June 12th, 2010 ~ The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity video with comments from Michael

Beyond Broadway: The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
"Learn about the fiercely physical, hip-hop infused social satire."


Description
Macedonio "The Mace" Guerra is a middle rank wrestler who may have discovered his ticket to the big time: a charismatic, trash-talking Indian kid from Brooklyn whom he recruits as the perfect foil to the all-American champion, Chad Deity. But when their rivalry is used to exploit racial stereotypes in the name of ratings, all three men find themselves fighting for much more than the championship title.

Story
What Is the Story of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity?
Since he was a child, Bronx-born fast talker Macedonio Guerra has had one thing on his mind: wrestling. Not your average, high school varsity team wrestling, mind you. Guerra is a patron of the highly televised, multimillion dollar phenomenon known as THE Wrestling, in all its pay-per-view glory. Guerra's childhood dreams come true when he's hired by THE Wrestling, though he quickly learns that life on the bottom rung of the entertainment ladder isn't all its cracked up to be--especially when it means suffering the daily insults and wisecracks of the wrestler at the top of the ladder, Chad Deity. When he stumbles upon a charismatic young athlete with the gift of gab during a basketball game in Red Hook, Brooklyn, Guerra thinks he may have found the antidote to THE Wrestling's stale plotlines and his own stalled career. But his protégé, Vigneshwar Paduar, has aspirations of his own--and his attitude may get all parties involved knocked out of the ring.

Should I see it?
What Is The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity Like?
As anyone who's caught even a single pro-wrestling event knows, the key to winning an audience is action, action, action. While the play is a poignant socio-political satire (it was a 2010 Pulitzer Prize finalist, after all), The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity offers just that: hulking slabs of spandex-clad manflesh running down the aisles and onto a stage that's one part traditional theater, one part circus arena. Don't let the sparkles and skin dissuade you, however. For every faux-punch thrown, the play tosses out a comic gem or truly moving moment, providing a knockout combination of exciting live theater with a smart message. The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity is about way more than body slams.

Is The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity Good for Kids?
Professional wrestling has long been the stuff a child's dreams are made of, and there's plenty of it in this mash-up of play-meets-spectacle. However, much of the comedy depends on a basic knowledge of today's headlines, and all of the drama on an understanding of how racial and social stereotypes can wear down even the most confident individuals--not exactly child's play. Bright lights, loud music, fisticuffs and cursing are all woven into the production, making it inappropriate for very young viewers. Savvy tweens with a love of wrestling will find plenty of the play engaging, but the piece was clearly written with adult audiences in mind.

Source: Broadway.com

May 29th, 2010 ~ The Pretender on Oprah?

The Oprah Winfrey Show will come to an end in 2011, but before 'it's a wrap', who do you want to see sitting next to Oprah?

We always love hearing from our viewers so now it?s your turn to tell us who YOU want Oprah to interview before the show ends. Maybe it's someone she's never talked to? Or maybe it's your favorite guest you want us to invite back? A famous actor? A musician or a politician? An athlete? International icon? The cast from your favorite movie or TV show? You tell us ? they can be unexpected, notorious, head-turning, tear-jerking, headline-making...we want to know who you've always wanted on Oprah. Email us your ideas now!

Season 25 - Who Do You Want to See Oprah Interview?

Request the cast, crew and creators of this The Pretender! Let's raise awareness that we, the fans, still want closure for our favorite show!!

May 27th, 2010 ~ More favorable reviews

The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity is a hit in New York and more favorable reviews are popping up everyday.

Reviews:
  • 'Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity' Mocks Bigotry
  • The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity: Pro wrestling Body-Slams Conventional Theater at Second Stage
  • Wrestlers! Mayhem! My Review
  • The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity {exerpt} (A NY Observer Review)

  • May 24th, 2010 ~ Michael attends Sex and the City 2 New York Premiere

    With no performance of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity on Mondays, Michael attended the New York Premiere of Sex and the City 2 at Radio City Music Hall.

    Here are some photos I've come across so far, they are small but nice nonetheless.



    These can be found a bit bigger here.

    There is also a video from the red carpet arrivals. Michael appears at about 19:59 minutes into this video.

    Watch live streaming video from sexandthecity2 at livestream.com

    May 21st, 2010 ~ Many favorable reviews for "Chad Deity"

    'Chad Deity' opens in New York
    The Victory Gardens Theater production of "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity" opened at New York's Second Stage last night, popping with a Chicago crew. It looks like it will be a hit. Broadway, perchance, is on the cards.

