LAUGHING STOCK
FACT SHEET
PRESENTED BY THE ASOLO THEATRE COMPANY
Howard J. Millman, Producing Artistic Director
WHAT Laughing Stock by Charles Morey
WHERE The Asolo Theatre Company
In the Harold E. and Esther M. Mertz Theatre
5555 N. Tamiami Trail - Sarasota, Florida 34243
WHO
| Directed by |
Charles Morey |
| Scenic Design |
Jeffrey W. Dean |
| Costume Design |
Pamela Scofield |
| Lighting Design |
M. L. Geiger |
| Sound Design |
Matthew Parker |
| Voice, Speech and Dialect Coach |
Patricia Delorey |
| Stage Manager |
Marian Wallace |
| Original Score |
James Prigmore |
CAST
Henry Ross Boehringer
Tyler David Breitbarth
Karma Lesslie Dodge Crane
Braun Bryan Crossan
Ian Michael DeSantis
Richfield David S. Howard
Vernon Douglas Jones
Craig John Long
Gordon Anderson Matthews
Sarah Carolyn Michel
Daisy Sharon Spelman
Mary Natasha Staley
Susanna Norah Sweeney
Jack Brit Whittle
OPENING NIGHT Friday, November 11, 2005 at 8 p.m.The opening night show is followed by the Asolo’s big season kick-off, champagne reception, and “mingle with the stars” celebration. Members of the media are invited to photograph and interview the cast and creative team at the party.
SYNOPSIS Visit the hilariously funny behind-the-scenes world of summer stock theatre. As the “playhouse” attempts to produce Hamlet, Charley’s Aunt, and Dracula in rotating repertory, things go disastrously awry. Based on the author’s many years producing and directing summer theatre, this play will have you rolling with laughter!
PREVIEWS Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 10 at 8 p.m.
SHOW TIMES
11/11 8:00 p.m. Opening
11/12 8:00 p.m.
11/198:00 p.m.
11/262:00 p.m.
11/272:00 p.m.
11/30 2:00 p.m.
12/01 2:00 p.m.
12/04 2:00 p.m.
12/06 8:00 p.m.
12/09 8:00 p.m.
12/142:00 p.m.
12/158:00 p.m.
12/222:00 p.m.
12/308:00 p.m.
1/03 8:00 p.m.
1/07 2:00 p.m.
1/11 8:00 p.m.
1/138:00 p.m.
1/148:00 p.m.
1/212:00 p.m.
1/242:00 p.m.
1/262:00 p.m.
2/01 8:00 p.m.
2/02 8:00 p.m. Closing
PLAYTALKS This is a free opportunity for the community to meet the actors of each play and participate in an animated and honest discussion about the production process. Tickets to show prior to the discussion are $16-$48. (In the Mertz Theatre) November 27 after the 2 p.m. matinee performance, at approximately 4 p.m. December 15 after the 8 p.m. evening performance, at approximately 10 p.m.
INSIGHTS A FREE hour-long discussion on select Saturday mornings that provides unique opportunities to look at the work done by members of the design team in order for a show to open. The discussion is FREE; you may purchase tickets to the 2:00 p.m. performance following the discussion for $16-$48; however, attendance of the show is not required.Saturday, November 26 at 11 a.m. in the Mertz Theatre
AUDIO
DESCRIBED A service provided by the Asolo where specially trained audio describers provide elaborate audio imagery of the play action and setting to the visually impaired audience member through a headset system.
Sunday, December 4, 2 p.m.
Wednesday, January 11, 8 p.m.
TICKETS Box Office 941-351-8000 or 800-361-8388
Group Sales (10 or more) toll free 877-427-6567
www.asolo.org
$16-$48 (Children's tickets are HALF PRICE)
CORPORATE
CO-PRESENTERS: Bank of America
C0-
PRODUCERS Jim and Terry Chandler
Chris and Irene Chrisman
Cary and Koni Findlay
Ron and Rita Greenbaum
Lewis and Elizabeth Kearns
Carol and Morton Siegler
Gil and Elisabeth Waters
SEASON
PRESENTERS Esther M. Mertz
Virginia B. Toulmin
Designing Women
PRESENTERS Stanley and Janet Kane
Joan and Ira Mendell
Lee and Bob Peterson
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The Asolo Theatre Festival is funded in part by the Division of Cultural Affairs, Florida Department of State, the Florida Arts Council, the City and County of Sarasota and the Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax through the Board of County Commissioners, the Tourist Development Council and the Sarasota County Arts Council. Funding is also received through efforts of support groups including the Asolo Angel Association, the Asolo Theatre Guild, the Directors Emeritus and the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations.
