Circle Theatre presents Bruce Graham’s According to Goldman, a surprising and hilarious "take" on screenwriting, Hollywood and personal relationships. Performances run May 31st – July 7th. Graham is one of Circle’s favorite playwrights. Two or his other plays, Desperate Affection and Moon Over the Brewery, were produced at the Theatre, in previous seasons.
Jennifer Engler, guest directs a cast featuring Josh Heard as Jeremiah Collins, Linda Leonard* as Melanie Miller and Trey Walpole* as Gavin Miller. Bill Newberry* serves as stage manager.
* Actors’ Equity Association
According to Goldman’s design team includes Barbara C. Cox, Costumes; David H.M. Lambert, Sound; John Leach, Lights; Cathy O’Neal, Properties; and Bill Newberry, Set.
The Play
In an attempt to get back into the movie business, Gavin, a screenwriter-turned-professor, finds himself in collaboration with one of his students. Awkward and almost inarticulate, Jeremiah belongs to the world of Fred Astaire. Together, teacher and student work to craft the story of Jeremiah’s childhood in South Africa. Playwright, Bruce Graham, pits the lure of fame and celebrity against domestic tranquility – with dance routines, movie nostalgia and a few reality checks along the way.
According to Goldman premiered March 2004 at the Philadelphia Theatre Company (Sara Garoznick, Producing Artistic Director). The cast included Bruce McCarty as Gavin Miller, Carmen Roman as Melanie Miller and Tobias Segal as Jeremiah Collins. Pamela Berlin directed.
The Playwright
Bruce Graham is the author of several published plays including Burkie; Early One Evening At The Rainbow Bar & Grille; Moon Over The Brewery; Minor Demons; Belmont Avenue Social Club; The Champagne Charlie Stakes; Desperate Affection; and Coyote On A Fence (which opened on London’s West End starring Ben Cross and won the Lois and Richard Rosenthal New Play Prize). Theatre Exile in Philadelphia recently revived his one-man show, The Philly Fan, for a third time and two of his newest plays opened this past January, Dex and Julie Sittin’ In A Tree (Arden Theatre) and Full Figured, Loves to Dance (Theatre Exile). Graham’s feature film credits include Dunston Checks In, Anastasia and Steal This Movie. His television movie credits include Hunt for the Unicorn Killer; The Christmas Secret; Ring of Endless Light (2003 Humanitas Award Winner – Best Children’s Teleplay); Right on Track; and Tiger Cruise. Other television work includes Roseanne and Leg Work. He is also the author (with co-writer Michele Volansky) of The Collaborative Playwright, a Practical Guide to Getting Your Play Written, published by Heinemann. Mr. Graham received grants from the Pew Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation and is a recipient of the Princess Grace Foundation Statuette Award. He currently teaches playwriting and film courses at the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. He lives in Media, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Stephanie, and their daughter, Kendall.
The Director
Jennifer Engler returns to Circle Theatre after having directed the musical, Guys on Ice, in 2005. Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, she moved to Fort Worth from the Minneapolis area where she taught directing, acting and dance for three years at Minnesota State University-Mankato. She earned a BFA from Emporia State University, an MFA in Acting from Michigan State University and has studied and performed with Second City and the Midwest Shakespeare Tour. She currently teaches acting and movement at Texas Christian University and also directs and/or choreographs several Theatre TCU productions each year. Jennifer has worked professionally in the Dallas, Minneapolis, Kansas City and Detroit areas as a director, choreographer and actor. This past summer she directed/choreographed The Girl of 10,000 Smiles at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Her choreography for The Will Rogers Follies received a Meritorious Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. She has also been a five-time nominee for the festival’s Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship.
Shows
Previews – May 31 and June 1, 2, 7
Champagne Opening – Friday, June 8
Performances
Thursdays at 7:30pm; Fridays at 8:00pm;
Saturdays at 3:00pm and 8:00pm
Please note: Circle Theatre now presents 5 preview performances before opening.
Tickets
Preview Thursday and Saturday matinees $10
Preview Friday and Saturday evenings $15
Opening Friday $30
Regular performances
Thursday evenings / Saturday matinees $18 to $23
Friday / Saturday evenings $23 to $28
$5 discount for students and seniors
Student Rush tickets are available for half price at half hour before show times. (on a standby basis)
Groups of 10 (or more) receive a $5 discount on each regular-priced ticket.
For reservations, call 817-877-3040 or stop by the box office, Tuesday through Friday, from 1:00pm to 6:00pm and one hour before show times.
Circle Theatre accepts Bell Helicopter coupons, the KERA Member Rewards Card, Sundance Square Insider coupons and the Star-Telegram Press Pass.
E-mail: plays@circletheatre.com
On the web: www.circletheatre.com
