Comedy

ACTOR and AWoW MEMBER JACK O'CONNELL with MICHAEL CERA and CHARLES GRODIN in "BRAZZAVILLE TEEN-AGER"

BRAZZAVILLE TEEN-AGER directed by MICHAEL CERA

Jack O’Connell is a frequent presenter at AWoW Showcases and a valued member of Artists Without Walls. He has appeared in many popular television series including Law and Order, Blue Bloods and Boardwalk Empire and in films such as Doubt, with Meryl Streep, and Men in Black 3.

Brazzaville Teen-Ager is a short film adapted from a Bruce Jay Friedman short story and is directed by Michael Cera. Cera is part of the film’s cast, which includes, Jack, who plays Cera’s boss, and veteran actor Charles Grodin, who plays Cera’s father.

The film is produced by JASH, which is kicking off a web-based comedy youtube channel created by Michael Cera, Sarah Silverman, Tim and Eric, and Reggie Watts. JASH‘s intention is to create and produce a new video to the JASH channel every Monday. Late Night host Jimmy Kimmel is one of JASH’s producers.

According to Jack, “We filmed in five days in early March in Manhattan and Greenwich Connecticut. How do you like my Greenwich digs, Charles? Quite a cozy little shack, don’t you think?” Check out Jack’s shack, but better yet, check out his wonderful performance. Bravo, Jack.

Photo of Jack O’Connell by Cat Dwyer

"SPOTLIGHT ON" SARAH FEARON

Who is Sarah Fearon?

Sarah graduated from the High School of Performing Arts in Manhattan and New York University, Gallatin Division, aka the “University without Walls.” She has worked as an actress, stunt person, stand-up comic, and producer. Some feature film credits include The Departed, Reversal of Fortune, Liebestraum and Dancing in September. Sarah has done stand-up comedy at Gotham, Metropolitan Room, Greenwich Village Comedy Club, and Stand Up New York. She has a great love of New York City and has recently rented and sold property from the Cloisters to Greenwich Village with The Corcoran Group.

And your passions are?

Mission of Mermaids by Sue Rockefeller, which is a film, environmental group and jewelry line advocating for clean ocean awareness. I’ve been an ambassador for the group, taking the film to Washington D.C. for the Environmental Film Festival, the Hamptons Film Festival, the Coney Island Film Festival, and marching in the Mermaid Parade.

And enjoying the ocean as a surfer or on a stand-up paddleboard.

What are you working on at the moment?

Merging the world of art and real estate gave life to my wild and zany character Snazzy Peabody who sells everything: The Highline, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building. There are rumors that a Snazzy film is underway with director/editor Lizzie Donahue.

Do you have upcoming events you would like people to attend?

I’ll be at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd St, NYC, March 1, 9:30 or call 212 206-0440. Tell them Sarah Fearon sent you.

What are five things you can’t live without?

Coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee and oh, yeah, COFFEE.

Your favorite quote at the moment and why?

“Art is a lie that makes us recognize the truth.” My high school teacher Anthony Abeson used to say it was Picasso who said it. Artists go to great lengths to create these lies that bring us back to simple truths.

If you had the opportunity to ask someone when you were starting out for advice what would you have asked?

I would have asked, “How do I develop my own definition of success?”

If you could dream about trying out something you haven’t tried out in the arts yet, what would?

I dreamed about taking tap dance lessons and guess what, I just finished lesson number three. There’s a lot of joy to be found in dance, particularly tap dance.

Oh, here’s another quote: “Do you know how old I’ll be by the time I learn to play the piano? The same age I’ll be if I don’t!” Next stop Ukelele lessons…

What was the best gift that someone gave you that inspired or facilitated an interest in your art.

For me, it was tickets to great shows in NYC when I was growing up.

Youtube: Snazzy Peabody Sells the High Line

Facebook: Sarah Fearon

Mission of Mermaids

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Website: www.artistswithoutwalls.com

STELLA PULO'S "SHRIMP SHELLS IN MY CLEAVAGE" SUNDAY, MARCH 3, NYC'S ABINGDON THEATRE

Ever stood on a hill in the middle of Europe waiting for the Blessed Virgin to appear? Gutted rabbits in Macedonia or sell eggs and potatoes door-to-door in Brussels? Or been a bag lady outside of Victor Hugo’s apartment in Paris? Stella Pulo has.

Stella’s a writer and performer who’s done it all. She writes stories and articles for newspapers and magazines and one woman shows for herself to perform. In 1992 Stella became the first Australian to be honored with lifetime membership into the Actors Studio. Stella is originally from Melbourne, Australia and now lives in New York City. Next Sunday, March 3, 7PM, at the Abingdon Theatre at 312 W. 36th St., Stella’s presents a “book performance,” in character and in costume, called “Shrimp Shells in My Cleavage.”

What is “Shrimp Shells in my Cleavage?” As Stella describes it, it all began from behind a white plastic desk in the ladies’ bathroom of AXIS, a discotheque in Malta. She’d gone to check out her roots and to kill some time before returning to New York for her final audition at The Actors Studio. From 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. her job at AXIS was to make sure that no one smoked in the cubicles, went there in pairs or dropped dead from heat exhaustion.

At AXIS the music was so loud that the vibrations often made the toilet bowls crack. She was sometimes able to have a conversation, but not often. And since she couldn’t hear anyone speak, and her body language only got her into trouble, she decided to sit there for twelve hours a night marrying her memories and notes. It was from behind that white plastic desk that Shrimp Shells in My Cleavage emerged. She thought that one day she’d transform these bits and pieces into something else. She wasn’t sure what: first it was the book Shrimp Shells in My Cleavage and now it’s a “book performance” in character and in costume.

It’s sure to be a hoot. Tickets are $20 but if you put in the code “shrimp” you’ll pay just $15. www.abingdontheatre.com

Here’s what some folks are saying about Stella:

“If she hadn’t pulled rabbits out of her cart, I wouldn’t have known she was a Comédienne. She’s lucky I didn’t arrest her!” A policewoman in Paris

“She could have done other things to make a buck like sell the eggs from her ovaries.” Dobie in Hammersmith

“She couldn’t control herself. Fell into my lap and just stayed there!” Businessman in London

“I liked her but she was a little crazy. Sat there writing all night. In the toilet of a discotheque! Said something about … shrimp shells.” Carmen in Malta

SARAH FEARON: AN "AWoW NIGHT ON THE TOWN" AT THE METROPOLITAN ROOM

One of the objectives of Artists Without Walls is to “promote members’ careers in the arts, whether they have already established themselves or are at the beginning of their artistic career.” With that in mind we’ve created an event called “Night on the Town” when members and friends can support a fellow artist by attending one of our artists’ events. Not only is it a nice show of support, but it’s also an opportunity for members to share an enjoyable evening together.

And so, we’re asking members and friends to join us for Artists Without Walls’ member Sarah Fearon’s comedy performance on March 1, 9:30 at the Metropolitan Room, located at 34 W. 22nd St. in Manhattan. Sarah, along with a select group of top comics, will be performing her latest stand up material, born of her numerous attempts at maintaining sanity in an insane world.

You can call the Metropolitan Room to make reservations at 212-206-0440, (Tell them you are booking to see Sarah Fearon). The weekend shows at the Metropolitan Room sell out fast so don’t wait to make reservations. Tickets are twelve dollars.

Sarah is a very supportive of other artists and is often seen at members and friends’ events. It’d be great if we could show Sarah the same support she shows others. And, I’m betting it’ll be an evening filled with laughs and merriment. Who couldn’t use a night like that.