Jennifer Christa Palmer
e v e n t s & s t a g e d r e a d i n g s
presented by Enzian Theatre and the Florida Film Festival
10 April 2010
Guests shared a delectable feast in an unforgettable private manor home steeped in the gothic romance of Tennessee Williams' greatest creations: his passionate, troubled, glorious characters. An evening of dramatic monologues with Williams' inspired dishes from visiting luminaries and award winning chefs. Starring John DiDonna as Lord Byron / Camino Real, Heather Charles as Maggie / Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Jennifer Christa Palmer as Alma / Summer and Smoke, Xian Kelty as Stanley / A Streetcar Named Desire, Elizabeth Dean as Blanche / A Streetcar Named Desire, and Alia Laurence as Carol / Orpheus Descending. Created and directed by Peg O'Keef.
T e n n e s s e e W i l l i a m s ' S o u t h e r n G o t h i c F a m i l y R e u n i o n
T h r e e T h i r s t y P i r a t e s
Mayhem Productions
SummerFest at Gaylord Palms Resort
Mayhem Productions opened a brand new swashbuckling pirate show featuring Captain Edward Drummond, Captain William Bonnett, Captain Frances "Drake" Thorpe and Captain James Driskull. Who is the greatest swordsman in the world? It depends on who you ask. Show photos and video below.
The 10 second fight between Drake & Edward.
O r l a n d o S h a k e s ' S o n n e t - A - T h o n
12 February 2010
All 154 of Shakespeare's sonnets, read aloud in honor of Valentine's Day. Hosted by Orlando Shakes, this FREE event featured members of the Central Florida Community - actors, community leaders and local celebrities. Jennifer Christa Palmer read Sonnet 78 and Sonnet 99. Photos by Rob Jones, courtesy of Melissa Mason, Orlando Shakes Company Manager.
J u l i u s C a e s a r
Orlando Shakespeare Theatre
26 September 2010
Part of Orlando Shakes' cross-dressed Shakespeare staged reading series with an ALL FEMALE CAST. A bold new way to look at honor, womanhood and the pursuit of power. Starring Elizabeth Judith as Caesar, Jennifer Christa Palmer* as Brutus, Meghan Moroney* as Cassius, and Catherine Stork as Marc Antony. Supporting cast includes Allison DeCaro*, Brooke M. Haney, Ame Livingston*, April Montgomery, Trenell Mooring, Paula Rossman*, Suzanne Sacks*, Kristin Shrilla, Kelli Sleigh, Laura Swindoll, Robin Olson and Pascha Weaver. Produced by Patrick Flick and David Lee.
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
T h e W e i r d S i s t e r s
by Zack Calhoon
3 April & 9 April 2010
One of the staged readings of PlayFest at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, "The Weird Sisters" is a prequel to William Shakepeare's Macbeth. Muriel, Seonaid and Rhoswen are three women rebuked and thwarted by Duncan's diseased Scottish government and are brought together by need, by revenge and by design. Starring Paula Rossman* as Seonaid / Porter, Brit Cooper Robinson as Muriel / Canute, Chloe Miranda as Rhoswen / Serving Girl, Brendan Rogers as Macbeth and Jennifer Christa Palmer* as Lady Macbeth, Michael Briggs as Duncan / Sweyn Forkbeard, Regan McLellan as Ewan / Squire and Dave McClellan* as Malcolm / Banquo. Directed by Patrick Braillard.
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
T h e Q u e e n ' s P h y s i c i a n
by John MacNicholas
25 January & 31 January 2009
One of the staged readings of PlayFest at Orlando Shakes, "The Queen's Physician" is a depiction of an erotic power struggle in the court of Elizabeth I involving her Jewish physician, Roger Lopez, and her young lover, the Earl of Essex. These historical figures dissect heroic loyalties, conflicting in a world with defeated love, fear of Hispanic dominance, and religious fanaticism. Starring Christine Decker* as Queen Elizabeth, David Chernault* as Lopez, and Jesse Lenor as Essex. Jennifer Christa Palmer* reads the supporting roles of Sarah Lopez (the phsyician's wife) and Susan Somerville (the Queen's lady-in-waiting). Directed by Rob Anderson.
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
M e d e a
by Euripides
8 November 2009
One of a series of staged readings at Orlando Shakes, "The Greatest of the Greeks" is a FREE event held on select Sundays. Starring Meghan Moroney* as Medea and Stephan Jones* as Jason. The Greek Chorus is Jennifer Christa Palmer*, Brit Cooper Robinson and Alea Figueroa. The cast also includes Tad Ingram as Creon, Elijah Martinez as Aegeus, Morgan Russell as the Nurse, Dave McLellan as the Tutor, Grant Jordan as the Messenger and Regan McLellan reading the stage directions. Directed by Patrick Braillard. Rehearsal photos by Rob Jones.
