Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Beowulf Alley Theatre Presents A Piece of My Heart by Shirley Lauro

Beowulf Alley Theatre Presents an Extra Presentation!

A Piece of My Heart by Shirley Lauro

 

As a follow up to our April production of Last of the Boys, this Memorial Day, Beowulf Alley Theatre will continue its recognition of our American soldiers’ families for their shared sacrifice. Join us for a three-week run of A Piece of My Heart by Shirley Lauro, adapted from the Keith Walker book of the same name. Whitney Morton will direct this poignant chronicle of the women of the Vietnam War. The cast includes Janet Bruce, Samantha Cormier, Catherine Killough, T Loving,, Steve McKee, Jennifer Roberts and Maria Rallings. Recommended for ages 13 and older.

 

More than 15,000 American women volunteered to serve in Vietnam. Many were wounded and eight were killed. Ms. Lauro’s play memorializes these brave women as it bring to life true stories of six courageous women who volunteered to serve their country, the men who were part of their lives and the struggle to make sense of the war that irrevocably changed them and the nation that shunned them, their every limit tested. A Piece of My Heart portrays their strengths, weaknesses and sheer endurance, embracing the music, confusion, heroism, and idealism of the late 60s, portraying both the women’s sorrows and their intense joys, looking beyond politics to reflect on the incredible human experience of living and working in the midst of violence and chaos – and surviving. This tale of women in a conflict that forever changed America’s relationship to war is searingly relevant today. It is important to educate our young people about the sacrifices and bravery of these young women, then in their late teens and early 20s, who are now the mothers and grandmothers of a new generation faced with a new kind of war.

 

A Piece of My Heart has earned The Susan Blackburn Prize (Finalist) as Best English Language Play by a Woman, The Barbara Deming Prize for Women Playwrights, and The Kittredge Foundation Award. The Vietnam Vets of America, Inc. has cited the work as "the most enduring play in the nation on Vietnam." Lauro has written over twenty plays and one-acts.

 

"Shirley Lauro's cathartic...rousing...skillfully dramatized...creating an exhilarating sense of reconciliation and triumph. Ms. Lauro was able to take disparate characters and create a complete narrative from their stories, no small task."

-Christian Science Monitor

 

Performances are as follows:

 

Friday, May 28, 7:30 p.m. - Preview Performance

Saturday, May 29, 7:30 p.m. - Opening Night with Reception

Sunday, May 30, 2010 1:30 p.m. - Dialogues with…, following the performance

Thursdays-Saturdays, June 3 – 5, June 10 – 12, 7:30 p.m.

Sundays, June 6, June 13, 1:30 p.m.

 

Approximate run time: 2 hours, 20 minutes with one 15 minute intermission

 

Ticket prices:

Preview only: $10

Military families with ID; $15 advance, $12 military rush (cash only, 15 minutes prior to curtain, pending seating availability)

2009-2010 Season Subscribers: $10-$16, depending on subscription type

General Price: $20 with online only discount at www.beowulfalley.org

 

The theatre is located at 11 South 6th Avenue, 85701 in Downtown Tucson between Broadway and Congress. For more information consult our website at www.beowulfalley.org or call (520) 882-0555.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Old Time Radio Theatre Classic Radio Shows

Old Time Radio Theatre at Beowulf Alley

11 South 6th Ave, Downtown Tucson

www.beowulfalley.org

Performances of

Classic Radio Shows

1st and 3rd Tuesday each month

7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.

General seating.

$8 for adults and $5 each for the first two children ages 6-12

Cash at the door, no reservations required

 

The Old Time Radio Theatre company of performers have some terrific scripts to present to you through July with more coming in August. Directed by Sheldon Metz, the Old Time Radio Theatre Company includes Jacob Brown, Jon Benda, Warren Bodow, Janet Bruce, Joel Charles, Geri Courtney-Austein, Sydney Flynn, Vince Flynn, Audrey Ann Gambach, Barbara Glover, Bill La Point, Steve McKee, Mark McLemore, Joan O'Dwyer, Jessica Risco, Jeff Scotland, Ina Shivack, Jared Stokes, Pat Timm, John Vornholt, and Brian Wees plus occasional guest performers and the technical genius of Mike Saxon and Samuel De Jesus.

 

Tuesday, May 18

 

The Bickersons: Tax Refund begins this evening’s performance. Starring Don Ameche and Frances Langford, The Bickersons began as a radio sketch comedy that ran as part of other shows until 1946, when it became its own series. After a turn on NBC, it moved to CBS and ran until 1951. John and Blanche Bickerson spent their entire time in a relentless verbal war. Their quick dialogue brought laughter to all.

