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FALL NEWS
Welcome to Freehold Theatre's New Managing Director, Zoe Fitzgerald
Zoe Fitzgerald is Freehold's new Managing Director, replacing Angela Luechtefeld. Zoe was born and raised in New York City where she first
found her love for theater attending the High School of Performing Arts. She has worked in Seattle as both a theater artist and administrator
for over 10 years. As Development Director for Live Girls! Theater she created two on-going programs; The Bakery, a new works development series
and Notorious Women, an educational outreach program. Her experience also includes working for Getty Images as a project manager and data analyst,
and RealNetworks' events and public relations team. Zoe is is a graduate of Emerson College, BFA Acting Program and will be receiving her MPA
with a specialization in nonprofit management from Seattle University in June 2009. She has studied playwriting at Freehold under both Mame
Hunt and Kurt Beattie. Her short plays have been featured in Live Girls! Quickies, and 14/48 The World's Quickest Theater Festival.
In 2007, her first full-length script GIRLS was commissioned and produced by Live Girls! She participated in ACT's Young Playwright's
Program in 2006 as a teaching artist. As Managing Director at Freehold, Zoe looks forward to continuing to support and develop theater
and the arts in Seattle.
Freehold's Studio Series Applications are Due Soon - Letter of Intent Date Deadline Postponed to Friday, October 31st!
The Studio Series consists of four weeks of performances presenting work created by current and former Freehold students,
lab members, and faculty. We regard the Series primarily as an opportunity for you to study with us to investigate work in a
"studio" setting and then to experience the evolution of the work through performance. It is a great opportunity to take your
craft - be it that of actor, director, writer, movement artist/choreographer, performance artist, opera singer, spoken word artist
- to the next stage.
The performances will take place in our new theatre at our new home on 2nd Avenue in Belltown. Freehold will provide - at no
cost to the participants (except for a $75.00 mentor fee) - performance space, technical support (lights, sound system, and a
stage manager), and publicity for the event. Each piece will have two performances: a Friday and Saturday night. In the past,
projects in the Series have included: short plays, scenes, monologues, original pieces, movement/dance pieces, vocal pieces, marionette
shows, clown pieces, and improvisation. In short, anything with dramatic relevance that fits our criteria.
Application Process includes:
*Submitting a letter of intent outlining the general idea for the piece.
This must be received in the Freehold office by 5:00 p.m., Friday, October 31, 2008. We will contact you for a brief meeting before you
fill out the application.
*Submit an application. This must be received in the Freehold office by 5:00 p.m., Friday, November 7, 2008.
Fall Classes still open!
We still have a few spaces left in a few of our fall classes including Crafting the 10 Minute Play with John Longenbaugh (beginning November 10), Fitzmaurice Intensive with Gin Hammond (beginning on December 1)
and Theatrical Song Interpretation/Auditioning for the Musical with Billie Wildrick (starting November 10th). For more information, call us at (206) 323-7499 or
www.freeholdtheatre.org.
Freehold's Group Facebook Page - JOIN US!
Check out Freehold's group facebook page at www.facebook.com.
Join our group and you'll be able to stay up to date on all of our news and help us spread the word about the great work being done at Freehold!
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Interview with Darragh Kennan
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Darragh Kennan is a renowned actor who has performed extensively in Seattle and throughout the country.
Local credits include Accidental Death of an Anarchist with Strawberry Theatre Workshop, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ai
and Stones in His Pockets at CHAC, The Time of Your Life and Romeo and Juliet at the Seattle Repertory Theatre, Hay Fever
at the Tacoma Actor's Guild, and the Seattle Children's Theatre in Holes and The Wrestling Season. Darragh will be seen soon in New Century Theatre
Company's production of The Adding Machine. Darragh is also on faculty at Freehold teaching an Intro to Acting class.
Darragh, how did you come to working professionally as an actor?
I still can't quite answer this question . . . . there was a girl on the high school bus who told me that I "couldn't really just get involved"
in theatre out of the blue, and that it wasn't for me. This of course was a great challenge . . . sometimes I wonder whether I would
have gone into it if it hadn't been for that snob. I assume I still would have found a way. I went to University of Madison, Wisconsin to
do pre-med and ended up taking all the acting classes and acting in all the plays. I had a great Shakespeare teacher named Karen Ryker
and I ended up interning at one of the biggest Shakespeare festivals, American Players Theatre, where, many moons later, I
returned to as an equity actor and continue to work there to this day.
What have you enjoyed about teaching here at Freehold?