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
F e v e r i s h
by Steve Yockey
6 November 2011
One of the staged readings of PlayFest at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, "Feverish" is a retelling of Phaedra and Hippolytus through a modern lens. The play fuses myth and modern ideas into a bold, vivid world of heightened realism, status games and unrequited lust - and sheds a whole new light on the "complex" love between a mother and a son. Starring Jennifer Christa Palmer* as Phaedra, Brad Frost as Hippolytus, Patrick Ryan Sullivan* as Theseus, Mindy Anders* as Nurse, Amanda Leakey as Social Secretary, Lucy Carney as Pasiphae, Jay T. Becker* as Dionysus, Casey Noble as Chorus 1, Ryan Czerwonko as Chorus 2 and Kraig Kelsey as Chorus 3. Directed by Mark Routhier.
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
photo by Scott Dentinger
T h e J e r i c h o T r e e
by Michael Aaron Santos
8 November 2013
One of the staged readings of PlayFest at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, "The Jericho Tree" is billed as "a dark comedy to root for". SYNOPSIS: Gavin has a secret. The Jericho Tree, passed down through his family for two centuries, is a small inconspicuous tree that possesses immense power. Trouble brews when Gavin's ex-fiance teams up with a mobster and his right-hand-hit-man in an evil plan to steal the tree. Mayhem and magic ensue as a paralleled history lesson of the famous meeting of Pope Leo I and Attila the Hun intertwine the fate of the tree, and the fate of the souls who wish to possess it. Starring Philip Nolen* as Gavin, Jennifer Christa Palmer* as Karen, Kenny Babel as Donny and T. Robert Pigott* as Michael.
Directed by Brad DePlanche.
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
4 T r u t h s a n d a L i e
O r l a n d o F R I N G E F e s t i v a l 2 0 1 3
Hosted by Audrey Kearns and Brian D. Bradley
21 May 2013
"Good old fashioned storytelling with a devious twist"
This awesome (slightly shorter) version of the popular "5 Truths and a Lie" podcast was the first ever COUPLES show - Theme: The Getaway. Featuring storytelling couples Audrey Kearns & Brian D. Bradley, Ryan Gigliotti & Jennifer Christa Palmer (pictured during the show, left), James & Ginger Honey, and Margaret Nolen & Jocelyn White. Podcasts and singles of the show are available at iTunes or at: www.fivetruthsandalie.com
M a d C o w ' s S c i e n c e P l a y F e s t i v a l
"An Experiment with an Air Pump"
by Shelagh Stephenson
12 January 2014
The Science Play Festival at Mad Cow Theatre is a weekend of staged readings and discussion forums of some of the most provocative science plays. A staged reading of AN EXPERIMENT WITH AN AIR PUMP was held on 12 January 2013 followed by a talkback with Amy E. Foster, Ph.D. (Associate Professor at University of Central Florida and a historian of technology and gender) and Susan Walsh, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor of Cell Biology and Genetics at Rollins College).
Cast included: Jay Becker*, Ryan Gigliotti, Ryan Kim*, Michael Knight, Rebekah Lane, Meghan Colleen Moroney*, Jennifer Christa Palmer*, Ron Schnieder*, Marty Stonerock, Elizabeth Takacs, and Emily Walton. Directed by Bobby Bell.
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
The play was inspired by painting "An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump" by Joseph Wright
B l a c k b e r r y W i n t e r
3 November 2014 at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre's PlayFest www.orlandoshakes.org
23 November 2014 at National New Play Network showcase held at Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota, FL
One of the staged readings of PlayFest at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, "Blackberry Winter" was also selected by the National New Play Network as one of six scripts to be read at their 12th annual showcase in Sarasota, FL.
SYNOPSIS: Years of success, meticulous planning, and an eye for detail have in no way prepared Vivienne Avery for her mother's slide into the grip of dementia. Initially hiding behind insomnia-fueled baking and a polite smile, stories about her mother leave Vivienne's inner turmoil quietly laid bare on stage. Blackberry Winter juxtaposes these stories, large theatrical gestures, and a childlike Alzheimer's "creation myth" to recount one woman's witnessing of the inevitable.
Starring Suzanne O'Donnell* as Vivienne, Jennifer Christa Palmer* as White Egret, and John Connon* as Gray Mole. Directed by Ryan Rilette, Artistic Director of Round House Theatre, with additional direction for the NNPN re-mount by Mark Routhier, Orlando Shakes Director of New Play Development.