 

John: “You can accuse me of being selfish or inconsiderate, or anything else, but drinking is not one of my failures.”

 

Blanche: “No, it's one of your few successes.”

 

Leiningen vs. the Ants was a short story published in December, 1938, in Esquire Magazine. It later became one of radio’s most famous thrillers. The story will keep people on the edge of their seats. The story centers on a scrappy, no-nonsense plantation owner called Leiningen, and his stubborn refusal to abandon his plantation in the face of a seemingly unstoppable mass of army ants, described as "an elemental  act of God!" These are ants that can devour a horse to the bones in two minutes. It was adapted to radio on January 14, 1948 as an episode of Escape on CBS Radio. It subsequently became the famous film, The Naked Jungle, with Charlton Heston, who later recreated the role originally performed by William Conrad.

"Ten miles long, two miles wide—ants, nothing but ants!”

 

Tuesday, June 1

 

My Friend Irma has been brought back again, by popular request. One of radio’s funniest comedies, it starred Marie Wilson, Diana Lynn, John Lund  and a host of radio and TV greats. Most notably, it was the kick off for two of comedy’s greats, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. My Friend Irma, and it’s popularity and wacky ensemble of misfits, allowed it to go on to two movies, comic books and a huge TV success. There is a laugh every 4.5 seconds. My Friend Irma: Seeing Ghosts was first presented on July 24, 1939. Regarding her boss, Mr. Clyde, Irma said,

 

"When I first went to work with him he had curly black hair, then it got grey, and now it's snow white. I guess I've been with him about six months."

 

One of radio’s most listened to detective shows, Boston Blackie starred Chester Morris, who originally played the role in many motion pictures. It was first broadcast on NBC June 23, 1944 as a summer replacement for Amos ‘n’ Andy, and continued until September 15 of that year. On April 11, 1945, it was renewed with Richard Kollmar in the role, playing over 200 shows until October 25, 1950.  While investigating mysteries, Blackie invariably encountered hare-brained Police Inspector Farraday and always solved the mystery to Farraday's amazement. Initially, friction surfaced in the relationship between Blackie and Farraday, but as the series continued, Farraday recognized Blackie's talents and requested assistance. Blackie dated Mary Wesley and for the first half of the series, his best pal, Shorty, was always on hand. The humorless Farraday was on the receiving end of Blackie's bad puns and word play. This episode, Boston Blackie: The TV Poisoning was first presented December 20, 1945.

 

Tuesday, June 15

 

My Friend Irma continues to be the most popular request and this evening’s episode, The Boss Buys a Racehorse is one of their funniest. Irma’s boss, Mr. Clyde is buying a race horse. Irma comments,

 

“Well, Mr. Clyde wouldn’t buy any old animal.  He’s very particular.  Remember what I went through before he hired me?”

 

The second presentation for this evening is Dragnet: The Big No Tooth. Dragnet, most noted as one of early television’s first police dramas, created by and starring Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday, Badge number 714, was perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in media history. The series gave millions of audience members a feel for the boredom and drudgery, as well as the danger and heroism, of real-life police work. Dragnet earned praise for improving the public opinion of police officers. In it’s short run, It was one of radio’s top-rated shows. While "Just the facts, ma'am" has come to be known as Dragnet's catchphrase, it was never actually uttered by Joe Friday; the closest he came were, "All we want are the facts, ma'am" and "All we know are the facts, ma'am"."Just the facts, ma'am" comes from the Stan Freberg’s parody in St. George and the Dragonet.

 

Tuesday, July 6

 

The Bickersons: The Honeymoon Is Over was first presented on November 30, 1945, starring Don Ameche and Frances Langford. The Bickersons began as a radio sketch comedy that ran as part of other shows until 1946, when it became its own series. After a turn on NBC, it moved to CBS and ran until 1951. John and Blanche Bickerson spent their entire time in a relentless verbal war. Their quick dialogue brought laughter to all.

 

BLANCHE: “There isn't another woman in the world who'd sacrifice her youth and her looks to live with a man who rattles himself to sleep like a lot of old bones in a bag. What do you think I'm made of, John?”

 

JOHN: “Old bones.”

 

Lights Out: Bon Voyage was first presented June 22, 1938. During the day, radio provided listeners with excitement and thrills as well as laughs. Lights Out was one of radio’s strangest, spookiest and most spine-chilling shows dedicated to horror and the supernatural. It was the radio equal of The Twilight Zone and generated a genre that included Inner Sanctum, Suspense and others. Lights Out was first broadcast on WENR in January, 1934, on Wednesday evenings, and continued until 1947. It was run on television from 1949-1952.

