LOS ANGELES MISSION COLLEGE THEATRE ARTS
Bringing professional theatre training and productions to Los Angeles's Northeast Valley since 2015
Mr. Grieves and The Vampires
Los Angeles Mission College Theatre Arts will present Mr. Grieves and The Vampires, an original adaptation of the 1915 French silent film series, Les Vampires.
The 100-minute dark comedy plays May 12-20, 2023 in LA Mission’s AMP Theater. Tickets are $20 for orchestra and $10 for mezzanine.
In this lightning-fast world, intrepid journalist Philip Grieves goes to perilous lengths to bring down the brutal anarchist crime syndicate, The Vampires—masters of kidnapping, jewel heists, disguise, poison, getaways, and murderous chaos. Just as Grieves zeroes in, a nefarious new villain escapes from jail and uses the powers of hypnosis to bring The Vampires, Grieves, and the whole city to their knees.
Louis Feuillade’s masterpiece of silent film melodrama, Les Vampires, captured the collective fascination and anxiety of turn-of-the-century Paris, as technological advances threw the world into irrepressible anarchic motion…and the public couldn’t get enough. Associate Professor of Theatre Robert Cucuzza whittles the 10-episode series into 100 quick-fire minutes, and uses the silent films as a backdrop for a Technicolor world of anarchy, similarly steeped in crime, brutality, and technological chaos, filled with snappy dialogue and the pulsating alt-rock music of The Pixies.
Mr. Grieves and The Vampires cast includes Natalie Arrendondo as Grieves, Dennis Gonzalez as Mazamette, Diego Godinez as The Grand Vampire, Monserrat Lopez as Irma Vep, Sohail Rahman as Juan José Moreno, and Athiana Chaffino, Kaitlyn Ceballos, Stanley Herrarte, Abraham Cortez as “Baddies,” who play a variety of thieves, lackeys, goons, authority figures, and victims of crime, poisonings, and murderous urges.
Mr. Grieves and The Vampires is written and directed by Robert Cucuzza, who also did the scenic and sound design. Lighting and costumes are by Theatre Arts faculty members Bri Pattillo and Lena Sands, respectively. Video design is by guest artist, Ly Eisenstein, who returns to the AMP Theater after their work on She Who Was No More.
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Show Info
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DURATION
The show runs 95 minutes with no intermission.
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CONTENT ADVISORY
This show is set in a crass world of ruthless criminals, and there is a lot of foul language. There is nothing sexual in any of the language or behavior.
CONTENT ADVISORY
This show is set in a crass world of ruthless criminals and murderers, and there is a lot of foul language. It is delivered primarily for laughs. There is nothing sexual in any of the language or behavior.
INFANTS AND BABIES
And as much as you may think that your baby is well-behaved, a theater is not the place to find out. They make unpredictable sounds that will distract the audience and performers.
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THEATER CLIMATE
The AMP Theater is cozy but has been very cold. You may want to bring a jacket, regardless of the outside temperature.
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PLEASE ARRIVE AHEAD OF TIME
We start our shows on time. Entering the theater after the show has begun can disturb both the audience and actors. Make sure that you arrive at the box office no later than 15 minutes before show time.
LOCATION ADDRESS
Los Angeles Mission College
13356 Eldridge Avenue
Sylmar, CA 91342
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TRAFFIC ADVISORY
If you're coming on a Thursday or Friday night and taking freeways, you should anticipate heavy traffic.
THE AMP THEATER
The AMP Theater is located in the Arts, Media & Performance building, next to the parking structure.
PARKING
Free of charge, in the parking structure or on Eldridge Street.
BOX OFFICE
The box office opens one hour before show time.
CELL PHONES, PICTURES AND VIDEOS
Cell phone usage of any kind is absolutely prohibited during the show. The light from screens is distracting not only for your neighbors, but especially for the actors. Photographs or video recordings of the show are also prohibited.
MR. GRIEVES AND THE VAMPIRES
Written and directed by Robert Cucuzza
Adapted from the 1915 silent film series, Les Vampires
CAST
Natalie Arrendondo as Mr. Grieves
Athiana Chaffino as Jones/Polly Pinwheels/Marfa/Lola and others
Dennis Gonzalez as Mazamette/Farmer Bob/Pugenc
Stanley Herrarte as Buttons/Artie/The Commish as others
Abraham Cortez as Globe/Slick/Raphael Norton and others
Diego Godinez as Julot (a.k.a. The Grand Vampire)
Kaitlyn Ceballos as Mrs. Simpson/Ethel Florid/Ma Grieves and others
Monserrat Lopez as Irma Vep
Sohail Rahman as Harry the House Manager/Moréno
Delmi Belloso as Belva Bucco and others
Stage Manager Jacob Padilla
Assistant Stage Manager Delmi Belloso
Scenic and Sound Designer Robert Cucuzza*
Lighting Designer Bri Pattillo*
Costume Designer Lena Sands*
Video Designer Ly Eisenstein
Technical Director Danny Bride
Multimedia Specialist Johnny Phung
Costume Supervisor Fawn Trigili-Quinn
Hair & Makeup Designer Terresa Halstead
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Assistant Scenic Designer Amanda Loa
Assistant Director Mary Zastrow
Assistant Lighting Designer Stephanie Campos-Romero
Scenic and Props Assitants April Guzman, John Ford, Tracy “Winston” Pelayo
Lighting Assistant Evelyn Godoy
Costume Assistants Sarah “Casey” Padilla, Jude Rivas
Sound Assistant Jovanni Arias
Makeup Assistants Kali Ayala, Meg Thatcher
Vampire/Spectre Logo Designer Sarah “Casey” Padilla
Directing Mentee Connie Frady
Poster Designer Adam Scott*
Production Assistant Aaliyah Gurrola
Box Office Manager Samantha Labrecque
Special thanks to Professor Adam Scott and his painting students for painting our punk flophouse set
Thanks to Rafa Posada and Volt Lites, Zach Moore of Meerkat Design, and the DJs at 88.5 KCSN, whose playlists of new and classic music provided the inspiration for the majority of music in this show
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* LA Mission College faculty
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Mr. Grieves and The Vampires playlist
There's a lot of music in this show and audience members have been requesting a playlist. So, here it is!
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Spotify playlist
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The Pixies (all but the last one are from their album, "Doolittle"
Monkey Gone to Heaven
Gouge Away
Dead
There Goes My Gun
I Bleed
Here Comes Your Man
Tame
Wave of Mutilation
Mr. Grieves
Tame
Silver
Hey
Where is My Mind
Tianna Esperanza
Buy You a New Attitude
The Slits
Heard it Through the Grapevine
Violent Femmes
Gone Daddy Gone
Sunny War
No Reason
Duke Ellington
Rockin’ in Rhythm
John Kirby
Undecided
Staple Singers
Slippery People
Talking Head
Slippery People
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