Due to an overwhelming response, Theatrical Outfit will be extending the run of 2010 – 2011 season opener and world premiere, A Confederacy of Dunces, adapted for the stage by Tom Key and based upon the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by John Kennedy Toole. Since its opening, the production has garnered local, national, and international attention, including coverage by The Associated Press.
“Dripping with fun and chock full of delicious character tidbits by some of the best actors in town, ‘Dunces’ won’t disappoint”, says The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Wendell Brock.
Taking its title from a work by Irish satirist Jonathan Swift (“When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.”), A Confederacy of Dunces chronicles the extravagantly colorful, eccentric world of one Ignatius J. Reilly, perhaps one of literature’s most enduringly rendered anti-heroes. A lumbering, loutish, mountain of a man, Ignatius carries a volcanic vitriol for the modern era and is ever at the eruption point; with abandon, he spouts and spews his disdain of the social, racial, economic and religious states of contemporary America. When Ignatius does venture past Constantinople Street, he is forced to function in a culture he loathes, much like his oft-quoted idol, Roman philosopher Boethius. The ensuing string of jobs and outlandish events create a masterful portrait of a modern-day prophet bellowing in the wilderness.
For the performances on September 8th – 12th, ticket prices will increase to $35 for Friday and Saturday performances and $30 for Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday performances. For more information about show times and tickets, call the Box Office at 678.528.1500 or visit www.theatricaloutfit.org. Box Office is open Tuesday – Friday from noon – 6:00pm and prior to all performances. Group rates available. Theatrical Outfit, 84 Luckie Street, Atlanta, GA 30303.
---
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Twitter:
@artsacrossga
@softnblue (music & dance)
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http://musicmattersga.blogspot.com/
http://hummingbirdhollowstudio.blogspot.com/
http://georgiaswriter.blogspot.com/
http://artzapalooza.blogspot.com/
http://dancingacrossgeorgia.blogspot.com/
http://gaclicks.blogspot.com/
http://secalls.blogspot.com/
http://georgiahappenings.blogspot.com
---
Also check out:
www.Hummingbird-Hollow.com
Twitter: @hhpotterystudio
---
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Legacy Studios is now registering for Fall 2010 classes!
Legacy Studio offers semester-long classes for children Ages 5-18. We have classes in acting, improv, musical theatre, and music theatre dance Each class offers something different.
Classes begin August 24th
Schedule:
Tuesdays:
5:15-6:15 Acting/Improv (2nd-5th)
Wednesdays:
4:15-5:15 Music Theatre-An Evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein (2nd-5th)
5:15-6:15 Music Theatre-An Evening of Andrew Lloyd Webber (6th-12th)
6:15-7:15 Theatre Dance (2nd and up)
6:15-7:15 Acting/Improv (6th-12th)
Thursdays:
4:15-5:15 Music Theatre-An Evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein (2nd-5th)
5:15-6:15 Intro to Music Theatre-"Crazy for You" (2nd-8th)
No Classes the Week of November 21st (Thanksgiving Break)
Schedule is subject to change. A minimum of 10 students is needed in each class.
Pricing for Classes:
1st Class: $320/Semester $64/Month
Each additional class is Half Price!
$160/Semester $64/Month
Sibling Rates: $50 discount per student!
Legacy Studios is also offering a great opportunity for kids in Spring 2011. Legacy Studios will be putting on Dear Edwina-A Musical Comedy for Kids. To be eligible to be in Dear Edwina students must be in the Fall 2010 semester and the Winter 2011 semester.
Classes are filling up quickly.
To register your child please call the box office at 404-895-1473!! For more information please visit www.thelegacytheatre.org
---
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter: @artsacrossga
Read our other Arts related blogs:
http://artsacrossga.blogspot.com/
http://musicmattersga.blogspot.com/
http://hummingbirdhollowstudio.blogspot.com/
http://georgiaswriter.blogspot.com/
http://artzapalooza.blogspot.com/
http://dancingacrossgeorgia.blogspot.com/
http://gaclicks.blogspot.com/
http://secalls.blogspot.com/
---
Classes begin August 24th
Schedule:
Tuesdays:
5:15-6:15 Acting/Improv (2nd-5th)
Wednesdays:
4:15-5:15 Music Theatre-An Evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein (2nd-5th)
5:15-6:15 Music Theatre-An Evening of Andrew Lloyd Webber (6th-12th)
6:15-7:15 Theatre Dance (2nd and up)
6:15-7:15 Acting/Improv (6th-12th)
Thursdays:
4:15-5:15 Music Theatre-An Evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein (2nd-5th)
5:15-6:15 Intro to Music Theatre-"Crazy for You" (2nd-8th)
No Classes the Week of November 21st (Thanksgiving Break)
Schedule is subject to change. A minimum of 10 students is needed in each class.
Pricing for Classes:
1st Class: $320/Semester $64/Month
Each additional class is Half Price!
$160/Semester $64/Month
Sibling Rates: $50 discount per student!
Legacy Studios is also offering a great opportunity for kids in Spring 2011. Legacy Studios will be putting on Dear Edwina-A Musical Comedy for Kids. To be eligible to be in Dear Edwina students must be in the Fall 2010 semester and the Winter 2011 semester.
Classes are filling up quickly.
To register your child please call the box office at 404-895-1473!! For more information please visit www.thelegacytheatre.org
---
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter: @artsacrossga
Read our other Arts related blogs:
http://artsacrossga.blogspot.com/
http://musicmattersga.blogspot.com/
http://hummingbirdhollowstudio.blogspot.com/
http://georgiaswriter.blogspot.com/
http://artzapalooza.blogspot.com/
http://dancingacrossgeorgia.blogspot.com/
http://gaclicks.blogspot.com/
http://secalls.blogspot.com/
---
Main Street Players presents “The Dixie Swim Club”
September 16th through September 26th, 2010
Five Southern women, whose friendships began years ago on their college swim team, set aside a long weekend every August to recharge those relationships.
Free from husbands, kids and jobs, they meet at the same beach cottage on North Carolina’s Outer Banks to catch up, laugh and meddle in each other’s lives.
“The Dixie Swim Club” spotlights four of those weekends. During the play, the audience is exposed to the women at four different stages of their lives that span 33 years --- first when the women are 44 and then reintroduces them at 48, 54, and 77.