    Source: Chicago Tribune Leisure Blogs

    Here's a look at Michael on opening night (after-party at HB Burger):



    These and the rest of the opening night photos can be found here.

    Reviews:
  • Whomp! Oof! Wrestling Play Packs a Punch
  • Body Slam to the American Dream
  • Grappling with Race and Identity
  • The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (A Theater Mania Review)
  • Theatre in Review: The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Second Stage)
  • The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity: A CurtainUp Review
  • The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (A That Sounds Cool Review)
  • The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (A Talkin'Broadway.com Review)
  • The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (A NYDailyNews.com Review)
  • The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (An On Off Broadway Review)
  • The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (A Backstage.com Review)
  • The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (A Variety.com review)
  • Theater Review - The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
  • The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity Review: Professional Wrestling As Art and Politics
  • 'The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity' Exposes the Racial Games Played For Mad Money
  • THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY - A REVIEW OF THE WRESTLING-THEMED OFF BROADWAY DRAMA OPENING
    TOMORROW IN NYC
  • Wrestling Action All On Stage!

  • Second Stage Theater has added more videos to their YouTube page:


    May 18th, 2010 ~ Sex and the City 2

    According to the IMDB, Michael is part of the cast of the new Sex and the City 2 film due out in US theaters May 27, 2010. The IMDB lists Michael's character as: Handsome man at wedding. Looks to me like another small part but it's a new project nonetheless. With any luck, hopefully when my friend visits me next month we'll get to go see it, and we will definitely report back!

    TY Molly for the heads up!

    Source: IMDB

    May 16th, 2010 ~ A Careful Body Slam Is as Vital as Deft Dialogue

    For the cast of "Chad Deity," a comic drama about identity politics and pro wrestling that opens at Second Stage Theater on Thursday, perfecting the phony wrangling in the ring has required skills they never contemplated in acting school. But refining each wrestling move has also been serious -- and sometimes injury-inducing -- work for the actors, given the production's ambitions to create the most physically theatrical metaphor on a New York stage this season.

    You can read the complete article here which includes a comment by Michael about the play.

    Source: NYTimes.com

    May 9th, 2010 ~ Playbill Cover for The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity


       Click pic above to    view larger image.
    An Off-Broadway Cover Story: Gabriel and Chad Deity {excerpt}
    Tuesday, May 9th, 2010

    Second Stage Theatre is offering Kristoffer Diaz's The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, a Pulitzer Prize finalist set in the world of pro-wrestling.

    In the show, "Macedonio 'The Mace' Guerra is a middle rank pro-wrestler who may have discovered his ticket to the big time: a charismatic, trash-talking Indian kid from Brooklyn whom he recruits as the perfect foil to the All-American champion, Chad Deity. But when their rivalry is used to exploit racial stereotypes in the name of ratings, all three men find themselves fighting for much more than the championship title."

    The cast includes Terence Archie, Michael T. Weiss, Usman Ally, Desmin Borges and Christian Litke.




    Source: Playbill.com/playblog

    May 7th, 2010 ~ Promotional Video for Chad Deity added

    Chad Deity arrives in NYC to bring his play "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity" to Second Stage Theatre. Now playing through June 20th only! www.2st.com



    May 5th, 2010 ~ Chad Deity Promotional Stills

    Second Stage Theater has added some promotional stills to their website for the new play: The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity. Below are the ones that Michael appears in and you can find the rest on their website. Larger versions of the thumbs below can also be found here.





    May 2nd, 2010 ~ Viewer Review of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity


    Click pic to
    view larger image.
    The actors that they selected to play their parts were PERFECT. They really left it all out there in the ring and it had a little bit of everything: comedy, drama, fantasy, reality, flare, racism. I mean... what more could you ask for? The ending is a bit abrupt, but it speaks to the reality of the businesss and the entity of a corporate machine, in general. --Dave Kim

    Source: Goldstar.com








    May 1st, 2010 ~ 'Chad Deity' On Twitter

    Follow the play on Twitter.
    So far, the audience seems to like it!

    April 21st, 2010 ~ Photo Preview: The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity


    Click pic to view larger image.
    Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will present the New York premiere of THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY, a new play written by Kristoffer Diaz and directed by Edward Torres. Preview performances begin on Tuesday, April 27 with an opening night set for Thursday, May 20 at 6:30pm. THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY will star Usman Ally, Terence Archie, Desmin Borges, Christian Litke, and Michael T. Weiss (NBC's "The Pretender").

