From: Christopher Johnson [mailto:rumspringaandcoke@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2011 2:16 PM
Subject: Live Theatre Workshop presents TAKING STEPS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Live Theatre Workshop Proudly Presents
TAKING STEPS
By Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Kristi Loera
Featuring Shanna Brock, Stephen Frankenfield, Nick Gallardo, Amanda Gremel, Travis Martin and Michael Woodson
May 5 - June 12, 2011
Preview Performances: May 5 and 6 at 7:30 PM
Opening Night Performance: Saturday, May 7 at 7:30 PM
Performances: Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 PM with Sunday Matinees at 3:00 PM
Preview Tickets: $12 | Regular Tickets: $18 with discounts available
Running time: Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes with one intermission.
To make your reservation call (520) 327-4242
For more information go to www.livetheatreworkshop.org
LIVE THEATRE WORKSHOP - 5317 E. Speedway | Tucson, AZ 85712
Located on the North side of Speedway between Rosemont and Craycroft
Produced by Special Arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
At the outset, Elizabeth, a conceited dancer, is preparing to leave her husband, Roland, a successful businessman who's deciding whether to buy the rambling house (a supposedly haunted ex-brothel) they've been leasing. Is her desire to split coming from a fear of commitment or just plain common sense? "He's . . . well, he's a slob, really, but you could have done a lot worse," Elizabeth's brother, Mark, tells her. Furthermore, he reminds her that marriage is "intended as a 30-year marathon. Not a three-month sprint." Mark has invited his runaway fiancée, Kitty, a lost soul who doesn't want to be found by him, to his sister's place. He's hoping to reconcile with her, but the immediate plan is for him to keep Roland company while Elizabeth abandons him. Adding chaos to confusion are two other visitors, Tristram, an easily flustered junior solicitor sent to advise Roland on the real estate purchase, and Leslie, the seller who struts about eager to seal the deal. TAKING STEPS is notable for its ingenious solution to a seemingly insuperable logistical challenge. How can the antics inside a three-story house be portrayed in a venue that won't support the building of multiple levels? Present all three floors on the same level, of course!
“...reminds us that farce at its very best is inescapably about something: in this case, women's hunger for freedom and the difficulties of rational communication.”
-The Guardian
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
Alan Ayckbourn is a popular and prolific English playwright. He has written and produced 73 full-length plays in Scarborough and London and was, between 1972 and 2009, the artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, where all but four of his plays have received their first performance. More than 40 have subsequently been produced in the West End, at the Royal National Theatre or by the Royal Shakespeare Company since his first hit, RELATIVELY SPEAKING, opened at the Duke of York's Theatre in 1967. Major successes include ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR (1975), THE NORMAN CONQUESTS Trilogy (1973), BEDROOM FARCE (1975), JUST BETWEEN OURSELVES (1976), A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL (1984), WOMAN IN MIND (1985), A SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS (1987), MAN OF THE MOMENT (1988), HOUSE & GARDEN (1999) and PRIVATE FEARS IN PUBLIC PLACES (2004). His plays have won numerous awards, including seven London Evening Standard Awards. They have been translated into over 35 languages and are performed on stage and television throughout the world. Ten of his plays have been staged on Broadway, attracting two Tony nominations, and one Tony award.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES
Shanna Brock - Elizabeth - has previously appeared on the mainstage at Live Theatre Workshop as Yvonne (THE DINNER PARTY), Sandra (A THOUSAND CLOWNS) and Gertie (WIFE BEGINS AT FORTY). She also recently appeared with Etcetera, LTW’s late-night arm as War Propaganda (ROBOTS VS. FAKE ROBOTS) and Sookie (MR. MARMALADE). Elsewhere, Shanna has performed with Pistarckle Theater, Gaslight Theatre and Arizona Repetory Theater.
