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Rave Reviews!!!!
Friday, February 13, 1998
Story last updated at 6:43 p.m. on Saturday, February 14, 1998
Focus on: Noble Lee Lester
Black Voices
All the world's a stage to Noble Lee Lester.
But being a teacher and artistic director is his favorite role.
The New Jersey native, who graduated from Howard University with a bachelor of fine arts degree, has been an award-winning actor and director in New York who has carried that tradition to Jacksonville.
The playwright-musician-singer is a theater teacher at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and director of educational outreach programs for Theatre Jacksonville in San Marco. He is also an artistic director for public and private school functions, such as the Tribute to Black Music revue.
He sees a city that has grown tremendously and will continue to grow as long as the youth of the city are challenged.
''Jacksonville is no longer a little big town like I used to visit as a child but a potentially culture-rich God-loving community in the making,'' he says. ''If we continue to garden young artists' talent and creativity'' Jacksonville will emerge as the ''finest, most livable city of all times.''
Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. (1996)
Aubu Himself
Masahiro Yamaguchi Ichiro
Burt Wright Gentleman in Precinct
Andrew Michael Wolk Arthur
Veronica Welch Stuart's Evil Woman
Bill Weeden Reginald Stuart
Robert Volpe II Big Man Holding Little Boy
James Van Vladricken Kid on Tricycle
Michael Troy Police Officer
Sarah Uffelman 2nd Mom
Mac Sutherland Dog Walker
Jonathan Smit Stuart's Evil Man
Richard Slater Stuart's Evil Man
Nena Segal Police Officer
Maria Shibaji Sato's Assistant
Zachary Daniel Sass Toddler in Arms
J W Sass Monkey Voice
Logan Sass Dog
Jeffrey W Sass Doctor
Paul Rubin Kabuki Actor
Phil Rivo Epilogue Crowd
Ann Phuvan Sato's Assistant
Robert Pemberton Man in Big Red Hat
Alan Rhea Purse Snatcher
Scott Resnick Epilogue Crowd
Larry Robinson Reverend Snipes
Judy Prianti 1st Nurse
Danny Provenzano II Snipes's Gang
Al Quagliata Kabuki Actor
Joy Palevsky Female Reporter
Louis Ortiz Epilogue Crowd
Andrew Osborne Ford
Nick Palmer Stuart's Evil Man
Michael O'Pelka Acid Faced Thug
Sean O'Neill Stuart's Male Secretary
John Nathan 1st Lawyer
Debbie Moore Stuart's Evil Woman
Tony Messina Plainclothesman
Jerry Meko Large Woman in Precinct
Mary Lynn Miller Detective
Pattie Meyer Pimp's Woman
Adharsh McCabe Other Evil Thug
Paul McCarthy Hairdresser
Shaler McClure Felicia
Traci Mann Ichiro's Wife
William Mann Stuart's Evil Man
Wayne Lewis Kabuki Actor
Noble Lee Lester Captain Bender
Mabel Lozano Special ADR Voice
Tracy Leigh Stuart's Evil Woman
Tony Kruk Police Officer
Seita Koto Special ADR Voice
Todd Kimmell Stuart's Evil Man
Edward Kimball Other Evil Thug
Jane Kober Prissy Lady in Theater
Charlotte Kaufman Ichiro's Children
Lily Hayes Kaufman Party Kid
Stanley L Kaufman Sr Distinguished Gentleman in Park
Lisbeth Kaufman Ichiro's Children
Patricia Kaufman Birthday Mom
Mario Joyner Hole in the Head Thug
Kathleen Kane Epilogue Crowd
Soren Jensen Stuart's Evil Man
Ann-Mari Jacobsen Amanda
Don James Sergeant Kabukiman Double
Chris Houghton Special ADR Voice
John Heyden Other Evil Thug
John Graziano Stuart's Evil Man
Kelly Gleason Special ADR Voice
Mark Allan Ginsberg Stuart's Evil Man
Andrea Giordano Pimp's Woman
Rick Gianasi Harry Griswold/Sergeant Kabukiman
Marcelo Giscome Snipes' Gang
Lisa Gaye Stuart's Evil Woman
Fred Fredrickson Homeless Man
Fumio Furuya Sato
Judy Fuhrer Beautiful Woman in Times Square
Joe Fleishaker Josephs
Maria Fridmanovich Kabuki Cut Woman
David Floyd Snipes' Gang
Diane Fischetti 2nd Nurse
