James Beard's Solo Show to Play Capital Fringe Fest in D.C.

Washington, DC will soon have its first look at actor James Beard's solo show Mamas, Don't let Your Cowboys Grow Up to Be Actors at the National Building Museum Auditorium July 21, 22, 23 and 25 as part of the inaugural Capital Fringe Festival.

"Storytelling comes natural to James Beard, this 'tall drink of Western water' who is equally at home onstage with other actors, in a comedy club, or alone, bringing his own characters to life, speaking directly to an audience with a sort of Spalding Gray meets Will Rogers style," state press notes for the show, which will be directed by Theatre Alliance Associate Artistic Director Colin Hovde

"James was raised on a large cattle ranch outside tiny Glennville, California. He knew early on that his destiny was in a spotlight instead of on a saddle. That was bad news to his dad, Fred Beard, who became the first featured character in James' show when he stared down the dinner table and asked his son 'So Jimmy, have you ever smoked pot?' From that moment on, James has been busy telling the truth and writing it down.

...There is his brother Bennett who always finds a way to fit in; his high school crush Leslie Wilson, who has her own big city plans, his best friend Rod, whose solutions always include sex, his dog walking clients, his fellow New York actors and well, when his best advice comes from an Oompa Loopa, ('go where you're accepted, kid') he knows it is time to go home and – hey, there's a theatre in town – why not perform the show?"

Beard, a California native, is best known in the DC area for his appearances with Shenandoah Shakespeare (Twelfth Night, Othello, The Roaring Girl, The Importance of Being Earnest, King Henry IV Part One, Two Gentlemen of Verona), Theater Alliance (Headsman's Holiday) and Folger Theatre (Much Ado About Nothing).

The show runs: Friday, July 21 at 9 PM, Saturday, July 22 at 12:00 PM, Sunday, July 23 at 3 PM, and Tuesday, July 25 at 10 PM. The National Building Museum Auditorium is located at 401 F Street, NW. Running time is 1 hour and 25 minutes.

Tickets, which are $15, go on sale starting July 10th; call 866 811 4111 or visit www.capfringe.org.

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