News and events
Real Premonition
Christopher will take part in a shoot beginning in February for the action film Real Premonition produced by Z Productions. Dealing with a Moroccan immigrant who gets involved with the mob, the movie is scheduled for a summer opening in Morrocco. Chris will have a speaking role -- FBI agent (John).
2005
2006
Karaoke King
Five Women Wearing
the Same Dress
Pippin
ATHE ATME
National Conference
San Francisco
Real Premonition
Pippin, directed by John Bell, choreography staged by Gary Flannery (original cast, long-time Fosse dancer), played during the month of June at the Orlando Rep and was a critical and public success. Mr. Niess performed as a Player in this contemporary production that remained true to the original concept -- exploring the darker side of the searching, sometimes suicidal main character.
A new film project produced by Caius Productions was shot during the month of June at various locations in Central Florida. Christopher plays the part of Nelson, part of the 'local color' in this movie set around a karaoke bar.
Mr. Niess will attend the upcoming 2005 Association for Theatre in Higher Education National Conference in San Francisco during the last week in July. As National Representative for the Association of Theatre Movement Educators (ATME), Christopher is pleased to report that a variety of workshops will be presented by association members, other artists and educators from around the U.S. For further informaton, visit the ATHE site found under "links".
The Morrocan / American action film Real Premonition will wrap up shooting in late August. Originally set for a mid summer release, the film is planned for North African release followed by a Western release beginning in the Fall.
Larry the Cable Guy --
Health Inspector
King Lear at the Orlando Shakespeare Festival in January and February
"the actor's school"
workshops
The new comic movie, Larry the Cable Guy -- Health Inspector, has wrapped up shooting and is due for release in the spring. Chris had a blast playing a waiter in a 'triage' scene shot outside of Orlando restaurant 'Taste'.
Chris will participate in the American Classic Theatre Reading Series this fall by playing the Young Man in William Saroyan's "Hello Out There", and by directing a reading of F. Hugh Herbert's The Moon Is Blue on November 7th. Orlandan Mark Brotherton developed the series at the Orlando Repertory Theatre in Loch Haven Park in order to highlight the large amount of excellent material available from the pre1960's American Theatre.
As part of a special series of workshops offered through "the actor's school" in Orlando, Chris will teach stage movement on several Saturdays in the fall. The next session on Saturday, September 17th will take place at their studios at 4390 35th Street. For further information call 407.839.0075 or check out their website at www.theactorsschool.net.
American Classic Theatre
Reading Series
Orlando Repertory Theatre
UCF Conservatory Theatre
2007
Chris will be coaching, choreographing movement and fight choreography for a variety of projects including Salt and Pepper for the Orlando Repertory Theatre, As Bees In Honey Drown, The Good Woman of Setzuan and Guys and Dolls to open at the UCF Conservatory Theatre.
Chris will direct Five Women Wearing the Same Dress to open at the UCF Conservatory Theatre in April.
Music Theatre Bavaria
Mr. Niess will be the acting instructor for this summer workshop in Germany.
Godspell
With a cast from the Netherlands, Slovenia and students from the United States, Godspell will open at the Balhaus-Rosenheim and Kursaal-Oberaudorf Germany in July.
Something's Missing
Mr. Niess will reprise the role of Preston Roberts that he created in the new play Something's Missing. California playwright Ken Gray first produced the play in 2003 in Florida. This production will appear at the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland in August at the Rocket Venue.
UCF Conservatory Theatre
Chris will be coaching, choreographing movement and fight choreography for a variety of projects including Noises Off, Anna in the Tropics, and Fiddler on the Roof this fall for the UCF Conservatory Theatre.
Real Premonition
King Lear
Life and Death
a reality show
The Morrocan/American action film Real Premonition has been accepted for the Sundance Film Festival in January. Mr. Niess appears as John/F.B.I. agent in this film shot on location in Casablanca and the Tampa Bay area. A screening for invited audience will take place Channelside in Tampa on October 29th.
PlayWorks
Movement Theatre Project
Christopher will take part, with ten other nationally selected movement theatre artists, in devising work for the PlayWorks project in Chicago in August - as part of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education national conference.
Mr. Niess has been contracted to play Albany in the Orlando Shakespeare Festival's upcoming production of King Lear, to play in January and February in Orlando. This will be Chris' first appearance for the company.
Christopher will direct a devised piece, with a working title of Life and Death -- a reality show, in Orlando in April. Working with an ensemble to be cast soon, the movement theatre piece will explore ideas developed from a range of topics culled from creative writing, improvisation and movement exercises in rehearsal.
Career News..............................................
Edinburgh, Scotland - site of the International Festival Fringe
Lend Me A Tenor
Mr. Niess will direct the second show of the 2007 Summer Season -- Lend Me A Tenor, showing on the UCF campus.
