.

In the case of Year Zero, which focuses on the everyday struggles of the teenage and 20-something children of the Cambodian immigrants who arrived in the U.S. in the early 1980s, following the rise of the Khmer Rouge, the Gardens has found an ideal play to ignite this exciting new initiative.

Article Resources:

http://actingclassesnyc.net/

http://theater.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/theater/reviews/03year.html?ref=reviews

http://www.backstage.com/bso/reviews-ny-theatre-off-broadway/year-zero-1004094133.story

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2009/09/year-zero-in-the-victory-gardens-studio-igniting-new-era-at-new-venue.html

The Barrow Group Theatre Company continues its 23rd season with a new adaptation of

ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE
By Henrik Ibsen

Adapted by Seth Barrish and K. Lorrel Manning
Directed by K. Lorrel Manning

The Barrow Group Theatre Company, the Drama Desk award-winning birthplace of this seasons Broadway hit A Steady Rain, and last seasons Off-Broadway hit The Temperamentals, continues their 23rd Anniversary Season with an innovative new translation and adaptation of Henrik Ibsens classic play ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, directed by K. Lorrel Manning, and adapted by Manning and TBG Artistic Director Seth Barrish.

â€ŔWe couldn’t be more excited to present this rarely produced Ibsen play in a fresh and timely new light. While holding true to the essential story of Enemy of the People, we have allowed for some radical changes including slimming down the cast size, eliminating the fifth act, smoothing out the language, and allowing women more prominent roles within the story, to name a few – to let the story to be as powerful as possible by contemporary standards.

Enemy of the People stars Edward Connors (The Lewinsky Tapes, Prison Stories), Larry Mitchell (The Departed, American Gangster, A Steady Rain at TBG), Katherine Neuman (Dream of a Blacklisted Actor), Myles OConnor (The Thickness of Skin, Eat the Runt), Clare Schmidt (Mentshn, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow), Eliza Foss (Pentecost at TBG, Ten Unknowns at LCT), Jeremy Folmer (The Fear Project), and Herbert Rubens (45 Seconds from Broadway, Band from Berlin, Requiem for a Heavyweight on Broadway).

Performances run Saturday, February 6th through Monday, March 8th.

The schedule is as follows: Friday thru Monday @ 8pm, Sunday @ 3pm

Tickets are $25 and available at www.smarttix.com or by calling 212-868-4444.

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BIOS

Seth Barrish (adaptation, co-artistic director and founder) is an award-winning director, actor, composer, and musical director whose work has been enjoyed internationally, Off-Broadway, and regionally. His directing credits include: Mike Birbiglias Sleepwalk With Me, David Edgars Pentecost (Drama Desk Nomination, BEST PLAY), Martin Morans The Tricky Part (Two Drama Desk Nominations, BEST PLAY & BEST SOLO SHOW, Obie Award), and Jon Marans Old Wicked Songs (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award & Garland Award for Best Direction, Pulitzer Prize Nomination), Thy Kingdoms Coming, Lonely Planet, Good (Straw Hat Award for Best Direction), Ghost in the Machine, Tales From Hollywood, Greetings, Beau Jest, Three Sisters, and When You Comin Back Red Ryder?. He has worked at many notable theatres including The Intiman, The Promenade, McCarter, Long Wharf, Sundance Theatre Lab, The Geffen Playhouse, The Asolo Performing Arts Center, The Bleecker Street Theater, Playhouse 91, La Mama E.T.C., The Perry Street Theatre, Capital Rep, Shakespeare & Co., and The Barrow Group, and has made numerous film and television appearances. Mr. Barrish is a Master Teacher at The Barrow Group School, continuing to educate and inspire a multitude of working and student actors. He has also served as a Master Teacher at the International Directors Symposium in Spoleto, Italy. He is author of the book An Actors Companion 99 Bits of Craft.

K. Lorrel Manning (adaptation and director) just finished shooting the feature film Happy New Year, which he wrote and directed, based on his award-winning short film of the same title. His additional works include, A&J Rule the Universe, a prelude to the Columbine massacre, which ran Off-Broadway in 2006, and Wool, for which he was awarded a New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) fellowship. Mannings plays have been developed at theatres throughout New York City, including the Roundabout, the Rattlestick and the Barrow Group. He is a co-founder (with Michael Cuomo) of One Light Left, a full-service production company dedicated to telling stories that would otherwise go unheard, and he is the lead singer of the rock band, La Res (www.vivelares.com). He holds an MFA in Film from Columbia University.

