Showing posts with label Richard Robichaux. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Richard Robichaux. Show all posts

Thursday, March 7, 2013

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST by Oscar Wilde, Mary Moody Northen Theatre, April 11 - 21, 2013



Mary Moody Northen Theatre St. Edward's University Austin TX





(St. Edward's University, 3001 South Congress Avenue)

presents

The Importance of Being Earnest
by Oscar Wilde
directed by Richard Robichaux

April 11 - 21, 2013, 7:30 p.m. (Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.)

Mary Moody Northen Theatre, St. Edward's University, 3001 S. Congress Avenue (click for map)
Tickets: $20 Adults Advance ($15 Students, Seniors, SEU Community), $20 at the door; STUDENT DISCOUNT NIGHT: Friday, April 12: Student tickets $8 with ID. Available through the MMNT Box Office, 512.448.8484; Available online at http://www.stedwards.edu/theatre. Box Office Hours are M-F 1-5 p.m.
Mary Moody Northen Theatre, the award-winning producing arm of the St. Edward’s University professional theatre training program, continues its 40th anniversary season with The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, directed by Richard Robichaux, running April 11 - 21, 2013.
This glorious comedy of manners was the most popular play by the quintessential bad boy of his day. Join young suitors Algernon, Jack, Cecily and Gwendolyn as they negotiate mislaid babies, mistaken identities, secret engagements, baffled suitors, one overbearing mother and some of the wittiest wordplay ever tossed over afternoon tea. This delectable morsel of a play will delight your sprit and leave you laughing long after the curtain comes down. Featuring guest artists Barbara Chisholm as Lady Bracknell, Robert Faires as Dr. Chasuble and Irene White as Miss Prism, The Importance of Being Earnest promises to be smart, silly and wicked fun.

"The Importance of Being Earnest” is the rare work of art that achieves perfection on its own terms. – The New York Times

About Mary Moody Northen Theatre Mary Moody Northen Theatre operates on a professional model and stands at the center of the St. Edward’s University Theatre Training Program. Through the Mary Moody Northen Theatre, students work alongside professional actors, directors and designers, explore all facets of theatrical production and earn points towards membership in Actor’s Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. MMNT operates under an AEA U/RTA contract and is a member of Theatre Communications Group. For more information, contact the theatre program at 512-448-8487 or visit us online at www.stedwards.edu/theatre.


About St. Edward's University St. Edward’s is a private, liberal arts Catholic university in the Holy Cross Tradition with more than 5,300 students. Located in Austin, Texas, with a network of partner universities around the world, St. Edward’s is a diverse community that offers undergraduate and graduate programs designed to inspire students with a global perspective. St. Edward's University has been recognized for ten consecutive years as one of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report, and ranks in the top 20 of Best Regional Universities in the Western Region. St. Edward’s has also been recognized by Forbes and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity.

(Click to go to the AustinLiveTheatre front page)


Thursday, August 9, 2012

Mary Moody Northen Theatre Season 2012-2013, St. Edward's University

mMNT St Ed's





2012-2013 Theatre Season
Mary Moody Northen Theatre
(image: Mary Moody Northen Theatre)
Mary Moody Northen Theatre announces our 40th anniversary season!


That's right: we're celebrating 40 years of top-quality productions blending the talents of St. Edward's University theatre students with professional actors, director and designers from near and far. American realism? Got it. Shakespeare? You bet! A fabulous musical? Well of course! And more! Season tickets go on sale August 24. Come join in the fun at the theatre on the hill.
All performances are Thursday – Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Under Construction
by Charles L. Mee
September 27 — October 7, 2012
Directed by David M. Long

Mee’s postmodern comedy explores the impossibly broad, messy, changeable and non-linear nature of life in these United States. Inspired by the art of Norman Rockwell and Jason Rhoads, this theatrical collage juxtaposes 1950s Thanksgiving dinner with the contemporary blogosphere, explores feminism, dancing and the barbershop quartet, and, ultimately, shines a light on our struggle to define the American experience. Originally produced by the SITI Company at the 2009 Humana Festival of New American Plays, MMNT's production features the talents of guest artists Amy Downing and Greg Holt.

A magical mystery tour of American hipster culture from the 1950s to the present. – Theatre Louisville


Under Construction contains strong adult content and language.

Bus Stop

by William Inge
November 8 — 18, 2012
Directed by Christina J. Moore

In this 1955 romantic comedy, a late-season blizzard forces a highway shutdown and detains five weary travelers overnight at a small Midwestern diner. Stranded together, this motley crew - an aging professor with a predilection for younger women, a rodeo star bent on marrying a woman who doesn’t love him, a struggling young nightclub singer - explores individual hopes and dreams over coffee, donuts and country music. A big-hearted celebration of love and transformation, Inge's delightful play harkens to an earlier era. Featuring guest artists Sarah Gay, David Jones and David Stahl.

A feel good slice of 1950s Americana. – What's On Stage


Measure for Measure

by William Shakespeare
February 14 — 24, 2013
Directed by Michelle S. Polgar

What do you get when you combine an enigmatic and absentee ruler, a zealot surrogate, lustful youth, a pious nun, a dash of hypocrisy and personal desires at odds with the law? Shakespeare’s last comedy tackles these questions, deftly examining who sins most in a congregation of murderers, pimps, politicians, whores and clergy. Add to the moral tale a complement of bawds, a touch of disguise, and some adroit plot management and the result is a marvelous, thought-provoking evening of theatre.

