RHONDA BADONDA: THE ADVENTURES OF A GIRL WITH A PAIN IN HER BRAIN Comes to VanFringe, Now thru Sept 20

Writer and actor Rhonda S. Musak brings the world premiere of Rhonda Badonda: The Adventures of a Girl with a Pain in Her Brain to the Vancouver Fringe Festival.

This funny and moving piece takes the audience on a triumphant, auto-biographical journey through the trials and tribulations of being different, and ultimately to self-discovery and healing.

This touchingly personal tale is directed by Gareth Hendee and runs as part of the Vancouver Fringe Festival, tonight, September 10, through September 20, 2015 at the False Creek Gym.

Through humour and movement (with Movement Direction by Joan Evans of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting), Rhonda squeaks by in life with a pile of self-help books and coaches in every corner. Is she dumb? Why can't she function normally in the world? When a mysterious pain (and a medical mystery!) dismantles her coping strategies, Rhonda Badonda embarks on a journey that leads her to the Paris Opera, Mozart, and the ultimate face-off... with her brain.

Director Gareth Hendee is thrilled to be working once again with Rhonda Musak, having previously directed her in productions of Maurizio Pollini by Taylor Mac, Romeo and Juliet (St. Paul's Chapel), and The Good Person of Setzuan (Columbia University). Other New York credits: Jeff Saphin's Tim Esquare (Arlene's Grocery); Dahling (Grove Street Playhouse); Minky Starfish (New York Theatre Workshop "Just Add Water" series); Math & Aftermath (EST Youngbloods); Tango Ballad (Actors Studio); the American premiere of Howard Barker's The Possibilities (Tribeca Lab); The Magic Formula (Judith Anderson Theatre); The Dreamer Examines His Pillow (Common Basis). Regional credits include: Milwaukee: Kimberly Akimbo; Hedwig and the Angry Inch; Dirty Blonde; San Diego: Dirty Blonde (co-directed with James Lapine); Chicago: Anyone Can Whistle; Lorca's The Love of Don Perlimplin for Belisa in the Garden; the world premiere production of the Lapine/Finn/Fitzhugh musical Muscle; Samuel Beckett's Not I (Bailiwick Directors Festival - Best of the Fest Award); Sunday in the Park with George, (four Jeff Citation Awards, including Best Director and Best Production of a Musical). Gareth holds an MFA from Columbia University.

Rhonda S. Musak has taught acting in NYC for 15 years-the past four years at her own acting studio: Art & Soul Acting. In addition, she also leads the NYC Book Club for Actors, travels teaching a Summer Acting Intensive for Teens, and this year she will lead her 8th Annual 'Leap with Passion' workshop in NYC, Chicago and Portland, Maine. She is an Erickson Certified Life Coach and a graduate of the National Shakespeare Conservatory. With her NYC company Deep Water Productions, Rhonda performed the title role of Ondine (voted one of "The Year's Best", Gay City News). Other favorite projects include the monologues Joe and Exit 9, and plays Fools & Lovers, The Rover, Hecuba, Measure for Measure, and The Marriage Proposal. Regionally she appeared in The School for Wives and A Christmas Carol at the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, and she toured nationally in The Story of Anne Frank. A native Chicagoan, she cofounded the Chicago-based Webster Circle Theatre, which garnered two Jeff Citation nominations for its work, and she studied with the Chicago Dance Medium as a scholarship recipient.

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