CHE'RAE ADAMS-DIRECTOR/DRAMATURGE

Monday, January 12, 2009

Friday, June 8, 2007

CHE'RAE HAS TAUGHT WORKSHOPS AT THE FOLLOWING INSTITUTIONS:

UCLA Extension
Catholic University
The University of Cincinnati,

(College Conservatory of Music)
The Kennedy School of Government

(Harvard University)

The Writers Institute @ Florida Center for Literary Arts

(Miami Dade College)
The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival
California State University, Fullerton

Pasadena Playhouse (Teaching Artist)

The Director's Lab, West
The California African American Museum
The Susan McIntyre Playwrights Festival
The Learning Annex
The Lankershim Arts Center

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Beginning Writing Workshop

The Los Angeles Writers Center

presents

The Spring Writing Workshop

Put your idea on paper and finally finish that play!

This 8-week workshop is for writers who want to develop a script, or rewrite an existing script on which they have already begun work, which may include anything from a few scenes to an entire draft. This hands-on workshop is designed to ready scripts for production by taking a close look at effective dramatic writing. Play scripts (including solo shows) and screenplays welcome.

Spring Writing Workshop
March 9^th-April 27th

Tuesdays, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Tuition: $400

“The atmosphere is more like a living room

than a class room-fun, casual, and enlightening!”

Instructor Che'Rae Adams has taught workshops at:

UCLA Extension

Catholic University

The University of Cincinnati, (College Conservatory of Music)

The Kennedy School of Government (at Harvard University)

The Writers Institute @ Florida Center for Literary Arts

The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival (Solo Artists)

California State University, Fullerton

Pasadena Playhouse (Teaching Artist)

The Director's Lab, West

The California African American Museum

The Susan McIntyre Playwrights Festival

The Learning Annex

A telephone interview is required to register for class.

(Please call Che'Rae at 323.455.6364 for an initial conversation)

To register, log onto www.cheraeadams.com or cheraeadams@sbcglobal.net

Classes are a the Lankershim Arts Center

located at 5108 Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood

www.lawriterscenter.org

Saturday, May 12, 2007

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY

"Tender" by Abi Morgan

LA Times-Critic's Choice!-“Literate yet idiomatic, Abi Morgan's trenchant drama of the human hunger for connection receives a gripping U.S. premiere by Syzygy Theatre Group. Working with striking designs, director Che'Rae Adams locates the script's nerve endings. Her sterling actors, cast for emotional quality, play it to the bone”…..David C. Nichols, Special to the LA Times

"Walking Thru the Fire" by John DiFusco

LA Times Recommended!-"Under the smooth direction of Che'Rae Adams and Janet Roston, "Walk'n" into issues that DiFusco has grappled with for a lifetiime"...David C. Nichols, LA Times

LA Weekly Go!-"Blending music, dance and poetry, writer-actor DiFusco and co-directors Che'Rae Adams and Janet Roston take the audience on a richly detailed tour of DiFusco's life."...Lovell Estell II, LA Weekly

"Bonkers to Botox" by Julianne Grossman

“Director Che'Rae Adams is a gifted pro who guides Grossman neatly and cleanly around the almost blank stage and makes terrific use of the performer's impressive voiceover talents.”… Jennie Webb, Back Stage West

"Pandora’s Trunk" by Blaine Teamer

”Field’s efforts are amplified by the fluid helming of director Che’Rae Adams"…Julio Martinez, Daily Variety

"Chesapeake" by Lee Blessing

Critic’s Pick!-“There is physical humor aplenty, and Stevens, with the ingenious help of director Che’Rae Adams, mines it for all it’s worth”….Brad Schreiber, Back Stage West

"Fixing Frank" by Ken Hanes

“Adams uses the sparse production design to great advantage, emphasizing ingeniously expressive blocking patterns and eloquent crescendos of dramatic tension to delineate the characters’ complex inter-relationships. This electrifying, supremely intelligent production easily qualifies as one of the finest offerings of the theatre year to date”…Les Spindle, Frontiers

