Avant Bard Theatre Premieres a Devilish Comedy Tonight

Avant Bard presents a riotous new comedy inspired by real events. When a commedia dell'arte theater troupe in 17th-century France is bedeviled by a royal decree forbidding them from speaking onstage, the rambunctious actors stage an ingenious revolt. Taking a flying leap off historical fact, The Good Devil (in Spite of Himself) is a hilarious spoof on art and censorship.

Written by Mario Baldessari and Tyler Herman,The Good Devil features a cast of three antic improvisers: Natalie Cutcher and Helen Hayes Award winners Matthew Aldwin McGee and Doug Wilder.

Mario Baldessari is a DC-based writer and actor. Previous plays include: Charter Theater: Fat Gay Jew, Fear Itself, Wonders Never Cease, Sacred Cows, The Rule of Three; Capital Fringe: The Every Fringe Show You Want to See in One Fringe Show Fringe Show (with Ethan Slater); Keegan Theatre: How to Catch a Leprechaun (with Ethan Slater); and 1st Stage: Three Bears (with Ethan Slater), Jack and the Bean-Stalk.

Tyler Herman, a DC native, is an actor, director, playwright, and mess-maker. Tyler has performed and directed over a dozen projects with Faction of Fools, and over fifty in the DC area. He recently directed In Wonderland at Compass Rose Theatre and Oh Dad, Poor Dad... at American Century Theatre. BA: Cornell University; Theatre, Dance, Music. MFA Candidate: Brown University/Trinity Rep Programs for Acting and Directing.

The creative team includes Brian Gillick (set), Lynly Saunders (costumes), Jason Aufdem-Brink (lighting), Mehdi Raufi (sound), and Sarah Conte (masks and props). Tyler Herman directs.

Performances at Gunston Arts Center, Theatre Two, 2700 South Lang Street, Arlington, VA 22206.

Avant Bard shows are always affordable. Performances are Pay What You Will* on Thursday evenings and Saturday matinees. General admission is just $30 on Friday, $35 Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees. For ticket call 703-418-4808 or go to avantbard.ticketleap.com/good-devil. *Pay What You Will means you can name your ticket price, any price, at the door (and you can reserve a Pay What You Will ticket online in advance with a $10 minimum).