Actors Theatre KC Announces New Season for 2008
By Robert Trussell, The Kansas City Star, Mo.
Mar. 23–Actors Theatre KC has announced its 2008 season of four productions, and it may add a fifth.
The shows so far:
“Desdemona, a Play About a Handkerchief,” by Paula Vogel, June 21-July 20. Vogel’s alternative take on “Othello” takes an irreverent look at the Moor’s unfortunate wife from a modern perspective.
In Vogel’s version Desdemona is the spoiled daughter of a wealthy nobleman burdened with a marriage to an older man and who sleeps around principally out of boredom. Vogel, the author of “How I Learned to Drive” and “The Baltimore Waltz,” is considered a feminist playwright.
John Rensenhouse will direct. Performances will be in Room 119 of the UMKC Performing Arts Center.
“Translations,” by Brian Friel, July 5-Aug. 31. Friel’s poignant drama depicts a clash of cultures in 1833, a time when English colonialists are in the process of replacing all Gaelic place names in Ireland with names in English. At times comic, sad and romantic, the play is considered by some critics to be Friel’s masterpiece.
The show will be directed by Mark Robbins, who, by the way, will appear in Friel’s “Faith Healer” in April at the Unicorn Theatre. Performances will be at the H&R Block City Stage in Union Station.
“Taking Sides,” by Ronald Harwood, Aug. 8-31. Harwood’s fact-based drama depicts the interrogation by an American Army officer of famed conductor Wilhelm Furtwangler in the days after World War II. At issue is whether Furtwangler, who conducted the Berlin Philharmonic throughout the war, was a Nazi sympathizer or an artist who saw himself as the protector of German culture.
Gary Holcombe will appear as Furtwangler opposite Robbins as his interrogator. Tom Mardikes will direct. The show will be at the H&R Block City Stage in Union Station.
“A Lesson From Aloes” by Athol Fugard, Sept. 5-21. Fugard’s award-winning drama depicts the uneasy reunion between Piet and Gladys, a white South African couple, and their friend Steve, a black South African. All met as anti-apartheid activists years earlier and now must deal with lingering fear and distrust.
Performances will be at the Off Center Theatre on the third level of Crown Center.
A season ticket includes all four shows plus a fifth unannounced title in January 2009 at the Off Center Theatre.
As of last week, neither the company’s Web site (kcactors.org) nor the Central Ticket Office (816-235-6222; umkc.edu/cto) had posted season or individual ticket prices for these shows.
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