Stage West Presents NOVEMBER, Opens 6/23

"Your numbers are lower than Gandhi's cholesterol; and, after the election, we'll see you at Swap Meets signing autographs. You LOSER." It's not easy to be a president running for re-election, clearly, in David Mamet's scathingly hilarious November, beginning its area premiere at Stage West on Thursday, June 23.

President Charles H. P. Smith is having a bad day. The election is upon him. He's out of campaign money, and can't run any TV spots. His wife wants to know why she can't take some of the furniture with her if they leave. His lesbian speechwriter has been in China adopting a baby. He may have inadvertently started a war with Iran. And no one wants to fund his all-important Presidential Library.

It's go big or go home time, and out of desperation comes inspiration. The President has to pardon a couple of Thanksgiving turkeys, as is traditional, and he thinks he might just be able to turn this PR event to his advantage and win back the support he needs. Can he actually pull it off? This is comedy done Mamet-style, with his trademark no-holds-barred language and outrageous characters-and an on-point skewering of American politics which is highly entertaining.

David Mamet was born in Flossmoor, Illinois in 1947, to Bernard Mamet, a labor lawyer, and his wife, Leonore. Mamet's father emphasized the importance and potency of language, and the family spent hours arguing for the sake of argument. Here Mamet learned the subtleties inherent to well-spoken words which led to the distinctive style of dialogue he is best-known for.

Mamet studied at Goddard College in Vermont, where he began writing, and tried his hand at acting at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater in New York. He first gained acclaim with off-Broadway productions of Sexual Perversity in Chicago (1974), The Duck Variations (1976) and American Buffalo (1977). Then in 1984, he wrote Glengarry Glen Ross, which earned him a Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize. He followed that with 1987's Speed-the-Plow, which also won him a Tony Award. He began writing for the screen in 1981 with a re-make of The Postman Always Rings Twice; his screenplay for Barry Levinson's political satire Wag the Dog earned him both an Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Screenplay. He has taught at New York University, Goddard College, and the Yale Drama School, and he regularly lectures at the Atlantic Theater Company, of which he is a founding member. His most recent play is this year's The Anarchist, which is expected to premiere in 2012.

His additional awards include the Joseph Jefferson Award, 1974; Obie Award, 1976, 1983; New York Drama Critics Circle Award, 1977, 1984; Outer Circle Award, 1978; Society of West End Theatre Award, 1983; Dramatists Guild Hall-Warriner Award, 1984; American Academy Award, 1986.

November, which is directed by Dana Schultes, will feature the relatively rare onstage pairing of Founding Director Jerry Russell and Artistic Director Jim Covault, who will be playing President Smith and his chief advisor Archer Brown, respectively. Speechwriter Clarice Bernstein will be played by Sherry Jo Ward, who appeared as Elaine in the world premiere of Scripted at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Making a welcome return to Stage West, as Turkey Guy, will be Donald Jordan, the founding director of Oklahoma City Rep. And appearing as Dwight Grackle will be noted local playwright and actor Rob Bosquez, last seen at Artes de la Rosa as the Warden in Kiss of the Spider Woman.

Set design will be handled by Jason Domm, with lighting by Michael O'Brien and scenic painting by Justin Rhoads and Jennifer Schultes. Costume design will be by Covault and Peggy Kruger-O'Brien, while Lynn Lovett contributes props and set decor.

November will preview Thursday, June 23 at 7:30 and Friday, June 24 at 8:00. Opening Night will be Saturday, June 25 at 8:00, followed by a Champagne Reception. The production will close on Sunday, July 24. Performance times will be Thursday evenings at 7:30, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00, with Sunday matinees at 3:00. Ticket prices range from $26 to $30, with discounts for students and seniors. Preview tickets are priced at only $15. Pay What You Can performances will be Sunday, June 26 and Thursday, June 30. Food service is available 90 minutes prior to performances (reservations are necessary). Reservations and information are available through the Box Office (817-784-9378), or on the website, www.stagewest.org.

Advisory: this play contains strong language.

Photo Credit: Buddy Myers

 

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