Steve Ferguson Car Thief
Bob Epstein Stuart's Evil Man
Gary Farber Special ADR Voice
Anthony Falco Truck Driver
Richard Espinosa Special ADR Voice
David Droge Sergeant Kabukiman Double
Susu Dopman Mona
Micheal Deeg Snipes' Gang
Richard DeMaree Stuart's Evil Man
Patricia Ann Davenport Police Officer
Gary Curasi Kabuki Actor
Madelin Correa Woman in Car
Thomas Crnkovich Rembrandt
Rick Collins Interviewer
Charles Cavalier Police Officer
Gordon Bryan Pimp
Susan Byun Lotus
Dennis Cabrini Kabuki Actor
Dean Budnick Kabuki Actor
Brick Bronsky Jughead
Daniel Boone Toyota
Steven Bentley Epilogue Crowd
Brian Bilcher Stuart's Evil Man
Bruce Barney Yuppie
Nevada Belle Hospital Administrator
Herbert Becker Mr Goldberg
Christopher Beane Sergeant Kabukiman Double
Paul Hiatt Snipes' Gang
Susan Hayes Special ADR Voice
Leesa Rowland Epilogue Crowd
Jeff Wineshmutz Hernandez
Andy Solomon Stuart's Evil Man
Loretta Stahl Special ADR Voice
John Stang Kabuki Actor
Joseph Scerri Snipes's Gang
Jay Sax Stuart's Evil Man
Michael Artura 2nd Lawyer
Doctor Bhagavan Antle Other Evil Thug
Thomas Amoresano Police Officer
Rob Aft Special ADR Voice
Pamela Alster Connie LaRosa
Monica Akesson Epilogue Crowd
The Blonde Fox Waitress
Fly By Night (1994)
Synopsis:
Driven by rage and dreams of wealth, two mismatched rappers join forces to break into the bigtime.
Genre(s):
music
drama
Rating: MPAA R
Distributor(s):
Arrow International (international sales)
Arrow Releasing (USA)
Columbia TriStar Home Video (video-USA)
Theatrical Release:
Mar 11 1994
New York City, New York
Jeffrey D Sams Rich
Todd Graff Naji
Daryl Mitchell (Chill) Kayam
Maura Tierney Denise
Yul Vazquez Sam
Jeffrey D Sams Rich
Joel Polis Holbein
Dezera Page Sarah Lawrence Girl
Daryl Mitchell Kayam
Noble Lee Lester Rock's Dad
More ...
Todd Graff Screenplay
Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
Morgan J Freeman Judge White
Rita Wilson Public Relations Woman
Troy Windbush Roland Auburn
William Woodson Gene Lopwitz (voice over)
Emmanuel Xuereb Filippo Chirazzi
J D Wyatt Poe Picketer
Nelson Vasquez Pimp
Kirk Taylor Aide
Gian-Carlo Scandiuzzi Maitre d'
Geraldo Rivera (uncredited) Robert Corso
George Plimpton Well Wisher
Norman Parker Detective Goldberg
Sherri Paysinger Anchorwoman
Elizabeth Owens Inez Bavardage
Kathleen Murphy Palmer Gospel Singer
Barry Niekrug Weiss' Aide
Novella Nelson Media Jackel
Virginia Morris Weiss' Aide
Marjorie Monaghan Evelyn Moore
Lorraine Moore Gospel Singer
Donald Moffat Mr McCoy
George Merritt Poe Picketer
Marcia Mitzman Bondsman
Don McManus Bondsman
Barry Michlin Funeral Director
Nancy McDonald Media Jackel
Cynthia Mason Maid
Malachy McCourt Tony - Doorman
Shiek Mahmud-Bey Lockwood
Patrick Malone Henry Lamb
Noble Lee Lester Media Jackel
David Lipman Poe Picketer
Richard Libertini Ed Rifkin
Nicholas Levitin Media Jackel
Adam Lefevre Rawlie Thorpe
Louis P Lebherz "The Commandatori"
Doris Leggett Gospel Singer
James Lally Bondsman
Jon Rashad Kamal French Waiter
Walker Joyce Bobby Shalfet/"Don Giovanni"
Ernestine Jackson Media Jackel
Ray Iannicelli Media Jackel
Timothy Jenkins Billy Cortez
Sam Jenkins Fox's Assistant
Clifton James Albert Fox
W M Hunt Nunnally Voyd
Mike Hodge Media Jackel
Barton Heyman Detective Martin
Daniel Hagen Media Jackel
Andre Gregory Aubrey Buffing
Melanie Griffith Maria Ruskin
Fanni Green Prostitute
Barbara Gooding Gospel Singer
Richard Gilbert-Hall Weiss' Aide
Louis Giambalvo Ray Andruitti
Kurt Fuller Pollard Browning
John Fink French Restaurant Patron
Walter Flanagan Media Jackel
Staci Francis Gospel Singer
Susan Forristal Well Wisher
Hal England French Restaurant Patron
Kevin Dunn Tom Killian
Oliver Dixon Diplomat
Roy Milton Davis Latino
