BWW Preview: NIXON'S NIXON Gives Shape and Nuance to American History

C-Span may be boring, but presenting the intricacies of the political engine via theatre has the perpetual potential for dramatic greatness. Whether fictional or based on historical events, the sometimes subtle, sometimes pugnacious choreography of political maneuvering generates opportunities for robust storytelling because the risks and rewards of government-level management are inherently high. And politicians--achievement-oriented people who thrive on conflict (the very essence of theatre)--make undoubtedly interesting characters. This week, audiences will get to experience the drama of the Nixon administration with Russell Lees' Nixon's Nixon, produced by Elements Theatre Collective.

Set during the death throes of Nixon's presidency, Lees' play is a speculative account of the final meeting between President Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger before Nixon's resignation. Lees' rendering of the conversation between two of American history's trickiest politicians offers the despair of both hope and defeat as Nixon desperately explores avenues to avoid resigning office, and Kissinger schemes to maintain his position as Secretary of State. Starring Michael Bernard (Richard Nixon) and Laezer Schlomkowitz (Henry Kissinger), Nixon's Nixon gives shape and nuance to a vital moment in American history.

Elements Theatre Collective will present Nixon's Nixon
Directed by Matthew Tavianini
February 5-22

Produced by Rob Grayson and Sarah Bennett
Set Design by Peter Barnholdt
Lighting Design by Sarah Bennett

As part of Elements' mission to provide free, professional quality theatre to underserved communities, all performances will be offered for free to the community, including a performance at Casa Esperanza Homeless Shelter. This production is presented in partnership with Santa Barbara Dance Alliance and the Santa Barbara Public Library System.

Performance dates and locations include:

Friday, February 6th at 8:00pm
The Piano Kitchen, 430 Rose Ave, Santa Barbara

Saturday, February 7th at 8:00pm
DiviniTree Yoga & Arts Studio, 25 E. De La Guerra St, Santa Barbara

Sunday, February 8th at 2:00pm
Friendship Manor Retirement Community, 6647 El Colegio Rd, Goleta

Thursday, February 12th at 7:00pm
Casa Esperanza Homeless Shelter, 816 Cacique St, Santa Barbara

Friday, February 13th at 8:00pm and Saturday, February 14th at 8:00 pm
Java Station, 4447 Hollister Ave, Goleta

Sunday, February 15th at 5:00pm
Carpinteria Women's Center, 1059 Vallecito Road, Carpinteria

Thursday, February 19th at 8:00pm
Buchanan Hall 1910, UCSB, Santa Barbara

Friday, February 20th at 8:00pm
Santa Barbara Guitar Bar, 137 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara

Saturday, February 21st at 8:00pm
St. Mark's in the Valley Episcopal Church, 901 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos

Sunday, February 22nd at 2:00pm
Santa Barbara Public Library, 40 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara

To reserve your free tickets, visit our website at www.elementstc.org.

Elements' production of Nixon's Nixon is the first fully staged production in our fourth season. Since our formation in 2011, Elements has produced fully realized plays, staged readings of new works, a 24-Hour theatre workshop, afterschool elementary theatre classes, along with providing career-oriented and community-oriented workshops.

To post a comment, you must register and login.