Regan Adair to Direct Second Thought Theatre's IN A FOREST, DARK AND DEEP, 8/9-31

Second Thought Theatre announced today cast and creative team of the final production in its ninth season, In a Forest, Dark and Deep by Neil LaBute. Director Regan Adair returns to STT for the first time since 2011's critical hit, Red Light Winter. In a Forest, Dark and Deep will run in previews August 9 - 10, 2013. Opening and Press Night is Thursday, August 15 at 7:30pm. The show closes August 31.

"Regan Adair has a knack for finding beauty, humanity and truth in the darkest of places," said Co-Artistic Director Steven Walters. "He's the perfect director for the regional premiere of In a Forest, Dark and Deep. Adair's unique approach to the process is the perfect foil to LaBute's hilariously viscous brand of theatre."

Adair said he is excited to follow Red Light Winter with this production. "When I was here two years ago, I worked on a play that followed people just starting their path to adulthood," he said. "Now I get to work on a play that centers around two middle-aged siblings who are trying to address unresolved issues, which isn't easy once a person has learned to suppress those issue for the majority of his or her life."

Secrets and sibling rivalry aren't foreign to Bobby (Jeremy Schwarz) and Betty (Heather Henry). On a dark night, deep in the forest, the two are forced to face the reality of the harsh truths they've hidden away. From irresponsible teenage decisions, to relationship shattering actions of adulthood, the two grapple with their conflicting feelings about each other while sorting through the realities of their current lives. The newest offering from celebrated American playwright Neil LaBute, In a Forest, Dark and Deep is a psychological thriller bound to surprise and intrigue.

"I initially cast Heather because of her perfect blend of intellect and varied life experiences that I believe are crucial in the portrayal of Betty," said Adair. "She's not obvious and that's what I love the most. It was necessary at that point to find an actor that could bring a certain brooding, virile quality that is, in many ways, the catalyst for this piece. Jeremy was the ideal choice."

In addition to directing, Adair also provided scenic and costume designs for the production. Aaron Johansen and John Flores return to Second Thought Theatre for lighting design and sound design, respectively.

In a Forest, Dark and Deep opens with previews on Friday, August 9 at 8:00pm. Opening and press night is Thursday, August 15 at 7:30pm. The PWYC performances of In a Forest, Dark and Deep will take place Thursday, August 9; Friday, August 10; Monday August 19 and Monday, August 26. PWYC tickets are available at the box office the day of the performance only and are subject to availability. Tickets to the PWYC performance can be reserved at the regular ticket price online at 2TT.co. In a Forest, Dark and Deep runs through August 31. Tickets for In a Forest, Dark and Deep are on sale now and are available online at 2TT.co or by phone at (866) 811-4111.

Heather Henry (Betty) Film/TV: High Art, Fog Cutter Productions, directed by Lisa Cholodenko; The Proper Care and Feeding of an American Messiah, Theoretical Entertainment. Appearances: Comedy Store; Mbar; The Moth (Los Angeles). Dallas Theater Credits: Desdemona: A Play about a Handkerchief, Dallas Theater Center; Death of a Salesman, Classical Acting Company; Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, Wingspan Theatre Company; Living Out, WaterTower Theatre; Moon for the Misbegotten, Circle Theatre; All My Sons, Classical Acting Company; Killer Joe, Hellgramite Productions. Regional Theater: Daddy Said That I was Fat (original one woman show), Theatre Unleashed (Los Angeles); What?, Promenade Playhouse (Los Angeles); A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Shakespeare Theatre (Washington, DC). Training: BFA Acting SUNY Purchase; Michael Kahn (New York); Flo Greenberg (New York); Terry Martin (Dallas); Dakin Matthews (Los Angeles).

Jeremy Schwartz (Bobby) is thrilled to be back in Dallas after 14 years. He was a regular on Dallas stages during the '90s; appearing in several productions for Kitchen Dog Theater (Se Llama Christina); Undermain Theatre and Dallas Theater Center. He has two Dallas Theater League Awards for his performances in Triumph of Love and Shiner. He's done lots of voice over (Comedy Central, ESPN, HBO, Discovery, History Channel, Adult Swim); he's been on television (Law & Order S.V.U.; Strangers With Candy; Sopranos; Rescue Me); he's even in some movies (Staten Island; Radiant; Parting Words). He is a founding member of The Fire Department Theater Company in New York City.