"Freak of Nature" by Ken Hanes

“Director Che’Rae Adams effectively stages the action drawing out the script’s quirky humor and gathering gloom and she is not afraid to put some fire into a couple of sexually suggestive scenes”…Daryl H. Miller, The Daily News

Saturday, March 3, 2007

TESTIMONIALS

"I asked Che'Rae to come to both DC and NH to work with theatre students and writers as her enthusiasm and knowledge are unsurpassed. I look forward to inviting her back East as soon as possible!"…Suzanne Delle, Producing Artistic Director, The Susan McIntyre Playwrights Festival

www.yellowtaxiproductions.org

“Che'Rae's workshop gave me the guidance, analysis and discipline needed to tell my story.”…Julianne Grossman, author of "From Bonkers to Botox"

www.bonkerstobotox.com

"Everything Che’Rae and the Solo Workshop promises it delivers. They are truly worth the price of admission."…Lydia Nicole, author of “Calling Up Papi”

www.myspace.com/thereallydianicole

“Che'Rae brings to the table fingers on the pulse of what makes good theater, and a priceless gut instinct for emotional punch.”…Amy Raacsh, author of "I Know How Mona Lisa Felt"

www.amyraasch.com

CHE'RAE ADAMS NOW OFFERS SCRIPT ANALYSIS

If you want Che'Rae Adams' professional opinion on your play or screenplay, you can now purchase a personal script analysis.

To begin the process, simply e-mail a PDF or Final Draft copy of your script to cheraeadams@sbcglobal.net. Then, click the button below to send your payment. You will receive confirmation of your script/payment via phone or e-mail within a few days of receipt, so be sure to include your contact information. It is that simple!

Find out if your script is ready to be produced!

(Please allow 2-3 weeks for analysis to be completed. Price is a flat rate of $150.00 per script, must be 130 pages or less)

WRITING IS HARD AND OTHE WHINY BABY COMMENTS

Now Available!
"Writing Is Hard..." and Other Whiny Baby Comments-An Objective Approach to Looking at your Own Writing written by Che'Rae Adams based on her lectures from the Los Angeles Writer's Center Workshops with additional material byJon Bastian and Colm Byrne, illustrations by Maxwell Straight. Based on Che'Rae Adams's lectures, this concise but detailed book covers every aspect of the process of turning your story into great storytelling. Whether you have just an idea or a complete draft that needs work, the information contained herein is invaluable. Combined with many exercises and examples, "Writing Is Hard..." and Other Whiny Baby Comments is an important tool for any writer. ($20 + $4.50 shipping)

Blog Entry #12 Self Producing-The LA Theatre Scene Epidemic By Che’Rae Adams

The other day, I went out for coffee with a student and friend of mine in the darling up-and-coming neighborhood of South Pasadena. As I slowly sipped on my Chai Latte (decaf, skinny, nonfat of course) and devoured my delicious double chocolate brownie, she began to pick my brain about self-producing. Suddenly, it hit me hard that I am really back in LA.

Self-producing is an LA Theatre Scene epidemic. You can’t throw a stone here without hitting a solo show where an actor wants to be discovered and given a sit-com. Often the actor writes, directs and produces the show themselves, which is a lot of hats to wear. This over abundance of roles often leads to schlocky productions where under-directed actors whine about how hard it is to make it in Hollywood. How did this town end up this way?

Before I attempt to answer that loaded question, let me share with you a brief history of this thing we call a solo show. The first documented solo performance was in 1901 by a woman named Beatrice Herford, who simply performed impressions of her neighbors in order to facilitate peace between the feuding community. From there, it sort of evolved slowly, and then in the 1990’s, seemed to have exploded. Solo shows have taken many shapes, forms and a whole lot of diverse structures. For example, performers such as John Leguizamo, Eric Bogosian, Anna Deavere Smith, Charlayne Woodard and Lily Tomlin tell their stories by embodying various characters, usually switching back and forth from the characters to themselves to achieve the narrative.

