2014 - **** - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 - 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002- 2001- 2000
1999 - 1998 - 1997 - 1996
1999 - 1998 - 1997 - 1996
2013 Season: All About Family
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From the Director of Our Award Winning Show
"The Lion In Winter": Robb Mann! Plot Summary: When Elwood P. Dowd starts to introduce his imaginary friend, Harvey, a six-and-a-half-foot rabbit, to guests at a society party, his sister, Veta, has seen as much of his eccentric behavior as she can tolerate, and decides to have him committed to spare their family from future embarrassment. Problems arise, however, when Veta herself is committed when she explains to doctors that years of living with Elwood's hallucination have caused her to see Harvey also! When the truth comes out, the search is on for Elwood and his invisible companion. Cast List Myrtle Mae Simmons. . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Doughten Veta Simmons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Michelle Gagliano Mrs. Chauvenet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Debra Gillingham Elwood P. Dowd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mike O'Neil Nurse Kelley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Janna Murray Wilson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Holland Doctor Sanderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tony Moore Doctor Chumley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lee Lowrimore Mrs. Chumley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dorothy Rankin Judge Gaffney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Windy Wenderlich E. J. Lofgren. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Craig Myers Written by. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Chase Directed by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robb Mann |
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Plot Summary
Aaronetta and Ida Gibbs have lived next door to each other most of their lives and along with Esther, all of the Gibb sisters are an open book to each other, but not to their husbands! Into the fray comes Myrtle Brown, perpetually engaged to Ida's son Homer. But Homer can't seem to pop the question. Taking matters into her own hands, Myrtle finally gets a proposal by compelling Homer to fly the nest. Sort of. This perennially charming portrait of small town America fifty plus years ago was revived on Broadway in 1980 and in 2002 to critical acclaim. "It comes back in total triumph...Absolutely entrancing...See this lovely play!- New York Post Cast List
Theodore Swanson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Craig Myers Cora Swanson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chris Brown Aaronetta (Arry) Gibbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Deb Bowen Ida Bolton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nancy Klase Carl Bolton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Skip Maloney Homer Bolton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dave Tomczyk Myrtle Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lori Winner Esther (Esty) Crampton . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suzanne Nystrom David Crampton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Silverthorn Written By . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Osborn Directed by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Norman Aronovic Stage Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Catherine Brumm Assistant Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clare Kiley Set Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Don Gardiner |
   
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Plot Summary:
Set against the backdrop of the late 1950s and told in the style of the social guidance films of that era, A CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN'S GUIDE TO A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE © 1959 follows two young couples from courtship to matrimony, and ultimately to what comes after. "In retrospect, the 1950s were a lot like Bizarro World: a period when much of what seemed right turned out to be wrong, and much of what was considered bad turned out to be wonderful. That's the very solid foundation for this play, which focuses on two Iowa couples who get married 'by the book' and then live to regret it…The script by Robert Bastron is funny and smart throughout." -HYReviews.com. "A hilariously compelling and earnest story." -NYTheatre.com. "A very funny play…Robert Bastron's script gets a lot of laughs." —CurtainUp. Cast List:
Randy Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Narrator / Patient Susan Auten. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ruth Gundley Skyler Randolph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mason Lawrence Jr. Elizabeth “Liz” Bernardo . . . . . . . . . . . .Abigail "Abby" Peck Kenneth Rosander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daniel "Danny" Henry Felicia Potts. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .Brunhilde Henry / Ellen Emmy Young. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dorothy Peck (Abby's Mother) Heather Ireland . . . . . . . . . .. . . . Sheryl Howard (Abby's Sister) Carla Clark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Evelyn Henry Steven Bevels. . . . . . . . Michael Henry (Dan's Brother /Jeremy) Richard Eisen. . . . .Henry Henry (Dan's Father)/ Dr. Osbourne) Written By . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Bastron Directed By . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Vernon |
