The Soundtrack to Loving You is available check it out!

Acting Workshop - Saturdays from 2-4pm

Saturday, November 14, 2009 through
February, February 6, 2010
Time: 2pm-4pm
Fee: (10 Sessions - $250) Installment plans available.

12 Debrosses Street, 1st Floor, Studio 6, NYC.
Between Hudson Street & Greenwich Street.
Trains: #1 to Canal Street. Walk 1 block west to Hudson Street and 1 block south of Canal Street. Or take the A, C, or E train to Canal Street and walk 2 blocks west to Hudson Street and 1 block South of Canal Street.

The Acting Workshop will be conducted by Van Dirk Fisher, the founder and artistic director of the Riant Theatre.

Students will learn the fundamentals on how to approach working on a scene, building a character, monologues and cold readings for auditions. To register call 646-623-3488 or email us at therianttheatre@aol.com

Musical Theatre Workshop - Thursdays 7-10pm

Students are taught by theatre professionals and will learn Broadway, Gospel and Classical style songs, do vocal and acting exercises and learn how to create a character in a musical. Wear something comfortable to participate in this workshop. The Workshop will be conducted by Tony Harris, musical director and Van Dirk Fisher, founder and artistic director of the Riant Theatre.

Thursdays from 7-10pm through February 4, 2010.
Fee: (10 Sessions - $375) Installment plans available.
At 440 Studios, 440 Lafayette Street, 4th floor, Studio 4G, NYC. Between Astor Place and East 4th Street. Trains: #6 to Astor Place or the R Train to 8th Street.

To register call 646-623-3488 or email us at therianttheatre@aol.com.

Submissions for the Winter Strawberry One-Act Festival 2010

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO NOVEMBER 15TH

The 17th Annual Strawberry One-Act Festival will be at the American Theatre for Actors, 314 West 54th Street, NYC, from February 8th - February 21, 2010. The winner of the BEST PLAY receives $1,500 and a development deal to have a full length play produced by the Riant Theatre. Awards also presented to the BEST DIRECTOR, BEST ACTOR and BEST ACTRESS. To obtain an application go to www.therianttheatre.com/strawberry.html

Founder & Artistic Director Van Dirk Fisher to receive an AUDELCO Award on Monday, November 16th

Van Dirk Fisher will be honored at the 37th Annual Vivian Robinson/Recognition Awards "The VIV" with the Special Achievement Award for the Outstanding work he has done at the Riant on Monday, November 16th at Harlem Stage/Aaron Davis Hall, Inc., at the Marian Anderson Theatre, 133rd Street and Convent Avenue, NYC.

VIP Gala Reception 6:00 p.m.

Ceremony Awards and Honors 7:30 p.m.

Honorary Co-Chairs: Starletta DuPois & Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj

Co-Hosts: Kim Brockington & Ted Lange

For Ticket info call:
AUDELCO 212.368.6906 / email: audelco@aol.com
Or
HarlemStage Box Office: 212.281.9240

$125.00 VIP Reception/Orchestra seats
$75.00 General/Mid Orchestra seats
$40.00 Balcony/Mezzanine seats

Scenes from Rock-A My Soul: There Has To Be A Little Angel by Van Dirk Fisher

Hear what people are saying about ROCK-A MY SOUL:

Superb performance, well written, strong message of faith, heart gripping spiritual songs, fast moving, glued to our seats every second of the performance ! That is just some of the words which describe the play we were privileged to enjoy last evening "Rock-A-My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham".

We felt as if we were transported to South Carolina during that horrific time in 1995. The actors & actresses kept us spellbound, they truly became characters they played. It was very realistic.

The music was wonderful and their voices were heavenly.

We strongly recommend seeing this play !

It was a wonderfully entertaining and enjoyable evening !

Thanks for sharing your talents with us.

Agnes & Dave Romlein

ROCK-A MY SOUL at the Theatre At St. Clement's, 423 West 46th Street thru August 30th

ROCK-A-MY SOUL, a Gospel/Rock Musical by Van Dirk Fisher

Packs A Powerful Punch With A Love Story That Echoes Medea.

Torn From The Newspapers It Features A Story That Rocked The World In 1994.
At The Theatre at St. Clement’s, 423 West 46th Street, NYC.

Rock-A My Soul August 16th through August 30th

Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 1pm, 4pm & 8pm; Sundays at 4pm & 8pm

Tickets: $35.00 at the Box Office and $25.00 online at http://www.therianttheatre.com/At the Theatre at St. Clement’s, 423 West 46th Street, NYC. Between 9th & 10th Avenue.

ROCK-A-MY SOUL the gospel/rock musical by Van Dirk Fisher, is based on a true story about love and devotion, and a woman as haunting as Medea! Taylor Cooper and Julie Johnson had a love so strong that couldn’t be denied. Then on the day he proposed to her their world was turned upside down. The place: Union South Carolina. The alleged crime: Carjacking and kidnapping. When the media turned against him, one brother stood by him, his church prayed for him, and his mother never gave up on him. But who can save him when there are witnesses who saw him with the victims? If he’s founds guilty he will be sentenced to death. Rock-A My Soul is a testimony to faith and the power of the human spirit.

