Thirty Seconds to Mars Feature -Virginian Pilot

At one point during the recording sessions for the album "Love Lust Faith + Dreams," Shannon Leto, drummer for the alt-rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars pulled out an instrument from his childhood.
"When we were small, my brother and me used to mess around for hours on this electric music box," he said. "We actually used a lot of vintage instruments on this album. Jared even brought in this old synthesizer he's had since he was 13."

Music was a part of the Leto siblings' lives, long before Jared became an actor known for his movies like "Fight Club," "Requiem for a Dream" or his critically praised role as a transgender person afflicted with AIDS in the current film "Dallas Buyers Club."

"We always had instruments around the house when we were growing up," Shannon Leto, 43, said. "We love to express ourselves through music."

Four years ago, the creative process was not so pleasant.

During the recording of its third studio disc, "This Is War," the band was hit with a $30 million lawsuit by its label, Virgin Records, which claimed breach of contract when the trio attempted to sign with another label.

"Trying to create and express yourself with that gorilla on your back was really challenging," Leto said of the yearlong legal battle. "But I think if we didn't go through that experience we wouldn't have had that album, and we're really proud of it."

"This Is War" proved to be a breakout album for Thirty Seconds to Mars, which performs Thursday at The NorVa. (The show is sold out.) The disc earned numerous music awards, and its first two singles hit the No. 1 spot on Billboard's alternative music chart.

The lawsuit was eventually settled, and in September 2012, "Artifact," a documentary chronicling the legal dispute and the making of "This Is War," won the People's Choice Documentary Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The environment in creating "Love Lust Faith + Dreams" was everything its predecessor was not.
"We didn't have anyone setting boundaries on us this time," Leto said. "The atmosphere was much lighter and more optimistic."

Anchored by arena-ready anthems, Thirty Seconds to Mars has fine-tuned its earnest, emotionally charged rock songs with a flourish of positivity.

Even the album's title is a nod to the band's growing holistic posture.

"When the name came up I remember thinking, yes, those are the words that describe the core of life and how we should experience it," Leto said. "You can't have one without the other if you want your life to be in balance. They are all integrated."

The Leto brothers, along with lead guitarist Tomo Milicevic, have clearly grown up since forming the band 15 years ago, but one constant remains, and that's the bond they've formed with their fan base, known as "the echelon."

"We have always said that this band is a shared experience," Leto said. "It's been that way ever since we played our first gig to maybe five or six people at this club called the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, Canada. I still remember talking to those people after the show, and there was this amazing feeling of camaraderie.

"We're not one of these bands that play music just for ourselves; we want to play for people, and when they respond, it's really hard to put into words, but there is a spiritual thing that is formed between us."

 

Little Theatre of Norfolk Feature-Virginian Pilot

When The Little Theatre of Norfolk was casting "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)," director Nancy Bloom had to look beyond typical traits like individual talent, charisma or stage presence.

"The cornerstone of this particular show is the relationship the actors have with each other," she said. "The actors we chose just seemed to bring out the best in each other. I can't explain it in words other than you know it when you see it; sometimes people just click."

Improvisation plays a key role in this irreverent, fast-paced condensation of Shakespeare's complete oeuvre, so finding that unique combination of three actors in sync with each other was crucial.

"These actors have an obvious and unique chemistry between them, which, as a director, is something you constantly look for but don't always find. It was exciting to watch the three of them work together."

Of that trio, Jimmy Dragas is the lone Little Theatre of Norfolk alum. Actors Mike Dunavan and Connor Marr have appeared on many local stages but make their LTN debut with this show, which runs at the West Ghent playhouse through Jan. 26.

One of the longest-running plays in London's West End, this madcap send-up of Shakespeare features material from all of the Bard's 37 plays in just 97 minutes. The performance includes dozens of costume changes, several references to pop culture and a hefty dose of audience participation.
"There really is no fourth wall in this show," Bloom said. "The audience is part of the entire program, so it's a unique experience each time. We're doing 12 performances, and if you attend all 12, none of them will have been the same. There's always an element of surprise about what's going to happen next."

That foray into the unknown is one of the things that drew Bloom to the project. The Virginia Beach-based theater veteran is also an actor, last seen in LTN's production of "The Full Monty."
"I have acted in 'The Complete Works of William Shakespeare' twice, and it's one of my all-time favorites," she said. "For a performer, improv is so exciting, and this show is fast-paced, clever and really funny."

A mix of pratfalls, puns and parody, "Shakespeare (Abridged)" might make you wonder why anyone would endure the more than 4,000 lines of "Hamlet" when the famous storyline can be told by sock puppets in just 43 seconds.

And who wouldn't want to see "Othello" performed as a rap song or "Titus Andronicus" as a cooking show?

"This play is for people who may be intimidated by William Shakespeare," said Bloom, feigning gravitas in speaking the famous playwright's name.
But make no mistake. While the play interprets the Bard's body of work through a comedic lens, the impact of his handiwork remains in full effect.

"What 'The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)' really tries to do is initiate those who may not be as familiar with him into the wonderful work he composed," Bloom said. "Yes, it is silly, but it also superbly translates the beauty of Shakespeare's words."