THE NINETY NINE SEATS SHOW #2 WITH HARRY MASTROGEORGE

Hello again - hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, but now it's December and it's time to get ready for the holiday season. Yes, it's here already.

All of us have been busy over the last month - Sharon with the Mammy Pleasant story which is playing until December 13th, Ron being publicist supreme as always, and me working with the Pacifica Radio Archives on a great new project bringing history to life through audio. Check it out at pacificaradioarchives.org.

Now you may have noticed in the last few weeks that movies about to hit the big screen or already out are a little serous. 'Cadillac Records' with Beyonce Knowles, 'Doubt' with Philip Seymour Hoffman and 'Bolt' featuring the voice of John Travolta (ok, I'm kidding about Bolt, but it is a great film). But this does mean that award season is just around the corner. Great actors don't just come from out of no where. Yes, you need raw talent, but you also need the guidance of a good trainer.

The latest installment of our 'Ninety Nine Seats' show looks at just that with acting coach and director, Harry Mastrogeorge. Based in Los Angeles since the 70s, Harry is a humble character who takes no credit for the many talents he's trained, which include the likes of Ray Liotta and Djimon Hounsou. His career has spanned music, screen writing, teaching and directing TV classics such as 'Love Boat' and 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show'.

For the past 13 years he's taught acting classes out of his Downtown LA studio shared with Sharon L Graine (well, technically north east of Downtown, as Harry says) -- and he shows no signs of stopping any time soon.

Harry Mastrogeorge took time out of his schedule to speak with us about his long journey from wannabe musician to a master in the art of acting.

You can contact Harry via his website - www.harrymastrogeorge.com or call 323 343 9102

Enjoy the show - and contact us with your comments via the blog or email us with suggestions for the show at ninetynineseats@gmail.com.

Click to listen below, or to download, click on the show title at the top, and download to your heart's content. Til next time....

New Show - The Mammy Pleasant Story

So we've been busy at the theatre with the radio show and a new production called 'House on the Hill, The Mammy Pleasant Story.'

History is being made in 2008 with two candidates on two opposing sides. On the Democratic side, an African American male is running for President of the United States and on the Republican side, a woman is running for Vice President of the United States. It is ever so important that history never be forgotten because that is how we build our present and future. But over a hundred years ago a story of a ground breaking African American woman was printed in over 100 newspapers. She was the first Black female millionaire. She fought the court system so that black people could ride on public buses and she fought for the right of black people to testify in court in defense of themselves. She was called the Mother of Civil Rights and a Voodoo queen.

How could an African American woman help free slaves, become a powerful presence in real-estate, and a real genius at investment? How could this happen in a time when slavery was still present and life was still unequal?

Well in true Playhouse Theatre Players style, we'll show you with our brand of 'edutainment'. "This is a play about a time and place in history that should be visited by history departments and schools" said one of the audience members this weekend. History today will never be forgotten if the story is told both in books and on stage. The House On The Hill is our attempt to preserve the history of Ms Mary Ellen Pleasant and those things she fought for so valiantly which never should be forgotten.

Shows run every Saturday thru December 20th at 3 & 6pm. Tickets are $25. For more info, call us at the theatre at 323 227 5410

The Ninety Nine Seats, Thirty Minutes Show #1

Ninety Nine Seats, Thirty Minutes is for the small theater community of Los Angeles, and other theater enthusiasts around the world. Each month, theater owner, Sharon L. Graine along with publicist, Ron Carter and international journalist, Joanne Griffith discuss the many challenges facing small theaters, from publicity and finance to legal matters, the use of technology in productions and making the most of big name guest appearances.

In this edition, Sharon L Graine takes us behind the scenes of her production house, 'Playhouse Theatre Players'. Publicist Ron Carter from The Carter Agency and international journalist and founder of Jane Hannah Media, Joanne Griffith share their thoughts on publicity and marketing.

Have a question? Leave us a message, or send an email to ninetynineseats@gmail.com

Ninety Nine Seats: The Beginning

Welcome and thank you for stopping by to read the Ninety Nine Seats Blog!

