Link: GnRMEDIAKIT
PDF: GnRMEDIAKIT
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Cindy Marie Jenkins
outreachnerd@gmail.com – (323) 552-3333 (for media only)
#GracieNRose – #HFF13 – #LAthtr
Facebook.com/GracieAndRoseASoloShow
EXTENDED –
2 more chances to visit
GRACIE AND ROSE
July 10 & 24 @Theatre Asylum – Elephant Space
Los Angeles, Calif. (July 5, 2013) —- We are thrilled to announce that GRACIE & ROSE was chosen as one of the prestigious BEST OF FRINGE – EXTENSIONS. GRACIE & ROSE fall in love in Wyoming in the late 1950’s. Gracie has been passing as a man, George, for some time, in order to do men’s work and live the way she feels most authentic.
WINNER – 2013 Best of Fringe Extension
NOMINEE – 2013 Best Solo Show in Hollywood Fringe Festival (Top 5 out of 45)
“This is what theatre is meant to do.” –Sheana Ochoca, SLAM
“This is a timely play about a current issue that is only now being resolved – 50 years after the time the play is set. I highly recommend this play for everyone who believes in equality.” -Bob Leggett, LA Arts examiner
Gracie and Rose are two women who fall in love in Wyoming in the late 1950’s. Gracie has been passing as a man, George, for some time, in order to do men’s work and live the way she feels most authentic. They build a life together – hidden in love, while living in plain sight. As they contend with the intense demands of the land, the animals, and running a ranch, Rose wants to have a baby… with George.
What audiences love about this piece is the power of transformation they get to experience – a chair becomes a pig, a ladder is a wild horse, and a rope will save your hide or punish your spirit.
MORE ON BEST OF FRINGE:
Best of Fringe Extensions returns for a fourth year of extended runs of the greatest hits of the Hollywood Fringe Festival, running July 2 – 28 at five Hollywood venues. Produced by Combined Artform, this year’sExtensions series features a diverse array of exceptional ensemble and solo work at Theatre Asylum, The Complex, The Lounge, The Lex, and Three Clubs. With multiple shows per venue each weekend and the special deals and gatherings at Three Clubs bar, the action-packed festival atmosphere of the Hollywood Fringe Festival will continue through July.
Winners of Best of Fringe Extensions are selected by Producing Artistic Director Matthew Quinn and a selection committee of venue representatives. Winners were selected for their artistic merit and commercial potential and will use Extensions to further develop their work or explore the possibility of longer runs. Past winners of Best of Fringe Extensions have gone on to tour nationally and enjoy extended commercial runs in the Los Angeles area.
The full list of selected shows is included below. For full schedule and ticketing, visit www.bestofextensions.com
For further info on Extensions please contact: Monica Miklas info@bestofextensions.com or (404) 668-1038
DETAILS FOR CALENDAR LISTINGS
WHAT:
Anastasia Coon reprises the full-length Los Angeles premiere of her solo show Gracie and Rose. Los Angeles Writer’s Center Director Che’Rae Adams directed the limited run of the full work in development during the 2013 Hollywood Fringe Festival and now will be presented July 10 & 24 at Theatre Asylum – Elephant Space.
This piece unpacks pre-Stonewall queer history in the American West, the deep human longing to live authentically despite being rendered invisible, gender performance in a butch/femme tradition, the body as landscape for desire, and the violence and redemption of breaking and making family. This story is told in a physical theatre aesthetic harnessing the rich legacy of devising work through the movement-based actor training that Coon teaches: Commedia Dell’Arte, Mask making and performance, Melodrama, Viewpoints, and the work of Le Coq, Grotwoski and Laban.
WHEN:
Wednesday July 10 & 24 at 8:00pm
WHERE:
Theatre Asylum – The Elephant Space. 6320 Santa Monica Blvd.
HOW:
Tickets and official site: GracieandRosesoloshow.com or http://hff13.org/1372
What audiences love about this piece is the power of transformation they get to experience – a chair becomes a pig, a ladder is a wild horse, and a rope will save your hide or punish your spirit.
“In the winter and spring of 2000 I spent time at Centre Selavy, an organic farm and theatre center in Grosbout, France,” Coon recalls. “During this time I helped with a pig slaughter, which made a strong impression. Throughout my stay I was struck by the sheer volume and intensity of work that’s required to keep a farm running. Everything else, including relationships that needed tending, came second. Necessity of survival, rather than emotions and attachments, controlled relationships among people, as well as between people and animals.”
When asked why she specifically set the play in Wyoming, Coon responds “I’m familiar with the way a wide-open space of land and sky, and exposure to the elements can affect people. I am especially curious about survival tactics women, men and children employ when socially isolated in rural areas, as well as in traditionally male-dominated work. I am particularly drawn to the ways this is expressed in the body.”
