LA ALERT: Armin's back in 'Discord' through Dec. 21

If you missed our own Armin "Quark" Shimerman in the new play last spring about three historical bigwigs who edited their own Bibles finding themselves trapped in a limbo together across time and space in a battle of wits and whys… here's your chance to see the show on a bigger stage, even more refined.

Yes, the same cast—which also include onetime Trek guest star Larry Cedar as Thomas Jefferson, to Armin's Count Tolstoy and David Melville's Charles Dickens—gets an up-tweak now at the Geffen Theatre in a run that's already won rave reviews around town and a one-month extension to boot. It plays weeknights at 8 p.m. through Dec. 21 except for Mondays, with double showtimes on weekends: 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Check out the play website and remaining tickets for Geffen’s Audrey Skirball Theatre at 10886 Le Conte, or call 310-208-5454.

For more on "Discord" itself, written by Real Time With Bill Maher exec producer Scott Carter, there's always our prior Trekland post here ... as well as our backstage, post-play chat with Armin about the play's themes and playing Tolstoy within it.  Ignore the detail s of that small-theatre run; stick with the play's core and Armin's basic thoughts about it—and Tolstoy.  You'll notice that this upgraded production has given Armin's Tolstoy a much more sophisticated makeup and costume (seen in photo at left):

STV—L.A. ALERT! Catch Armin by Feb. 16 in witty, thoughtful DISCORD on stage at NoHo Arts Center

Our vidchat is below the fold....

But if you are in SoCal over the next week, HURRY and catch Armin Shimerman as Leo Tolstoy (yes, Mr. War and Peace himself) in this witty, thoughtful and world-premiere meetup of the Count, Thomas Jefferson and Charles Dickens staged at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia at Lankershim, 91601.

Real Time with Bill Maher exec producer Scott Carter realized that this historical trio each rewrote their own version of the Christian gospel at one point in their life, and he's thrown them together in an unlikely and friction-filled limbo while they and we sort out the reason why—and enjoy the era and worldview each evokes. The show runs Thursdays through Sundays through Feb. 23, although Armin leaves the cast after Feb. 16.

We had the chance to catch the last preview and, as Armin says in our chat below, the bare stage is betrayed by a few simple yet clever visual tricks and projections that keep you guessing until the main thrust of their mutual bedevilment kicks in. You also learn surprises about all three men, and Armin shares those he was most intrigued to find out: the same was true with three-time Trek vet Larry Cedar as Jefferson, and the animated David Melville as an equally animated Dickens. In the script, all three famous but unrelated men of different eras are thrown into debate while holding to their value and view of theology or morality—and. in turn, offer up a deep dark secret of their own, as well.

The show's had great reviews from the LA Times, among others around town, and you can read much more about Carter's journey with the script here and at JDTProject.com. But hurry: get tickets for the last shows at nohoace.com or call 818-508-7101 (ext 6). Tell'em Larry's Trekland sentya!

And get a head start here with Armin, fresh from that last preview and full of Tolstoy surprises.... (Gandhi? Who KNEW!?)

Happy birthday, Armin!—and check out this comedy's Kickstarter video

Armin and I during the 2007 Writer's Guild strike "Trek Day"

Yes, happy birthday today to a great actor, scholar, novelist, genre fan, union guy, Ferengi—and the man who first opened the door for us on opening night at Quark's!

Our best greetings to Armin Shimerman — who I hear also made a wicked recurring name for himself as Principal Snyder on  Buffy and tunneldweller Pascal on Beauty and the Beast).

While we wish him well today and I have your attention, check him out with Harry "Tam Elbrun/Nathan Samuels" Groener in this YouTube for a Kickstarter campaign on a hilarious indie comedy they and a host of genre names are involved with—Armin's wife Kitty, Barry Bostwick, many more ... and co-created and produced by Gabriel Diani, the guy who portrayed Spock to straight comic perfection in the tiny yet brilliant and even licensed 2004 production of "Spock's Brain" at an OC comedy club. How many in-jokes can you count? And this is just one of a dozen shorts featuring a lot of familiar faces in the film and, uh, "dry" wit... it's Diani & Devine Meet The Apolcalypse:

Now that I have my own attention free to look at other projects, I hope you all check out all the many cute vids and make a donation—a lot of your favorite actors are helping Gabe and Etta out with their project. Gabe even does a great turn in one as young sarcastic Mark Twain on the Internets machine ...

LA ALERT: Armin's LOL in mockumentary teaser for play

As you wait for your Into Darkness tickets, SoCal, check out this offbeat trailer for a new production of Arthur Miller's classic "The Crucible," co-starring our own Armin "Quark" Shimerman. The promo trailer, that is—not the play, which he co-directs.


