D A S B L A U E L I C H T

"Describe Leni Riefenstahl however you will, but don't ignore her. That's the message dripping from Jen Ryan's new play..." Talkin' Broadway.com

Jen Ryan has in one fashion or another been trying to bring the story of Leni Riefenstahl to the stage for a decade. When she and Das Blaue Licht.net first connected she immediately sent the script and other material. Ms. Ryan related in a cover letter "its probably not the play about Leni you'd expect, but that's what makes it work." The play is as described by Talkin Broadway.com, "highly theatrical" and "almost improvisatory" with the scripted roles belonging strictly to Ryan and her co-star Rik Sansone. The Imaginary, All-True Leni Riefenstahl Show interlaces semi-biographic elements about the famous German director and actress, with scenes of dialogue by the actors on the work they are creating on stage and sequences of a "what if Riefenstahl had been accepted into our entertainment culture?" nature. That is, how would a Leni Riefenstahl Flying Circus take form or what would Leni be like if she were a regular on the 1960's comedy variety show, Laugh In.

Man (Off stage)

I didn't take you for a Nazi.

Jen

She wasn't a Nazi, she never joined the Party.

Completing its run at the Fringe Festival off Broadway (and winning the Excellence Award, Performance for Ryan), the show was well received by audience and critics alike. Credited with creating a "cinematic" experience, the play was also noted for it's ambitious production values. I found Ryan, co-star Rik Sansone and director Leonard Jacobs all to be engaging, funny and intensely committed to the project in my discussion with them via telephone in November. Ryan related that her introduction to Riefenstahl was in school when a professor showed her the film, Triumph des Willens. "Leni did it by herself, it was a beautiful work of art." Ryan says that she found Riefenstahl to be "a fascinating character" at a time in the 1980's when she was looking for female role models and "the choices were Nancy Reagan or Madonna." Wondering out loud, the three jumped in and said "what Karma card did Riefenstahl draw ? Her life was sheer madness."

Jen Ryan

Hitler (Off stage)

Once we come to power, you must make my films.

Man

He really said that ?

Jen (she nods 'yes')

Two days prior Leni had turned down an offer from the Catholic Church on the grounds that she didn't want to make films whose agenda weren't her own.

In the end, Ryan is impressed that Riefenstahl, although part of a small group with access to Adolf Hitler, did not compromise. "She stood up to Hitler. She didn't take shit from anyone." Asked, given Ryan's coupe in being one of the first actors to play Leni Riefenstahl if she had any words of advice for Jodi Foster who's pre-production film work indicates taking on the morality of Riefenstahl's life, Ryan simply said "good luck."

Rik Sansone as Goebbels (one of two dozen roles he brought to the production), and Jen Ryan as Leni [Photo by Dr. Albert Knapp]

Jen

The 2004 Academy Awards. 'In Memoriam' Honor Roll.

Leni Riefenstahl's name is among the many honored for their achievements to the genre. Quote from the crowd at the Vanity Fair party at Morton's. Apparently America's still not in the mood... "What's she doing up there ? Are we giving equal time to Hitler ?'"

Ryan, Sansone and Jacobs concur that the play is beginning to take real form. Their hope is for more visuals and sound effects, hoping that the enhancements will "function as another character" in their piece. Presently there is a montage of stills but no plans for utilizing outtakes of film. No difficulty or resistance was encountered by theatre management, seeing the role of the play "to create the discussion" and not take a pro or con viewpoint. "Anything from anyone," they joked, " the publicity would have been good" if someone "wanted to take it on." Though Jacobs notes in the performance flyer "From the day I became involved....friends and colleagues looked at me, slack-jawed and said 'why?'"

With a running time of 90-95 minutes and a performance that as noted by the New York Metro Review in which Jen Ryan "defends and celebrates her muse" while taking on the essential questions of the Riefenstahl controversy, their hope is to see The Imaginary, All-True Leni Riefenstahl Show back in production soon.

JEN RYAN is a graduate of Rollins College (B.A., Theater - Directing) and is the author of about 100 sketches & one-acts, as well as a couple of screenplays. This is her second full-length play and her first literary collaboration with Craig O'Connor. She was the Artistic Director & Head Writer of PUNCH 59 Sketch Comedy for nearly three years. Ms. Ryan made her Off-Broadway debut alongside two-time Tony Nominee Crista Moore in Tartuffe (Dir.: Jeff Cohen). New York credits include Crashbound, My Husband's Ideal Match, and staged readings at New Dramatists. Her portrayal of Alice in the American Regional Premiere of Closer (Dir.:Joe Adler) earned her a Carbonell Award nomination from the Theater League of South Florida for Best Actress. Regional credits include: Isn't It Romantic, Biloxi Blues, After the Fall, Cowgirls in the Crystal Palace. Jen had the honor of appearing onstage with Scott Thompson (Kids in the Hall) as the only woman in his one-man show, The Lowest Show On Earth. (co-written by Paul Bellini). *

RIK SANSONE Off-Broadway: Summer 69': The Musical Happening. Regional: Pony in the Eliot Norton Award winning Boston production of SubUrbia, <also composer of original music>, Dr. Seward in Dracula, various roles in Prices Right, Jim in The Rainmaker, Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird, Paul McCartney in The Silver Beetles (tribute band), and Hennessey in Biloxi Blues. Film and TV credits include Love Potion #666, Torture Me No More, Playing By The Rules and The Nardo Boys, as well as work for the Discovery Channel, MTV, KISS, and the New York Mets. Rik is also a talented illustrator and graphic designer. *

LEONARD JACOBS Associate news editor of BackStage since 2001, has been working in and writing about the theater since 1990. His byline has appeared in The Village Voice, American Theatre, The Resident, Encore, Broadway.com and TheaterWeek, among other publications. He has been a culture writer for AOL Digital City since 2000. Before BackStage, he was founding editor of Theatermania.com and edited the Off-Off Broadway monthly, Show News. Leonard's directing credits include revivals of Hurlyburly, Crimes of the Heart, Tennessee Williams one-acts, and original plays for the Metropolitan Playhouse, Third Eye Rep, and the 11th Hour Company. His plays include adaptations of W.S. Gilbert, Clyde Fitch, and Mark Twain as well as original one-acts and full lengths. As a dramaturg, he worked on New York's first ever revival of Clyde Fitch's The City, in 2003, and on The Imaginary, All-True Leni Riefenstahl Show. *

Visit The Imaginary, All True Leni Riefenstahl Show:

http://thelenishow.com/

A special thanks to Jen, Rik and Leonard for the material, their time and thoughts !

* PHOTOS AND TEXT BY PERMISSION

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