This is the brain child of three people from three very different places, but who all share a love of drama, music and theatre. Based in Los Angeles, CA, we're focused on the role of small 'ninety nine seat' theatres -- hence the name -- established to give budding actors a chance to hone their skills before hitting the big time.

Over the coming months, award winning owner of the Playhouse Theatre Players, Sharon L Graine, along with publicist, Ron Carter of The Carter Agency and international journalist Joanne Griffith from Jane Hannah Media will share their ramblings on theatre life in Los Angeles and some of the key challenges for small theatre owners - from publicity and marketing, to legal matters, applying for grants and attracting big name acts to your space. You can read details on this blog, and also listen to our podcast - Ninety Seats, Thirty Minutes

But first, let's introduce ourselves....

SHARON L. GRAINE

My philosophy has always been that positive thinking brings about positive results. I have been very blessed to have met two people -- Ron Carter and Joanne Griffith-- who are energized by creative thinking and its affect on all our lives. We look forward to sharing collaborative articles with you in our upcoming blogs.

Ron has been a friend of mine for many years and we have been blessed to work on a variety of wonderfully successful projects. And although I just recently met Joanne, I feel our meeting was just a formality and we have met many times before.

I have been an actor, broadcaster and now theatre owner in the Los Angeles market for many years and am blessed to have a husband, a family and friends that have shared in my journey and I am now thrilled to share more of that journey with you.

RON CARTER

Over the next several months or perhaps years, I will join with my two partners, Sharon L. Graine and Joanne Griffith to communicate my viewpoint on a variety of subjects on this blog.

I'm excited at the opportunity to share my thoughts regarding media, public relations, sports, music, cultural issues, business and politics and other issues of interest. I trust that you, the reader, will appreciate my insight since the musings will be gleaned from my experience and work as a Banker and a Public Relations Consultant. My sincere hope is that you will be engaged, entertained and find our ramblings informative. Though I’ve had an amazing career, it is my wife Veronica who has consistently encouraged me to share my knowledge of media and public relations with others. I am forever grateful for her love, support and counsel.

I have known and worked with Sharon for many years. She is my good friend, sister and confidant. Joanne, on the other hand I have met only recently, but our interaction feels like we have been friends for a long time.

Lastly and certainly the most important, I thank God for guiding my life through a career which included working for Chase Manhattan Bank, Bank of America, Motown Records, Michael J. Jackson Productions, Mercury Records, Warner Bros Records, Quincy Jones’ Qwest Records and presently my entrepreneurship at The Carter Agency.

JOANNE GRIFFITH

Isn't life funny. One minute I was in the UK working as a broadcaster and journalist for the BBC, the next I'd moved 6000 miles around the world to get married, change career and start my own company. In just over a year, Jane Hannah Media is up and running and providing radio skills courses for youth in urban areas, as well as media training and PR advice to small businesses and not for profit organizations.

But you know when some people come into your life and the way you met was by no means a coincidence? That’s how I feel about Sharon. I met her through a man I bumped into at a business convention, who then became my client. He invited me to Playhouse Theatre Players to watch him perform and introduced me to Sharon. She in turn arranged a meeting with Ron, and now we’re blogging and podcasting like we’ve known each other for years. And you don't just blog and podcast with anybody. I think it’s fair to say we were all meant to meet.

And now through our ventures, we're all looking forward to getting to know you. Whether you're a theatre owner, theatre enthusiast, actor, musician, journalist, publicist or just curious, we're interested in hearing from you. This blog will be our place to ramble about the theatre business and share advice among the theatre community of Los Angeles and worldwide.

We also have our monthly pod show called 'Ninety Nine Seats, Thirty Minutes'. This edition, we're talking about theatres and the power of publicity. Over the coming months, we'll cover all kinds of topics. If you'd like to be featured, contact us at ninetynineseats@gmail.com or leave a comment right here!!!!

Speak soon - Sharon, Ron & Joanne