Main Street Players, 115 North Hill Street, Griffin, brings this Southern comedy to the stage, weekends, September 16th --- September 26th, 2010; Thursdays-Saturdays @ 7:30PM and Sundays @ 3:00PM.
New, lower ticket prices for Main Street Players: $20 adults walk up price, $15 adults in advance if they reserve on the web, $12 senior tickets and $10 for student tickets with ID.
Groups of ten or more receive a 10% discount.
For tickets and other information, please call 770-229-9916 or visit www.mainstreetplayers.org
---
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter: @artsacrossga
Read our other Arts related blogs:
http://artsacrossga.blogspot.com/
http://musicmattersga.blogspot.com/
http://hummingbirdhollowstudio.blogspot.com/
http://georgiaswriter.blogspot.com/
http://artzapalooza.blogspot.com/
http://dancingacrossgeorgia.blogspot.com/
http://gaclicks.blogspot.com/
http://secalls.blogspot.com/
---
Five Southern women, whose friendships began years ago on their college swim team, set aside a long weekend every August to recharge those relationships.
Free from husbands, kids and jobs, they meet at the same beach cottage on North Carolina’s Outer Banks to catch up, laugh and meddle in each other’s lives.
“The Dixie Swim Club” spotlights four of those weekends. During the play, the audience is exposed to the women at four different stages of their lives that span 33 years --- first when the women are 44 and then reintroduces them at 48, 54, and 77.
Main Street Players, 115 North Hill Street, Griffin, brings this Southern comedy to the stage, weekends, September 16th --- September 26th, 2010; Thursdays-Saturdays @ 7:30PM and Sundays @ 3:00PM.
New, lower ticket prices for Main Street Players: $20 adults walk up price, $15 adults in advance if they reserve on the web, $12 senior tickets and $10 for student tickets with ID.
Groups of ten or more receive a 10% discount.
For tickets and other information, please call 770-229-9916 or visit www.mainstreetplayers.org
---
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter: @artsacrossga
Read our other Arts related blogs:
http://artsacrossga.blogspot.com/
http://musicmattersga.blogspot.com/
http://hummingbirdhollowstudio.blogspot.com/
http://georgiaswriter.blogspot.com/
http://artzapalooza.blogspot.com/
http://dancingacrossgeorgia.blogspot.com/
http://gaclicks.blogspot.com/
http://secalls.blogspot.com/
---
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
“All You Got To Do Is Dream” -- Dreamgirls Comes to Atlanta's Fabulous Fox Theatre Oct 12-17
Tickets on Sale Sunday, August 29
Producer John Breglio and Broadway Across America - Atlanta announced today that tickets for the smash hit musical DREAMGIRLS will go on sale Sunday, August 29 at 12 p.m. Ticket prices start at $18.00 and will be available at the Fox Theatre box office (660 Peachtree Street N.E.), all Ticketmaster outlets, by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-982-2787. Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling 404-881-2000. The show will play the Fox Theatre from October 12-17 as part of the Broadway Across America – Atlanta 2010-2011 season.
Full of onstage joy and backstage drama, DREAMGIRLS tells the story of an up-and-coming, 1960s singing girl group, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune. Hopeful talents Deena Jones, Lorrell Robinson and Effie White are performing as The Dreamettes when ambitious agent Curtis Taylor, Jr. discovers them. He lands them a job as backup singers for the soul and rock ‘n’ roll sensation James “Thunder” Early and begins to guide their quickly rising career. However, when the beautiful Deena emerges as the star of the group rather than the full-voiced Effie, the girls are brought to personal and professional crossroads.
DREAMGIRLS will introduce Moya Angela as Effie White and feature, as The Dreams, Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones, Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Robinson, and Margaret Hoffman as Michelle Morris with Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Curtis Taylor, Jr., Chester Gregory is James “Thunder” Early, Trevon Davis as C.C. White, Milton Craig Nealy as Marty Madison. At certain performances, Patrice Covington plays the role of Effie White. The cast of 26 also features Tallia Brinson, Felicia Boswell, Ronald Duncan, Talitha Farrow, Brittney Griffin, Robert Hartwell, Eric Jackson, Jared Joseph, Nikki Kimbrough, Grasan Kingsberry, Brittany Lewis, Douglas Lyons, Kimberly Marable, Jarran Muse, Amaker Smith, Marc Spaulding and Terrance Lemar Thomas.
DREAMGIRLS is directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom with co-choreography by Shane Sparks, scenic design by Robin Wagner, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Ken Billington, sound design by Acme Sound Partners, and media design by Howard Werner for Lightswitch. DREAMGIRLS features music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen with additional material by Willie Reale. DREAMGIRLS is produced by John Breglio for Vienna Waits Productions.
The original Broadway production of DREAMGIRLS opened December 20, 1981, at the Imperial Theatre and won six Tony Awards and three Drama Desk Awards in 1982. It closed on Broadway August 11, 1985, after 1,521 performances. The original Broadway production was directed by Michael Bennett and choreographed by Bennett and Michael Peters. DREAMGIRLS was adapted into a motion picture by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, and opened in December 2006. The film won two Academy Awards, five Golden Globes, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2007 in addition to a Grammy Award for Best Song written for a Motion Picture (“Love You I Do”). The most popular song from the film, “Listen,” has been incorporated into the new stage version of DREAMGIRLS as a stirring Act II duet for Deena and Effie. This all-new production of DREAMGIRLS premiered at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater in New York City on November 22, 2009, before embarking on an international tour.
DREAMGIRLS will play October 12 through October 17 at the Fox Theatre. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 6:30 p.m. with matinees Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at
1 p.m.
For more information, please visit the official DREAMGIRLS website at www.DreamgirlsOnStage.com
ABOUT BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA
Broadway Across America: Owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman), Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, family productions and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities. Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway, across America and throughout the world. Broadway Across America most recently produced Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS on Broadway, while current and upcoming productions include WEST SIDE STORY, BLITHE SPIRIT, MINSKY’S, and the DeafWest production of PIPPIN. Broadway tours include DORA THE EXPLORER, FROST/NIXON, SPAMALOT, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. For more information or to purchase tickets through an authorized agent go to BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.
Producer John Breglio and Broadway Across America - Atlanta announced today that tickets for the smash hit musical DREAMGIRLS will go on sale Sunday, August 29 at 12 p.m. Ticket prices start at $18.00 and will be available at the Fox Theatre box office (660 Peachtree Street N.E.), all Ticketmaster outlets, by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-982-2787. Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling 404-881-2000. The show will play the Fox Theatre from October 12-17 as part of the Broadway Across America – Atlanta 2010-2011 season.