Anastasia Coon is an Actor and Voice & Movement Teacher currently on three faculties: at the USC School of Theatre, New York Film Academy, and The Art of Acting Studio. Recently, Anastasia served as the Movement & Mask/Commedia Coach on A Servant to Two Masters, directed by Kappy Kilburn at Chapman University, and Sara Ruhl’s Dead Man’s Cell Phone, and 12 Ophelias by Caridad Svich, both directed by Paul Backer at USC.
Director/Dramaturge Che’Rae Adams is the Producing Artistic Director for the LA Writers Center where she develops work by local writers. She specializes in developing and directing solo work including Chesapeake, by Lee Blessing for Venice Theatre Works; Ser: LA vs BA by Karen Anzoategui at the Downtown Urban Theatre Festival and Company of Angels; Pandora’s Trunk by Blaine Teamer at LATC starring Kim Fields and at the National Black Theatre Festival starring Tonya Pinkins. She is a proud member of the Directors Lab West, which is held annually at the Pasadena Playhouse.
ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Cindy Marie Jenkins
@CindyMarieJ
Website | Fringe Site | Facebook | @AnastasiaCoon
#GracieNRose – #HFF13 – #LAthtr
GRACIE AND ROSE
live off the land & love off the grid
in Anastasia Coon’s solo show
premiering
at Hollywood Fringe Festival
June 16-29 @ Art of Acting LA
Los Angeles, Calif. (May 6, 2013) —- Gracie and Rose are two women who fall in love in Wyoming in the late 1950’s. Gracie has been passing as a man, George, for some time, in order to do men’s work and live the way she feels most authentic. Anastasia Coon presents the full-length Los Angeles premiere of her solo show Gracie and Rose. Los Angeles Writer’s Center Director Che’Rae Adams directs the limited run of the full work in development, June 16-29 at Art of Acting LA during the 2013 Hollywood Fringe Festival.
This piece unpacks pre-Stonewall queer history in the American West, the deep human longing to live authentically despite being rendered invisible, gender performance in a butch/femme tradition, the body as landscape for desire, and the violence and redemption of breaking and making family. This story is told in a physical theatre aesthetic harnessing the rich legacy of devising work through the movement-based actor training that Coon teaches: Commedia Dell’Arte, Mask making and performance, Melodrama, Viewpoints, and the work of Le Coq, Grotwoski and Laban.
Gracie and Rose fall in love without a clue of what that means. They’re flying on instinct in their desire to be together with no reflection back from the people around them. They build a life together – hidden in love, while living in plain sight. As they contend with the intense demands of the land, the animals, and running a ranch, Rose wants to have a baby… with George.
What audiences love about this piece is the power of transformation they get to experience – a chair becomes a pig, a ladder is a wild horse, and a rope will save your hide or punish your spirit.
“In the winter and spring of 2000 I spent time at Centre Selavy, an organic farm and theatre center in Grosbout, France,” Coon recalls. “During this time I helped with a pig slaughter, which made a strong impression. Throughout my stay I was struck by the sheer volume and intensity of work that’s required to keep a farm running. Everything else, including relationships that needed tending, came second. Necessity of survival, rather than emotions and attachments, controlled relationships among people, as well as between people and animals.”
When asked why she specifically set the play in Wyoming, Coon responds “I’m familiar with the way a wide-open space of land and sky, and exposure to the elements can affect people. I am especially curious about survival tactics women, men and children employ when socially isolated in rural areas, as well as in traditionally male-dominated work. I am particularly drawn to the ways this is expressed in the body.”
Gracie and Rose runs Sunday June 16 @7pm, Friday June 21 @3pm & 10pm, Tuesday June 25 @8pm, Friday June 28 @3pm & Saturday June 29 @10pm.. General admission is $12, Hollywood Fringe Festival participants & GLAAD PWYW.
Details for Calendar Listings
“GRACIE AND ROSE”
WHAT:
GRACIE AND ROSE — World premiere of Actor, Voice & Movement Specialist Anastasia Coon’s solo show GRACIE AND ROSE at the 2013 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Gracie/George and Rose fall in love without a clue of what that means. They’re flying on instinct in their desire to be together with no reflection back from the people around them. They build a life together – hidden in love, while living in plain sight. As they contend with the intense demands of the land, the animals, and running a ranch, Rose wants to have a baby… with George.