Edward Connors (John Aslaksen) Edward studied with Seth Barrish and has appeared with The Barrow Group in its Short Stuff I and IV workshop productions, in works by Joe DiPietro and Barbara Lindsay, as well as in excerpts of John Spellos’s Feet of Clay at the John Houseman Theatre in A Tribute to Atrhur Cantor and in numerous versions of Outcast Production’s ongoing workshop of Sex, which originated as part of the Reading Series at The Barrow Group. He has performed at the 78th Street Theatre Lab in Laura Strausfeld’s The Lewinsky Tapes, Theatre for the New City and La Mama in S. Heidi Arbiter’s Prison Stories, the Theatre at Holy Cross in Stephanie Griffin’s Trouble in Paradise, JB Priestly’s Dangerous Corner for Steppin Out Rep, Kafka’s The Trial at the Horace Mann Theatre, and Holding Hands for the HB Playwrights Foundation.

Jeremy Folmer (Greg Billings) was last seen in The Fear Project with TBG. Other TBG projects: Stop Kiss, The Fall Feature, Short Stuff II, Short Stuff III. New York theatre: The Baby Dance, A Phoenix Too Frequent, The Gingham Dog, Scooter Thomas Makes it to the Top of the World, The Region of Shadows, Siren Song of Stephen J. Gould. Regional theatre: Hamlet, Hair, Oklahoma, The Way of the World, The Lower Depths, and Camille. In addition to theatre Jeremy has appeared in a few independent films as well as â€ŔThe Guiding Light, â€ŔAll My Children and â€ŔAs the World Turns. Jeremy has been a part of TBG community since 1997. B.F.A. from USC. His greatest accomplishment Emma his 5 ½ year old daughter.

Eliza Foss (Linda Hovstad) NY Stage: Heart of City (Theater at 30th Street); Pentecost and Natural Selection (The Barrow Group); Ten Unknowns (Lincoln Center); Beau Jest (Lamb’s Theater) and Coriolanus (The Public Theater). Regional: The Mercy Seat (Stamford Theatre Works), Dinner with Friends (Hartford Theatreworks), The Road to Mecca (Portland Stage), The Diary of Anne Frank (Cleveland Playhouse) and The Company of Women (TheatreVirginia) T.V: â€ŔLaw & Order, â€ŔLaw & Order SVU. Film: Split Ends, Chutney Popcorn.

Katherine Neuman (Catherine Stockmann) is very happy to be back at The Barrow Group. Previous TBG appearances include Short Stuff and Dream of a Blacklisted Actor, and she is a proud member of FAB Women, TGBs new development group. She has also appeared in productions at New York Shakespeare Festival, Ensemble Studio Theater, Primary Stages, Soho Rep, MTC, The Jewish Rep, and The Toybox Theater Company, among others. She has worked with such regional theaters as The Long Wharf, The Philadelphia Theater Company, Florida Rep, The Renegade Theater, etc. TV work includes â€ŔAll My Children â€ŔGuiding Light (R.I.P.), and â€ŔTales From the Darkside. She was featured in the Miramax film Playing for Keeps. Much love and many, many thanks to David and Elias for all their love and support.

Clare Schmidt (Petra Stockman) originally hails from Bellingham Washington. She moved to Ohio for school, and graduated from Otterbein College with her BFA last year. Since graduation she has worked as an understudy at the, Contemporary American Theatre Festival, and has been seen in Mentshn (New Worlds Theatre Project), The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (The Red Door Theatre Company), along with various short films, and commercials.

By the end of the Second World War, up to a third of Berlin had been destroyed by concerted Allied air raids and street fighting. The so-called Stunde Null marked a new beginning for the city. Greater Berlin was divided into four sectors by the Allies under the London Protocol of 1944, one each for:

• the United States, consisting of the Boroughs of Neukölln, Kreuzberg, Tempelhof, Schöneberg, Steglitz and Zehlendorf;(See : commandants of Berlin American Zone)
• the United Kingdom, consisting of the Boroughs of Tiergarten, Charlottenburg, Wilmersdorf and Spandau; (See :commandants of Berlin British Zone)
• France, consisting of the Boroughs of Wedding and Reinickendorf; (See :commandants of Berlin French Zone)
• the Soviet Union, consisting of the Boroughs of Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, Pankow, Weißensee, Friedrichshain, Lichtenberg, Treptow, and Köpenick; (See :commandants of Berlin Soviet Zone) .