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LAUGHING STOCK
by
Charles Morey
Pioneer Theatre Company, February 7 through 24, 2001
The delightful thing about LAUGHING STOCK is that Morey strikes a balance between a depiction of everything that can and usually does go wrong during a summer stock season, and a genuinely affectionate look at the magic that holds theatre companies together... Yes, these are all type characters but Morey adeptly deepens and individualizes each one... paralleling the disastrous mishaps of “Dracula” with the eloquent elation of “Hamlet” is a great idea... Morey displays his usual gifted touch with farce. The “Dracula” section and a rehearsal of “Charley’s Aunt” where the actors improvise being animals at dusk around an African water hole are comic high points... the acting is an ensemble effort and this ensemble is beautifully blended and consistently sharp.
Barbara Bannon
The Event
There’s a priceless scene in...LAUGHING STOCK in which a summer stock production of “Dracula” disintegrates into chaos on opening night. Gothic horror becomes high comedy amid misplaced technical cues, forgotten lines, wrong entrances and eccentric acting... the large audience howled with glee as they watched the mayhem unfold.... written with a light and sure hand, and acted with a precise blend of earnestness and camp...
Celia Baker
The Salt LakeTribune
If you’ve ever seen any disastrous opening nights (and yes, they do occur in real life), then you’ll probably recognize many of the characters in Charles Morey’s comic — and poignant — behind-the-scenes look at a chaotic summer stock company...There are some very funny bits along the way, including a disastrous production of... “Dracul: Prince of the Undead”... many hilarious bits and pieces in Morey’s love letter to the traditions of theater...
Ivan Lincoln
DESERT NEWS
“Laughing Stock” soars as farce... in the tradition of “Noises Off”...... all building to an appropriately raucous climax involving a disastrous performance...It’s a wonderful cast... and collectively they provide some true comic highlights. A series of audition blackouts introduces the characters and their quirks with plenty of big belly laughs. One exceptional scene finds the actors releasing their inner African savanna beasts... The grand payoff is the staging of “Dracula”... The pacing keeps building, laugh on laugh... “Laughing Stock” has plenty of comic charms...
Scott Renshaw
SALTLAKECITY WEEKLY
“Laughing Stock” quotes - Page 2
“Laughing Stock” ...takes on the craziness of summer stock. A master of farce, Morey has chosen to direct his first original script. In “Laughing Stock”, a production of “Dracula” switches to comedy on opening night with missed cues, technical glitches, and odd actors.
Claudia Harris
BACKSTAGE
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LAUGHING STOCK
by
Charles Morey
Peterborough Players July 21 through August 1, 2004
LAUGH YOURSELF SILLY... “Laughing Stock” will indeed have you laughing in your seat if not rolling in the aisles... It’s hard to imagine anyone whose funny bone wouldn’t be tickled by this one... You don’t have to be a theatre insider to love the play... it’s a hoot... it’s a blast... it’s funny, it’s silly, it tells a great story.
Jane Eklund, Monadnock Ledger (NH)
...One of the funniest, most compelling, “behind the scenes” productions ever... A treat for stage vets or aficionados and a great comedic introduction to the reality behind the scenes for those new to theatre. “Laughing Stock” is a delight...
Seth Chatfield, Peterborough Transcript (NH)
“LAUGHING STOCK” FILLED WITH HILARITY... Scene after scene, beat after beat, “Laughing Stock” piles on the laughs... every single piece crackles with successful wit and abundant humor... virtuoso farce...
Jim Kates, Keene Sentinel (NH)
I cried, I choked, I fell into a coughing fit, I cried some more... the funniest equity play produced in Southern New Hampshire... can’t help but love this play.
Patrick Meighan, Nashua Telegraph (NH)