Full of onstage joy and backstage drama, DREAMGIRLS tells the story of an up-and-coming, 1960s singing girl group, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune. Hopeful talents Deena Jones, Lorrell Robinson and Effie White are performing as The Dreamettes when ambitious agent Curtis Taylor, Jr. discovers them. He lands them a job as backup singers for the soul and rock ‘n’ roll sensation James “Thunder” Early and begins to guide their quickly rising career. However, when the beautiful Deena emerges as the star of the group rather than the full-voiced Effie, the girls are brought to personal and professional crossroads.
DREAMGIRLS will introduce Moya Angela as Effie White and feature, as The Dreams, Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones, Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Robinson, and Margaret Hoffman as Michelle Morris with Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Curtis Taylor, Jr., Chester Gregory is James “Thunder” Early, Trevon Davis as C.C. White, Milton Craig Nealy as Marty Madison. At certain performances, Patrice Covington plays the role of Effie White. The cast of 26 also features Tallia Brinson, Felicia Boswell, Ronald Duncan, Talitha Farrow, Brittney Griffin, Robert Hartwell, Eric Jackson, Jared Joseph, Nikki Kimbrough, Grasan Kingsberry, Brittany Lewis, Douglas Lyons, Kimberly Marable, Jarran Muse, Amaker Smith, Marc Spaulding and Terrance Lemar Thomas.
DREAMGIRLS is directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom with co-choreography by Shane Sparks, scenic design by Robin Wagner, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Ken Billington, sound design by Acme Sound Partners, and media design by Howard Werner for Lightswitch. DREAMGIRLS features music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen with additional material by Willie Reale. DREAMGIRLS is produced by John Breglio for Vienna Waits Productions.
The original Broadway production of DREAMGIRLS opened December 20, 1981, at the Imperial Theatre and won six Tony Awards and three Drama Desk Awards in 1982. It closed on Broadway August 11, 1985, after 1,521 performances. The original Broadway production was directed by Michael Bennett and choreographed by Bennett and Michael Peters. DREAMGIRLS was adapted into a motion picture by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, and opened in December 2006. The film won two Academy Awards, five Golden Globes, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2007 in addition to a Grammy Award for Best Song written for a Motion Picture (“Love You I Do”). The most popular song from the film, “Listen,” has been incorporated into the new stage version of DREAMGIRLS as a stirring Act II duet for Deena and Effie. This all-new production of DREAMGIRLS premiered at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater in New York City on November 22, 2009, before embarking on an international tour.
DREAMGIRLS will play October 12 through October 17 at the Fox Theatre. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 6:30 p.m. with matinees Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at
1 p.m.
For more information, please visit the official DREAMGIRLS website at www.DreamgirlsOnStage.com
ABOUT BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA
Broadway Across America: Owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman), Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, family productions and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities. Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway, across America and throughout the world. Broadway Across America most recently produced Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS on Broadway, while current and upcoming productions include WEST SIDE STORY, BLITHE SPIRIT, MINSKY’S, and the DeafWest production of PIPPIN. Broadway tours include DORA THE EXPLORER, FROST/NIXON, SPAMALOT, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. For more information or to purchase tickets through an authorized agent go to BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Four-Time Tony Award Nominated "9 to 5: The Musical" is Coming to Atlanta's Fabulous Fox Theatre
Sept 28 - Oct 3
“We are delighted to bring the new musical comedy, 9 to 5: The Musical to Atlanta,” states Christopher B. Manos, Producer of Theater of the Stars. “Not only does it feature songs by the one and only Dolly Parton, a cast of incredible actors including Dee Hoty, Mamie Parris, Joseph Mahowald and more...but the role of Doralee will be played by Georgia’s own Diana DeGarmo! Mark your calendar, stick a post-it on your dayrunner, or set an alert on your Android, but don’t miss this show at the Fabulous Fox Theatre from September 28-October 3. Tickets are on sale NOW at Ticketmaster outlets, 800-982-2787, www.ticketmaster.com and the Fox Theatre Box Office.”
9 to 5: The Musical was nominated for four 2009 Tony Awards® including Original Score and received a record breaking 15 Drama Desk nominations including Outstanding Musical. This new musical comedy, direct from Broadway, is based on the hit movie and features Dolly Parton's original hit title song along with her new Tony Award® and Grammy-nominated score.
9 TO 5: The Musical had its world premiere engagement in Los Angeles at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008 and opened on Broadway at the Marriott Marquis Theatre on April 30, 2009.
9 to 5: The Musical marked the Broadway debut of seven-time Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and musician Dolly Parton as composer and lyricist. “I couldn’t have asked for a better experience on my first Broadway show,” said Dolly Parton. ‘I’ve had the privilege of working with an amazing group of people who have become like family to me. I can’t wait for this show to hit the road so people across the country can see why I’m so proud of everyone involved.”
9 to 5: The Musical is a hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era. This is the story of three unlikely friends who conspire to take control of their company and learn there's nothing they can't do -- even in a man's world. Outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic, 9 to 5: The Musical is about teaming up and taking care of business... it's about getting credit and getting even.
Dee Hoty will play the role of Violet. She has earned three Tony nominations for her starring roles in Footloose, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public and The Will Rogers Follies. Dee starred on Broadway and in eight major U.S. cities as Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia! Performing on and off-Broadway, she toured the country and has been involved in many pre-Broadway workshops. She has appeared in “Law & Order”, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and numerous television and film appearances.
The role of Judy will be played by Mamie Parris whose Broadway credits include the Tony-Nominated revival of Ragtime, 110 In the Shade and the Tony-winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone. She turned the road pink in the First National Tour of Legally Blonde the Musical, has sung with the Radio City Rockettes, toured with country music icon Kenny Rogers, and participated in over a dozen readings with students of the BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop.
Joseph Mahowald is the unsuspecting Franklin Hart, Jr. Joseph has appeared on Broadway in title roles in Jekyll & Hyde, Javert in Les Miz and Chiefton O’Flaherty in The Pirate Queen. He has performed off-Broadway and in several national tours, was a soloist with major symphonies around the world and has been on all the NY soaps. Some of his extensive regional credits include being a founding member of the artistic company of Tennessee Repertory and appeared in leading roles in numerous productions.
