St. Louis Actor's Studio Announces 2009-2010 Season; Includes Works By

October 2009 will mark the beginning of St. Louis Actors' Studio's third season, themed Love and Honor. This theme will be examined from the perspective of lovers young and old, real and imaginary;
of those rivaling over the honor of church and state, equality and
domination; and those who face the consequences of upholding these ideals, past and present. We are proud to announce the 2009-10 season, which varies from timeless classics to edgy contemporaries, as well as the casts for each.

"Proposals" by Neil Simon
Directed by Artistic Director Milt Zoth
October 2-18, 2009
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.

Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Neil Simon takes you back to the summer of 1953 in a play The New York Post calls "Extremely entertaining! A play of great warmth and charm." Proposals tells the story of nine characters whose lives intertwine one summer in the Poconos, and the romantic complications that ensue--the heartache of lost love, the thrill of new love and the bittersweet reunion of past love--resulting in a story of loyalty, honesty and hilarity.

Cast
Clemma Diggins: Choyce Johnson
Burt Hines: Whit Reichert*
Josie Hines: Megan Rodd
Ken Norman: Rusty Gunther
Ray Dolenz: Tyler Vickers
Annie Robbins: Alice Kinsella
Vinnie Bavasi: Aaron Orion Baker
Sammii: Megan Vickers
Lewis Barnett: Eddie Webb

"A Man for All Seasons" by Robert Bolt
Directed by Artistic Director Milt Zoth
December 4-20, 2009
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m.
Performances at the Des Lee Auditorium, Missouri History Museum in Forest Park.

St. Louis Actors' Studio is proud to participate in the Performing Arts Series at the Missouri History Museum to present the classic Tony Award-winning play that tells the true story of 16th-century Chancellor of England Sir Thomas More. A religiously devout man of conscience, More objected to King Henry VIII's break from The catholic Church-a decision that led to his prosecution. This morality play ultimately examines More's struggle to be "the king's faithful servant, but God's first."

Cast
The Common Man:: Charlie Barron
Sir Thomas More William Roth
Master Richard Rich: Christopher Hickey*
The Duke of Norfolk: Larry Dell
Lady Alice More: Teresa Doggett
Lady Margaret More: Emily Baker
Cardinal Wolsey: Robin Weatherall
Thomas Cromwell: Kevin Beyer
William Roper: Khnemu Menu-Ra
King Henry the Eighth: Christopher Lawyer
A Woman: Kimberly Sansone
Thomas Cranmer: Robert Ashton

"Love Song" by John Kolvenbach
Directed by Jason Cannon
January 8-24, 2010
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.

When Beane-a lonely oddball-suddenly finds blissful happiness with the woman who was burgling his apartment, his sister Joan is baffled. Even as Joan attempts to unravel the identity of this mysterious new love in Beane's life, her brother's newfound joy seeps into her own life and rekindles her marriage. Love Song is an exhilarating and menacingly comic rhapsody to the power of love-whatever form it may take.

Cast
Joan: Lavonne Byers
Harry: John Pierson*
Beane: Aaron Orion Baker
Molly: Sarah Cannon

"The Shape of Things" by Neil LaBute
Directed by Producing Director William Roth
February 19-March 7, 2010
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.

When nerdy college student Adam meets cool graduate art student Evelyn, he is instantly infatuated. As the relationship continues on, however, Evelyn's influence upon Adam changes him drastically. Neil LaBute's dark tale of seduction, manipulation, and loss of identity analyzes the sacrifices one will make for love.

Cast
Jenny: Ann Ashby
Evelyn: Shanara Gabrielle*
Adam: Billy Kelly
Phillip: Christian Vieira

"A Doll's House" by Henrik Ibsen
Directed by Artistic Director Milt Zoth
April 9-25, 2010
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.

Nora Helmer has a deep secret-one that if revealed would ruin her happy marriage to Torvald. Nora's desperation to keep the truth from her husband forces her to set out on a transforming journey through a suspenseful turn of events, ending in betrayal and self-awakening. Henrik Ibsen's 19th century masterpiece is a lesson of the true meaning of love, sacrifice and happiness.

Cast
Nora: Julie Layton
Torvald: R.Travis Estes*
Christine: Linde Missy Miller
Dr. Rank Robert Ashton
Krogstad: Greg Johnston
Maid: Sally Eaton

STLAS Original Production: "The State of Marriage"
Written and directed by Joan Lipkin
June 4-20, 2010
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.

With marriage in the national spotlight, The State of Marriage, an original piece co-produced by St. Louis Actors' Studio and That Uppity Theatre Company will delve into the history, challenges and assumptions about marriage, while asking what makes a good marriage. Devised in collaboration
with area actors, this multi-disciplinary piece will derive from interviews with St. Louis residents in person and will also draw from new technologies and social media including YouTube, Facebook and an interactive Web site.

Cast
TBD

*Denotes member of Actors' Equity Association

Unless otherwise noted, shows are performed at The Gaslight Theater, 358 N. Boyle, in the CentrAl West End.

For more information, please contact:
Julie Layton
St. Louis Actors' Studio
(314) 458-2978
julie@the-11.com