A.C.T. Studio Theatre Opens With SPEED-THE-PLOW Tonight

The New A.C.T. Studio Theatre will offer a special summer production of David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow from tonight, June 20th- June 28th in its intimate 37-seat blackbox. Speed-the-Plow is a witty satire of 3 Hollywood types who claw their way to the top in a shallow, L.A. world. The show mark's the debut production at the brand new A.C.T. Studio Theatre, dedicated to offering intimate, contemporary plays in the Cedar Point Plaza on Ocean Boulevard.

The A.C.T. Studio Theatre is helmed by Ed Wilhelms, a veteran director who after years working in off-Broadway, summer stock and regional theatre in addition to helming an acting studio, relocated to Florida three years ago. "This kind of thought-provoking theatre is really the next step in theatre, and I know Stuart is ready for it to come here. Speed-the-Plow is a show that will get audiences thinking but still entertain them."

With a show like Speed-the-Plow, the A.C.T Studio Theatre had to assemble a top-notch cast to tackle David Mamet's notoriously difficult work. "David Mamet's writing creates so many opportunities for the actor to really develop the characters beyond just a role," says Stuart Mohr, who plays movie executive Charlie Fox. "Each line, each movement, each stage direction has a concrete meaning and has to be carefully executed." The cast also includes Jack Brenner as Bobby Gould, new head of production at a major Hollywood studio, and Denise Brodie as Karen, Gould's attractive secretary.

While some people may consider the size of the theatre to be small, the intimacy of the house comes in handy with A.C.T.'s style of thought-provoking plays. "You feel a closeness to the characters because you're not 150 feet away from them," says Brodie, who plays the seductress secretary Karen. "It becomes more honest and almost like a movie, with these characters transporting the audience into a whole separate world."

The A.C.T. Studio Theatre's main season will begin in September with Nebuchadnezzar, a drama from September 12th-20th, and continue with The Exercise from October 24th- November 1st. In January, the hit dramedy Walter Cronkite is Dead will play from the 16th-24th, followed by the drama Slowgirl from February 13th-21st with the American Premiere of Summer Comes Late closing out the season March 27th-April 4th.

Speed-the-Plow runs June 20th-28th at the new A.C.T. Studio Theatre with performances Friday and Saturday at 8PM and Sunday the 22nd at 2pm at 2399 SE Ocean Blvd, Stuart, FL-34996. The show runs approximately two hours.

For tickets, call 772-777-1596, or visit online at www.americanclassicstheatre.com. Tickets are $24 each with limited seating available.

Miami Metro Awards - Live Stats

Best Musical - Top 3

1. SWEENEY TODD (Inside Out theatre company)

11.3% of votes

2. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Lake Worth Playhouse)

8.9% of votes

3. WEST SIDE STORY (Delray Beach Playhouse)

8.1% of votes

Vote Now!