Comic, actress and cabaret performer Kristine Zbornik has been cast for the role of Roz. Kristine performed on Broadway in A Catered Affair and Off-Broadway in Forbidden Broadway, Mama Mia and Man of LaMancha.
“American Idol” finalist, Diana DeGarmo has been cast in the role of Doralee Rhodes, made famous by the queen of country music and iconic songwriter, musician, movie star and entrepreneur Dolly Parton. Diana gained overnight fame, at age 16, as a runner-up on the third season of television’s No. 1 series, “American Idol”. Broadway credits include Hair, Hairspray and Brooklyn: The Musical and starred in the off-Broadway musical The Toxic Avenger. DeGarmo was born in Birmingham, AL, raised in Snellville, GA, and currently has a home and resides in Nashville where she continues to co-write and perform in and around the area.
Rounding out the cast is Jane Blass, Patrick Boyd, Paul Castree, Holly Davis, Janet Dickinson Madeleine Doherty, Marjorie Failoni, Gregg Goodbrod, K.J. Hippensteel, Jesse J.P. Johnson, Michelle Marmolejo, April Nixon, Ryah Nixon, Rick Pessagno, Wayne Schroder, Micah Shepard and Travis Waldschmidt.
WOR Radio said ‘You will love this show! 9 to 5 is a real 10!” Other reviewers agree. The Associated Press calls it “A certified crowd pleaser!” and the Daily News sums it up by saying “it shines! Dolly Parton’s songs are bouncy, big hearted, fresh & original. If you’re looking for a diversion, 9 to 5 will do the trick from 8 to 10:15!”
9 to 5: The Musical’s book is by Patricia Resnick (co-writer of the original screenplay). The touring production will be directed and choreographed by Tony nominated, Jeff Calhoun. "I met Dolly Parton as a chorus kid dancing in the film ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ only a few years after ‘9 to 5’ was already a hit movie. It was a thrill to work with her then and an honor and privilege to be entrusted to direct and choreograph this exciting new tour of 9 to 5: The Musical” said Mr. Calhoun. The co–choreographer is Lisa Stevens, scenic design by Ken Foy, costume design by five time Tony Award® winner, William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award® and Drama Desk Award winner, Ken Billington, music supervision by Stephen Oremus and casting by Telsey + Company. For more information visit www.9to5themusical.com
9 to 5: The Musical will play the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta from September 28-October 3. Performances are Tuesday-Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 2 pm & 8 pm, and Sunday at 1:30 pm & 7 pm. Tickets are on sale NOW at Ticketmaster outlets, 800-982-2787 and www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices range from $25-$70. Special group rates are available through the Fox Theatre Group Sales Department at 404-881-2000.
Theater of the Stars celebrates its 58th Anniversary as one of the nation’s premier regional theater companies. A civic not-for-profit cultural treasure, Theater of the Stars is dedicated to presenting and producing the best in musical theater. To learn more about our history of excellence, visit www.theaterofthestars.com.
“We are delighted to bring the new musical comedy, 9 to 5: The Musical to Atlanta,” states Christopher B. Manos, Producer of Theater of the Stars. “Not only does it feature songs by the one and only Dolly Parton, a cast of incredible actors including Dee Hoty, Mamie Parris, Joseph Mahowald and more...but the role of Doralee will be played by Georgia’s own Diana DeGarmo! Mark your calendar, stick a post-it on your dayrunner, or set an alert on your Android, but don’t miss this show at the Fabulous Fox Theatre from September 28-October 3. Tickets are on sale NOW at Ticketmaster outlets, 800-982-2787, www.ticketmaster.com and the Fox Theatre Box Office.”
9 to 5: The Musical was nominated for four 2009 Tony Awards® including Original Score and received a record breaking 15 Drama Desk nominations including Outstanding Musical. This new musical comedy, direct from Broadway, is based on the hit movie and features Dolly Parton's original hit title song along with her new Tony Award® and Grammy-nominated score.
9 TO 5: The Musical had its world premiere engagement in Los Angeles at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008 and opened on Broadway at the Marriott Marquis Theatre on April 30, 2009.
9 to 5: The Musical marked the Broadway debut of seven-time Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and musician Dolly Parton as composer and lyricist. “I couldn’t have asked for a better experience on my first Broadway show,” said Dolly Parton. ‘I’ve had the privilege of working with an amazing group of people who have become like family to me. I can’t wait for this show to hit the road so people across the country can see why I’m so proud of everyone involved.”
9 to 5: The Musical is a hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era. This is the story of three unlikely friends who conspire to take control of their company and learn there's nothing they can't do -- even in a man's world. Outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic, 9 to 5: The Musical is about teaming up and taking care of business... it's about getting credit and getting even.
Dee Hoty will play the role of Violet. She has earned three Tony nominations for her starring roles in Footloose, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public and The Will Rogers Follies. Dee starred on Broadway and in eight major U.S. cities as Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia! Performing on and off-Broadway, she toured the country and has been involved in many pre-Broadway workshops. She has appeared in “Law & Order”, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and numerous television and film appearances.
The role of Judy will be played by Mamie Parris whose Broadway credits include the Tony-Nominated revival of Ragtime, 110 In the Shade and the Tony-winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone. She turned the road pink in the First National Tour of Legally Blonde the Musical, has sung with the Radio City Rockettes, toured with country music icon Kenny Rogers, and participated in over a dozen readings with students of the BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop.
Joseph Mahowald is the unsuspecting Franklin Hart, Jr. Joseph has appeared on Broadway in title roles in Jekyll & Hyde, Javert in Les Miz and Chiefton O’Flaherty in The Pirate Queen. He has performed off-Broadway and in several national tours, was a soloist with major symphonies around the world and has been on all the NY soaps. Some of his extensive regional credits include being a founding member of the artistic company of Tennessee Repertory and appeared in leading roles in numerous productions.
Comic, actress and cabaret performer Kristine Zbornik has been cast for the role of Roz. Kristine performed on Broadway in A Catered Affair and Off-Broadway in Forbidden Broadway, Mama Mia and Man of LaMancha.
“American Idol” finalist, Diana DeGarmo has been cast in the role of Doralee Rhodes, made famous by the queen of country music and iconic songwriter, musician, movie star and entrepreneur Dolly Parton. Diana gained overnight fame, at age 16, as a runner-up on the third season of television’s No. 1 series, “American Idol”. Broadway credits include Hair, Hairspray and Brooklyn: The Musical and starred in the off-Broadway musical The Toxic Avenger. DeGarmo was born in Birmingham, AL, raised in Snellville, GA, and currently has a home and resides in Nashville where she continues to co-write and perform in and around the area.
