In This Issue...
*Who Said This?
*Classes & Seminars
*The Welcome Back Mat
*Announcements & Events
*Actors On The Move
*Museum Trivia With Carmen
*Reynolds' Wrap
We would like to thank all of you who came out last night for the FREE preview of Burt Reynolds' "Acting For The Camera" class (which is being offered at The Lyric's Flagler Center; dates/times TBA). Last night's event was a great success! Sincere thanks to everyone who shared their Friday evening with us; we enjoyed meeting all of you and hope you enjoyed watching our wonderful Master Class Actors hone their craft on stage!
With Thanksgiving behind us, the Holiday season in full swing, and
New Years right around the corner, lots of wonderful things are happening at BRIFT.
The month of December brings with it a sleigh full of goodies for the New Year! In addition to "Fundamentals Of Acting For Adults," "Improv 101+," "Improv For Young Actors," and the "Master Acting Class," we're introducing a variety of new classes for the New Year: "Screenwriting 101" (begins 1/10), "Coconut Ink" (begins 1/13), "What Has Hollywood Done To Our Florida Stories?" (begins 3/23), and "Filming For Festivals" (dates TBA). Something for everyone!
We are also coming up on our BRIFT 2012 Winter Showcase. Our Showcase kicks off the New Year right with brilliant performances by BRIFT Master Actors performing a variety of scenes, all under the direction of Mr. Reynolds. It will take place at the historic Lyric Theater in Stuart on January 13th and promises to delight audience members. And, because the Showcase is an audience favorite, we suggest you buy your tickets in advance (makes a great gift, too)!
We hope to see all of your smiling faces in the New Year!
From all of us at BRIFT, we wish you and yours Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
-Amy Schulz
Editor, BRIFT Blast
Who Said This?
Many times wise, often witty, occasionally wacky, but always worth consideration...
"You can only hold your stomach in for so many years."
Hint: You should know this (and no, it's not Santa)!
Find out if you're right in the Museum Trivia With Carmen section of this newsletter!
Classes & Seminars
MASTER
ACTING CLASS WITH BURT REYNOLDS
By invitation only and based on review of completed application, which
can be found on our website. Call the Institute at 561-743-9955 and email info@brift.org.
for more details.
FUNDAMENTALS OF ACTING FOR ADULTS*
Sundays, 4PM; $20/class. Ongoing. No experience necessary. This class is a wonderful review for actors with experience or those who are ready to learn the basics. Taught by Master Acting Class Graduate, Sherman Roberts, who has appeared in feature films, television, and theatre. The class will be a fun exploration of the essentials: creating a character and script and text analysis. RSVP by calling the Institute at 561-743-9955 and email info@brift.org.
IMPROV 101+*
Wednesdays, 7PM to 10PM; $20/class. Ongoing. For those interested in studying the art of improvisation, The Institute offers classes for beginning and advanced students on Wednesday evenings. Improvisation teaches the ability to think on your feet so that you always stay a step ahead of the competition. Taught by Comedian and Master Acting Class Graduate, Todd Vittum. RSVP by calling the Institute at 561-743-9955 and email info@brift.org.
IMPROV FOR YOUNG ACTORS*
Saturdays, 10AM to Noon; $10/class. Ongoing. Covers the foundations and fundamentals of improvisation. Available to adults, but geared for those ages 12-17. No prior experience necessary. Space is limited. Taught by Comedian and Master Acting Class Graduate, Todd Vittum. RSVP by calling the Institute at 561-743-9955 and email info@brift.org.
EMERGING PLAYWRIGHTS WORKSHOP
On hiatus. If you are interested in the upcoming EMERGING PLAYWRIGHTS WORKSHOP, call the Institute at 561-743-9955 and email info@brift.org.
SCREENWRITING 101 (begins 1/10)
Tuesdays 1/10, 1/17, 1/24, 1/31, 1/7, 2/14, 7PM; $120 ($100 if paid in full at registration)
Screenwriting 101 with Frank Eberling is a six-week course that explores the fundamentals of screenwriting for today's films. The course will cover basic storytelling, an exploration of screenplay structure, plot development, character creation and dialogue as well as standard formatting rules. Emphasis will be placed on meeting ACT 1 requirements, pitching your story concept, and avoiding common rookie pitfalls. RSVP by calling the Institute at 561-743-9955 and email info@brift.org.