Berlin was the capital of Prussia until 1945 and the capital of Germany between 1871 and 1945 and again since the reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990. (The German parliament, called Bundestag, and the German government moved from Bonn to Berlin in 1999.) Between 1949 and 1990, it was divided into East Berlin, the capital of the German Democratic Republic, and West Berlin. It was divided by the Berlin Wall between August 13, 1961, and November 9, 1989.

In present Berlin has so much attraction in his lap with lots of amazing moments. Berlin is back on today’s city skyline with the magnificently restored golden dome of the 19th-century New Synagogue. Also has captured a lot joys and unforgettable moments with its wonderful attractions bunches.

Travel from London to Berlin by London Berlin Train:

Train journeys from London to Germany generally start from London St Pancras International Station on the Eurostar.This is the best travel mode while thinking about the momentum journey. The most logical routing is via Brussels in Belgium with the fastest journeys taking just over ten hours.

The Eurostar trains stop in Belgium at Brussels Midi Eurostar station from where it is about a 15-minute walk for transfers to regular long-distance trains. Eurostar trains have check-in times, usually half an hour before listed departure time, while other trains can be boarded up to seconds prior to departure.

From Brussels-Midi station, travelers can take either the Thalys TGV or the Germany Inter-City-Express (ICE) train to Cologne Main Station (Köln Hauptbahnhof). The journey is two hours fifteen minutes. From Cologne, frequent ICE trains run to Berlin in just over four hours.

London To Berlin by Eurostar:

Eurostar trains are the fastest means of transport across Europe. You can easily travel from one country to another within couple of hours with high speed Eurostar (186mph). The Eurostar trains are the most convenient way to travel from London to Berlin. You can easily reach Berlin with Eurostar, simply need to change at Brussels and cologne and you can travel on to Berlin with Eurostar Partner Thalys and ICE. You just hop on the Eurostar train from London spectacular St Pancras International station to Brussels Midi. It will take 1hr 51min to reach Brussels. From Brussels you can travel to Berlin via Cologne. You just hop on the Thalys train from Brussels to Cologne then from Cologne to Berlin by ICE trains.

London to Berlin by Train is an exciting journey.  First you have an exciting journey by Eurostar London Brussels Train and then you take Brussels Cologne (London Cologne Train) and finally from Cologne to Berlin.  From Brussels, you need to use services of Thalys or ICE hi Speed Train services in Europe.

Berlin hotels:

There are cheap hotels in Berlin and your Berlin City experience can start from as little as GBP£27.00 at Hotel Baerlin Berlin, which you’ll find at Scharnweberstrasse 17-20, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

For the best accommodation in Berlin City, enjoy luxury from GBP£105.00 at the Pullman Berlin Schweizerhof Hotel, located at Budapesterstrasse 25, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

For travellers seeking a balance of comfort and value for money, accommodation starts at GBP£27.00 for a room at the Hotel Baerlin Berlin, conveniently situated at Scharnweberstrasse 17-20, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

And for just GBP£65.00, discerning visitors looking for budget accommodation in Berlin City can base themselves at the Holiday Inn Express BERLIN CITY CENTRE-WEST which is located at Kurfuerstenstrasse 78, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

Lastly, for the family or group travellers you may prefer a Berlin City apartment, starting from GBP£35.00 at the RS Apartments Berlin, Kurfuerstendamm 94/95, Berlin, Berlin,Germany.

1.Angleterre Hotel Berlin:

A model of international standard four-star service, Angleterre Hotel Berlin will have your Berlin visit off to the most relaxing possible start.

Angleterre Hotel Berlin is easily accessible in the Berlin City neighbourhood, at Friedrichstrasse 30, Berlin, Berlin, Germany, and is an ideal launch pad for sampling the sights of Berlin or doing business, sure to be a highlight of your trip to Germany.

Use our map facility to find Angleterre Hotel Berlin or search for other accommodation in the Berlin City area of Berlin here.

2.Altberlin Hotel Berlin

For comfort and security, the three-star Altberlin Hotel Berlin opens the door to the delights of Berlin.

A fixture of the Berlin City area, Altberlin Hotel Berlin can be found at Potsdamerstrasse 67, Berlin, Berlin, Germany. From here, you are perfectly placed to explore Berlin, a quintessential experience for any visitor to Germany.

Use our map facility to locate Altberlin Hotel Berlin or look for other hotels in the Berlin City area.

3. Mitte Tiergarten

There are cheap hotels in Berlin and your Mitte Tiergarten experience can start from as little as GBP£26.00 at Wedding Pension Berlin, which you’ll find at Schulstrasse 40, Berlin Wedding, Berlin, , Germany.