WHO:
Written & Performed by Anastasia Coon
Direction & Dramaturgy by Che’Rae Adams
Social Media Outreach Consultant (made possible by a Center for Cultural Innovation ARC Investing in Artists Grant) by Cindy Marie Jenkins
WHEN:
Sunday June 16 @7pm
Friday June 21 @3pm & 10pm
Tuesday June 25 @8pm
Friday June 28 @3pm
Saturday June 29 @10pm
WHERE:
Art of Acting Studio
HOW:
TICKETS:
$12 or PWYC for Hollywood Fringe Festival Participants June 16-21
PARKING:
FREE on-site
###
BIOS
Anastasia Coon is an Actor and Voice & Movement Teacher currently on faculty at the USC School of Theatre, New York Film Academy, and The Art of Acting Studio. Recently, Anastasia served as the Movement & Mask/Commedia Coach on A Servant to Two Masters, directed by Kappy Kilburn at Chapman University, and Sara Ruhl’s Dead Man’s Cell Phone, and 12 Ophelias by Caridad Svich, both directed by Paul Backer at USC.
Anastasia has taught Movement for Actors at UCLA, University of Texas at Austin,
PCPA Theatrefest, Pasadena Playhouse/Allies in Arts, and more. Acting credits include – PCPA Theatrefest: Charlotte in The Real Thing, Isabella in Measure for Measure, Theresa Bedell in Boy Gets Girl. Lyric Theater: Chorus in Antigone. Oscar G. Brockett Theater: Miss Marwood in Way of the World. Grove Shakespeare Festival: Emilie in Les Liasons Dangereuses. Borderlands Bilingual Theater: Yerma in Yerma. TV: Friday Night Lights, Eastwick, Lost Tapes, ‘Ving Break on Comedy Central.
Nominating Jury Member: GLAAD Media Awards for Theatre in Los Angeles
Board of Directors: 2nd Sundays Screenplay Readings
MFA, Acting: University of Texas at Austin.
Graduate of Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre.
BFA, Theatre Performance: Chapman University.
Che’Rae Adams (Director/Dramaturge) is the Producing Artistic Director for the LA Writers Center where she 
develops work by local writers. She specializes in developing and directing solo work including Chesapeake, by Lee Blessing for Venice Theatre Works; Ser: LA vs BA by Karen Anzoategui at the Downtown Urban Theatre Festival and Company of Angels; Pandora’s Trunk by Blaine Teamer at LATC starring Kim Fields and at the National Black Theatre Festival starring Tonya Pinkins; she co-authored and directed Fish Stories, which premiered at the HBO Workspace and went on to the Duplex Cabaret in New York.; From Bonkers to Botox, at the Stella Adler Theatre & Aspen Comedy Festival; Nothing to See Here at the Comedy Central Space staring “Reno 911” star Carlos Alazraqui; and Flying Standby at The John Anson Ford Theatre among others. She is a proud member of the Directors Lab West, which is held annually at the Pasadena Playhouse.
Cindy Marie Jenkins (Social Media Outreach Consultant) is a Storyteller based in Los Angeles. She trains Nonprofits and Self-Producers in Outreach and Social Media. Her mission is to connect artists with technology to find a new audience, and serve as a resource for audiences to find new artists.She curates live broadcasts on You Tube, including the weekly Web Series Watch, where she reviews web series. Currently Marketing Director for 24th STreet Theatre, Social Marketing Consultant for Gracie & Rose at the 2013 Hollywood Fringe Festival, Social Media Consultant for ECCLA & The Help Group (named one of the Top Facebook Pages & Twitter Accounts to Follow for Special Education). Cindy also serves on the Steering Committee of Directors Lab West.
She was one of the arts advocates who created the #LAthtr hashtag in 2010 to unify the Los Angeles theatre scene. Her signature workshop Self-Promoting Without Annoying Your Friends is available for groups up on request, and you can also find recurring Social Media Workshops taught by Cindy at Theatre Asylum.
Steven Cabral | DP/Videographer, editor
Dionne Neish | Production Assistant
Amanda McNeice | Production Assistant
Tina del Campo | Production Assistant
Show History
In 2001 I took a workshop at the Z Space in San Francisco with Anne Galjour, an award winning solo artist and playwright best known for stories about Louisiana and the bayou. The first portions of “Gracie and Rose” began to emerge under her direction. Since then, I’ve continued to develop the story in the Mark Cohen New Works Festival at UT Austin, and performed pieces in progress in the LGBTQ PreConference at the American Theatre in Higher Education at the Brava Theater, San Francisco.
This work continues through the LA Writer’s Center and with the generous support of Professional Development funding from the Center for Cultural Innovation.