COCONUT INK (begins 1/13)
Sunday 1/13, 1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 10AM; $10/class, $15/couple. A six-week examination of almost sixty Florida writers since the late 1600s to the present day including biographical information, their impact on perceptions of Florida, their literary legacies, biographical filmed documentaries, and videotaped interviews produced by Frank Eberling. Taught by Frank Eberling. RSVP by calling the Institute at 561-743-9955 and email info@brift.org.
WHAT HAS HOLLYWOOD DONE TO OUR FLORIDA STORIES? (begins 3/23)
Sunday 3/23, 3/30, 4/13, 4/20, 10AM; $10/class, $15/couple. A four-week look into how Hollywood has adapted stories and novels of Florida into films. The course includes clips of films and discussions on adaptation process. Taught by Frank Eberling. RSVP by calling the Institute at 561-743-9955 and email info@brift.org.
FILMING FOR FESTIVALS (dates TBA)
The dates for FILMING FOR FESTIVALS (taught by Aaron Wells) are TBA. If you are interested in the upcoming FILMING FOR FESTIVALS, call the Institute at 561-743-9955 and email info@brift.org.
*FUNDAMENTALS OF ACTING FOR ADULTS, IMPROV+, and IMPROV FOR YOUNG ACTORS run on an ongoing, weekly basis. Call the Institute at 561-743-9955 for details and registration information and if you have questions.
The Welcome Back Mat
Welcome Back!
Her first play, the romantic comedy The Name Game, received a yearlong writer's grant and was subsequently published by Samuel French, Inc. She starred in the world premiere opposite Richard Hatch at The Tamarind Theatre in Hollywood. Her next play, Happy Birthday, Baby! received eight nominations and earned her the Artistic Director Achievement award for best original comedy. Soon thereafter her drama, The ReBirth, won the Hawthornden Fellowship, and she was off to Edinburgh, Scotland, where she attended a month long international writer's retreat in William Drummond's medieval castle.
As her role of playwright became more demanding, she accepted less and less acting roles. She founded The Fellowship Theatre in North Hollywood and Theatre Encino in Encino, California. Her production company, Rose’s Name Game Productions, has been producing original works since 1993. She is also the Artistic Director and a teacher at The All Original Playwright Workshop. Recently she served as playwright-in-residence at the Tennessee Repertory Theatre in Nashville.
*****
Seems like Charles Nelson Reilly was right when he predicted Courtney Todd Stuart would be a success in the 'Biz. That is exactly what he told her parents upon meeting her at The Burt Reynolds Dinner Theater. "He came up to me and gave me a big hug and a kiss and told my parents I should get into the 'Biz because I was sure to be a success (since) I have three names like him."
Upon graduating BRITT, Alumna Courtney Todd Stuart ('91) entered an internship program at Juilliard where she stage managed twelve of their productions during the '92-'93 school year. Just six months after completing her internship, she landed her first Broadway show.
Courtney went on to work on 10 Broadway shows and landed a production job on the soap opera, All My Children. She has been a personal assistant to both Diane Lane (on Disney's Secretariat) and Susan Lucci. And for five years, she worked as the Associate Producer for Theatre of the Sea alongside Patricia Neal.
Courtney now lives in Jupiter with the love of her life--Alan Miller--and is now the In-Store Cordinator for Winn Dixie.
*****
Let's Hear From You
If you are a former BRITT or BRIFT Graduate, we would love to hear from you! Send us a brief blurb at info@brift.org and tell us what you've been up to, the year you graduated, and a photograph--and we'll include you in our next newsletter!
Holiday Boat Parade Celebration
Please join BRIFT staff and volunteers as we celebrate the Holiday season “under the bridge” at the Town of Jupiter’s Annual Boat Parade.
The Events Plaza along the Jupiter Riverwalk will host a FREE special parade viewing event--including food, music, and festivities. Bring a chair and enjoy the sounds of the season with Holiday entertainment while you relax and watch the boats drift by in their Holiday finery. Plus, The Events Plaza is an official Toys for Tots collection location--so make sure to bring a new, unwrapped toy for this annual tradition of giving!
Listing Information: This is a FREE event held at Events Plaza along the Jupiter Riverwalk on December 3 from 5PM to 10PM. The Riverwalk Events Plaza is located under the east span of the Indiantown Road Bridge in Jupiter. From I-95, take Indiantown Road east to U.S. 1. Take a right or left on U.S. 1. Go about a block, turn west on Coastal Way. Parking is available along Coastal Way and in the parking garage just south of the Indiantown Road Bridge.