Richly rewarding…an exuberant and memorable evening. - The Daily Mail

The Importance of Being Earnest

by Oscar Wilde
April 11 — 21, 2013
Directed by Richard Robichaux

Join young suitors Algernon, Jack, Cecily and Gwendolyn as they negotiate mislaid babies, mistaken identities, secret engagements, baffled suitors, one overbearing mother and some of the wittiest wordplay ever volleyed over cucumber sandwiches. Its 1895 premiere in London offered a stinging critique of love, sex, and hypocrisy. This glorious comedy of manners features the talents of guest artists Barbara Chisholm, Robert Faires and Irene White.

The Importance of Being Earnest is the rare work of art that achieves perfection on its own terms. – The New York Times

The Secret Garden

Music by Lucy Simon, Lyrics and Book by Marsha Norman
Based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett
June 13 — 30, 2013
Directed by Robert Westenberg

This coming of age story based on the classic children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett is filled with suspense, magic and wonder. 11-year-old Mary, orphaned by a cholera outbreak, is sent from India to Scotland to live with her reclusive widower uncle. Lost in their grief and surrounded by visions and voices from the past, Mary and the rest of the family struggle to regain their footing. The young girl’s discovery of a secret garden, coupled with her dedication to revive the magical space, leads to rebirth and renewal for all. This Tony-award winning musical will set your heartstrings aflutter.

A must-see for any of us that have retained the sense of magic and wonder from childhood. - TalkingBroadway

Tickets Season passes go on sale August 27 through the MMNT box office at (512) 448-8484 and online at www.stedwards.edu/theatre. Single tickets for each production go on sale three weeks prior to opening and may be purchased through the MMNT box office or the website. Box Office hours are 1 – 5 PM Monday – Friday when classes are in session and one hour prior to curtain. All seats are reserved.

Our 40th Anniversary Join us for special events throughout the season as we celebrate 40 years of performances at the Mary Moody Northen Theatre. Events will include special alumni and subscriber gatherings, archival exhibitions and a year-end celebration with our distinguished guest, Robert Westenberg. Mr Westenberg is a Tony-nominated actor and winner of the Drama Desk Award for his performance as Cinderella’s Prince in the Broadway production of Into The Woods. He appeared with Mandy Patinkin in the original production of The Secret Garden on Broadway. Mr. Westenberg makes his MMNT directing debut with The Secret Garden.

About Mary Moody Northen Theatre Through the Mary Moody Northen Theatre, students work alongside professional actors, directors and designers to explore all facets of theatrical production, create dynamic artistic work and earn points towards membership in Actor’s Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. Our program is the only undergraduate-only program in the region producing a full regular season under an Equity agreement. MMNT is a member of Theatre Communications Group. For more information, contact the theatre program at 512-448-8487 or visit us online at www.stedwards.edu/theatre.

About St. Edward's University  St. Edward’s is a private, liberal arts Catholic university in the Holy Cross Tradition with more than 5,400 students. Located in Austin, Texas, with a network of partner universities around the world, St. Edward’s is a diverse community that offers undergraduate and graduate programs designed to inspire students with a global perspective. St. Edward's University has been recognized for nine consecutive years as one of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report, and has also been recognized by Forbes and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

The Imaginary Invalid by Molière and David Chambers, Mary Moody Northen Theatre, St. Edward's University, September 16 - 26


The Imaginary Invalid Mary Moody Northen Theatre St. Edward's University


Jean-Baptiste Poquelin would not have objected at all to this re-do of his 1673 farce. He wrote The Imaginary Invalid in rapid-fire prose, using verse only for comic ballets at the intervals (omitted in this staging). David Chambers' translation/interpretation of the piece follows the action faithfully, although often with slangy word choices. Between them, Chambers and director David Long apply a clownification of the characters and a Borscht Belt leer not obvious in the original texts.


David Long has a good time, sending the characters zinging along. Some of his direction recalled those presentational techniques he used last year for bobrauschenbergamerica -- marking soliloquies and the young lovers' mock operetta with rapid, showy shifts of lighting, for example.


Richard Robichaux (image: Mary Moody Northen Theatre)Argan, the title character played with fine finicky flair by veteran actor Richard Robichaux, is a rich hypochondriac with two daughters. Their mother passed away and Argan remarried -- to an effusive gold digger determined to persuade him to deed his property to her. Chambers renders this character -- Béline in the original -- as "Nastya," played by the charming Jill Blackwood with a patently fake Russian accent. Argan is determined to marry off his elder daughter Angelina (Michelle Elisabeth Brandt) to a physician so that he'll have free medical care, but she has already fallen in love with another (Cléanthe, played by Jon Wayne Martin).


Robichaux has lots of grumpy one-liners, mostly insults. His perpetual antagonist is Toinette, the servant, but he also gets into it with physician Thomas Diablo (Robert Faires), with Cléanthe, and with his brother (also played by Faires). In contrast and to our great amusement, the hypochondriac goes all goo-goo eyes with wife Nastya and gets entirely panicked by the rages of his principal physician Dr. Defecato (Meredith Montgomery).


Read more at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . .