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Opening night reception at "A Thousand Clowns"

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Contributed by: John Sabo on 9/6/2008

For Immediate release: Contact John F. Sabo: 772-233-1264 Barn Theatre's opening night reception This season the Barn is initiating a new festivity, a reception for the public immediately following the opening night performance of "A Thousand Clowns" on Friday Sept. 19th. Immediately following the curtain, food and drinks will be provided free of charge for the audience to meet with the cast, crew, Barn board members, our new Tech Director Travis Eaton and others to share in its celebration of the kick-off of this new season (their 38th) as Martin County's oldest community theatre. John Sabo, Marketing Vice-President and Director of the show, says "we want to encourage more people to attend our opening nights, rather than waiting a couple of days for the reviews to come out." This opening night celebration will become a new tradition for the Barn to share the theatrical excitement of the launching of each new production. "We have had receptions in the past on special occasions after performances, most notably last season when the playwright Michael Parker joined us for opening night of his play "The Amorous Ambassador". And whenever possible we will invite playwrights (look for a visit in March from local playwright Nathan Sanders, who wrote our 4th show "Sugar Bean Sister"). So, instead of just congratulating the cast outside on opening night after the show and then going out somewhere for food and drinks after the show, come on in to our newly refurbished rehearsal hall and join our party -- and we'll pick up the tab." John F. Sabo, Director for the Barn Theatre's 08 - 09 Season's opening production of A Thousand Clowns, has announced the cast members of this comedy by Herb Gardner, which will open on Friday Sept. 19th at 8 pm and runs thru Sunday matinee on Oct. 5th at 2 pm. Continuing a practice he began last season with his direction of Agatha Christie's "Spider's Web", Sabo decided to double cast some of the roles. "It provides opportunities for more local actors to participate in the show in addition to providing backup if an unforeseen circumstance occurs", Sabo says. "Simply assigning understudies doesn't always insure quality performances, should an actor not be able to perform in a scheduled performance. This way double-cast actors are also guaranteed performance nights, rather than being in the wings should an actor get sick". Performing the only female role of Sandra Markowitz will be Toni Foudy and Andrea Lopez. Toni was last seen in the lead role of Clarissa in Spider's Web last season at the Barn and Andrea is a familiar face to IRCC audiences, most recently in the role of Ellie in Falling from Trees. Mackenzie Martinock and Nicky Wood will share the role of the 12-year-old nephew, Nick. Mackenzie recently performed in the Camp Barn-Theatre's Shakesperience this summer and Nicky is a familiar face to the IRCC audiences, having done many shows and musicals on their main stage and for their Performing Arts Academy, including lead roles in Mulan, Music Man and Oklahoma. The major role of Murray is currently being soloed by Kyle Stone, who can be remembered for his performances as The Wizard in Once Upon a Mattress and several roles in The Good Doctor at IRCC last spring. Portraying Leo, a.k.a. "Chuckles the Chipmunk", will be Harley Dingman, a favorite actor on the Barn theatre stage, having most recently been directed by Sabo as the butler in Spider's Web. Another Spider's Web alumni, Jim Lilly, who played Jeremy Warrender, will portray stuffy social worker Albert Amundson. C. Larry Roberts, a newcomer to the area, but not to the stage will round out the cast as Murray's brother, Arnold. Stage-managing the show will be Cody Rogers, with Patricia Walker, in charge of props, with help from Nancy Welker and Beth Band. Travis Easton is the Technical Director and John Sabo is the Producer. A special note that show director, John Sabo shares, includes the behind the scenes search to find "Bubbles", a mechanical cast member, essential for one of the key scenes in the show. This unusual prop, a battery operated hula dancer with "unique abilities", is not available in costume and novelty shops. So we put out an extensive internet search with no luck, until one of our actors, Toni Foudy, found "her" available for rent from a Canadian theatre. "She" will be arriving by special delivery in time for our tech dress rehearsals and staying for the run of our show." Apparently "she" has traveled across country in the U.S. and Canada for several years to join many "A Thousand Clowns" productions because of her "unusual and special talents". The play tells the story of Murray Burns, a cheerful eccentric raising his nephew, a twelve year- old genius, in New York City. Murray believes in living life fully, even if that means going to the movies instead of looking for a job. When social workers from the Bureau of Child Welfare come to investigate, he must decide whether to accept some level of conformity in order to show himself a fit guardian. The fun occurs as Murray attacks all challenges to his lifestyle with irreverent humor. A Thousand Clowns was first presented at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in New York City on April 5, 1962, with Jason Robards in the role of Murray Burns. Herb Gardner's first full-length play, it was nominated for the Tony Award for best play and was so successful commercially that Gardner, named the most promising playwright of 1961-62, was able to turn to playwriting full time. A few years later, Gardner wrote the prize-winning screenplay for a film adaptation of A Thousand Clowns, also starring Jason Robards. A free reception for the public will occur immediately after the Sept. 19th opening night performance. The Barn is located at 2400 S.E. Ocean Blvd in Stuart, FL 34995. . Tickets are $ 20. at the door. Season subscriptions, student and group rates reservations are available at the Barn Theatre box office: 772-287-4884

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