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BRIFT 2012 Winter Showcase
BRIFT will be presenting it's Winter Showcase at The Lyric Theatre in Stuart on January 13, 2012. The Showcase--presented by current BRIFT Master Acting Graduates and graduating BRIFT Master Actors--will feature a variety of scenes, each directed by Mr. Reynolds.
Past Showcases have been crowd pleasers. We encourage you to book your tickets early before they sell out!
Listing Information: January 13, 2012 at The Lyric Theatre (located at 59 SW Flagler Avenue, Stuart, Florida). Call The Lyric Theatre's box office for tickets 772-286-7827.
*****
Student Holiday Special: Girls's Night Out!
At The Institute, we recently had an opportunity to meet Mish, a professional makeup artist who has worked in the entertainment industry for years and has a long list of high profile clients.
Mish has offered to help us go from ordinary to extraordinary for the Holiday season and the New Year. She is offering to hold a class at the Museum for only $60/student (a $200 value!). This includes a free brush kit and refreshments to kick off the Holiday season with good cheer.
There isn’t one of us who hasn’t looked in the mirror and said, “I wish I…” Well here’s a chance to make that wish come true! Mish will teach you how to correctly apply makeup as well as suggest colors that work best for you. She will teach you how to enhance your best features and disguise your flaws. Never again will you have a drawer full of makeup that you will never use! Additionally, you will have an opportunity to purchase new makeup–your own personalized makeup–at reasonable cost.
So, what do you say? Does a girls’ night out–complete with skin care information, snacks, refreshments, and girl talk–sound good to you? If so, please RSVP by email to briftfinancedirector@comcast.net ASAP! The New Year is upon us! Let’s all look our best in 2012!
Listing Information: Date TBA.
*****
Attention BRITT Graduates!
We would like to connect BRITT Graduates with BRIFT. If you are a Burt Reynolds Institute for Theatre Training (BRITT) Alumni, please contact us at info@brift.org so that we can continue putting our database together. Email us your full name, contact information, and year you were an apprentice/graduated. We also recommend sending along any show business related stories you may have for inclusion in The Welcome Back Mat section of the newsletter. We are hoping to form a BRITT Alumni Council in the very near future.
Museum Trivia With Carmen
Ever since the Museum opened in 1999, BRIFT volunteers and students alike have decorated the space with Holiday cheer!
Mr. Reynolds would love to invite you and your family to stop by the Museum to check out how we've decked our halls...
We wish you and yours a Happy Holiday season!
*****
The answer to Who Said This: our very own Burt Reynolds!
*****
Plan your trip to the Museum! Minimum $5 donation requested. Group and private tours available. Open Thursday through Sunday, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Institute Actors On The Move
Joan Kelly Dennehy, Executive Director of BRIFT, was cast as the 'Lady of the Manor' in the Murder Mystery production of Angel Of Light, written and directed by Cynthia Morrison.
*****
Todd Vittum recently portrayed General Winfield Scott in the upcoming PBS documentary Florida's Civil War Lighthouses. He also co-wrote two songs with Cooper Getschal, entitled "Genie From Brooklyn" (Gina's Theme) sung by Cooper Getschal and "Genie In Training" (Tina's Theme) sung by Taylor Blackwell.*****
John van Dalen and Klif Gehring recently traveled 4,500 miles to Montevideo, Uruguay to shoot a series of commercials for BankUnited of Miami Beach. The campaign was conceptualized by Miami based ad agency, República. The commercials started airing November 28.*****
BRITT/BRIFT Alumna Suzanne Niedland has never backed away from a challenge. From 2009 to the beginning of this year, she held the position of BRIFT Chair and worked hard to set the foundation upon which our Institute is built. Recently, she faced another kind of challenge.
In preparation for a documentary on fathers and daughters--which she is planning to direct and produce--Suzanne began dance lessons at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio on Indiantown Road in Jupiter. With the encouragement of her instructors, she entered the Fred Astaire National Dance Competition in Orlando.
Suzanne’s dad was a professional ballroom dancer in the 1950’s and 1960’s. He died in 2000, and since then Suzanne has felt a need to reconnect with him. Following in his dance footsteps has given her that chance. Never one to take the easy way out, Suzanne entered 200 heats--an applause-worthy accomplishment for someone with only a few months of lessons under her aching feet. The competition ran from Wednesday night through Saturday afternoon, and the result was 52 first place, 43 second place, 35 third place and 40 runner up awards. Amazing!