International standard rooms with service is available from GBP£61.00 at the Hotel Gates Berlin City East, which can be found at Invalidenstrasse 98, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

And for just GBP£26.00, discerning visitors looking for budget accommodation in Mitte Tiergarten can base themselves at the Wedding Pension Berlin which is located at Schulstrasse 40, Berlin Wedding, Berlin, , Germany.

4. Prenzlauer Berg

There are cheap hotels in Berlin and your Prenzlauer Berg experience can start from as little as GBP£62.00 at The Park Plaza Prenzlauer Berg Berlin, which you’ll find at Storkowerstrasse 162, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

International standard rooms with service is available from GBP£62.00 at the The Park Plaza Prenzlauer Berg Berlin, which can be found at Storkowerstrasse 162, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

For travellers seeking a balance of comfort and value for money, accommodation starts at GBP£99.00 for a room at the Old Town Apartments Berlin, conveniently situated at Schoenhauser Allee 5, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

Lastly, for the family or group travellers you may prefer a Prenzlauer Berg apartment, starting from GBP£99.00 at the Old Town Apartments Berlin, Schoenhauser Allee 5, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

5.Charlottenburg Wilmersdorf

There are cheap hotels in Berlin and your Charlottenburg Wilmersdorf experience can start from as little as GBP£26.00 at Alecsa Hotel am Olympiastadion Berlin, which you’ll find at Glockenturmstrasse 30, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

International standard rooms with service is available from GBP£43.00 at the NH Hotel Berlin City West, which can be found at Bundesalllee 36/37, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

For travellers seeking a balance of comfort and value for money, accommodation starts at GBP£43.00 for a room at the Arche Hotel Pension Berlin, conveniently situated at Kantstrasse 104a, Charlottenburg Wilmersdorf Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

And for just GBP£26.00, discerning visitors looking for budget accommodation in Charlottenburg Wilmersdorf can base themselves at the Alecsa Hotel am Olympiastadion Berlin which is located at Glockenturmstrasse 30, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

Top Sights and Attractions in Berlin:

The vibrant German capital offers a lot of entertainment as well as cultural delights. You can see most of the city from a boat trip on the Spree River. Tours usually go around Museum Island, past the government buildings and reveal the most picturesque parts of the city. Particularly attractive is the night tour, which allows you to see the city in a totally different light. If not from the waterways, discover the city walking along its streets and squares, such as the most famous, Unter den Linden or Kurfuerstendamm alleys and the former East Berlin centre – Alexander Platz or the only recently adapted to a shopping and entertainment centre Potsdamer Platz. Don’t forget about the zoo and the vast Tiergarten park in the very centre of the city, right next to the central railway station.

1.Brandenburg Gate

Erected in 1791, the Brandenburg Gate was one of the German capital’s 14 original city gates. Today, the only evidence of the others’ existence are the names of metro stations, such as Schlesisches Tor and Kottbusser Tor. The design of the Brandenburger Tor was inspired by the Acropolis in Athens. The famous statue on top of the gate is Victoria, the goddess of triumph riding atop a four-horsed chariot. It was crafted by the sculptor Gottfried Schadow. In 1806, the sculpture was taken to Paris by Napoleon’s troops as a war trophy only to be returned to Berlin after the ultimate war defeat of the French.

2.King Friedrich II of Prussia Monument

The monument of King Friedrich II of Prussia (1712-86) stands at the end of Forum Fridericianum, marking the beginning of the boulevard of Unter den Linden. The monument forms part of what is known as Via Triumphalis, stretching from the victory arch of Brandenburg Gate to the Berlin Castle. Monuments along this route have been added by several generations of artists since the 18th Century. The statue of King Friedrich II was erected in 1851 and is one of the best known works of Christian Daniel Rauch. It significantly contributed to the later style of royal monuments.

3.Holocaust Memorial

This intriguing monument to Jewish victims of the Third Reich was unveiled in the German capital 60 years after the tragic events of World War II. Nearly 15 years elapsed between the time it took to conceptualize and its final completion. It can be found beside the Brandenburg Gate and the remains of Hitler’s underground bunker. It has since become an internationally recognised symbol of the victims of the Holocaust.

