Thursday, February 03, 2005

Theater Blogging

The Daily Iowan has an article up on Someone Who'll Watch Over Me:

An Englishman, an Irishman, and an American are being held hostage in the Middle East. With only the barest essentials, the men must find ways to remain strong and survive.



It may sound like the set up to a joke, but it's the situation in the upcoming Dreamwell Theatre production "Someone Who'll Watch Over Me." The play was first produced in 1997, and the original cast and director have reunited to tell a story that, though based on Brian Keenan's four-year ordeal in Beirut, could have been taken straight from the evening news.


Why they start the article on such a dramatic piece with such a lame joke is a little beyond my comprehension, but hey, it's good publicity. There's also an article in the Iowa City Press Citizen:

Though it was one of the first plays Dreamwell Theatre ever performed, "Someone Who'll Watch Over Me" also is one of its most beloved.



"I honestly think it is one of the best shows that we have done," said Matthew Falduto, co-founder and president of the theater.



The company will revive the show at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 11-12 and Feb. 19-20 at the Wesley Center. Tickets are $10, with discounts available for senior citizens and students.



One of the reasons the theater, which is celebrating its eighth year, chose to do the show again is to perform for a bigger audience, Falduto said.



When the theater first presented the show at the end of its first season, 1997-98, the average audience was about 17, he said. It since has grown to be about 70.



Another factor is that the show is just as much if not more timely now because of world events, Falduto said.



"Someone Who'll Watch Over Me" tells the story of three hostages, an Englishman, Irishman and American, imprisoned in the Middle East and how they find the strength needed to survive, said Falduto, who plays the part of Irishman Edward Sheridan.



Each member of the original 1998 Dreamwell cast is playing the same part they did before.




I should mention that the play is particularly of interest to bloggers because two of the three characters are played by Greenman and Matt.



It's going to be an awesome production. The script is completely cool and very intimidating, I got to see a bit of it during a break in the poker game last weekend. Given Greenman will be my slavedriver director for Hedda over the next two months, I'm going to take the chance next weekend to watch him master three freaking page-long monologues. No lie. It's very impressive. I whine about my own memorization - sometimes it seems like the whole script is covered with yellow hilighter - but least Hedda's entirely conversational.



Tickets can be reserved at the Dreamwell website, and performance info is as follows:

Someone Who'll Watch Over Me will be performed Friday, Saturday, and Feb. 11, 12, 18, and 19 at 8 p.m. in the Wesley Center, 120 N. Dubuque St. Student tickets are $7 and can be reserved at www.dreamwell.com. After the Feb. 11 performance, there will be a discussion with the actors and the director.


Given the talkback's this Friday, I take it that means poker's on for Saturday after the performance?



UPDATE:

Matt's got pics up.



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Also, don't forget this is the very last weekend to see Guys and Dolls at Iowa City Community Theatre:

If you're craving a sassy, classic show, the Iowa City Community Theatre has just the thing for you.



. . .



In the play, Nathan Detroit is on the lookout for a location for his floating craps game. Seeking money to secure a place, he makes a bet with gambler Sky Masterson that Sky can't get Sarah Brown, a sergeant at the Save-a-Soul Mission, to Havana for a day.



The musical is based on Damon Runyon's 1932 short story, "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown."


Showtimes are 8:00 on Friday and Saturday, and 2:00 on Sunday. Ticket prices are $14 for the evening performances, and $12 for matinees, with some discounts for students and so on.



Also, I just noticed ICCT stuff is available for purchase - t-shirts, hats, and so on. Way to go, Jeff!





UPDATE:

Oh, as Greenman points out, Dreamwell has logo stuff, too. I was only commenting on ICCT 'cause it's new. I don't even own one yet, and I think it will probably be mandatory for board members. Like I need more clothes. OTOH, Dreamwell's had its store for a while. BTW, guys, have you ever actually sold one of the dog t-shirts? Just curious. And could you consider the spaghetti tank? I really don't wear t-shirts that often.





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