Venus in Furby David Ives |
||||
|
|
||||
| Directed by Amir Korangy |
||||
|
|
||||
|
||||
|
Produced by |
||||
|
||||
| Publicist Bertha Rodriguez |
||||
| Runtime: 90 minutes, no intermission | ||||
| This production is being presented under the auspices of the Actors' Equity Association Los Angeles Self-Produced Project Code. | ||||
| * denotes members of Actors' Equity Association | ||||
| Originally produced by Classic Stage Company, (Brian Kulick, Artistic Director; Jessica R. Jenen, Executive Director). |
||||
|
Originally produced on Broadway by the Manhattan Theatre Club |
||||
| Note: Stage-safe weapons are used in this performance. They have been checked for safety by the Stage Manager. | ||||
| The use of any recording device, either audio or video, and the taking of photos, either with or without flash, is strictly prohibited. | ||||
Follow Us:
Cast
Creative Team
Amir Korangy
Robert Zambrano
Bertha Rodriguez
David Ives
The Broadway Producers
Meet the Company
Rachael Meyers
Known as Josie on Tina Fey's Emmy-nominated comedy "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," Rachael Meyers is an award-winning actress, director, writer, producer, and singer. A six-foot-two former collegiate athlete, Meyers has appeared on fan favorites such as "Fresh Off the Boat," "Dog with a Blog," "Champions," "Veronica Mars," and "All Rise." Meyers’ career has also spanned the stage, including the Ovation-nominated "The Elephant Man," the world premiere of "FAMOUS," and as Red
Casey in the world premiere of Brynn Thayer’s "Let Me In" opposite Jorge Garcia, a performance for which she received a nomination for Best Performer in a Play in the 2023 BroadwayWorld Awards. Most recently, Meyers wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the one-act stage
adaptation of her psychological thriller "Mister Snow" at the 30 Minutes or Less Festival. The “masterclass, incredible show” (Stage Takes) was awarded Top of the Festival and Best Writing and received nominations
for Best Director, Best Acting and Blockbuster Production.
A natural offshoot, Meyers has built a reputation as a filmmaker under her company RM Productions. The recipient of 15 awards internationally, she has tackled a wide-range of genres from high concept to character-driven content. Her directorial debut, the action-packed western comedy "Highway 15," garnered awards at festivals across
the country, including Best Direction. Most notably, "Zoe + Ari," a short LGBTQ+ romantic dramedy which Meyers directed and produced, screened in 30+ festivals, won 4 awards, received 5 more nominations,
and made a special appearance at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival as part of the Cannes Court Métrage. She received Best Director at the UCLAx Film Festival for "Zoe + Ari," and her heartfelt short "Forget-Me-Not" won Best Drama Short Film at the North Hollywood Cinefest. Last October, she was one of eight writers worldwide invited to attend the Nostos Screenwriting Retreat in Arezzo, Italy helmed by mentor Jessie Keyt of NYU Tisch. Meyers is currently in development on several projects, including "The Shift," a sci-fi adventure film/book trilogy.
Bryan McKinley
Bryan began his theatre training at Indiana University before accepting a two-year residency at Sanford Meisner’s Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. In NYC, Bryan performed and produced for Emerging Artist Theatre Company and worked consistently in commercials for clients such as MTV, McDonald’s, TD Ameritrade and Volvo Cars. Based in Los
Angeles, Bryan has trained with mentors such as Larry Moss and Howie Deutch. On stage, Bryan premiered the role of Bobby Hawk in Brynn Thayer’s "Let Me In," opposite Jorge Garcia, and understudied both leads in Crimson Square’s production of "Dinner with Friends," alongside Jay Huguley and Samantha Sloyan. Most recently, he produced and starred in "Mister Snow," the Top of the Festival one-act in the 30 Minutes or Less Festival, a performance for which he received a nod for Best Acting. Credits include Mitch Captree in "The Ghost and the Whale" with Maurice Benard, Jonathan Pryce and Tippi Hedren; the Sedan Man in "Highway 15;" a National TD Ameritrade commercial with Matt Damon, directed by Brad Silberling; Henry in NoHo Cinefest’s Best Drama Short
Film "Forget-Me-Not;" and writer, producer and lead of "My Brother’s Keeper," winner of Best Short Film at the Los Angeles Spotlight Film Festival.
