For a Moment Reimagined—”My Janis”

Hollywood Fringe Festival 2017My Janis is not actually a play.  It is a moment selected from the life of rock legend Janis Joplin and reimagined for an audience.   The moment is the summer of 1966 when Joplin had fled to the sanctuary and obscurity of Texas to escape from those demons and addictions that had nearly killed her.  She is all prepared to vanish into the endless landscape of Texas when a call comes from Chester “Chet” Helms, the music promoter who sired the counterculture movement of the ‘60s.

He wants Joplin to return to San Francisco and be the lead singer for one of his groups, Big Brother and The Holding Company.

Arianna Veronesi, who wrote, directed and stars in this one woman show gives us a portrayal of the 23-year-old Joplin facing the same plight as Icarus, and the same fate.

Fringe Award-Gold Medal-The TVolutionThe brief piece, with minimal dialogue, moves on the waves of the agonized choice Joplin faced.  It may not be a play, but the shadow it throws is that of Greek tragedy, and Veronesi’s performance is spellbinding.   And despite having a remarkably rude audience member who shoved her substantial girth between my wife Marlene as she was about to sit, the show still earns a GOLD MEDAL.

 

♦    ♦    ♦

 

My Janis

Playing During the Fringe 2017 at

The New Collective
6440 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Remaining Shows:

Friday, June 23, 2017 — 7:00 pm

Saturday, June 24, 2017 — 7:00 pm

Sunday, June 25, 2017 — 6:00 pm

For Tickets and Additional Information:

Hff17.com/4563

 


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Written by

An award-winning L.A. playwright and rabble-rouser of note who has hoisted glasses with Orson Welles, been arrested on three continents and once beat up Charlie Manson. His first play, "Among the Vipers" was a semi-finalist in the Julie Harris Playwriting Competition and was featured in the Carnegie-Mellon Showcase of New Plays. It was produced at the NPT Theater in Ashland, Oregon and Los Angeles’ celebrated Odyssey Ensemble Theatre. His following play, “The Little Boy Who Loved Monsters” was produced at The Hollywood Actors Theater, where he earned praise from the Los Angeles Times for his “…inordinately creative writing.” The play went on to numerous other productions including Berlin’s The Black Theatre under the direction of Rainer Fassbinder who wrote in his program notes of Kearney, “He is a skilled playwright, but more importantly he is a dangerous one.” Ernest Kearney has worked as literary manager or as dramaturge for among others The Hudson Theater Guild, Nova Diem and the Odyssey Ensemble Theatre, where he still serves on the play selection committee. He has been the recipient of two Dramalogue Awards and a finalist or semi-finalist, three times, in the Julie Harris Playwriting Competition. His work has been performed by Michael Dunn, Sandra Tsing Loh, Jack Colvin and Billy Bob Thornton, and to date, either as playwright or director, he has upwards of a hundred and thirty productions under his belt, including a few at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater as puppeteer. Kearney remains focused on his writing, as well as living happily ever after with his lovely wife Marlene. His stage reviews and social essays can be found at TheTVolution.com and workingauthor.com. Follow him on Facebook.

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