4.Berliner Ensemble

Berliner Ensemble is a famous theatre of Berlin, continuing the tradition which started in 1949 when Bertold Brecht and his wife Helene Weigel established a theatre group under this name. It was designed as a touring theatre, but five years later the theatre moved to the present building, earlier occupied by Theater am Schiffbauerdamm. Since then, it has staged plenty of plays by Brecht. With his wife and a team of directors, stage designers, composers and other collaborates, Brecht managed to prepare a number of excellent performances, such as ‘Mother Courage’ or ‘The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui’ and the Berliner Ensemble achieved a large success. After Brecht’s and Weigel’s deaths, the theatre extended its repertoire to plays of other European playwrights.

5.Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin

The Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, or Berlin State Library, boasts more than 350 years of history and is the largest and most important academic and research library in Germany today. It was founded in 1661 by Friedrich Wilhelm I von Brandenburg and since then gathers and catalogues diverse materials. Nowadays its impressive collection includes 10 million books, 13,5 million images in the picture archive, 1 million maps and atlases, more than 180,000 newspaper volumes, around 60,000 manuscripts, a large number of autographs, print music editions and personal archives. The library also possesses a state-of-the-art electronic catalogue and databases. This huge treasure is housed in two locations of the library in the centre of the capital – the original site in Unter den Linden, in the former East Berlin and the new building on Potsdamer Strasse, in the West.

6.Nikolaikirche

Nikolaikirche is situated in the heart of Berlin, exactly where the city was founded. It is the oldest standing church in Berlin and it is dedicated to Saint Nicholas. The church lies in the eastern part of central Berlin, in the district known as Mitte. It is surrounded by the historical streets of Spandauer Strasse, Rathausstrasse and the Muhlendamm, which contain many, restored Medieval houses. The over 400 kilometres long River Spree flows beside the church.

7.Deutsche Oper Berlin

A monumental structure, the Deutsche Oper occupies a central spot at Bismarckstrasse in Berlin-Charlottenburg. Active since 1961, the building towers over its surroundings, thus providing for one of the principal Berlin landmarks. The interiors of the Oper are vast and airy, with a spacious foyer. The work of architect Fritz Bornemann, the building has clear, distinct angles and simple architecture. The main auditorium follows the same rule of simplicity, and offers outstanding acoustics. The colouring is minimal, and the entire hall is clad in wooden panels.

Beijing has been the world’s focus of attention for international events in 2008: the Olympic Games in August, and the Paralympic Games in September. From October 3rd to 8th, Beijing will host the 2008 World Folk Song Festival, featuring performers from 25 different countries and 13 Chinese provinces.

The six-day extravaganza will be held at Beijing’s colossal National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), a 600,000 sq. ft. facility nicknamed “The Egg”. A reflective pool in front of the majestic dome gives the illusion of a gigantic egg suspended in mid air. For one week, the NCPA will echo with songs from around the world and will introduce Chinese audiences to some of the finest folk music and traditions from around the world. Sones de Mexico Ensemble will perform live in concert in the National Centre for the Performing Arts Theatre on Monday, October 6th at 2:00pm. The group will give a performance presentation in the NCPA Conference Hall on Tuesday, October 7th, at 3:00pm.

Sones de Mexico Ensemble, a Mexican independent folk group and arts organization from Chicago, whose 2007 album “Esta Tierra es Tuya (This Land Is Your Land)” garnered both GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY nominations last year, received an unsolicited invitation from the Festival selection committee in late May.

Juan Dies, a co-founder of the group, said “I was just as surprised as anyone else that we would have been selected, especially when we discovered that we were the only group attending from the United States.”

Besides their “norteno” homage to Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land”, the group is mainly known for preserving a tradition of folk songs collectively known as “son”, from Mexico’s diverse cultural regions, performing them with a preservationist’s care on a collection of over 70 acoustic instruments.

In an interview for China Radio International, Chen Ziming, an expert on folk music and also a professor in the Central Conservatory of Music, said that the festival is a good chance to broaden people’s understanding of world folk music and to change the long-time focus solely on European music.

When asked about his selection criteria, Ma Wenjie, the organizing committee’s liaison to the American continent, spoke of “Yuan Fen”, a “predestined affinity”. He explained, “We use this word to describe two people who never know each other, and once for a very coincident opportunity they meet each other, then they become very good friends and do great things together.” Mr. Ma Wenjie found Sones de Mexico Ensemble on the Internet, and he felt a connection.

In response, Juan Dies said “I think we may write a new song when we meet and call it ‘Yuan Fen’.”

