Tabard Theatre Co Presents RIDIN’ RIGHT THROUGH THAT RAINBOW

The Tabard Theatre Company offers an entertaining one-man show this coming Thanksgiving weekend. In RIDIN' RIGHT THROUGH THAT RAINBOW, actor Steve Oliver salutes legendary screen star Burt Lancaster during four performances November 25-26 at Theatre on San Pedro Square in downtown San Jose. Written by Oliver, the production is directed by Dorene O'Malley.

That grin! That physique! That intensity! Burt Lancaster filled every screen and stage where he appeared and every room he entered. He is remembered most often as Starbuck or Elmer Gantry-or maybe from the beach scene in From Here to Eternity-but there was so much more to Lancaster than his movie roles:
• His Production Company, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster, was the most successful and innovative star-driven independent Production Company in Hollywood of the 1950s, making movies such as the Academy-Award winning Marty (1955), Trapeze (1956), and Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
• He was nominated four times for Academy Awards and won once - for his work in Elmer Gantry in 1960
• He won BAFTA Awards for The Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) and Atlantic City (1980) and a Golden Globe for Elmer Gantry (1960)
• He directed two films: The Kentuckian (1955) and The Midnight Man (1974)
• His first film role was in The Killers (1946) and his last role in an American film was in Field of Dreams (1989)
• He was named nineteenth among the greatest male stars of all time by the American Film Institute in 1999

"Burt Lancaster led an amazing and adventurous life," said Tabard's founder and executive director, Cathy Spielberger Cassetta. "Born in Harlem, he became an internationally acclaimed film producer and actor, a career he developed after an injury sidelined him from the work he loved: trapeze artist in a traveling circus. In RIDIN' RIGHT THROUGH THAT RAINBOW, Steve Oliver will pay tribute to this larger-than-life Hollywood icon, talking about Lancaster's life, loves, and career in the first person and presenting enactments from some of his memorable movies, including Elmer Gantry, The Rainmaker, and Judgment at Nuremberg. It's an amazing tribute, conjuring up some great moments in American film. Oliver and Lancaster-they're both rainmakers!"

RIDIN' RIGHT THROUGH THAT RAINBOW will run November 25 through 26 at Theatre on San Pedro Square, 29 North San Pedro Street in downtown San Jose. Two performances each day, at 3 and 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 or $29 for Cabaret seats; $20 & $25 respectively for Tabard subscribers.; available at www.tabardtheatre.org, tickets@tabardtheatre.org, or by calling 800-838-3006.