ROCK-A MY SOUL packs a powerful punch with spirituals and original music written by Van Dirk Fisher. The play was inspired by the story of Susan Smith, a real life tragic person, a mother from Union, South Carolina whose tearful plea in 1994 on national television seduced the world to come to her aid as she pleaded for the carjacker who kidnapped her two little boys to return them safely to her. The play parallels her story against the man she accused of the carjacking, Taylor Cooper.

How can one write a musical about such a tragic figure? “Well, ROCK-A-MY SOUL struck a chord with me on so many levels,” says playwright and director Van Dirk Fisher. “It’s central character, Susan Smith’s confession rocked the world and shocked the nation. It was unthinkable. It’s true some of our greatest works have been about very complex women like Medea and as usual, fact is sometimes stranger than fiction. Susan Smith has all the elements of a tragic figure. She was well liked in her community. Family videos showed that she obviously loved her two little boys very much. Court testimony revealed that she had been abused by her father and witnessed his suicide. Later, she was repeatedly sexually abused by her stepfather. Isolated from her mother, who didn’t believe her abuse or simply refused to come to her aid, led her to desperate acts when she felt overwhelmed in life.”

Great care is given in exploring the complexities of Susan’s life with such songs as ONE MOMENT IN TIME IT APPEARED and THERE HAS TO BE A LITTLE ANGEL written by Van Dirk Fisher as well as the heart wrenching gospel song LORD, I’M WAITING FOR MY SON TO COME HOME, sung by Taylor’s mother when she learns of his arrest.

Van Dirk Fisher, the playwright and director of ROCK-A-MY SOUL has written seveal plays and musicals, including: Sweet Blessings, Going South!, Somebody’s Calling My Name, Loving That Man Of Mine, Tracks, Code Of Silence and The Atlanta Affair. Mr. Fisher is also the producer and creator of the prestigious Strawberry One-Act Festival, which just celebrated it’s 16th season.

The Winners of the Strawberry One-Act Festival Are...

The BEST PLAY is
I DO...I GUESS by Michael Musi

The BEST DIRECTOR of a play is
KYLE OVERSTREET for Jumping The Gun

The BEST ACTOR is
ANDREW GUILARTE (Dan) in General Admission

The BEST ACTRESS is
TAMAR PELZIG (Poo Schumer) in Turkey Day

The 4 Plays Moving To The Awards Ceremony Are...

The Nominees For Best Play Of The Strawberry One-Act Festival Are:

1. Turkey Day Written & Directed by E.K. Deutsch

2. Bird Watching Written & Directed by Jeffrey L. Hollman

3. I Do...I Guess Written & Directed by Michael Musi

4. Double Fear Written & Directed by Joseph Lizardi

The Award Ceremony & Performance will be on
Sunday, August 23rd at 2pm
At the Theatre at St. Clement's, 423 West 46th Street, NYC
Tickets: $25 online at www.therianttheatre.com and
$30 at the Box Office 646-623-3488.
Cash only at the Box Office.
There will be a cocktail reception after the show.
Dress Code: Formal (Guys Jackets & Ties)

The Nominees for the Strawberry One-Act Festival Are...

The Nominees For BEST DIRECTOR:

1. E.K. Deutsch for Turkey Day
2. Jeffrey Hollman for Bird Watching
3. Joseph Lizardi for Double Fear
4. Michael Musi for I Do...I Guess
5. Ellen Orchid for Prescriptions
6. Kyle Overstreet for Jumping The Gun

The Nominees for BEST ACTOR:

1. Jerome Gall (Mike) in Jumping The Gun
2. Justin Gillman (David Greenberg) in Deuteranomaly
3. Andrew Guilarte (Dan) in General Admissions
4. Rich Hollman (Larry) in Bird Watching
5. Michael Musi ( Mike) in I Do...I Guess
6. George Raboni (Man #1) in 16 Tons

The Nominees for BEST ACTRESS:

1. Sarah Cuneo (Annie) in The Concrete Wall
2. Laura Bowman (Dee) in Looking For Talika
3. Miriam Kove (Agnes Dewilde) in Taming The Bull
4. Mary Looram (Anna) in Melt Into The Sun
5. Thesa Loving (Dr. Renee Baylor) in Prescriptions
6. Tamar Pelzig (Poo Schumer) in Turkey Day

The winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony and Performance of the Strawberry One-Act Festival, Sunday, August 23, 2009 at the Theatre at St. Clement's, 423 West 46th Street, NYC. Tickets: $25 online at www.therianttheatre.com; $30 at the Box Office
646-623-3488 Cash Only At The Door.

Plays Moving Into The Finals, Friday, August 21st at 7PM

The Strawberry One-Act Festival
Plays Moving Into The Finals On Friday, August 21st at 7:00 p.m.

1. I DO...I GUESS Written & Directed by Michael Musi (From Semi-Finals #2)

2. 16 Tons Written by Adam Harlan & Directed by Jaclyn Amor (From Wild Night #2)

3. JUMPING THE GUN Written & Directed by Kyle Overstreet (From Semi-Finals #1)

4. Bird Watching Written & Directed by Jeffrey L. Hollman (From Semi-Finals #4)

5. Double Fear Written & Directed by Joseph Lizardi (From Wild Night #1)

6. Turkey Day Written & Directed by E.K. Deutsch (From Semi-Finals #3)

Tickets: $25.00 Online at http://www.therianttheatre.com/. $30.00 at the Box Office.
(Includes Reception.)

The nominations for Best Director, Best Actor & Best Actress will be posted online on OUR BLOG on Friday at 12 noon.