This is the page of Gina Marie Hayes, Founder and Producing Artistic Director of Red Egg Theater. On this page you can find my resume, bio, and News (below). If you're looking to collaborate on a project, email is the best way to get a hold of me. My interests include magical realism, surrealism, fairy tales, and unconventional adaptations of classics.
July 09, 2011
"Book of Tink" Looks at the Darker Side of Fairy Tales - Review
Adrienne Walters as Tink and Cory Censoprano as Peter Pan
By KATIE HUGHES MCKEE
Posted: 03/10/2011 01:30:48 AM PST
“Ordinarily, a theater reviewer does not attend a preview. Unfortunately, production costs leave small companies no choice but to book a run for only two weekends, and the play will not have a review if the reviewer doesn’t attend a preview.
A reviewer really shouldn’t go to a preview where the first two were canceled due to an actor quitting on Friday and the play’s director is taking over that role, script in hand.
However, as another audience member remarked: this didn’t feel like a preview. Red Egg Theater’s new production of “Book of Tink” was powerful, cohesive and breathtaking. A couple of sound level issues and a lighting cue that was missed should not keep you from seeing the final three performances of this haunting play.
Red Egg takes children’s stories and turns them on their shadow side “” literally. Their specialty is shadow puppetry and other forms of puppetry. In this current 10-person ensemble production of the “Peter Pan” story from Tinker Bell’s point of view, there are several puppets, including the Crocodile, Michael, and Nana. Before you think, “Oh, puppets and Tinker Bell, I’ll bring the kids!” stop right there. Wendy (Erin Johnson) is manipulative and neurotic and seduces Peter (Cory Sensoprano) whom she ultimately tries to murder. Tink A(drienne Walters) loves Hook (Lara Elizabeth Foy). Hook loves Peter, who slices off her hand, and Tink truly is a tinker: fashioning a hook for Hook and a metal crocodile head to eat the Mermaid Prostitutes and rescue the fairies from hell, which is where Tink goes when she dies. No “everybody clap!” here!
This is a still unpublished musical by Erik Ehn, head of the play-writing program at Brown University. It has been performed by a dozen companies, each of which composed original music for Mr. Ehn’s lyrics. Emily Intersimone has composed a wonderful score: the musical numbers are by turns rousing, disturbing, hilarious, and touching. The love-smitten Tink and Hook get the gorgeous ballads.
Red Egg puts on green shows. They use recycled materials. Props are from thrift stores. The set, designed by Christopher Frost and director/puppet designer — and, now, actor — Gina Marie Hayes, is made of used materials. Amy Bobeda’s costumes are made from recycled fabric.
“Tink” is an example of fine ensemble acting. The play revolves around Tink, and Adrienne Walters carries this show admirably, but there wasn’t a clinker in this group, rounded out by Jake Pino, Renee Gholikely, Katie Burris, Boris Volkov and Travis Wyckoff. Go, but get a sitter for the kids.”
January 23, 2011
Abraham Lincoln's Big Gay Dance Party Photos/Review
October 19, 2010
"What Happened in Hamelin" Photos/Review
For more photos visit redeggtheater.com
'Hamelin' reworks the legend of the Pied Piper
By KATIE HUGHES McKEE
Posted: 04/08/2010 01:30:26 AM PDT
Imagine Edward Scissorhands meets Pinnochio meets the Pied Piper. That's what awaited the audience on opening night of "What Happened in Hamelin," a production of Red Egg Theater on Easter weekend.
Local author/director Gina Marie Hayes took her inspiration for this play from a podcast of "Stuff You Missed in History Class," in which the legend of the Pied Piper was explored -- his motley or "pied"
appearance, usually attributed to his clothing but which, to some modern researchers, suggests a mottled complexion or a large birthmark. Also discussed were the dark, disturbing undertones of
the myth, particularly surrounding the fate of the children at the end. In one version, the children are found safely living in Transylvania and don't want to come home; in another, their parents enter the
cave and find nothing but bones in the dust. In still another ending the parents find nothing at all. (Read more...)
December 11, 2009
Weekend Santa Cruz Interview with Gina Marie Hayes
Hey, What Are You Doing This Weekend? (Published weekly)
"Gina Marie Hayes was five years old when she first saw Camelot. It was the first stage musical the native Santa Cruzian, now the founder and producing artistic director of Red Egg Theater, ever saw.
“It looked like an Arthur Rackham painting,” Hayes remembered. King
“Arthur was very blustery and Guinevere had hair down to her ankles.”
The show, with its magic and mystery, was a turning point in her life. “From then on, it was complete and utter dedication to theater.
Now Hayes — a graduate of UC Santa Barbara and the fifth year theater arts program at UC Santa Cruz — is putting her own spin on the knights of the Round Table with (puppet)Camelot, December 23 through 27 at Actors’ Theatre. A preview of the family-friendly Red Egg Theater production will be held 7: 30 p.m. December 15 at Capitola Book Cafe.
... more at Weekend Santa Cruz.com
June 30, 2009
Announcing Show #2 in Red Egg Theater's Season
April 2-4 and 6-10 Written and Directed by Gina Marie Hayes at the Santa Cruz Actor's Theatre for questions or advance ticket reservations, email redeggtheater@gmail.com or call 831.425.1003
June 26, 2009
Announcing Show #1 in Red Egg Theater's Season
December 20th - 27th*
Directed by Gina Marie Hayes at the Santa Cruz Actors Theatre
for questions or advance ticket reservations,
email redeggtheater@gmail.com or call 831.425.1003
*no performances Christmas Day
June 08, 2009
Red Egg Theater's Virtual Season Scavenger Hunt!
Here are the rules:
We will be posting images, quotes, videos, and audio files on our tumblr blog THREE times a week (MWF) until the end of August (or until someone wins).
Each post will be a clue to the next show!
Email guesses to redeggtheater (at) gmail (dot) com.
When someone correctly guesses the name of the show, we will announce the show title and dates on facebook and here, then move on to the next show in sequence. There are THREE shows in 2009-2010.
GRAND PRIZE: Two tickets to a RED EGG show in the 2009-2010 season (winner's choice).
Fine print: There can be up to 3
winners, one per show. One pair of tickets per human being (i.e. if
someone guess all three shows, they still only get 2 tickets). If you
correctly guess where a clue comes from, good for you! However, you
have to get the name of the show to win tickets. If you are a resident
member of Red Egg Theater, you are not eligible to win.
May 11, 2009
Shrunken Head Productions Mention
Shrunken Head Productions alumna Ali Woods (above, in 2005's Jesus Christ Superstar) mentions SHP in an interview here about The Fantasticks! ...
March 25, 2009
Gina M. Hayes profiled in Santa Cruz Good Times
The Santa Cruz Good Times says:
"Starting up a new theater company in a small town like Santa Cruz can equate to making it as an actor in Hollywood. Meaning that it’s tough—not only to get it off the ground, but to keep it rolling. And that is exactly what 24-year-old UC Santa Cruz alumni Gina Hayes has set about to passionately do with her creation of Red Egg Theater." ...
