“Hopefully audiences will respond to the basic thrust of the show (owing to the fact) that we’ve all got our crosses to bear,” said Geoff Burkman, who portrays widower Lou and finds the layered script reminiscent of Terrence McNally’s two-hander “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune.”
“We deal with those crosses as best we can, and when we do it with kindness and a consideration for each other’s fallibility, more often than not we’ll make each other’s lives a little more bearable. The show puts this mostly in the context of later life, but the themes are, of course, ageless.”
Amy Taint, portraying bar regular Stella, particularly enjoys her character’s willingness to step out of her comfort zone and change course. “I admire her moxie,” said Taint, seen last season in Dayton Playhouse’s “The Women.”
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“It takes guts to identify what you want from life and follow through, leaving the easy and familiar behind,” she said. “What my generation knows and generations before it knew is although the body ages, the heart and soul remain mysteriously inviolate. Romance, love, a sense of adventure and other joys are craved whether our legs can carry us there or even cross the street. Stella believes in her dreams even more than when she was young because she now understands why they are important.”
“I have a hard time imagining anyone coming away from this show unmoved by its humanity,” added Burkman, who notably appeared at the Guild last season as Carr Gomm in “The Elephant Man.”
“Stella and Lou” is directed by Gary Thompson and also features Adam Clevenger as Donnie, a young bar patron.
Performances are Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 5 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. at the Dayton Theatre Guild, 430 Wayne Ave., Dayton. Tickets are $13-$20. The play is performed in roughly 90 minutes without intermission. For tickets or more information, call (937) 278-5993 or visit daytontheatreguild.org.
TOWN HALL THEATRE PREPARES ‘GIVER’
Town Hall Theatre in Centerville presents Lois Lowry’s drama “The Giver” through Sunday, Feb. 4.
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Adapted by Eric Coble, the thought-provoking play concerns Jonas, struggling in a community that prides itself on sameness. Assigned as a memory keeper for his community, he must ultimately decide if sameness is worthwhile. Hannah Collinsworth and Christine Orr share the role of Jonas.
“The Giver” marks a departure from Town Hall’s standard fare. Organizers are hoping to select more mature works to build interest among its teenage core.
“In the past, our shows tended to be younger-spirited and there was a definite lack of including teens,” said Town Hall Artistic Director Chris Harmon, who began his new position last month after years of serving the troupe as a director and scenic designer. “We tend to lose our teen talent once they enter high school because they simply want to do their high school shows. We encourage ages 8 to 18 but by the time some kids turned 14 or 15 they would leave. So, my goal is to possibly do more mature shows throughout the season. I’m excited to see what the future holds. I also hope to make Town Hall more of a financial success. We do 10 shows every season and I hope to pack the houses for every show.”
Performances are Fridays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. at Town Hall Theatre, 27 N. Main St., Centerville. There is also a 7 p.m. performance on Saturday, Jan 27. Tickets are $10-$15. The play, which runs 75 minutes, is recommended for ages 12 and older. For tickets or more information, call (937) 433-8957 or visit washingtontwp.org.
WRIGHT STATE GRAD WINS KLEBAN PRIZE
Composer/lyricist Christian Duhamel, a 2005 Wright State University acting/musical theater graduate, is among the recipients of this year’s Kleban Prize, awarded annually to promising musical theatre writers.
The award is given under the auspices of the Kleban Foundation established in 1988 under the will of Edward L. Kleban, Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning lyricist of “A Chorus Line.” Librettist of “My 80-Year-Old Boyfriend,” Duhamel joins lyricists Alan Schmuckler (“Diary of a Wimpy Kid — The Musical”) and Amanda Yesnowitz (Somewhere in Time”) in receiving the $100,000 prize.
In 2016, Duhamel participated in the developmental world premiere of his new musical satire “Miss Mayor,” co-written by Ellie Margolis with concept and additional book by Greg Hellems based on Henrik Ibsen’s 1869 political play “The League of Youth.”
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