'Pounding Nails in the Floor with My Forehead' Closes at Trustus Theatre

Eric Bogosian's Pounding Nails in the Floor with My Forehead' will close at the Trustus Black Box space on February 6, 2010.

"When it came time to create the line-up for our Black Box during our 25th Anniversary Celebration, we knew we wanted to bring back many of our most artistic and thrilling successes from our 25 years of entertaining Columbia," said Trustus Artistic Director Jim Thigpen. "I contacted Steve Harley about reprising his multi-character performance in Pounding Nails in the Floor with My Forehead without hesitation."

Harley soon came on board with Dewey Scott Wiley (RENT, Evita), director of the successful 1997 Trustus production. "The entire Trustus Company is energized about this production," said Thigpen. "This was one of those shows that blew audiences and our fellow company members away. Harley's turn at performing this piece is highly regarded, and still thought of as one of the most heroic performances in our 25 years of producing shows."

Pounding Nails in the Floor with my Forehead is a one-man show authored by popular American playwright Eric Bogosian, whom many will recognize from his acting work on Law and Order: Criminal Intent. He also penned many shows that have become films, such as Talk Radio (1988) and subUrbia (1996). Trustus has produced other Bogosian shows in their 25 years of Columbia theatre, but 'Pounding...' stands out as one of the great successes of Trustus' artistic mission to produce challenging works on the Columbia stage.

In this one-man show, Eric Bogosian's characters line up like Hollywood stereotypes - serial killer, psychotic fan, maturing hippy, therapy head case. All use various tried-and-tested means to vent their frustration: violence, drugs, religion, psychoanalysis, comfortable picket-fence banality.

Bogosian's wider fixations, too - the Christian hard Right, political apathy, mindless greed and consumerism - are well-worn satirical targets. 'Pounding...' can be viewed as the sound of America commenting on itself. There is, nevertheless, an underlying and affecting sincerity to many of the monologues that raises them above simple caricature, making this show a unique production in the theatrical landscape of Columbia.

"This show is not to be missed," promises Artistic Director Thigpen. "You don't see stories like these on stage every day. The living and breathing nature of this show gets into your system...you won't be able to forget it! We certainly haven't," he laughs. 

Trustus Theatre is located at 520 Lady Street, behind the Gervais St. Publix. Parking is available on Lady St. The Black Box is located on the Huger side of the building, through the glass doors.

For more information call the box office Tuesdays through Saturdays 1-6 pm at 803-254-9732. Visit www.trustus.org for all show information and season info.

Photo by Jocelyn Sanders. Production photo of the original 1997 Trustus Production of Pounding Nails in the Floor with My Head. Steve Harley pictured.