Actor is “fully committed” to challenging stage role – San Diego Union-Tribune

Dennis Peters is well prepared to take on 40 characters by himself in Scripps Ranch Theatre’s production of Becky Mode’s comedy play “Fully Committed.”

While at Central Washington University, Peters took a vocal conditioning class. Little did he know it would come in handy for playing all the different characters and voices that “Fully Committed” requires.

Right out of college and moving to San Diego from Washington state, he taught improv at the La Jolla Playhouse, skills like “being able to think on your feet and change direction quickly.”

Years later, at SeaWorld San Diego, Peters worked as a performer (of a human kind): “It helped me feel more comfortable just on stage,” he recalls.

In “Fully Committed,” Peters, now 30, plays Sam, an out-of-work actor who works as a hostess at a posh Manhattan restaurant. Over the course of the play, he transforms into the demanding diners, the chef, the maître d’ and many more.

Peters has a recipe for making all this work.

“It all comes down to Sam,” Peters says. “If I can put myself in that frame of mind when the show starts and at various points throughout it, that’s my go-to. The other characters will come and go, but if I can find their throughline, the show will be a success.”

“Fully Committed” opens Friday on the SRT Stage at Alliant International University’s Legler-Benbough Theatre. Tickets at scrippsranchtheatre.org.

Film Festival

FilmOut, San Diego’s LGBTQ Film Festival, returns for its 24th year next Thursday with four days of screenings at The Nat and MOPA@SDMA’s Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theatre in Balboa Park.

Opening night will feature Rafael Albarrán and Trent Kendrick’s “FLY,” in which two ex-couples are forced to quarantine together due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be a party after the screening.

Ticket prices for individual shows during the four-day festival are $15 and up (the opening night show is $50); an all-access pass to the festival is $150. Here’s a link to the festival’s screening schedule: filmoutsandiego.com/lgbtq-film-festival/.

Beatlemania 2024

Can you believe it’s been 60 years since the Beatles performed on “The Ed Sullivan Show”? Since then, the Fab Four have remained a part of the pop culture consciousness and, as if it had to be said, the music of John, Paul, George and Ringo is still loved, played on the radio and performed by multitudes.

If you find yourself among that crowd, make a date for the 20th annual San Diego Beatles Fair, taking place Saturday at Queen Bee’s in North Park. This all-day event, which runs from noon to midnight, features plenty of Beatles tribute bands as well as vendors selling all manner of Beatles-related items and memorabilia — everything except surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr in person.

Tickets range from $11.54 to $32.64 at beatlesfair.com.

Television

I could be wrong, but I highly doubt Beatles Fair attendees will tune in to Wednesday night’s MTV Video Music Awards ceremony. Megan Thee Stallion will host the ceremony for the first time. The broadcast was originally scheduled for next Tuesday, but was pushed back a day to let the first presidential debate take center stage. As if the two had rival audiences.

Katy Perry, Shawn Mendes and Lenny Kravitz are among the artists set to perform on the VMA stage. If you’re excited and want to relive the 2023 awards show, MTV’s VMA website is packed with photos and videos from last year’s performances. You can also vote for your favorites in the various categories at mtv.com/vma.

The movies

The summer movie season has been pretty disappointing for me. Finally, there’s a reason to go to the movies, and it comes after Labor Day. Friday sees the release of Tim Burton’s long-awaited sequel to his 1988 hit, “Beetlejuice.”

“Beetlejuice” is actually a sequel to the original and brings back stars Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara and Winona Ryder.

Sequels often don’t live up to the originals, but I have a feeling “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” will. Tim Burton only made one sequel before — “Batman Returns” in 1992, three years after the first “Batman” movie — and some fans prefer it to its predecessor.

UT Arts and Entertainment Stories You Might Have Missed This Week

Unified Television

University of California Television invites you to enjoy this special selection of programs from across the University of California. Descriptions courtesy of and text written by UCTV staff:

“Discussion on the movie ‘Becoming Heaven’”

Filmmaker Jess X. Snow sits down with Heidi Amin-Hong to discuss a selection of Snow’s films and her broader artistic trajectory. As a multidisciplinary artist, Snow’s work spans poetry, visual arts, and film, often addressing themes such as the model minority myth, communal care, mutual aid, and the Asian American immigrant experience. They also explore how her films represent queer intimacy and the romantic and erotic capacity of Asian Americans. The conversation offers a deep dive into Snow’s creative process and how her diverse body of work challenges stereotypes and offers empowering narratives for marginalized communities.

“Anti-Asian Hate, Racial Trauma, and Post-Traumatic Growth”

Russell M. Jeung, professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University, explores the racism of COVID-19 that led to what he calls a period of collective racial trauma for Asian Americans. He discusses the severe impact of direct and indirect racism on their mental health, as documented in 25 peer-reviewed articles. Despite this trauma, Jeung highlights the resilience of Asian Americans, who used their ethnic and cultural wealth to protect themselves from anti-Asian hate. He identifies three key ways they responded and grew from this painful moment, showcasing their post-traumatic growth. Jeung, a leading scholar on race and religion, co-founded Stop AAPI Hate in 2020 to track and combat racism against AAPI communities during the pandemic.

“The value of public service”

What drives people to dedicate their lives to public service, and what lasting impact do they leave on their communities? In this engaging panel discussion, public officials gather to celebrate the legacy of humanitarian and scholar Walter Capps. They reflect on his political career and the enduring value of public service, sharing personal stories that highlight the challenges, rewards, and sacrifices it entails. The panelists warmly recount Capps’s unwavering commitment to community and justice, and explore how his work continues to inspire others to follow in his footsteps. Through this conversation, they emphasize the vital role public service plays in creating a more equitable and compassionate society.

And finally, the best events of the weekend

Top Things to Do This Weekend in San Diego: September 6-8

Originally published: September 5, 2024 at 6:00 am