Deanna Jent News

Writer William Nicholson's play SHADOWLANDS, which was adapted from his 1985 television screenplay, takes a look at the life of C.S. Lewis, focusing its attention on the relationship between the famous author and an American fan named Joy Gresham that he wound up marrying. It's a superbly constructed work that's touching and surprisingly funny, and Mustard Seed Theatre has mounted a wonderful production that's sparked by flawless direction and brilliant performances.

Twenty-two St. Louis theater companies are represented in the nominations for the Sixth Annual Kevin Kline Awards. Thirty plays and musicals produced in the St. Louis area during 2010 now share 112 nominations in 22 different categories for the coveted award.

SHADOWLANDS is based on the real-life story of C.S. Lewis, who unexpectedly falls in love with young American poet Joy Gresham. A romance with a bittersweet ending, by William Nicholson, with direction by Deanna Jent. The cast includes B.Weller, Terry Meddows, Richard Lewis, Michael Brightman, Jackson Mabry and Resident Artists Carmen Larimore Russell, Kelley Ryan as Joy Gresham and Gary Barker as C.S. Lewis.

The second half of the mini-Potok festival continues with an engaging and thoughtful dramatization of his classic novel THE CHOSEN, which I can recall reading (for English class) and enjoying myself many years ago. This adaptation, like the recent production of MY NAME IS ASHER LEV, is also written by playwright Aaron Posner, and it fully captures the flavor of the book, staging key scenes compactly, and with considerable economy, even though it relies on the use of a narrator, which the other adaptation eschewed in favor of having its protagonist portray the lead character at various stages. Mustard Seed Theatre's production is nicely conceived and executed, with a solid cast doing fine work under the guidance of director (of both productions) Deanna Jent.

Playwright Aaron Posner has done a wonderful job of adapting Chaim Potok's novel MY NAME IS ASHER LEV for the stage. With amazing economy, Poser whittles down the work to 90 minutes of stage time, and with two of the three actors playing multiple roles, condenses the complexities even further, and yet the play still maintains the flavor and intensity of Potok's writing. The New Jewish Theatre begin their 2010-11 season with a mesmerizing production of this engaging and compelling portrait of a young artist struggling with reconciling his family and religious beliefs with his own particular artistic aesthetic.

The New Jewish Theatre will join forces with Mustard Seed Theatre in October to produce a 'Mini-Potok Festival' with each company producing a dramatic adaptation of one of the novels of Chaim Potok. NJT will open the Festival on October 6 with MY NAME IS ASHER LEV and Mustard Seed will open THE CHOSEN on October 22.

After having previewed the new Marvin & Harlene Wool Studio Theatre in June with the final production of our two seasons of wandering, the New Jewish Theatre embarks on a new era as we open our first full season in this wonderful new space. The season opens October 6 with an adaptation of Chaim Potok's poignant novel, MY NAME IS ASHER LEV. Aaron Posner who adapted the novel into dramatic form, also adapted NJT's highly successful production of THE CHOSEN several years ago. Potok's widow, Adena Potok consulted on the production. Potok will be in St. Louis for the final weekend of performances to offer her insights in audience talk backs.

The New Jewish Theatre will join forces with Mustard Seed Theatre in October to produce a 'Mini-Potok Festival' with each company producing a dramatic adaptation of one of the novels of Chaim Potok. NJT will open the Festival on October 6 with MY NAME IS ASHER LEV and Mustard Seed will open THE CHOSEN on October 22.

Mustard Seed Theatre will present Moliere's TARTUFFE April 23-May 9, 2010. Translated from Moliere's French by Richard Wilbur, the witty rhyming couplets keep the action moving as the plots swirl and power is stolen. Join Mariane, Elmire and their maid Dorine as they try to convince Orgon that Tartuffe is an imposter and not a saint.

Some people cannot be convinced of something unless they see it with their own two eyes, and even then they can be skeptical. This is a problem that Orgon, a character from Moliere's classic comedy TARTUFFE faces. Everyone around him, except his Mother, seems to understand that the man that Orgon has taken in has a less than stellar past, and that he's up to no good. But Orgon's blindness, even in the face of being confronted with eyewitness accounts, works against him taking any action against a man he sees as being perfectly pious. Mustard Seed Theatre has produced a funny and extremely well cast version of this play, and it's required viewing for anyone looking for something a little light and easy to take.

Mustard Seed Theatre will present Moliere's TARTUFFE April 23-May 9, 2010. Translated from Moliere's French by Richard Wilbur, the witty rhyming couplets keep the action moving as the plots swirl and power is stolen. Join Mariane, Elmire and their maid Dorine as they try to convince Orgon that Tartuffe is an imposter and not a saint.

Mustard Seed Theatre will present Moliere's TARTUFFE April 23-May 9, 2010. Translated from Moliere's French by Richard Wilbur, the witty rhyming couplets keep the action moving as the plots swirl and power is stolen. Join Mariane, Elmire and their maid Dorine as they try to convince Orgon that Tartuffe is an imposter and not a saint.

THE PEOPLE'S VIOLIN is an interesting search for identity, as an experimental filmmaker attempts to track down his father's true lineage, and hopes to find himself in the process. It's interesting to note that Charlie Varon's play was originally a one man show, especially since its lead protagonist, Sol Shankman, is so self-obsessed that it's sometimes too painful to watch. The New Jewish Theatre's current presentation (February 24 - March 14) is definitely thought-provoking and engaging, and though some of the characters might not be all that likable, there's still something compelling about watching this mystery unfold, as Sol begins to come to terms with his father's 'true' identity, as well as his own.

Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents the ruthless farce 'House of Blue Leaves' by John Guare.

Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents the ruthless farce 'House of Blue Leaves' by John Guare.

Mustard Seed Theatre presents FIDDLER ON THE ROOF October 30 - November 22, 2009 at the Fontbonne University Black Box Theatre in the Fine Arts Building at 6800 Wydown Boulevard in Clayton. Celebrate the lives of Tevye and his family as they navigate tradition, progress, love and hate. You'll see this well-loved musical in a new light: staged in an intimate setting, focused on the characters and the melodies of their relationships.

Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents the ruthless farce 'House of Blue Leaves' by John Guare.

Mustard Seed Theatre's production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is being billed as a more intimate staging, eschewing some of the elements of spectacle and scope that can often overwhelm this simple tale. This presentation succeeds by focusing our attention on Joseph Stein's characters, and their joyous celebration of life. It's also a good way to appreciate Jerry Brock (music) and Sheldon Harnick's (lyrics) delightful score, with the meaning coming through with clarity and precision. The cozy confines of the black box theatre on the campus of Fontbonne College provides a perfect space for this timeless classic.

Mustard Seed Theatre presents FIDDLER ON THE ROOF October 30 - November 22, 2009 at the Fontbonne University Black Box Theatre in the Fine Arts Building at 6800 Wydown Boulevard in Clayton. Celebrate the lives of Tevye and his family as they navigate tradition, progress, love and hate. You'll see this well-loved musical in a new light: staged in an intimate setting, focused on the characters and the melodies of their relationships.

The Orange Girls Theatre company wraps up its 2009 season with the journey of a seemingly stereotypical housewife as she attempts to rewrite the story of her life in David Lindsay-Abaire's screwball comedy WONDER OF THE WORLD, presented September 25 through October 11 at COCA's Anheuser-Busch Black Box Theater.