Rounding out the cast is Jane Blass, Patrick Boyd, Paul Castree, Holly Davis, Janet Dickinson Madeleine Doherty, Marjorie Failoni, Gregg Goodbrod, K.J. Hippensteel, Jesse J.P. Johnson, Michelle Marmolejo, April Nixon, Ryah Nixon, Rick Pessagno, Wayne Schroder, Micah Shepard and Travis Waldschmidt.
WOR Radio said ‘You will love this show! 9 to 5 is a real 10!” Other reviewers agree. The Associated Press calls it “A certified crowd pleaser!” and the Daily News sums it up by saying “it shines! Dolly Parton’s songs are bouncy, big hearted, fresh & original. If you’re looking for a diversion, 9 to 5 will do the trick from 8 to 10:15!”
9 to 5: The Musical’s book is by Patricia Resnick (co-writer of the original screenplay). The touring production will be directed and choreographed by Tony nominated, Jeff Calhoun. "I met Dolly Parton as a chorus kid dancing in the film ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ only a few years after ‘9 to 5’ was already a hit movie. It was a thrill to work with her then and an honor and privilege to be entrusted to direct and choreograph this exciting new tour of 9 to 5: The Musical” said Mr. Calhoun. The co–choreographer is Lisa Stevens, scenic design by Ken Foy, costume design by five time Tony Award® winner, William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award® and Drama Desk Award winner, Ken Billington, music supervision by Stephen Oremus and casting by Telsey + Company. For more information visit www.9to5themusical.com
9 to 5: The Musical will play the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta from September 28-October 3. Performances are Tuesday-Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 2 pm & 8 pm, and Sunday at 1:30 pm & 7 pm. Tickets are on sale NOW at Ticketmaster outlets, 800-982-2787 and www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices range from $25-$70. Special group rates are available through the Fox Theatre Group Sales Department at 404-881-2000.
Theater of the Stars celebrates its 58th Anniversary as one of the nation’s premier regional theater companies. A civic not-for-profit cultural treasure, Theater of the Stars is dedicated to presenting and producing the best in musical theater. To learn more about our history of excellence, visit www.theaterofthestars.com.
Camelot Theatre (Griffin, GA) Presents "The Wizard of Oz"
Camelot Theatre presents the stage adaptation of the American musical fantasy film, “The Wizard of Oz,” August 20, 21 & 22 and August 27, 28 & 29 in the Enrichment Center (formerly the Orrs Elementary School), 205 Spalding Drive, located behind Home Depot one block off the Newnan Highway, Georgia Highway #16, just west of downtown Griffin.
“The Wizard of Oz” is based on the 1900 novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by Frank Baum. The 1939 film features July Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr and Frank Morgan, Billie Burke and Margaret Hamilton.
“The Wizard of Oz” premiered at the Strand Theatre in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin on August 12, 1939, and Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on August 15, 1939. The New York City premiere was at the Loew's Capitol Theater on August 17, 1939. The film was first shown on television November 3, 1956 on CBS.
“Over the years, it has become one of the best known of films of all times,” says producer/director Brad Fowler.
The Camelot Theatre production features: two Dorothy’s; a “human” dog; the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion; the Wizard; the Good Witch of the North and two Wicked Witches of the West; Aunt Em; Dorothy’s farm hand friends; eighteen Munchkins; four crows; three trees; twelve citizens of Oz; seven guards from Oz; eleven flying Monkeys and assorted ghosts.
For complete information, please call 678-469-2913 or visit www.camelottheatre.com.
“The Wizard of Oz” is based on the 1900 novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by Frank Baum. The 1939 film features July Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr and Frank Morgan, Billie Burke and Margaret Hamilton.
“The Wizard of Oz” premiered at the Strand Theatre in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin on August 12, 1939, and Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on August 15, 1939. The New York City premiere was at the Loew's Capitol Theater on August 17, 1939. The film was first shown on television November 3, 1956 on CBS.
“Over the years, it has become one of the best known of films of all times,” says producer/director Brad Fowler.
The Camelot Theatre production features: two Dorothy’s; a “human” dog; the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion; the Wizard; the Good Witch of the North and two Wicked Witches of the West; Aunt Em; Dorothy’s farm hand friends; eighteen Munchkins; four crows; three trees; twelve citizens of Oz; seven guards from Oz; eleven flying Monkeys and assorted ghosts.
For complete information, please call 678-469-2913 or visit www.camelottheatre.com.
"Guys and Dolls" Coming to The Fred in Peachtree City
Rehearsals are well underway for the Twilight Theatre's production of "Guys and Dolls" to be presented at the Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheatre September 3-4 and 10-11 at 8 pm. Director Tammy Barton and Music Director Barbara Zellner have gathered an exciting cast from Fayette and Coweta Counties featuring brother and sister Jason Lindsey as Sky Masterson and Amanda Lindsey as Miss Adelaide. Also in the cast are Celia Sullivan and Anna Kate Spears, sharing the role of Sarah Brown, and Dustin McDonald as Nathan Detroit.
The popular Broadway musical "Guys and Dolls" tells the comic tale of gamblers, dancers, and missionaries who all meet on the streets of New York. Favorite songs from the show are "I'll Know When My Love Comes Along," "Marry the Man Today," and "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat." Dance numbers are being choreographed by Stacey Zellen of Newnan.
Tickets are available now at The Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater box office during normal business hours. For more information on the show or The Twilight Theatre go to www.thetwilighttheatre.com.
The popular Broadway musical "Guys and Dolls" tells the comic tale of gamblers, dancers, and missionaries who all meet on the streets of New York. Favorite songs from the show are "I'll Know When My Love Comes Along," "Marry the Man Today," and "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat." Dance numbers are being choreographed by Stacey Zellen of Newnan.
Tickets are available now at The Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater box office during normal business hours. For more information on the show or The Twilight Theatre go to www.thetwilighttheatre.com.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Legacy Studios (Fayette) is now registering for Fall 2010 classes!
Legacy Studio offers semester-long classes for children Ages 5-18. We have classes in acting, improv, musical theatre, and music theatre dance! Each class offers something different!
Classes begin August 24th!