Anatoly Davydov Boris Karlevskov
Brian De Palma (uncredited) Prison Guard
Vito D'Ambrosio Intercom Man
Johnny Crear Manny Leerman
Kathryn Danielle Public Relations Assistant
T J Coan Bondsman
O Laron Clark Cecil Hayden
William Clark Eddie - Doorman
Channing Chase Shocked Woman
Joy Claussen French Restaurant Patron
Marie Chambers Weiss' Aide
Judith Burke French Restaurant Patron
Edye Byrde Poe Picketer
Katrina Braque Diplomat's Daughter
Jeff Brooks Bondsman
Beth Broderick Caroline Heftshank
Scotty Bloch Sally Rawthrote
John Bentley Bill - Doorman
Paul Bates Buck
Richard Belzer TV Producer
Jennifer Bassey Diplomat's Wife
Mary Alice Annie Lamb
Hansford Rowe Leon Bavardage
Saul Rubinek Jed Kramer
Stewart J Zully Court Clerk
Ermal Williamson Butler
Adina Winston Female Guest
Robert Stephens Sir Gerald Moore
Helen Stenborg Mrs McCoy
Connie Sawyer Ruskin Family Member
Kimberleigh Aarn Media Jackel
F Murray Abraham (uncredited) District Attorney Abe Weiss
Tom Hanks Sherman McCoy
Bruce Willis Peter Fallow
Melanie Griffith Maria Ruskin
Kim Cattrall Judy McCoy
Saul Rubinek Jed Kramer
Morgan Freeman Judge White
John Hancock Reverend Bacon
John Hancock Reverend Bacon
Kevin Dunn Tom Killian
Clifton James Albert Fox
Barton Heyman Detective Martin
Donald Moffat Mr McCoy
Alan King Arthur Ruskin
Beth Broderick Caroline Heftshank
Richard Libertini Ed Rifkin
Andre Gregory Aubrey Buffing
Mary Alice Annie Lamb
Robert Stephens Sir Gerald Moore
Rita Wilson Public Relations Woman
Kirsten Dunst Campbell McCoy
John Bentley Bill - Doorman
Helen Stenborg Mrs McCoy
Camryn Manheim Poe Picketer
Richard Belzer TV Producer
F Murray Abraham (uncredited) District Attorney Abe Weiss
Brian De Palma (uncredited) Prison Guard
Geraldo Rivera (uncredited) Robert Corso
And You Call Yourself a Scientist!
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SGT. KABUKIMAN, NYPD (1996)
"At the end of Mercury's next journey the dragon shall dance through the hoop of Jupiter. If at that moment the monkey will ride the jaguar and the tiger will feast on the nubile, the order of the universe will be such that the Evil One will reign supreme for eternity. Now, do I make myself perfectly clear?"
Director: Lloyd Kaufman, Michael Herz
Starring: Rick Gianisi, Susan Byun, Bill Weeden, Thomas Crnkovich, Larry Robinson, Noble Lee Lester
Screenplay: Lloyd Kaufman, Andrew Osborne, Cliff Hahn, Robert Coffey, Jeffrey W. Sass
Synopsis: A Japanese man is murdered. He dies swearing that the spirit of Kabukiman can never be killed. Businessman Reginald Stuart (Bill Weeden) attends a Kabuki performance sponsored by his company, Stuart Pandex, which wants to bring "culture to the masses". The performance is also attended by Detective Harry Griswold (Rick Gianisi), who is investigating the murder. During the Kabuki, one of the cast reveals himself as the killer, Rembrandt (Thomas Crnkovich), and slaughters most of the performers. When Harry tries to intervene, an old man who has been fatally wounded kisses him, transmitting to him the spirit of Kabukiman. Harry begins to experience spontaneous transformation, ending up in make-up and a kimono. The old man's granddaughter, Lotus (Susan Byun), tries to tell him that he has been chosen to fight the Evil One, but Harry refuses to listen. Meanwhile, it is revealed that Rembrandt is working for Reginald Stuart, who is possessed by the spirit of the Evil One. Also working for Stuart is a corrupt minister, Snipes (Larry Robinson), who is being investigated by Harry's colleague, Connie LaRosa. Before she can expose him, Connie is brutally raped and murdered by Snipes' thugs. Harry is devastated, and agrees to allow Lotus to train him as Kabukiman.
