JAY JOHNSON: THE TWO AND ONLY! to Play Brentwood Theatre in LA Pre-Broadway
By: BWW News Desk Jan. 03, 2006
Jay Johnson: THE TWO AND ONLY! is produced by Roger Alan Gindi, Stewart F. Lane & Bonnie Comley, Dan Whitten, Herbert Goldsmith Productions, and WetRock Entertainment. It comes to Los Angeles and Broadway following an acclaimed run at The Atlantic Theater Company last year. It is presented at the Brentwood Theatre by RICHMARK Entertainment.
In his 30-year career, Jay Johnson has converted generations of ventriloquist-avoiding Americans with his charm, anarchy and innovative wit. In Jay Johnson: THE TWO AND ONLY!, he deconstructs and demonstrates his lifelong obsession.
Best known for playing the schizophrenic role of Chuck and Bob on the classic television comedy Soap, Jay Johnson is recognized as one of our foremost ventriloquists, returning the ancient craft to its rightful place as an art form.
Jay Johnson is a writer, philosopher, comic, poet, and artist. In the show, he takes us on a multi-dimensional journey that combines his skills with a parade of characters that range from a subversive monkey to a withering tennis ball.
Jay Johnson: THE TWO AND ONLY! is directed and co-created by Murphy Cross and Paul Kreppel. Their collective credits include Broadway (A Chorus Line, Godspell), New York Shakespeare Festival, film (Annie, Perfect) and TV (Deadwood, Carnivale, ER, It's a Living, Taxi and Cheers) as directors, performers and choreographers.
From the Oracle of Delphi to "The Tonight Show," ventriloquism has long provided insight as well as entertainment. Through the illusion of ventriloquism and his diverse array of comic characters, Johnson takes us on a multi-dimensional journey: the surprisingly dark history of ventriloquism; the story of a shy boy in Texas who finds his passion; the tale of a mentor who passes on to the student the knowledge and mystical tradition of an ancient art; and a series of classic routines that leave the audience howling with laughter.
Characters met along the way include Long John La Feat, a lone head in a wicker basket, who helps illustrate how ventriloquists during the Dark Ages would speak through the mouths of the executed, cursing villages and hustling money; and Nethernore, "The Vulture of Death!" acts as Jay's "familiar," a common tool of witchcraft. Spaulding, an innocent tennis ball, is given voice to illustrate different aspects of the craft; and puppets made by Jay's mentor, Arthur Sieving, a retired master ventriloquist and puppet maker, provide the evening with real emotion and wonder.
The New York Times review exclaimed, "A dozen wildly improbable characters spring to life through his zipped lips, not counting voices rising from the basement, floating in from the wings or muttering startlingly right next to our ears. This is one of the funniest shows of the year, but it is rich in much more than laughter … his real secret is that he is a gifted storyteller."
The Wall Street Journal review said, "Mr. Johnson is both extremely funny and a master virtuoso of his mysterious craft." Variety wrote, "This gifted showman is so erudite and amusing that when his time is up, you want to fold him into a suitcase and take him home."
The New York Post stated, "Johnson proves himself a flawlessly undetectable genius at throwing his voice everywhere and into everything… 'The Two and Only' is a marvelous illustration of how tradition, madness and love go into the making of an art form." UPI concluded, "Jay Johnson has restored a form of entertainment that has virtually dropped out of sight to its rightful place as an art form. It's an awesomely incredible performance to watch."
Jay started performing at 11 years old when he discovered his natural ability to make a cousin's doll come to life and began a career using his imagination. His acute dyslexia disappeared in this world of imagery where he was able to find his self-esteem and compete.
In high school he produced and starred in his own local television show sponsored by a car dealership. This led to summers performing in theme park shows at Six Flags over Texas, Six Flags over Georgia and Astroworld. The summer Jay graduated from high school he logged 918 performances at the Crystal Pistol Theater at Six Flags Over Georgia. (10 shows daily for thirteen weeks) Jay said, "After a summer like that you're either burned out or fired up -- fortunately I got fired up. "
In the mid-70's Jay moved to Los Angeles to pursue his ideas for television. To date he has done over thirty national commercials, hosted three comedy specials, produced and performed in two network television specials, two HBO specials, hundreds of guest appearances on variety shows and starred in four television series. "Soap" was in production for 4 years and still runs in syndication all over the world.
The creative team for Jay Johnson: THE TWO AND ONLY! is Beowulf Boritt (Scenery), Clifton Taylor (Lighting), David Gotwald (Sound) and Michael Andreas (Original Music).
Tickets for Jay Johnson: THE TWO AND ONLY! are available at the Brentwood Theatre Box Office, 11301 Wilshire Blvd. Hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays 12 p.m. to 4 p.m (subject to change). Tickets can also be purchased through www.BrentwoodTheatre.com and through Ticketmaster - online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at Ticketmaster at 213-365-3500, and all Ticketmaster outlets. For RICHMARK Memberships and tickets, and groups of 15+ call Wadsworth/Brentwood Theatre Box Office at 310-479-3636.
The Brentwood Theatre, which is located on the Veterans Administration grounds at 11301 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA. For more information visit www.RICHMARKENT.com and www.MonkeyJoke.com.
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