 

Tuesday, July 20

 

Baby Snooks and Daddy: Looking For a New House was presented on December 16, 1945. Baby Snooks and Daddy starred Fannie Brice as Baby Snooks.  The show was based upon a character created by Brice for the Ziegfeld Follies in 1912. In 1936, Baby Snooks became part of the radio version of the Follies. She started her own show in 1944 and it lasted until she died in 1951.  At heart, Snooks was a really nice kid, but her impish ways could make Daddy wince. Daddy has just received an eviction notice from their landlady. He must now look for a new place to live. Of course, with Baby Snooks along, it’s not that simple. She could always draw a smile with her, “Oh, Daaadddiiiee...”

 

Escape: The Time Machine (H.G. Wells) was presented first presented in 1948 with Jeff Corey and again in 1950, starring John Dehner. Escape was one of radio’s great supernatural series. The Time Machine begins with the Time Traveller returning from his trip, unkempt and in disarray. He relates to his friends of what he has witnessed: wars' horrors first-hand in June, 1940 over London and a nuclear bomb in August, 1966. Travelling to 802,701 A.D., he finds world has settled into a vast garden. He meets the pacifist Eloi, who speak broken English, and have little interest in technology or the past. Their brethren from long ago, the Morlocks, however, have devolved into cannibalistic underground workers. " ... he has all the time in the world."

 

Directed by Sheldon Metz, the Old Time Radio Theatre Company includes Jacob Brown, Jon Benda, Warren Bodow, Janet Bruce, Joel Charles, Geri Courtney-Austein, Sydney Flynn, Vince Flynn, Audrey Ann Gambach, Barbara Glover, Bill La Point, Steve McKee, Mark McLemore, Joan O'Dwyer, Jessica Risco, Jeff Scotland, Ina Shivack, Jared Stokes, Pat Timm, John Vornholt, and Brian Wees plus occasional guest performers and the technical genius of Mike Saxon and Samuel De Jesus.  

Beowulf Alley Theatre presents A Piece of My Heart

Beowulf Alley Theatre

11 South 6th Ave, Downtown Tucson

www.beowulfalley.org

presents

A Piece of My Heart

by Shirley Lauro

directed by Whitney Morton

May 28th-June 13th

Special Thanks to our Play Sponsor, Ruth Baron

Special Ticket Pricing for 2009-2010 Season Subscribers and Flex Pass Holders

We Honor the Sacrifice Made by All Military Families with Special Ticket Prices

The true  stories of six courageous women sent to Vietnam and their struggle to  make sense of a war that irrevocably changed them and a nation that  shunned them. A work with the music and soul of a tumultuous era in our history full of shattered expectations, desperate encounters, and  the anguish of the war zone.

A Piece of My Heart has earned The Susan Blackburn Prize (Finalist) as Best English Language Play by a Woman, The Barbara Deming Prize for Women Playwrights, and The  Kittredge Foundation Award. The Vietnam Vets of America, Inc. has cited  the work as "the most enduring play in the nation on Vietnam."

...Shirley Lauro's play A PIECE OF MY HEART, is a catharsis as well as a coup de theatre...There have been a number of plays dealing with Vietnam...but  none with the direct, emotional impact of Ms. Lauro's work...(she) has  turned first hand impressions into a disturbing drama that evokes  empathy for survivors as victims.
-The New York Times

Produced by special arrangements with Samuel French, Inc.

 

May 28th-June 13th

Performances:        Thursdays-Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., Sundays 1:30 p.m.

Friday, May 28 - Preview Performance $10

Sunday, May 30 - Dialogues with…  following the performance

 

Tickets:              Military families (with proof of service)-any performance $15, preview - $10

General Tickets by phone/at door - $20, discount online, click here.

Student/military rush – 15 minutes before each performace, ID required, $12 cash only


’09-’10 First Sunday Subscribers-Sunday, May 30, 2010 - $10.
’09-’10 Full Season Subscribers-any performance - $14, preview - $10.
’09-’10 Flex Pass holders-any performance for $16, preview - $10.
These prices apply to the Early Bird Free Subscriptions as well.

(based on seating availability)

 

Purchase tickets online at http://beowulfalley.org/html/tickets.html

Or call the box office 520-882-0555.

