Victor Vauban Junior's Captivates with IT'S STILL ALL ABOUT THE WOMEN, Featuring Colby Christina
By: BWW News Desk Nov. 23, 2017
Victor Vauban Junior captivates with "IT'S ALL ABOUT THE WOMEN"- the premiere of the play by the Brazilian playwright Victor Vauban Junior has created such a buzz in the theatre world.
Excitement, a great sense of expectation and shock are the words being used by those that were in attendance at the opening on Saturday, November 18, 2017, at the Huntington Free Library in the Bronx.
The anthology of plays address themes ranging from mental illness, to abandonment, prejudice, urban violence, incarceration, stereotypes and the multiple faces of love in today's society.
During the development phase of this project, Mr. Vauban decided to address compelling themes that would lead his audience to rethink concepts and behaviors that have somehow dictated the lifestyle and rules in social classes throughout history.
Three months of writing the production culminated with opening night at the Huntington Free Library on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 7:30 PM and will continue on Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, December 2, 2017 at 7:30 PM with the final performance taking place on Friday, December 8,, 2017 at 7:30 PM.
Mr. Vauban Júnior is a former circus performer in love with the art of writing. As a Dramatist, Mr. Vauban had his work featured at the Thespis Theater Festival, Mid-Manhattan International Theater Festival and Manhattan Repertory Theater to name a few. Mr. Vauban has work published by the Writer's Guild, The Guild Magazine and his plays have been read at the Classical Theater of Harlem's Workshop. He started his writing at the, "Writers in Performance" Tribeca Performing Arts Center under the tutelage of Mario Giacalone Program Director of the Tribeca Performing Arts Center in 2012. Mr. Vauban's works are attentive to the inevitable dilemmas society has faced since the beginning of history. As a circus performer he has taught at the social program of Cirque du Solei, Cirque duMonde and performed with a number of international circus companies such as: UniverSoul Circus, Gran Circus Norte-Americano, Beto Carrero Show, Gran Bartholo Circus and Circus Amok. Mr. Vauban is an eternal admirer of the arts and is always willing to share his passion for arts with his students, friends and community. With the launch of "It's All About the Women", Mr. Vauban is set to appear on the National and International Stage.
Prior Work:
"Brother Sou"...............................................Play
"My Svengali"...............................................Play
"Florida - It's Gonna be Friday".......................Play
"Zephyr"..................................................... Play
"Alonzo & Helen"..........................................Play
"Don't Tell Nobody I Cried".............................Play
"Remember to Wear Your Uniform"..................Monologue
"The Audition".............................................Play
"The Given Sunday ......................................Play
"Claudia from 6 to 12"....................................Short Story
"It Will Get Better, Martha"..............................Short Story
"Countess Von Keyzenberg's Chronicles".......Short Story
"Mr. Lee's Tears"...........................................Short Story
"Pierre and Virginia" ....................................Short Story
The Huntington Free Library is a private library that was opened in 1891 by rail mogul Collis P. Huntington. The library is one of the oldest libraries in New York City - having been open to the public four years before the start of the current New York City Public Library system and its history is intertwined with the Bronx's rich cultural past.
"I feel honored by the invitation to bring my work here again," said Mr. Vauban during the rehearsal of his production. "This is the second year the director has invited me to present my work at the Huntington Free Library." Huntington Free Library states: "Last year Mr. Vauban presented the show, "It Is All About the Women" and "T.R.UT.H." with great success which consequently brought him back with, "It's Still All About the Women" encore presentation".
Mr. Vauban states: "It is extremely important to produce pieces of such relevance such as these. I will certainly bring other theatrical pieces that address universal themes that are part of our history, are part of us and will lead us to reflect on solutions to old problems in our society that keep repeating throughout the centuries: A search for solutions that include the benefit of all. All human beings have the right to live equally; after the result of the last elections here in the United States, I have hopes that the divisive rhetoric of the new president will stop and enable the country to seek to maintain a good and just government, that encompasses the benefit of all, equally".
During the pre-production of his projects, Mr. Vauban has the support of the veteran actress and director, Mary Tierney, with whom he has developed a partnership of almost five years. "I am very grateful to Mary Tierney, who is my guiding star and Mr. Thomas Casey, president of the Huntington library and John Maney, who personally invited me to bring my work to the library".
Mr. Vauban has been a prolific writer in the New York Theater world with pieces presented in the enshrined Classical Theater of Harlem Workshop, where only Dramatists with high relevant pieces are invited. He has maintained a constant presence in many theater festivals in New York, among them are the 'Thespis Theater Festival', 'Mid-Manhattan International Theater' and the 'Manhattan Repertory Theater' among others.
The short plays featured in the "It's Still All About the Women" anthology include distinguished American theater Actors such as Arron Lloyd whose credits include the blockbuster Theatre production of the Negro Ensemble Company revival of, "A Soldiers Play", Television credit, "Blue Bloods" and his own upcoming web series "How to Do Everything". Actress Linda Greene, who has been acting for 20 years and is also a Casting Agent for Afrikan Luv Entertainment and other companies. Actor Carleton King who started as a young talented rapper, singer and songwriter can be seen in "Leaves" giving a awesome performance. Actress and soprano Beth Griffith and Xavier Michael, execute edge and excitement to one of the plays. Beth Griffith plays "Gloria", a widow who discovers new meaning in her life when she meets a young African American man (Xavier Michael) on the New York subway with whom she develops an "unlikely friendship." In "Leaves" you will see the award winning actresses Antonia Badon (NAACP Award Winner) and Colby Christina (AUDELCO / 2 Time NAACP Award Winner) playing a mother and daughter in a piece that will spotlight riveting reflections on mental illness and grief.
As a added treat the youngest cast member is 16-year-old Colby Christina the Actress/TV TALK SHOW HOST - "Colby's Corner", Dancer, Singer, Model, Choreographer, Motivational Speaker, Advocate, AUDELCO - "Rising Star" Award Recipient & the Restoration Center for Arts & Culture Student Ambassador. She has served as the Celebrity Teen Chair & Parade Grand Marshall at the National Black Theatre Festival for the past two Festivals (2015 & 2017) alongside Actors Adult Co-Chairs Debbie Morgan, Darnell Williams, Anna Maria Horsford & Obba Babatunde. She has received over 150 Proclamations, Citations, Awards and Honors for her proven excellence in the Arts, her performances in productions over the past 14 years and other areas. As a formidable Triple Threat with a lot of background, training, experience in all disciplines of the Arts, the Colby Christina brand is already recognized around the world, STAY TUNED FOR MORE TO COME!
Mr. Vauban has hit the mark with this production and looks forward to the remaining shows.
IF YOU GO:
"IT'S ALL ABOUT THE WOMEN"
Continues on Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 7:30 PM, Saturday December 2, 2017 and Friday December 8, 2017 at 7:30 PM.
The cast (in alphabetical order): Joseph Andrade, Antonia Badon, Michael Butler, Colby Christina, Jonathan Duran, Linda Greene, Beth Griffith, Carleton King, Arron Lloyd, Xavier Michael, Linda Robinson, Benjamin Rowe, Isaiah Seward, Darnell Shelton & Katherine Westermeyer.
Stage Manager: Selear William, Rayna Brown and Jarel Williams.
The Huntington Free Library is located at 9 Westchester Square, Bronx, New York 10461.
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