Bobby Miller News

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.

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.

Avalon Theatre Company announces their 2010-2011 season, with productions of THE GOOD DOCTOR, THE PRICE, AGNES OF GOD, and PORTRAIT OF MY PEOPLE.

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.

Kevin Kline Award winner Ben Nordstrom and St. Louis veteran actor Steve Isom star in the St. Louis premiere of GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL!, the Off-Broadway hit that the New York Times called 'A Smashing Success!' The Temporary Theatre (The Temp), a new company headed by Isom, has chosen as its inaugural offering the exclamation point-littered two-man musical spoof by Scott Brown and Anthony King.

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.

At our current rate of consumption, is it conceivable that we could ever reach a point where every movie, book, historical figure, or current event available will have been used as the basis for a musical? Probably not. But, with that idea in mind, writers/composers Scott Brown and Anthony King have crafted a rather unlikely vehicle titled GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL!, which was originally developed during their work with the comedy troupe the Upright Citizens Brigade. A wonderfully energetic production of this piece, featuring a sharp cast and tight direction, marks the debut of the new Temporary Theatre company at the Ivory Theatre.

Kevin Kline Award winner Ben Nordstrom and St. Louis veteran actor Steve Isom star in the St. Louis premiere of GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL!, the Off-Broadway hit that the New York Times called 'A Smashing Success!' The Temporary Theatre (The Temp), a new company headed by Isom, has chosen as its inaugural offering the exclamation point-littered two-man musical spoof by Scott Brown and Anthony King.

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.

Kevin Kline Award winner Ben Nordstrom and St. Louis veteran actor Steve Isom star in the St. Louis premiere of GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL!, the Off-Broadway hit that the New York Times called 'A Smashing Success!' The Temporary Theatre (The Temp), a new company headed by Isom, has chosen as its inaugural offering the exclamation point-littered two-man musical spoof by Scott Brown and Anthony King.

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.