 

Friday, May 07, 2010

Auditions for 3 Plays - New Summer Program

Beowulf Alley Theatre Auditions for 3 Plays

for New Summer Program

 

Program Contact:

Michael Fenlason

michaelfenlason@aol.com

 

Beowulf Alley Theatre at 11 S. 6th Avenue, Downtown Tucson, is launching a new summer program for playwrights. Page to the Stage: The Outrageous New Play Workshop Series will introduce 3 new plays presented in repertory from June 30-July 18, Wednesday through Sunday evenings with 2 matinee performances per week on Saturdays and Sundays. Each play will workshop with the playwright and a director according to a schedule of workshop rehearsals determined by those cast in each play and will have 7 presentations over a three-week period. The schedule of each play’s audition times and performance dates and times is listed below.

 

Auditions for the 3 plays will be held on Saturday, May 8. Play #1, The First Third by John Vornholt (johnvorn@aol.com), will audition from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. along with Play #2, The Language of Flowers by Gavin Kayner (brit4@mindspring.com). Play #3, A Work of Art by Jonathan Northover (than_northover@hotmail.com) will audition from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sides from the play will be used. Actors who auditioned for our 2010-2011 season may contact the playwright to indicate interest. You may be asked to attend auditions to read with others. If you have not previously auditioned for Beowulf Alley, please plan to attend. Stipends will be paid.

 

A synopsis, character breakdown and schedule of performances for each play is as follows:

 

Play #1, The First Third:

On December 1, 1969, at the height of the Vietnam War, the Selective Service held a nationwide draft lottery on prime-time TV in an attempt to make the draft more fair. Almost all deferments were canceled, and every able-bodied man between the ages of 19 and 26 faced a certainty of being drafted to go Vietnam if his birthday fell in the First Third of the capsules drawn. On this fateful night, we join five college seniors as their lives and futures are determined by a TV game show, hosted by retiring General William B. Hershey.

 

Character Breakdown

 

"Haze" Hazelett    -                       college senior

"Shoe" Tidrow      -                       college senior

"Moose" Pierson  -                       college senior

"Bud" Litzinger     -                       college senior

Craig "Spaghetti Leg" Kurtz -        college senior

 

  Performance Dates

·            Evenings at 7:30 - Wed., June 30; Sun. eve. July 4; Fri. July 9; Thurs., July 15; and Sat eve, July 17 plus

·            Matinees at 1:30 - Sat. July 3 and Sun. July 11

 

Play #2, The Language of Flowers:

Think of this: It's the dead of night. Two sisters, one channeling Emily Dickinson - the second trapped in a delusion that her doll is a living baby - drag a body across the floor and stuff it into the refrigerator. They swear each other to secrecy. At dawn an escaped convict breaks into their home, into their private lives and all hell breaks loose. Of course, it's a love story. And a mystery. Waiting to be plucked.

 

Character Breakdown

 

Emma                   - a twenty-some-year-old channeling Emily Dickinson

Maria                    - Emma's older sister, late 20s-early 30s, immersed in the delusion her doll is a living baby

Walter                   - an escaped convict

 

Performance Dates

·               Evenings at 7:30 - Thurs., July 1; Sat. July 3; Wed, July 7 at 7:30p; Sun., July 1; and Fri., July 16

·               Matinees at 1:30 - Sat. July 10 at 1:30p, Sun. July 18.

 

Play #3, A Work of Art:

London, England, in the world of high art as inhabited by Danny, Helen and Gornstoun and Helen’s Aunt Brailey, an eccentric gallery owner with a taste for good art.  That is, as long as everyone realizes that it’s good. Led by bouts of arson, the exploitation of underage Chinese artists and a level of violence that can only derive from love, the plot centers around the disappearance of a unique original painting by the famous 19th century artist, Anton Von Holk Koopercheck. This is not just a play.  It is an essential study of how far we might go in pursuit of a new idea, especially if it’s been done before.  A study of our fascinating with originality, even if it doesn’t exist.  And a study of not just what’s on the surface of art, but what’s supposed to be on the surface.

 

Character Breakdown

 

Helen Brailey           -           F, 20s – mid 30s, pretty, sensual, sassy, lost.

Gornstoun Wright    -           M, 30s, an artist of sorts, scruffy, intense, clever, a rogue.

Daniel Breedlove     -           M, 30s, clean cut surface, career man, indecisive, slightly

                                                dangerous.  But not really.

 

Performance Dates

·               Evenings at 7:30 - Fri., July 2; Thurs., July 8; Sat., July 10; Wed. July 14; and Sun. July 18

·               Matinees at 1:30 - Sun., July 4 and Sat, July 17