So much has happened since the last update! Most important first:
I'm in a play, y'all!
I'm playing Eliza Gant, the matriarch and "…a mother I would not wish on my worst enemy." (-Shari Barrett, Broadway World). It's a production of The Production Company, in residence at the Secret Rose Theatre in North Hollywood, CA. This PulitzerPrize-winning play was written by Ketti Frings, and is directed by T L Koleman.
We opened November 2nd, and we run Friday-Sunday until December 14th (Fri-Sat at 8pm, Sun at 3pm) Only 5 shows left as of this update! If you're in town, come see me, won't you?
Tickets available HERE
The reviews for my work in particular have been amazing: all I could wish for!
Like this:
"There are great characterizations among members of the cast, with Alison Blanchard embodying the foreboding Eliza with a force of will that commands the stage. Her uptight bearing and strong sense of her own worth is apparent even with the slightest wave of her hand as well as her barking of orders... Blanchard weaves her way through Eliza's emotional breakdown with heartbreaking intensity."
(-Shari Barrett, Broadway World)
Or this:
"Blanchard provides an etched-in-acid portrait of Eliza, whose grasping nature makes her sacrifice the needs of her family to her money-making schemes, and who never lets reality intrude on her chosen beliefs."
(-Neal Weaver, LA Weekly)
Or this:
" Blanchard delivers a brilliant depiction of a mother as queen bee…"
(-Don Shirley, LA Stage Times)
Or, indeed, THIS:
"Blanchard is a force of nature as the penurious, possessive Eliza…"
(-Steven Stanley, LA Stage Scene)
I'm ALSO narrating a mostly-women version of "A Christmas Carol" as a radio play at the Gene Autrey Museum for the lovely folks at my union, SAG-AFTRA, on December 5th at 7:30pm! We have a great cast, and it should be a great evening of several fun radio plays! General admission is already SOLD OUT, but if you're a SAG member you can get tickets through this page.
In my tiny moment-itos of downtime, I've been sculpting li'l doo-dads for feature films like "The Lone Ranger" and the third edition of the "Hunger Games" franchise, and Jerry Bruckheimer's 40th anniversary party gift. Fun to keep my hand in! I really do miss sculpting. Maybe it will be a bigger part of my life in future.
All that, plus auditioning for commercials, and hunting for a theatrical agent who wants to represent ALL THIS has been running me ragged, but, as I always say: "WHAT? AND GIVE UP SHOW BUSINESS???"
All in all, I clearly have a VERY great deal to be thankful for this season. If you're reading this, I'm thankful for YOU. Your interest is keeping my creativity flowing, so THANK YOU for checking in!
Here's hoping you have a blissful holiday season,
-=Alison=-