Foote Festival at FMPAT Offers Three Free Readings

By: Mar. 10, 2011
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FMPA Theatre will be presenting three free readings of different works by Texas Playwright Horton Foote, with open participation to the public, as a part of the Foote Festival, when Dallas-Fort Worth area arts organizations come together for a two month-long celebration of the late legendary Texas playwright Horton Foote. Through artistic collaboration, communication and artistry, the Festival aims to provide the broadest possible public forum for Foote's work, and hopes to encourage local community engagement in sustained dialogue about the man and his legacy.

Foote was born in Wharton, Texas, and died on March 4, 2009. He is, without question, one of the most significant American Playwrights of the 20th century, and holds a unique place in the pantheon of great Texas theater artists. His plays are all set in the State of Texas, and are deeply saturated with Texas social life and culture.

As a part of FMPAT's Reader's Studio series, FMPAT will present free readings of three of Horton Foote's one act plays; The Midnight Caller, March 27, The Dancers, April 3 and The Land of the Astronauts, April 10. These exciting reading events will allow you, the patron, to jump into the action with both professional actors and directors, students, and special guests to read, explore and discuss these great works of our Texas heritage. Readings will be at 7:30pm. Advanced reservations to participate are suggested. The readings will be held at 830 Parker Square in Flower Mound.

The works will be read and then discussed with proctoring by area directors/scholars. Concessions will be available for purchase. For more information, please visit www.fmpat.org.

The Midnight Caller
March 27

Three unmarried women, Alma Jean, Cutie and Miss Rowena, have lived there for years, watching the life of the town. Helen Crews, after a disagreement with her mother, also moves in; Helen had been engaged to Harvey Weems, a charming but weak young man, and the two mothers had managed to break off the engagement. Now Harvey, in love with Helen, but not strong enough to defy his mother, comes every night to Helen's window to call her name. Ralph Johnston, an attractive young man, has just moved to town, and into the boarding house, where he becomes very much interested in Helen. Thanks to Ralph's love, Helen is at last able to leave the town and go off to a happy life of her own and marriage, and Harvey, the midnight caller, is left behind, still calling for her.

The Dancers
April 3

Horace, a boy of sixteen, finds himself in a soda fountain where he meets Mary Catherine, a young girl who, like Horace, lacks confidence and so cripples her own considerable abilities and attractiveness. The two lonely young people are drawn to each other. Horace asks Mary Catherine to another dance, but at the same time his sister and Emily's mother again arrange for Horace to escort Emily, this time with Emily's cooperation. But Horace stands firm; he's asked Mary Catherine, he wants to take Mary Catherin. As Horace and Mary Catherine are about to leave for the dance they admit to each other their fears of not being good enough dancers, of not being popular--but, secure in the knowledge of one another's liking and respect, they start off for their first dance with more confidence and happiness than they've ever felt before.

The Land of the Astronauts
April 10

Phil, who always wanted to be an astronaut, finally heads to Houston to try and find a job with the space station, just to be near the astronauts. His wife Lorena realizes something is wrong when, back at their home in Harrison, there is no word from Phil right before the long-awaited tap dance recital in which their young daughter, Mabel Sue, will dance. Lorena begins her search in Harrison, and with the help of good neighbors and off-beat lawmen and women, finds Phil wandering around Houston, preparing to go into space, but really half-crazed over his own failures. Taking him home, Lorena helps Phil find his mythical utopian land in his home and family.



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