Freehold is great. You get people who want to be there and are making sacrifices to be there ... and they are ADULTS. It's
funny how college students seem so young as you get older. In my Freehold class right now, i have a french canadian truck driver, a dancer,
young people, older people, people with various comfort levels and experience but they are so committed to the class and each other and
are willing to be vulnerable and open up to each other and trust each other . . . it's moving and inspiring to me.
You are currently working on THE ADDING MACHINE and are one of the company members of the newly formed New Century Theatre Company.
What excites you about being a part of this company and working on this play?
Yes, I am a company member with New Century Theatre Company and we are putting on our first show, The Adding Machine, at
ACT Theatre's Falls Theatre opening November 13 and running through December 13th. It's weird running a theatre company in the middle
of your career. We are not young. We have families. So, we have careers and lives and we are not all about theatre and hanging
out and sleeping with each other or whatever. But we do try our best to remind ourselves that this is what we have always wanted.
And it is good . . . it's great actually . . . but it's easy to become frustrated and tired and think are we ever going to have a
meeting that isn't about money? But then you look at your best friend in the eye and say . . . we're doing a play together!
and then you feel young again. Please everyone that reads this, come see our show! It would be great to get the Freehold support there.
And if you feel like giving fifty bucks. . . .
How do you begin to approach working on a character?
Wow. That's totally different from role to role. But always physical first. Walking around or seeing the person in my head and
how they move, hold themselves, what their voice is. These have to happen first for me. Then research depending on the project.
What roles have you always wanted to perform (and why) but haven't had a chance as yet?
I am getting the chance to audition for Edmund in Long Day's Journey into Night that a friend of mine is directing and I
would so love to play that role. Other than that . . . I am afraid it's cliche, but Hamlet. I really want to play Hamlet somewhere
within the next couple years.
What was the best advice/feedback you ever got as you began working as an actor?
My pal Sheila Daniels used to say something to actors when we worked together at Capitol Hill Arts Center, and that was,
"don't make your choices bigger or even different every time. Make them DEEPER. Go DEEPER in that choice you already made". . . I
like that a lot . . . as I write this I am thinking of how I could apply it to The Adding Machine . . . .
In tipping the hat to Bernard Pivot (and James Lipton's use of Pivot's questionnaire) ... A few of his questions ...
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Work related: Honesty. Connection between people on stage. Great listening.
Spiritually: Light. The light on the trees and water at around 5 oclock lately.
Emotionally and just in general: Watching my kids learn and grow and figure things out and take joy in this world.
What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
People trying to take control and being easily offended when you voice your opinions and speak your mind. Lack of trust. Neglect of children.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Doctor. Family practice.
What profession would you not like to do?
Any kind of clerk.
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
This is not a dream . . . what'll you have?
Darragh Kennan, Paul Morgan Stetler, Kate Wisniewski and Amy Thone (all Freehold faculty members) will be performing in The New Century Theatre Company's first show, The Adding Machine
by Elmer Rice. The show will be running November 13 through December 13 in ACT Theatre's Fall Theatre Space in the historic Kreielsheimer
building in downtown Seattle. For more information, go to: www.newcenturytheatrecompany.org
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My Hamlet Experience by Kirsten McCory
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I have wanted to perform Shakespeare ever since I got a taste of it during ETI, (Freehold's Ensemble Training Intensive) where
we performed scenes from various plays, and at the end of the 9 month program, we did The Merchant of Venice.
It was so challenging and so rewarding that I have craved it ever since, and the only thing holding me back is not getting a
part to play! Since we graduated two years ago, I have been auditioning for plays (not just Shakespeare) and getting
callbacks and getting roles and, of course, getting rejected too. I've realized how important it is to have non-actors,
and actors too, who support you whole-heartedly, no matter that you didn't get that great role or even the mediocre one.
Since ETI, I've had great experiences in the Theatre, and some have been truly heartbreaking, too.
And sometimes both at once.
more ...
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Fall Corner: "What are YOU looking forward to this fall?"
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"I am looking forward to wearing my vintage leather coat again. Craving hot tea all the time. Rummage sales. Meisner.
My birthday (complete with sparklers). Cuddling up to a good movie with a friend, blankets and hot chocolate. The smell
of wood fires accompanying me on walks. More Meisner. The nostalgic feeling in the pit of my stomach that always comes
with the change to colder weather. Sending in my absentee ballot and the other side of the election. Knitting. Gift giving.
Burrowing indoor with friends. Painting big canvases recently gessoed over. Completing The Artist's Way. Making art. Being art
{Meisner :}."
Nathania tenWolde, student at Freehold
"I am looking forward to directing David Sedaris' The Santaland Diaries for SPT at the Bathhouse.