“I feel great to have had my feet survive the competition,” Suzanne said. “More importantly, I felt like my dad was always with me, inspiring me, encouraging me to have fun and enjoy every moment. I have recordings of my dad singing some of the songs I danced to… songs like Summer Wind. Then, when My Heart Belongs to Daddy played, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.”
Suzanne invited well-known filmmaker and fellow BRIFTmate Aaron Wells to accompany her to Orlando. They have worked on several award-winning projects in the past and will use interviews and footage leading up to and from the competition to create the father/daughter documentary. There are also plans for a second documentary focused on the journey from dance lessons to dance competition including a look at the interesting people met along the way. Obviously, Suzanne is up to the challenge!
*****
Gina and the G.I.T. made its premier at the Borland Center for the Performing Arts on November 19th. The film, directed by Marc C. Zatorsky and written and produced by Zatorsky and Shawn Morell Lewis, stars Lori Lescht and Rachel Barcia. Also starring in the film are Courtney Grosbeck, Carlie Schelhorn, Mackenzie McGahee, Scotty Fusion, Rhonda Strearns, Sarah Girolmetti, Tom Dyde, Diane Hulton, Vincent Chimato, Chelsea Grosbeck, Lindsey Dixon, Eva Gluck, Julie Morell and C. Todd Vittum.
*****
Avery Sommers wowed the crowd as she performed at The Colony Palm Beach last month. For those who would love to hear Avery sing, we suggest checking out her website where you can also purchase her CD!
*****
Last month, BRIFT Master Acting Graduate Cynthia Morrison, aka Cindini, made her way to a southern Georgia jail where she filmed a scene for her latest short production titled Certain Injustice. In 2006, Cindini performed a jailbreak, two police handcuff challenges, and hung inverted during a straitjacket escape from the jail gallows where two convicted murderers met their final fate. Part of her production will include a behind the scenes documentary of the deep history behind this historic facility and filming location. Information about her production will be featured during an upcoming episode of Ripley's Believe It or Not! Radio Oddcast.
*****
Are
you a current BRIFT Master Class Actor or a BRIFT/BRITT Alumni? Are you
a student currently enrolled at BRIFT? We would love to hear from you!
Simply write a one to two paragraph blurb and drop us an email at briftiesworking@gmail.com
(cc info@brift.org) and let us know
what projects you are working on or have completed (NO EXTRA WORK!). Submissions are due the 25th of each month. We look forward to
hearing from you!
Also, we are looking for BRIFT/BRITT Alumni stories for our Welcome Back section. If you have a story, please send it along to the above email addresses. Thank you!
Reynolds Wrap
Top stories you may have missed:
- Burt Reynolds Brings His Master Class To Lyric Theatre
- Carol Saunders: Burt Reynolds To Lend His Voice To FX's Hit Animated Series Archer
- Did you catch Burt Reynolds in Reel Love? Check out Reel Love on CMT's website via this link.
BRIFT Blast Staff
Kathleen G. Kozinski ... Chair
Kelly Dennehy ... Executive Director
Donna Carbone ... BRIFT Publicist
Amy Schulz ... Editor
Stay In Touch With BRIFT
For more information about the Museum, classes, events, etc, visit our website at http://www.BRIFT.org. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @briftdotorg and fan us on Facebook, too!
We Want YOU!
If you are interested in volunteering at BRIFT, please visit http://brift.org/brift-volunteer.php for more information and contact us at info@brift.org (subject line: VOLUNTEER).
We are especially looking for individuals with sales or marketing experience. If you fit the bill, please consider volunteering for us.
Thank you!
About BRIFT
The Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theatre ("BRIFT") is a nonprofit 501c3 organization that is committed to educating and involving the community and artists in all aspects of film, television, theater, live performances, film festivals and exhibitions, as well as preserving Mr. Reynolds' memorabilia and the history of the film industry.
BRIFT shares its home with The Burt Reynolds and Friends Museum. The Museum is filled with items from some of Hollywood's greatest actors as well as a substantial collection of sports and Western memorabilia. Many of our guests are amazed at the accomplishments and cultural contributions made by Mr. Reynolds, Palm Beach County's most famous son. Located in the heart of Jupiter, we are one of the largest celebrity museums in the country. The Burt Reynolds and Friends Museum is available for private functions.
Burt Reynolds Institute & Museum
100 N US 1
Jupiter, FL 33477
(561) 743-9955 | info@brift.org
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