Stephen Frankenfield - Tristram - has been appearing on the mainstage at Live Theatre Workshop for over 8 years. Notable productions include THE RAINMAKER, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, RUN FOR YOUR WIFE, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, DEARLY DEPARTED, CAUGHT IN THE NET, FUNNY MONEY, THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP and most recently in A TUNA CHRISTMAS. He has also directed mainstage productions of SEE HOW THEY RUN, MOON OVER BUFFALO and DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER (2010 Arizona Daily Star MAC Award nominee for Best Comedy). You may have also caught Stephen in the late-night productions of ROBOTS VS. FAKE ROBOTS and as the title role in MR. MARMALADE.
Nicholas Sebastian Gallardo - Leslie - is very excited to be making his Live Theatre Workshop debut. Notable acting credits include EURYDICE (Lord of the Underworld), THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE (Leaf Coneybear) -- a performance which earned him the 2010 Arizona Daily Star MAC Award for Best Actor in a Musical, GODSPELL (Jesus), THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL (Duke), THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Seymour), JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Judas) and GREASE (Danny) as well as performances with Shirley Jones and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Amanda Gremel - Kitty - is Live Theatre Workshop’s Technical Director and Co-Coordinator of ATT, LTW’s family series. She has previously appeared on the mainstage in DESIGN FOR MURDER and INSPECTING CAROL. She has worked extensively with Etcetera (LTW’s late-night arm), appearing in KIMBERLY AKIMBO (Pattie), ROBOTS VS. FAKE ROBOTS (Dancer), MR. MARMALADE (The Sunflower), WHITE PEOPLE (Mara Lynn), THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (Janet), THE PENIS MONOLOGUES (Ensemble) and DOG SEES GOD (CB’s Sister). She can currently be seen in the ATT production of JACK AND THE BEASTALK.
Kristi Loera - Direction - is thrilled to be making her mainstage directing debut with this production of TAKING STEPS. Executive Director for Live Theatre Workshop, Kristi has been acting, producing and directing theatre in Tucson for 17 years. She was last seen with the mainstage at LTW in SEASON’S GREETINGS!!!, a performance which earned her an Arizona Daily Star MAC Award nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy. She recently directed the ATT productions of ROBIN HOOD and RAPUNZEL, as well as the late-night production of MR. MARMALADE for Etcetera. She can currently be seen performing with ATT in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK and will next be seen with Etcetera as the title role in Amy and David Sedaris’ THE BOOK OF LIZ.
Travis Martin - Mark - last appeared on the mainstage at LTW in BROADWAY BOUND (Eugene). He studied theatre briefly at Pima Community College where he also attended as an English Major.
Paul Matlock - Production Stage Manager - has served on the technical crew for many mainstage and late-night productions at LTW, including DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER, PICNIC, SAVAGE IN LIMBO and HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH, to name a few. Earlier this season Paul performed with Winding Road Theatre Ensemble in their productions of THE LION IN WINTER (John) and FIFTH OF JULY (Weston) as well as in the staged reading of RAG AND BONE (T-Bone) for Etcetera.
Michael Woodson - Roland - has previously appeared with Live Theatre Workshop in THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG, A THOUSAND CLOWNS, KILLER JOE, WHAT THE BUTLER SAW, THE CLEAN HOUSE, THE HOUSEKEEPER, FUNNY MONEY, MOON OVER BUFFALO, THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH, BELL BOOK AND CANDLE and MURDER ON THE NILE. Michael has also perfomed with Arizona Theatre Company, The Invisible Theatre, The Wilde Playhouse and Stray Theatre. A member of the Screen Actor’s Guild, he was seen in the television series ‘Legend and The Young Riders,’ as well as the television movie ‘Gunsmoke III,’ ‘To the Last Man,’ and ‘Geronimo.’ Commercial work includes Rawlings Radar Ball, The Arizona Lottery and Bulls Eye BBQ Sauce. In 2008, Michael received the LTW Ovation Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of George Hay in MOON OVER BUFFALO.
Emilio Zweig - Assistant Stage Manager - is happy to be backstage for his first production with the mainstage at LTW. Emilio is also currently serving as ASM for All Together Theatre’s production of JACK AND THE BEANSTALK. You may have caught him earlier this season performing in the late-night production of KIMBERLY AKIMBO or with Winding Road Theatre Ensemble in ARMOR.
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