ABOUT SONES DE MEXICO ENSEMBLE CHICAGO: Sones de Mexico Ensemble Chicago is a premier folk music ensemble specializing in Mexican “son”, including the regional styles of “huapango”, “gustos”, “chilenas”,”son jarocho”, and more. The group formed in 1994 to keep the tradition of Mexican “son” alive in its many regional forms. As a performer and recording artist, the ensemble has developed and popularized many original arrangements of Mexican traditional songs. Some of its original work has experimented cross-culturally with symphonic, Irish, folk, C&W, jazz, and rock music, though never abandoning its roots in Mexican “son”. The ensemble is also committed to teaching and has a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to music education. All band members reach out to young and old with award-winning educational programs nationwide.
http://www.sonesdemexico.com

schools.tdsb.on.ca/claudewatson

Claude Watson School for the Arts is both an intermediate school and an arts school located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The main campus of the school was originally known as Lansing Public School #4 (until 1934), and then later changed to Duke of Kent Public School (1934-1949) and also Spring Garden Public School (1949-1980). In 1981 the Claude Watson Arts Program was formed. Claude Watson is the only public arts intermediate school in Canada, and is governed by the Toronto District School Board. Claude Watson celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2007 instead of 2006 due to the construction and touch-ups of the new building. The school is unique in Canada, simultaneously providing arts and academic education to a total of about 300 students in grades 4 through 8, unlike other arts schools which begin at grade 9. Known across Canada, it has performed at Toronto’s 2008 Olympic bid, TTC’s 50th Anniversary, the Opening Ceremonies of the 1997 Special Olympics at the Sky Dome, and numerous cultural festivals around the world in addition to major production partnerships with professional companies like the Canadian Opera Company. Students of the school are often featured in Hollywood movies, TV series, television adverts, and major theatre productions.

Contents

1 Program

2 Admission

3 Uniform

3.1 Seneca Campus

3.2 External links

//

Program

The Claude Watson program consists of academic and artistic study. In academics, the standard curriculum for each grade level is covered, but in half the time it takes at a normal school. This is because only half of each school day is devoted to academics; the other half is for arts subjects. In spite of this, Claude Watson students consistently score far above the national and school board averages on standardized tests like the EQAO for reading, writing, and math.

The arts program includes various forms of dance, drama, music, and visual arts. All students are required to take multiple full-year courses in each of the following areas: national dance, jazz dance (also incorporating tap, ballet, and hip-hop), modern dance,musical theatre, drama, mime, choral music, instrumental music, Orff, and visual arts (sketching, painting, print making, weaving, sculpture, etc). In grades 5 through 8, students select an arts area in which to major. The major involves increased class time in the given area, and a major independent project. However, this does not excuse any student from participation in all the other subjects; they are all obligatory for all students. The school has a number of extracurricular groups including Jazz stage band, Jazz Combo, Concert Band, String Orchestras, ensembles, solo groups, drama groups, marching band, chamber orchestras, and choirs. However, due to new faculty, the student’s academic excellence also becomes a determining factor on admission apart from the his/her artistic skills. This change of approach, have caused the school receiving extremely high academic achievements in recent years. The school was also rated as one of the top 30 schools within Canada by To-day’s Parent magazine.

In 2006, the Claude Watson building was torn down and a new school was built on the same campus .

Upon graduation from the school at the end of grade 8, the Claude Watson program is continued at Earl Haig Secondary School for grades 9 through 12.

Admission

Although it is a public school, admission to Claude Watson is by audition only. Unlike most arts schools, which require a single or very few short solo auditions in a single arts area, the Claude Watson audition requires demonstration of potential in all four major arts areas (dance, drama, music, and visual arts) over a period of several full days through performances and compositions, both individually and in groups. Evaluators include teachers at the school and professionals in applicable artistic fields. Applicants must also submit previous report cards, and letter of recommendation from a previous teacher.

The vast majority of applicants audition in Grade 3, for admission the following year. Applicants always greatly outnumber available places in the entering class, which has remained constant at 60 for the school’s 25 year history. The school holds a separate audition process for students applying for admission to grades 5 through 8, although admission through this process is extremely uncommon as space is dependent on the number of students (very few, if any) who leave the program in the previous year.

There is a small application[disambiguation needed] fee, but the school charges no tuition fees. These are thought to be contributors to the high number of applicants to the school each year, from a broad range of ethnic, religious, and socio-economic groups. 41% of Claude Watson students have a primary language that is not English.