    Read the complete article here.




    April 13th, 2010 ~ Michael attends Atlantic Theater's Spring Gala

    On Monday, April 12, the Atlantic Theater Company celebrated their 25th anniversary with a star-studded event at Gotham Hall. Proceeds from the Gala will benefit Atlantic Theater Company Productions and Arts Education. Michael was in attendance along with Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Johnston and many others. For larger versions of the thumbs below, click here.



    Articles
  • PHOTO CALL: Atlantic Theater Company's 25th Anniversary Gala
  • PHOTO FLASH: Woody Allen, Duncan Sheik, Ted Danson, and More at the Atlantic Theater Company Gala
  • Atlantic Theater Company Celebrates 25 Starry Years at 2010 Spring Gala
  • Photo Coverage: Atlantic Theater Company Celebrates 25th Anniversary

  •       
    CHAD DEITY Named as Finalist for 2010 Pulitzer

    The second production of Kristoffer Diaz's The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at the InterAct Theater has been nominated for a Pulitzer.

    CHAD DEITY Named as Finalist for 2010 Pulitzer (& Other Cool News)! Here at InterAct, we're always so proud when a play InterAct originally produced (or the 2nd production, in this case...) goes on to become a breakthrough hit for its playwright. It's happened on few occassions, most notably for InterAct's Playwright In Resident Thomas Gibbons, who saw over 30 national and international productions of PERMANENT COLLECTION and over 35 productions of BEE-LUTHER-HATCHEE since their World Premiere productions at InterAct in 2003 and 1999 respectively.

    Now, we are especially pleased to report that Kristoffer Diaz's THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY was announced yesterday as one of the finalists for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in Drama. Pulitzer.org describes the play as, "a play invoking the exaggerated role-playing of professional wrestling to explore themes from globalization to ethnic stereotyping, as the audience becomes both intimate insider and ringside spectator."

    In addition to its Pulitzer nomination, CHAD DEITY is also gearing up for its Off-Broadway debut! Beginning April 27 and running through June 20, 2econd Stage Theatre will present the New York premiere of the play, directed by Edward Torres and featuring Desmin Borges (as Mace), Terence Archie (as Chad Deity), Usman Ally (as VP), Michael T. Weiss (as Everett K. Olson) and Christian Litke (as Billy Heartland). Visit 2econd Stage Theatre's website for information or to purchase tickets.

    Finally, CHAD DEITY is currently receiving its 3rd production at Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis, featuring Shalin Agarwal reprising his role as V.P. from InterAct's production. In its review, TwinCities.com said Shalin, "...has crack comic timing, and although he appears to weigh about half as much as Ansa Akyea, who plays Deity, Agarwal's crazed, charismatic confidence convinces you The Fundamentalist could take him."

    Congratulations to both Kris and Shalin... Long live CHAD DEITY!

    Source: Interact Theatre Company Blog
    More Information: Kristoffer Diaz's Official Blog: Smichovsky Compensation Syndrome

    April 9th, 2010 ~ Chad Deity Poster


    Click pic to view larger image
    The poster for CHAD is officially up. And it's huge. --Kristoffer Diaz










    Source: Kristoffer Diaz's Official Blog: Smichovsky Compensation Syndrome

    April 5th, 2010 ~ Atlantic Theater's 25th Anniversary Gala

    WHEN:
    Monday, April 12 2010

    WHERE:
    Gotham Hall
    1356 Broadway at 36th Street

    FOR INFO:
    Catherine Williams
    Individual Giving & Special Events
    cwilliams@atlantictheater.org
    646.216.1088
    GALA COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS
    Carol B. Auerbach ˇ Jill Cohen ˇ Wolf Hengst and
    The Atlantic Board of Directors and Ensemble

    CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND

    ATLANTIC THEATER COMPANY'S
    25TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
    Hosted by THE ATLANTIC ENSEMBLE

    The Gala will feature appearances and tributes by a star studded crowd of Atlantic Theater Company Ensemble Members and friends including F. Murray Abraham, Woody Allen, Jonathan Cake, Bob Balaban, Jesse Eisenberg, Kathryn Erbe, Giancarlo Esposito, Siobhan Fallon, Clark Gregg, Jennifer Grey, Brian d'Arcy James, Kristen Johnston, Julianne Nicholson, Mary Beth Peil, Martha Plimpton, Duncan Sheik, Michael T. Weiss, Isiah Whitlock, Jr., Mare Winningham and Frank Wood toasting the accomplished history of the award-winning Off-Broadway theater company.

