Thomas Ward Premieres International Falls At Out of the Loop Festival 3/4-10
By: Gabrielle Sierra Jan. 26, 2012
Texas-based playwright/screenwriter Thomas Ward will premiere his new play International Falls at the Out of the Loop Fringe Festival at Water Tower Theatre in Addison. The play will run for a limited engagement on Water Tower’s Main Stage March 4 and 10. Bradley Jones of Nashville’s Haven Productions will direct the production.
International Falls will join the ten-day Festival lineup of plays, performance art, dance and art from around the region and around the world.
About the show: International Falls is the story of a burned out standup comedian and a hotel desk clerk trying to enjoy a one-night stand after a comedy show. What begins as an innocuous frolic turns into a philosophical discussion of comic theory, marriage, parenthood, religion, and fart jokes. The line between comedy and tragedy is blurred as both characters are forced to ask the inevitable post-coital question, “Now what?”
About the artist: Thomas Ward has received several honors for his writing, including the distinction of Atlanta’s Best New Play for his play Keeping Watch. His play Binge premiered at the Out of the Loop Festival in 2010 and went on to subsequent productions in New York. He also received accolades for his short film In the Middle (featuring wife Sherry Jo Ward) and the independent feature film Sironia (co-written with Brandon Dickerson and Wes Cunningham), both of which are appearing in film festivals across the country. With International Falls, Ward was interested in creating a tragic play that is full of jokes. He claims, “While this play isn’t autobiographical, it is the most personal because it portrays an artist dealing with frustration, depression, and complex relationships. I also like seeing broad (sometimes foul) humor emerging in dark places.”
Ward, who works as both a professional actor and playwright is looking forward to finally playing a role he created, but also hopes he has written two roles that other actors will want to play in future productions. In this premiere production of International Falls, he will be playing opposite his wife, actor Sherry Jo Ward. Ward says, “Sherry is always the first to read anything I write, and I wanted to write a good part for her. We’ve collaborated several times and have a solid creative partnership.” Both Thomas and Sherry have received recent critical acclaim for various performances in DFW and Austin.
Ward ultimately believes that International Falls will compliment the Out of the Loop lineup and will establish a unique actor/audience relationship through an innovative blend of dialogue, stand-up comedy, and improv. As Ward says, “Loop audiences come expecting a very special theatre experience, and this new play is a perfect fit. I’m thrilled that the first audience to see this potential hit play will be Water Tower’s Festival audience.”
International Falls by Thomas Ward will play at Water Tower’s Out of the Loop Fringe Festival on the Main Stage March 4 at 5:00 p.m. and March 10 at 8:00 p.m. For tickets or more information, call 972.450.6232 or visit www.watertowertheatre.org. Tickets are $10 each for International Falls, or Festival passes are available for $65. Tickets go on sale February 14 at noon.
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