Alan Knoll News

always consider it a rewarding experience when you go to see a play and you actually learn something along the way. In the case of playwright Andrew Moodie's work, THE REAL MCCOY, we're treated to a biographical account of forgotten black inventor Elijah McCoy (1844-1929). It's an intriguing and engrossing story, and when you begin to realize the obstacles this highly intelligent individual faced, it's even more compelling. The Black Rep has constructed an artful production based on the playwright's original staging, and it's a brilliant presentation deserving of your attendance.

HotCity Theatre continues to provide St. Louis with a mix of new plays and modern classics, and actor/playwright Sam Shepard's TRUE WEST is their latest foray in these areas. Considered to be one of Shepard's more accessible works, TRUE WEST is a fascinating look at sibling rivalry, and it also takes some entertaining jabs at the Hollywood blockbuster mentality, which has only grown worse since this play premiered in 1980. HotCity's production is distinguished by an excellent cast and sparkling direction that consistently engages.

HotCity Theatre, a professional theatre company with a focus on contemporary programming and new play development announces the opening of TRUE WEST, by American playwright Sam Shepard. TRUE WEST premiered in 1980 at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco, CA where Shepard was a resident playwright. It has enjoyed incredible success throughout the country, creating many famous productions like that in which leading men Philip Seymour Hoffman and John C. Reilly switched roles on and off during the run and jointly won a Tony for their performances, and that which ignited the careers of Gary Sinise and John Malkovich and was filmed and aired by PBS. HotCity proudly brings this modern classic to St. Louis as the first show in their 2011 Season. Doug Finlayson directs.

Twenty-two St. Louis theater companies are represented in the nominations for the Sixth Annual Kevin Kline Awards. Thirty plays and musicals produced in the St. Louis area during 2010 now share 112 nominations in 22 different categories for the coveted award.

HotCity Theatre, a professional theatre company with a focus on contemporary programming and new play development announces the opening of TRUE WEST, by American playwright Sam Shepard. TRUE WEST premiered in 1980 at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco, CA where Shepard was a resident playwright. It has enjoyed incredible success throughout the country, creating many famous productions like that in which leading men Philip Seymour Hoffman and John C. Reilly switched roles on and off during the run and jointly won a Tony for their performances, and that which ignited the careers of Gary Sinise and John Malkovich and was filmed and aired by PBS. HotCity proudly brings this modern classic to St. Louis as the first show in their 2011 Season. Doug Finlayson directs.

The theatre scene in St. Louis in 2010 turned out to be another year filled with fine productions and superb performances. Despite the economic barriers faced by all the local theatre companies many continued to take risks, presenting material that challenged audience expectations, but entertained them as well. And so, I'm presenting my own top ten of 2010, to honor the shows that beguiled and entranced me this past year.

THIS WONDERFUL LIFE, conceived by Mark Setlock is a funny and heart-warming theatrical re-enactment of the Frank Capra holiday classic movie, It's a Wonderful Life. 40 characters are played by one man,'the narrator' who, much like many families, has made watching the movie a holiday tradition. In Dramatic License's case, the actor tackling 40 roles in 75 minutes, is St. Louis stage veteran, Kevin Kline Award nominee and Actors' Equity Association member, Alan Knoll.

The classic film It's a Wonderful Life is brought to the stage by Dramatic License Productions in a unique presentation, re-imagined as THIS WONDERFUL LIFE, and finding one actor taking on all the roles. Mark Setlock and Steve Murray's adaptation condenses 130 minutes of screen time into 75 minutes of pure fun. It's a tremendous undertaking with the wealth of diverse characters that parade through this venerable work based on Philip Van Doren Stern's story 'The Greatest Gift', and actor/director Alan Knoll is more than up to challenge.

THIS WONDERFUL LIFE, conceived by Mark Setlock is a funny and heart-warming theatrical re-enactment of the Frank Capra holiday classic movie, It's a Wonderful Life. 40 characters are played by one man,'the narrator' who, much like many families, has made watching the movie a holiday tradition. In Dramatic License's case, the actor tackling 40 roles in 75 minutes, is St. Louis stage veteran, Kevin Kline Award nominee and Actors' Equity Association member, Alan Knoll.

St. Louis Actors' Studio opens its fourth season, themed Angels and Demons, with David Mamet's oval office hit NOVEMBER. It's a Presidential election year, and incumbent Charles Smith's chances for reelection are looking grim. Approval ratings are down, his money's running out, and nuclear war might be imminent. Though his staff has thrown in the towel and his wife has begun to prepare for her post-White House life, Chuck isn't ready to give up just yet. Amidst the biggest fight of his political career, the President has to find time to pardon a couple of turkeys - saving them from the slaughter before Thanksgiving - and this simple PR event inspires Smith to risk it all in attempt to win back public support.