Schedule:
Tuesdays:
4:15-5:15 So You Wanna Be on Stage!! Intro to Music Theatre (5yrs-1st Grade)
5:15-6:15 Acting/Improv (2nd-5th)
Wednesdays:
4:15-5:15 Music Theatre-An Evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein (2nd-5th)
5:15-6:15 Music Theatre-An Evening of Andrew Lloyd Webber (6th-12th)
6:15-7:15 Theatre Dance (2nd and up)
6:15-7:15 Acting/Improv (6th-12th)
Thursdays:
4:15-5:15 Music Theatre-An Evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein (2nd-5th)
5:15-6:15 Intro to Music Theatre-"Crazy for You" (2nd-8th)
No Classes the Week of November 21st (Thanksgiving Break)
Schedule is subject to change. A minimum of 10 students is needed in each class.
Pricing for Classes:
1st Class: $320/Semester $64/Month
Each additional class is Half Price!
$160/Semester $64/Month
Sibling Rates: $50 discount per student!
Legacy Studios is also offering a great opportunity for kids in Spring 2011. Legacy Studios will be putting on Dear Edwina-A Musical Comedy for Kids! To be eligible to be in Dear Edwina students must be in the Fall 2010 semester and the Winter 2011 semester!
Classes are filling up quickly!
To register your child please call the box office at 404-895-1473!!
For more information please visit www.thelegacytheatre.org!
Classes begin August 24th!
Schedule:
Tuesdays:
4:15-5:15 So You Wanna Be on Stage!! Intro to Music Theatre (5yrs-1st Grade)
5:15-6:15 Acting/Improv (2nd-5th)
Wednesdays:
4:15-5:15 Music Theatre-An Evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein (2nd-5th)
5:15-6:15 Music Theatre-An Evening of Andrew Lloyd Webber (6th-12th)
6:15-7:15 Theatre Dance (2nd and up)
6:15-7:15 Acting/Improv (6th-12th)
Thursdays:
4:15-5:15 Music Theatre-An Evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein (2nd-5th)
5:15-6:15 Intro to Music Theatre-"Crazy for You" (2nd-8th)
No Classes the Week of November 21st (Thanksgiving Break)
Schedule is subject to change. A minimum of 10 students is needed in each class.
Pricing for Classes:
1st Class: $320/Semester $64/Month
Each additional class is Half Price!
$160/Semester $64/Month
Sibling Rates: $50 discount per student!
Legacy Studios is also offering a great opportunity for kids in Spring 2011. Legacy Studios will be putting on Dear Edwina-A Musical Comedy for Kids! To be eligible to be in Dear Edwina students must be in the Fall 2010 semester and the Winter 2011 semester!
Classes are filling up quickly!
To register your child please call the box office at 404-895-1473!!
For more information please visit www.thelegacytheatre.org!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Whole World Improv Theatre Announces Around the Whole World Annual Fundraiser August 19, 2010
Whole World Improv Theatre announces Around the Whole World, the annual fundraiser, Thursday, August 19, 2010 at Whole World Improv Theatre, 1216 Spring Street, Atlanta, GA 30309. The event celebrates the universal languages of laughter, food and wine and the evening’s activities include heavy appetizers, live and silent auctions, and a performance by Atlanta’s best improv comedy troupe. Tickets are $35 in advance, $50 after August 15.
Enjoy delectables from Hobnob Neighborhood Tavern, Atkins Park Tavern, Gilberts Food & Drink and Cypress Street Pint & Plate. Wines from around the world courtesy of Latour Simonnet Febvre Pinot Noir, France; Graham Beck Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa; Gascon Malbec, Argentina; Yalumba Cabernet, Australia. Beer sponsors include Fontana Candida, Kirin Beer, Fire Rock Pale Ale, Magners Irish Cider and Fat Tire Amber Ale, rounding out the beers from around the world selection.
While nibbling and sipping, guests can bid on items in the silent auction; later in the evening, Whole World Improv Theatre will perform an improv comedy show. The live auction will take place during intermission.
The exciting live auction includes the “Paris Deluxe Vacation Package” -- Paris Saint Germain and Ile Saint Louis – and there are no blackout dates for this fabulous trip! Two adult guests will enjoy a 7-night getaway to Paris. Stroll the charming Left Bank, Saint Germain and magical Ile Saint Louis with world-famous boutique shopping, quaint cafés, gourmet dining, the Eiffel Tower, the Latin Quarter and the gorgeous art collections at the Louvre Museum and the Musee d’Orsay. The winning bidder will choose their accommodations from among five deluxe private properties owned and managed by “Passionate For Paris”, the nation’s premier firm for private vacation property in Paris. Guests receive an exclusive “Insider’s Guide to the Best of Paris” and access to concierge-quality services for restaurant and tour reservations. Properties from which the winner may choose are The Empress Josephine, The Secret Island Treasure, The Saint Germain Suite, The Luxembourg Gardens/Pantheon, or The Panoramic Paris.
Appetizers, wine tasting and silent auction begin at 6:30pm. The Improv Show Begins at 8pm. The live auction will take place during intermission. Tickets purchased by August 15, 2010 are $35 per person; after that, tickets are $50 per person. Tickets are available online at www.wholeworldtheatre.com or by calling the box office: 404-817-PLAY (7529).
This event will sell out, so get your tickets now and support Atlanta's best improv troupe. All proceeds from the event benefit Whole World Improv Theatre, a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the state of Georgia.
For more information about Whole World Improv Theatre, please visit www.wholeworldtheatre.com.
To donate items to the silent auction, please contact Lauren Goins at lauren@wholeworldtheatre.com or 404.545.5603. All donations are tax deductible.
About Whole World Improv Theatre
Founded in Atlanta in 1993, Whole World Improv Theatre’s mission is to use theatre as a form of communication for all people and to serve as the most entertaining and dynamic improvisational comedy theatre in the Southeast. We offer a safe, creative home for actors and artists to express themselves freely and without judgment. We strive to offer affordable educational programs to children and adults that provide tools and philosophies intended to be useful both on and off the stage. We are committed to participating in the success of other non-profit companies and beneficial outreach programs that bring the Atlanta community together.
Enjoy delectables from Hobnob Neighborhood Tavern, Atkins Park Tavern, Gilberts Food & Drink and Cypress Street Pint & Plate. Wines from around the world courtesy of Latour Simonnet Febvre Pinot Noir, France; Graham Beck Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa; Gascon Malbec, Argentina; Yalumba Cabernet, Australia. Beer sponsors include Fontana Candida, Kirin Beer, Fire Rock Pale Ale, Magners Irish Cider and Fat Tire Amber Ale, rounding out the beers from around the world selection.