    6:30pm Cocktails
    7:30pm Dinner
    9:00pm Live Auction and Performance
    Festive Dress

    GALA TABLES OF TEN (10)
    Choose to participate by purchasing
    a table at the following level:

    $25,000 25th Anniversary
    Gala Table and Season Tickets
    ($4,000 deducted for goods and services)
    Premiere seating, opportunity to host artistic guest(s) at your table, All-In-One memberships for eight (8) table guests to experience Atlantic's 2010-2011 season, half-page credit in commemorative 25th Anniversary Gala journal and credit in Playbill

    $15,000 Producer Table
    ($2,500 deducted for goods and services)
    Preferred seating, quarter-page credit in commemorative 25th Anniversary Gala journal and credit in Playbill

    $8,500 Partner Table
    ($2,000 deducted for goods and services)
    Priority seating and credit in Playbill

    INDIVIDUAL TICKETS Choose to participate by purchasing a ticket/tickets at the following level:
    ($200 is deducted for goods and services for each ticket)

    $2,500 25th Anniversary Ticket(s) Premiere seating with artistic guests, listing in Gala Journal and Playbill

    $1,500 Producer Ticket(s)
    Preferred seating, listing in Gala Journal and Playbill

    $1,000 Partner Ticket(s) Priority Seating, listing in Gala Journal and Playbill

    All names will be held at the door.
    No tickets will be mailed in advance.

    Proceeds from the Gala will benefit Atlantic Theater Company Productions and Arts Education Outreach programs including "Atlantic for Kids" children's productions and Atlantic's in-classroom "Students and Educators" series, which serves over 3,000 New York City public school students annually. Atlantic's goal is to help teachers cultivate the next generation of theater artists, audiences, and most importantly, critical thinkers and writers.

    *Artists subject to change.

    Sources: Atlantic Theater and BBB-Blogger

    April 4th, 2010 ~ Seen & Heard At the Drama Bookshop

    Michael T. Weiss at The Drama Book Shop on April Fools Day, and he bought Scarcity and Impressionism.

    Michael Terry Weiss is a Chicago born actor best known for playing the title role in the television program The Pretender and in the movie Jeffery. In addition to acting, Weiss is a mixed media artist and a playwright.







    Source: Drama Book Shop-Blogspot
      Shop: Drama Book Shop

    March 30th ~ Cast for "Chad Deity" Begins Rehearsals

    Wrestling Will Be Center Stage at Second Stage
    Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

    Off-Broadway's Second Stage Theatre began rehearsing its prized new Second City import, Kristoffer Diaz's wrestling play, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, on March 30.

    An incendiary mix of race, politics and hip-hop in the improbable arena of a wrestling ring, the play is Diaz's first produced effort. Critics loved it when it world-premiered in fall 2009 at Chicago's Victory Gardens Theater; The script was picked Best Play of 2009 by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and TimeOut Chicago.

    Eddie Torres, artistic director of Teatro Vista, did the direction (avoiding anything that smacked of "fight choreography") and will repeat the assignment in NYC.

    Three of the original five-man cast will be reprising their performances. Desmin Borges, who was singled out for a star-making turn, is the play's narrator and perennial bad-guy-in-the-ring, Macedonio Guerra, aka The Mace. Usman Ally is the partner he discovers, a charismatic, trash-talking Indian kid from Brooklyn named Vigneshwar Paduar aka VP -- and together they form a tag-team of terrorists and go after the good guy of the title. The third original ring player is Christian Litke, who is the good-guy grist for their mill with names like Billy America and The Patriot.

    Terence Archie, the Coalhouse Walker Jr. understudy in Broadway's recent Ragtime, plays the title character, the All-American world champion.

    The ring announcer who bosses about all of the above, exploiting stereotypes in the name of ratings, is Michael T. Weiss, last seen in Broadway's Impressionism.

    Previews will start April 27. Opening night is set for Thursday, May 20.

