Chalk Repertory Theatre Brings Lady Windermere to the Clark

Category: Theatre
Published on Friday, 02 August 2013 17:33
Written by Amy Ellenberger

Mid-city Longwood/Highlands resident and theatre director Larissa Kokernot is helping bring her passion for theatre a little closer to home. 


Kokernot is one of the founding members of Chalk Repertory Theatre, a Los Angeles based, site-specific theatre company that is redefining the idea of the traveling acting troupe.  With a modern, fun, and diverse sensibility, this group of emerging artists sets up shop wherever the play may take them. The company’s next stop is landing right in the backyard of West Adams, literally.

1augladyPerformed on the lush grounds of UCLA’s William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, located on the corner of Cimarron and West Adams Blvd., Chalk Rep will present Oscar Wilde’s classic tale, Lady Windermere’s Fan beginning this Saturday, July 27th.

“We are always looking for creative and fun ways to immerse the audience into the world of the play.  With this production, we are inviting the audience to be a part of Lady Windermere’s coming-of-age garden party.   As we start the celebration, Wilde’s comedy of manners unfolds and takes the audience on a tour of the library’s lawns and courtyards.” said Kokernot.

Lady Windermere’s Fan is a part of the new Arts on the Grounds series at The Clark providing diverse and unique performing arts opportunities for the local community.  The production was also inspired by the library’s world-renowned collection of Oscar Wilde materials.  Audiences are encouraged to come early at 5 p.m. to picnic on the grounds and explore this unique space in the neighborhood.

   Celebrating five seasons of critically acclaimed work, Chalk Repertory Theatre was founded by Larissa Kokernot and five of her peers, all graduates of the M.F.A. Theatre program at the University of California, San Diego.  The company’s inaugural production took place at the iconic Hollywood Forever Cemetery with Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters of which Kokernot directed.  Eleven productions later, Chalk Rep. has performed throughout Los Angeles County in such locations as a house, a bar, a loft, a museum, a church, and recently a children’s play space in Sherman Oaks.  The group has even garnered two Ovation Awards for their production of Family Planning, including Best
Director for Kokernot.

1augLWFChalk Rep. continues its theatrical tour of Los Angeles in September at the L.A. Natural History Museum in conjunction with its 100th Anniversary celebration.  For more information visit their web site at www.ChalkRep.com and stay tuned to see where Chalk Rep will land next in 2014.  

Lady Windermere’s Fan will run July 27-August 18, 2013 on Saturdays and Sundays at 6:00 p.m. at UCLA’s William Andrews Clark Memorial Library located at 2520 Cimarron St., Los Angeles, CA 90018.  The running time is two hours. Gates will open at 5:00pm for pre-show picnicking.  Please bring blankets or lawn chairs and food items in non-breakable containers. Tickets are $20 general admission, $10 Students/Seniors/Service, $15 Neighborhood discount and can be
purchased online at www.chalkrep.com or by calling 323-379-9583.  

Owiso Odera, Amielynn Abellera, Brian Slaten (Top Photo)

Photos by Shari Barrett