This piece unpacks pre-Stonewall queer history in the American West, the deep human longing to live authentically despite being rendered invisible, gender performance in a butch/femme tradition, the body as landscape for desire, and the violence and redemption of breaking and making family. This story is told in a physical theatre aesthetic harnessing the rich legacy of devising work through the movement-based actor training that I teach: Commedia Dell’Arte, Mask making and performance, Melodrama, Viewpoints, and the work of Le Coq, Grotwoski and Laban.
Promo Video
Created for Indiegogo Campaign http://vimeo.com/64699942
Trailer http://bit.ly/GnRTrailer
Supporters
June 16-29
Press
June 6
Holly Derr of Ms. Magazine includes GnR in her top Feminist Fringe picks!
The Feminist’s Guide to the Hollywood Fringe
June 6, 2013 by Holly L. Derr
It’s summer, which means elite theater professionals all over America are headed to the country for summer stock. If you can’t make it up into the mountains this summer (or if you can’t afford the expensive tickets to these high-society productions), fear not: Our cities are full of all variety of underground artists hawking their wares at Fringe Festivals.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which began in 1947 when uninvited artists showed up and performed on the fringe of the Edinburgh International Festival, is the crème de la crème of fringes, but today almost every major city in this country holds their own Fringe: New York, Cincinnati, New Orleans and Los Angeles are just a few. Even the Berkshires—the nucleus of America’s summer stock culture—hosts a Fringe Festival.
Discounted rental rates and collective marketing opportunities attract so many artists to Fringes that sorting through the list of hundreds of shows can be rather overwhelming. I can at least help you out with the affordable, eclectic, feminist-friendly offerings at this year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival—here are my top picks:
Gracie and Rose, written and performed by Anastasia Coon, June 16-29
Set in Wyoming in the late 1950s, Gracie and Rose tells the story of two lesbians: Gracie, who passes as a man in order to do the work she loves (cattle rustling and farm work), and her wife, Rose. Gracie, or George in public, does not want to be a man; in fact, at home she lives as Gracie, and as a character one of her driving concerns is reclaiming the girl she was before society and her parents made clear that her desires were “wrong.” But when Rose has a child, Gracie becomes George—and Eula May’s father—full time.
Playwright and performer Coon, who performs all of the roles, told Ms. that she has always been fascinated that strangers, primed to see any couple as male/female, tend to refer to her butch girlfriends as “sir.” The play—a movement piece in which Coon uses her body and voice to travel through time and place as well as between characters—also grew out of her admiration for women throughout history who have had to pass as men in order to follow their hearts. Asked why she stopped short of writing a play about a woman who actually wants to be a man, Coon offered:
The dominant paradigm has the opportunity to tell lots of different stories, but since there’s so few queer stories, there’s a lot of pressure to make each one represent every queer person, and I understand that. But I have no desire to be an expert about trans people. This piece unpacks pre-Stonewall queer history in the American West, the deep human longing to live authentically despite being rendered invisible, gender performance in a butch/femme tradition, the body as landscape for desire, and the violence and redemption of breaking and making family.
June 1st
Anastasia Coon & Cindy Marie Jenkins on La La Land Talk w/ hosts Brett Chapin and Dorothy Dillingham Blue
May 21
Student and Alumni Spotlights 
NYFA Instructor in New One-Woman Show
Published on May 21, 2013
New York Film Academy acting instructor, Anastasia Coon is bringing her one-woman show, Gracie & Rose, to the Art of Acting studio in Hollywood as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. The festival takes place in venues throughout Hollywood during the month of June, and promotes groundbreaking work in small venues. As Anastasia says, “A huge part of Fringe is the social aspect. You see a show, hang out with actors, and have a drink with them.”
In Gracie & Rose, Anastasia portrays multiple characters living in Wyoming in the 1950s. The character of Gracie has to deal with the intense demands of the land, caring for animals, and running a ranch. She also disguises herself as a man so she and Rose can be together.
Inspired in part by Anastasia’s time living on a farm in France, the play was cultivated over the past dozen years. “It’s a good story. Old-fashioned storytelling. And it’s a love story about living authentically by any means necessary,” she says.
While Gracie & Rose is not based on a specific true story, Anastasia says, “It’s based on true stories of women through our history that we never hear about.” In fact, there are a handful of anecdotal tales of women living as men for various reasons throughout history – in Aboriginal communities, throughout the Middle East, and during the American Civil War. Anastasia continues, “Because we’re deprived of those stories, there are huge omissions in American history, the history of the Western states, and women around the world.”
Gracie & Rose runs Sunday, June 16 at 7 p.m.; Friday, June 21 at 3 p.m. and 10 p.m.; Tuesday, June 25 at 8 p.m.; Friday, June 28 at 3 p.m.; and Saturday, June 29 at 7 p.m. General admission is $12. For more information, visit the official website or Facebook page.