While the chief target of David Mamet's hilariously funny play, NOVEMBER, may not in actuality be former president George W. Bush, Bush's uncanny knack for coming off less than intelligent, and his frequent, and often creative malapropisms, are clearly evident. But, really this isn't about any one particular presidency, but a delicious skewering of modern politics as a whole. Mamet's work is given a terrific production by the St. Louis Actors' Studio, which features top notch comic performances and tight, fast-paced direction.

St. Louis Actors' Studio opens its fourth season, themed Angels and Demons, with David Mamet's oval office hit NOVEMBER. It's a Presidential election year, and incumbent Charles Smith's chances for reelection are looking grim. Approval ratings are down, his money's running out, and nuclear war might be imminent. Though his staff has thrown in the towel and his wife has begun to prepare for her post-White House life, Chuck isn't ready to give up just yet. Amidst the biggest fight of his political career, the President has to find time to pardon a couple of turkeys - saving them from the slaughter before Thanksgiving - and this simple PR event inspires Smith to risk it all in attempt to win back public support.

St. Louis Actors' Studio opens its fourth season, themed Angels and Demons, with David Mamet's oval office hit NOVEMBER. It's a Presidential election year, and incumbent Charles Smith's chances for reelection are looking grim. Approval ratings are down, his money's running out, and nuclear war might be imminent. Though his staff has thrown in the towel and his wife has begun to prepare for her post-White House life, Chuck isn't ready to give up just yet. Amidst the biggest fight of his political career, the President has to find time to pardon a couple of turkeys - saving them from the slaughter before Thanksgiving - and this simple PR event inspires Smith to risk it all in attempt to win back public support.

Which actor in the movie The Exorcist also wrote the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON to be presented by Dramatic License Productions, August 5-22? The answer: Jason Miller (who played Father Damien Karras in the 1973 movie) won the Tony, the Pulitzer and the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award that same year for his gritty, ahead-of-its-time drama about four men who reunite with their high school basketball coach for a 20th anniversary celebration of their state championship basketball game. Dramatic License Productions presents the gripping play for the first time on a St. Louis professional theatre stage.

October 2010 will mark the beginning of St. Louis Actors' Studio's fourth season, themed Angels and Demons. This theme will be examined from the minds of some of our favorite plays and playwrights; from lame duck presidents to aging comedy partners - human wants, needs and political relationships bring out the best and worst in us.

Though actor/playwright Jason Miller may be best remembered for his turns as troubled priest Father Damien in The Exorcist (and Exorcist III: Legion), he should probably be thought of for his Pulitzer-prize winning work, THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON. It's a powerful piece that, on the surface, follows a group of ex-high school basketball champs as they attend an annual reunion at their old coach's house. But on a deeper level, it's an examination of the philosophy of winning at all costs and how that applies to the worlds of sports and politics, as well as life in general. Dramatic License Productions has put together an exceptional presentation of this show that features a particularly strong cast and sensitive direction.

Which actor in the movie The Exorcist also wrote the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON to be presented by Dramatic License Productions, August 5-22? The answer: Jason Miller (who played Father Damien Karras in the 1973 movie) won the Tony, the Pulitzer and the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award that same year for his gritty, ahead-of-its-time drama about four men who reunite with their high school basketball coach for a 20th anniversary celebration of their state championship basketball game. Dramatic License Productions presents the gripping play for the first time on a St. Louis professional theatre stage.

Which actor in the movie The Exorcist also wrote the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON to be presented by Dramatic License Productions, August 5-22? The answer: Jason Miller (who played Father Damien Karras in the 1973 movie) won the Tony, the Pulitzer and the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award that same year for his gritty, ahead-of-its-time drama about four men who reunite with their high school basketball coach for a 20th anniversary celebration of their state championship basketball game. Dramatic License Productions presents the gripping play for the first time on a St. Louis professional theatre stage.

What do Lucille Kallen, Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, Woody Allen, Michael Stewart, Mel Tolkin, Larry Gelbart, Carl Reiner and Selma Diamond have in common? Most are Jewish, and all were denizens of the famed 'Writer's Room' where they labored to create the comedy sketches for the live 90 minute weekly variety series, 'Your Show of Shows' starring the legendary Sid Caesar. Composites of these writers make up the characters in Neil Simon's raucous comedy,LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR, set in 1953 during television's golden age.

Sometimes when I'm seeing a show about a particular subject I'll look through my library and re-read (or newly purchase) books that pertain to it. When I noticed that the New Jewish Theatre's production of Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor was on the schedule, I decided to bone up. So, I picked up Sid Caesar's biography, 'Caesar's Hours', and I also watched a few DVDs of 'Your Show of Shows' and 'Caesar's Hour', as well as thumbing through my copy of Mel Brooks' biography ('It's Good to Be the King'). Attempts have been made before to put on display that elusive magic that took place in the writer's room of those shows, including the Brooksfilm production of My Favorite Year. But, I think LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR best captures the moment, focusing its attention on the actual work and play that went on in the room between the star and his genius stable of writers. The current presentation by the New Jewish Theatre is simply hilarious, and greatly aided by a wonderful cast and terrific direction.