Bill Oberst Jr. Photo credit Joaquin Montalvan
Bill Oberst Jr. Photo credit Joaquin Montalvan
An Encore Performance of Ray Bradbury’s “Pillar of Fire” (a precursor to “Fahrenheit 451”) will be performed by acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning actor Bill Oberst Jr. on Friday, March 24, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the South Pasadena Public Library Community Room. Oberst performed an unplanned ‘unplugged” show on August 11, 2016 in the Library Park after an power outage hit the entire Library, including the Community Room, earlier in the day. Without the lighting, amplified sound, recorded voices, or any of the special effects that were planned, Bill earned a prolonged, standing ovation from the entire audience seated in the chairs that had been hurriedly moved outside.
The March 24 performance will include the features that couldn’t be utilized last August—and will again showcase Oberst’s intense dramatic fireworks. Oberst, who performs around the world, will be traveling from South Carolina to South Pasadena to perform his dynamic “Pillar of Fire” which was selected as the “Best Solo Show” of 2015 in Los Angeles by BitterLemons and also won the Platinum Award of the Hollywood Fringe Festival.
Bill Oberst Jr. is an American stage, film and television actor of German descent. Known for his work in horror and cult films, his career includes projects in film, television and one-man-show theater performances. He first received recognition for his portrayals of icon and humorist Lewis Grizzard as performed in theatrical tours across the Southern United States. His role as the creepy ‘Facebook Stalker’ in the online interactive video film Take This Lollipop, which uses the Facebook Connect application to bring viewers themselves into the film through use of their own pictures and messages from Facebook, brought him widespread attention after the project received multiple Webby Awards nominations, three awards at SXSW, and a 2012 Daytime Emmy Award.
Oberst. was born and raised in Georgetown, South Carolina, and is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. He is a native of Pawleys Island, South Carolina and lives and works in Los Angeles, California. Oberst has received attention for his many theatrical portrayals of historical figures, including Jesus, Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln, and John F. Kennedy. Beginning in 1994, and continuing through 2004, Oberst portrayed Jesus in Jesus of Nazareth. Overlapping, and for the five years from 1996 through 2004, he played John F. Kennedy in the one man show JFK. Iconic historical figures who are revered or demonized by history draw Oberst’s interest as an actor. Oberst had also created the one man show “Stand Up! When Comedy Was Funny” for which he showcased the classic comedy routines of Rodney Dangerfield, Bob Newhart, Woody Allen and Moms Mabley.
He was chosen by Lewis Grizzard’s widow Dedra to portray the southern icon, and since 1999 has been portraying Grizzard with the touring production that has continued for over 10 years under several names: “A Tribute To Lewis Grizzard”, “Lewis Grizzard Returns”, and “Lewis Grizzard: In His Own Words”. In 2006, Oberst began his career in film and television. Since 2008, he has appeared in over 100 independent film and television projects.
The Library Community Room is located at 1115 El Centro Street. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and refreshments will be served. Admission is free and no tickets or reservations are needed. The Library is only about a block away from the South Pasadena Gold Line Station and free parking is available at the Mission-Meridian Parking Garage, located at 805 Meridian Avenue next to the Metro Gold Line Station. Special thanks to 210eastsound!
