"The Prodigal Father," a world premiere play by Larry Dean Harris directed by Michael Matthews, opened March 27 at Celebration Theatre (CT) as a co-production between CT and Playwrights 6 (P6). Television veteran Max Gail plays the title role in a cast that includes Josette DiCarlo, Joe Rose, Allain Rochel and Truly Magyar.
This is the fifth P6/CT collaboration in ten years following Harris' LA Weekly Best Playwriting Award nominee "Bible Stories" in 1999 and three critically acclaimed "Christmastime is Queer" group productions in 2002, 2003 and 2004."It's a good fit creatively, and it's good business," said Michael Shepperd, CT Artistic Director. "Celebration has had a long relationship with P6, and this co-production allows us to capitalize on the strengths of both companies while sharing the financial risk during this time of economic hardship."The Prodigal Father" explores the father-son relationship of Earl and Jamey Sanders, two disparate personalities thrown together - along with Jamey's lover - in a Chicago loft. Earl's Alzheimer's provides the momentum for the narrative as scenes - and characters - shift instantly from present to past in a uniquely theatrical experience of comedy and drama.The production is helmed by former CT Artistic Director Michael Matthews, who recently direcTed Allen Knee's "The Jazz Age" to critical acclaim at the Blank Theatre. Matthews, a Chicago Jeff Awards nominee, had a string of successes at CT: "Four," "Stupid Kids," "Porcelain," "The Bacchae" and "Beautiful Thing," which earned him two Ovation Award Best Director nominations in the same year.
Josette DiCarlo and Michael Matthews
Richard Riehle and Larry Dean Harris
Joe Rose, Max Gail, Larry Dean Harris, and Michael Matthews
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