Two teens 'Lost in Yonkers'
By Tamara Stokes
DJW Staff

     Two productions of Neil Simon's Pulitzer Prizewinning play, "Lost inYonkers" premiered March 16 at Onstage in Bedford and March 22 at The Richardson Theatre Center at Canyon Creek Square in Richardson.

      Ash Ray Christian, 16, a Rockwell High School student, veteran stage and budding film actor, will portray Jay in the Richardson production. Brent Arnold, 15, a Treetops International High School student in Euless and a Grapevine resident, works behind the scenes for Onstage in Bedford. Both young men have more than 40 productions each under their respective belts.

Brent Arnold

    Arnold, a member of Beth El Congregation in Fort Worth, says he enjoys technical theater and "anything relating to theater" and "computers in general. I love doing computer generated artwork, Web page design and figuring out more about the inner workings of computers." Lighting and sound are very important to shows because these elements can add to the mood or detract from the mood.

      He says the biggest obstacle in any production is trying to satisfy everyone. "You have to be concerned about how the audience will react to this light or sound, but you also want the director to be satisfied. Sometimes as the designer, I have a totally different vision than the director." Arnold says that working behind the scenes for Lost in Yonkers and with artistic director DeeAnn Blair has not posed any particular challenges. He says that he is happy Blair has allowed him to do many shows at Onstage.  With each performance, he progressively improves his skills. Blair says they work well together.

      Arnold has always been fascinated with the technical aspects of theater production and began work in 1995 when he was 9. Although he has competed in oral interpretation events for school, he says he wants to "stay put" in the technical part of theater.

    Arnold says that with so many community theaters in the DFW area, there is always work available. To get started in the business, he suggests contacting the technical directors at the theaters and expressing a desire to work.

     Other Onstage in Bedford cast includes Dorothy Sanders as Grandma Kumitz, Joe Savarese as Louie, George Bedford as Eddie, Carmen Sosa as Gertie, Sherrie Wollenhaupt as Bella, Clay Hudson as Arty and Tony Daussat as Jay.

     Arnold's next project will be stage-managing for the Nupitals production at Onstage in Bedford. To find out more about Arnold's specialty, visitors to http://brentarnold.netfirms.com, his web site, will find photos from past and current productions and contractual information.

Ash Christian

  Christian also has more than 40 stage productions under his belt and film credits include the upcoming summer releases of Slap Her, She's French, starring Piper Pearbo, and DreamWorks Films production of Serving Sara, starring Matthew Penyand Elizabeth Hurley. He enjoys music and musicals and toured one year as a member of the Texas Boy's Choir. Although born at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, July 16,1985, his family lived in Paris, Texas until the move to Rockwall a year ago. The Texas native says the hardest part about preparing for the role of Jay was "getting the Brooklyn accent down. I do a great Southern accent, naturally." Christian adds that during the audition time period, his Rockwall acting troupe was studying dialects so he was able to practice with classmates.

     Also to prepare for the role, he watched the movie version of the same title and recently visited the Dallas Holocaust Museum. His high school acting troupe is producing I Never Saw Another Butterfly, about holocaust concentration camp victims. Christian says that the two latter experiences make him appreciate the hardships first- and second-generation Jews experienced when they first arrived in America. He says that just being separated from family is tough. His character, Jay, is not only depressed about the recent death of his mother, but also the turmoil of the world events surrounding him.

 Christian has visited NewYork twice and plans another visit this summer. He hopes to get stage work.

      "My biggest dream is to play Broadway. I love the theater and getting audience reactions to my performance. The money in film is great, but I truly love musicals." Christian's parents, Pam Gifford and Charles Christian, have been supportive, but have not pushed Christian into the acting profession.

     "I've been very motivated to pursue acting and voice. My mom is very hands off, not a typical stage mom at all." Christian says that the acting bug bit him when he studied under Jean Campbell in ParisTexas. Campbell studied with the Actor's Studio in NewYork "She has been my mentor. God has given me some natural talent and I love to sing. I can't image doing anything else."In commenting about his involvement with RTC, "It's one of the most professional community theaters I've ever been involved in. Rachael Lindley, the show's director, is just great. She has really helped me get into character and presents original ideas about how to portray Jay."

       Other RTC cast members include Rod Evans as Arty, Donna Fotshcky as Grandma Kumitz, Holly Maroff as Gert, Charles Moore as Eddie, Lynne Rutherford as Bella and Kevin Thrasher as Louie.

     Onstage in Bedford "Lost in Yonkers" director is Patsy Daussat. Other cast members are Dorothy Sanders as Grandma Kumitz, Joe Savarese as Louie, George Redford as Eddie, Carmen Sosa as Gertie, Sherrie Wollenhaupt as Bella, Clay Hudson as Arty and Tony Daussat as Jay.

   The Onstage in Bedford theater is located in the Bedford Boys Ranch near Harwood and Forest Ridge (1 mile north of Highway 183). "Lost in Yonkers" at Onstage in Bedford is performed at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday with a 3 p.m. Saturday matinees. An interpreter for the hearing impaired will be available during the 3 p.m. March 24 performance. The show runs until March 31. The cost is $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors. For more information or reservations, call (817) 354-6444 or see www.onstageinbedford.org.

  The RTC production begins at 8 p.m. March 22 and runs through April 28. There are two 3 p.m. Sunday matinees April 1 and 22. A special two-for-one admission price of $16 is available each Thursday. General admission is $10 to $14. For reservations or more information, call (972) 699-1130.