by Karen Tortora-Lee on September 14, 2011
The Thornhills of Park Avenue (L-R: Bill Connington, Anthony Haden-Guest, Juliette Bennett)
We recently wrote about Bill Connington’s success with his award winning play, Zombie (based on the novella by Joyce Carol Oates). The short film based on the play- winner of “Best Short Film (Horror)” at the Washington D.C. International Film Festival will be shown as part of The Williamsburg International Film Festival — Knitting Factory | 9/23/2011 | 12 AM – and (if you’re down that way) at The Atlanta Horror Film Festival in a few days on September 16.
In Zombie Connington plays a mild-mannered “normal-seeming” serial killer who abducts innocent victims and attempts to turn them into his zombie slaves.
But if that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea the versatile Connington will flex his comic muscles for you as an upscale Society investment banker trying to discover the meaning of life in the short film The Thornhills of Park Avenue. Written by Connington the film co-stars Juliette Bennett and Anthony Haden-Guest.
“A young Park Avenue couple invites a British writer and cartoonist for cocktails. Quips and satire ensue. The story is: what is more important: money or happiness? The answer? Cocktails, apparently…”
The Thornhills of Park Avenue will be screened at the Somewhat North of Boston Film Festival (Sept 15 – 18 / Concord New Hampsire) on September 17th.
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on August 21, 2011
Bill Connington Long Island Film Fest
The short film ZOMBIE will be screened on Monday, August 22 at the New York City International Film Festival. The program of shorts is at 11:35 am – 1 pm at the Abingdon Theater, 312 West 36th Street, 2nd floor. ZOMBIE is the last film on that morning’s program. Tickets are $5.
ZOMBIE tells the story of a mild-mannered “normal-seeming” serial killer, who abducts innocent victims, and attempts to turn them into his “zombie” slaves. The stage play was presented at the New York International Fringe Festival, Off-Broadway at Theater Row for an extended run, and at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater in New York. It was also recently performed in Seattle, and a production is planned for Mexico City. Continue Reading…
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by 4 Cents Reviews on August 13, 2010
4 Cents Review – When 2 reviewers each give their 2 cents.
Bill Connington as Hamlet (photo by Beau Allulli)
Today Stephen Tortora-Lee and Karen Tortora-Lee give their 4 Cents about The Princes Of Darkness which is playing at Theater for the New City.
Before The Princes of Darkness (written and performed by Bill Connington) even begins there’s an ambiance created by sound designer Sean Gill that does its best to set a tone of creepy nervousness. Resonating within the small theatre, which is completely draped in black cloth, is the kind of music reserved for the scenes in movies that have the most startling effect – a subtle drop of blood oozing down a table, a shadow crossing a deserted hallway. Let yourself get pulled too deeply into the sounds and you’ll find that you’ll jump when the seat behind you thuds down.
Continue Reading…
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on July 30, 2010
Bill Connington as Oedipus (photo by Beau Allulli)
When looking for a quote to use as a title for this fantastic interview you’re about to read I had so many, many wonderful choices. Ultimately I went with a more benign line from the Megadeath song but I urge you to check out the Alice Cooper ode to the dark one as well as the more contemplative song brought to us by the Indigo Girls. Maybe even play it in the background to set the tone as you settle in to read my interview with Rachel Klein and Bill Connington.
If those names sound familiar it may be because Rachel Klein has done amazing work with shows like All Kinds of Shifty Villains and Go-Go Killers! while Bill Connington garnered raves in Fringe ’08 with Zombie. Ms. Klein now teams up with Mr. Connington to not only direct a show he has written and is performing in, but to create dance and movement pieces for it as well. I got a chance to chat with Klein and Connington about their new collaboration, Princes of Darkness, and hear first hand about good and evil, how go-go dancing can still be dystopian, and how, often, a Jesuit education will lead to raising children who write shows starring Lucifer.
Continue Reading…
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