The Drama Club Presents the Premiere of THE INCIDENT

By: Sep. 15, 2016
Get Access To Every Broadway Story

Unlock access to every one of the hundreds of articles published daily on BroadwayWorld by logging in with one click.




Existing user? Just click login.

After the successful premiere of Faust last fall, The Drama Club (TDC) returns with a new work by Dallas native Terry Vandivort. The Incident is a harrowing, real-life account that begins on a cold night in Dallas in the late 1970's.

Inside Terry Vandivort's memories from 1979, are places like Northpark Mall, The Crew's Inn, SMU's Ownby Stadium along with the scent of Mrs. Baird's Bakery, the hustle on Harry Hines and the shady characters lurking inside the Paris Adult Bookstore.

Deep in those memories lives the reality of a life-changing incident that would keep him always looking over his shoulder for years. A hot drug-fueled one-night stand became a collision course with a deadly stranger.

After 37 years, one of Dallas' most beloved talents, Mr. Vandivort, boldly reveals his true story of secrecy and terror, stemming from an unidentified man and the explosion of violence he brought. The chilling memories have haunted Terry year-after-year, decade-after-decade. A mystery. An unsettling, yet cathartic journey for the story teller and the audience. A raw, unflinching, darkly-poetic one-man detective story.

Performed by Mr. Vandivort, the piece will be directed by Cameron Cobb (Kitchen Dog Theater) who played the titular role in TDC'sFaust. The design team consists of Amanda West (ATTPAC, Theatre Three) handling lighting design and co-designing scenic elements, Jeffrey Schmidt (TDC) co-designing scenic elements. Lydia Mackay (TDC), Christie Vela (DTC, Kitchen Dog Theater), and WhitneyHolotik (TDC, Broken Gears Project Theatre) serve as producers.

"It stayed with me for over 35 years, the obsession of it, the mystery of it. I read Agatha Christie, because I knew they would always be solved [...] Mystery bugs me. I don't find it compelling or fascinating or adventurous. It's addictive. And because this was such a big event, solving the mysteries around that night became an obsession." Terry Vandivort

The Playwright: Terry was born and raised in Dallas, TX at a time when it was a growing town surrounded by cotton fields. Downtown Dallas was lined with the great movie palaces. Virtually every Saturday night, the family went to the movies downtown and at that time the movies were an event. He started going to the Dallas Civic Opera in elementary school, just two years after Maria Callas performed the inaugural recital to open the Opera. Opera instilled in him the love of the epic gesture, voice, and story, which remain at the core of his artistic journey.

He went to SMU in the early days of its becoming a nationally recognized theater program, as a member of the Professional Acting Curriculum. It was a time of great social, political, and cultural change, laying the foundation for the rest of his life. Newly evolving techniques and tools were part of a laboratory of traditional and experimental storytelling infused with the social ferment and political rebelliousness of the time.

He visited New York City often during the 70's and made the inevitable move in 1980. For a couple of years, the growing power of the gay liberation movement and the vibrant culture of New York's queer community were the focus, the major step in the final sculpting ofpersonhood. And the theater reflected that. Not Broadway, but tiny holes in the wall like the Players Theater at 115 MacDougall Street, where the first act of Torch Song Trilogy debuted under the title of "The International Stud". There were dozens of these and they expanded his vision of storytelling. Tell the truth, break the rules, and dare to jump without a net.

He returned to Dallas a few years later to restart his acting career that had begun in 1970 at Theatre Three. He has been in Dallas since continuing his artistic career and his activist leanings, being one of the original members of ACT-UP Dallas. Following bypass surgery three years ago, he decided it was time to deal with some unfinished business and embarked on writing his first play, "The Incident". With the generous support of Kitchen Dog Theater, The Drama Club, and his colleague Cameron Cobb, the story can now be told.

The Director: Cameron Cobb (Director/Sound Design - The Incident) Cameron is ecstatic to be back in the warm and collaborative environment that is working with The Drama Club, after appearing in the title role of last season's critically-acclaimed new adaptation of Faust. As an actor, Cameron has worked with every major company in the Dallas area over the past twenty years since graduating with his BFA in directing and playwrighting from SMU. He has directed for Kitchen Dog Theater, where he is a proud company member; as well as for Shakespeare Dallas' Complete Works project, a five-year long partnership with the AT&T Performing Arts Center, which he originated. Cameron has also worked with local theaters in many other capacities including fight choreographer, Sound Designer, musician, and photographer.www.cameroncobb.com

Moderated Talkbacks with SOS: Survivors Offering Support
The Drama Club is proud to partner with SOS: Survivors Offering Support for two moderated talkbacks following performances onOctober 19 & 26. SOS: Survivors Offering Support is a non-profit group devoted to helping people affected by violence, especially in the LGBT Community. Our mission is to use our experience as survivors to guide others through the process of healing. We strive to be "first responders" who work to meet the needs of those we serve. Visit https://www.youcaring.com/s-o-s-survivors-offering-support-461572

The Drama Club: Founded in 2008, The Drama Club seeks to produce theatre with thought-provoking, imaginative text, strong ensemble performance, and inventive design. The Drama Club must always be receptive to learning new ideas, techniques, and skills from its fellow artists. Most importantly, each and every Drama Club production should test the creative limits of all involved. If artists do not challenge themselves, the truth they seek for their audience will not be revealed.

The Incident opens at Bryant Hall on Monday, October 16 and runs through Saturday, October 29. It will run in rep with TDC's other show Wild, Wicked, Wyrd - Fairytale Time. Evening shows start at 8:00 PM and matinees start at 2:30 PM. Evening performances take place on 10/16, 10/19, 10/23, and 10/26. Matinee performances take place on 10/15, 10/22 and 10/29. Ticket are available at Tickets to the City: https://buy.ticketstothecity.com/venue.php?org_id=310 . Visit http://www.thedramaclub.org/ for more details.

Please Note: This production contains adult language and adult situations.

 

Join Team BroadwayWorld

Are you an avid theatergoer? We're looking for people like you to share your thoughts and insights with our readers. Team BroadwayWorld members get access to shows to review, conduct interviews with artists, and the opportunity to meet and network with fellow theatre lovers and arts workers.

Interested? Learn more here.



Videos