Write Act Repertory continues its Mainstage 2008 Series
with the return of

The Divine Madness of Isabella

Wendy Gough’s stunning Solo Show about
 famous commedia dell’Arte actress Isabella Andreini.


Write Act Repertory and Producing and Associate Artistic Directors John Lant and Joe McClean proudly announce the return of the production The Divine Madness of Isabella, for a limited engagement during Write Act Repertory Company’s Mainstage 2008 Series.

Award winning actress Wendy Gough brings to life famous actress Isabella Andreini, and a host of colorful characters against the backdrop of the rarely seen 16th Century commedia dell’Arte. The World Premiere of her solo play, directed by John Achorn at the Write Act Repertory Theatre in 2005, and has now returned back to Hollywood for a pre-national tour production, with a limited run of eight performances at Write Act Rep. After its initial run in 2005, Wendy Gough was awarded the Women in Theatre’s “Red Carpet Award,” for her work on The Divine Madness of Isabella.

Isabella Andreini, prima donna of prima donnas, and greatest actress of her time, finds herself performing alone on a stage surrounded by her beloved Commedia masks. Frightened and confused as to her whereabouts, Isabella is driven by voices to improvise a scenario; but this scenario is not a simple play - it is Isabella’s life. In hopes of returning to her family and to her troupe, Isabella reluctantly complies, using her unparalleled craft to tell the story of her own life forcing herself closer and closer to the madness that fuels her art.

Directed by John Achorn, Written and Performed by Wendy Gough. Masks Designed by Arlecchina’s Masks. This production will have a 2-week engagement, with 8 performances, at the Write Act Repertory Theatre.

Officially Opens; Thursday, August 14th, 2008 through Saturdays, August 23rd, 2008, performing on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays @ 8:00pm, with Sunday performances August 17th and August 24th, 2008 at 4:00pm.

 “The whole process of creating this play has been a tremendous journey for me,” said Wendy Gough, author and performer. “Researching Isabella’s life, I had to become a detective, searching through history for little clues, scraps of information.  Once I began writing, I realized that as much as I was writing about Isabella, I was also writing about myself. Questions about the nature of creativity are eternal.”

“It has been my pleasure to work with Wendy on this project, layering the techniques of mask and commedia character against the span of Isabella’s life and times,” said John Achorn, director. “I have always regarded Isabella as a ‘break-through’ performer, who gained respect for women on the stage.”

I am truly excited about bringing this project back. When I first started as the Artistic Director with Write Act Rep, this was one of the first projects that I wanted to usher in and developas an example of what we do and what can be accomplished in our theatre company,” states Producing Artistic Director John Lant. “It has been my great honor to work with someone as dedicated as Wendy, not only with this production but with any project we have worked together on, she as an actress and also projects she has directed here. She is a true genius and anyone who sees this work can truly appreciate the efforts she makes to tell the truth and represent theatre history with care and respect.”

The Divine Madness of Isabella performs in the beautifully rebuilt Write Act Repertory Theatre on the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church campus, located at 6128 Yucca Avenue in Hollywood, two blocks east of the famous Capitol Records building near Gower and Franklin off the 101 Freeway. Free ample parking is located one block away in the lower church parking lot at 6125 Carlos Avenue. The theatre, which features an outdoor patio reception area, is both air-conditioned and heated. Seating is limited and reservations are greatly suggested.

DATES AND TIMES: 8 performances – Limited pre-National Tour run
Opens Thursday, August 14th, 2008 at 8:00 pm through Sunday August 24th, 2008
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm
Sundays at 4:00pm
Box Office opens at 7:35 pm & 3:35pm, accordingly.
Champagne after-party on Opening Night, Thursday August 14th, 2008
*All Performances will feature a Meet and Greet the Artist Reception following each performance.

LOCATION:
Write Act Repertory Theatre
6128 Yucca Street – Hollywood
(Off Vine – Two Blocks East of the Historic Landmark Capitol Records Building).
Free Parking on the south side of St. Stephen's Church on 6125 Carlos Street.

TICKET PRICES:
General Admission: $20
Discounted Rates found online for Seniors/Students/Groups – www.writeactrep.org -
Refreshments may be taken into the air-conditioned theatre

INFORMATION & RESERVATIONS:
Call:  (323) 469 – 3113
General Admission Seating - Reservations Suggested
Visit: www.writeactrep.org

Wendy Gough is an actress, writer, director and maskmaker. Hailing from Berkeley, California, she graduated from UCSB, then attended the Dell’Arte School of Physical Theatre, and finally studied classical theatre at the Hilberry Repertory in Detroit. For the last 10 years she has called Los Angeles home, starring in numerous plays and several films. She is the owner of her own mask company, Arlecchina’s Masks. Her masks have been sent all over the world, and have been seen in many productions in Los Angeles. Her mask creations can be viewed at www.arlymasks.com. 

John Achorn is an actor, director and teacher. For over 30 years he has specialized in the commedia dell'Arte. He studied under the late Carlo Mazzone-Clementi, with whom he helped found the noted Dell-Arte School in Humboldt County.  As a Visiting Assistant Professor, Mr. Achorn has taught and directed at UCLA, USC, UC San Diego, UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He has given numerous workshops and master classes in improvisation, mask, physical comedy and commedia.  He currently teaches Shakespeare and commedia at Santa Monica Emeritus College and Creative Dramatics for the Virginia Avenue Project.

Write Act Rep will continues during the summer & fall season with the inaugural installment of our next series Best In Show, a competition of writing and acting, followed by the Freeway 2008 Series, a submission based series featuring Greater Los Angeles Playwrights not in Write Act Rep beginning in September 2008, as well as our reading for the upcoming Friend or Poe reading series.