Red Bank Theater Watch: David Garrett, Polish Your Screenwriting Skills and a Jitney

This week German violinist David Garret takes the stage at for what is sure to be a memorable concert on Tuesday, and the weekend brings you a chance to learn the ins and outs of the screenwriting world when Peter Fox presents Inside Track for Screenwriting and Story Structure.  

Over at , August Wilson’s Jitney, now in its second week of production, continues to delight audiences.

On Tuesday, Jan. 31, German violinist David Garret will perform a range of music running the gamut from classical to his own compositions.  Garrett received his first violin at age four, and by age thirteen, he recorded two CD’s, appeared on German and Dutch television, and gave a concert in the residence of the Federal Republic of Germany President.

Garrett was also the youngest soloist ever signed to Deutsche Grammophon. At age seventeen, Garrett played with the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. Garrett attended the Julliard Scholl of music and won the Composition Competition of Julliard School in 2003.

Garret is known for mixing his technically superb gift of performing classical music with unique and fresh compositions of his own. He likes to mix the music up, bringing in elements of pop, rock and rhythm and blues, in order to help bring younger audiences to classical music. In the past, Garrett has mixed classical works by the likes of Paganini with uncommon rock pieces by bands such as Metallica.  

Garrett’s six releases have earned him Echo Awards (Germany’s equivalent of the Grammy) for Classic without Borders, and Bestseller of the Year.  His latest release, 2010’s Rock Symphonies, features classics spanning from Baroque times into modern day. 

On Saturday, Feb. 4, and Sunday, Feb. 5, hone your screenwriting skills with Peter Fox’s Inside Track for Screenwriting and Story Structure workshop.

Peter Fox is a third generation member of the film community, growing up with grandmother who starred in silent film classics, and a father who was a theatrical publisher. Peter got a taste of the industry at an early age, performing in national commercials and on television’s The Kraft Music Hall.

Peter began writing while attending the American Film Institute. In 1993, he landed work at Concorde New Horizon Pictures reading screenplays for Roger Corman. He went on to work as a reader at Universal for Alphaville Pictures and at Paramount for Prelude Pictures. 

Fox also worked as Assistant to Producer with David Foster, a job where he gained knowledge of the production and development of the film industry. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute.

Fox’s Inside Track Workshops began in the year 2000 at a small, grass roots level. Since then, the workshops have caught fire and have been held throughout the Northeast. 

In his intensive weekend workshop, aspiring writers will learn about story structure as it applies to film, and will also learn to mold and construct a working screenplay that fits Hollywood’s high standards.

The workshop includes an in depth look at character development, story structure, and cinematic plot development. Fox will also cover the all important topic of how to make sure your work makes its way to the key decision makers and agents in Hollywood.

Over at Two River Theater this week, August Wilson’s Jitney continues in its second week of performances. Considered one of the American theater’s finest writers, Wilson is known as the “greatest chronicler of the African American experience.” Wilson was the recipient of two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama for his series of ten plays, The Pittsburgh Cycle.

Jitney is set in 1977 Pittsburgh in a makeshift storefront depot for gypsy cab drivers. The play shows how men needed to hustle to make a living as jitneys—unofficial, unlicensed taxi cab drivers. During the play, the men share stories and gossip, and the station owner must confront his son when he returns home from prison.

Jitney is not known for its remarkable plot, but for its “poetry of ordinary life,” in the way Wilson’s words capture the essence and humanity of each man as they tell their stories and share their slice of life.  The New York Times writes that “Jitney holds its audience in charmed captivity.”

Schedule:

Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012: David Garrett, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012: Inside Track for Screenwriting and Story Structure Workshop with Peter Fox, 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012: Inside Track for Screenwriting and Story Structure Workshop with Peter Fox, 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 29 - Feb. 19: Jitney, Two River Theater (see website for days and show times)