Amerwrecka

J.D. Lewis and The Actor’s Lab are proud to announced the play, AmerWrecka, will open February 12th, 2009 at The Charlotte Arts League, in Charlotte, NC.

Joining the North Carolina cast will be original cast member from Los Angeles, Cher Ferreyra (from the television show Veronica Mars), Jonna Tomases (Star of Jonna’s Body), and Kevin Patrick Murphy (Artistic Director of The Echo Arts Project / Filthy Rogue Productions).

Described as ‘Moulin Rouge Meets Hair’, AmerWrecka is an original play with music, written and directed by J.D. Lewis.  J.D. Lewis is best known as one of the most popular acting coaches in Los Angeles, having work with some of the top actors in the industry.

AmerWrecka took the world by storm at its world premiere at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It has now toured internationally including the prestigious UnFringed Festival in Limerick, Ireland. AmerWrecka also enjoyed a sold out run in Los Angeles at Highway’s Performance.

In a world gone wrong, what would you do to make a difference?
The characters in AmerWrecka are faced with exactly that question.

The play begins with the historic killing of the four unarmed American students at Kent State University, shot by the National Guard at a peace rally on May 4, 1970. Thirty-five years later, they return to earth on a mission to peacefully shake up the current political climate in the States.

Along the way, they set their sights on four apathetic Americans. One is a New York City fire-fighter, another a conservative politician running for Congress, the third a stripper, and the fourth a radical Latina lesbian.

With the help of their celestial activist guides, these four ordinary Americans embark on a daring plan to change the course of American history—by using the system to turn themselves into martyrs.

Filled with humor, music, and drama, this play is provocative, challenging, and a gut-wrenching call to action. Done with minimal but effective stage design, AmerWrecka has heart and soul, intellect and emotion.

J.D. Lewis is excited to be bringing AmerWrecka to The Charlotte Arts League. He said, “I wanted to find a space that wasn’t necessarily a theatre. When I walked into The Charlotte Arts League, I know it was the space for the show. It seemed to have the feeling of the blossoming Charlotte art scene. Charlotte feels to me to be the next great artistic hub. The energy here is ready to explode into something beautiful.”

“AmerWrecka is a triumph… a brilliant work of art. With the writing and directing talents of one of America’s best, J.D. Lewis, and this cast of talented actors, this is a must see production.”
David Kirkpatrick; President – Paramount Pictures

“Three Weeks” in Edinburgh. – The Official Festival Paper
FIVE STAR REVIEW:
“At the core of this performance were the onstage techniques, utilizing direct address, spotlighting and freeze frame montage to devastating effect, and the powerful, heart rendering character development by a very talented cast. This is real theatre!!!!”

Review by Patrick Harrington:
“I really loved this show. The extremely talented cast were full of energy and obviously enjoying themselves. The message was 'right on'. Great writing, radical politics, sex, and great music - go see it!”

Area 15
Area 15 currently in development at The Actor’s Lab – Charlotte.

Area 15 is an internet series that takes place in an art complex in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina
Set against the gritty and colorful backdrop of a less fortunate area of Charlotte, the artists of Area 15 are constantly trying to avoid being evicted by the owner of the gallery.  This would mean the end of Area 15, a tradition among starving artists in the area. The owner of the gallery wants nothing more than to get these vagrants out and sell the property to developers for a huge profit.

Infused with off-beat characters, menacing situations and unpredictable plot twists, Area 15 delivers a compelling and dramatic look at the pursuit of art, in the midst of a property development boom in Charlotte.

Music, recorded by local artists, is also an integral part of the storytelling. It fuels the mood of the storylines and characters, and accents the transitions.

Sitting at the helm of Area 15, JAMIE REESE, late 20’s, a tenacious champion of the underdog and great artist in her own right. She’s a pierced and tattooed lesbian and proud of it. She has the lease on the actual building and acts as the landlord and den mother.

Her right-hand man is BUCK WALKER. He's an early twenties, straight out of Iowa, farm boy.  What he doesn’t have in brains, he makes up in loyality.  He’d do anything for Jamie.  He has an attraction to Jamie but would never act on it.  His art is different and edgy, but not necessarily very good.

A Puerto Rican transplant from NYC, RICO CHAVEZ, is in his early twenties. He’s a street smart kid.  He’s tough with a heart of gold, but don’t cross him. He always has a scheme for selling art.  He’s a wheeler and a dealer… drug dealer.

Rico’s got an unmistakable attraction to DRUSILLA RANDOLPH, an undeniably gorgeous, African American. She’ll have nothing to do with him. She is smart as a whip and a tad uptight. She comes from a wealthy family and her upbringing is hard to hide.  She’d do anything to be cooler.

Rounding out the Area 15 tenants is WOLFY STICKLIN, a special needs artist. He is mildly down sydrome and a sweetheart.  He has been given a studio at Area 15 though the kindness of Jaime… He may be emotionally challenged, but often is the one who has the most profound things to share.

Across town, AREA 15’s nemesis, ANGELA NEWMAN, mid-50's, is the brains and money behind BARNES/NEWMAN Real Estate and Development Company. Known for her conservative, 'pro-development' politics, she is constantly trying to get Jaime and her posse evicted from Area 15, so that she can develop the property.

Angela’s “Yes Man” is NICK APOLLO. He works for Angela, but we soon find out his sympathies lie with the less fortunate artists at AREA 15. When they need him, the crew at Area 15, can count on his help.