I am looking forward to hosting a large Thanksgiving dinner. I am looking forward to a CHANGE in government.
I am looking forward to spending the holidays with my new bride Tracy, my nine month old niece McKenna, and my ninety
year old grandmother Ruth. I am looking forward to more time spent in the Freehold Lab."
Tim Hyland, director, actor, faculty member, Freehold
"Fall always seems to be a great time for theatre in Seattle,
and I am looking forward to seeing a number of shows that have opened recently.
I'm celebrating the end of bikini season and
the start of bulky sweater wear by eating big bars of chocolate and not shaving.
I am also very excited about dressing up and ruling the night on October 31st."
Jenny Schmidt, actor and Freehold Registrar
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Freehold Faculty/Alum Shows and News
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Geof Alm is appearing in The Three Musketeers at the Seattle Repertory Theatre. Geof will be teaching at the Young Actor
Institute for Seattle Children's Theatre, and directed the Zombie violence for Night of the Living Dead at SCT,
Elektra at Seattle Opera. For more information on tickets for The Three Musketeers, go to www.seattlerep.org.
Daemond Arrindell. Every Wednesday night at Spitfire Grill in Belltown, The Seattle Poetry Slam hosts a spoken word extravaganza. 8 p.m.,
$5 cover, 21 & over IC required, go to www.seattlepoetryslam.org. Daemond also has been nominated for Poet Populist.
Here in Seattle - the people (that's you) get to decide who's voice best represents the city. The website is
www.poetpopulist.org.
Lynne Compton is directing The Night of the Iguana at Edmonds Community College Black Box Theatre opening Thursday November 13,
and plays 15, 16, 20, 21, 22 at 7:30 pm with a matinee on Sunday, November 16 at 2 pm. For more information,
go to: www.edcc.edu.
Gin Hammond will be performing at On the Boards' 12 Minutes Max. Gin will be bringing a solo work about a black woman from a
small southern town who stands on the precipice of a major decision -
either she joins in the battle for civil rights or escapes to Paris to live the life she's always dreamed of.
For more information, go to www.ontheboards.org.
Darragh Kennan, Paul Morgan Stetler, Kate Wisniewski and Amy Thone will be performing in The New Century Theatre Company's first show, The Adding Machine
by Elmer Rice. The show will be running November 13 through December 13 in ACT Theatre's Fall Theatre Space in the historic Kreielsheimer
building in downtown Seattle. For more information, go to: www.newcenturytheatrecompany.org
John Longenbaugh's new one-act play Catholic Schoolgirls (yes, it's just as smutty as it sounds) premieres November 21st
for one weekend only as part of the Little Red Studio's "Menage e Trois," three plays about sex, love, and all that messy stuff
in-between. For more information, go to www.littleredstudioseattle.com.
Annette Toutonghi will be playing in You Can't Take It With You, directed by Warner Shook at the Seattle Repertory Theatre.
It runs November 28 - January 3, 2009. For more information, go to www.seattlerep.org.
Billie Willdrick will be playing Maggie in Saint Heaven at Village Theatre running September 17 - November 23rd.
For more information, go to www.villagetheatre.org.
FREEHOLD STUDENT/ALUM NEWS
Mari Geasair will be appearing as Minka Lupino in Murderers at Vintage Theatre in Denver, Colorado October 2nd-November 2nd.
For more information, www.vintagetheatre.com. Mari will also be performing with
Phillip Mitchell in the same production of Three Viewings here in Seattle with Cheshire Cat Theatre Company (Performances at Stone Soup)
from January 16th - February 7th. For more information, www.cheshirecattheatre.weebly.com.
Lee Ann Hittenberger is performing in MacBeth as a sexy, powerful witch at Bainbridge Performing Arts. For more information, go to:
www.bainbridgeperforming arts.org.
Kristina Sutherland co-founder and co-artistic director of Macha Monkey Production is producing Don't you Dare Love Me
by Keri Healey running from October 24 - November 22nd with the opening night party on October 24th at 2222 2nd Avenue, Suite 200.
For more information, go to
www.brownpapertickets.com. Kristina will also be performing in On the Boards' 10 Minutes Max on
November 19th. For more information, go to www.ontheboards.org.
In photo, Ethan Savaglio, Kristina Sutherland, James Wiedman, Chris Dietz in Don't You Dare Love Me.
Kirsten McCory will be in The Fifteen Minute Hamlet at Stone Soup Theatre.
For more information, go to www.stonesouptheatre.com.