Amir Korangy
Amir Korangy is a seasoned director, actor and educator with over forty years of experience working in the UK and US. He has produced and directed over a hundred plays ranging from classics to contemporary. Mr. Korangy has also worked as a visiting professor at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, E 15 Acting School, University of Essex, Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, The School of Science of Acting, and was the professor of Theatre History for the London Program at Pepperdine University. During his tenure as the Head of MA and BA in Performance Program at Mountview | Academy of Theatre Arts in London, Dame Judi Dench became the President of the Academy, and the Performance programs received the Michael Elliot Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Drama Training. In addition to his extensive stage work his other acting credits include the lead in "Breath of Life" which received a BAFTA nomination as well as guest starring roles for BBC, HBO, Channel Four UK, London Weekend Television, Thames Television, Granada, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, CBS and ABC. His most recent credits include a recurring role in "Superstore," guest starring roles in "Mom," "NCIS," "Shameless," "Dead to Me," "The Old Man," "All the World," and "Nemesis." He is currently a director at Howie Deutch Workspace.
Robert Zambrano
Robert Zambrano has been working behind the scenes in the L.A. theater community for several years with productions at The Broadwater, El Portal, Hudson, Zephyr, Skylight, and Theatre 68, among others. Recent favorite productions include Brynn Thayer’s "Let Me In," Jamal Sim’s "A Beautiful Lie," and Tony Spinosa’s "Singing Revolution." It’s an honor to be a part of "Venus in Fur!"
Bertha Rodriguez
Bertha Rodriguez is a veteran of theater publicity, production, and festival operations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, she is the co-founder of Combined Artform + Asylum, producing and promoting hundreds of productions over three decades. Her passion for theater also led her to co-found the 30 Minutes or Less Festival and the Hollywood Independent Theater Festival. She is proud to support this production of "Venus in Fur."
David Ives
The Broadway Producers
The Broadway producers of VENUS IN FUR are Jon B. Platt, Scott Landis, MTC Productions Inc. Lynne Meadow, Barry Grove, Jessica R. Jenen, Scott M. Delman, and Classic Stage Company. Lead producer Jon B. Platt’s producing credits include some of the most honored dramatic work in Broadway history: Angels in America: Millenium Approaches (Pulitzer Prize Winner), Perestroika, The Book of Mormon, Wicked, Copenhagen, God of Carnage, Death of a Salesman and Clybourne Park (Pulitzer Prize Winner). In addition to his 7 Tony Awards, Mr. Platt has received 10 New York Drama Desk Awards and 5 New York Outer Critics Circle Awards, and the Robert Whitehead Award for Distinguished Producing in the Commercial Theatre in 2012. Tony award winning producer Scott Landis’ credits include The Children’s Hour (West End), La Bete, The Pajama Game and Nice Work If You Can Get It. Manhattan Theatre Club, led by Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Director Barry Grove, is one of the nation’s leading non-profit theatres producing innovative and diverse work by playwrights at all stages of their careers, at its Broadway and Off-Broadway theatres. Plays that debut at MTC are performed across the country and around the world, and 6 of them have won Pulitzer Prizes: Doubt, Proof, Ruined, Rabbit Hole, Crimes of the Heart, and The Piano Lesson; Jessica R. Jenen produced An Evening with Patti Lupone & Mandy Patinkin, and while Executive Director of Classic Stage Company, produced the world premiere of Venus in Fur, as well as Three Sisters, Uncle Vanya, The Tempest, among others. Classic Stage Company is the premiere Off-Broadway theatre dedicated to reimaging the classical repertory for a contemporary American audience. Scott M. Delman is a private equity investor at DGZ Capital who has co-produced The Book of Mormon, American Idiot, Mary Stuart and Ragtime.
David Ives VENUS IN FUR To Be Presented At Hollywood Fringe
This June, the Hollywood Fringe Festival gets a bold jolt of erotic comedy and subversive power-play with Venus in Fur, David Ives' sizzling two-hander that explores dominance, desire, and the performance of power.