This may be the best film Troma have ever made. Yeah, I know: big deal, right? To paraphrase writer Richard Lupoff, that's like saying "I'm a nicer person than Hitler". Let me start again: this is one of the very few Troma films where it doesn't feel like the entire creative input was exhausted in coming up with the title. It has an original idea. And it's funny all the way through. Well, pretty much. At any rate, there's a lot of fun to be had as we follow the trials of Harry Griswold (what is it with the name "Griswold"?) as he comes to terms with his new powers: his weapons include wax umbrellas, noodles, chopsticks ("Suppose he used knives and forks!" says an impressed onlooker) and seaweed (a hooker and her pimp end up as sushi). But those guys at Troma are soppy romantics at heart, and none of this works properly without the love of Lotus: Harry's first attempt at a spontaneous transformation turns him into a clown, completewith bang-pistol and laughing bag ("Turn that damn thing off," snaps his Captain). As Lotus, Susan Byun has the unenviable task of playing straightperson in the midst of all this nonsense. She also gets to recite the above-quoted speech three times, and does it without a glitch. (The girl's a trooper.) Bill Weeden goes completely over the top as the evil Reginald Stuart, and Thomas Crnkovich as Rembrandt, the psycho killer in a long grey wig, spends most of the film doing a bizarre take-off of Frank Silva's Killer Bob from Twin Peaks. Even though Kabukiman was publicised as the first Troma film to get a PG-13 rating, fans needn't worry. It still has all those qualities we know and love: unnecessary sex scenes, gratuitous breast shots, toilet humour, vomiting, cheesy special effects and more political incorrectness than you could poke a stick at. The usual Troma targets take another pounding, and there is an enjoyable amount of America-bashing. "I have tried in vain to reason with you Japanese-style," says an exasperated Lotus to Harry. "Now I must resort to American-style!" She then proceeds to beat the crap out him. A man asks a cop why he's taking notes when "only three people were killed". A stockbroker showing off the Mercedes bought with his profits from insider trading is the subject of a Lethal Weapon-esque punishment, while two corrupt lawyers are in the wrong place at the wrong time when Kabukiman develops air-sickness. Kabukiman also threatens a dire fate for anyone who tries to "meddle with the national endowment for the arts". Come to the think of it, the whole film's pretty "arty": in place of an original score (which might have cost money) we have constant snippets from Madame Butterfly - even Lotus' doorbell plays it. Opera in a Troma film. Culture for the masses, indeed....
APPLAUDING WHAT OTHERS IGNORE
by Darsell B. Brittingham
AUDELCO is the only organization of its kind to recognize the unsung talent and contribution of African American artists to theater and dance. Many of today’s household names received their first vote of confidence from AUDELCO. Vivian Robinson and the "Ladies of AUDELCO" (as they are affectionately known) have traveled as far north as Rhode Island and south to Washington, DC in a show of support.
Theatre organizations that have been recognized include The New Federal Theatre, National Black Theatre, The H.A.D.L.E.Y. Players, The Roger Furman Theatre and Crossroads Theatre.
AUDELCO Award recipients include:
Mary Alice
Debbie Allen
Obba Babatunde
Trazana Beverly
Ruth Brown
Vinie Burrows
Rosanna Carter
Vinette Carroll
Adolph Caesar
Alice Childress
Pearl Cleage
Felix E. Cochren
Vondie Curtis-Hall
Olu Dara
Judy Dearing
Andre De Shields
Glenda Dickerson
Bill Duke
Thuli Dumakudi
Starletta DuPois
George Faison
Donald Faison
Antonio Fargas
Frances Foster
Charles Fuller
Roger Furman
Richard Gant
Minnie Gentry
PJ Gibson
Billy Graham
Laurence Holder
Reginald Vel Johnson
Woodie King, Jr.
Noble Lee Lester
Rosetta LeNoire
Lofton Mitchell
Barbara Montgomery
Lou Myers
Gil Noble
Frederick O’Neal
Joseph Papp
Melvin Van Peeples
Phylicia Rashad
Sandra Reaves Phillips
LaTanya Richardson
Joe Seneca
Ntozake Shange
Phyllis Yvonne Stickney
Count Stovall
Barbara Ann Teer
Glynn Turman
Douglas Turner Ward
Denzel Washington
Richard Wesley
Clarance Williams, III
Dick Anthony Williams
Samm-Art Williams
August Wilson
George C. Wolfe
Back To Top
AUDELCO’s eye for recognizing new talent continues to provide a road map for young artists seeking to make a living in this business we call show.
With the election of our new chairperson, Mary B. Davis, AUDELCO is making great strides. The bright future of the 21st Century provides another opportunity to continue our legacy of "applauding what others ignore."
posted: 6/12/2002
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 30, Manhattanville Station
New York, NY 10027
Phone: (212) 479-7817
Fax: (917) 507-4624
E-Mail: AUDELCO@AUDELCO.com
Web: www.AUDELCO.com
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