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Winner of the Pulitzer Prise & Susan Blackburn Prize. Plot Summary: This eloquent, enthralling and ultimately shattering play explores the final hour in the life of a young woman who has decided that life is no longer worth living. "…honest, uncompromising, lucid, penetrating, well-written, dramatic, and…unmanipulatively moving…" —NY Magazine. "It is sparse and concise, introspective and penetrating, powerful and uncompromising, intense and intelligent, warm and theatrical. It is THE American tragedy." —New England Entertainment Digest. "Something I hadn't seen in a long time happened at 'NIGHT, MOTHER: The audience still sat applauding after the house lights came up, as if waiting for the cast to come round and join them." —Village Voice. "…a shattering evening…" —NY Times. Cast List: Holli Saperstein. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mama Katherine Vernon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jessie Written by. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marsha Norman Directed by . . . . . . .Stephen M Raeburn |
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Plot Summary:
This comedic farce takes place in the home of the wealthy Orgon, where Tartuffe—a fraud and a pious imposter—has insinuated himself. He succeeds magnificently in winning the respect and devotion of the head of the house and then tries to marry his daughter and seduce his wife and scrounge the deed to the property. He nearly gets away with it, until his duplicity is finally exposed and punished. A merciless examination of the evil that men can commit in the guise of religious fervor and the dangers that imperil those who would believe only what they choose to believe despite a mountain of evidence to the contrary. Cast List:
Orgon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J.R. Rodriguez Elmire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Holli Saperstein Damis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Casey Mills Mariane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tamica Katzman Madame Pernelle. . . . . . . . . . .Suzanne Nystrom Cleante. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ron Hasson Dorine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LaRaisha Burnette Valere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tony Choufani Tartuffe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jim Swan Officer Loyal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rhoda Gary Written by. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Moliere Directed by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eric S. Kildow |
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Plot Summary:
Set in the 1880’s at the dawn of the age of electricity and based on bizarre historical facts, this play centers on a doctor and his wife and the affect his new therapeutic technique has on their entire household. Scientist Dr. Givings, an ordinarily very proper gentleman, has innocent-ly invented an extraordinary new device for treating "hysteria": the vibrator. Adjacent to the doctor's laboratory, his young and energetic wife tries to tend to their newborn daughter and wonders what exactly is going on in the next room. When a new "hysterical" patient & her husband bring a wet nurse and their own complicated relationship into the doctor's home, Dr. & Mrs. Givings must examine the nature of their own marriage & what it truly means to love someone. “Insightful, fresh & funny, the play is as rich in thought as it is in feeling...one of the most gifted and adventurous American playwrights to emerge in recent years...In the Next Room is a true novelty: a sex comedy designed not for sniggering teenage boys — or grown men who wish they were still sniggering teenage boys — but for adults with open hearts and minds." - The New York Times Cast List:
Catherine Givings . . . . . . . . . . . . Rachel Moser Dr. Givings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Warff Sabrina Daldry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kara Lashley Annie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Auten Leo Irving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kenneth Rosander Elizabeth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inez Campbell Eason Mr. Daldry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Bollinger Written by. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sarah Ruhl Directed by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nicole Farmer |
2013: All about Family
After considering dozens of plays, six were chosen based not only on their
individual merits, but also on their ability to reflect elements of a larger,
cohesive theme. The theme for Big Dawg’s 2013 Season was “Family”. An element of Big Dawg’s new Artistic Direction is to provide quality entertainment and expression to our audience, while also illustrating our commitment to being an integral member of our community.
With that in mind, these six plays, through a mixture of comedy and drama, each reflect the joys and stresses that families experience, whether set in the distant past or in modern times. At times, the trials that a family may face spring from external forces and at times they are brought about by members of that family themselves. It is our hope that the plays that made up our 2013 Season not only offered amusement and entertainment, but also inspired us to consider what role family plays in our community, and in our lives.
With that in mind, these six plays, through a mixture of comedy and drama, each reflect the joys and stresses that families experience, whether set in the distant past or in modern times. At times, the trials that a family may face spring from external forces and at times they are brought about by members of that family themselves. It is our hope that the plays that made up our 2013 Season not only offered amusement and entertainment, but also inspired us to consider what role family plays in our community, and in our lives.