Directed by acclaimed theatre veteran Amir Korangy and starring award-winning duo Rachael Meyers and Bryan McKinley, this dark comedy promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats—and maybe questioning who's really in control.
Running at The Broadwater (Main Stage), 1076 Lillian Way, Los Angeles, CA 90038 on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 8:30 PM; Sunday, June 15, 2025 at 10:30 PM; and Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM.
In a dingy New York rehearsal room, a frustrated playwright/director is just about to call it a day—until Vanda arrives. She's unprepared, audacious, and all wrong for the role. Or is she? As the audition spirals into an electrifying tug-of-war, Venus in Fur blurs the boundaries between actor and character, power and submission, performance and reality. It's funny, fearless, and ferociously relevant.
“You've got a master of theatre coming together with actors who have spent their lives dedicated to not just storytelling but the art of the stage,” says Meyers. “Venus in Fur will challenge your assumptions of power, gender, sex and love—and make you laugh at the same time. Get ready for a night that's sexy, sharp, and unforgettable.” McKinley adds, “There's a terrifying and thrilling responsibility as an actor in this play to keep your foot on the gas at all times. It's a beast, and we're ready for it.”
About the Creative Team:
Director: Amir Korangy is a veteran director, actor, and educator with over 40 years of international experience. He has helmed more than 100 plays, from classical to contemporary, in both the U.K. and U.S. His extensive academic career includes teaching at prestigious institutions such as the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and serving as Head of Performance at Mountview Academy in London. As a performer, he starred in the BAFTA-nominated Breath of Life and has had recurring and guest star roles on Superstore, NCIS, Shameless, Dead to Me, and The Old Man. Amir is currently a director at Howie Deutch's Workspace and brings a deep understanding of theatrical craft, narrative structure, and actor-driven storytelling to every project he touches.
Producer & Actress: Rachael Meyers is an award-winning actress, director, writer, and producer known for her role as Josie in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. She has appeared on fan-favorite shows like Veronica Mars, All Rise, Champions, and more. Meyers' career has also spanned the stage, including the Ovation-nominated The Elephant Man and the world premiere of Let Me In. Rachael's recent hit Mister Snow won Top of the Festival and Best Writing at the 30 Minutes or Less Festival, and secured her nominations for Best Director and Best Acting. As a filmmaker, Rachael has garnered over 15 awards internationally under her company RM Productions. Her LGBTQ+ short Zoe + Ari screened at 30+ festivals, including the Cannes Court Métrage, and earned her Best Director at the UCLAx Film Fest. A multidisciplinary powerhouse, Rachael blends humor, depth, and originality across her work, and is currently developing multiple features and a sci-fi film/book trilogy.
Producer & Actor: Bryan McKinley (IMDB LINK) is a classically trained actor whose path took him from Indiana University to The Neighborhood Playhouse in NYC. He's performed with Emerging Artists Theatre Company and trained with renowned mentors like Larry Moss and Howie Deutch. In Los Angeles, Bryan starred in Let Me In opposite Jorge Garcia, a performance for which he earned a BroadwayWorld nomination for Best Supporting Performer in a Play. He was also recognized for Best Acting in Mister Snow, which won Top of the Festival at the 30 Minutes or Less Festival. His on-screen credits include The Ghost and the Whale with Tippi Hedren and Jonathan Pryce, and commercial work for brands like TD Ameritrade with Matt Damon. With a sharp comedic instinct and dramatic range, Bryan brings nuance and magnetism to the stage, especially in character-driven, emotionally complex roles like Thomas in Venus in Fur.
About the Playwright
David Ives (born July 11, 1950) is an American playwright known for his sharp wit and mastery of the short form. He gained prominence with All in the Timing, a collection of one-act plays that became a major Off-Broadway success. Ives has also adapted classical French comedies and written full-length works like Venus in Fur. A graduate of Northwestern University and Yale School of Drama, he has contributed to theater, literature, and screenwriting. His work often explores language, humor, and the surreal.
Special Thanks
|
Bruno Oliver Bryn Woznicki Chloe Brewer Emily Saltzman John Paul Basile Kristen Maloney Lovability Inc. |
Maureen SanDiego Padraic Duffy Phillip Greenbaum Polly Rodriguez Rachael McLachlan Steve Fite Unbound Babes |