Miller's timeless statement about literal witchhunts has nothing to do with DS9, Buffy... or Mad Men (watch it), or even The Office ...  but Armin and co-director Geoffrey "Hot Tooth" Wade shine in this offbeat approach to promoting the play.  And the show's befuddled cast are along for the ride.

Too much fun!

So, SoCal-ers... go see another fine Anteus production weekends May 16-July 7 (see info here) from Armin and Kitty and et al's troupe, L.A.'s classical theatre company. It's not the first time we've told you about Antaeus ... or that they have stooped to such tomfoolery for attention! (And look for a cameo of wife Kitty in the tag!)

Pitch in: It's Armin in drag for the Antaeus Theatre

Shades of "Profit and Lace!"

No, this is not my video—but some choice bits shared by Armin Shimerman and Kitty Swink from their current group, the Antaeus Theatre, whom we've seen and mentioned before. The Antaeus bills itself as L.A.'s classical theatre ensemble—and that goes for the obscure as well as well-known plays.

But today I wanted  to share one of three videos for the Antaeus' end-of-year tax-deductible donor season (makes a nice gift!)—this one emphasizes how the company double-casts all plays so "the show can go on" on those days when cast members might otherwise get auditions or even gigs.

You'll also spot Linda "Hoshi" Park right up front— but keep watching, and you can catch another Treklander in a dress, too ...

See the other videos and pics, read about their education classes and outreach, and make a donation at their website here.

A Quark/Worf dinner? Castle, Buffy? Big Bang visit? Bid NOW in Antaeus Theatre auction through Oct. 7

UPDATE 10/7/11: Prizes changed, date corrected: BIDDING ENDS TODAY!

Okay, kids, you have ONE WEEK left for some truly unique goodies:

Whether you live in SoCal or not, there's 86 items large and small now up for bid for an online fund-raiser auction through Oct. 7 for the Antaeus Company, L.A.'s classical theatre troupe that includes the likes of oh, say, Armin Shimerman and Kitty Swink, and a host of others you'll know.


You can bid on a dinner with DS9'ers Armin, Kitty, and Michael Dorn ... or similar dinners those from Buffy or 24 (below) ... a lunch with Castle's Seamus Deaver and show goodies ... original art from Rene "Odo" Auberjonois  ... much less a cast-hosted set visit to The Big Bang Theory (left) or Body of Proof (Jeffrey "Tahnna Los" Nordling). Or further afield: a cooking lesson with Top Chef fan-fave Fabio Viviani or an in-home fondue party with Emily Bergl of Desperate Housewives ... And many more: There's cool photos, scripts and signed items, rare cast gifts (like a DS9 Season 6 jacket), and even more live services, in-home dinners and gift certificates.

Kitty points out The Antaeus includes a slew of other actors with Trek and sci-fi connections, with but a few being Joe "Galt" Ruskin, Kurtwood "Annorax/President" Smith, Chelsea Field (Scott Bakula's partner), Richard "Admiral Paris" Herd, Gregory Itzin, JD "Toral" Cullum, Adrian LaTourelle (Rene's son-in-law), Bob Pine (Chris "Kirk '09" Pine's dad), Lawrence "Tekeny Ghemor" Pressman, Rhonda "Dixon Hill's Madeline" Aldrich, and Josh "Lt. Carey" Clark. Not to mention Tony Amendola (Stargate), Harry Groener (Buffy—and Tam Elbrun/ Nathan Samuels), Paul Eiding (voices for dozens of sci-fi games), Arye Gross (Minority Report), and Joel Swetow (Charmed).

The trustable website biddingforgood.com is handling the online auction, so you know it's in reliable hands. Check it all out today and find all kinds of genre and actor goodies up for bids to help The Antaeus—some of them on the real "up close and personal" side.

Set to open at The Antaeus Oct. 20 is the rare 1947 Noel Coward xomedy-drama "Peace in Our Time," the American debut of Coward's what-if look at his beloved England under Nazis occupation —with 22 roles, all double-cast. It is slated to run through Dec. 11.

LA ALERT: Your weekend? Theatre with Armin & Kitty, dinner with Cirroc!

This should be a no-brainer if you're in SoCal looking for a great weekend Trekland date:

So, let us review:
First, get tickets for Armin and Kitty's Irish play "Juno and the Paycock" at the Odyssey Theatre that we chatted and told you about, near Wilshire and Sepulveda (half-priced tickets at Goldstar) ...




