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.
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.
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.
The Fifth Annual Kevin Kline Awards will take place on Monday, March 22, at 7pm, at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the campus of Webster University. 125 productions presented by 40 constituent theatres were judged in 2009, and awards will be given out in 22 categories.
The Fifth Annual Kevin Kline Awards will take place on Monday, March 22, at 7pm, at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the campus of Webster University. 125 productions presented by 40 constituent theatres were judged in 2009, and awards will be given out in 22 categories.
The nominees for the 5th Annual Kevin Kline Awards have been announced. The annual ceremony will be held on Monday, March 22 at 7pm at the Loretto-Hilton Theater.
2009 provided me with the opportunity to review 126 of the more than 200 shows that were available in the St. Louis region, and it began in terrific fashion with New Line Theatre's NIGHT OF THE LIVING SHOW TUNES. This was a wonderful sampling of contemporary show tunes performed by a cast of talented locals, and featuring artistic director Scott Miller's fine accompaniment on piano. In the acoustically perfect confines of the Sheldon Concert Hall, these unique melodies made a glorious noise. And, as I continued on my quest to expose my young son to the world of musical theatre, I ended the year with the Imaginary Theatre Company's splendid presentation of BAH! HUMBUG!. I was lucky enough to catch quite a few gems in between, and I've decided to compile a list of the ten most intriguing and engaging productions I saw in 2009.
A wickedly funny alternative to traditional candy-cane cheer. Scandal erupts at the North Pole when one of Santa's eight tiny reindeer accuses him of sexual harassment. As the mass media descends upon the event, the other members of the sleigh team demand to share their perspectives, and a horrific tale of corruption and perversion emerges -which seems to implicate everyone from the teeniest elf to the tainted Saint himself.
HotCity Theatre offers up a decidedly different take on the usual yuletide fare with their delightfully twisted production of Jeff Goode's icon-shattering play, THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES. While taking its stylistic inspiration from THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, Goode's wacky script focuses our attention on accusations of sexual impropriety that have been leveled against Santa Claus by one of his reindeer. Obviously, this is not your typical holiday show, but that works in its favor, delivering scores of irreverent laughs while skewering and satirizing the image of 'good St. Nick'.
THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES is a wickedly funny alternative to traditional candy-cane cheer. Scandal erupts at the North Pole when one of Santa's eight tiny reindeer accuses him of sexual harassment. As the mass media descends upon the event, the other members of the sleigh team demand to share their perspectives, and a horrific tale of corruption and perversion emerges -which seems to implicate everyone from the teeniest elf to the tainted Saint himself.
A wickedly funny alternative to traditional candy-cane cheer. Scandal erupts at the North Pole when one of Santa's eight tiny reindeer accuses him of sexual harassment. As the mass media descends upon the event, the other members of the sleigh team demand to share their perspectives, and a horrific tale of corruption and perversion emerges -which seems to implicate everyone from the teeniest elf to the tainted Saint himself.