    New York theatre's previous brush with a wrestling theme -- Claire Luckham's Teaneck Tanzi: The Venus Flytrap with Andy Kaufman and Deborah Harry -- was unhappy. It opened (and closed!) on April 20, 1983, at the Nederlander -- this after the theatre's seats had been expensively replaced with wrestling-arena pews. -- Harry Haun

    Source: Playbill.com/playblog

    March 23rd, 2010 ~ The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity Tickets and Information

    Finally! Some news on Michael. He will be appearing in the new play by Kristoffer Diaz The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity as Everett K. Olson (a.k.a. E.K.O).

    SYNOPSIS
    A comic powerslam of a play, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity* is a theatrical event that dares to throw political correctness out of the ring. Macedonio "The Mace" Guerra is a middle rank pro-wrestler who may have discovered his ticket to the big time: a charismatic, trash-talking Indian kid from Brooklyn whom he recruits as the perfect foil to the All-American champion, Chad Deity. But when their rivalry is used to exploit racial stereotypes in the name of ratings, all three men find themselves fighting for much more than the championship title.

    * The World Premiere production of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity was honored with a 2009 Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award and was a finalist for the 2008 O'Neill Playwrights Conference, and subsequently won Arizona Theater Company's National Latino Playwriting Award.

    About Michael's Character:
    Everett (E.K.O.) is the boss who has a specific plan for the wrestling duo: put them onscreen as terrorists.

    Second Stage Theatre
    305 West 43rd Street
    New York, NY 10036

    Take the 1,2,3,7,N,Q,R,W trains to Times Square - 42nd;
    A,C,E trains to 42nd - Port Authority

    About This Venue
    Founded in 1979 under the leadership of artistic director Carole Rothman, Second Stage produces a diverse range of premieres and new interpretations of America's best contemporary theatre, including such productions as Coastal Disturbances, This Is Our Youth, The Good Times Are Killing Me, Jar the Floor, Saturday Night, Tiny Alice, Jitney, Crowns, Living Out, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and The Little Dog Laughed. The company's more than 125 citations include a 2002 Tony Award for Metamorphoses and the 2002 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Body of Work.

    Show Opens:
    May 20, 2010
    Previews Start:
    April 27, 2010 - May 19, 2010
    Show Closes:
    June 20, 2010

    Schedule
    Tuesday 7:00pm
    Wednesday 2:00pm & 8:00pm
    Thursday 8:00pm
    Friday 8:00pm
    Saturday 2:00pm & 8:00pm
    Sunday 3:00pm

    Exceptions
    Wednesday, April 28 - no 2pm performance
    Sunday, May 2 - 2pm and 7pm performances
    Monday, May 17 - 8pm performance
    Friday, May 21 - no performance
    Wednesday, May 26 - 7pm performance
    Thursday, May 27 - 7pm performance
    Friday, May 28 - 7pm performance
    Ticket Price: $70.00

    Tickets by Phone: 212-246-4422
    800-766-6048

    Tickets Online: http://www.2st.com

    ABOUT THE COMPANY

    USMAN ALLY (Vigneshwar Paduar aka "VP") appeared in the Chicago premiere of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity. Other Chicago credits include Relatively Close(Victory Gardens Theater), Arabian Nights and Around the World in 80 Days (Lookingglass Theater), Celebrity Row (American Theatre Company), Tranquility Woods (Steppenwolf First Look), Public Enemy and American Ethnic (Remy Bumppo), and Weapon of Mass Impact (Red Orchid Theater). Regional Credits include A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings (Hippodrome Theatre, FL) and Around the World in 80 Days (Centerstage Baltimore and Kansas City Rep). A proud ensemble member of American Theater Company and StageLeft Theatre Company, he received his MFA in Acting (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of Florida after receiving a BA in Theatre and Cultural Anthropology from Lewis and Clark College. Usman is originally from Pakistan, but was born and raised in Southern and Eastern Africa.

    TERENCE ARCHIE (Chad Deity aka "Chad Deity") recently appeared on Broadway in the revival of Ragtime. Other credits include Camelot with the New York Philharmonic, Ellen Craft at the NY Fringe Festival, Romeo and Juliet at Harlem Classical, and Frederick Douglas Free and GWC Peanut Price, both at Urban Stages. He has appeared on television in "Law and Order" and "One Life To Live," among others. He is a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts.