... and then head just south, down Sepulveda to Jefferson, and have "before" or "after" dinner with Cirroc and his lovely Sara at their self-named Cafe Cirroc and Sara the Wine Cellar, as he described to us last fall (And yes, there's a very good chance he'll be there pleasing patrons):

STV: LA ALERT: See Kitty and Armin in Irish classic "Juno and the Paycock"

Talk about timeless: According to Armin "Quark" Shimerman, Irish national playwright hero Sean O'Casey's 1920s classic "Juno and the Paycock" is a comedy set against the Irish civil war—or as he says, "The Honeymooners during the U.S. Civil War"—and has something to reflect on about all the conflicts today at their root affecting local folks. What's more, Kitty has the title lead as matriarch Juno; Armin plays the "paycock's" best friend and enabler.

The show runs through June 5 at the Odyssey Theatre in South LA along Sepulveda— but here, let Arin and Kitty tell you about it ...and the other Treklanders involved!:



Did you catch Armin and Kitty's convention appearance list for 2011 in there, too?

The Odyssey Theatre also has an excellent preview trailer up on YouTube:

STV: Support Trek's "Bald(ing) Eagles" May 9 for charity

In the annals of Star Trek charity endeavors, here's a real wing-ding. John "Dr. Phlox" Billingsley asked me to spread the word for his BEST team—video below!—so I hope everyone flocks in who can do so:

The L.A. Audubon Society marks its 100th anniversary with a "Bird-a-thon" May 1-9, and to help out, a quartet of Treklanders—the "Bald(ing) Eagles of Start Trek"—have put together a celeb team you can join live on the final day for four hours May 9, or pledge to from afar. In this STV video below, John B. talks of how he, Armin Shimerman, Bob Picardo and Ethan Phillips hatched the idea of the BEST team to help out the L.A. Audubon with its direct and educational environmental efforts to help birds—and by extension all habitat and species.

In town or out, just call Martha at 888-522-7428 or email: books@laaudubon.org.

Press release that John mentions is below the screen:



And, direct from the BEST guys (and Bonnie "General Beckman" Friederichy):

Join STAR TREK alumni ARMIN SHIMERMAN (DS9), ROBERT PICARDO and ETHAN “JOHNNIE" PHILLIPS (ST: VOYAGER) and JOHN BILLINGSLEY (ST: ENTERPRISE) for a fun-filled afternoon of bird-watching and picnicking, ON MAY 9, to celebrate LOS ANGELES AUDUBON'S 100TH BIRTHDAY!


Los Angeles Audubon promotes the protection of birds and other wildlife through recreation, education, conservation and restoration. They are celebrating their Centennial with a "Bird-a-thon," a week-long 'species trek' across L.A. County.


Between May 1-9, teams—accompanied by experienced birders—will select a Los Angeles County hot birding spot and venture forth, in a competition to see which team can spot the most species!




JOIN OUR TEAM! HELP US WIN!


Armin, Bob, Ethan “Johnnie” Phillips, and John are forming the “BALD(ING) EAGLES OF STAR TREK TEAM” to help support the conservation efforts of Los Angeles Audubon! The first 30 people to sign up get to join us for an afternoon of adventure! We'll meet at a beautiful location, picnic on a delicious catered lunch, and then set forth to 'bird". Your contribution will also entitle you to attend LA Audubon's CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, held (conveniently for us!), immediately after the conclusion of our afternoon peregrinations. You'll receive complete details re: venue(s), time, directions, etc., upon receipt of your check!


Here’s how to reserve your spot today! Call or email today- space is limited!


Call: 1.888.522.7428 Martha will assist you.
Email: books@laaudubon.org


Cost: $150/person




CAN’T JOIN THE BALD(ING) EAGLES STAR TREK TEAM?


You can still attend the Centennial Celebration! For $50, we can accommodate 20 guests at the Celebration on May 9th (to be held at dusk, in a beautiful outdoor location). The winning team (remember, there will have been a week of birdie rubbernecking) will be lauded, drinks and grub will be consumed, and LA Audubon's remarkable contribution to the health and vitality of our community will be hallelujahed.


Contact LA Audubon to reserve your spot at the Centennial Celebration!


Call: 1.888.522.7428 Martha will assist you.
Email: books@laaudubon.org


Cost: $50/person




OUT OF TOWN? OUT OF STATE? OUT OF NATION? OUT OF GALAXY?


Support the Bald(ing) Eagles Star Trek Team anyway by pledging a $ amount per species spotted: $1 a bird, for instance. (And if you're fearful of the Bald(ing) Eagles’ bird-watching prowess - Jeez, I didn't know there were that many birds! - set a maximum contribution level for yourself! Your $10, $20, $25 pledge goes a long way to help our feathered friends!)