Louise Penberthy is playing Terent'evna in the radio play Diary of a Superfluous Man with The McCroskey Memorial Internet Playhouse.
For more information, www.theinternetplayhouse.com.
Lance Spencer is participating in INTIMAN's Living History program.
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Freehold Theatre Guild
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Freehold Theatre Guild
The Theatre Guild is composed of a group of Freehold students and alumni who have shared in the unique Freehold experience.
Freehold Theatre Guild's (FTG's) stated mission is "To help members of the Freehold Theatre Guild make the transition from student
to active participant in the greater theater community". For those interested in joining Freehold's Theatre Guild, email Andy Tribolini
at atribolini@hotmail.com with your desire to join. You will receive confirmation of membership
by receiving notices about monthly
meetings and activities in which you are strongly encouraged to participate. The Theatre Guild would love to have you be a part of the group!
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About Freehold
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A group of artists, who after years of professional work felt that the full potential of the theatrical event
had yet to be realized, founded Freehold Theatre in the summer of 1991 when two prominent actor studios-the
Pasqualini-Smith Studio (est. 1985) and the Mark Jenkins Actors' Workshop (est. 1985) joined forces. The
founders, Robin Lynn Smith, Mark Jenkins and George Lewis, among others, are professional actors and directors
whose credentials include recognized work on and off Broadway, as well as in major films, television, and regional
theatre. They formulated the following mission: Freehold engages artists of all levels in training and experimentation
so that they may become more innovative and heartfelt in generating theatre that has a lasting impact on the community we serve.
As a center for the development and practice of theatre, Freehold Theatre is committed to art that embraces the full
range of human experience and that inspires performers and audience to connect more deeply to themselves and to each other.
We move toward this goal in four ways:
- Our Studio provides a place for actors, from inspired novices to working professionals, to train.
- Our Theatre Lab provides a forum for mature artists to research and develop new work and to re-interpret classics.
- Our Engaged Theatre Program reaches out to culturally under-served communities.
- Our rehearsal and performance facilities located in Belltown comprises of three rehearsal and
performance studios, including a fully equipped 49-seat black box theatre.
Here we strive to provide our artists with the tools necessary to make a deep and lasting impact on the community based on
organic esthetics. Freehold has become an integral part of Seattle's thriving theatre community, having gained a reputation
as the place for serious young artists to train and take the leap into performing and creating original work.
In 2003 we developed an Engaged Theatre program in which we reach out to culturally under-served communities. The program
comprises an annual tour to organizations that represent culturally under-served populations and a four-month residency at
Washington Corrections Center for Women, in which the women create, rehearse and perform a theatre production. This year
for the first time, George Lewis has developed a similar pilot program at the Monroe Correctional Center for Men.
For more information about our programs and services see our website: www.freeholdtheatre.org.
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What is the Freehold Forum?
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The Freehold Forum E-Newsletter was born out of our desire to respond to requests from you, our Freehold community,
to hear about the innovative and powerful work being done at Freehold Theatre by our incredibly talented and diverse
faculty and alumni. The Forum will provide you with a wealth of information that will serve you in your work as an artist.
The monthly Freehold Forum will include insightful interviews with talented actors, directors and playwrights, compelling
articles on a wide array of topics to assist you in your artistic growth, cutting edge news on upcoming Freehold Faculty and
alumni performances, highly newsworthy articles by Freehold's Theatre Guild and Freehold Calendar Highlights showcasing
upcoming must-see Freehold Calendar events.
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Become A Part of the Freehold Community!
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Freehold is always looking for people interested in joining our team of committed and enthusiastic volunteers.
Whether you have time, wisdom, strength, money, a desire to be involved in your community, or any combination thereof,
we would love to have you join in our efforts. Here are some ways you can participate in our work at Freehold:
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are highly treasured at Freehold!! We rely on and appreciate the invaluable and diverse skills
our volunteers contribute which enable us to further our mission. We are currently seeking volunteers to help
us with our administrative functions, staff performances and fundraising events!! If you have the desire to be
part of a committed group of staff and other volunteers, please give us a call at 206-323-7499.
Donations
Freehold is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We rely on philanthropic donations from the community to help us
continue to be a part of the theatre community and to keep the cost of our classes affordable. Donations may be
sent to: Freehold Theatre, 2222 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98121.
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Recently, I had three months to write a 10-minute play. Dear God what a chore! How many false starts, edits, emendations, second thoughts, and
feeble procrastinations went into that piece! It was like painting a room over a year, or spending a month sewing on a button.
Finally it was done, and it ran, and it was successful, but finally I knew: that's not how to write a short play.
To write a short play, you have to have a short time.