Arye Gross Watching BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA & More

Peter Richards, our director for “Birds of North America,” talks with us about the themes in our upcoming production.

Ron Sossi (Artistic Director; and Writer/Director of “Elephant Shavings”) tells us about the inspiration behind “Elephant Shavings.”

Our box office manager, Heather, is taking us backstage at the Odyssey!

“Thresholds of Invention” at Odyssey Theatre, is where artistic brilliance meets its first audience! Join us as Tony Abatemarco takes us behind the scenes of this groundbreaking series, providing a unique platform for artists to showcase their unreleased masterpieces…

An ongoing series here at the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble

Vanessa Hernández Cruz (she, her, ella) is an interdependent Chicana Disabled dance artist & Disability Justice activist. She is from the unceded lands of the Tongva & Kizh lands colonially known as Los Angeles, California. She graduated from California State University Long Beach with her BA in Dance Science. The World Premiere of her latest piece, “Metal, Plastic, Skin” is part of our Dance at the Odyssey Festival — coming July 23, 2023.

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Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/mellow-skies

License code: XULHSIV4CRKZOKOU

Recurring Music at the Odyssey artist, Ken Marshall, tells us about his experience working with Stephen Sondheim & Leonard Bernstein, and his musical inspirations.

Ken is an internationally esteemed actor and singer who has had a lustrous and extensive career onstage both on and off Broadway as well as in film and television. Ken starred as the “Prince” in the Original Production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods which debuted at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986. His success continued as he starred as “Tony” in the first revival of West Side Story on Broadway which opened in 1980 directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins. A year prior, Ken starred as “Ferdinand” in a highly critically acclaimed Mark Taper Forum Production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest where the great Anthony Hopkins played “Prospero”. Ken’s success translated onto the screen as he played the title role of “Marco Polo” in the highly acclaimed television series Marco Polo. He has had numerous success since these giant accomplishments all over the country such as playing the recurring role of “Michael Eddington” in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Ken is a graduate of the Juilliard Drama school Group 6 to which his fellow graduating class consisted of his contemporaries such as Kelsey Grammer, Frances Conroy, Kevin Conroy, and so many other wonderful actors. John Snow is thrilled and honored to bring Ken Marshall back to the stage for this show. It is not to be missed.

Let’s take a behind the scenes look at our production, PICNIC! Symphony Canady plays Millie Owens and takes us through a “day of her life”…

Mass incarceration is a pressing issue that has received increased attention in recent years. With over 2 million people currently incarcerated in the United States, the need for creative and innovative approaches to address this problem is greater than ever. Dancing Through Prison Walls, a California-based dance and performance project, is taking up this challenge through the power of movement and storytelling.

Founded in 2016, Dancing Through Prison Walls brings together a community of incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, and “free world” dancers, choreographers, artists, and performers under the artistic direction of social practice choreographer Suchi Branfman. With a ten-year residency at the California Rehabilitation Center Prison in Norco, the project is dedicated to amplifying the voices of those affected by mass incarceration and exploring the themes of freedom, confinement, and survival through dance.

The result of this collaboration is a body of work that comprises hours of dance, choreography, performance, film, writing, and community conversations. It is a critical dialogue that invites us to consider the ways in which movement can be used as a tool for resistance and liberation. Through the act of dancing, the project’s participants find a way to break free from the physical and psychological restrictions of confinement and reclaim their freedom.

As we move towards a future that values decarceration and abolition, Dancing Through Prison Walls reminds us of the transformative power of art and movement. Whether you are a seasoned dance enthusiast or a newcomer to the art form, the project’s performances tonight and tomorrow (Feb 10 and 11th) at the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble offer a unique opportunity to engage with this important issue and support a cause that is vital to our society.

To learn more about Dancing Through Prison Walls and its mission, visit their website at https://www.dancingthroughprisonwalls.org/about. Don’t miss your chance to experience this powerful performance and support the fight for a more just and equitable world.