    DESMIN BORGES (Macedonio Guerra aka "The Mace") is making his New York stage debut, reprising his role from the world premiere production of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at Chicago's Victory Gardens Theatre. His regional credits include Boleros for The Disenchanted (Goodman Theatre), The Crossing and Little Uncertainties (Goodman Theatre Latino Festival), Elliot (A Soldier's Fugue) (Steppenwolf Garage), The Ascension of Carlotta (16th Street Theatre), The Buddy Holly Story (Mercury Theatre), Disney's Aladdin, Pippi Longstocking, the World Premiere of Esperanza Rising (The Children's Theatre Co. in Minneapolis), Freedom NY and La Posada Magica (Teatro Vista), and The Defiant Muse, I Sailed with Magellan. Film and Television credits include: Cherry, Milwaukee, Taco Mary, Viva El Mariachi, Good People, Between Two Suns, Evolution and "True Blood" on HBO. Desmin is an Ensemble Member of Teatro Vista and a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University.

    Born and raised in Chicago, CHRISTIAN LITKE ("Billy Heartland") is a professional actor/stuntman appearing in such films as The Dark Knight, Public Enemies, and Death of a President. He is also the host of the WWE's Fan Axxess Tour, Biggest Party of the Summer, and Wrestlemania Axxess. A graduate of Columbia College Chicago's theatre program he has been seen in such stage shows as True West, 3 Penny Opera, and Troilus & Cressida. Christian was in the world premiere production of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at Chicago's Victory Gardens Theatre.

    MICHAEL T. WEISS (Everett K. Olson aka "E.K.O.") recently appeared in Impressionism (Broadway), Scarcity (Drama Desk nom.; Atlantic Theater), Of Equal Measure (Center Theatre Group), Burn This and Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Huntington Theatre Co.), Look Back in Anger, The Taming of the Shrew. Film: Freeway (Sundance), Jeffrey, Bones, Until the Night, Iowa (Tribeca Film Festival; Midwest FF Best Actor Award), Net Worth, Marmalade. TV: starred in NBC's "The Pretender" portraying more than 50 characters, as well as numerous other series regular and guest star roles.

    KRISTOFFER DIAZ's other plays include Welcome to Arroyo's and Guernica, which have been produced and developed at Victory Gardens Theater, American Theatre Company, The Orchard Project, Hip-Hop Theater Festival, The Lark, Summer Play Festival, Donmar Warehouse, and South Coast Rep. Diaz also was one of the creators of Brink!, the apprentice anthology show at the 2009 Humana Festival of New American Plays. He is a 2009-2010 Jerome Fellow, and a new playwright-in-residence at Teatro Vista.

    EDWARD TORRES recently directed the world premiere production of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity for Victory Gardens in association with Teatro Vista. As an actor he was seen in El Grito Del Bronx (Collaboraction Theatre/Goodman Theatre); The Cook (Goodman); and Massacre Sing to Your Children (Teatro Vista/Goodman) and Elliot, A Soldier Fuge (Rivendell Theatre/Steppenwolf). He has a BA in Theatre from Roosevelt University and an MFA in Film from Columbia College (Chicago). Mr. Torres currently serves on the Illinois Arts Council. He has served on the National Endowment for the Arts-Theatre Panel (2005-2007) and on the MAP Fund-Theatre Panel (2008). Directorial credits include: for Teatro Vista, The Show Host, Aurora's Motive (Jaime Pachino), Ambrosio (Romulus Linney); for Latino Chicago: Do Cocks Have Claws and Wings to Fly (Amparo Garcia) and Lolita De Lares (Migdalia Cruz). Mr. Torres has produced over 25 plays as Artistic Director of Teatro Vista over the last 12 years.


    ARTICLES
  • The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
  • Archie and Weiss Join Chicago Stars for Off-Broadway's Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
  • Terence Archie, Desmin Borges, Michael T. Weiss, et al. Set for The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
  • Michael T. Weiss & More to Star in The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at Second Stage
  • Borges, Ally, Litke going to New York with Chad Deity
  • Second Stage to Present Kristoffer Diaz's The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity

  • January 20th, 2010 ~ Michael's Fine Art Update

    Currently, all of Michael's art that has been shown in the gallery of his Fine Art Website has been removed and replaced with the following message:

    Gallery Under Construction
    New artwork coming soon. Please check back.

    So hopefully very soon we will get to see some of what Michael has been working on!

    January 15th, 2010 ~ Update on Marmalade

    Hi Karen,
    Yes, I haven't updated my website. We're building a completely new one. We will be putting some scenes on YouTube very soon. And as soon as my new site is up and running we probably will make it available to purchase there as well. Even though it's been 5 years since making the movie and I still get mails and requests about Marmalade all the time. Thanks for you interest.

    Best regards,
    Jill


     

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