Uniform

Claude Watson uniforms have been evolved during many years, it was first just a light blue shirt and lack dress pants for boys, and a plaid skirt for girls. Both wearings matching plaid ties. Then due to the lack of manufactured blue shirts, it was changed to white shirts. Later on, Ms. Heather Mitchell enforced a white shirt and black dress pants with the school logo and name embroidered into them. Hair accessories and tie are optional for girls. With the new shipment of uniforms, the students had new shipments of dance wear and gym wear. This consisted of blue or orange t-shirts with the Claude Watson logo printed on it, with jazz pants with the same logo. There were also requirements of black dazzle shorts and black t shirts with the school logo printed on them. This addition of uniform was to identify which student was in the school and easily spot trespassers. However uniforms aren’t worn all the time, they are worn for special occasions and for the dance and gym classes.

Seneca Campus

The Seneca campus of Claude Watson is also located in Toronto, about 10 kilometers east, inside Seneca College. The modified Claude Watson program offered at Seneca is much smaller at about 40 students, and meant for students involved in high level sports competition in gymnastics and figure skating. Students at the Seneca campus are gifted young athletes who frequently need time off school to compete at the provincial, national or international level.

External links

Claude Watson School for the Arts Official Website

Earl Haig Claude Watson Gr 9-12 Program

Sports Seneca Program

Claude Watson School for the Arts website

Claude Watson School Profile

Categories: Elementary schools in Toronto | Art schools in CanadaHidden categories: Articles lacking reliable references from January 2007 | All articles lacking reliable references | Articles with links needing disambiguation | Canada articles missing geocoordinate data | All articles needing coordinates

For a number of years, Rochester, MN has been labeled as one of America’s finest cities for newly weds. One of the reasons for this label could be the wide variety of activities that stray from the ordinary dinner and a movie date night. Rochester is home to a variety of art centers and theatres, and offers musical performances throughout the year. The arts and entertainment found in Rochester helps to demonstrate that this is a city that understands the importance of the abstract side of life.
If one is seeking to view an art gallery or museum, there are four popular options to choose from in Rochester:

- Rochester Art Center – Newly remodeled and moved in May 2004, the Art Center is a relatively small center which holds no permanent collections inside. Instead, the center hosts a variety of temporary travelling collections which change throughout the year. Nearby, the outdoor Zumbro Gardens is a terraced park and sculpture lawn which leads down to the edge of the Zumbro River.

- SEMVA Art Gallery – The South East Minnesota Visual Artists Gallery, located in the Peace Plaza in downtown Rochester, offers mainly works from southeastern Minnesota Artists. The variety of works includes pottery, woods, clothing, fabrics, and canvas displays.

- Mayowood Galleries – Fine antiques and gardent accents from 18th and 19th century England can be found at Mayowood Galleries. Two locations are available, at the Mayowood Mansion and downtown Rochester.

- History Center of Olmsted County – For more of a historical display, the History Center offers a Histry Library, a Genealogy Center, as well as a display of the history of Rochester and the surrounding area. The History Center also owns and operates Mayowood Mansion.
After a morning or afternoon of visiting an art gallery or museum, the possibility exists to view a live production at one of the three theatres in Rochester:

- Masque Youth Theatre – The Masque presents a variety of children’s plays from October to June. The goal of the Masque is to involve young people in theatre arts, and it successfully does that by using children as actors and providing plays that would interest the child found in everyone.

- Rochester Civic Theatre – A variety of perfomances can be found at the Civic Theatre. The venue offers nine perfomances a year, including dramas, comedies, and musicals. Previous shows have included Fiddler on the Roof and The Adventures of Stuart Little.

- Rochester Repertory Theatre – The Repertory Theatre offers performances of classical and contemporary works by a variety of artists. Some previous shows have included Three Tall Women, The Foreigner and FoxFire.

Rochester’s music scene also offers a wide variety of options. Apart from the countless restaurants, bars, and pubs that offer live music free of charge on various nights, there are a few large groups that perform in Rochester throughout the year. These groups are comprised of members of the community, sharing their talents in order to give back to the city they call home. The list below offers a glimpse at the musical choices of Rochester. It is by no means the only groups and performances available.

- Rochester Civic Music – Presented by the City of Rochester, free live music is offered to the community through the “Down By the Riverside” outdoor summer concert series. Artists have included Three Dog Night, Peter Fischer, The Marshall Tucker Band, and many local acts.

- Rochester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale – Jere Lantz, music director and conductor, leads this group’s perfomances of a variety of works through the year.

- Rochester Community Band – Offering quarterly performances, and a few additional sumer festivals, the Community band is open to all people, regardless of skill level. The band emphasis lies on using your talents and having fun while performing modern and classic music.

