2nd Story Theatre (Warren) Heads to Court in Bristol in 2011

Ed Shea, Artistic Director, announced that 2nd Story Theatre will return to the historic Bristol Statehouse, 240 High Street, Bristol, RI for two special events in 2011.

First on the bill is "Nuts", Tom Topor's suspenseful melodrama, set in a courtroom at New York's Bellevue Hospital, where a high-class call girl who killed a violent "john" in self-defense is indicted for manslaughter. When her parents try to avoid further scandal by having her declared mentally incompetent, she launches a fierce battle to convince the court that she is sane enough to stand trial. This highly-charged drama explores family dynamics, sexual abuse, and the criminal justice system. A Broadway hit that was made into a motion picture starring Barbra Streisand, "Nuts" was described in The New York Times as "a powerful portrait not only of a dysfunctional family, but also of a society in which justice for women is still dependent on the attitudes of the men in their lives."

Returning to direct her third production at the Bristol Statehouse, Pat Hegnauer notes: "How fortunate 2nd Story Theatre is to be able to rehearse and perform "Nuts" in a real courtroom. The space itself will be a great addition to such a compelling play."

"Nuts" will run June 3 through June 26, Thursdays at 7:00pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Sundays at 3:00pm. "Nuts" is not part of a subscription package. Preview tickets are $20. Regular tickets are $27. The Bristol Statehouse is located at 240 High Street, Bristol, RI. For tickets, contact 2nd Story Theatre at 401-247-4200 or boxoffice@2ndstorytheatre.com. Visit the website at www.2ndstorytheatre.com. The Bristol Statehouse is a fully accessible venue.

SYNOPSIS - "Nuts" by Tom Topor
Set in a courtroom in the psychiatric wing of NYC's Bellevue Hospital, a high-class call girl indicted for manslaughter in the death of a client is determined to prove she is sane enough to stand trial.

2nd Story's second trip to Bristol in 2011 will be in October/November to stage William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice". Ed Shea will direct. Performance schedule has yet to be finalized.

Of staging "The Merchant of Venice" in Bristol, Director Shea said, "I can't believe it's taken me all this time to realize that the pairing of this play with that place is a perfect marriage. And not only because it includes one of the most famous courtroom scenes in the theatrical canon, but because the simplicity and serenity of the space lends itself to the romance and poetry of Shakespeare's most complex and controversial comedy. I can't imagine a more perfect environment in
which one could experience the famous ‘quality of mercy' speech. It will, for many familiar with the play, resonate like never before, and for those who are unfamiliar, it will have clarity impossible to achieve in a more traditional theatrical space. I am thrilled by the possibilities of this event."

SYNOPSIS - "The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare With subterfuge in the backstreets of Venice, a daring elopement, and a moneylender demanding a pound of flesh, vengeance and romance exist side-by-side in one of Shakespeare's most controversial plays. The plot
revolves around Bassanio, a young man who needs money to woo the beautiful Portia; Antonio, the Venetian merchant who agrees to lend Bassanio the money; and Shylock, a moneylender who sets shocking terms for the loan.

"Nuts" and Tom Topor

Tom Topor spent 15 years as a reporter for The New York Post, covering NYC police stations, courtrooms and hospitals. The plot of "Nuts" was based on a true-life incident he had reported in the early 1970s, as well as incidents from his wife's childhood. "Nuts" premiered in 1979 at the WPA Theatre Off-Off Broadway, and transferred to Broadway's Biltmore Theatre in 1980. Universal Studios purchased the film rights and, in 1987, "Nuts" was adapted into a feature film starring Barbra Streisand and Richard Dreyfuss. Tom Topor also wrote the screenplay for "The Accused", for which Jodie Foster won the 1989 Academy Award.

"The Merchant of Venice" and William Shakespeare William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon and died in 1616 on the day of his 52nd birthday. Shakespeare's body of work has endured for 400 years, and still reaches across the centuries as powerfully as ever. In his approximately 24-year career, he wrote 36 plays and 154 sonnets.

The earliest known performance of Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" was at the Court of King James in 1605. It is currently being performed on Broadway with Al Pacino in the role of Shylock. One of Shakespeare's most controversial works, critics continue to question whether the play is anti-Semitic or a plea for tolerance. Equal parts romantic comedy and nail-biting suspense, "The Merchant of Venice" will be performed up close and personal in 2nd Story's signature style.

ABOUT THE BRISTOL STATEHOUSE

The Bristol Statehouse was constructed in 1816 as one of 5 meeting places for the Rhode Island Senate and House of Representatives. This use continued until 1854 when the General Assembly decided to meet only in Providence or Newport. The facility housed the Bristol County Court,
which presided over cases in the building into the 1980s. From that time, until its purchase by the non-profit Bristol Statehouse Foundation in 1997, the building was largely abandoned, utilizing only one room on the first floor as the office of the Bristol County Sheriff. Under its care, The Bristol Statehouse Foundation has made major renovations to the building, adding an elevator, fire stairs and accessible rest rooms.

ABOUT 2nd STORY THEATRE
2nd Story Theatre is a professional, non-union company with a unique aesthetic and the highest standards for artistic excellence in the performance of great plays in its relaxed 150 seat theatre.

Founded in Newport, Rhode Island in 1978, 2nd Story established a permanent home in the historic district of Warren, RI in 2001 under the leadership of Artistic Director Ed Shea and Executive Director Lynne Collinson. 2nd Story Theatre is partially funded by The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.