While nibbling and sipping, guests can bid on items in the silent auction; later in the evening, Whole World Improv Theatre will perform an improv comedy show. The live auction will take place during intermission.
The exciting live auction includes the “Paris Deluxe Vacation Package” -- Paris Saint Germain and Ile Saint Louis – and there are no blackout dates for this fabulous trip! Two adult guests will enjoy a 7-night getaway to Paris. Stroll the charming Left Bank, Saint Germain and magical Ile Saint Louis with world-famous boutique shopping, quaint cafés, gourmet dining, the Eiffel Tower, the Latin Quarter and the gorgeous art collections at the Louvre Museum and the Musee d’Orsay. The winning bidder will choose their accommodations from among five deluxe private properties owned and managed by “Passionate For Paris”, the nation’s premier firm for private vacation property in Paris. Guests receive an exclusive “Insider’s Guide to the Best of Paris” and access to concierge-quality services for restaurant and tour reservations. Properties from which the winner may choose are The Empress Josephine, The Secret Island Treasure, The Saint Germain Suite, The Luxembourg Gardens/Pantheon, or The Panoramic Paris.
Appetizers, wine tasting and silent auction begin at 6:30pm. The Improv Show Begins at 8pm. The live auction will take place during intermission. Tickets purchased by August 15, 2010 are $35 per person; after that, tickets are $50 per person. Tickets are available online at www.wholeworldtheatre.com or by calling the box office: 404-817-PLAY (7529).
This event will sell out, so get your tickets now and support Atlanta's best improv troupe. All proceeds from the event benefit Whole World Improv Theatre, a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the state of Georgia.
For more information about Whole World Improv Theatre, please visit www.wholeworldtheatre.com.
To donate items to the silent auction, please contact Lauren Goins at lauren@wholeworldtheatre.com or 404.545.5603. All donations are tax deductible.
About Whole World Improv Theatre
Founded in Atlanta in 1993, Whole World Improv Theatre’s mission is to use theatre as a form of communication for all people and to serve as the most entertaining and dynamic improvisational comedy theatre in the Southeast. We offer a safe, creative home for actors and artists to express themselves freely and without judgment. We strive to offer affordable educational programs to children and adults that provide tools and philosophies intended to be useful both on and off the stage. We are committed to participating in the success of other non-profit companies and beneficial outreach programs that bring the Atlanta community together.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Theatrical Outfit Presents the World Premiere of A Confederacy of Dunces
by John Kennedy Toole
Adapted for the stage by Tom Key, Aug 2010
In the 5th anniversary year of Hurricane Katrina, Tom Key and Theatrical Outfit stage a ‘home-cooked meal’ of 1960s New Orleans culture
From August 11 – September 5, 2010, Theatrical Outfit will present the world premiere of Tom Key’s stage adaptation of A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. Ever since becoming a 1980 publishing phenomenon and winner of the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Toole’s grand farce, set in 1960s New Orleans, has enticed playwrights and filmmakers alike, but securing the rights to adapt the work has been a rare, much-coveted occurrence.
In the fall of 2008, Theatrical Outfit’s Executive Artistic Director, Tom Key, received an unexpected phone call from the book’s agent, who offered him the rights for a limited time. No stranger to adapting literary works to the stage, Key has enjoyed a successful string of adaptations, including Walker Percy’s Lost in the Cosmos: The Last Self-Help Seminar and The Moviegoer, John Bunyan’s classic allegory Pilgrim’s Progress, a Reader's Theater extraction of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, and Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory (which will be revived at Theatrical Outfit, December 2010). Of the initial conversation Key recalls, “I was ecstatic. My antennae are always up for rich dialogue, which is the best soil for translating a piece to the stage, and A Confederacy of Dunces is so full of truth and brilliance and hilarity—there’s almost a comic button at the end of every scene.”
Taking its title from a work by Irish satirist Jonathan Swift (“When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.”), A Confederacy of Dunces chronicles the extravagantly colorful, eccentric world of one Ignatius J. Reilly, perhaps one of literature’s most enduringly rendered anti-heroes. A lumbering, loutish mountain of a man, Ignatius carries a volcanic vitriol for the modern era and is ever at the eruption point; with abandon, he spouts and spews his disdain of the social, racial, economic and religious states of contemporary America. When Ignatius does venture past Constantinople Street, he is forced to function in a culture he loathes, much like his oft-quoted idol, Roman philosopher Boethius. The ensuing string of jobs and outlandish events create a masterful portrait of a modern-day prophet bellowing in the wilderness. From the get-go, Ignatius is embroiled in a madcap misadventure that involves a lute string, a near-riot, and a rickety but lucky escape from the cops. Soon the seductive, seedy side of New Orleans itself joins a carnival cast of characters ranging from hapless Keystonian police officer Mancuso and cool-jive, street-smart Jones to porno-peddling barkeep Lana Lee and muscatel-swilling, bowling addict Santa Battaglia.
While the work is marked by inspired humor and biting satire, it also contains a pathos and profundity that keep its characters from becoming caricatures. Of Ignatius, Tom Key says, “He is genius with his verbiage, but he’s also disconnected from reality. Ignatius is presented in such a way that he’s almost impossible to like, but he so exposes the chronic hypocrisy that exists in the country that we have to pull for him…We want our geniuses to be corporate and well-adapted, so if we cast off the Reillys from our lives—our sometimes off-putting, unchecked natural human impulses—we’re the poorer for it as a society.”
Theatrical Outfit’s production of A Confederacy of Dunces will be directed by Richard Garner, Co-founder and Producing Artistic Director of the acclaimed theater Georgia Shakespeare Festival. Because of his long experience with mounting Shakespearean plays, Garner was Key’s immediate choice as director. Explains Key, “As Walker Percy has noted, A Confederacy of Dunces is a commedia ‘of Falstaffian proportions,’ and Richard, through his breathtaking imagination, knows how to capitalize on the strengths of live theater to deliver great literature to modern audiences in explosive, surprisingly complex ways.”
Of the challenges presented by the extensive New Orleans locations and the 25 characters to be played by 12 actors, Garner comments, “By fueling the audience's imaginations with a vivid lighting and sound design, we’ll provide just enough visual hints to make each space distinctive, while our real focus is to draw out all the glorious quirks for all the characters…this show is going to be an actor's dream with all the detailed vocal and physical work.” And an actor’s dream it is; up-and-coming Atlanta talent, Aaron Muñoz has been tapped to make his Theatrical Outfit debut as the modern-day prophet bellowing in the wilderness, Ignatius J. Reilly. Muñoz will be joined by a company of the well-loved Atlanta ‘who’s-who’ of comic actors and students from Kennesaw State University, who will be serving as ensemble members.
