Dirt Dogs Theatre Co. Marries Stage And Screen In THE GRADUATE

It's been more than 50 years since Mrs. Robinson seduced Benjamin Braddock-as well as film audiences-in Mike Nichols' cinematic classic, The Graduate. This summer, Dirt Dogs Theatre Co. pays homage to this iconic picture by incorporating film into its production of the play. The stage adaptation, written by Terry Johnson, not only features classic scenes from the film, but dialogue from the original novel, as well as new scenes created by the playwright. And while the play uncovers new insights into the characters that audiences have known all of their lives, the basic premise of the story remains unchanged. It is 1964, and Benjamin Braddock is leaving behind the safety of college for an unknown future full of insecurities. Enter Mrs. Robinson, the frustrated wife of his father's business partner, and Ben gets an education not found in any college curriculum.

The director behind this adventuresome production is Travis Ammons, whose experience as a director of both stage and screen made him an obvious choice. "The Graduate is based on Charles Webb's novel, not the movie," says Ammons. "While the movie is no doubt a classic, the stage play is written with such a light touch and with such precision, it's almost a different piece altogether. All the memorable moments of the film are there, but we dig much deeper into the characters, as we do in the novel. The dialogue is charming, cloyingly romantic and witty. Overall, we are left with a brilliantly funny script, written with a kind of disciplined and suppressed joy."

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT

Terry Johnson is a British dramatist and director who has been an active playwright since the early 1980s. His adaptation of The Graduate, from the 1963 novel by Charles Webb and the 1967 motion picture screenplay by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry, earned him a Touring Broadway Award for best play in 2005. In addition, he is the author of Imagine Drowning, Cries from the Mammal House, and Unsuitable for Adults. He is the recipient of numerous awards including Drama Critics Circle (Dead Funny), Olivier Award Best Comedy (Cleo, Camping and Dick, and Hysteria) and The British Theatre Award for playwright of the year in 1995.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Travis Ammons is making his directorial debut with Dirt Dogs Theatre Co., but is well-known to Houston audiences as a director, actor and writer for stage and screen. DDTCo. audiences will recognize Ammons as Kerry Max Cook from the recently acclaimed production of The Exonerated, as well as Christian Robb from the world premiere of The Boundary.

He has also appeared on stage in Amadeus (Amadeus), Equus (Alan), Hurly Burly (Eddie), Jesus Christ Superstar (Herod), and The Whale (Charlie), and directed A Streetcar Named Desire, Christmas on Mars, and Fat Men in Skirts. He's written and directed seven feature-length films including, Club Foot, Manhood is Dead, The Cutting Room, The Great American Moon Rock Caper (voted by the Houston Film Critics Society as one of the top five independent films shot in Houston) and Suicide Notes (the critic's choice for best film at the WorldFest-Houston International Film and Video Festival)

The three founding members of DDTCo. also serve on the production. Artistic Director Malinda L. Beckham appears as Mrs. Robinson and is the scenic and costume designer. Executive Director Trevor B. Cone plays Benjamin Braddock's father and designs sound for the production. Design Director John Baker is the production manager. The remaining crew includes Andrew Vance (lighting design), Joe Engler (projectionist), Barbara Alicea-Aponte (production stage manager), Blake Smith (assistant stage manager), Ananka Kohnitz and Rhett Schall (stage crew) and Carly Gregg (light and sound operator).

https://matchouston.org/events/2018/graduate

TICKETS

Single tickets, $22

Matinees and Industry Mondays are "Pay What You Can"

Photo: Malinda L. Beckham as Mrs. Robinson & Brian Chambers as Benjamin; photo by Gary Griffin