Joseph Steven

Film and TV actor Joseph Steven, who narrates the story and takes on the role of arena Praeco, wraps the live international gladiator show of Spartacus and the Roman Legion with thunderous applause from the audience.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012 – French gladiators reenacted the story of Spartacus and the Roman Legion this past Saturday and Sunday. The live show with horses, stuntmen and thirtysome actors drew eager, lingering crowds at the Griffith Park Equestrian Center’s Equidome in Burbank (the nation’s largest covered horse-show arena).

Film and TV actor Joseph Steven, from Venice CA, narrated the rise and fall of Spartacus. French and American reenactment troupes joined forces to demonstrate the war hero’s fate from gladiator-slave to rebellion leader.

Steven, who also plays the role or Praeco (or herald, an ancient emcee) at the Colisseum in Rome, gives a play-by-play account of the combat action with tongue-in-check commentary to a live audience of hundreds, encouraging their participation at every turn for “life-or-death!”

Except for the absence of blood, they stage real fights. Mickael Durand, lead gladiator and manager of the production company, Histor’Event, says, “Our men train in ancient technique everyday. So, we do not predetermine the winners.” They leave the outcomes to skill and chance “in front of live spectators.” Histor’Event, known throughout the South of France, runs a gladiator training school in Nîmes that promotes investigative archaeology to assure that techniques, costumes, and presentations are historically accurate.

This past summer (2012) actor Steven met with ‘his gladiators’ in Nîmes and their partner association, ChronoMedia, to discuss his upcoming role as the third president of the United States in a joint venture film, Thomas Jefferson in Nîmes. Shortly afterward, he became the liaison for a US base of operations for the Spartacus show, which premiered this December in Los Angeles, CA.
Dr. Eric Teyssier, anitquities professor at the University of Nîmes who serves as head and concept creator at ChronoMedia, says, “This adventure could not have existed without Joseph. We’re delighted he came on board!” Though seasoned in France’s Les Grands Jeux Romains --which implicates hundreds of actors, and draws hundreds of thousands of spectators -- this is the partnership’s first foray into a live US performance. They plan to return to the West and Southwest US with a new story and format, including a possible touring show, in 2013.

The two French organizations plan to bring more ancient history to an American public. “With Spartacus,” for example, states show director and music composer Fabien Faizant, “most people do not realize the rich ancient history and ruins we have in France -- a country once held by the Gauls later overthrown by Rome.” Joseph Steven plans to join them on their next franco-american edu-tainment venture.

Until then, other projects being discussed for Histor’Event and Chronomedia include short films about regional history for highway reststops near monuments in Southern France (likely to include Hannibal’s elephant trains). A possible gladiator reality show also looms. As for Steven, he is in talks to write and produce scripts, portraying characters from assassins to psychologists, for film and new media, as well as solo performance.

Histoir’Even and ChronoMedia may be reached through JSK; and, Joseph Steven, through KSR.

Contacts
J.S. Klus, consultant
JSK Coaching Associates
(310) 450-2020
Josef@JSKcoaching.com

KSR Talent Agency
(818) 769-9111
Leo@KSRtalent.com