Then there are the performers such as Lenny Bruce, Eddie Izzard, Sandra Bernhard and the late Andy Kaufman who present their shows like a stand-up comedy routine, using little to no set, lights or costumes. Along those lines, there are performers that only tell a narrative story, (sometimes abstract and non-linear) and are considered performance artists because they often combine music and movement to get the job done. This group includes the late Spalding Gray, Tim Miller, Laurie Anderson, Roger Guinevere Smith and Elaine Stritch to name a few.

In addition, there is the rare play that has not been written for a particular solo actor, but instead for many performers over many years to perform. I Am My Own Wife by Douglas Wright, The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler, and Chesapeake by Lee Blessing are a few examples.

As you can see, there are many ways to tell a story, and solo artists over the years have found some very inventive ways. Having said that, Los Angeles has a long history of actors doing plays in order to showcase themselves. In fact, the Equity Waiver System was invented for Los Angeles actors (it does not exist in any other city in the United States) so that they could affordably produce theatre that would showcase them or shed light on them in a certain way.

So, back to my friend’s dilemma at Starbucks. She shared with me that after two years in Los Angeles, she has yet to be able to do the work she wants to do. After speaking to her about her options in this town, I realized that the reason actors self produce is because they are left to feel powerless by casting directors and producers in this town. Don’t get me wrong, it is not the show biz big shot’s fault, it is just the nature of the beast. So by writing her own show, and getting it up, she could feel the sense of empowerment that she has been longing for. And if it works, and is seen by the right people, she could potentially get a sit-com or a film deal.

After all, there were many that have forged their way before her, making it easier for her to succeed. Kevin Smith made “Clerks” by selling his comic book collection, Robert Rodriguez made “El Mariachi” for $7,000.00 and Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson made “Bottle Rocket” together. These were not studio films, they were self produced and independently made. Sure, they were picked up for distribution after they were made, but these film makers took the risk themselves. On the same note, many solos shows and comic routines were seen by the right people and turned into films and TV shows. Some examples are My Big Fat Greek Wedding by Nia Vardalos, the stand-up comedy of Jerry Seinfeld which morphed into the beloved Seinfeld series, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell whose NY success paved the way for a film by the same name. So if Nina, Jerry and John can do it, then why not my friend? After all, LA is a place where fairytales come true, and it can happen to you. Forgive me for quoting Disney, that was uncalled for.

(Che’Rae Adams is the Producing Artistic Director of the LA Writers Center which offers screenplay and playwriting workshops in the Los Angeles area. She is also the co-author of the book Writing is Hard and Other Whinny Baby Comments which is available at www.lawriterscenter.org)

CHE'RAE ADAMS-DIRECTOR/DRAMATURGE

Monday, January 12, 2009

Get Reel

Friday, June 8, 2007

CHE'RAE HAS TAUGHT WORKSHOPS AT THE FOLLOWING INSTITUTIONS:

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Beginning Writing Workshop

Saturday, May 12, 2007

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY

Saturday, March 3, 2007

TESTIMONIALS

CHE'RAE ADAMS

BIOGRAPHY

Click here to pay for Monday night advanced writing workshop

Click Here to Pay for Tuesday Night Beginning Writing Workshop

CHE'RAE ADAMS NOW OFFERS SCRIPT ANALYSIS

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A PAYMENT FOR COVERAGE FOR YOUR SCRIPT $150.00

CLICK HERE FOR THE LA WRITERS CENTER MEMBER SPECIAL RATE OF $100.00

WRITING IS HARD AND OTHE WHINY BABY COMMENTS

"Writing Is Hard"... Workbook

PURCHASE "WRITING IS HARD"...WORKBOOK

Blog Entry #12 Self Producing-The LA Theatre Scene Epidemic By Che’Rae Adams

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