For more information about show times and tickets, call the Box Office at 678.528.1500 or visit www.theatricaloutfit.org. Box Office is open Tuesday – Friday from noon – 6:00pm and prior to all performances. Group rates available. Theatrical Outfit, 84 Luckie Street, Atlanta, GA 30303.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
About Theatrical Outfit
Theatrical Outfit entertains, educates and enlivens our audiences by producing classic and contemporary theater with an emphasis on work indigenous to the culture of the American South. The themes of spirituality and racial understanding are particularly resonant in our culture, and we are committed to giving them dramatic voice in the heart of downtown. Founded in 1976, Theatrical Outfit is dedicated to Atlanta-based artists of national caliber.
Theatrical Outfit is a not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 organization supported by private and public funding, along with ticket sales revenue. Major support is provided by the Fulton County Commission through the Fulton County Arts Council, the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund, the Georgia General Assembly through the Georgia Council for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Adapted for the stage by Tom Key, Aug 2010
In the 5th anniversary year of Hurricane Katrina, Tom Key and Theatrical Outfit stage a ‘home-cooked meal’ of 1960s New Orleans culture
From August 11 – September 5, 2010, Theatrical Outfit will present the world premiere of Tom Key’s stage adaptation of A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. Ever since becoming a 1980 publishing phenomenon and winner of the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Toole’s grand farce, set in 1960s New Orleans, has enticed playwrights and filmmakers alike, but securing the rights to adapt the work has been a rare, much-coveted occurrence.
In the fall of 2008, Theatrical Outfit’s Executive Artistic Director, Tom Key, received an unexpected phone call from the book’s agent, who offered him the rights for a limited time. No stranger to adapting literary works to the stage, Key has enjoyed a successful string of adaptations, including Walker Percy’s Lost in the Cosmos: The Last Self-Help Seminar and The Moviegoer, John Bunyan’s classic allegory Pilgrim’s Progress, a Reader's Theater extraction of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, and Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory (which will be revived at Theatrical Outfit, December 2010). Of the initial conversation Key recalls, “I was ecstatic. My antennae are always up for rich dialogue, which is the best soil for translating a piece to the stage, and A Confederacy of Dunces is so full of truth and brilliance and hilarity—there’s almost a comic button at the end of every scene.”
Taking its title from a work by Irish satirist Jonathan Swift (“When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.”), A Confederacy of Dunces chronicles the extravagantly colorful, eccentric world of one Ignatius J. Reilly, perhaps one of literature’s most enduringly rendered anti-heroes. A lumbering, loutish mountain of a man, Ignatius carries a volcanic vitriol for the modern era and is ever at the eruption point; with abandon, he spouts and spews his disdain of the social, racial, economic and religious states of contemporary America. When Ignatius does venture past Constantinople Street, he is forced to function in a culture he loathes, much like his oft-quoted idol, Roman philosopher Boethius. The ensuing string of jobs and outlandish events create a masterful portrait of a modern-day prophet bellowing in the wilderness. From the get-go, Ignatius is embroiled in a madcap misadventure that involves a lute string, a near-riot, and a rickety but lucky escape from the cops. Soon the seductive, seedy side of New Orleans itself joins a carnival cast of characters ranging from hapless Keystonian police officer Mancuso and cool-jive, street-smart Jones to porno-peddling barkeep Lana Lee and muscatel-swilling, bowling addict Santa Battaglia.
While the work is marked by inspired humor and biting satire, it also contains a pathos and profundity that keep its characters from becoming caricatures. Of Ignatius, Tom Key says, “He is genius with his verbiage, but he’s also disconnected from reality. Ignatius is presented in such a way that he’s almost impossible to like, but he so exposes the chronic hypocrisy that exists in the country that we have to pull for him…We want our geniuses to be corporate and well-adapted, so if we cast off the Reillys from our lives—our sometimes off-putting, unchecked natural human impulses—we’re the poorer for it as a society.”
Theatrical Outfit’s production of A Confederacy of Dunces will be directed by Richard Garner, Co-founder and Producing Artistic Director of the acclaimed theater Georgia Shakespeare Festival. Because of his long experience with mounting Shakespearean plays, Garner was Key’s immediate choice as director. Explains Key, “As Walker Percy has noted, A Confederacy of Dunces is a commedia ‘of Falstaffian proportions,’ and Richard, through his breathtaking imagination, knows how to capitalize on the strengths of live theater to deliver great literature to modern audiences in explosive, surprisingly complex ways.”
Of the challenges presented by the extensive New Orleans locations and the 25 characters to be played by 12 actors, Garner comments, “By fueling the audience's imaginations with a vivid lighting and sound design, we’ll provide just enough visual hints to make each space distinctive, while our real focus is to draw out all the glorious quirks for all the characters…this show is going to be an actor's dream with all the detailed vocal and physical work.” And an actor’s dream it is; up-and-coming Atlanta talent, Aaron Muñoz has been tapped to make his Theatrical Outfit debut as the modern-day prophet bellowing in the wilderness, Ignatius J. Reilly. Muñoz will be joined by a company of the well-loved Atlanta ‘who’s-who’ of comic actors and students from Kennesaw State University, who will be serving as ensemble members.
For more information about show times and tickets, call the Box Office at 678.528.1500 or visit www.theatricaloutfit.org. Box Office is open Tuesday – Friday from noon – 6:00pm and prior to all performances. Group rates available. Theatrical Outfit, 84 Luckie Street, Atlanta, GA 30303.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
About Theatrical Outfit
Theatrical Outfit entertains, educates and enlivens our audiences by producing classic and contemporary theater with an emphasis on work indigenous to the culture of the American South. The themes of spirituality and racial understanding are particularly resonant in our culture, and we are committed to giving them dramatic voice in the heart of downtown. Founded in 1976, Theatrical Outfit is dedicated to Atlanta-based artists of national caliber.
Theatrical Outfit is a not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 organization supported by private and public funding, along with ticket sales revenue. Major support is provided by the Fulton County Commission through the Fulton County Arts Council, the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund, the Georgia General Assembly through the Georgia Council for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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