Regan Adair (Director/Scenic Design/Costume Design) Regan Adair most recently directed Red Light Winter at Second Thought Theatre. Other credits include Talk Radio for UpstArt Theatre Co. In 2005-2006, he served as Artistic Director for Richardson Theatre Center, where he helmed productions of Verdict; Blithe Spirit; Misery; Les Liasons Dangereuses (which the Dallas Observer and Dallas Voice awarded one of the Top Ten Best Productions of 2005); Wait Until Dark; and The Unexpected Guest. Regan has also directed productions of The Underpants (Plano Repertory Theatre); The Normal Heart (with Uptown Players, which was named one of the Top Ten Productions of 2006 by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram) and Every Trick in the Book (with Classical Acting Company, which also garnered honors as one of the Top Ten Best Productions of 2006 by both the Dallas Observer and the Dallas Voice).

Aaron Johansen (Lighting Design) Before moving to Dallas 6 years ago, he received a B.S. in Theatre: Design and Technology with an emphasis in lighting design from Ball State University. Second Thought Theatre: Pluck The Day. Dallas Theater Center: The Second City Does Dallas; Red; A Christmas Carol (Assistant Lighting Designer, 2011); Centerstage Gala (2011). Dallas Children's Theater: Pinkalicious. Kitchen Dog Theater (company member): Macbeth; Turn of the Screw; Ruth; The Beauty Queen of Leenane; Se Llama Cristina. Project X:Little Deaths; Behind the Burlesque. PFamily Arts: Baby: The Musical. Ball State: Hair; J.B.; Coppelia; Cabaret; Erratica; The Colored Museum.

John Flores (Sound Design) Previous Second Thought Theatre credits include: Gruesome Playground Injuries; A Behanding in Spokane; Lobster Alice; and A Skull in Connemara. With Kitchen Dog Theater (Artistic Company Member): Se Llama Christina; One-Man Show; The Chairs; Beauty Queen of Leenan; Becky Shaw; Turn of the Screw; Collapse; 26 Miles; Ponzi;MacBeth; Betrayal; Long Way Go Down; and many, many more. He recently designed Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo for Theatre Three and worked extensively with Shakespeare Dallas, Our Endeavors Theater Collective, Cara Mia Theater, Audacity Theatre Lab, Junior Players, Project X: Theatre and LimeHouse Theater.

Madeleine Morris (Stage Manager) Madeleine Morris is happy to be back at Second Thought Theatre after serving as assistant stage manager for Red Light Winter. She puppeteers with Le Théâtre de Marionette and Band of Puppets, and does technical work and stage management at various theatres around Dallas. She will be graduating this December from the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in Arts & Performance.

Alex Organ (Producer) Second Thought Theatre: My Name is Rachel Corrie (producer); A Behanding in Spokane (director); Red Light Winter (Davis). Locally he's been seen at Lyric Stage (The Most Happy Fella); Theater Three (The Farnsworth Invention); Shakespeare Dallas (Coriolanus; Hamlet; Two Gentlemen of Verona); WaterTower Theater (Little Shop of Horrors); Trinity Shakespeare Festival (Julius Caesar; Taming of the Shrew; Macbeth; As You Like It) and Dallas Theater Center (A Christmas Carol). Regionally he's appeared with Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Epic Theater Ensemble and Elm Shakespeare Festival. Alex holds an MFA from the Yale School of Drama and is represented by the Mary Collins Agency. Look for Alex next in Profanity at Undermain Theater this fall.

Drew Wall (Production Manager) is glad to return to Second Thought Theatre, where previous shows include: A Behanding in Spokane; The Bomb-itty of Errors; Red Light Winter; A Skull in Connemara; Lobby Hero and The Country Wife. Other Dallas credits include The Beauty Queen of Leenane; Long Way Go Down; Macbeth and Slasher (Kitchen Dog Theater); The Dog Problem (Undermain Theater); This Is Our Youth (Upstart Productions); The Merry Wives of Windsor (Shakespeare Dallas); Defiance (Theatre Three); Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead (Inevitable Theatre Company) and The Secret War (FireboMB Productions). He has also worked with The Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York (Dog Show and The Rotting of Tycho de Brahe) and Queen Mary University in London. Drew holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from Baylor University and represented by the Kim Dawson Agency.

Second Thought Theatre seeks to capture the moment of creation between artist and audience. Dedicated to ensemble productions that explore challenging and dramatic works from the canon of theatrical literature, STT strives to enlighten and entertain its audience by pushing the boundaries of human thought and emotion. Old works done in new ways, new works done in old ways. Everything is possible when you take a second thought.

 

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