Call: 1.888.522.7428 Martha will take your pledge. Once the Bald(ing) Eagles are back from the field, Martha will let you know how many species they encountered and what your
donation will be.
Email: books@laaudubon.org


Your participation will help support LA Audubon's conservation efforts: programs you will be helping to fund help rescue and preserve habitats for such beautiful birds as the endangered California Least Tern and the threatened Western Snowy Plover! Join the fun for a great cause!

How Rodddenberry-esque of his children: go protect the planet!

"Misalliance": Armin does Shaw!

Fresh off his time on the debut session of "Spirit of Star Trek," Armin "Quark" Shimerman passes along info for his next project: an ambitious stage production of George Bernard Shaw's "Misalliance," a delightful romp about the chased and the chaser—and a very modern view of women that's years ahead of its time, but in that crisp, veddy British fun way.

The Rosalind Productions show is done in period style—and as Armin told me, it's a "centennial celebration": the classic first opened in London on May 31, 1909, right at a hundred years ago. At right, Armin plays Lord Summerhays opposite Abigail Rose Solomon (Christopher Moscatiello photo), just one of the English countryside couples who are set into wacky matrimonial motion amid old- and new-money fortunes, a crashed pilot and his Polish acrobat/aviatrix, and some Victorian ideals turned inside out all around!

Fo SoCal'ers who can make plans to go, "Misalliance" opens today with a run through April 19 at the Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles 90025: shows are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees. The large cast also include Greg Mullavey (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and The Bold and The Beautiful) and Nick Mennell (the new Friday the 13th). Tickets are going fast, plus the March 26 show is a "pay what you can" performance. Check out the website or call the theatre at 310-477‐2055, or 310-358-2789 for more info.

A good "Spirit" was had by all

I counted right at 50 folks who turned out for the inaugural session of "Spirit of Star Trek" on Sunday—but the crowd should grow once word gets around. Those on hand got an earful and eyeful of the philosophy, ethics and spirituality—and fun— of the alien viewpoints of the Star Trek universe begun by Gene Roddenberry... and what all that really says about us. The location was the First Presbyterian Chruch of Encino, but the tone was anything but "churchy" as the first forum hosted by the Rev. Curtis Webster (right, above) focused on the Ferengi, a big-screen showing of DS9's "Prophet Motive" and guests (from left, above) Max "Rom" Grodenchik and Armin "Quark" Shimerman.

As co-host and Trek's makeup guru Mike Westmore noted, "It ain't your typical convention show"—you'd be hard-pressed to say where you've ever seen such a thoughtful and yet funny talk and audience interaction... and for free, or a donation. Highlights: Max's question about any "universal" ethics among cultures ... Armin's description of fan queries worldwide wondering if the Ferengi are supposed to represent the Jews ... the Irish... the Chinese—depending only on the home of the questioner and the "Other" in that culture ... Mike reassuring Armin that the director, not the actor, was responsible for the Ferengi coming off not as villains but as monkeys on TNG in their debut, his episode "The Last Outpost."

If you missed this one, look for a new one each month or so. Mark calendars now for Ethan "Neelix" Phillips on March 29 and Voyager's "Mortal Coil," your afterlife beliefs shattered; Bob "Gowron" O'Reilly and those spriritual Klingons of TNG's "Rightful Heir" on April 26; Bob "The Doctor" Picardo and the fatal humanity of a hologram in “Latent Image” on May 17; Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, Gene's son, with an episode TBA on June 14 – and more in the offing.... stay tuned!

STV: Quark, Rom, and a new free screen-n-talk series



It's a laid-back and fun look at the philosophy, ethics and, yes, sprirituality of Star Trek through its various incarnations and alien perspectives. If you are in the Los Angeles area March 1, don't miss The Spirit of Star Trek: Makeup maestro Michael Westmore co-hosts with his pastor, the Rev. Curtis Webster, after screening an apropos episode—and would you believe the kickoff edition is about the Ferengi, with "Prophet Motive" onscreen and Armin Shimerman and Max Grodenchik afterwards as guests? Yes, there's more to come: Ethan Phillips, Robert Picardo, Robert O'Reilly and others are lined up for the monthly sessions.

The debut session is Sunday, March 1 from 7-9 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Encino, 4963 Balboa Boulevard just south of the 101 and Ventura Boulevard. Best of all, the thing is free—and don't be thrown by the church setting: this is obviously a nondenominational, free-flowing event and the discussion is open. If you don't believe me, take it from the Ferengi brothers themselves ... but better call to reserve, just in case: 818-788-1147.