Looking for actors, fun in Ocu and with recycling

PANAMA. Time to dare to get on stage! The Theater Guild of Ancon is calling auditions for their upcoming stage production of Glengarry Glen Ross. The Guild is looking for seven male actors who can play roles of mature (40-50 year-old) men.

Glenn Garry Glen Ross is a David Mamet play that gives a riveting account of competing personalities in a seedy Chicago real estate office where it's business as usual until a high-stakes sales contest takes a shocking turn.

Four real estate agents become desperate when the corporate office sends a representative to "motivate" them by announcing that, in one week, all except the top two salesmen will be fired. A scorching examination of Reagan-era America, it is an excellent opportunity for actors who like the challenge of intense speeches and dark comedy.

The play was first performed in 1983 at the National Theatre of London and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1984. That same year, the play made its American debut in Chicago before moving to Broadway.

A film version, directed by James Foley and starring Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon and Alec Baldwin was released in 1992.

Actors must have an excellent command of English as the play uses speech as a mode of action. The auditions will take place at the Theater Guild of Ancon today, and Thursday August 20 from 7:00 p.m. To 9:00 p.m and on Saturday August 22 from 3:00 p.m.

To 5:00 p.m. To audition, email the director at: foresight@cwpanama.net or call Bernard at 6670-3434.

The Social Action Foundation of Panama (FAS) is a non profit association formed by a group of professionals with a deep commitment to sustainable development and environment conservation.

FAS Panama has come up with a great idea to get the little ones involved in recycling.

For 14 years they have been organizing an ecological matinee where children collect recyclable materials in exchange for a free pass to the movies.

To obtain the movie ticket the children must collect 50 newspapers, 50 aluminum cans or 50 PET bottles and bring them to the parking lots of the USMA (Tumba Muerto) on Saturday September 26 at 10:00 a.m.

Hurry up to collect your materials, there are limited spots. For more information about the activity and or the foundation , call 228-3882/6590-9711 or send an email to faspanama2003@yahoo.com

Free of his government duties, Ruben Blades lauches a new cd called Cantares del Subdesarrollo. Blades makes a musical trip back to typical Cuban music. “My job ended on June 30, 2009” said Blades of his post as head of the Tourism Authority of Panama. The production had the collaboration of Walter Flores, Mark Quiñones, Oscar Cruz and Rey Cruz. The songs tell stories of people living in unfair but ever present underdevelopment. “Whoever feels alluded must resolve their problem without getting me involved”, said Blades.

The cd is being sold directly from his website www.rubenblades.

I took time off on the weekend to travel to the Manito Festivl in Ocu, along with over 40 members of SAMAAP (Society of Friends of the Afro-Antilian Museum), which added an extra spice to the annual festival.

After the parade (see page 3) the group headed for lunch, where group leader Carmela Gobern got each diner to stand up and give up to one minute explaining where they came from, and who they were.

I was surprised at the diversity of talents among the group, from those who had served with the Canal Administration or the US Army for decades, through registered nurses, a pediatric practitioner, an anaethetist, psychologist, dentist, writer and many retirees who continue leading an active life doing charity and community support work.

It was a lively event, and included singing of a song recognizing the importance of supporting each other. A lesson that could be passed on in the big city.