- Chorale Arts Ensemble – This group is dedicated to the creation and performance of new music, and also to the presentation of music from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Forty voices, chosen by audition, make up this choir which performs choral and orchestral masterworks and vocal jazz.

- Southeast Minnesota Youth Orchestra – SEMYO brings middle and high school students together to study music, learn to work and perform together, and to contribute to the cultural life of the community.

- Swing Street – One of the most well known jazz bands in Rochester, Swing Street plays at community events and private functions throughout the year. The group’s love of jazz shows with a repertoire that extends from the early days of jazz to modern arrangements.

As evidenced by the list above, Rochester certainly has a wide variety of options when it comes to Arts and Entertainment. Both newly weds and everday-citizens alike can enjoy the countless performances and art galleries offered throughout the year.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the second British musical theatre show written by the team of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Its predecessor, The Likes of Us, was not performed until 2005.

Based on the “coat of many colors” story of Joseph from the Hebrew Bible’s Book of Genesis, Joseph was first presented as a 15-minute pop cantata at Colet Court School in London in 1968. After many transformations and expansions, and West End and Broadway productions, it was adapted as a straight-to-video film, starring Donny Osmond, in 1999. The show has very little spoken dialogue, it is sung-through almost completely. It runs under two hours and is occasionally performed without intermission. Its family-friendly storyline, universal themes, and catchy music have made Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat one of the most dependably profitable titles in musical theatre, particularly when producers cast a headlining star — and, according to the Really Useful Group, more than 20,000 schools and amateur theatre groups have successfully put on productions.

In 1970, Lloyd Webber and Rice used the popularity of their second rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, to promote Joseph — which was advertised in America as a “follow-up” to Superstar. Riding on Jesus’ coattails proved profitable for Joseph, and the U.S. Decca recording topped America’s charts for three months. The first American production was in May 1970, at Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception in Douglaston, New York. Colleges and amateur groups expressed great interest in the show, and there were two professional productions in New York.

In late August and September 1972, Joseph was presented at the Edinburgh International Festival by the Young Vic Theatre Company, directed by Frank Dunlop. It starred Gary Bond in the title role, Peter Reeves as the narrator, and Gordon Waller as Pharaoh. In October the production played at London’s Young Vic Theatre, and in November at the Roundhouse. A recording of the full musical was released on the MCA label in 1974, again featuring Bond, Reeves, and Waller. This is the earliest recording of Joseph to still be available commercially. Waller would go on to appear on another recording, in 1979, this time featuring Tim Rice as the narrator and Paul Jones as Joseph, on the Music For Pleasure label. It was not until January 1982 that the show reached Broadway — at the Royale Theatre, where it ran for 749 performances.

With Jason Donovan, who had enjoyed a chart success after his role in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, in the lead, the expanded show was restaged in 1991 at the London Palladium with Steven Pimlott as director, winning the 1992 Laurence Olivier Awards for set design and costume design. The cast album of this production was the #1 UK album for two weeks in September 1991, and the single “Any Dream Will Do” from it was also the #1 UK single for two weeks in June–July 1991. When Donovan left, former children’s TV presenter Phillip Schofield portrayed Joseph.

A 2007 revival of the London Palladium production at the Adelphi Theatre was the subject of BBC One’s second search for a West End star, capitalizing on the success of the BBC’s 2006 Lloyd Webber talent search series, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? This new talent search show, Any Dream Will Do, with the participation of Lloyd Webber and other theatre luminaries, sought a new leading man to play Joseph. More than 3 million viewers cast votes during the 9 June 2007 series finale, and made 25-year-old Lee Mead “officially the people’s Joseph”. Mead had given up his ensemble role in Phantom of the Opera, where he also understudied Raoul. The new Joseph production, which began 6 July 2007, was directed by Steven Pimlott, with Bombay Dreams lead Preeya Kalidas as the Narrator. Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group donated all receipts from two special performances to the BBC’s Children in Need charity appeal. Additionally, the money normally given to the cast for first-night gifts in July 2007 went instead to Children in Need. In January 2009 Mead left the show and was replaced by Gareth Gates.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will be performed in UK this year. There are many tour dates of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in different venues. Sold Out Ticket Market is ideal for Joseph Tickets at nominal rates. Sold Out Ticket Market provides its customers with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Tickets for all dates and venues. Get your Joseph Tickets – Joseph Touring 2010 from our safe and secure system and watch Joseph Theatre Live in UK.

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